Plus, the Mets walloped the Rockies for eight runs to land their third series win in a row and pulled even with the Phillies for first place in the NL East
Fantastic as always, Michael! My favorite Mets stop on Substack.
Baty’s approach is just so more authoritative. In cricket terminology, Baty is batting with intent. He’s internalized the strategic work on approach that he does with the staff in the background, and now is trusting his skills. This is possibly the magic “the game is slowing down for him,” moment that prospects catch as they become players. We saw Jose Reyes experience in late 05 once the Mets gave up on trying to teach the fastest man in baseball how to RUN A NEW WAY (not that I’m still aghast at the Art Howe years). This is like the quickening in Highlander, and it is the most fun time for watching an ascendant prospect.
Interestingly, Baty and Soto both seemed bedeviled by a lack of intent in the early going. For Baty, it’s a natural adjustment process. For Soto, it’s a bit more speculative. Maybe he felt more at ease in the role of “guy who is playing to prove his worth” than “guy who is trying to justify the contract he received.” Soto had been in the “I’m betting on myself” role for 3 years since rejecting the Nats 400mm offer.
I think this idea of pressure from wanting to produce for the team you finally chose is legitimate. Both Scott Boras and Stearns have noted the different pressures associated with both roles. Also, how deeply has Soto worked with Chavez et al., about changing his approach? He’s taking 56% (iirc) of first pitches in all AB’s. If that percentage is off I do know that it’s a career high rate. He’s been more reactive than attacking so far for whatever reason. But, I believe that’s class trumps all over a season. Soto didn’t forget how to be a magnificent hitter any more than Secretariat would forget how to run after changing barns. Good baseball seasons -meaning memorable for fans-have about 10-12 distinct periods and storylines a year. Soto’s storyline is going to be us laughing and saying “remember when people were worried about Soto?” by the ASB. It’s our version of 2015’s “remember when John Mayberry Jr hit cleanup for this team?” bemusement as Cespedes was guillotining the Nationals in 2015.
Two of our other stories whose impacts cannot be overemphasized: Senga and Diaz. In the pre season it was easy to forget about Senga, given his very internal “how does my body feel,” process for injury rehab and season preparation. It was almost like “whatever we get from Senga, we get.” Well, what we are getting is a solid lesson in what it means to casually add a true ace to last year’s playoff team. It’s enormous, and certainly his dominance has let Manaea rehab with zero pressure. Mets have really covered for Soto, and in a different way for Manaea and Montas, by being a first-place team (tiebreaker in our favor, baby)! Any negativity, especially about Soto, doesn’t get anywhere near the traction it would have if the Mets were scuffling.
Now, it’s time to appreciate Sugar Diaz. He never quite had it all in sync last year after the lost 2023. But his balls and his guile got him through huge moments in a playoff run while sitting 3-4 mph lower than his 22 velo and seemingly only having control of both his slider and FB on a few occasions. This year, he’s clearly worked with Hefner and the trainers to get all his mechanics and leg lengths in line. The result is that Diaz is back to Platonic Form Diaz, and there is no more fun closer in the game. Sound the trumpets!
Interesting road trip coming up. My only thought for this week (disclaimer that my new Mauricio jersey has arrived) is for Ronny to keep raking, and have Stearns execute the inevitable plan to bring him up and take Young’s AB’s and likely Acuna’s. Ronny is my guy, my favorite prospect since the aforementioned Reyes. And I cannot wait to see him back up for the Nationals series starting 6/10. That’s my guess.
OK, have a great day fellow Mets fans and scribes, I’m off to Citi to try and catch a brooming to start June! LFGM!
Baty: 16 starts, 16 rbi's, love it. Mauricio is super athletic and I'd love to see him develop into a star, but seems to me if he's brought up, Acuna goes down and he was looking so good until about four weeks ago. I dunno. Question: why would Phils manager leave Lazardo in to get hammered for 12 runs? Isn't it the prevailing wisdom that if you leave a starter in when he's getting lit up, you'll mess with his confidence and it'll hurt the team in the end?
Mauricio is SO intriguing. I don't want to lose Acuña at second (the adjustment he needs to make at the plate is pretty obvious) or Baty at third, but I definitely want to see what Ronny can do.
Acuña is too talented to be kept up as just PR and defensive replacement. He has hitting holes that he needs ABs to improve. Mauricio has murdered AAA and hit some lasers against MLB pitching in 23. I need Ronny to get some serious run. But I’ve had eyes for him for years and do think he’s more intriguing as a toolsy prospect than even Reyes was. I’m ready to wear my #10.
