Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Mets

 

I went back and looked at my coverage of the Mets this year as their season progressed, and for two months I was disappointed that they seemed to have learned nothing from the previous years, and kept getting caught with their pants down once they seemed to be on a hot streak. And then in June everything clicked. Different people have attributed this to either Francisco Alvarez returning to the lineup, Carlos Mendoza calling a tense, 'come to Jesus' style meeting, or, ultimately, Grimace throwing out the first pitch. But whatever it was, it worked, because this Mets team ignited and made it as far as the NLCS. 

A season that began with such a torrid April and May, and Francisco Lindor struggling like never before, ended with Kodai Senga starting playoff games. I never could have guessed it, man. And now 2025 is gonna have Lindor AND Soto. Jeez.

While he ultimately wasn't as wholly terrific as his June was, Harrison Bader provided an endearing season after losing some goodwill last year. Mets fans really warmed up to this guy [at least before he completely shat the bed in August and September]. As the starting centerfielder, he hit .236 with 12 homers and 51 RBIs, and managed two stolen bases during the postseason.

2025 Prediction: Another one-year deal somewhere, possibly split between two teams if the trade deadline rolls their way.

Tylor Megill has constantly been put into positions to capitalize on his early success and just seems to be reluctant to do so, always getting injured or having trouble. Megill was given the 5th starter spot out of camp, and thanks to injuries he only made 16 starts. He finished the season with a 4.04 ERA, 91 Ks and 4 wins. Not bad, but we've clearly seen him do better.

2025 Prediction: I think this year is the last chance Megill has before potentially getting cut, and I think he'll, at the very least, be more consistent and healthy than previous years. 

And with Megill and Senga's inefficiency, that meant that Jose Butto got a ton of first-half starts. Butto always seemed like the 'we're out of ideas' choice for the rotation. Not to discredit Butto's stuff, but he's a perfectly fine pitcher, and the Mets hold themselves to a standard higher than his perfectly serviceable stuff. Split between the rotation and long relief, Butto did prove himself this year, with a 7-3 record, a 2.55 ERA, 79 Ks and a 1.068 WHIP. So he's proven his versatility, which is helpful considering the tumultuous nature of these Mets rotations.

2025 Prediction: Gets 15 starts down the stretch and gives the team some ideas.

In the period in between the injury vacancies and the rise of David Peterson, the Mets tried out top prospect Christian Scott. Scott, a 2021 draft pick, got 9 starts in the majors, and did alright for himself, with a 4.56 ERA. He did go 0-3, as this was mostly during the Mets' nadir period, but his stuff wasn't bad. Ultimately, as is the case with many rookies, he immediately had elbow problems, and will be missing all of 2025 with Tommy John recovery. 

2025 Prediction: N/A

At 38 years old, it's fantastic that Adam Ottavino is still a trustworthy bullpen option for anybody, and it's even better that, despite seeming like he was going to retire last year to become a Mets broadcaster, he returned to Queens to keep at it. Ottavino wasn't at his peak this year, he had a 4.34 ERA with 70 Ks in 60 appearances, but it was fantastic that he could still be a reliable bullpen piece for this team, especially considering how mediocre a lot of other Mets relievers were this year.

2025 Prediction: Now I think he retires...unless the Mets wanna give him one more go..

Many of the Mets' trade deadline gambits have already documented here, especially Jesse Winker, who was a smashing success down the stretch. But the Mets also pulled a trade for Paul Blackburn, who would have been dealt by the A's years ago had he not consistently gotten hurt around the deadline. This year, Blackburn WAS hurt around the deadline, and the Mets traded for him anyway. Blackburn made 5 starts for the Mets, had a 5.18 ERA with a 1-2 record...and then got hurt. What did you expect?

2025 Prediction: Has a slightly healthier go of things, but I'm not sure if he'll particularly energize his free agency case for 2026. Or, like...he goes all 32 and surprises everyone.

Coming Tomorrow- The Nationals used a lot of different players this year on their road to 4th, and the majority of them didn't get unfairly penalized for going to the casino. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Mets

 

For the second year in a row, the New York Mets came into the season with high expectations, and completely crumbled under the pressure of them. They not only procured Justin Verlander, but also Japanese fireballer Kodai Senga; at the very least, Senga ended the year with them. The Mets had so much heading into the year, and slowly it was all whittled away over the course of the season. They lost Verlander, first to injuries and then to Houston, they lost Pham and Robertson and Canha, and they even got lapped by Miami. By the end, Buck Showalter, who'd just won Manager of the Year, was out of a job, and the team was struggling to recoup and deliver anything intimidating going into another season.

