Buck Showalter has resigned as manager of the Mets. It's being reported (not yet confirmed by the team) that Uncle Steve allowed Buck to resign with dignity rather than being fired, with the main reason being not the disappointing season but that incoming POBO David Stearns wants to choose his own manager. It could be Craig Counsell, who managed the Brewers under Stearns. Good choice for the Mets, if so.
We are heading in a new direction, with a new President of Baseball Operations, and we let Buck know we’ll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately. Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our team, including leading us to a 101-win season and postseason berth last year. The commitment and heart that Buck brings to the game will be felt by our organization for years to come. We wish Buck all the best in the next chapter of his career.
Billy Eppler wrote:
As we look toward the next chapter for the New York Mets, we felt that making a managerial change was the right course of action. We are grateful for Buck’s dedication, professionalism, and leadership, and for his work in guiding the 2022 Mets to a 101-win season, the second-highest total in franchise history. We wish Buck the very best in what comes next for him and his family.
Washington Nationals came back from behind to get runs in the top of the 9th inning, which allowed the Braves to bat in the bottom of the 9th. The Braves lost the game, but the extra at-bats allowed them to tie the team home-run record.
My prediction was that Eddie Rosserio would come on today to break the Twins' record. Eddie did get a chance but he struck out to end the game.
And so here we are, at the end of yet another regular season of Major League Baseball. And once again, there many highs and lows to talk about. I’ll leave the playoff talk for another post, but for now, here are my thoughts – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.
The Good - Shohei Ohtani put on a campaign unseen in the annals of baseball. I think it’s impossible to overstate just how unique the campaign was. And for all the talk of grooming two-way players, I don’t count on seeing one again at this level. Like Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders, there is a time for it, and you can’t train for it, so enjoy it while it lasts. - The NL MVP race was baseball at its highest level, with Acuna and Betts. I expect to Acuna to get it because of the story, but I love the more modern vibe they bring as well. - The rules changes were a massive success. Games a half hour quicker, more action per pitch, less downtime between pitches. And almost guaranteed immediate drama in extra innings. I think having seen a full season of them, the bag size and throw overs are the only ones I think I’d revert. - A terrific ending to a magnificent career for Miguel Cabrerra. Sure, today was fun, but watching the game yesterday, and realize the man sits between 11th and 15th in every major hitting category all time. And he still was a .260 hitter this year. - Having at least 1 game matter on the last day of the season. This year, we had several, and it went right down to the wire.
The Bad - The MLB Umpires union is doing it’s damnedest to get robotic balls and strikes into the major leagues before the decade it out. I don’t know if it’s accurate, I just know it to be true – umps are getting worse at calling balls and strikes. And they’re getting more defensive about it. Joey Votto’s HoF career may have just ended by some Officer Cartman. - I also think umps are getting more casual about getting it right, because they know instant replay is there, and it makes them sloppy. I do still think that replay is being used to nitpick plays, as opposed to the correction of egregious blown calls, but I’ll fight that battle another day. - I think we’ve reached the point where pitching science has exceeded the biological capabilities of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament. All the wonderful analysis in the world has yet to crack this nut, and it’s devastating to watch a team’s entire season go up in smoke in April because of it. - Losing the workhorse starting pitcher is just going to be miserable. With Greinke and Waino gone this year, and Scherzer, Verlander and Kershaw fading fast, we may never see another get to 200 wins, let alone 300.
The Ugly - $300 million doesn’t buy you what it used to. It’s not schadenfreude to be happy watching the collapse of the ultra spenders, but I am beginning to think that between the collapse of the regional sports networks and the widening gap between spenders and non-spenders, revenue sharing and a salary cap / floor may be what’s better for the game - Tampa / St. Pete is about to spend more than $1 billion, and it’s not going to save the team. The number 1 issue is location, and they won’t fix that building in the parking lot. For all the grand visions for a go to neighbourhood they have.
