Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Mets

The Mets in the 2010s can be described overall as 'unlucky'.

They make a World Series in 2015 and nearly win on the strength of a powerful roster, but their flagship stars (Yoenis Cespedes and David Wright) miss time to injury, their star at the top of the decade leaves for St. Louis and cements his HOF-status, and they come up with solid end-of-the-decade teams without a good division to dominate.

2019 was another good year for the Mets, but the presence of the Braves and Nationals in the NL East with them forced them to end the year in third without a playoff chance. The strong seasons of Pete Alonso and Jacob deGrom would have to wait to be redeemed.

 Brandon Nimmo was a guy who had a strong 2018 season, then once Michael Conforto back came back to earth, and had some very human numbers this year, hitting .221 in 79 games with only 8 homers. The team loves having him around, and despite trade rumors he's still a big part of the roster.
Why Him in 2019?: His inefficiency led to Jeff McNeil seeing more OF time.
2020 Prediction: Becomes a fourth-OF bench guy, and does fairly well with less pressure.

 The useful swing-man position vacated by Wilmer Flores was inhabited by JD Davis, former Astros farmhand. Davis settled in at left, batted .307 with 22 home runs and 57 RBIs. Yet his fielding numbers detracted from what would have been a fine, well-rounded season.
Why Him in 2019?: Became the more consistent outfield performer at the plate.
2020 Prediction: His role will diminish a bit, but the Mets will know when to use him, and his hits numbers will improve.

 Despite losing a starting job to Pete Alonso, Dominic Smith did fairly well as a bench substitute, with 11 homers in 89 games. His space as the hard-hitting Mets infield prospect has been usurped, but he did his best in 2019.
Why Him in 2019?: Performed better than expected upon giving the 1B spot to Alonso.
2020 Prediction: If someone doesn't trade for him this offseason, he'll be somewhere else in July.

 Steven Matz is definitely the dark horse of the rotation, but he still had some solid starts this year, with an 11-10 record and 153 strikeouts.
Why Him in 2019?: This was Matz' most consistent season to date
2020 Prediction: Will be the odd man out in a Mets rotation of deGrom-Thor-Stroman-Porcello-Wacha. But, once one of the latter two craps out, will have some impressive starts down the stretch.

 Marcus Stroman landing in Queens was certainly the OMG moment of the season, as many people didn't exactly mark the Mets as contenders. In his 11 starts after leaving Toronto, Stroman had a 3.77 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 4 wins. Not bad, but not to the caliber of his start.
Why Him in 2019?: The Mets' biggest mid-season move.
2020 Prediction: Chases 15 wins over a full, dominant season in NY.

 Seth Lugo picked up Robert Gsellman's slack as the best reliever on the team this year, with 104 strikeouts in 80 innings, as well as a 2.70 ERA and 6 saves. Lugo is a few years removed from his impressive WBC run, but he's still a big name in New York.
Why Him in 2019?: In a year of Jeurys Familia, Edwin Diaz and Justin Wilson occupying the pen, Lugo had the best numbers of 'em all.
2020 Prediction: Will be down a few pegs from 2019 but will definitely have some strong games.

 Edwin Diaz in Queens was a bit of a disappointment. The Mets signed this guy to throw 50 saves a year and be his 2018 self, and what does he give them? 26 saves, 7 blown, and a 5.59 ERA. Diaz felt like a shell of his former self, and clung to the few triumphs he had.
Why Him in 2019?: Signed to succeed, and fell hard, causing the questions of the second half to arise.
2020 Prediction: An improvement, in some form.

 Somewhere in 2019, the Mets became a habitat for veterans needing a brief team to try out for. Matt Kemp, Ervin Santana, Adeiny Hechavarria, Rajai Davis and, yes, Carlos Gomez all attempted to prove they had some left, and while Hecha had the best time of it, Gomez' was memorable, in that he [seemingly] ended his career with the same organization he started with.
Why Him in 2019? While Gomez' numbers were nothing to cry at [.198 with 3 homers in 34 games], it was kinda cool to see him back as a Met.

And eventually, after being dropped by the Giants, World Series hero Joe Panik even had some games with the Mets, covering for Cano at second. Panik didn't do too badly, either, hitting .277 and and 12 RBIs in 39 games.
Why Him in 2019?: Landed on his feet after being unceremoniously dumped in favor of a 2nd baseman that'd be similarly released a month later.
2020 Prediction: Someone will sign him to be a Neil Walker-type backup infielder.

Coming Tomorrow- I only have a few Nationals left, but seeing as they won the World Series, they're all kinda important.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Rays

Pop quiz: out of all 20 teams that missed the playoffs this year, which one had the best record?

