Juice Ain’t Worth the Squeeze by Playing Cespedes

Yoenis Cespedes has dealt with quad issues for as long as he’s been a member of the New York Mets. Now that’s its begun to cause problems for the 32-year-old Cuban native again, the team has decided to roll the dice and allow Cespedes to try to play through the pain.

In an article from Kristie Ackert of The New York Daily News, Mets’ manager Mickey Callaway spoke about the situation with his All-Star left fielder, particularly his gutsy performance this past Sunday in Philadelphia,

“He did a good job. When he had to run, he ran hard. When he had to get the ball in the corner, he ran hard. He hit it hard. He’s gutting it out for the team.”

That’s great, but at what point does the risk of playing him every day and further exasperating the issue outweigh the need to have his bat in the lineup?

Cespedes running out his infield single in the first inning on Sunday was a scary moment for all parties involved. His stretching and wincing on first base after the hit were even more frightening.

Sure, he clobbered a galvanizing home run in the sixth to put the Mets on the board in the eventual loss. And those types of scenarios and results are exactly why this decision is such a hard one for a team that has been anemic at the plate over the last couple of weeks.

Cespedes is hitting .324 with a .973 OPS, two home runs, and four RBI in May compared to the .233/.292/.437 slash line he carried out of April. After striking out 43 times in his first 103 at-bats, the right-handed slugger has struck out just seven times in 34 at-bats since.

Clearly, when he is in the lineup, it adds an offensive dimension to this team that, even when Cespedes isn’t completely healthy, is quite considerable.

Mets’ assistant general manager, John Ricco, said the team was, “not throwing caution to the wind,” acknowledging that they do not want a repeat of the half-season Cespedes missed last year due to injuries.

Ricco continued, “We’re examining that and talking through it. We feel we have confidence in that performance staff that we are going to make rational decisions. Are we going to be right 100% of the time? No. But we have to make decisions on the information we have and that’s what we did.”

In the long run, having Yoenis Cespedes in the lineup every day at 85 percent for three-quarters of the season simply doesn’t justify not sitting him down for two weeks and getting him back to 100 percent for, hopefully, the rest of the season.

He’s just too valuable of a player to this team to take the chance of losing him for an extended period of time. He’s the highlighter-yellow straw that stirs the New York Metropolitans.

Image via The Sporting News

Keith Hernandez: “New York Saw the Finished Product”

 

In an interview with the great Neil Best of Newsday, ahead of his new book coming out May 15, “I’m Keith Hernandez: A Memoir” (Little, Brown), the former New York Mets’ first baseman and captain spoke candidly about his career leading up to the time he was traded to the Mets (June 16, 1983).

To Best, Hernandez was quick and to the point when describing the player (himself) that the Mets received in the mid-season trade that sent Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey to St. Louis in exchange for a former NL MVP (1979), “New York saw the finished product. They saw me with everything behind me, as far as my development.”

At the time of the trade, Hernandez was considered a “cancer on his team” by Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog (You’re Missin’ a Great Game, pp 188-189, Jonathan Pitts, 1999) and was thought to be using recreational drugs, which was later confirmed during the Pittsburgh drug trials.

During his time in St. Louis, Hernandez thrived and was considered one of the best first basemen, as well as one of the elite hitters, in the game. He was a co-recipient of the 1979 NL MVP (he shared the honors with Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell), won six Gold Gloves at first base, one batting title (.344, 1979), and one World Series championship (1982).

The talent was clearly still there for Hernandez at the time of the trade, as he was slashing .284/.352/.431 with a 116 OPS+, but apparently, his time in the Gateway to the West had run its course.

Over his ten seasons with the Cardinals, Hernandez saw consistent improvement, leading up to and through his MVP-winning season in 1979.

After registering a strikeout percentage of 19.5% during his first call-up in 1974 (34 at-bats), he never again reached any higher than the 13.6% he hit in 1977, which was still good for third-best in the NL among first basemen (Bob Watson, 11.1%).

In the subsequent years after hitting his high watermark in strikeout percentage for a full season, he put up some incredible numbers in the category (10.7, 1978; 11.2, 1979; 10.6, 1980; 10.1, 1981; 9.7, 1982). After coming to the Mets in 1983 (11.4 for the year between both teams), Hernandez’ K-rate climbed again to 13.5% in 1984.

As if he was fully aware of the slight increase (and he likely was), in 1985 Keith Hernandez put up the lowest strikeout percentage of his seventeen-year career with a glowing 8.7%, which was best in the NL among first-baggers by almost a half of a percentage point than the next best mark (Dan Driessen, 9.2%).

