Yanks Mets Post Season Outlook

[Fordham_57]

I am a Yankee fan, but this team is so flawed, I don't see them going far. Maybe not even past the wild card game; and if they are lucky enough to get past the wild card game, they would just be whistling Dixie.

As for the Mets, I have felt since mid season that they could make it to the World Series. I now think they have as good a chance as any to go all the way.

I have a few very good friends who are Mets fans, and I am happy for them. I know the Snake has been a long suffering Mets and Jets fan. Maybe this is the year of the _ets. Frank

 

[Seton75]

I agree, but re the Mets, rarely do all 5 teams in one league have a reasonable chance at the WS. The two wild card teams both have better records than either the Mets or Dodgers and last I looked, SL had the best record in baseball (maybe Toronto has passed them?)

I say cubs vs blue Jays and another curse is lifted.

 

[mjs428]

The Mets have to play the best team in the NL, imo. Hard to see them winning a game in LA against the best 2 pitchers in the league.

 

[Seton75]

The Mets have to play the best team in the NL, imo. Hard to see them winning a game in LA against the best 2 pitchers in the league.

I am a Dodger fan, and I think LA is the worst of the five teams. Awful bullpen besides the closer (AND HE is a little down this year) and mediocre hitting. Mattingly better play Seagar and not Rollins at ss. Dodgers pitching after the great two is not good. They beat the bad teams and the west is not a good conference.

 

[Piratz]

I do not like the match-up tonight for the Yankees. Keuchel has dominated them this year and they do not perform well against LHP, but to lose a home postseason game against the Astros? The Astros are an OPS team and in the postseason you need contact and quick bats. We'll see.

But they do have Tanaka who should be up to the task and Severino awaiting for KC.

The Yankees played above their heads for most of the season but the age showed in players being gassed and breaking down. For a long stretch they relied on A-Rod and Teixeira. Then the players in their prime - notably Ellsbury, Gardner, McCann, and Headley - were so streaky. Will they wake up? Can A-Rod's RH bat come through tonight?

It's time for an infusion of young, athletic talent. They have kids on the way like Bird, Refsynder, and Judge.

 

[hbkmyr]

Dodgers have already come out and said Seager is playing and Rollins is sitting.

 

[Seton75]

Dodgers have already come out and said Seager is playing and Rollins is sitting.

I can see either the Mets or Dodgers lose first round or win it all. The met bats have been dead lately. If they get hot, they can go far. And LA is similar in that vein. LA has been in 6 or 8 playoffs since 88 and no WS. No onions.

 

[hbkmyr]

The Mets caught a slight break with the later start times. I agree, the team that makes it out of this series has a shot to go all the way, though I never count out the Cards who always seem to find a way to get it done in October. I don't think LA has announced its rotation yet? It'll be interesting to see if they go Greinke or Kershaw in game 1. And which Kershaw will show up, the great regular season pitcher or the postseason pitcher who has struggled at times? I could see this series going 5 or a 3-game sweep with a run differential of 3-4 runs. The starting pitching for both teams is just that good.

 

[Seton75]

I start greinke. He has earned it this year.

 

[Burnsly]

If the Yanks can somehow win the wild card game, they'll have an easier first round match up than the Mets. The Royals are definitely beatable this year.

 

[hbkmyr]

Kershaw vs. Degrom Game 1.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

I would have started greinke too. But Kershaw has to be due for a big time postseason start.

I think the Yankees get bounced tonight and predicting a Toronto-Mets WS. I'm a Phillies fan but actually rooting for the mets to win it all. Lotta friends from SHU whose year it would make if they did.

Been having a lot of discussion with people lately about the one game WC playoff based on the Cubs and Pirates both winning close to 100 and getting stuck in one and done scenario. Not a fan of it personally but there are challenges with having it be expanded to best of 3. This postseason is the most interesting to me in years based on the teams and players involved. (queue another STL crown).

 

[Hall91]

The Yankees need a real youth injection. Looked like an old, juiceless team last night. Good luck to the Mets.

