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Forgiving Asdrubal Cabrera

Getting thrown out at third was a dumb mistake by Asdrubal Cabrera tonight, especially with Michael Conforto at the plate, but after cooling down a little I have to forgive him.

 

The Mets have been really aggressive on the basepaths this season. They’re going first to third and second to home every chance they get. They’re always moving, always making the defense make plays, keeping them on their toes. It’s been working, and I’d hate to see one mistake blunt what’s been working. Perhaps two mistakes if you want to count the play at the plate earlier, but I don’t, I liked that send.

 

Coming into today Asdrubal Cabera was 9th in Fangraphs  BsR, baserunning runs above average.  Todd Frazier, Yoenis Cespedes, and Amed Rosario are also in the top 36 of 190.  Cabrera knows it was a bone-headed move. Mickey Callaway knows it, the entire team knows it.

 

You take the tough loss, and you move on. The Mets are fallible, unfortunately. but unsurprisingly. Luckily, they still have a solid lead and 15 more games against the Nationals. Keep winning series, winning baseball, just winning in general. Things will be fine.

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Mets Making Smart Moves

photo by CeetarThe Mets are making smart moves in building their 2016 team. That’s the thing; The Mets are run by smart people. (I’m not talking about the owners here, I don’t really spend much time thinking or worrying about the filthy rich people that profit from my hobbies.)

 

Sandy Alderson and company have a plan. From here it seems like they value the roster flexibility they had late last year with Kelly Johnson and Uribe and a bunch of outfielders. It is probably one of the reasons they coveted Ben Zobrist, and certainly speaks to getting both Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera. Now Dilson Herrera is the depth waiting in Triple-A getting better rather than the guy we’re just handing the job to and hoping he’s ready for it.

 

Perhaps you wanted the Mets to sign someone else, and that’s fine. Personally I would’ve taken the money they gave Cabrera and added it to the Zobrist offer, but that doesn’t mean this is the wrong move. The Mets are smart, and they know what they’re doing. Just because they didn’t do what you think is best, or don’t seem to be pursuing the player you’ve pegged as the best fit for them doesn’t mean what they’re doing is wrong, or cheap. Some of the moves won’t not work out, certainly. Budget definitely is a concern, though exactly how much we’ll never really know.

 

The Mets are making trades, their acquiring players and inquiring about others. They’re active and alert and trying to get this team back to the playoffs again. It might not be exactly as you would do, but you are not the GM. This team just went to the World Series, on merit, so it’s a pretty safe bet that Sandy Alderson and his staff have a good idea of what they’re doing.

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NL MVP vs AL Cy Young, Vote Reyes, DePodesta Recap

Couple of noteworthy things to look at today.  The first is the Mets are playing a day game today at 1:05.  The potential National League MVP, Jose Reyes, will leadoff the game against the potential American League Cy Young, Justin Verlander.  Should be a fun day.  The Mets won the first game on a blowout, the second on a slugfest, could the third be a pitcher’s duel?  Is Mike Pelfrey up for it?

Secondly today we need to get #votereyes trending on Twitter and also to vote for Reyes as many times as we can.  It would be a travesty if Reyes was not the starting shortstop for the National League.   While you’re voting, throw in some votes for Carlos Beltran too.  On the American League side Asdrubal Cabrera deserves your vote, especially as he’s currently being led by a player having a poor season that’s on the disabled list in Derek Jeter.  Mike Francesa thinks the All-Star Game should be Jeter’s personal 3000 hit celebration, which is even more fodder.  Also, Alex Avila deserves your vote for AL Catcher. 

Thirdly, last night a bunch of bloggers talked with Paul DePodesta and Michael Baron of Metsblog kindly put up a transcript.  I’m sure there are couple of other breakdowns out there too.