So, in summation, not as bad as the hero going down in the first quarter of the first game, but close.

The best way many Mets fans have summed up their 2023 season is through the team's DH, Dan Vogelbach. The team kept him on to power hit. Vogelbach proceeded to...not hit. In 104 games he hit .233 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. Remember, he hit 18 last year, and was actually performing as a power bat between Pittsburgh in New York. Last year's Uncustomed Heroes, I predicted he'd reach 30 homers and become a fan favorite. He did not. Many Mets fans were referring to Vogelbach, a designated hitter that could not hit, as one of the worst Mets of all time. 

2023 Prediction: As much as I want to say that nobody would ever sign him, someone's going to. And...it has to be an improvement, right?

Tylor Megill, for years I'd say, has been on the cusp of greatness but has either been too injured or too inconsistent to really jump on it. Megill, due to the other injuries in the rotation, got 25 starts this year, and went 9-8 with a 4.70 ERA and 105 Ks. Not the most impressive starting guy for the Mets this year, but one of the more consistent ones, sort of by default.

2024 Prediction: 2024 will be Megill's best season. It may also be his way out of New York.

As I predicted last year, the Mets re-signed Adam Ottavino, and the 37-year-old relief veteran continued his excellent late-career run, with a 3.21 ERA and 12 saves in 66 games. Ottavino has been one of the best relievers in his class for the past decade, and if the broadcasting appearances are any indication, he may be thinking about his post-career options.

2024 Prediction: Yeah, I think he's throwing in the towel. OR...or the Mets re-sign him. I think he wants to retire as a Met, and if the Mets don't want him, he might just retire to the broadcast booth.

With the flurry of injuries and trades, a lot of the infield spots were taken by rookies in the latter half of the year. Brett Baty was the highest-publicized one, he was a prospect from last year that got more opportunities in 2023. In 109 games he hit .212 with 34 RBIs and 9 homers. As he's only 23, the hope is that he grows into bigger years.

2024 Prediction: Holds onto 3rd all year and finally shifts into his potential.

Mark Vientos, meanwhile, was the go-to rookie at third, and DH if they didn't want to risk Vogey. Vientos hit .211 and hit 22 RBIs and 9 homers in 65 games.

2024 Prediction: Of the rookie infielders, I think Vientos will have the hardest time finding a regular position going forward.

Then, the Mets brought up mega-prospect Ronny Mauricio late in the year, and unlike a lot of people in this post, he delivered on everything that was reported about him. Through 26 games, Mauricio had 25 hits, 9 RBIs 7 stolen bases and 2 home runs, proving himself right from the start as an engaging, exciting, fast-as-hell player the Mets could build on. During the offseason, Mauricio tore his ACL, and will probably miss the entirety of the 2024 season, because if luck shines on the Mets for more than 5 seconds it's apparently a sin.

2025 Prediction: Lindor-Mauricio will eventually become one of the best double play combos in baseball. Get ready.

Coming Tomorrow- I think I have the most Nationals of any team this month.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2022: Mets

 

In early June of 2022, the New York Mets, heavily regarded as the best team in the NL, were battered in 2 out of 3 games during a series with the San Diego Padres. At the time, it was seen as a misstep. In actuality, it was an omen.

The Mets, as big as they were, as powerful as they were, and as skilled as they were under Buck Showalter, with help from Max Scherzer, Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar and Chris Bassitt, were always going to have a comeuppance. The Astros were good enough to avoid this, but the Mets managed to have two consecutive comeuppances, first losing the division in the final seconds to the Braves, and then losing a playoff series that they original didn't think they'd need to play to a team they didn't think they'd have any trouble with. The Padres lapped them handsomely and lost in the NLCS to the Phillies, a team the Mets frigging no-hit earlier in the year.

I think the biggest Mets piece I didn't get to customizing this year was Luis Guillorme, which is proof that I got pretty much all the big guns during the season. Guillorme once again played the role of the stellar backup infielder in Queens, and though some midyear struggles robbed him of a completely impressive year, he still hit .273 with 81 hits in 102 games. Basically, Guillorme is the backup infielder that the Mets wish Dom Smith was.

2023 Prediction: I see Guillorme playing a similar role, though of Escobar, Lindor and McNeil, one of 'em's gonna get injured and Guillorme's gonna make the best of it.

Speaking of making the best of it, James McCann underwhelmed and got hurt, and in the interim between that and the inevitable Francisco Alvarez promotion, Tomas Nido was the starting catcher for the Mets. He did alright! He hit .239 with 68 hits in 98 games, and he played passable defensive catcher, but he was embraced by the fans as a favorite.

