Season Wrap And Next-Year Hope...

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Ethan and Andy Go to City. Oh hello Andy. Hello, Ethan.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Good to see you again.

SPEAKER_00 0:06

No. And here we are for another episode of Ethan.

SPEAKER_01 0:09

And Andy, go to city. This strikes me as well, this will be the last one we do during the regular season. It's been quite a year. It certainly has. And not in the best way.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

No. And as nice as the last month or so has been, where we've gotten to see some rookies play well, it has not been a good year.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

It has not been a good year. What are your thoughts as we head into the last weekend of the season?

SPEAKER_00 0:33

That there's reason for optimism for next year. Benjamin Ewing are look like they'll be solid pieces for the forthcoming number of years. And other players have seemingly adjusted to New York, like Bachet. So I'm feeling good. Though of course it may not be a season next year.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

Yeah. Let's let's go on the assumption that there is a season next year, because otherwise we have nothing to talk about. I I agree with you. It's

The Mets Young Core And The Art Of Pitching

SPEAKER_01 1:02

it's interesting. We say you say things like you know, Ben Juing seem like they're they've got it figured out and and and Bachet has adjusted. But this season's been such a disaster. The thought of running it all out again, the same team, and hoping that people have gotten their stuff together is I don't know if that's the greatest strategy. So you know, I agree with you on all those points, but at the same time, there's a pit in my stomach thinking about that.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

No, I agree. And I mean, and the trio of McLean, Scott, and Thornton, I mean, seem like good, solid three pitchers, but pitching goes. Yeah, exactly. So they need they still need some uh pieces.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

They definitely need pieces. I think I think Thornton to me is is so much fun because nobody expected him to be this good. And each start you think it was just gonna be the turkey. And he had won a few starts ago that was not great, but he rebounds back. I mean, he I don't know what it is he does, but with less than stellar stuff, he seems to be effective. And I that's an easy guy to root for.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

If he doesn't have his perfect stuff on any given night, he's he knows a way to work with it.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

So you know, it's interesting because that's real pitching, right? Like, like there's so many guys who throw so hard and have great spin, but I wonder if the art of pitching and the science of pitching beyond you know mechanics is being taught anymore. Like you that's what made not only did Tom Seaver have great stuff, but he was a very cerebral pitcher and he knew he knew how to set people up, he knew how to work with stuff that was diminished or whatever. And I just wonder if across the league, if there's a lot less of that than there once was.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

Well, it's true, and that's also how you get to 300 wins, you know, when you get to a point in your career where you don't have your best stuff anymore, but you're still able to figure it out. And that seems few and far between now.

SPEAKER_01 3:04

And not only as you get older, but even in the course of a season, there are days that you just don't have your best stuff. But if you can muscle up and figure out how to get your team over the finish line, even when you know your curveball's not working that day, that's a great thing, too. Of course, nobody's gonna win 300 anymore if everybody gets pulled after five innings. So it's true. But yeah. So I mean, I yeah, I like I like there's a lot of players on this team to like. You mentioned the three pitchers. I'd like them all. Benj is fun to root for, ewing is fun to root for. Yeah, I and and Soto quietly. I mean, he missed some time, but quietly's had an incredible year. His OPS is well over 900. I mean, that's like a hidden little, hidden little secret in this team because it it it hasn't shown up in the win win-loss column so much.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

I know, and Soto's the one who called Benj a superstar in the making, and I don't know. I mean, I'll take it. He would probably know. I'll take it. Yeah, thanks one to know it.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

There was a development, right?

Andy Green is no longer interim

SPEAKER_01 4:08

You wrote it on your notes. Andy Green, who insisted he was only going to be interim, is now on a three-year contract to manage the Mets. Your thoughts about that?

SPEAKER_00 4:17

I think it's a good thing. He certainly, you know, has seemed like he knows what he's doing, that he communicates well with the players and is willing to push them a little bit while still showing that he it has their back. But of course, the thing is, is that he's done it after the Mets were out of it, and it's a lot easier to for it's easier for the players to play well, and it's easier for the manager to manager to manage when you know the games don't matter that much.