 

[Piratz]

The Yankees need a real youth injection. Looked like an old, juiceless team last night. Good luck to the Mets.

Exactly. It's been this way for quite some time. Ho-hum.

Need some contact hitters too. Nobody has a short swing for average which you need in the postseason. Nobody does anything like that Altuve kid did against Betances by flicking the ball into LF and scoring that runner (after they stole a base, which I guess is out of the question for any Yankees).

Makes you appreciate the Dynasty years even more. So many bandwagon fans thought that run was a given forever just because of payroll.

 

[Seton75]

They need that OF from the bosox to remember how to hit. Fans'll kill Arod, but that guy was a real waste of dough this year.

 

[Section112]

Exactly. It's been this way for quite some time. Ho-hum.

Need some contact hitters too. Nobody has a short swing for average which you need in the postseason. Nobody does anything like that Altuve kid did against Betances by flicking the ball into LF and scoring that runner (after they stole a base, which I guess is out of the question for any Yankees).

Makes you appreciate the Dynasty years even more. So many bandwagon fans thought that run was a given forever just because of payroll.

Yup! How many .250 or below hitters can you have on one team? It was amazing to me that they played Drew so much and the guy was below .200 for almost the whole year. In the old days you could do that with the SS if he had a fantastic glove but not any more. Not one of our starters hit for average this year. Beltran had the highest BAVG for a starter for the year at .276. Headley was the only guy who had 150 hits (150 on the nose) and hit .259. Team does not get on base or move the runners at all. Need a serious youth movement with this team. Pitching future could be good. Let the young guns play. I like the Bird kid a lot and Refsnider is not bad. Ellsbury needed to start last night. He may be banged up but he is the Yanks best player - guy has to play IMO. Probably would not have changed the outcome but you play your best player.

 

[hallgrad80]

It's time to blow up this team as this team is too old and getting a full productive season out of a good part of this roster is doubtful. Look how Gardner, A-Rod , Ellsbury and McCann faded beginning in mid to late August to the end of the season. I would put Tex,McCann and Gardner on the market and get some young talent or top prospects for them. Contending teams who need to add a piece to get into the playoffs like Tex or a solid outfielder or catcher could potentially bring some reasonable young talent back. Let Heathcott replace Gardner, Bird in for Tex, Murphy/ Sanchez in for MCCann and put Refsynder in at second base. Your OF would be Ellsbury, Beltran , Heathcott, Young, and either Judge or Gamel . If you dump Tex's, McCann's and Gardner's salary you could use that $50 million plus to add a big name pitcher and an outfielder in the free agent market .

I doubt that it happens but it is time for the Yankees to recognize that the paradigm has changed and them being able to buy whoever they want in the free agent market is over.

 

[Seton75]

On the other hand, look at how many playoff teams made huge acquisitions at the trading deadline, when Cashman passed, refusing to sell his young assets. All four of the other AL teams, the Mets too, made huge trades.

The Yanks are hiring Stump Merrill's son in law and replaying the late 80s/early 90s.

Tex has a no trade clause. You cant move Arod. No one would take Ellsbury. And didn't Ellsbury suck pretty much all year?

 

[hallgrad80]

On the other hand, look at how many playoff teams made huge acquisitions at the trading deadline, when Cashman passed, refusing to sell his young assets. All four of the other AL teams, the Mets too, made huge trades.

The Yanks are hiring Stump Merrill's son in law and replaying the late 80s/early 90s.

Tex has a no trade clause. You cant move Arod. No one would take Ellsbury. And didn't Ellsbury suck pretty much all year?

75
I didn't put A-Rod , Ellsbury or CC on my list because they're untradeable. While Tex has a no trade clause I've seen numerous players waive them to go to a team that is definitely a serious post season contender especially as they near the end of their career so I wouldn't write that off. After listening to Cashman today , IMO he's delusional if he thinks that Ellsbury, Gardner and McCann will bounce back next year or that A-Rod or Tex will produce the same numbers next year as each did this year and each will be a year older plus Tex is injury prone.

