The bill of goods that we were all sold was that there was going to be an automated system set up to call balls and strikes at home plate. What we have is a limited challenge system that often results in an overturned call. Except of course, when you run out of your two challenges, and then you are at the mercy of how the umpire is doing that day.
It is my understanding that there were player reservations in the minor leagues about having all the balls and strikes called by a computer which is why they created this system. It should go one way or the other.
Either we leave the balls and strikes to the discretion of the umpire, who for the most part gets it right, or we dive into automation. In my opinion, they should measure every single major league baseball player, enter the data into a computer and that becomes that players strike zone. Clearly, Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve do not have the same strike zone. The first key of course is getting the ball over the plate.
Growing up the strike zone was from the knees to the letters. So our wonderful and intrusive friend AI, should create a customized box, like we see on TV, as the strike zone for each individual player. Seems pretty simple and takes a lot of pressure off the home plate umpire who goes from having the hardest job of the crew to the easiest, as generally there is the least amount of traffic coming into home plate then there are going to the other bases.
Can anyone explain to me why this is approach would not make more sense than what we have now?
And for God sake, will someone coach the Mets players on how to use the challenge? I think Stinky Semien challenged a call in the second inning with basically nothing to gain and of course, lost the challenge because his eye at the plate sucks. If he had a good eye at the plate, he’d actually be hitting something more than .217.
And how do they compete with a lineup that includes Semien, Vientos, who’s hitting .218 and Melendez and his robust .198 batting average! Or throwing Senga and his 9.00 ERA to be followed by Perez and his 5.18 ERA or Peterson and his 5.91 ERA. And while the team has hit 77 home runs, the pitching has given up 72.
Thanks Brian for the open Wednesday ability to piss and moan not only about baseball but how poorly the Mets are playing. They are now nine games under 500 and making several of their under 500 opponents look like playoff contenders.
The Phillies fired their manager, then went on a big run and eventually turned the season around from nine wins and 19 losses to currently being seven games over 500, and hold the second wildcard spot. The Red Sox were not as efficient as they fired their manager after a 10 and 17 start, and the interim manager has gone 19 and 23 since that time and find themselves in the basement of the AL Eastern division.
I guess Steve Cohen is being frugal with the prorated balance of Mendoza $1.5 million contract so he doesn’t have to pay another individual not to be on the roster.
Well, I feel better after getting all this crap off my chest. Let’s have a lively Wednesday open conversation and hope we can earn one win against the Reds with McLean on the mound.
This is the approach we have now. Every player was measured before Spring Training games started and the strike zone is a percentage of their height, at both the top and the bottom of the strike zone.
What’s left? Maybe watching a huge sell-off? Some of the BP will surely be on their way to pennant races. Peralta goes to one of the losers in the Slubal auction. He brings back something good. Bichette? If they pay down that ridiculous contract can they get something for him? Finally how about Alvarez? I imagine he could bring back some talent . One good thing they reduce the payroll and maybe can reset it.
I happen to be fortunate that Mrs. Hunter is a longtime NYM fan. Although she was born in The Bronx, she grew up in Queens and graduated from Jamaica HS, so it's always been NYM and not NYY
Her interest in baseball started when she a youngster as her dad played in the NYC amateur Puerto Rican league. He was a pretty good pitcher, and hence she developed a reasonable understanding of the game. It must have been one of the qualities she admired when we first met as students in CCNY, as I was trying out for CCNY's team as a pitcher
Currently, she has created nicknames for several of her favorite players, and others. First, she absolutely adores the trio of baby Mets, though she has a nickname only for one, namely Benjy. Also, CB was born in OKC and attend OkSU in Stillwater. So he's an Okie just like our two daughters, as we lived in Norman while I was a grad student at U of Ok. McLean also attended OkSU, but grew up in NC
There are few NYMs she isn't fond of. However, Mrs. Hunter really likes Bichette, especially when I informed her that his dad is a former MLBer named Dante, and his mother is Brazilian
So she often chants "Benjy Benjy" and "Bee-Bee" when them two are at the plate. I prefer "Bow-Bye" for Bichette, which I feel fits better. Also, I told Mrs. Hunter that there's at least one other NYM with initials B.B.
"So?"
