Let’s set aside the ten aces in Los Angeles, none of whom are Angels pitchers, how do the Mets stack up against Philadelphia, the best starting rotation of the competitors in the NL East? Senga and Manaea can match Wheeler and Nola, as Wheeler is the best and Nola is the worst. The rest of the rotations are comparable, with the Phils getting the nod on ceiling but the Mets getting the nod on depth. Let’s make it back to the NLCS, and then we can see if the Mets offense can make those Dodger pitchers cry.
I feel like if there’s a deal to be made, Stearns should make it. I think 1 more frontliner puts them in a solid conversation for the Division (right now, they are the 2nd WC, IMO)
I'm not too worried about the SP. There's the obvious health concern but other than that, there's no one likely to make a start who's going to make me react like last year when Julio Teheran got a start.
There’s obviously a question mark on Senga after missing pretty much all of last year but I have more confidence in him than I do in Peterson. He did pitch well, particularly late in the season and he was good early in the playoffs but not against LA. His peripherals on the season were not as good as his basic stats. I like him and hope that he keeps having success but he worries me a bit. This is just a hunch but I have a good feeling about Holmes.
Senga is a top of rotation starter which they didn't have last year. Manaea and Peterson are good solid mid rotation pitcher. I take Senga over Severino any day. The Mets think that Holmes (ERA 3.10,FIP 3.02) is better than the 35 year old Quintana (ERA 3.75, FIP 4.56 ). I do too but it is an experiment that can backfire. Canning or Megill will be the non-ideal safety net. Megill (ERA 4.O4) had the most starts as the SP5 last year. Montas ( ERA 4.84) is his replacement. Montas signing gives me the most concerned, especially at 2 years. I would have done a different option.
Diaz, Minter, Nunez and Butto are solid. Stanek and Garrett are questionable that they can still be effective. Can SRF remain healthy? I expect churning in the back of the bullpen . I am comfortable with the bullpen because of the addition of Minter. It is an improvement of last year's edition.
Other than Scott and possibly Blackburn, I haven't heard any injury concerns for any pitchers as we head into camp. If they are healthy, I am good with the group they have.
Senga's shoulder issue was corrected before he made his August start. The leg injury that day was a freak thing. He came back in the playoffs and pitched poorly, but I never heard that was anything health related. The few stories I have read are that Hefner went to Japan this winter and Senga was feeling great and throwing.
I am believing in both Manaea and Peterson from last year. Manaea may regress a little bit, but not much. Peterson should be solid.
I actually like the Montas signing. I don't know why and have no statistical reason to, but I just get the feeling that he will be this year's Severino.
I also agree that Holmes will be this year's Quintana and will pitch well for the fifth starter.
Among Megill, Canning, and Blackburn (not sure his health status), they will be more than capable of being the sixth starter and long man out of the pen.
I am OK with this crew, particularly with the offense they have put together.
They have a lot more depth in the bullpen this year than past years. I like the Mets chances with the roster as it sits.
I really believe that if the Mets want to win the World Series, they need to add an ace type pitcher. In a seven game series, the ace gets two starts. The word is, San Diego is asking for too much. Maybe we swing a deal for Castillo. Or maybe we swing a deal that is a surprise to us all.
My personal feeling is the starting rotation is strung together on hopes, dreams, baling wire, paper clips, and duct tape. There’s not a single person you can take to the bank.
1. Senga is a total unknown right now. I dont see how he can be considered as anything other than a question mark. He has not thrown a quality game in ages. He immediately got hurt when returning from IL in the season, and then wilted like spinach in a frying pan come post season. What ever is going on, I cant see how Senga will go more than 120 IP.
2. Manaea is probably the closest thing to a sure fire, except that the newfound arm slot is just that: newfound. Will he get figured out? Will it not be sustainable? Who knows.
3. Montas is another reclamation project in the works. I like the amount of IP hes likely to give, but didnt we see the Mets beat him up in the post season?
4. Peterson is Peterson. Maybe ok, maybe not.
5. Holmes is a total experiment, there is no certainty at all. How many IP will the conversion to starter get after 60-something for years. Hmm, I hear hes developing new pitches just like Manaea.
