A lot has gone wrong with Baty this year and to me the most surprising is the fact that he only has 3 HRs more than halfway through the season. A quick look at some of his advanced metrics show roughly league average hard hit% and exit velo. He is striking out at a higher clip than league average and his fly ball rate is a little lower, but not incredibly so. It's tough to figure out what's going on with him. I've definitely lost a lot of my faith in Baty as a future plus starter, but I'd still much rather see him in there every day than Semien. At least there should be some chance that Baty might figure it out, and Semien is clearly on the downside of his career. Not much to be gained for the team by playing Semien regularly over the next 3 months.
That’s interesting Brian, thanks for noting that. I think Baty’s issues stem from being rag-dolled around the diamond this season here having earned 3B last season. He has been placed in the least consistent ways of getting AB while being told the PBO has lost confidence by signing a person that never played the position the very thing he is best at. I squarely place his regression on Stearns’ shoulders. If I were Baty, I’d be making it clear: I want out. Everyone knows how important consistency is for getting the most out of players, and he’s been dealt the absolute opposite.
Once again, it is astonishing that the coaching staff can’t help out these hitters. There are hours of video available, in person instruction, swings in the batting cage, and probably some techniques that we don’t even know about to help the hitters get back on track. They were looking Baty to hit 18 to 20 home runs and help make up some of the gap in the home run hitters they gave up. It seems that hitting should certainly be about repetition in your approach to get the best results. For some reason, they have not figured that out Baty, Vientos or Mauricio. Not asking for these guys to have an eye at the plate like Benge, Ewing and Soto, because I really believe that is a God-given talent. as we know, and as Brian has explained to us, most hitters go through a six week stretch where they can excel it hitting. Still not sure we have found that from the baby Mets. For the sake of the team, I hope they improve between now and the trade deadline so that they can coerce some other team to take these under performing players off their hands. I do believe the key to trading players like Semien and Polanco is the willingness to eat half their salary so that they are worth taking a shot by another team. Eating half their salary would still hurt as far as the luxury tax goes, but would at least get them off the roster.
Unfortunately, this is year four of the baby Mets. They are not babies anymore. They are whining, sniveling little annoying toddlers. Enough is enough. Of course we are joyful for Baty hitting .300 for a week. The bar is not too high when comparing him to Semien. It is time. So, it is, your turn Dave. Spotlight is on you. What is your move?
Read a humorous piece in The Athletic telling us how Semien had a hip pointer since early May and played through it. His defense has suffered because of this and his offense was at its worst ever. Maybe the guy was really hurting and tried to play through it, but…
A quick AI check tells me that this mostly football injury (that’s where I’ve always heard about it) is a bruising of the outer edge of the hip bone due to contact and only in severe cases would you need 4-6 weeks. How badly did Semien get hurt and how?
I still think he was told that he was being benched so he got hurt until after the deadline. I’m starting to understand how Corey Seager couldn’t put up with him anymore. Wally Pipp him and wish him well finding another job.
In continuum, MLBTR is telling me that the Mets are bringing up Dan Hammer, who was a Rule 5 AA player from the Rays organization. Seriously? Stearns is a shitty GM.
Also, the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff is getting a second opinion on his right shoulder injury… do they want Peralta back?
I know you haven’t liked Stearns for his signings and letting go of Alonso and Nimmo. My problem with him isn’t his off-season moves as much as it is his in-season moves. He continues to cut decent pitchers and keeps looking through the scrap heap to find quality, when he had it all along. Just this past winter he traded cash for Bryan Hudson of the ChiSox. He then cuts him for no reason and the ChiSox take him back and he is doing well. Too, he cut Richard Lovelady when the guy was pretty decent to bring up another guy and he goes to Washington and does well.
The Mets organization bends over backwards to keep pitchers to certain pitch counts, but why? We are talking 140 pitches a night, but most times a pitcher can’t throw 90-100? Why not? This is what kills the bullpen. Then he continues to devalue his prospects and just trades them off for the Rays’ outcasts. I bet Stearns has made more trades with Tampa than any other organization. It’s frustrating and also insulting to the organization. If they are such hot stuff down there, why didn’t he pillage from their tree?
I was looking at minor league rosters for a first baseman. The Nationals are only four games out of a playoff spot. Luis Garcia jr is having a great year at first base. Abimilec Ortiz is a power hitting first baseman worth a flier. Look him up. The Nats need pitching. Could be a good match for us.
A lot has gone wrong with Baty this year and to me the most surprising is the fact that he only has 3 HRs more than halfway through the season. A quick look at some of his advanced metrics show roughly league average hard hit% and exit velo. He is striking out at a higher clip than league average and his fly ball rate is a little lower, but not incredibly so. It's tough to figure out what's going on with him. I've definitely lost a lot of my faith in Baty as a future plus starter, but I'd still much rather see him in there every day than Semien. At least there should be some chance that Baty might figure it out, and Semien is clearly on the downside of his career. Not much to be gained for the team by playing Semien regularly over the next 3 months.