Then there's M.J. Melendez, whom she calls "Papi". Well, he's a fellow Boricua, and she thinks he's cute. But he does not share the middle name José with her favorite mathematician, and his actual name is Mervyl Samuel Melendez
"So?"
Now we come to David Peterson, whom she really enjoys watching, because of his long legs and handsome face with well-trimmed beard. I'm sorry that I haven't shaved since March, and my scraggly beard would take the average male about 2 or 3 weeks to grow. Then again, I have better hair than any NYM.
But when I informed her that DP is 6'6" and 240, she literally gasped. See, she's pretty tall at an inch shorter than I am, as I stand 6'. Also, he attended OrSU in Eugene, in the state in which we've resided since 2001
Next, there's the skipper, whom she calls "Mendu". Turns out "Mendy" sounds weird to her, probably because my mom's name is Mindy
This brings us to the end of this fascinating tale, which lacks only brevity
"Who's that tiny teenager who's always next to Mendu in the dugout"
He's not a teen, just look at that impressive 5 o'clock shadow. He's 36 years old
"Kye Korea?"
No, it's Kai Correa, like jazz musician Chick, and unlike North and South. He's the Bench Coach
And for KC, Mrs. Hunter came up with - what I believe - is the best nickname of all
Hate the challenge system and don’t understand why they didn’t implement full automation from the get go. After all, the strike zone is what it is and any system that gets all the calls correct should be embraced. Who wants to see someone other than the players factoring heavily in the outcome of the game?
I think we’ll eventually get there but it will take a few years. MLB seems very proud of themselves for coming up with this system and won’t be quick to abandon it. So the Mets need to get used to it and make better use of it. If I’m Mendoza, any player who is consistently wrong on challenges (let’s be generous and say < 50%) loses the privilege.
During last night's (6/18/26) game in Philly, GC made a remark about Torrens leading the league in some defensive category. My best memory is GC said something like "Defensive Runs Saved" with 9, and that the next highest was 6
I went to BR to see if I could identify it, but I could not find the aforementioned stat which meets the parameters (that is, total 9 and league-leading). Does anyone have an idea?
Next questions:
Is Torrens worthy of a GG this year, and will the grinches who make such decision decree that LT can't win a GG because he plays in only half the team's games?
As for Torrens' GG chances without being a full-time player, I think it's instructive to look at last year's GG race in the AL for 2B. Ernie Clement led all 2B with at least 150 innings with a +10 DRS in 423.1 innings. Next was Andres Gimenez, with a +9 in 719.2 innings.
After two more guys with fewer than full-time play was the ultimate winner. Marcus Semien had a +5 in 1,108.1 innings and came away with the win.
I prefer FRV to DRS but as you mentioned, Gary Cohen loves him some DRS. Yet, somehow he never mentions Semien's (-5) DRS, which ranks tied for 34th out of 40 second baseman in the majors with at least 150 innings.
Bo Bichette is leading the NL in exactly two categories - games played & at bats. And no one can argue that, until recently, he was having a hideous offensive season
So I projected his current stats in 75 games to 162 games & compared this to his lifetime stats per 162 games
Lifetime per 162G / Projected 2026
AB : 655 / 657
R : 94 / 84
H : 193 / 164
2B : 40 / 24
HR : 23 / 17
RBI : 94 / 91
BB : 41 / 43
SO : 137 / 121
BA : 0.294 / 0.250
TB : 306 / 244
ISO : 0.170 / 0.122
The numbers are comparable except for H, 2B, HR, TB & ISO
So I decided to add 16 2B & 6 HR to his projected final 2026 stats (and thus an additional 22 H), and likewise amended his lifetime stats correspondingly. The results:
BA : 0.294 / 0.283
TB : 317 / 299
ISO : 0.181 / 0.172
Conclusion: if not due to his 2 declining power stats (2B & HR), his current numbers would be in direct line with his career stats.
Francisco Lindor led off and went 1-4 with a run scored for Binghamton Friday night. Supposedly will get the day off on Saturday, play Sunday's game and then they'll make a decision if he's ready to return to the majors or needs more ABs in the minors.
The bill of goods that we were all sold was that there was going to be an automated system set up to call balls and strikes at home plate. What we have is a limited challenge system that often results in an overturned call. Except of course, when you run out of your two challenges, and then you are at the mercy of how the umpire is doing that day.