As John says it’s clearly about erasing all health doubts, but I think it’s possible he is up for the June 10 series. You won’t need a 6th starter that week, so you could option Megill for a temp roster fix if you call him up on the offday, June 9.
Oh, I have no doubt if Ronny is healthy, he's going to be on the major league roster. I'm just wondering where he's going to play.
I don't think Baty is going anywhere now. He's found it. So, it's going to come down to Acuña or Vientos being sent down to open up second or third, or possibly Mauricio being the right-handed bat in left field, which means goodbye to Marte.
Given the way he's been hitting lately, it likely means Luisangel will be the guy left without a chair when the music stops. But I honestly don't think he's going to improve much back in AAA. And without him, we don't have much speed on the basepaths.
Looks like I put the monkey paw on Vientos. Maybe Mark takes a break for the hammy and can also just mentally re-set. Room for all the kids this year. Marte, Nimmo etc. have all had some IL trips during the year.
Vientos’ injury reminded me that we’ve had exceptional position player health through the first 1/3, though.
We've definitely been pretty fortunate. We've had options for the guys we've lost for any length of time (Siri, Winker) and everyone else has been good to go except for a handful of games here and there.
And we still have Manaea and Montas to come back for the second half, so we're looking good on the hill, too.
Anyway, I think you're right: Vientos gets a chance to reset now, Ronny gets a chance to show he belongs with the big club, and we have two whole months to sort it before the stretch run starts in August. I like where we are.
I learned my "real thing" thoughts from Alvarez and Vientos. I'll take Battty's reemergence one game at a time. While he's lengthening the lineup, it was already shortened by Francisco and Mark's downward trend. And I'm thankful Sterns was able to steal Torrens from the Yankees.
"[Baty] looks like a different player. He is attacking strikes, he has conviction in the box, he has a plan, and he is clearly more confident, all of which has led to this reformation for Baty."
Seriously. He looks like a different dude. In the past, he stood like a statue in the box. It's usually a good idea to limit the moving parts, but he was too still, too static. I was talking about breaking down his stance and making some changes just to make him more dynamic in the box.
Since he's come back up, different story. I think he's found it. Great to see.
Fantastic as always, Michael! My favorite Mets stop on Substack.
Baty’s approach is just so more authoritative. In cricket terminology, Baty is batting with intent. He’s internalized the strategic work on approach that he does with the staff in the background, and now is trusting his skills. This is possibly the magic “the game is slowing down for him,” moment that prospects catch as they become players. We saw Jose Reyes experience in late 05 once the Mets gave up on trying to teach the fastest man in baseball how to RUN A NEW WAY (not that I’m still aghast at the Art Howe years). This is like the quickening in Highlander, and it is the most fun time for watching an ascendant prospect.
Interestingly, Baty and Soto both seemed bedeviled by a lack of intent in the early going. For Baty, it’s a natural adjustment process. For Soto, it’s a bit more speculative. Maybe he felt more at ease in the role of “guy who is playing to prove his worth” than “guy who is trying to justify the contract he received.” Soto had been in the “I’m betting on myself” role for 3 years since rejecting the Nats 400mm offer.
I think this idea of pressure from wanting to produce for the team you finally chose is legitimate. Both Scott Boras and Stearns have noted the different pressures associated with both roles. Also, how deeply has Soto worked with Chavez et al., about changing his approach? He’s taking 56% (iirc) of first pitches in all AB’s. If that percentage is off I do know that it’s a career high rate. He’s been more reactive than attacking so far for whatever reason. But, I believe that’s class trumps all over a season. Soto didn’t forget how to be a magnificent hitter any more than Secretariat would forget how to run after changing barns. Good baseball seasons -meaning memorable for fans-have about 10-12 distinct periods and storylines a year. Soto’s storyline is going to be us laughing and saying “remember when people were worried about Soto?” by the ASB. It’s our version of 2015’s “remember when John Mayberry Jr hit cleanup for this team?” bemusement as Cespedes was guillotining the Nationals in 2015.
Two of our other stories whose impacts cannot be overemphasized: Senga and Diaz. In the pre season it was easy to forget about Senga, given his very internal “how does my body feel,” process for injury rehab and season preparation. It was almost like “whatever we get from Senga, we get.” Well, what we are getting is a solid lesson in what it means to casually add a true ace to last year’s playoff team. It’s enormous, and certainly his dominance has let Manaea rehab with zero pressure. Mets have really covered for Soto, and in a different way for Manaea and Montas, by being a first-place team (tiebreaker in our favor, baby)! Any negativity, especially about Soto, doesn’t get anywhere near the traction it would have if the Mets were scuffling.