6. Megill, Canning, Blackburn, Butto etc means we’re gonna be relying on some pretty shady depth all season.
Looks very different than the Dodgers as Gus reminds us. All roads lead through LA, and it’ll be some serious Houdini crap to get through that chain saw.
Senga, Manaea and Holmes are free agents in 2028. Peterson and Montas are free agents in 2027. Although Montas has an option after this year. We could be looking at this starting rotation for the next two years. Peterson is the youngest at 29. The others are older than 32 when the season opens. It isn't a young staff.
To me they are still one ACE away from a strong rotation and it seems pointless to play half a season and then give up the same prospects in July to add to the staff. Why not hit the ground running and pick up Luis Castillo from the Mariners as he is still under a relatively cheap contract for three years. M's need offense and if the Mets eat half of Marte's salary plus part of McNeil's $15 million and throw in a high level prospect or two who are already blocked by players at the MLB level, they start the year much stronger. Now Stearns might just be a guru and Montas and Holmes will be solid starters, and Senga will be the pitcher he was two years ago, and I will shut up about the pitching. But I still have my concerns.
Please do not capitalize words in your post. It's shouting and even more important than that is the announcement to the world that your writing is weak. It's just not good in any way, shape or form.
At WordPress, I could edit the comments. I can't do that here. In the future, I will just delete the comments that have words capitalized.
Ouch that was a little harsh Brian. It was just one word and certainly not intentional. That being said I won’t intentionally repeat that writing no-no.
Screw the pundits… how do y o u feel Charlie?
Let’s set aside the ten aces in Los Angeles, none of whom are Angels pitchers, how do the Mets stack up against Philadelphia, the best starting rotation of the competitors in the NL East? Senga and Manaea can match Wheeler and Nola, as Wheeler is the best and Nola is the worst. The rest of the rotations are comparable, with the Phils getting the nod on ceiling but the Mets getting the nod on depth. Let’s make it back to the NLCS, and then we can see if the Mets offense can make those Dodger pitchers cry.
I feel like if there’s a deal to be made, Stearns should make it. I think 1 more frontliner puts them in a solid conversation for the Division (right now, they are the 2nd WC, IMO)
I'm not too worried about the SP. There's the obvious health concern but other than that, there's no one likely to make a start who's going to make me react like last year when Julio Teheran got a start.
May Frankie Montas not make me eat those words...
Boy, I would love to get you a Mets Julio Teheran jersey. Sure to be a rare collector’s item!
There’s obviously a question mark on Senga after missing pretty much all of last year but I have more confidence in him than I do in Peterson. He did pitch well, particularly late in the season and he was good early in the playoffs but not against LA. His peripherals on the season were not as good as his basic stats. I like him and hope that he keeps having success but he worries me a bit. This is just a hunch but I have a good feeling about Holmes.
Senga is a top of rotation starter which they didn't have last year. Manaea and Peterson are good solid mid rotation pitcher. I take Senga over Severino any day. The Mets think that Holmes (ERA 3.10,FIP 3.02) is better than the 35 year old Quintana (ERA 3.75, FIP 4.56 ). I do too but it is an experiment that can backfire. Canning or Megill will be the non-ideal safety net. Megill (ERA 4.O4) had the most starts as the SP5 last year. Montas ( ERA 4.84) is his replacement. Montas signing gives me the most concerned, especially at 2 years. I would have done a different option.
Diaz, Minter, Nunez and Butto are solid. Stanek and Garrett are questionable that they can still be effective. Can SRF remain healthy? I expect churning in the back of the bullpen . I am comfortable with the bullpen because of the addition of Minter. It is an improvement of last year's edition.
Other than Scott and possibly Blackburn, I haven't heard any injury concerns for any pitchers as we head into camp. If they are healthy, I am good with the group they have.
Senga's shoulder issue was corrected before he made his August start. The leg injury that day was a freak thing. He came back in the playoffs and pitched poorly, but I never heard that was anything health related. The few stories I have read are that Hefner went to Japan this winter and Senga was feeling great and throwing.