SPEAKER_01 4:44

But he does seem to, I I agree with you. It's you know this atmosphere of a losing team just sort of playing out the string with nothing to lose is very different than the crucible of New York baseball when you're expected to win, trying to win and all that. That being said, it's not like he's doing anything radical and weird. He seems to just he just seems to have his, you know, his hand on the rudder and really kind of knows how to steer the ship. I I was I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm glad to have him. If if for no other reason that like enough with the turmoil is one less thing to have to worry about in the offseason.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

I know. And being, you know, since he's been with the Mets, he's very familiar with the players in the minor leagues and the system, and that is a huge plus. And as he, I think he said that he realized as he was going along that that opportunities to manage in the major leagues don't come along that often. And, you know, he talked to his family, and you know, you know, it was very nice that he was putting them first, but I think he realized that this was probably the best opportunity for him now.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Right. I mean he he managed before in San Diego and did not do great, but it was interesting he said something recently, and I know I'm gonna botch it, but he said something about having learned from the lack of success in that role that he's that he is a lesson that he's applied to now. And I believe it had to do with how he approaches players about not talking, not not focusing so much on failure or what they're not doing right, and more you know, catching that with some of the things they are doing right. And you know, if we were all perfect at our job the first day we took it or the first time we went through it, we'd all be on easy street. But but there's there is a learning curve, and if you learn, then bravo, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Right. And I do think, you know, I would have been all right, I think, with Beltran becoming manager. He certainly seems to have a lot of baseball knowledge, but it's hard. And having some experience as a manager beforehand, I think does make a difference.

SPEAKER_01 6:53

Yeah, that I was gonna make that point too. We've had far too many first-time managers. And I mean, I said this when they hired Mendoza, it's like I'm sure he's gonna be fine, but like, and he knows New York, but there's a difference between being a bench coach in New York and being the manager of New York. And so it's nice that Green has had this these few months as a manager of New York. He gets it, but like you said, the pressure was off. So time will tell.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

And I think also for Stearns, it was probably the best option for him, too, because again, it's somebody that he knows and is familiar with and is familiar with the system and the people who are in the office now. Because they could have had somebody can have a great interview and then not work out, and then where are you?

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Two words, art, how. Yeah, I think it's I and I yeah, I think you you have enough information about how he manages both the clubhouse and on the field to feel decent about going forward with him. And unless you were gonna pry somebody away or bring back Buck or something like that, uh, you know, everybody else is a question mark. I I have nothing against Beltron whatsoever, except that I I don't want to hand the reins to somebody who's never done it again. I just I just I think that's foolish.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

No, in retrospect, you wish that possibly Stearns had kept Buck on, at least for one more season.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

I definitely do.

SPEAKER_00 8:26

But he didn't.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

That's right, he didn't.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Yeah. I mean Buck is Buck greets people the wrong way a lot after he wears out his welcome everywhere he goes. But the man knows the game and he knows the nuances of the game, and he knows he he understands how to get, you know, every advantage he can. So I agree. I was I was sorry to see him go. I under kind of understood it, but I was sorry to see him go too.

SPEAKER_00 8:56

And I think Green may be the right mix where obviously in the present-day game, the manager is kind of an extension of the front office, but he does really seem to care for the players and know them very well. So I think he would potentially push back if there was a conflict.

SPEAKER_01 9:15

So yeah, no, and and being an extension of front office, he came from the front office, so he quite literally is the extension. Yeah, that's a very good point. That's a very good point. So let's

Lindor Concerns And Infield Math

SPEAKER_01 9:28

talk a little bit about other players. I mean, I I look at Lindor's year and it's been bad. Not as awful, I think, as people think, but it's you know he's hitting like 221 or something like that, which is way too low. His OPS is in the mid-700s, which for him is low. He made a lot of errors this year, which is a little bit of an eyebrow raise for a guy who's 33 now. What do you what are your thoughts on Lindor? Are you how concerned are you? Are you concerned at all?