 

[Seton75]

Re batting averages, you should see the Dodgers' averages. Other than the SS Seager who was a late call up, no one is even hitting .290.

Did McCann have a good year? I never watch the NYY and don't bother reading about them, so all I know is from the radio. But I would have thought he had a decent year based on what I heard. Too bad Byrd is a 1B. Wonder if he can be stashed in the OF like they used to do with Yogi at the end of his career. The curse of Hal is gonna hurt the Yanks for a few more years. Can't believe he renegotiated Arod's contract. I would have loved to see that blow up in the agent's face. Was Gardner an all star this year, or was that last year?

 

[Seton75]

Re batting averages, you should see the Dodgers' averages. Other than the SS Seager who was a late call up, no one is even hitting .290.

Did McCann have a good year? I never watch the NYY and don't bother reading about them, so all I know is from the radio. But I would have thought he had a decent year based on what I heard. Too bad Byrd is a 1B. Wonder if he can be stashed in the OF like they used to do with Yogi at the end of his career. The curse of Hal is gonna hurt the Yanks for a few more years. Can't believe he renegotiated Arod's contract. I would have loved to see that blow up in the agent's face. Was Gardner an all star this year, or was that last year?

Actually, Kendrick, Ethier and Turner are batting above .290 . But for all that dough, the offense still sucks.

 

[Section112]

Re batting averages, you should see the Dodgers' averages. Other than the SS Seager who was a late call up, no one is even hitting .290.

Did McCann have a good year? I never watch the NYY and don't bother reading about them, so all I know is from the radio. But I would have thought he had a decent year based on what I heard. Too bad Byrd is a 1B. Wonder if he can be stashed in the OF like they used to do with Yogi at the end of his career. The curse of Hal is gonna hurt the Yanks for a few more years. Can't believe he renegotiated Arod's contract. I would have loved to see that blow up in the agent's face. Was Gardner an all star this year, or was that last year?

McCann had a very good year and does a great job with the pitching staff. Had some clutch hits and had a good year. Got tired at the end of the year and his BA went down considerably. Byrd is a good one and much more reliable than Tex who was having a good year until he got hurt. With Tex the Yanks are a different team. Problem is he can't seem to stay on the field. It will be much of the same with the Yanks as they are locked into a bunch of long term contracts with their old guys like ARod and Tex. Cashman wanted out of the ARod contract but the Steinbrenner boys made the decision (the wrong one obviously). He has been an albatross with those ridiculous contracts for the Yanks and Texas.

 

[hbkmyr]

The Mets had the 3rd worst team batting average in MLB. Of course, much of that was compiled during the days they had Mayberry batting cleanup.

 

[Piratz]

It's time to blow up this team as this team is too old and getting a full productive season out of a good part of this roster is doubtful. Look how Gardner, A-Rod , Ellsbury and McCann faded beginning in mid to late August to the end of the season. I would put Tex,McCann and Gardner on the market and get some young talent or top prospects for them. Contending teams who need to add a piece to get into the playoffs like Tex or a solid outfielder or catcher could potentially bring some reasonable young talent back. Let Heathcott replace Gardner, Bird in for Tex, Murphy/ Sanchez in for MCCann and put Refsynder in at second base. Your OF would be Ellsbury, Beltran , Heathcott, Young, and either Judge or Gamel . If you dump Tex's, McCann's and Gardner's salary you could use that $50 million plus to add a big name pitcher and an outfielder in the free agent market .

I doubt that it happens but it is time for the Yankees to recognize that the paradigm has changed and them being able to buy whoever they want in the free agent market is over.

This. Ironically they won when they build their team the way teams do in this era; from the inside. That way you maximize the athleticism, prime years, you develop a culture, etc. They've been a team of mercenaries for far too long and it seems only now there's hope for young position players.

Slide in the kids and let's go. Bird, Refsynder, and Judge would be given ever chance to start in my book. Plus Refsynder and Judge are RH bats on a team that gets assaulted by lefties. Bird and Refsynder look like they belong.