2023 Prediction: Back to backing up McCann, I think. I'm not sure if the Mets are gonna DH Alvarez for a bit like they did this year and eventually bring Alvarez in when McCann's really unreliable. That might be next year actually.

The Mets' top bullpen asset this year was friend of the program and former Yankee Adam Ottavino, who's been consistent as hell since leaving New York. Ottavino had a 2.06 ERA in 66 appearances, and he struck out 79. Ottavino and Edwin Diaz made for some magical relief energy, and the Mets probably want to recapture that as best they can.

2023 Prediction: The Mets re-sign him and he has a slightly more hectic, though still excellent, age-38 season.

Now onto the deadline guys. Tyler Naquin was probably the most versatile August get, as the former Reds outfield bat added to the team's outfield flexibility, and hit 13 RBIs and 4 homers in a backup OF role. 

2023 Prediction: I think he's phasing out of full usefulness, and may get a small deal somewhere in a minor role.

Then there was Darin Ruf, whose trade, parting the team with surer defensive bet J.D. Davis, baffled many Mets fans when it happened. Ruf, as good as he was off the bench for the Giants, was never known for his defense. As mediocre as Ruf's first half was, his second half in Queens was somehow worse, as he hit .152 with 20 strikeouts, 7 RBIs and, shockingly, no home runs. His biggest claim to fame from this time was being the only Mets pitcher not to give up any runs during that catastrophic August 15th match against the Braves. 

2023 Prediction: Who knows? Minor league deal in Seattle? Starting DH in Pittsburgh? Hitting 30 more homers in Korea? I literally have no idea how to predict this guy anymore. 

I don't think there's any question that the single best thing to happen to the Mets in the second half was Dan Vogelbach. Vogey is the kind of power hitter who can fit in everywhere but gloms onto certain markets more than others. Mets fans flocking to Vogey was honestly inevitable. Look at this guy, he looks like a lot of Mets fans I know. Vogey flocked to the starting DH position, and in 55 games he hit .255 with 38 hits, 25 RBIs and 6 homers. What a fun player. Glad the Mets seem to be holding onto him.

2023 Prediction: 30+ homers. Vogey's gonna take a big chomp out of that apple in center field. 

Tomorrow, if you can believe it, there are some Washington Nationals that are notable enough for me to make customs of after the fact.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Red Sox

 

Well, it's Christmastime, and I imagine the Frosty the Snowman specials are getting a lot of play on network TV. You know, the story of the snowman who comes to life with the help of a magic hat, and of course there's the 2nd act conflict where some ass takes the magic hat away and makes the children cry. 

Alex Cora was the magic hat in Boston. You took him away, and so too left the magic. Even with injuries in 2019, they still weren't completely terrible. But in 2020, with no pitching, and no Alex Cora? Absolutely nothing could be done for the Red Sox. It took bringing Cora back, revitalizing the rotation, and adding the littlest pieces like Kiké Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe and Garrett Whitlock, but they were a big force in 2021. The Sox may not have won the East, or the Series, but they reestablished themselves as competitors in 2021. 

Even better, after an injury-plagued 2020, the Red Sox got 31 games out of Eduardo Rodriguez. Eddie had 13 wins, highest on the team, and 185 Ks, 2nd highest [thanks to Eovaldi]. The worrying detail was a high ERA of 4.74, but he proved that his mechanics and velocity are still trusted, and that he can still be a big game pitcher.

2022 Prediction: Of the two major signings made by the Tigers, I predict that Rodriguez will be the more disappointing one. I'm getting Jordan Zimmermann vibes from what they gave him and how long.

After a blistering end to the 2020 season, the Sox gave Bobby Dalbec 1st base [over Michael Chavis, which, in hindsight, shoulda got it]. Dalbec is a one dimensional hitter with occasional perks, and he continued that approach, with a 25-homer year, 78 RBIs, and a .792 OPS. He only hit .240, and his defensive numbers leave a bit to be desired, but he's still a solid member of the team, and can hit for power just like the other big guns on the team.

2022 Prediction: Closer to a peak year. I say he chases 35 homers, has some insane stretch in May, and gets even more eyes on him.

After how unhittable he was in 3 starts at the end of 2020, I kinda figured Tanner Houck would have a bigger role in the Sox team than he did. He was kept in the minors for a great deal of the year, and only appeared in 18 games, but 13 were starts. In those starts he had 73 Ks, and a 3.68 ERA, despite an 0-4 record. He also had 10 more postseason strikeouts, and a win in the ALDS against Tampa, despite some runs against Houston. 

2022 Prediction: Houck has a rotation spot, I think. Paxton might make a run, but Houck has it. And he's gonna be a big eyebrow-raiser off the top of the season. 