SPEAKER_00 10:01

I am concerned. I think the one major thing will be is he completely healthy next year? I do think that the operation that he had, you know, it was in February or March, right before spring drinking of the hammock bone. And I think that he probably came back sooner than you probably should. But I mean, I understand why. And then he, you know, there were other small injuries, and I think he just never really got to a point until later in the season where he was feeling comfortable, and he still may not be feeling fully comfortable. So I think if he has a good offseason and comes back fully healthy, I would think that he should have a typical Lindor year. But who knows? Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

He's not, you know, I keep reading, I read something the other day about, you know, Lindor and Soto being in their prime. And at 33, he has a shortstop. If you're in your prime, you're at the very last stages of your prime. And you're really going off the edge. And then he signed through 31, and they're gonna have to figure something out. And in that in that way, when you look at the decline of Lindor, and although they're very different players, you kind of understand why you didn't want him aging deep into his contract at the same time that Nimmo was aging deep in his contract, at the same time Alonzo was aging deep into his contract. That would be in the course of a couple of years, three guys who are really cogs in the in the machine, all getting into their mid-30s at the same time. And and and then you can't move them, and then you've got no flexibility. So obviously, we missed Alonso a ton this year, maybe not Nemo so much because of the kids out there, but you you can understand why you don't want that many aging contracts on the on the roster at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

You know, and perhaps Alonzo can move to play second, which is Lindor to play second. I know. Can you imagine? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

I cannot. Well, I did we did talk about the bad news bears last time. So yeah, I can I guess I can picture it that way. No, so Lindor moving to second short.

SPEAKER_00 12:11

Right. And that could be a way to extend his defensive side and and eventually he might become a DH. So of course Soto probably eventually is gonna become a DH by the end of his contract.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

So right. I don't think, I mean, I think that Soto is really helped A by being in left field this year, and also having two very young, very athletic, you know, partners in the outfield. So maybe he doesn't need to move to DH, sorry, DH anytime soon. But you're right. I mean, I think that I think that Lindor's day, I think last year could next next year, sorry, it could easily be his last year as a shortstop. There's a lot of infielders coming up through the system, but A do any of them play shortstop? Not not the immediate graduates. And then the other thing, too, like even if you're very excited about a guy like Jefferson Rojas, who's not a shortstop, or Voigt, who I think can play shortstop, you have to remember we were really excited about Jet Williams, too, and he's not made it with Milwaukee. Right. And we were really excited about Spruit, and he's not really made it with Milwaukee. We won't talk about PCA because he's very much made it with the Cubs. But my point is like it's a crapshoot. So even if you think, well, this guy can replace, you know, Lindor in the future, you don't know. And you just have to look at the Yankees, who at Volpe was supposed to be the you know the next Derek Jeter, and he's he's not he gets booed. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, it's it's it's definitely going to be interesting to see Lindor's agent Kirk and what they do with him.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Yeah. No, I think your earlier point is well taken that you know they have the two long contracts in Lindor and Soto, and having any other long-term contracts like that where you know you can't get rid of them is an invitation to you know, you're just not going to be able to have a good defensive team if you have that many pi people going into their mid to late 30s.

SPEAKER_01 14:05

That's true. I mean, if you look at Semyon, right, he is a perfect example of uh he's the warning sign. And yeah, you can on a good team, you can roster a guy like that, but you can't roster four of them. So it's interesting. Let's talk about Brett Beatty because he's doing it again, coming coming through late in the year, making people go, oh, maybe he's finally figured it out. But like, you know, fool us once, shame on you, fool us twice, shame on us. What do you do you think this is real? He looks he's been looking so good the last couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