Current odds to win the 2023 World Series Atlanta Braves +320 Los Angeles Dodgers +425 Houston Astros +450 Baltimore Orioles +650 Tampa Bay Rays +1000 Philadelphia Phillies +1300 Toronto Blue Jays +1600 Texas Rangers +1700 Minnesota Twins +1800 Milwaukee Brewers +1900 Miami Marlins +3000 Diamondbacks +3000
So who are we rooting for this year? For me I love underdogs or the new team so it’s Baltimore for me. A lot of the usual suspects other wise. Shocking of course no Mets or Yankees but wait til next year!
_________________ "Every day a little sadder, A little madder, Someone get me a ladder."
ELP
“You can't have everything. Where would you put it?”—Steven Wright
Good luck to you, Jason. Target Field should be filled on Tuesday with both Twins and Jays fans.
And to you as well; I take it from this statement that the Twins haven't done the whole "you must be a resident of the US to purchase a ticket" thing that comes up with other Toronto teams in the playoffs?
So who are we rooting for this year? For me I love underdogs or the new team so it’s Baltimore for me. A lot of the usual suspects other wise. Shocking of course no Mets or Yankees but wait til next year!
Rooting for is easy this year for me. the Jays are in the playoffs. I don't think they'll win it, but until they fail out, I'll be pulling for them. From there, it will be anyone but LA or Houston.
On that topic, here's my bracket, and quick rationale
WC Round - Best of 3 Jays over Twins - a couple of key injuries for the Twins, and the Jays didn't have to burn Gausman yesterday. Berrios wins the clinching game. Cause baseball gods. Tampa over Texas - most of a team beats two players, and Texas is just too damn inconsistent Phillies over Marlins - this is a demolition Brewers over D'backs - least confident choice; haven't seen a lot of either team this year.
Divisonal Round - Best of 5 Baltimore over Tampa - A surplus of talent overwhelms Tampa's pitching and injured lineup Astros over Jays - The experience of the Astros helps them work through the Jays short line up. Dodgers over Brewers - the Brewers are good, but the Dodgers are great. Braves over Phillies - Maybe the best series of the playoffs.
League Championship - Best of 7 Astros over Baltimore - the Astros experience mixed with the moment being a little too big for the kids Braves over Dodgers - this is epic, but Atlanta pulls it out.
World Series Braves over Astros - I think the NLCS is the real decision point, as either team beats the Astros.
So who are we rooting for this year? For me I love underdogs or the new team so it’s Baltimore for me. A lot of the usual suspects other wise. Shocking of course no Mets or Yankees but wait til next year!
As a Twins' fan, I am conditioned to have low expectations. My hope is that they avoid extending the curse to 0-20 in post season.
David Stearns is introduced live as Mets President of Baseball Operations by owner Steve Cohen | SNY
Sneaking this into the thread before today's playoff talk begins. The Mets themselves had to sneak this press conference in yesterday because MLB doesn't want any big announcements to be made on days that there are postseason games.
Stearns said all the right things and he's obviously on the same page with Uncle Steve's vision for the Mets' future. I don't think anything will happen -- or at least, nothing will be announced! -- until after the playoffs in November. Mets need a new manager, several quality pitchers and a couple of big bats. So, I'll predict Counsell as manager, Ohtani and Yamamoto signed as free agents, and a trade for Soto. Not sure if Alonso will get extended or traded.
Honestly, when the Mets aren't in the playoffs I don't pay much attention. So I'll hope for the big winner to be one of our guys' teams in this thread.
Honestly, when the Mets aren't in the playoffs I don't pay much attention. So I'll hope for the big winner to be one of our guys' teams in this thread.
Yeah the days of really caring and watching every inning even if the Mets aren’t involved is long over. Back in the days of the Big Red Machine or the Swinging A’s or those late 70s Yankees with Reggie, I’d watch all the games but in the past two decades it’s the NY teams or bust. But yes Good Luck to all IMWANers teams!
_________________ "Every day a little sadder, A little madder, Someone get me a ladder."
ELP
“You can't have everything. Where would you put it?”—Steven Wright
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