The single biggest reason for the fiasco that is 2026 is the substitution of Polanco for Alonso. Now and then a good AAA hitter too old to be considered a prospect will succeed when given a chance and they lucked out with Young.
Unless a few big acquisitions are made this winter, we'll see a lot of 8-2 games next year. I'd listen to offers on Alvarez but catchers who can hit are very hard to come by.
I’ve taken Stearns to the woodshed several times since last Winter. Not because of his skills (he is quite gifted), but because of his lack of awareness of the aggregate. Mets made a million bets this year. On top of that, they gutted the managerial layer in the dugout and coaching corps to navigate the team. Extreme hubris plus extreme speculation led to our 2026 Flushing “Season in the Sun.”
That said, some bets I supported (Alonzo,Diaz, and I the risk/reward with Nimmo, for example). Other moves, less so. He did seem dead sure of himself on Young. I thought he was nuts. You nailed it. He saw a part of the 1B fix, liked Young’s glove and field judgement, bet he could transition, and so far won the bet. Not the everyday guy, but platoon and pinch hitter next year? Excellent use of a roster spot.
The single biggest reason for the fiasco that is 2026 is the substitution of Polanco for Alonso. Now and then a good AAA hitter too old to be considered a prospect will succeed when given a chance and they lucked out with Young.
Shawn is nearly done as he's not effective anymore. I saw that shellacking a mile away too. Alvarez needs a different atmosphere.
Unless a few big acquisitions are made this winter, we'll see a lot of 8-2 games next year. I'd listen to offers on Alvarez but catchers who can hit are very hard to come by.
Right. No credit awarded for Jared Young. The Mets backed into something that worked.
Ms. Surovich:
Superb assessment.
I’ve taken Stearns to the woodshed several times since last Winter. Not because of his skills (he is quite gifted), but because of his lack of awareness of the aggregate. Mets made a million bets this year. On top of that, they gutted the managerial layer in the dugout and coaching corps to navigate the team. Extreme hubris plus extreme speculation led to our 2026 Flushing “Season in the Sun.”
That said, some bets I supported (Alonzo,Diaz, and I the risk/reward with Nimmo, for example). Other moves, less so. He did seem dead sure of himself on Young. I thought he was nuts. You nailed it. He saw a part of the 1B fix, liked Young’s glove and field judgement, bet he could transition, and so far won the bet. Not the everyday guy, but platoon and pinch hitter next year? Excellent use of a roster spot.
Again, well said.
Steve