Tag Archives: The Beanball

The New York Mets Need to Sign Shin-Soo Choo This Off-Season

Posted on May 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

The New York Mets offense is struggling. The team has a collective .230/.302/.382 triple-slash, with a .684 OPS–which ranks 26th in the major leagues. However, the real issue is with the Mets’ outfield. Mets’ center fielders have combined for a .530 OPS+ (worst in the majors) and right fielders a .621 (tied for third worst). While Mike Baxter and Andrew Brown, perhaps, deserve a chance to start this season, the Mets need to sign to-be free agent Shin-Soo Choo this coming off-season. Continue reading →

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Posted in Free Agency

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The Resurgence of Nate McLouth

Posted on May 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

It wasn’t too long ago that Nate McLouth was one of the more exciting, young outfielders in baseball. In 2008, McLouth–in his fourth major league season–posted a 125 OPS+, 26 HR, and 23 SB campaign for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The then 26 year-old also led the league with 46 doubles.

Perhaps channeling incredible foresight, the Pirates dealt the recently-extended McLouth mid-2009 to the Atlanta Braves for a package of prospects. At the time, it seemed as though the Braves had acquired a franchise cornerstone–but unfortunately, it couldn’t have been further from the case. Continue reading →

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5 MLB Prospects Making the Most of Their Unexpected Playing Time

Posted on May 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe it, but there has officially been a full month of baseball. While a month might be too early to, say, tab the currently reigning Kansas City Royals as the “team to beat” in the AL Central, it is a reasonable period of time to react to rookies’ performances.

Out of spring training, there were five notable prospects who, for one reason or another, were able to win a spot on their respective organization’s major league rosters. Below is a pulse check on how those five are currently performing. Continue reading →

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What the Mets should do with Daniel Murphy, Part 2

Posted on May 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

The first part of this two-part series detailed a possible extension scenario for Daniel Murphy. Extending him through his final two arbitration and first two free agent seasons would make some sense for the New York Mets, but the organization should simultaneously attempt to generate trade interest for the 28-year-old’s services, too.

The Mets’ farm system is relatively weak in terms of natural second basemen (i.e. Daniel Muno and Branden Kaupe), but the front office has prudently pushed offense-first Wilmer Flores to learn the position at Triple-A this season.

The 21-year-old infielder played 24 games at second base in 2012, and has already logged another 18 at the position so far in 2013. While Flores might never become a plus defender—or even a league average one—his bat could make up for it. At least that’s what the Mets are banking on. Continue reading →

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What the Mets should do with Daniel Murphy, Part 1

Posted on May 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

Among Mets fans, Daniel Murphy is a contentious player. They are generally split on how to view the 28-year-old infielder. To most, Murphy is a solid-hitting, hard-nosed starting second baseman, who would ideally be a super utility option on a playoff caliber team. To others, however, Murphy conjures up pure contempt. Starkly differing sentiments not withstanding, there is still a case to be made for a contract extension. Continue reading →

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Justin Upton Trade Already Haunting Diamondbacks

Posted on April 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

In 2011, Justin Upton emerged as an elite hitter in the major leagues. Upton, then 23 years old, already had a 26-home run season under his belt, but 2011 was different. His 141 OPS+ ranked just outside the top 10 in the National League, and his 31 home runs were tied for ninth. Upton’s maturation into one of the league’s finest hitters was not a surprise; success was always an expectation.

Upton was the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. After dominating at all levels in the minors, the Arizona Diamondbacks promoted the 19 year-old to the show — where he became a fixture in the Diamondbacks outfield for the next five seasons.

But after a rough 2012 season in which the hitter posted a comparatively mediocre .280/.355/.430 line and just 17 home runs, the formerly untouchable stud became expendable. Continue reading →

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Would Extending Dillon Gee Make Sense for the Mets?

Posted on April 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

Matt Harvey has been the toast of town. And rightfully so. The 24-year-old has hurled a 1.54 ERA, 2.39 FIP, and 3.9 K/BB through 35 innings, and has also been victorious in all four of his decisions. Harvey’s dominant performance to date has prompted just about every Mets fan to wonder when the organization will extend the budding ace.

However, according to Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal — and much to the chagrin of Mets fans — the Mets haven’t broached the subject yet.

While there is no doubt the Mets should quickly extend Harvey before he starts booking Light ‘N Lively Yogurt ads, the team should also consider locking up his more modestly performing rotation-mate, Dillon Gee. Continue reading →

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What a Matt Harvey Extension Could Look Like

Posted on April 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

Through the first month of the season, the main attraction in Flushing has been Matt Harvey. Harvey has dazzled both Mets and baseball fans alike with a 1.54 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and 3.90 K/BB. He’s even won 4 of his first 5 starts in 2013. But with each dominant game the 24 year-old ace spins, his future price tag only increases. And that’s why the Mets need to extend Harvey soon–if not next week.

Even though Harvey has yet to pitch a full season, there is still plenty of incentive for the Mets to extend their brightest homegrown pitcher since Dwight Gooden. In 15 career starts, Harvey has owned a 2.29 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 3.03 K/BB–but he’s also been worth 3.4 WAR. Since 1.0 WAR is roughly equivalent to $5.5 million, Harvey has been worth around $18.7 million in just 88 1/3 innings.

But as great as Harvey has been so far, how much will he be worth in the future? Continue reading →

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Will the Washington Nationals Be the Next Baseball Dynasty?

Posted on April 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

In 2012, the Washington Nationals advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1981. Just to give you a sense of how long ago that was, Ronald Reagan was in the ninth month of his first term as president, ‘Endless Love’ by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie was blowing up the airwaves, and the Nationals were still the Montreal Expos.

Yet, the team’s 98 win season last year was no fluke. While the Nats made a big off-season acquisition by trading for Gio Gonzalez, one can really attribute their success to the big contributions by former first round picks Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.

Strasburg, who had required Tommy John surgery in late-August 2010, hurled a dominant 3.16 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 4.10 K/BB over 159.3 innings. His incredible 11.13 K/9 clip also bested any other starting pitcher in the major leagues.

The 19-year-old Harper looked like a veteran All-Star in his rookie debut, posting a .270/.340/.477 line with 22 HR and 18 SB, while gloving a 1.4 dWAR. In addition, his 5.2 WAR ranked just outside the top twenty.

With a homegrown core of Strasburg, Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen, and Ross Detwiler, as well as trade and free agent acquisitions like Gonzalez, Denard Span, Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche, Dan Haren, Rafael Soriano, and Tyler Clippard, the organization has the makings of a dynasty. Continue reading →

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How Bad Is the New York Mets’ Outfield?

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Everyone knows “bad” when he or she sees it.

The 2003 Ben Affleck-Jennifer Lopez film “Gigli” scored a 7% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Canadian rock band Nickelback, despite having sold 50 million records worldwide, is often the subject of ridicule among music aficionados.

And even the durian, a notoriously stinky fruit native to and beloved by Southeast Asia, is abhorrent to just about everyone else.

Yet some things, joking or opinions aside, are actually bad.

The 2013 New York Mets outfield is, unfortunately, a prime example. It is indisputable how untalented, and frankly, unacceptably dismal the Mets’ outfield will be this coming season. Continue reading →

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