...Okay, having this being a Rays post is kind of a giveaway, but...say you didn't have the title as a clue? You could have guessed Colorado, or Seattle, or the Cardinals or Nationals...but the Rays, with their mega-September, and their...incredibly strange tactics, finished with 90 wins, which would be impressive in a division that didn't have the Yankees or Red Sox.

Again, this is thanks to Kevin Cash's impressive managing, the homegrown oddball quality of the roster, the team's ace winning a Cy Young, and the pitching staff embracing the 'opener' concept after losing two of their strongest starting pitchers.

And the guy that was thought to be the star of the show this year, Kevin Kiermaier, was...not really a factor. In missing a few months to injury, he effectively handed the reins to the team to...okay, first to Denard Span, but then to Matt Duffy, who's trying to Travis Shaw his way to a leadership thing in Tampa. Kiermaier is still a sharp player, but his .217 average doesn't bode well.

Carlos Gomez, seen here clutching a gigantic glove yet still sporting a .967 fielding percentage, was hired as a veteran bat. But...his bat didn't really show up, did it? The guy batted .208 with 9 home runs. Far from his Milwaukee days, I think. Honestly, his success may have a geographical component- some cities, like Milwaukee and Arlington, suit him well. And some, like Houston...and Tampa...do not.

Daniel Robertson was a utility infielder/outfielder that had been stewing in the minors, waiting for a chance to start, and thanks to the rise of the rookies he got his chance, and did fairly well. He notched 34 RBIs in 87 games before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

 Thankfully Willy Adames was on hand to keep the rookie train going, putting up some fierce rookie numbers while vying for the starting 2nd base position with Joey Wendle. He was so good that he was essentially handed the shortstop gig, and managed to hit 10 home runs, which is not bad for a primarily defensive standout.

 But, again, we can't talk about the 2018 Rays without mentioning the bullpen. Ryne Stanek was one of the more impressive bullpen pieces the Rays had, because he could do middle relief, and he was the most likely to open games for Tampa, notching 29 opener appearances. This is definitely a similar reliever to Josh Vader, the long-haired, hard throwing tall dude. And hopefully his role in this bullpen will expand further in 2019.

 Jose Alvarado was the more traditional reliever, used for holds and saves in place of the main closer, and he did a nice job, getting 8 saves, and leaving with a 2.39 ERA.

Plus...Sergio Romo got to hold down a closing gig for the first time since the Giants were a contending team. He put up 25 saves (alright, granted, on 33 opportunities), but was one of the voices of experience in a very young bullpen.

Tommy Pham was a surprise deadline acquisition for Tampa, as the Cardinals thought they were in a dealing mode in July, when in reality they were just freeing up a starting space for Harrison Bader. But...Pham hit 7 home runs in 34 games, with a .343 average. The guy clearly has mastered hitting for average, and he's turned his career around from being a bench mainstay. Hopefully he keeps it up.

Coming Tomorrow- They're big, bad, and they won the whole thing.

Anyone Can Pitch: Carlos Gomez

Onto another edition of our sub-series showcasing the drastic measures when position-players have to take the mound. This time, we examine Carlos Gomez' recent pitching appearance for the Rays, a team which he hasn't been having the greatest time with, at least compared to his numbers with Milwaukee, and...even Texas, to be honest.

In a game against the Orioles on July 27th, 2018, in which Austin Pruitt had given up 6 runs to the Orioles, Carlos Gomez was brought in during the eighth inning...which would probably end up being the Rays' last inning on the mound. He got one batter out, which is a start, but...Gomez allowed four walks, three earned runs, and four strikes in 21 pitches, ending with a 81.00 ERA. Which makes his batting numbers look good this year.

Interestingly enough, he was relieved by another position player; backup catcher Jesus Sucre, who was making his second pitching appearance of the year, managed to finish the inning, and end with an 18.00 ERA...not MUCH better, but still an improvement.

Gomez' pitching appearance could have been a lot worse, but...his amount of walks doesn't make this one of the best uses of a position player on the mound, now does it?

I'll have another one of these up next week. Expect a home run hitter on a fairly depleted team.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2017: Rangers

Off year for the Rangers. Lots of injuries, inconsistency, and...lack of Yu Darvish. So overall, net loss.

Andrew Cashner had a very odd year. Half of his statistics said he had a great season, the other half said he had a poor one. I'm not sure which belief is the lay of the land. He got wins and a low ERA, but barely any strikeouts. I doubt the Rangers will be bringing him back next year.