During his 1979 and 1980 seasons, which he spent with two extremely offensively-potent teams in St. Louis highlighted by Garry Templeton, Ted Simmons, Lou Brock, George Hendrick, and Ken Oberkfell, Hernandez had wRC+ of 156 and 155, respectively.

While he never reached those heights again in his career, the season before he was traded to the Mets (1982) he had a wRC+ of 126. His wRC+ for the split season in 1983 was 133, but he was traded to the Mets in June playing in nearly a third more games with New York than St. Louis.

During his time in Flushing, Hernandez put up wRC+ rankings of 146 in 1984, 130 in 1985, 146 again in 1986, and then 123 and 121 in 1987 and 1988, respectively.

His spot-on assessment to Best of the level of player he was when he got here, when observed through the eyes of advanced analytics (which we all know Keith isn’t the biggest fan of), only validates even further the elite player he was on both sides of the chalk for an incredibly impressive window of time.

From 1979 to 1988, his batting averages on balls in play are as follows: .377, .343, .326, .321, .324, .343, .324, .335, .324, .299. For this ten-year stretch, Hernandez ranked first among first baseman in BABIP in 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986,  second in 1981, 1982, third in 1983, and then fifth in 1987 (he didn’t qualify in 1988 due to only 384 plate appearances).

It clearly obvious that after figuring things out in his MVP season of 1979 and carrying that over into 1980, Hernandez fell into a slump of sorts. Whether this dip in efficiency, as shallow of a dip it was, was self-inflicted or just a natural funk, it will all likely be expounded on in his book (May 15, May 15!).

By the time Keith Hernandez found himself in those 1980s Mets-blue pinstripes with the orange and blue racing stripes/piping going down the sides, he truly was the finished product of years of hard work that resulted in reaching the pinnacle of his sport both as an individual player and as a teammate.

After a slight drop in productivity, some personal turmoil, and a resulting, world-turned-upside-down trade to the big city, the player that came out on the other side was the one who led this franchise to the most dominant season in its history. And for that, we will be forever grateful.

Wilmer Happy to Help Mets in Any Capacity

In an article from Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, the New York Mets’ legend of folklore, Wilmer Flores, expressed his natural and totally expected desire to play more, but also seemed content in his current role of helping out the team in any way possible.

Flores, 26, had this to say about his role on the Mets, “I’ll never get used to it…I don’t think that [anyone] wants to be on the bench. Everybody wants to be out there. But I contribute to the team and that’s what’s important.”

Put aside any memories of Flores as the endearing, fan-favorite that he’s been to this team and fanbase over his five-plus year career and just focus on what he brings to the table for this team, this year.

Flores could start at a number of positions for many MLB teams. The reason that the Mets value him as they do is that he’s got a penchant for the dramatic, tattoos left-handed pitching, and can play a number of infield positions capably.

Plus, the Mets’ front-office is well-aware that the fans absolutely adore him, and Flores knows that too, “They definitely make it easier….it’s just easier when you know they have your back. They’re always cheering for you. Every day, you try to do something good for them, to give back…”

In limited playing time this season, Flores is slashing .263/.333/.474 with two homers (one of those was his right-on-cue walk-off on April 15), five RBI, ten hits and four walks in 38 at-bats.

He is actually hitting right-handed pitching at a much higher average than he is hitting lefties this year (.286/.348/.619 in 21 at-bats vs. RHP; .235/.316/.294 in 17 at-bats vs. LHP).

While those splits are likely to even out, or even tip the other way, over time, Wilmer Flores undoubtedly serves an extremely important purpose to this team and will be as satisfied as he can be with however much playing time is afforded him by Mets manager Mickey Callaway.

To Davidoff, Flores said, “It’s hard waiting…But I think about the opportunity, not the obligations.”

Matz Doing What Mets Need Him to Do

 

The New York Mets surely had some sort of plan in mind for their 26-year-old, homegrown left-hander, Steven Matz, heading into Spring Training. How that plan unfolded would be solely up to Matz.

After struggling early on in Grapefruit League play (54.00 earned-run average after his first two starts this spring), Matz got himself back on track and finished camp with a 6.30 earned-run average over 20 innings, with 21 strikeouts and nine walks.

He was in-line for a rotation spot even before Jason Vargas broke the hamate bone in his non-throwing hand a week before the season began, but solidified that position even further with a couple of re-affirming performances toward the end of camp.

Through Matz’ first four starts, we’ve seen a little bit of Mr. Steven and Dr. Matz. But all in all, the results have been mostly encouraging.

The control issues that plagued him in PSL have continued, to an extent, in the regular-season. Through four starts he’s allowed eight walks in 18.1 innings pitched.  By comparison, though, he’s retired twenty-three via the strikeout.

