This season was one of the most miserable I can remember in my 52 years as a fan (and I’ve seen a lot of losing baseball) because of the expectations after reaching the NLCS and then signing Soto. I’ll admit I wasn’t super concerned with the pitching going into the season with Manaea and Senga leading the rotation. It obviously didn’t work.
All season though, it was the lineup that really frustrated me. I don’t want Nimmo or McNeil back. I’ve seen enough. Nimmo is almost impossible to trade though. I like Baty at 3rd, he showed me he’s a major leaguer - good defense and OK bat. I move on from Acuna, Mauricio, Vientos. They won’t bring back much but we need to open up spots for Benge and Jett.
I hope they lean into the young pitching but we also need to sign or trade for a legit top of the rotation pitcher. I don’t know who that is but I’m guessing it’ll have to be from a trade.
I have faith in Stearns - he had a tough year - and of course Cohen. I also like Mendoza. It was tough to manage when most of the team wasn’t performing the way they should.
I think Justin hit the nail on the head talking about Sevy and Q. We should have run it back with them. And the Montas contract was simply unfathomable. That's a lot of bank for a guy who has had one good season.
But the bottom line is, this team lacked fire. And the reason is because we fell behind so much, so early. Nothing is more demoralizing to a team than seeing opponents put up a crooked number in their first or second turn through, night after night.
So, here we are. We clearly need to tighten up our defense. We need to average 6 IP+ across the rotation, and we probably need to grab one veteran front-line starter this winter to get there. And we absolutely need to play better fundamental baseball. We were simply a poor ballclub from June 13 on.
That's going to mean some painful changes to the roster. But as Branch Rickey said, "Don't let your ballclub grow old together."
I can understand them not wanting to pay Sevy, but I think they might have gotten Q back more cheaply. OTOH, the real issue is Montas. He's not even that cheap. Looked like a "know that guy" move that wouldn't have been done without that team connection.
I await the 'painful' choices, though it will include the loss of someone that have some fan support. The "fundies" bit is key too, but it is damn depressing that is still an issue on the team. The ability to steal underlines what good fundies get you.
Agreed all around. And not for nothing, but Quintana was paid less than Ryne Stanek last season.
Yeah. That stings.
Beyond a doubt, the Montas contract was mystifying. I'm sure everyone's jaw dropped with that one. I still don't understand it. I get it, he looked good against us for a few innings in 2024 and the Pitching Lab probably thought they had an insight everyone else had missed, but $17 million per?
Sheesh. Just look at the back of the dude's baseball card.
One of the problems this team has it that is has no one who can consistently put the ball in play. Lindor, when traded for was a .300 hitter. Now he has tried to be a slugger, hits .260 and strikes out way too much, and has become very streaky. Alonso was always hit or miss, but he actually improved his approach this season. Nimmo. I want the guy with .400 OBP back, not the slugger he is trying to be. Soto. Did not realize he struck out so much, espeically for a guy with such a discerning eye. This team will beat up bad teams offensively, all hit at the same time, and struggle against better pitching because they dont adapt.
Well, I hear and agree with all your feelings but I’ve been experiencing these emotions, these highs and lows since 1962! But as the saying goes : You gotta BELIEVE and oh yea, Wait Till Next Year!!!
Jeff McNeil has the potential to be a useful piece for some team. He is flexible in defensive positions and still has the potential to be useful offensively. He also provides the team with some character. I'm not saying he should stay. But he definitely was low on my concerns.
If the locker room has to change again, where does the buck stop? The manager. Teams have flaws. The pitching alone wasn't why they lost all those games. A key blame goes to the manager.
Some people, though there is pushback, argue that Pete Alonso has questionable defense. The other issue for me is that they repeatedly lost with him, too. 0-70, and he never had that moment like with the Brewers. The law of averages would alone suggest he would. He didn't.
He had a good year, but he is not off the hook in my book.
I don’t know if you guys watched the same season as I did and how you’re surprised this happened. I broke up with this team with a month left in the season as I’ve seen this movie before. Even if this team made the playoffs they would be done already there too. McClean would’ve pitched a gem and the bullpen would’ve blown it. This is what this franchise does and to me the reason I’m pissed is the owner called out the fans over attendance and we answered that call by breaking the home attendance record for a season and this is what they did to us. Not every fan has deep pockets. Some people need to save up money to bring their kids to ball games and sneak in sammiches because they can’t afford to buy $8 hot dogs and $16 beers. I’m not personally one of them but I know people like that. They are the fans who have little kids and struggle to go and this team does that to them. Mebbe it was one of the games they put up 12 runs and squeaked it out or mebbe it was on where the pen blew it. This is still a shit organization as I’m hearing it from all my buddies who are Yankees fans. Soto goes on ESPN saying he’s studying film now?? WTF?? He should’ve been doing that all season!! Screw this season and this team this season. This was no surprise to me and I’m also done with Gary Cohen. He has changed since he began his career. He needs the last word on everything when another word didn’t need to be spoken. This team has a lot to do for me to be back on the wagon. I’d also think of another team now as I’m looking at Tennessee for my retirement state and if they get a franchise I may jump ship. I’m not exasperated as I expected this and I’m sick of my wasted time with this team.
You don’t think Gary tries to “one up” and have the last word all the time? He used to be more awestruck that he was working with G&K now he wants to be the smartest guy in the room.
Thanks guys. Great recap of a lost season.
This season was one of the most miserable I can remember in my 52 years as a fan (and I’ve seen a lot of losing baseball) because of the expectations after reaching the NLCS and then signing Soto. I’ll admit I wasn’t super concerned with the pitching going into the season with Manaea and Senga leading the rotation. It obviously didn’t work.