I don't know. Uh, you know, you want to believe that there's something there, and you want to believe that Vientos could recapture it, but they just haven't. Right.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Yeah. I mean, Beatty brings you something more than Vientos does in that you can put him at third, you can put him at second, and he's and maybe a little at first, and he's okay, and he's even probably pretty decent infielder, and Vientos is a butcher out there. And the other thing that Beatty has going for them, he's still cheap, right? So, like if you if you don't pencil him in for 600 at bats, but you think of him as a spot starter, kind of a utility guy, you know, every team needs those. And rather than go out and spend a couple million on a guy who's maybe on the downside of his career to play that role, you have Brett Beatty where there's at least hints of an upside. So that I guess would be the argument for keeping him. And also, you know, if he can play second and you have Semion next year, there's no doubt, like you don't want to give Semyon 162 games next year.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

No. No, and at least you're very familiar with Beatty, and you just you sign somebody and you just don't know what you're gonna get. Like Polanco. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

Yeah, exactly. Now, the uh the flip side of that is you do the aforementioned Voigt and Petre and Rojas, those are all guys who can play second base. But I don't think a guy like Beatty really blocks them because it's not like he's got a you know six-year, sixty million or you know, $120 million contract that you can't cut.

SPEAKER_00 16:19

Like if those guys knock at the door, you can get rid of them. Right, and that's the thing. It's not to be cold-hearted, but you could cut them.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Yeah, you could cut them. Yeah, yeah. Right. And that's and that's the advantage of having a cheap guy who's you know pre-free agency. Right. But I'm not I'm not let's put it this way I would not burn down my house if they brought Beatty back, but I'm not betting that house that he's that what we're seeing now is the Beatty we'll see at the beginning of next year.

unknown 16:47

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

No, I agree. And that's true for so many of the players that once again at the beginning of next year the pressure's gonna be on, and we really have to see how they respond to it. I mean, I suppose the other thing, of course, is we kind of assume that Bichette is gonna re-up for another year, but it's possible he doesn't, and then you have a hole at their base, in which case then having somebody like Beatty who could take some ad bats there is worth having. Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Right. I mean, in some ways, the infield picture is completely held hostage until Bichette makes his makes his decision. You know, he obviously turned his season around, but he still has a 700 OPS. Hard to see him turning away what is like 84 million dollars more or something like that. I mean, at least I think he re-ops next year against the 42 million because it's hard to see him being 84 right now on the open market with the year he's at. And you know, yesterday's game is a perfect example. I mean, they walked Soto three times intentionally to get to Bachet. That that shows that they're, you know, I mean, obviously Soto's a better player, but it shows they're not that afraid of the current Bichette. So if that's the attitude out there, then then he's probably not getting a great contract on the free market.

SPEAKER_00 18:08

Right. Right. I mean, he has a great season next year and then he could then he can opt, he has a chance to opt out again. Right.

SPEAKER_01 18:15

Right, exactly. So it's not like he's locking himself into a ton.

SPEAKER_00 18:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:18

Yeah, poor guy's only locking himself into 42 million.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

No, I don't know. And I think you're right that it's easy to start going sort of player by player and say, okay, you see hints of things where they could be better next year, and then suddenly you realize, okay, and then we end up with almost the same roster, and that just is in when you take a step back, does not seem like a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Not like a great idea. Although, again, there's so much said about like too much change all at once. I don't know. I mean, you won't have Robert Louise Robert that you're counting on going down, like you'll have viewing out there, who probably doesn't have the upside of Robert, but Robert never stays on the on the field. So if Bichette has another year like this, you're gonna ruin the fact that you didn't go get better players elsewhere, I guess.

Pete Alonso returns

SPEAKER_00 19:10

I suppose we should briefly talk about Alonzo's return last week, though it seems like uh weeks ago now, even though it was only last week.

SPEAKER_01 19:19

It's it's interesting because that, you know, we we lost we ended up losing two of three to the Yankees, and that was not a great way to set up the uh Baltimore series. No.