I am believing in both Manaea and Peterson from last year. Manaea may regress a little bit, but not much. Peterson should be solid.
I actually like the Montas signing. I don't know why and have no statistical reason to, but I just get the feeling that he will be this year's Severino.
I also agree that Holmes will be this year's Quintana and will pitch well for the fifth starter.
Among Megill, Canning, and Blackburn (not sure his health status), they will be more than capable of being the sixth starter and long man out of the pen.
I am OK with this crew, particularly with the offense they have put together.
They have a lot more depth in the bullpen this year than past years. I like the Mets chances with the roster as it sits.
I , too, am OK with the pitching staff. And they can always trade for a top pitcher later.
Senga will be back as at least a #2 and Manaea (alias Chris Sale Jr.) was a #1A the second half.
Peterson also came on, and is a solid #3. No more hip issues.
Holmes has good stuff and has started before. He should be a #4 or better.
Montas is at least a #5—probably much better. He also improved during the second half of 2024 in Milwaukee.
Butto can be solid starter too. And I'm looking for Sproat and even Tidwell and/or Pintaro getting some starts and being OK in the bigs.
The pen looks pretty good, overall. I'm eager to see how Minter does and I like how Stanek performed under pressure in the playoffs.
I really believe that if the Mets want to win the World Series, they need to add an ace type pitcher. In a seven game series, the ace gets two starts. The word is, San Diego is asking for too much. Maybe we swing a deal for Castillo. Or maybe we swing a deal that is a surprise to us all.
My personal feeling is the starting rotation is strung together on hopes, dreams, baling wire, paper clips, and duct tape. There’s not a single person you can take to the bank.
1. Senga is a total unknown right now. I dont see how he can be considered as anything other than a question mark. He has not thrown a quality game in ages. He immediately got hurt when returning from IL in the season, and then wilted like spinach in a frying pan come post season. What ever is going on, I cant see how Senga will go more than 120 IP.
2. Manaea is probably the closest thing to a sure fire, except that the newfound arm slot is just that: newfound. Will he get figured out? Will it not be sustainable? Who knows.
3. Montas is another reclamation project in the works. I like the amount of IP hes likely to give, but didnt we see the Mets beat him up in the post season?
4. Peterson is Peterson. Maybe ok, maybe not.
5. Holmes is a total experiment, there is no certainty at all. How many IP will the conversion to starter get after 60-something for years. Hmm, I hear hes developing new pitches just like Manaea.
6. Megill, Canning, Blackburn, Butto etc means we’re gonna be relying on some pretty shady depth all season.
Looks very different than the Dodgers as Gus reminds us. All roads lead through LA, and it’ll be some serious Houdini crap to get through that chain saw.
So, don’t buy the MLB package this year?
Of course not, Im hoping the Stearns wizardry somehow makes me look like an idiot.
Senga, Manaea and Holmes are free agents in 2028. Peterson and Montas are free agents in 2027. Although Montas has an option after this year. We could be looking at this starting rotation for the next two years. Peterson is the youngest at 29. The others are older than 32 when the season opens. It isn't a young staff.
To me they are still one ACE away from a strong rotation and it seems pointless to play half a season and then give up the same prospects in July to add to the staff. Why not hit the ground running and pick up Luis Castillo from the Mariners as he is still under a relatively cheap contract for three years. M's need offense and if the Mets eat half of Marte's salary plus part of McNeil's $15 million and throw in a high level prospect or two who are already blocked by players at the MLB level, they start the year much stronger. Now Stearns might just be a guru and Montas and Holmes will be solid starters, and Senga will be the pitcher he was two years ago, and I will shut up about the pitching. But I still have my concerns.
Please do not capitalize words in your post. It's shouting and even more important than that is the announcement to the world that your writing is weak. It's just not good in any way, shape or form.
At WordPress, I could edit the comments. I can't do that here. In the future, I will just delete the comments that have words capitalized.
Ouch that was a little harsh Brian. It was just one word and certainly not intentional. That being said I won’t intentionally repeat that writing no-no.