Matz currently owns a 4.42 earned-run average. After allowing three earned runs in four innings last night, it understandably jumped up a bit from the 3.77 he owned going into Wednesday’s start.

Matz has held batters to a .203 batting average against this season, just a .222 average against on balls in play (BABIP), and owns a .301 OBP against, thus far.

While those numbers likely aren’t sustainable, it shows, to this writer, some of the points Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland have been preaching to Matz since they took over in the offseason may have taken hold.

Just throw strikes, young man. Good things will happen.

For all of his inconsistency over his first four starts, including allowing no hits through 3.2 innings in last Friday night’s win over the Brewers until giving up a double to Jesus Aguilar and a two-run homer to Hernan Perez in the next at-bat, Matz seems to be modestly getting the job done.

After giving up three runs in the first inning of Wednesday night’s win over the Washington Nationals, Matz noticeably calmed down after that, setting down ten Nats in a row to end the fourth.

Mets’ manager Mickey Callaway elected to remove Matz for a pinch-hitter in the bottom-half of the inning with two men on base and one out. Brandon Nimmo took a two-seam fastball to his left elbow to load the bases but Amed Rosario grounded into a double play in the next at-bat.

Although the move backfired on Callaway in a sense, it brought upon a particular sequence of events that struck me, in a way.

Matz clearly wasn’t thrilled about being removed from the game and slammed his bat down after being called back from the on-deck circle, immediately bringing Eiland and Callaway down the to the other end of the dugout to calm their young lefty down.

Matz was obviously a bit overheated and notoriously wears his emotions on his sleeve, as we’ve seen in the past.

But once his manager and pitching coach were able to get through to him and presumably reinforce the team-first, we-need-this-one mantra, which was completely relevant at the time, he seemed to relax and understand the big picture aspect of the move pretty quicky.

For all of the ups and downs that come along with a season, if Steven Matz can limit the downs and extend those ups as he’s been able to do to an extent so far this season, modestly getting his job done will be more than sufficient, in the big picture, to the New York Mets.

tr 4/19/18

Adrian Gonzalez Looks Pretty Good, Even Better for $545K

New York Mets’ first-baseman Adrian Gonzalez was the first-overall draft pick of the then-Florida Marlins in the 2000 MLB Amateur Draft.

That makes me feel extremely old, considering I was a junior at West Babylon High School in 2000 and he’s still doing his thing in the major leagues. Imagine how he feels?

He never did play for the Fish, getting traded in the Ugueth Urbina deal and eventually making his MLB debut in 2004 with the Texas Rangers.

Gonzo headed to his hometown of San Diego to spend the most productive seasons of his career with the Friars (.288/.374/.514, 161 home runs, 501 RBI, 141 OPS+ in five seasons).

After that season, Gonzalez, then 29-years-old, was traded to Boston Rex Sox for a package of prospects highlighted by Anthony Rizzo and Casey Kelly.

Gonzo had a career year in 2011, his first season with the Sox, that saw him slash .338/.410/.548 with 27 homers, 117 runs batted in, a league-leading 213 hits, and an OPS+ of 155.

Gonzalez was traded at the deadline in 2012 to the Dodgers, continuing on his borderline Hall of Fame career (.280/.339/.454, 101 home runs, 448 RBI, 118 OPS+ in six seasons) but never quite reaching the heights he did in 2011.

A devastating back issue that robbed him of another solid season in 2016 and kept him sidelined for all but 71 games last season for the Dodgers, seems to be behind him as he’s looked awfully good thus far for the New York Mets.

Mets have to be pleased with Gonzo so far

In 27 at-bats, Gonzalez, now at the ripe old age of 35, is slashing .296/.406/.444 with eight runs batted in (four of which came on his grand slam on Sunday night, his first homer of the young season), and five walks.

He’s also been feline-like on the basepaths. I’m only half joking. Gonzalez never was much of a speed-threat on the bases, but his reflexes and instincts are still very much on point. Jungle cat.

Much like the rest of Mickey Callaway‘s ballclub, this has not been a station-to-station situation for the Mets’ offense when they have runners on.

They are taking the extra base when they can and do not seem to be settling for anything less than first-to-third on a base hit with a runner on first.

This aggressive strategy looks to be paying off, as the team is off to their best start in franchise history with Gonzo in the middle of it all.

The Mets are only paying Adrian Gonzalez $545,000 for his services this season, with the Atlanta Braves (who traded for Gonzo and then placed him on waivers in the deal that sent Matt Kemp back to LA) picking up $21.8 million of the $22.357 million he’s owed this season.

