New Mets GM has kept his word so far — but big tests just ahead
PORT ST. LUCIE — Brodie Van Wagenen differentiated himself as a GM candidate by convincing Mets ownership that being an agent provided insight into how players think and, in particular, what they think of the Mets. In the job, Van Wagenen has walked that talk. As one of his top lieutenants Allard Baird, said, “In...
Mets, Yankees share stunningly similar battles, storylines
PORT ST. LUCIE — You have the burly right-handed hitter who probably had the job to lose. And you have the lefty whose reputation has dimmed with injury and lack of production. Are we talking about the Mets first-base job or Yankees? The answer: Exactly. Anyone else noticed the Mets and Yankees are having the...
Mar 16, 2019
New York’s last hopes to change its dreary sports narrative
Knicks owner James Dolan insisted he was “ambushed” by a fan who recommended he sell the team. What is the word he would use to describe an ownership that has offered fans two decades of incoherence, ingratitude and incompetence? Dave Gettleman, the GM time forgot, misread the capability of his roster and the market, and...
Jay Bruce’s Mets misery: Coach conversation that left ‘sour taste’
PEORIA, Ariz. — Jay Bruce called 2018 “the most frustrating year of my career” and described his performance as terrible (but with a stronger word). And within his second act with the Mets last year, Bruce said, he had a conversation with first base/outfield coach Ruben Amaro that “left a sour taste in my mouth.”...
Mariners in awe of their Yankees, Mets trade hauls: ‘Eye-opener’
Within their offseason teardown, the Mariners’ two biggest trades were with the Mets (Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz) and the Yankees. The four main prospects Seattle received — Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic from the Mets and Justus Sheffield and Erik Swanson from the Yankees — have been sent to the minors, but left a...
‘Good dude’ Harvey believes he can absolutely recapture Mets form
General manager Billy Eppler explained the Angels took a low-risk one-year gamble ($11 million) on Matt Harvey because their research showed better results for pitchers two years out from thoracic outlet syndrome, and that after being traded from the Mets to the Reds last year, Harvey showed steady improvement. Eppler said the early results are...
The risks and rewards Mets must weigh in Jacob deGrom decision
For the moment, act like you are running the Mets and must decide what to do about Jacob deGrom contractually. You can proceed conservatively. Let him play his two seasons to free agency then decide about trying to keep him beyond 2020. That will cost about $42 million and avoid the exposure of him breaking...
Mets should follow Rockies-Arenado model and sign deGrom
SCOTTSDALE , Ariz. — The press conferences had all the prepared right time, right team formalities you would expect. But understand that for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper the allegiance was to the dollar. First team to reach $300 million was getting Machado (that was the Padres). First to beat Giancarlo Stanton’s record $325 million...
Matt Harvey’s promising spring training start is only half the story
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Matt Harvey looked good — and he looked good. With a shorter haircut and a more athletic resonance, Harvey had a youthful and robust appearance. Then in his first outing of spring for the Angels, the former Mets righty was not his prime best, but was impressive in three innings against the...
Conforto over Harper? Why Bryce doesn’t fit usual Mets narrative
PORT ST. LUCIE — The answer is not always that they are cheap. The miserly caricature of the Wilpons is the easy trope whenever the Mets fail to acquire a shiny object, as occurred again last weekend, when Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies. Yet these both can be true: The Mets should spend more...
Embracing past shows reason deGrom must be Mets’ future
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets named two of the best pitchers in their history — John Franco and Al Leiter — to advisory jobs Monday. Now, come take the journey on why that reasserts the need for the organization to figure out how to get Jacob deGrom locked up long term. You may need...
Mets dodge potential Amed Rosario injury disaster
The Mets averted disaster Monday after Amed Rosario was hit by a pitch on his left hand by Boston’s Mike Shawaryn and was removed from the game. X-rays, though, came back negative on the shortstop, who has had an excellent spring. “He should be fine,” Mickey Callaway said after the Mets lost 9-3 at First...
Mets closer Edwin Diaz doesn’t get raise he was looking for
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets could not close — in terms of salary — with Edwin Diaz. So instead of reaching agreement with their highest-profile addition of the offseason, the Mets renewed Diaz’s contract for 2019 at $607,425. The Mets had 26 players who were on the 40-man and had not yet reached arbitration....
Elated Travis d’Arnaud is ready for comeback — but with Mets?
JUPITER, Fla. — “Hell, yeah.” Travis d’Arnaud actually didn’t use “hell,” but rather a word that even with all my seniority at The Post I cannot get printed for you fine readers. He had just concluded a Sunday mid-morning batting-practice session at First Data Field and was about to embark on a 42-mile bus ride...
Mets must not employ archaic baseball logic with Edwin Diaz
PORT ST. LUCIE — Travel back to the ancient days. Keep an open mind because this is sepia-tinged 2016. When men were men and closers still worked the ninth inning. Exclusively. Saves really mattered. You know how many guys who were full-season closers for their teams that season still are doing it for that same...