Carlos Gomez had another okay year, doing well enough in the outfield to garner fans, but not well enough to reach his peak Brewers numbers.

After having a pretty stellar season as DH in Cleveland, Mike Napoli returned to Texas, where he made his reputation, and....kinda stunk it up. Like, he didn't hit for average, he barely hit home runs, and...he's probably not gonna be back. So, that's kind of disappointing.

Delino DeShields, after a subpar 2016, finally had a better season, covering more outfield time, and making a huge case to be a regular starter in 2018, as the Rangers begin to shift toward a youth-based squad with the rise of Willie Calhoun.

Coming Tomorrow- The Rays just lost their franchise player, but they still have some talent left.

ALDS Update: GAAAHHHH Edition

Well, one half of the ALCS spots has been filled with someone I'd really, really rather not be there.

Thanks to a legitimate nail biter tonight, fueled by the batting on both sides coming alive and the Texas Rangers having some fantastic performances...the Blue Jays still won, with Josh Donaldson having an extras-homer that ended the series, and the Rangers' season.

This is something I feared from the moment the Blue Jays snuck into the playoffs, because, like the Giants, they're dangerous when they have the right momentum. You can't stop them. And I'm fearing that they're gonna keep rolling until the World Series. I'd rather like it if the Indians or Red Sox were strong enough to take them out and prevent an unwatchable series.

And elsewhere...

The good news is this is an excuse to show off one of my favorite customs of the year, but sadly, it comes as a eulogy segment in one of these posts.

The Rangers had a great season, and were ahead of the AL for a grand portion of it. The only problem is they lost power, and struggled with some injuries towards the back half, culminating in the series we got, where the Blue Jays easily overpowered them.

Again, very sad day, but...this is how baseball goes. Tomorrow, we get three games. Two are in clinching position. One's...kind of locked up.

Well, I was right...

The Yankees, suffice to say, didn't show up.

This was the tired, battered remains of a team that had peaked way too early. I saw this coming, and a lot of people saw this coming. Dallas Keuchel especially, because he had a phenomenal night.

As sad as I am that the Yankees aren't moving on, I feel like it fits. This was not their year. This was not their story. The 2015 season begins and ends with people like the Astros, who came from absolutely nothing and worked their ways up. THEY are the victors. THEY deserve to be in the playoffs. The Yankees had a great mid-season, and then limped to the finish.

The Astros deserved to advance, so they did. Simple as that. It's gonna be a tough matchup, Royals-Astros, but I think it'll be a pretty nice one. I don't suppose the Astros will find it as easy as the Bronx, though.

By the way, one last Congratulations to the 2015 New York Yankees. Hell of a job, boys. Shame it all had to end this soon.

Custom Card of the Night: Gomez Edition

(This Custom is Brought to you by Sandy Alderson's ineptitude)

I think the biggest takeaway from the Astros' deal for Carlos Gomez was the fact that, for the first time since, I'd say 2004, the Astros were receiving something at the deadline, rather than giving something away. Back in 2004, the Astros got Carlos Beltran at the trade deadline, trading away John Buck and Octavio Dotel (so, all in all, a good trade). Granted, that trade really didn't help long-term, but in terms of the 2004 postseason bid in Houston, it was a helpful grab, as Beltran helped them get to the NLCS, and ALMOST get to the World Series, where they might have been able to beat those 2004 Boston Red Sox.

Now, the Astros got another Carlos, Carlos Gomez, a speedier, younger, and hipper Carlos, one who was already moving mountains in Milwaukee. Now that Gomez is somewhere where the rest of the lineup has a lot of momentum, he can really be expected to perform as well as them.

I'm really hoping Gomez-in-Houston will work, because I would like the Astros to go far into the postseason, and win some tough matches, if only because it's not everyday that a perennial 5th-place squad makes it to the postseason. Plus, the amount of homegrown talent on this squad is pretty nice, especially with Keuchel, Correa and Springer. Gomez, so far, hasn't been a major player, but has the potential to drive this team further than it'd go without him.

I'm not 100% sure, but I'd like to see Gomez do huge things in Houston.

Coming Tomorrow- I've got, like, 50 Dodgers on the bench, so tomorrow, expect their newly-reinvigorated catcher.

Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2015

This year had more competition than any other year for this annual trade deadline list I make. And let it be known that this deadline had more HUGE, FANTASTIC MOVES than a lot of the other years. So, putting this list together until the day AFTER the deadline was all I could manage, as it took that long to figure out a solid list of ten. Shane Victorino, Ben Zobrist, Juan Uribe and Dan Haren all missed the cut.