If the Mets can count on similar numbers coming from Gonzo throughout the season, as long as he stays healthy, this could be one of the most cost-efficient additions ever made by the franchise.

tr 4/12/18

Image via Associated Press

The eulogy I never gave

This was written on March 13, 2015, the day after my father died at the age of 58 from metestatic cancer that originated on the back of his lung, and wrapped around his spinal cord.

I chose not to read this at his funeral, as I was simply too overcome with emotion. I hope these few paragraphs do him justice in describing just how wonderful of a person he was.

tr 3.10.18

—

There’s not much I can say about my dad that those who knew him best didn’t know also. He was one of the most caring, generous, fun-loving people to walk this planet. He lived by the golden rule; treat others the way you’d like to be treated. He worked hard and played just as hard as he worked.

Over the past year, I had the opportunity to care for my father on a day-to-day basis. As his illness worsened, watching him battle such a cruel and indiscriminate disease with the dignity, strength, courage, and peacefulness he demonstrated throughout will stay with me forever.

I’ve learned more about bravery and toughness over the past few months than I ever have, and likely ever will. Being able to spend these last few months with him has been a life-altering experience. And for that, I’m forever grateful.

At no point during this entire ordeal did he ever take pity on himself. Toward the end, he made sure we knew that he had no regrets in life. I find peace in that.

He made sure to tell me how proud he was of me for putting my family first. And I told him, “I’m only doing what I learned from watching you,”, which made us both laugh, even with tears in our eyes.

That, of course, was a call-back to the unintentionaly-hysterical PSA commerical from the 1980s. We shared a unique bond that most fathers and sons don’t ever experience, and I’m not ashamed or afraid to say this; we smoked pot together from the day I graduated high school until the day he died.

It brought us together not just as father and son, but as friends. I don’t advocate it, but my life wouldn’t be the same without our many long, very high, talks.

Him and my mother, Michele, were high school sweethearts and their whimsical, romantic, and life-of-the-party beginnings really never changed. The happiness and stability they brought into our lives is a priceless gift that my brother and I will always cherish.

My mother has been an absolute trooper through all of this. She is the rock of our family and now it’s our turn to be there for her.

Taking such a good man so young and in such a painful way makes you wonder about life in general. What are we all trying so hard to accomplish? In the end, does any of it really matter?

Have fun. Enjoy life. Take your family on vacations. Watch the Giants on Sunday with the Drennans. It all adds to the fabric of life. It’s the stuff you remember.

Now, unfortunately, that’s all we have left; memories. Memories of the great times (a lot of them), the tough times, and everything in-between.

Just please remember what he said at his darkest, but possibly most clear-headed time of his way-too-short life, “No regrets”.

Raymond C. Ryder, December 2, 1956 – March 12, 2015

LeBron James Really Is A Super Hero

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich made some powerful statements about LeBron James yesterday, as per a fantastic piece written by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

He wasn’t necessarily speaking about LeBron James, the NBA player. He was actually talking about LeBron James, the person; LeBron James, the well-calibrated social thermometer; LeBron James, the human being.

If half of the world sees athletes as role models and idols, the other half surely sees them as grown adults who are grossly-overpaid to play childrens’ games. Those folks’ opinions of athletes’ statements on anything except for how they played tonight is held in little-to-no regard.

Whenever there’s anything of importance going on in this world, there’s never a shortage of talking heads yammering on about what they think, how they feel, and what needs to be done. Over time, society becomes numb.

Then LeBron James speaks his mind, on whatever the subject may be, and the world listens. This is a man who, besides achieving greatness on the hardwood, knows he has a platform. And whether it was his solid upbringing, his humble qualities, or just an advanced societal mentality, he knows exactly how to use that platform.

He could choose to use his stage in any way he damn well pleases. LeBron James chooses to use his unrivaled global exposure to speak on matters that need to be spoken about. He even chooses to, cryptically but at the same time plainly obvious, to throw an underlying message or two into his remarks.

By choosing not to use what’s-her-name’s name after she called him out based solely on her closed-minded opinions and not even remotely based on any sort of research into actual, factual, proof to the contrary, LBJ defended himself both thoroughly and impermeably, without saying more than a sentence or two.

This is a man who realizes the immense weight his words carry and the impressionable ears that they fall upon. Whether the person he reaches is a nine-year-old boy in Akron, a 21-year-old woman in Spain, or a 35-year-old man in New York, the points he’s trying to get across are coming over loud and clear.

I, for one, am looking forward to see where LeBron James goes and what he does once his playing career is over. Society needs his sobering, enlightening, and always spot-on remarks on the social climate, now more than ever.

Oh yeah, he’s a pretty good basketball player too.