SPEAKER_00 19:32

But all the Yank games were close. They were, and or at least you felt that the Mets were in every single one of them. Except maybe the Schlitler on that guy can throw.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

But yeah, I mean, like, I think I think the Baltimore series was really kind of a reminder of a lot of the things that went wrong. And obviously the first place, first base black hole we were just talking about, you know, the emblem of Alonzo hitting his 300th home run in somebody else's uniform really puts the exclamation mark on that. Would have been slightly easier to take if Lindor had hit his 300th in the same game or same series. It was not to be true, not to have happened, but I don't know. I didn't really pay much attention. I just I didn't want to get riled up about all that.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

I know. Also, it would have been easier if this if these games had taken place earlier in the season when the Mets were terrible, and then everybody was in that mood. And but right now it was like Mets were playing better, and you know, you had you just have hope for next year, and then this just brought all the bad memories back.

SPEAKER_01 20:41

100%. It was like it was like feeling good about yourself, Mets? Watch this, you know. Yeah, it's it was tough to watch. I mean, it's funny because I remember when Daryl Strawberry came back as a dodger, and that was everybody was giddy about that, and it was fun to like taunt him and things of that sort. And I remember when Piazza came back as a Padre and people cheered and cheered and cheered, but this just felt different. This felt like because when Strawberry left, the Met still had, you know, we're still a fighting team. Just this felt like we had waved the white flag, and now we have to watch the homegrown, you know, home run, franchise home run leader come in and and and make his own personal history against us instead of for us. Yeah, you're like a total reminder of everything that was crap about this year. Yeah. Moving on. Exactly. But it's interesting because Nim, I mean, obviously Nimo we're playing Nimo in Texas and rather than in City, but um I don't I don't have the same kind of reaction watching him succeed against us, or you know, he got hit yesterday or whatever. I don't I don't it doesn't feel the same to me.

SPEAKER_00 21:55

No, it's just I think that that feels more defensible than. Yes, unfortunately, Semian is close to being washed up, but by not having Nimmo taking one of the outfield spots that allow for Benj and Ewing, and people seem to understand that and accept that. And also Nimmo's having an okay year, but not a great year.

SPEAKER_01 22:15

He started off great and he's really sagged. But yeah, and and whatever Benj and Ewing end up being, they're fun to watch now and they're fun to get behind now. So you're right.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

It's like we we see how that hole is filled, whereas the Alonzo hole, both from a power point of view and the first base point of view, just I think, yeah, and unfortunately, you know, if we find a slugging first baseman that you know gets 30, 35 home runs, it will probably start to feel a little bit more in the past. But I think you know, Alonzo may slump and may not justify his five-year contract, but it's possible that he will. And you know, it'll be a constant reminder. So constant. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:02

Yeah, it's funny because like I see people, you know, ruin the the trade that sent PCA over to the Cubs, but it's not the same because he had not established himself even in the minor leagues yet. So yeah, we gave up some great talent there, but you didn't know what you were giving up. Letting Alonso walk, you knew what you were letting walk out the door.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

No, as I think we discussed before, I mean at the time, I mean, Baez, except for the stupid thumbs down incident, actually played very well for the Mets.

SPEAKER_01 23:34

Incredibly well.

SPEAKER_00 23:35

People forget that. So it's the perfect example of your, you know, trading a prospect who may or may not, and unfortunately, in this case, PCA has made it for something that's really going to help you immediately.

SPEAKER_01 23:50

Right. No, no. I mean, I think I that's a complete Monday morning quarterbacking kind of criticism. Because yeah, you didn't know what you you didn't know what you had. You knew what he might become. But I don't think anybody even thought this was what he might become, even in their wildest dreams. I don't think people thought 40 home runs out of this guy. MVP. Yeah. I mean nobody, nobody predicted that. So good on the Cubs, bad on us. But it's not the same emotional stab that that Alonso is. Yeah. Well, okay,

Nolan McLean and a blueprint for the Mets rotation

SPEAKER_01 24:23

we have to think of something good to talk about. We cannot end on that. McLean had a great game yesterday. It went seven innings, right? Yeah. Two runs.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

And once again, I think had uh one bad inning, but then came back. And I mean, that's really, I think, says something that he's really learning how to adjust.