Jonathan Papelbon gets the head of the post, not because he comes up later, or because he's #1, but because he's...

#10- Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals, a prospect to the Phillies
Who Wins? Phillies. You'd think the Nats would win here, as they landed one of the best modern closers, and can move into the playoffs with a guy used to October tension. But while the Nats will succeed with Papelbon, it's really the Phillies getting the W here, as they got rid of a guy who was not a great guy for the team dynamic. Papelbon hated it in Philly, and talked about it nonstop. So don't you think your team's a little better now that the shit-talker's gone? Plus, they got a pitching prospect in return, so they can eventually be sort of good again, sometime in the future.

#9- Ben Revere to the Blue Jays, prospects to the Phillies
Who Wins? Blue Jays. Yep, second deal in a row that hurts my dear Phils. And this one...stings. I was just getting used to Ben Revere in Philly. I was gonna put a custom of him on my wall. I certainly wasn't expecting him to get traded. So, this one really hurts. But, sad to say, this does indeed help the Blue Jays, as they needed young outfield help, and they also could definitely use an average- heavy guy like Revere. So, somehow, it works.

#8- Mat Latos, Alex Wood and Bronson Arroyo to the Dodgers, prospects to the Marlins and Braves.
Who Wins? Dodgers. They needed pitching help with Ryu and McCarthy gone, and they got two guys who can definitely supplement the rotation. A Kershaw-Greinke-Anderson-Latos-Wood rotation will definitely work, especially given the powerful run support.  It can be said that the Braves also benefitted, because they got one of the big cuban prospects the Dodgers took time in lassoing.

#7- Mike Leake to the Giants, prospects to the Reds
Who Wins: Giants. Thanks to injuries and inconsistency, the Giants' rotation hasn't been as much of a sure thing as usual, but Mike Leake can be a solid third man. There is a lot of potential in that rotation, even if the postseason isn't exactly a sure thing in SanFran. Bottom line is that the Giants fixed the one problem they've ben having, and that is rotation security. I don't know if this move, which is basically the only big move they made this year besides breaking Travis Ishikawa's heart again, will make the postseason favorites again, but it'll at least help their cause.

#6- Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to the Mets  Astros, prospects to the Brewers
Who Wins: Astros. Remember, the Mets were INCHES away from landing Gomez, but because Sandy Alderson couldn't seal the deal, he ended up back on the board, and the Astros needed another outfield bat, to relegate Preston "Who Am I And What Am I Doing on the 2015 Astros" Tucker to the bench (where he belongs). So, Gomez and Mike Fiers were traded to the Astros. Fiers will be a decent fourth-or-fifth starter for Houston, but the real star is Gomez, as he's showed no sign of slowing down the past few years, even in a shitty year for Milwaukee. He's gonna be a big piece of the Astros' postseason bid.

#5- Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets, prospects to the Tigers.
Who Wins: Mets. This, I think, more than makes up for losing out on Gomez. Because, as a bonus, the Mets get to keep Zack Wheeler, and they get an awesome outfielder who can hit home runs. Cespedes had a really nice start with Detroit, and I didn't think he'd be traded this soon, but the Mets needed power, and they could potentially be a postseason threat. Cespedes could be their ace in the hole, because Lucas Duda can only strike out so many times.

#4- David Price to the Blue Jays, Daniel Norris and prospects to the Tigers.
Who Wins: Jays. The fact that this trade, as huge as it is, is this low, proves how huge this deadline was. Price is still one of the best pitchers in the game, and has played some awesome baseball for the Tigers. However, the Jays need some serious pitching help, and Price is the ace that they desperately needed. A combo of Price-Dickey-Buehrle-Hutchison could be pretty nasty down the stretch. Now, their only issue is that they're in a tough division, and they might not be able to hang on for that wild card spot. So they may have just given up Daniel Norris, a great pitcher, for no reason. We'll find out what this eventually does for them.

#3- Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins to the Blue Jays, Jose Reyes and prospects to the Rockies.

Who Wins: Jays again. It'd become obvious that Jose Reyes wasn't the greatest fit in Toronto, so shipping him to a park where it might be a bit easier for him to return to streaking could be a good idea. However, the Jays landing a solid hitting shortstop, and a guy who can close games (especially considering the Jays have no closer) was the best part of this. They still have a flawed team, but they now have two people, in Tulo and Donaldson, who are young, can hit, and can shape the future of that roster, instead of those two aging bats Bautista and Encarnacion. This is a promising trade, if not for 2015, then for the future.