It is my understanding that there were player reservations in the minor leagues about having all the balls and strikes called by a computer which is why they created this system. It should go one way or the other.
Either we leave the balls and strikes to the discretion of the umpire, who for the most part gets it right, or we dive into automation. In my opinion, they should measure every single major league baseball player, enter the data into a computer and that becomes that players strike zone. Clearly, Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve do not have the same strike zone. The first key of course is getting the ball over the plate.
Growing up the strike zone was from the knees to the letters. So our wonderful and intrusive friend AI, should create a customized box, like we see on TV, as the strike zone for each individual player. Seems pretty simple and takes a lot of pressure off the home plate umpire who goes from having the hardest job of the crew to the easiest, as generally there is the least amount of traffic coming into home plate then there are going to the other bases.
Can anyone explain to me why this is approach would not make more sense than what we have now?
And for God sake, will someone coach the Mets players on how to use the challenge? I think Stinky Semien challenged a call in the second inning with basically nothing to gain and of course, lost the challenge because his eye at the plate sucks. If he had a good eye at the plate, he’d actually be hitting something more than .217.
And how do they compete with a lineup that includes Semien, Vientos, who’s hitting .218 and Melendez and his robust .198 batting average! Or throwing Senga and his 9.00 ERA to be followed by Perez and his 5.18 ERA or Peterson and his 5.91 ERA. And while the team has hit 77 home runs, the pitching has given up 72.
Thanks Brian for the open Wednesday ability to piss and moan not only about baseball but how poorly the Mets are playing. They are now nine games under 500 and making several of their under 500 opponents look like playoff contenders.
The Phillies fired their manager, then went on a big run and eventually turned the season around from nine wins and 19 losses to currently being seven games over 500, and hold the second wildcard spot. The Red Sox were not as efficient as they fired their manager after a 10 and 17 start, and the interim manager has gone 19 and 23 since that time and find themselves in the basement of the AL Eastern division.
I guess Steve Cohen is being frugal with the prorated balance of Mendoza $1.5 million contract so he doesn’t have to pay another individual not to be on the roster.
Well, I feel better after getting all this crap off my chest. Let’s have a lively Wednesday open conversation and hope we can earn one win against the Reds with McLean on the mound.
This is the approach we have now. Every player was measured before Spring Training games started and the strike zone is a percentage of their height, at both the top and the bottom of the strike zone.
Preach Steven!!
What’s left? Maybe watching a huge sell-off? Some of the BP will surely be on their way to pennant races. Peralta goes to one of the losers in the Slubal auction. He brings back something good. Bichette? If they pay down that ridiculous contract can they get something for him? Finally how about Alvarez? I imagine he could bring back some talent . One good thing they reduce the payroll and maybe can reset it.
I happen to be fortunate that Mrs. Hunter is a longtime NYM fan. Although she was born in The Bronx, she grew up in Queens and graduated from Jamaica HS, so it's always been NYM and not NYY
Her interest in baseball started when she a youngster as her dad played in the NYC amateur Puerto Rican league. He was a pretty good pitcher, and hence she developed a reasonable understanding of the game. It must have been one of the qualities she admired when we first met as students in CCNY, as I was trying out for CCNY's team as a pitcher
Currently, she has created nicknames for several of her favorite players, and others. First, she absolutely adores the trio of baby Mets, though she has a nickname only for one, namely Benjy. Also, CB was born in OKC and attend OkSU in Stillwater. So he's an Okie just like our two daughters, as we lived in Norman while I was a grad student at U of Ok. McLean also attended OkSU, but grew up in NC
There are few NYMs she isn't fond of. However, Mrs. Hunter really likes Bichette, especially when I informed her that his dad is a former MLBer named Dante, and his mother is Brazilian
So she often chants "Benjy Benjy" and "Bee-Bee" when them two are at the plate. I prefer "Bow-Bye" for Bichette, which I feel fits better. Also, I told Mrs. Hunter that there's at least one other NYM with initials B.B.
"So?"
Then there's M.J. Melendez, whom she calls "Papi". Well, he's a fellow Boricua, and she thinks he's cute. But he does not share the middle name José with her favorite mathematician, and his actual name is Mervyl Samuel Melendez
"So?"