The result of a rare trade between Boston and the Yankees, Adam Ottavino was the most utilized reliever for the Red Sox this year, and had a 4.29 ERA, a 7-3 record and 71 Ks. Not quite his Colorado numbers, but still consistent and reliable.

2022 Prediction: Low-key pickup that pays off for another contender. NL, I think. Maybe St. Louis brings him back.

And then, in the last moments of the season, the Sox brought back two former farmhands on waivers. Travis Shaw was an infield piece that left the team in exchange for Tyler Thornburg, and became a star in Milwaukee. Shaw began the season with the Brewers, did alright, and lost the 3rd base job to Luis Urias. So he was claimed by Boston, his old stomping grounds, and hit .238 with 11 RBIs and 3 homers in 28 games.

2022 Prediction: I think he'll retire after not being given a good enough deal.

And after being good-but-not-great in Anaheim, Jose Iglesias also returned to Boston as a backup 2nd baseman for Hernandez's flexibility. In 23 games, Iglesias hit .356 with 21 hits and 7 RBIs, all the production the Angels had been missing. 

2022 Prediction: My guess is the Astros sign him on a one-year.

Tomorrow, as per usual, quite a few Cincinnati Reds. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Yankees

 

I root for two teams who've been good for the last 10 years yet have absolutely refused to stick it in and even contend for a championship. The Yankees, and the Packers. Both teams could have dynasties right now if they had better luck and didn't keep getting clobbered by the same team in the semi final rounds. 

The Yanks may have it more embarrassing. We just get so tantalizingly close and then get beaten by teams who proceed to get beaten themselves in following rounds. It happened in 2012 with the Tigers, it happened in 2015 with the Astros, and it happened this year with the Rays. Whatever magic that happens in the regular season can't be contained for the entirety of the postseason. 

Speaking of fading magic, Gary Sanchez. Used to be so reliable for us, but hit .147 this season with a club-leading 64 Ks, despite 10 homers. He was an anti-presence in the Yanks lineup this year, which makes it kinda cool that he had 3 RBIs and a homer against the Indians in the postseason, but...he's gotta do better. The Yanks nearly got rid of him this year, and he's lucky to still have the catching gig.

2021 Prediction: Either he reworks his swing and gets his groove back or he continues striking out 150 times and loses the starting job to Kyle Higashioka. 

Deivi Garcia was a midyear starting callup for the Yankees, and while his debut was pretty starry, his inexperience caught up to him as he ended with a 4.98 ERA. He did get a 3-2 record and 33 Ks out of his 6 games, but he was also at the mercy of the team, which wasn't good enough in 2020. 

2021 Prediction: He and Sevvy go toe-to-toe as homegrown fireballers, both with full seasons. Garcia will have the most strikeouts for a Yankee pitcher not named Cole. 

Once again, an injury to an outfielder meant a role for Clint Frazier, who proceeded to hit .267 in 39 games with 25 RBIs and 8 homers while filling in for Aaron Judge. Frazier is still a sharp outfield bat for a team with...several, and perhaps he'll get more playing time if the Yanks do not re-sign Brett Gardner. But this is the umpteenth season where he's been absent until somebody else gets injured. Eventually he's gonna need to play somewhere where he's a guaranteed starting option.

2021 Prediction: They start him, he hits 30 homers and finally earns his pinstripes. 

Aroldis Chapman's 2020 season was preempted by an injury, so he didn't hit the field really til mid-August, which explains the higher ERA and only 3 saves. After some time to warm up he did get back to his old tricks with 22 Ks in 13 appearances, but ultimately he was responsible for the end of the Yankees' season, thanks to pissing off Mike Brosseau. 

2021 Prediction: 40 saves, but he does something else stupid that pisses off Yankee fans. 

When we least expected him to, J.A. Happ had a strong year as a starting pitcher. What can I say, the dude's unpredictable. In 9 starts he had a 3.47 ERA with 44 strikeouts and a 1.054 WHIP. Definitely an improvement over his subpar 2019, but still not enough to stay in the Bronx.

2021 Prediction: Late-rotation work in a low-market team. Maybe a Philly reunion is in store.

As the Yankees are questioning whether or not they're going to re-sign Brett Gardner, his 2020 is not looking like a great way to end his landmark Yankee tenure. Despite starting for the majority of the season, he only hit .223 with 15 RBIs, and was mostly phased out once Judge and Frazier were both in the starting lineup. He could still re-sign in the Bronx, but I reckon Gardy's elite days are over.