#2- Cole Hamels to the Rangers, Matt Harrison and a ton of prospects to the Phillies

Who Wins: Rangers. I bet you all thought this would be #1. Well, while this is a huge move for Texas, and it moves a powerful pitcher to a very run-support-heavy team, it still doesn't guarantee the Rangers to get to the postseason. The Rangers are still a flawed, semi-injured team, and getting Cole Hamels does not remedy that. Plus, they're third in a division of two teams who are both sure fires for the wild card. They have to contend with Minnesota and Toronto for that last spot. They are FAR from a sure thing. So that's why they're not #1. However..this is still a good move for both teams, as it gives the Phillies a lot more to work with for their future, and the Rangers a new ace, and a great one-two combo once Darvish comes back.

#1- Johnny Cueto to the Royals, Brandon Finnegan and prospects to the Reds. 

Who Wins: Royals. The whole season, their main problem has been their rotation. They have good pitching, but they don't have an ace. They have people like Edinson Volquez and Jeremy Guthrie, who pitch games but are way past their prime. And they have Yordano Ventura, who's been dealing with serious control issues this season. Cueto is their best move, and can definitely hold a rotation, and lead a team into the postseason. Plus, judging by his first start, he loves it in Kansas City. This move is #1 because it could determine how far the Royals go into the postseason.

Okay Mets, Now We Have Your Attention

I didn't think too much of it when the Mets grabbed Juan Uribe. Then they got Tyler Clippard, and again, didn't think a whole lot of it. I thought they'd be making little moves, tiny roster swaps just to keep busy, to refine, not completely revamp.

I figured out how wrong I was when I found out Carlos Gomez would be wearing a Mets uniform again this season.

It was the kind of thing where I knew that the Mets needed one or two pieces last night, but I didn't think they'd act, you know, the next day. And I didn't think they'd do something that made as much sense as getting Carlos Gomez. Gomez still has a lot of great stuff left, and is still one of the better, speedier outfielders in the league. Seeing him back in a Mets uniform will definitely be the piece that could tip them over the edge.

I'm a little concerned about what they gave up. Wilmer Flores, in my opinion, is a better choice at shortstop than Ruben Tejada. But, apparently they don't want a choice. And Zack Wheeler, once he came back, would have been part of a landmark rotation, but apparently the Mets really, really, REALLY want to keep Jon Niese.

Still, with Gomez, the Mets make a case to be a major postseason threat. If they can make it with Carlos Gomez and Juan Uribe, they could be dangerous in October.

UPDATE: Apparently this trade never happened, according to Sandy Alderson. Honestly, I have no idea what's going on anymore. With the Hamels thing, and now this, there are just so many question marks. So for now...he's NOT a Met? Or maybe he is.

More on this later.

Custom Card of the Day: Gomez Edition

The Brewers are still being talked about.

This is kinda funny, because by this point last year, the Brewers had already peaked and fell by this point. And I was mumbling about Triscuits.

But yeah, the Brewers may be a legitimate threat this year! The Pirates are slumping, the Cardinals are FINALLY playing as terribly as I want them to, and nobody is really expecting the Cubs or Reds to swoop in for the kill, although the Reds could totally get hot soon.

So, with the rest of the NL Central slumping, and the resurgence of four of the team's top arms, the Brewers have become a force to be reckoned with. Please keep in mind, Ryan Braun is on the DL. They are doing most of this without Ryan Braun. Seriously.

Carlos Gomez is the one securing most of the income for the Brewers, which is nice, because last season was terrific for him. I know he got into trouble two weeks ago, but I still think he's a great player, and he's the kind of person that the team should build themselves around.

Will the Brewers remain relevant in a month's time? I have absolutely no idea. Which is better than saying yes or no, because I'd just be wrong.

Coming Tomorrow- The reigning NL ROY.

Custom Card of the Day- Gomez Edition

What the hell happened to the Brewers?

I mean, for a week back in April they were the best team in baseball. And then everything just came crashing down. Braun got injured, the team stopped hitting, and the other four teams buried them in the standings. Also, Rickie Weeks' inconsistency hasn't helped matters very much.

The one upside to everything is that they have Carlos Gomez. After trading JJ Hardy to get him (which, seeing what he's doing in Baltimore, wasn't the brightest idea), Gomez has had a few mediocre seasons, and now he's doing very well.

What makes him an All Star is his prowess in the field. I mean, he can hit, but he's more of a defensive choice, as he's still speedy, and is better at stealing bases and catching flies. And this season, he's just been playing very well, leading in the WAR charts, and being one of the few strong spots of his lineup.

I'm glad he got the All Star nod, for that reason.

Coming Tomorrow- Possibly an outfielder for another struggling team, who also has an All Star nod.