Now we come to David Peterson, whom she really enjoys watching, because of his long legs and handsome face with well-trimmed beard. I'm sorry that I haven't shaved since March, and my scraggly beard would take the average male about 2 or 3 weeks to grow. Then again, I have better hair than any NYM.
But when I informed her that DP is 6'6" and 240, she literally gasped. See, she's pretty tall at an inch shorter than I am, as I stand 6'. Also, he attended OrSU in Eugene, in the state in which we've resided since 2001
Next, there's the skipper, whom she calls "Mendu". Turns out "Mendy" sounds weird to her, probably because my mom's name is Mindy
This brings us to the end of this fascinating tale, which lacks only brevity
"Who's that tiny teenager who's always next to Mendu in the dugout"
He's not a teen, just look at that impressive 5 o'clock shadow. He's 36 years old
"Kye Korea?"
No, it's Kai Correa, like jazz musician Chick, and unlike North and South. He's the Bench Coach
And for KC, Mrs. Hunter came up with - what I believe - is the best nickname of all
"Jiminy"
Hate the challenge system and don’t understand why they didn’t implement full automation from the get go. After all, the strike zone is what it is and any system that gets all the calls correct should be embraced. Who wants to see someone other than the players factoring heavily in the outcome of the game?
I think we’ll eventually get there but it will take a few years. MLB seems very proud of themselves for coming up with this system and won’t be quick to abandon it. So the Mets need to get used to it and make better use of it. If I’m Mendoza, any player who is consistently wrong on challenges (let’s be generous and say < 50%) loses the privilege.
Wish I shared your view that we'll get there eventually. For god only knows why - people like a challenge system.
When your DH is your #8 hitter you get an idea how good this team is
I have a question.
During last night's (6/18/26) game in Philly, GC made a remark about Torrens leading the league in some defensive category. My best memory is GC said something like "Defensive Runs Saved" with 9, and that the next highest was 6
I went to BR to see if I could identify it, but I could not find the aforementioned stat which meets the parameters (that is, total 9 and league-leading). Does anyone have an idea?
Next questions:
Is Torrens worthy of a GG this year, and will the grinches who make such decision decree that LT can't win a GG because he plays in only half the team's games?
FanGraphs is your friend.
Torrens does lead all catchers with at least 150 innings with a DRS of 8.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&season=2026&season1=2026&ind=0&stats=fld&pos=c&qual=150&type=1&sortcol=12&sortdir=default&pagenum=1
As for Torrens' GG chances without being a full-time player, I think it's instructive to look at last year's GG race in the AL for 2B. Ernie Clement led all 2B with at least 150 innings with a +10 DRS in 423.1 innings. Next was Andres Gimenez, with a +9 in 719.2 innings.
After two more guys with fewer than full-time play was the ultimate winner. Marcus Semien had a +5 in 1,108.1 innings and came away with the win.
I prefer FRV to DRS but as you mentioned, Gary Cohen loves him some DRS. Yet, somehow he never mentions Semien's (-5) DRS, which ranks tied for 34th out of 40 second baseman in the majors with at least 150 innings.
I've noticed something interesting
Bo Bichette is leading the NL in exactly two categories - games played & at bats. And no one can argue that, until recently, he was having a hideous offensive season
So I projected his current stats in 75 games to 162 games & compared this to his lifetime stats per 162 games
Lifetime per 162G / Projected 2026
AB : 655 / 657
R : 94 / 84
H : 193 / 164
2B : 40 / 24
HR : 23 / 17
RBI : 94 / 91
BB : 41 / 43
SO : 137 / 121
BA : 0.294 / 0.250
TB : 306 / 244
ISO : 0.170 / 0.122
The numbers are comparable except for H, 2B, HR, TB & ISO
So I decided to add 16 2B & 6 HR to his projected final 2026 stats (and thus an additional 22 H), and likewise amended his lifetime stats correspondingly. The results:
BA : 0.294 / 0.283
TB : 317 / 299
ISO : 0.181 / 0.172
Conclusion: if not due to his 2 declining power stats (2B & HR), his current numbers would be in direct line with his career stats.
I would have never guessed
Francisco Lindor led off and went 1-4 with a run scored for Binghamton Friday night. Supposedly will get the day off on Saturday, play Sunday's game and then they'll make a decision if he's ready to return to the majors or needs more ABs in the minors.