Post by Commissioner Erick on May 27, 2019 18:18:19 GMT -5
Miami Marlins (35-47) @ New York Mets (40-41)
MIA: Daniel Norris (1-6, 6.34)
NYM: Matt Andriese (6-4, 3.00)
Another season, another year where the New York Mets get beat down by injuries. Another season, another year where the Miami Marlins' youngsters fail to coalesce into a talented unit.
Two teams will try to break out of their mold when the Mets take on the Marlins in the Game of the Week.
Assuming Jacob deGrom gets some time off with the All Star Game upcoming to rest his injured back, two of the five Mets starters are on the DL. Two of their late inning relievers are out. Three of their four outfielders are out. It's staggering just how limited the Mets are due to injuries.
It's also just as frustrating how many big names have been acquired this year who are healthy and not producing. Mookie Betts has been perhaps the most underwhelming players. A .300 hitter with 30 home run power and 20 steal baserunning two seasons ago, Betts took a step back last year and has fallen apart this year. Betts is hitting just .241 with six steals so far. He's only been successful on five of his ten stolen base attempts. The Mets were expecting a star to help them get back to the upper echelon of the NL East, and they've gotten an expensive bust.
The Mets also claimed Felix Hernandez on waivers late last season. The Mets thought they were getting an expensive, but dependable back-end starter. Hernandez, instead, has been one of the worst performers in baseball. Hernandez has a 7.76 ERA through 62.2 innings. He's allowed 15 home runs and has struck out just 40 batters. Hernandez' contract runs through 2024 with an option for 2025, so he's one of the most burdensome contracts in the league.
Despite all this, the Mets can get to .500 with a win tonight. They're 5.5 back of the Padres, and 5 back of the Rockies in the Wild Card race, which is pretty remarkable considering the events of the season. Part of why the Mets are still competitive is a nice trade Steve Cox made with the Reds to stabilize the rotation.
Former All-Star Matt Andriese was acquired from Cincinnati in May, and he's been a nice addition. His ERA on the year is an even 3.00, though it's 3.43 as a Met. Andriese's home run and walk numbers have been remarkably consistent. He's been between 3.10% and 3.47% home runs allowed each season. Also, his walk rate has been between 4.87% and 6.99% each year. He hasn't allowed more than one home run in a game this season, and after the first game of the year, he hasn't walked more than two batters in a game either. The Marlins are going to have to score runs the earnest way.
That will be tough for a team with the second to worst batting average in the National League. The Marlins have had major problems trying to put together a lineup, despite a number of high-profile prospects. Trent Clark and Jeren Kendall have each been top 20 prospects in the past, and each is still a league average player. Clark has shown off excellent defense in Left Field, plus he's on pace to steal 22 bases. However, he's hitting .242 and has a slugging mark under .400.
Kendall, after showing signs of being an offensive contributor last year, has put together a .195/.305/.325 mark. He has 20 steals, and could win a second Gold Glove with his stellar Center Field defense. He's patient at the plate, but with a middling hit tool, it simply results in a lot of strikeouts. The Marlins are having a hell of a time trying to determine what his ideal role in an offense is. Right now he's hitting sixth, but he's also spent a lot of time hitting leadoff and even ninth.
Kendall's disappointing bat wouldn't be as much of a concern if he were the only one struggling. However, so many Marlins have put up worse numbers this year compared to last year. Donny Sands had a nice Rookie Year with the bat, but his OPS has dropped roughly 100 points. Willi Castro was a youngster who led the league in Doubles last year. This year, he's hitting .253 and is on pace for about 20 fewer doubles than he clubbed last year. Jose Abreu's production has nosedived, resulting in a .650 OPS as a First Baseman. Even Wilmer Flores, who is having a strong season, is a little worse offensively than he was last year. Some of that is the park difference moving from Houston to Miami, but his 2.8 WAR pace is down significantly from a 4.3 last year.
That fact that so many people have declined from last year reflects terribly on new Hitting Coach Dan LeBlanc. LeBlanc had an excellent run as a Triple A Hitting Coach for the Mariners, but it hasn't translated to Miami. Keoni De Renne was the old Marlins Hitting Coach, but despite a good minor league career and a strong finish when he was brought on for a half season in 2019, was disappointing in 2020.
If the Marlins can't turn things around in the second half, LeBlanc may not get a second year to turn things around.
Questions for the GM's:
For Ben Vincent, it's been a disappointing year in that your young hitters haven't developed. Will there be changes to management if this continues?
Brady McConnell had a great start to his career, but his bat really tailed off as pitchers got a read on him. What is your expectation for McConnell's role with Miami in 2022.
Matt Andriese is a hitter who won't give up too many homers, nor will he walk too many hitters. Will you tailor your lineup against him specifically, or is your nominal starting nine what you're going to roll out?
For Steve Cox, Oswaldo Arcia has patiently bided his time in Las Vegas, mashing the ball in two partial seasons in the desert. He's looked good, hitting for power in a brief stint with the big club. Why did you sign him and keep him around these past few years?
With all the injuries, you've elevated rookie Jordan Humphries to a setup role, and he's looked good. What have you seen from the young righty?
Orlando Arcia has been benched in favor of Jason Kipnis against righties. What does Kipnis provide that Arcia wasn't?
Jacob DeGrom has some back issues flaring up. Will you put him on the DL and make a few tweaks to your roster, or ride it out and let him rest during the All Star Break?
