Waste Management

 

I understand that the Mets were following the plan that made the most sense to them. Getting Harvey, Syndergaard, Wheeler, Matz and deGrom at the same time was very big for them. There wasn't always room to start games. Seth Lugo got his fair share, but was never a priority. Even as people left and less-than-favorable options appeared in Queens, Lugo remained a bullpen option. Then he becomes a free agent in 2023 and starts fielding offers as a starter. The Padres bite, he does well, the Royals give him a better deal, and last year he has a Cy Young caliber season. However, he is now 35. I know it's possible to have great starting careers after 30, Charlie Morton has proved this, but...that doesn't leave Lugo much time to be a truly great starter. 

The Mets had someone that could have been another sure thing for them, and they did nothing with him. And of course this year they sign Clay Holmes to start games like it's the same thing. It's not.

Lugo, so far for the Royals, has been as consistent as ever. He's got a 2.93 ERA, a 1.048 WHIP and a 2.1 WAR. The issue is he's 4-5, because the Royals aren't as good this year and haven't had a great monthlong run. And he's pitched on mediocre teams and done fine, but...he's 35. I have no idea when Lugo's gonna stop pitching this well. If you waste this season, it's just like wasting the other ones in Queens. You have somebody this good, and you're stuttering around and putting Hunter Renfroe out there and acting like everything's fine. 

And honestly, we're a point where the Royals' rotation is honestly fantastic. Kris Bubic is having his best season to date, with a 3.0 WAR, a 2.18 ERA and 96 Ks. Michael Wacha's having another excellent late-career year, with a 3.24 ERA. Noah Cameron, barring some recent starts, has been extremely consistent, with a 2.08 ERA. Lorenzen, even if his ERA is higher, has been a relatively consistent arm. But only Bubic has a positive W/L ratio. Because the bullpen is so mediocre, because the lineup has so many 'good but not excellent' guys, and because there are just so many competitors who are simply better, this team is squandering a strong, consistent rotation. 

You can see them trying to get a new strategy here, bringing up Jac Caglianone, who's yet to hit above .200 but at least is finding himself. You're getting production from Witt, Pasquantino and Perez. But there still feels like there's elements missing, and it feels like the fire that got them to an NLDS last year isn't there. Maybe things shift and they find someone's presence that fuels a run, but as it is now it's not looking good.

Coming Tomorrow- One of many really sharp young guys keeping the Brewers in the conversation.