Gardner, Beltran, and Teixeira are entering the final years of their contract. Maybe they have trade potential. I'd keep Beltran and clear the other two if I could. Gardner is decent, but he wears down because I'm not sure he's the kind of full time $15M player/year Cashman thinks he is.

I kind of like McCann. He plays hard and seems to give off good leadership and accountability. Girardi rode him though; 126 game at catcher, by far his most in 5 years. And he's 31. Play Murphy (RH bat) more behind the plate.

Amazing how Headley, Ellsbury, and Gardner "ran out of gas." Wait, what? They're in their prime!!! I would've paid Cano instead of Ellsbury + Gardner + Beltran. + Headley. When they were signed to those huge contracts most said, "Wait, what?" Especially Gardner and Headley. Oy.

 

[hallgrad80]

Piratz
The major bar to getting an infusion of youth is how many contracts the Yankees are stuck with. Here's what it looks like:
CC - 2016 plus he has a vesting option for 2017
A-Rod - 2018
Tex - 2016 plus players option for 2017
Gardner- 2019
Ellsbury - 2022
McCann - 2020
Headly-2019
Beltran- 2016 but there is some who suggest he may have a player option for 2017 .

What do you think Ellsbury can give this team not only for next year but for the 5 years after that. The same question has to be applied for Gardner till 2019 or McCann till 2020 . Not only do the Yankees overpay for their high profile free agents but they give those players too many years which is beyond the point where they can be productive.

 

[donnie_baseball]

I doubt that it happens but it is time for the Yankees to recognize that the paradigm has changed and them being able to buy whoever they want in the free agent market is over.

Most were saying this circa 1983, and it wasn't until Steinbrenner was banned from baseball, and Stick Michael built the championship teams from the ground up that it happened. Now the Yankees are back to square one.

I lived and died with the Yankees as a kid. Growing older and numerous work stoppages took the starch out of me, over the years. I hated the A-rod signing from the minute it happened (he is the anti-Donnie_Baseball), and once they knocked down Yankee Stadium, I was out. Been rooting for the team in Flushing ever since.

 

[Piratz]

Piratz
The major bar to getting an infusion of youth is how many contracts the Yankees are stuck with. Here's what it looks like:
CC - 2016 plus he has a vesting option for 2017
A-Rod - 2018
Tex - 2016 plus players option for 2017
Gardner- 2019
Ellsbury - 2022
McCann - 2020
Headly-2019
Beltran- 2016 but there is some who suggest he may have a player option for 2017 .

What do you think Ellsbury can give this team not only for next year but for the 5 years after that. The same question has to be applied for Gardner till 2019 or McCann till 2020 . Not only do the Yankees overpay for their high profile free agents but they give those players too many years which is beyond the point where they can be productive.

I agree. I don't know what they're doing with these contracts. Who was out-bidding them for McCann, Ellsbury, Headley, and Gardner? That's were the "Bore Four" this year, jeez. They're stuck with Ellsbury (through 2020), Headley (through 2018), and Gardner (through 2019). McCann's fine for me. Just catch Murphy more. For some reason I thought Gardner's deal was 2014-16.

Just have to hope they bounce back as they are all in their prime and they do seem like gamers. It's strange that they all tanked late though. Maybe that's an indictment on the terrible lack of depth on the team too. Gardner and Headley are both over 30 and played 150+ games and I mentioned this is the most McCann has caught in 5 years.

Go grab guys like Martin Prado and Ben Zobrist to help and make it like the Dynasty teams that were deep and versatile.

Ellsbury is the best of the bunch. He had a pretty good year last year and this year, I don't know. Fell to nothing after the injury. He's injury prone, but I do think if he's healthy he'll give you more than the others.

Would've much preferred watching Cano's march to 3,000 hits in holding down the #3 spot in the order for years. Sigh.

Anyway, according to the link below, Teixeira at $23.1M for 2016 and Beltran for $15M for 2016 both come off the books. No indication of options. At least that opens the door for Bird and Judge. Refsynder should immediately supplant Drew, who is a FA.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fM53F-MkLJ8JCa3ir7C91WO-ciMlP6Hgk01rN-hP5ik/pub?output=html