Now, it’s time to appreciate Sugar Diaz. He never quite had it all in sync last year after the lost 2023. But his balls and his guile got him through huge moments in a playoff run while sitting 3-4 mph lower than his 22 velo and seemingly only having control of both his slider and FB on a few occasions. This year, he’s clearly worked with Hefner and the trainers to get all his mechanics and leg lengths in line. The result is that Diaz is back to Platonic Form Diaz, and there is no more fun closer in the game. Sound the trumpets!
Interesting road trip coming up. My only thought for this week (disclaimer that my new Mauricio jersey has arrived) is for Ronny to keep raking, and have Stearns execute the inevitable plan to bring him up and take Young’s AB’s and likely Acuna’s. Ronny is my guy, my favorite prospect since the aforementioned Reyes. And I cannot wait to see him back up for the Nationals series starting 6/10. That’s my guess.
OK, have a great day fellow Mets fans and scribes, I’m off to Citi to try and catch a brooming to start June! LFGM!
Baty: 16 starts, 16 rbi's, love it. Mauricio is super athletic and I'd love to see him develop into a star, but seems to me if he's brought up, Acuna goes down and he was looking so good until about four weeks ago. I dunno. Question: why would Phils manager leave Lazardo in to get hammered for 12 runs? Isn't it the prevailing wisdom that if you leave a starter in when he's getting lit up, you'll mess with his confidence and it'll hurt the team in the end?
It appeared as if he was saving his pen....although they are terrible too. I think Lazardo WANTED to get yanked as he deliberately threw HR pitches 😆
It appeared as if he was saving his pen....although they are terrible too. I think Lazardo WANTED to get yanked as he deliberately threw HR pitches 😆
Mauricio is SO intriguing. I don't want to lose Acuña at second (the adjustment he needs to make at the plate is pretty obvious) or Baty at third, but I definitely want to see what Ronny can do.
Acuña is too talented to be kept up as just PR and defensive replacement. He has hitting holes that he needs ABs to improve. Mauricio has murdered AAA and hit some lasers against MLB pitching in 23. I need Ronny to get some serious run. But I’ve had eyes for him for years and do think he’s more intriguing as a toolsy prospect than even Reyes was. I’m ready to wear my #10.
As John says it’s clearly about erasing all health doubts, but I think it’s possible he is up for the June 10 series. You won’t need a 6th starter that week, so you could option Megill for a temp roster fix if you call him up on the offday, June 9.
Oh, I have no doubt if Ronny is healthy, he's going to be on the major league roster. I'm just wondering where he's going to play.
I don't think Baty is going anywhere now. He's found it. So, it's going to come down to Acuña or Vientos being sent down to open up second or third, or possibly Mauricio being the right-handed bat in left field, which means goodbye to Marte.
Given the way he's been hitting lately, it likely means Luisangel will be the guy left without a chair when the music stops. But I honestly don't think he's going to improve much back in AAA. And without him, we don't have much speed on the basepaths.
Looks like I put the monkey paw on Vientos. Maybe Mark takes a break for the hammy and can also just mentally re-set. Room for all the kids this year. Marte, Nimmo etc. have all had some IL trips during the year.
Vientos’ injury reminded me that we’ve had exceptional position player health through the first 1/3, though.
We've definitely been pretty fortunate. We've had options for the guys we've lost for any length of time (Siri, Winker) and everyone else has been good to go except for a handful of games here and there.
And we still have Manaea and Montas to come back for the second half, so we're looking good on the hill, too.
Anyway, I think you're right: Vientos gets a chance to reset now, Ronny gets a chance to show he belongs with the big club, and we have two whole months to sort it before the stretch run starts in August. I like where we are.
A terrific analysis, and as for Brett let's hope so!
I learned my "real thing" thoughts from Alvarez and Vientos. I'll take Battty's reemergence one game at a time. While he's lengthening the lineup, it was already shortened by Francisco and Mark's downward trend. And I'm thankful Sterns was able to steal Torrens from the Yankees.
Under Stats of the Day - the first bullet - you didn’t tell us who you were talking about. Lol. Has to be Baty.
"[Baty] looks like a different player. He is attacking strikes, he has conviction in the box, he has a plan, and he is clearly more confident, all of which has led to this reformation for Baty."
Seriously. He looks like a different dude. In the past, he stood like a statue in the box. It's usually a good idea to limit the moving parts, but he was too still, too static. I was talking about breaking down his stance and making some changes just to make him more dynamic in the box.
Since he's come back up, different story. I think he's found it. Great to see.