2021 Prediction: A bench role somewhere. 

In the weeks where Aroldis Chapman was injured and we were left without a closer...Zack Britton dusted off his ninth inning magic and stepped into the role, with 8 saves in 8 opportunities. After Chapman came back, Britton shifted back to his reliable setup man role, finishing the season with a 1.89 ERA and 16 Ks in 20 appearances. 

2021 Prediction: Another solid relief year for Britton. Expect more makeshift saves as Chapman flails off. 

Britton's relief battery partner, Adam Ottavino, didn't fare as well- Ottavino left the season with a 5.89 ERA, a massive WHIP and too many earned runs despite some nice strikeout work. Ottavino hasn't had a down year in a while, so this felt like an anomaly, especially after a strong year last year. 

2021 Prediction: An injury interrupts some improved stats.

Mike Tauchman had another strong year as an extra outfielder, getting some playing time as Judge and Hicks got hurt. Tauchman hit .242 in 43 games, with 15 RBIs. Nothing more than a solid alternate outfield bat. 

2021 Prediction: After not playing as much next year, winds up on another roster with more playing time.

In the absence of Gary Sanchez' better numbers, the Yankees called upon two unlikely catching options. One of them was their usual backup, Kyle Higashioka, who's been a great backup catcher who's never been able to hit at the major league level. Until now, that is. Higgy came out in a big way in 2020, with 10 RBIs and 4 homers in 16 games, some major power coming from the unlikeliest source. Higgy also had 2 more RBIs and 1 more homer in the playoffs. 

2021 Prediction: If Sanchez screws up, you're looking at the new starting catcher in New York. 

And the other backup catching option, and occasional DH, for New York was the 40-year-old career backup Erik Kratz, who'd gotten some playing time last year with the Yankees. In 16 games, Kratz hit .321 with 9 hits and 4 RBIs, helping the Yankees get through the stretch. Kratz is most likely calling it a career after this, so it was one hell of a way to go out. 

Tomorrow, we wrap up the year like we usually do around here. 

ALCS: Inevitability Delayed

By Game 4, this series was over. So the fact that it lasted two more games and an extra half-inning is damn near insane on the part of the Yankees.

Game 5 was good enough, on the strength of Aaron Hicks and James Paxton alone. That was strong enough by them, even if they couldn't get past Verlander the rest of the day. And then once Game 6 started and they were already down from a Yuli Gurriel homer, the upward fight had to continue. Sanchez had an RBI, then Urshela had a solo home run, and then FINALLY DJ LeMahieu had a homer to tie it in the ninth, off Roberto Osuna.

The next bit was kind of inevitable. So the fact that they could do everything to that point, and fight back against the toughest team in baseball, is reward in itself. Yes, the Yankees lost. They tend to do this in October this decade. But this season is FAR from a failure for the Yankees, regardless of what Aaron Judge seems to think. This season could have been over in May when everyone got injured, but thanks to people like Urshela, Cameron Maybin, LeMahieu, Mike Tauchman, Brett Gardner, and especially Aaron Boone for keeping everything together.

Yes, we lost in the ALCS again. But we're certainly not done fighting.

Still, the Astros deserved the hell out of this win, even if it was probably gonna happen no matter who they faced. They're an insanely strong team, and they can go against the best of them. The Nationals have had a few days to rest, but they're still 100% starting Scherzer on Monday.

Game 1 of the World Series will be Max Scherzer vs. Gerrit Cole. And my god, is this World Series gonna be a pitching battle. Y'all better brace yourselves, cause we're looking at either a blowout or a fight til the bitter end.

NL Wild Card: Triumph in Extras

I wasn't certain the Rockies could pull it off, even as I went to bed with a 1-0 lead in the seventh, but they surprised me. Along with the rest of the viewing audience.

The game-winning RBI came from backup catcher Tony Wolters, who, if he wasn't a hero in Denver before, certainly has to be now. Great bullpen work came from Seung-Hwan Oh, Adam Ottavino (despite giving up the Cubs' sole run), Wade Davis, Chris Rusin and Scott Oberg. And, of course, the presence of guys like Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon made this team even more of a shoo-in for a playoff appearance.

As for the team they silenced...

It's a little sad to see this Cubs team get eliminated so soon, especially after what fans thought was a shoo-in for first seed, but they still had a fantastic season, and this is clearly not the end of their 2010s reign. I imagine they've got enough still in the tank for another playoff run next year, and enough young stars that can stay around to establish a new great team.

Obviously Cubs-Brewers would have been the more dramatic matchup, but I'm still happy we got this one, and I'm sure the Rockies are gonna be more than formidable against the first-seeded Brewers.

Tonight...my Yankees take on the cinderella A's.