SPEAKER_01 24:40

I mean, this is his first full season in the major leagues. I think that if he stays healthy, I think, you know, I think he's he's somebody who's really reliable, if not great, for years and years to come. That's that's nice to have. That's really nice to have. So yeah, thank you for thank you positive.

SPEAKER_00 25:02

Yeah. No, and they're still and they're still pitching down there. I mean, Tong is up and down, but there's still potential there, and they have two or three other pitchers who are in triple A who, you know. Might be something. Yeah, might be something. Yeah.

unknown 25:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:18

I mean, the McLean's of the world don't come around all the time. And, you know, before that, I guess the de Groms of the world certainly don't come around all the time. But, you know, if you have if you have a a McLean and a Scott, and then you can pepper them around with some other homegrowns and then bring in some talent from outside, you could have yourself a really, really solid rotation. And that's and that's good. So as long as we have McLean, it's God. And you know, we talked about Thornton before. I think, like you said, it's a it's a good foundation. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:50

So in terms of the offseason, you know, obviously the one big question is whether they seriously pursue Scooba. I don't know. It's like on the one hand, sure, he's a great pitcher, but for the amount of money that he's gonna get. And the years.

SPEAKER_01 26:07

But you know, I I hate to think this way because you want a guy like that. And you know, the Dodgers always go out and get that guy.

SPEAKER_00 26:15

Unless their own unless their owner ends up in jail.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

Right. But, you know, they you look at the the pitchers that the Dodgers have pursued, just the players the Dodgers pursued, they want them, they get them, and you know, a lot of their pitching staff ends up on the DL or sorry, the IL for months at a time, but they seem to have just a bevy of of of pitchers to take their place. But there's something very Metzian about signing a guy like Scuble and having him like, you know, need thoracic outlet syndrome in May of next year, and he's never the same again, and you've got you know a Strasbourg-like contract on your hands. Yeah, that's that's just that's the way it goes for this team. I hate to be that way. I know. I will I hope they bring back Clay Holmes, to be honest with you. Right.

SPEAKER_00 27:03

That might not be the only move, but that would be a good move. And again, I suppose it partially will depend on how much how many years and how much money he wants, but obviously it'd be less than Scoobl.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

Yes, yeah. And he's obviously not the pitcher School is, but he's a good anchoring pitcher for the staff. Right. Of course, all

Tarik Skubal, free agents and lockout fears

SPEAKER_01 27:23

this could be moot because there might not be baseball in 2027. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 27:28

I know.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

I don't I don't there just seems to be so much on the table. It'll be interesting to see how they hammer down.

SPEAKER_00 27:36

So somebody um said uh well, what if it turns out to be a Brewer's Rays World Series for you know, you know, owners who are always crying poverty and that the rich teams can buy their way to uh a title?

SPEAKER_01 27:49

I know. It's bad optics for the owners of that you know, I actually that's a good thought. Like if that's the World Series, what what does that do to the argument? What does that do to the to the hand that the that the owners hold? That's that's a really good I that's a really good point. Because if it's Dodgers and Yankees, you can make that point out of the rich just keep buying right at the top. But yeah, time will tell.

SPEAKER_00 28:16

All right.

Final Thoughts And Sign-Off

SPEAKER_00 28:17

So I think we've come to the end of another episode of Ethan and Andy Go to City. This will be the final episode of the 2026 season, but we will return during the offseason on occasionally.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Hopefully with great things to exciting things to talk about.

SPEAKER_00 28:33

That would be good.

SPEAKER_01 28:34

And let's go, Mets. And like we do every year, wait till next year.

SPEAKER_00 28:40

This is true. Thank you very much for listening, and we really appreciate your patronage. Absolutely. Thanks again. Bye.