Baty seems to be suffering from Wayne Garrett disease. He hits it hard and you think it's got HR potential - only to be caught on the warning track.
Last night he hits one with a 107.2 exit velocity, one that goes 379 feet and has a .720 xBA. But instead of a homer (or double) it's a sac fly.
Baffling
That’s interesting Brian, thanks for noting that. I think Baty’s issues stem from being rag-dolled around the diamond this season here having earned 3B last season. He has been placed in the least consistent ways of getting AB while being told the PBO has lost confidence by signing a person that never played the position the very thing he is best at. I squarely place his regression on Stearns’ shoulders. If I were Baty, I’d be making it clear: I want out. Everyone knows how important consistency is for getting the most out of players, and he’s been dealt the absolute opposite.
I think Baty's issues come from that he stinks. Vientos stinks, Mauricio stinks, Polanco stinks and Semien stinks. Alvarez isnt good either.
How about signing Brandon Lowe as a free agent to play 2B in 2027?
Ewing , Baty things are looking up!
Once again, it is astonishing that the coaching staff can’t help out these hitters. There are hours of video available, in person instruction, swings in the batting cage, and probably some techniques that we don’t even know about to help the hitters get back on track. They were looking Baty to hit 18 to 20 home runs and help make up some of the gap in the home run hitters they gave up. It seems that hitting should certainly be about repetition in your approach to get the best results. For some reason, they have not figured that out Baty, Vientos or Mauricio. Not asking for these guys to have an eye at the plate like Benge, Ewing and Soto, because I really believe that is a God-given talent. as we know, and as Brian has explained to us, most hitters go through a six week stretch where they can excel it hitting. Still not sure we have found that from the baby Mets. For the sake of the team, I hope they improve between now and the trade deadline so that they can coerce some other team to take these under performing players off their hands. I do believe the key to trading players like Semien and Polanco is the willingness to eat half their salary so that they are worth taking a shot by another team. Eating half their salary would still hurt as far as the luxury tax goes, but would at least get them off the roster.
Unfortunately, this is year four of the baby Mets. They are not babies anymore. They are whining, sniveling little annoying toddlers. Enough is enough. Of course we are joyful for Baty hitting .300 for a week. The bar is not too high when comparing him to Semien. It is time. So, it is, your turn Dave. Spotlight is on you. What is your move?
It may very well be time, but when you tell Dave it’s his turn, what exactly do you expect him to get for these guys?
A Baty,Vientos Mauricio package might bring back a change of scenery guy with a bad contract.
That’s a tough sell to get a team to take on 3 struggling 3rd basemen.
No 3B, a SS a 2B and a 1B, almost a complete infield.
A bag of pretzels, a diet coke and Juan Samuel.
That about covers it.
Ewing and Baty,that’s the ticket!
Read a humorous piece in The Athletic telling us how Semien had a hip pointer since early May and played through it. His defense has suffered because of this and his offense was at its worst ever. Maybe the guy was really hurting and tried to play through it, but…
A quick AI check tells me that this mostly football injury (that’s where I’ve always heard about it) is a bruising of the outer edge of the hip bone due to contact and only in severe cases would you need 4-6 weeks. How badly did Semien get hurt and how?
I still think he was told that he was being benched so he got hurt until after the deadline. I’m starting to understand how Corey Seager couldn’t put up with him anymore. Wally Pipp him and wish him well finding another job.
In continuum, MLBTR is telling me that the Mets are bringing up Dan Hammer, who was a Rule 5 AA player from the Rays organization. Seriously? Stearns is a shitty GM.
Also, the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff is getting a second opinion on his right shoulder injury… do they want Peralta back?
Stearns is a shitty GM.
Nailed it.
I know you haven’t liked Stearns for his signings and letting go of Alonso and Nimmo. My problem with him isn’t his off-season moves as much as it is his in-season moves. He continues to cut decent pitchers and keeps looking through the scrap heap to find quality, when he had it all along. Just this past winter he traded cash for Bryan Hudson of the ChiSox. He then cuts him for no reason and the ChiSox take him back and he is doing well. Too, he cut Richard Lovelady when the guy was pretty decent to bring up another guy and he goes to Washington and does well.
The Mets organization bends over backwards to keep pitchers to certain pitch counts, but why? We are talking 140 pitches a night, but most times a pitcher can’t throw 90-100? Why not? This is what kills the bullpen. Then he continues to devalue his prospects and just trades them off for the Rays’ outcasts. I bet Stearns has made more trades with Tampa than any other organization. It’s frustrating and also insulting to the organization. If they are such hot stuff down there, why didn’t he pillage from their tree?
RIP Phil Regan
Nimmo and McNeil are having bad years. Alonso is fair, but not good.
He has 20 HR and an OPS+ of 127. That doesnt qualify as “good”?
I was looking at minor league rosters for a first baseman. The Nationals are only four games out of a playoff spot. Luis Garcia jr is having a great year at first base. Abimilec Ortiz is a power hitting first baseman worth a flier. Look him up. The Nats need pitching. Could be a good match for us.