All season though, it was the lineup that really frustrated me. I don’t want Nimmo or McNeil back. I’ve seen enough. Nimmo is almost impossible to trade though. I like Baty at 3rd, he showed me he’s a major leaguer - good defense and OK bat. I move on from Acuna, Mauricio, Vientos. They won’t bring back much but we need to open up spots for Benge and Jett.
I hope they lean into the young pitching but we also need to sign or trade for a legit top of the rotation pitcher. I don’t know who that is but I’m guessing it’ll have to be from a trade.
I have faith in Stearns - he had a tough year - and of course Cohen. I also like Mendoza. It was tough to manage when most of the team wasn’t performing the way they should.
I think Justin hit the nail on the head talking about Sevy and Q. We should have run it back with them. And the Montas contract was simply unfathomable. That's a lot of bank for a guy who has had one good season.
But the bottom line is, this team lacked fire. And the reason is because we fell behind so much, so early. Nothing is more demoralizing to a team than seeing opponents put up a crooked number in their first or second turn through, night after night.
So, here we are. We clearly need to tighten up our defense. We need to average 6 IP+ across the rotation, and we probably need to grab one veteran front-line starter this winter to get there. And we absolutely need to play better fundamental baseball. We were simply a poor ballclub from June 13 on.
That's going to mean some painful changes to the roster. But as Branch Rickey said, "Don't let your ballclub grow old together."
I can understand them not wanting to pay Sevy, but I think they might have gotten Q back more cheaply. OTOH, the real issue is Montas. He's not even that cheap. Looked like a "know that guy" move that wouldn't have been done without that team connection.
I await the 'painful' choices, though it will include the loss of someone that have some fan support. The "fundies" bit is key too, but it is damn depressing that is still an issue on the team. The ability to steal underlines what good fundies get you.
Agreed all around. And not for nothing, but Quintana was paid less than Ryne Stanek last season.
Yeah. That stings.
Beyond a doubt, the Montas contract was mystifying. I'm sure everyone's jaw dropped with that one. I still don't understand it. I get it, he looked good against us for a few innings in 2024 and the Pitching Lab probably thought they had an insight everyone else had missed, but $17 million per?
Sheesh. Just look at the back of the dude's baseball card.
One of the problems this team has it that is has no one who can consistently put the ball in play. Lindor, when traded for was a .300 hitter. Now he has tried to be a slugger, hits .260 and strikes out way too much, and has become very streaky. Alonso was always hit or miss, but he actually improved his approach this season. Nimmo. I want the guy with .400 OBP back, not the slugger he is trying to be. Soto. Did not realize he struck out so much, espeically for a guy with such a discerning eye. This team will beat up bad teams offensively, all hit at the same time, and struggle against better pitching because they dont adapt.
As a journalist used to say, "And so it goes!"
Billy Joel is a journalist?
I was referring to a journalist from years ago, Linda Elerbee
Well, I hear and agree with all your feelings but I’ve been experiencing these emotions, these highs and lows since 1962! But as the saying goes : You gotta BELIEVE and oh yea, Wait Till Next Year!!!
Jeff McNeil has the potential to be a useful piece for some team. He is flexible in defensive positions and still has the potential to be useful offensively. He also provides the team with some character. I'm not saying he should stay. But he definitely was low on my concerns.
If the locker room has to change again, where does the buck stop? The manager. Teams have flaws. The pitching alone wasn't why they lost all those games. A key blame goes to the manager.
Some people, though there is pushback, argue that Pete Alonso has questionable defense. The other issue for me is that they repeatedly lost with him, too. 0-70, and he never had that moment like with the Brewers. The law of averages would alone suggest he would. He didn't.
He had a good year, but he is not off the hook in my book.
I don’t know if you guys watched the same season as I did and how you’re surprised this happened. I broke up with this team with a month left in the season as I’ve seen this movie before. Even if this team made the playoffs they would be done already there too. McClean would’ve pitched a gem and the bullpen would’ve blown it. This is what this franchise does and to me the reason I’m pissed is the owner called out the fans over attendance and we answered that call by breaking the home attendance record for a season and this is what they did to us. Not every fan has deep pockets. Some people need to save up money to bring their kids to ball games and sneak in sammiches because they can’t afford to buy $8 hot dogs and $16 beers. I’m not personally one of them but I know people like that. They are the fans who have little kids and struggle to go and this team does that to them. Mebbe it was one of the games they put up 12 runs and squeaked it out or mebbe it was on where the pen blew it. This is still a shit organization as I’m hearing it from all my buddies who are Yankees fans. Soto goes on ESPN saying he’s studying film now?? WTF?? He should’ve been doing that all season!! Screw this season and this team this season. This was no surprise to me and I’m also done with Gary Cohen. He has changed since he began his career. He needs the last word on everything when another word didn’t need to be spoken. This team has a lot to do for me to be back on the wagon. I’d also think of another team now as I’m looking at Tennessee for my retirement state and if they get a franchise I may jump ship. I’m not exasperated as I expected this and I’m sick of my wasted time with this team.
Don't really know what your issue with Gary Cohen is here, nor why you think most of us were "surprised" by the ending.
I think most people probably expected it after awhile, but just hoped we'd be wrong.
You don’t think Gary tries to “one up” and have the last word all the time? He used to be more awestruck that he was working with G&K now he wants to be the smartest guy in the room.
Idk I don’t really pay attention to that. I think he’s a great broadcaster and that’s all I really care about there.
He called Keith and Ron his “brothers” after the game on Sunday and I don’t feel like that was fake.
I don’t doubt it’s fake. I just see it as being ballsy for a guy who never played the game.