MIA: Daniel Norris (1-6, 6.34)
NYM: Matt Andriese (6-4, 3.00)
Another season, another year where the New York Mets get beat down by injuries. Another season, another year where the Miami Marlins' youngsters fail to coalesce into a talented unit.
Two teams will try to break out of their mold when the Mets take on the Marlins in the Game of the Week.
Assuming Jacob deGrom gets some time off with the All Star Game upcoming to rest his injured back, two of the five Mets starters are on the DL. Two of their late inning relievers are out. Three of their four outfielders are out. It's staggering just how limited the Mets are due to injuries.
It's also just as frustrating how many big names have been acquired this year who are healthy and not producing. Mookie Betts has been perhaps the most underwhelming players. A .300 hitter with 30 home run power and 20 steal baserunning two seasons ago, Betts took a step back last year and has fallen apart this year. Betts is hitting just .241 with six steals so far. He's only been successful on five of his ten stolen base attempts. The Mets were expecting a star to help them get back to the upper echelon of the NL East, and they've gotten an expensive bust.
The Mets also claimed Felix Hernandez on waivers late last season. The Mets thought they were getting an expensive, but dependable back-end starter. Hernandez, instead, has been one of the worst performers in baseball. Hernandez has a 7.76 ERA through 62.2 innings. He's allowed 15 home runs and has struck out just 40 batters. Hernandez' contract runs through 2024 with an option for 2025, so he's one of the most burdensome contracts in the league.
Despite all this, the Mets can get to .500 with a win tonight. They're 5.5 back of the Padres, and 5 back of the Rockies in the Wild Card race, which is pretty remarkable considering the events of the season. Part of why the Mets are still competitive is a nice trade Steve Cox made with the Reds to stabilize the rotation.
Former All-Star Matt Andriese was acquired from Cincinnati in May, and he's been a nice addition. His ERA on the year is an even 3.00, though it's 3.43 as a Met. Andriese's home run and walk numbers have been remarkably consistent. He's been between 3.10% and 3.47% home runs allowed each season. Also, his walk rate has been between 4.87% and 6.99% each year. He hasn't allowed more than one home run in a game this season, and after the first game of the year, he hasn't walked more than two batters in a game either. The Marlins are going to have to score runs the earnest way.
That will be tough for a team with the second to worst batting average in the National League. The Marlins have had major problems trying to put together a lineup, despite a number of high-profile prospects. Trent Clark and Jeren Kendall have each been top 20 prospects in the past, and each is still a league average player. Clark has shown off excellent defense in Left Field, plus he's on pace to steal 22 bases. However, he's hitting .242 and has a slugging mark under .400.
Kendall, after showing signs of being an offensive contributor last year, has put together a .195/.305/.325 mark. He has 20 steals, and could win a second Gold Glove with his stellar Center Field defense. He's patient at the plate, but with a middling hit tool, it simply results in a lot of strikeouts. The Marlins are having a hell of a time trying to determine what his ideal role in an offense is. Right now he's hitting sixth, but he's also spent a lot of time hitting leadoff and even ninth.
Kendall's disappointing bat wouldn't be as much of a concern if he were the only one struggling. However, so many Marlins have put up worse numbers this year compared to last year. Donny Sands had a nice Rookie Year with the bat, but his OPS has dropped roughly 100 points. Willi Castro was a youngster who led the league in Doubles last year. This year, he's hitting .253 and is on pace for about 20 fewer doubles than he clubbed last year. Jose Abreu's production has nosedived, resulting in a .650 OPS as a First Baseman. Even Wilmer Flores, who is having a strong season, is a little worse offensively than he was last year. Some of that is the park difference moving from Houston to Miami, but his 2.8 WAR pace is down significantly from a 4.3 last year.
That fact that so many people have declined from last year reflects terribly on new Hitting Coach Dan LeBlanc. LeBlanc had an excellent run as a Triple A Hitting Coach for the Mariners, but it hasn't translated to Miami. Keoni De Renne was the old Marlins Hitting Coach, but despite a good minor league career and a strong finish when he was brought on for a half season in 2019, was disappointing in 2020.
If the Marlins can't turn things around in the second half, LeBlanc may not get a second year to turn things around.
Questions for the GM's:
For Ben Vincent, it's been a disappointing year in that your young hitters haven't developed. Will there be changes to management if this continues?
Brady McConnell had a great start to his career, but his bat really tailed off as pitchers got a read on him. What is your expectation for McConnell's role with Miami in 2022.
Matt Andriese is a hitter who won't give up too many homers, nor will he walk too many hitters. Will you tailor your lineup against him specifically, or is your nominal starting nine what you're going to roll out?
For Steve Cox, Oswaldo Arcia has patiently bided his time in Las Vegas, mashing the ball in two partial seasons in the desert. He's looked good, hitting for power in a brief stint with the big club. Why did you sign him and keep him around these past few years?
With all the injuries, you've elevated rookie Jordan Humphries to a setup role, and he's looked good. What have you seen from the young righty?
Orlando Arcia has been benched in favor of Jason Kipnis against righties. What does Kipnis provide that Arcia wasn't?
Jacob DeGrom has some back issues flaring up. Will you put him on the DL and make a few tweaks to your roster, or ride it out and let him rest during the All Star Break?
