1 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: What is up? 2 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 2: Mets fans, Welcome back to a special episode of the 3 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: Mets Up Podcast. As you can tell, we're joined today 4 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: with a guest, Mets Beat writer of Newsday Sports, Tim Healey, 5 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 2: joining us live boots on the ground from Port Saint Lucy. 6 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 2: We weirdly did this episode with Tim almost exactly a 7 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: year to the day that we're recording it right now. 8 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: So Tim, I guess, yeah, I guess March fifth is 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: going to be uh, every year you can just expect 10 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 2: to be on the Mets Up Podcast. 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: How you doing? What's going on? 12 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 3: I'm doing great springs training just past the halfway marvel righty, 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 3: which seems super fast to me. But so far, so 14 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 3: good down here. Absolutely. 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 4: I mean, Tim, we asked you this question last year 16 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 4: and it kind of led to a lot of good 17 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 4: graces for the Mets team, the Mets organization, everything about 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 4: the whole team. So what's the vibe right now camp? 19 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 4: How are players feeling, how a coach is feeling like 20 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 4: when you're there every single day, day after day. What's 21 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 4: what's the feeling that's emanating from the squad. 22 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 3: The vibe is frankly normal and unremarkable. It's a lot 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 3: of guys who know each other. Mostly, they brought back 24 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 3: more of the twenty twenty four Mets than I expected 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 3: this offseason, to be honest, Alonzo Manaia, Stanic Winker, you know, 26 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 3: I for sure did not expect all of those faces 27 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 3: and names to be back. And then, of course, the 28 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 3: big addition was Juan Soto, so a lot of what's 29 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 3: new is revolving around him. The Mets are experiencing a 30 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 3: little bit of a luxury this year in that there 31 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 3: is not a whole lot of getting to know you 32 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 3: stuff going on. Carlos Mendoza isn't new anymore, David Stearns 33 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 3: isn't new anymore. The entire coaching staff is back, which 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 3: is not normal for the Mets over the past decade 35 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 3: or so. So a lot of what is new is 36 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 3: about Juan Soto, and frankly, he seems to be lending 37 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 3: in seamlessly. You've seen it in the S and Y 38 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 3: broadcast when he's goofing around with mostly the Latino players 39 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 3: in the dugout. The same is true during workouts in 40 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 3: the clubhouse. He's one of the guys. For as rich 41 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,959 Speaker 3: as he is and as good as he is, he's 42 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 3: blending right in with all the quote unquote normal people. 43 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: From your time on the field. 44 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: Seeing Jan Soto previously play for the Nationals and the 45 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 2: Padres and the Yankees, is there a different feeler vibe 46 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 2: with him right now that he's a little bit more 47 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 2: loose and maybe just kind of enjoying it more. 48 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 3: You know, I was never super around him in the past, 49 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 3: so I can't speak to that. I can't say with 50 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 3: certainty that he is looser or having more fun because, 51 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 3: for all I know, this is the same one Soto 52 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 3: that he was with the Nationals or with the Padres. 53 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 3: With the Yankees. The Yankees are, of course, are always 54 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 3: a more corporate operation. They present a more formal, put 55 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 3: together image, so I guess Soto kind of blended into 56 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 3: that last year. One thing that is striking to me, 57 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 3: and I think was striking t Juan Soto when he 58 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 3: showed up to Porn Saint Lucy, was how many Spanish 59 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 3: speaking players there are on the team, which he really 60 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 3: didn't have a lot of last year on the Yankees. 61 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 3: Is Glaber Torres, a couple of those young utility guys, 62 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 3: and that's close to it, Luis heel So. But with 63 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 3: the Mets, and Soto called us out in his first 64 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 3: press conference on his first day in camp. He was 65 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 3: a little surprised at it. You know, at Francisco Alvarez 66 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 3: Francisco Lindoor Jose series Starling Marte. He's a big fan 67 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 3: of Jose Asocarr, who's a teammate in San Diego, and 68 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 3: may or may not be on the team in a 69 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 3: couple of weeks. We'll have to check back. But there's 70 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 3: a big group of guys that he's just being guys with, 71 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 3: so he seems to really like that so far. 72 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 4: I feel like on most baseball teams, the defectively there 73 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 4: are always kinds of being the guy who gets paid 74 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 4: the most money, the best player. But this Mets team, 75 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 4: it definitely won't be that at first. Because Glendor's been 76 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 4: here for years, he has been the most paid player. 77 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 4: He is known as the leader, probably the unspoken captain 78 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 4: of this team. Has there been any relationship forming and 79 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 4: all these notes between Lindor and so Tho in any way, 80 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 4: shape or form. 81 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 3: Uh, not really, not any more than any of the 82 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: other guys. It is an interesting dynamic, as you said, 83 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 3: because usually, yes, the highest paid guy is expected to 84 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 3: take that on in the way that Max Schurzer did 85 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 3: when he was here, in the way that Lindor has, 86 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 3: in the way that Brandon Nimmo has the last couple 87 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 3: of years. As really you mentioned Lindor as the leader. 88 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 3: I think it's those two guys who are recognized as 89 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 3: the leaders. And Lindor, of course naturally by virtue of 90 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 3: his pay, yes, but also his performance last year really 91 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 3: grew into that role, it seemed in twenty twenty four. 92 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 3: So whether Juan Soto becomes a leader type figure, we'll 93 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 3: have to see. He's been so young his entire career, 94 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 3: He's still only twenty six years old, that I don't 95 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 3: think he He did not occupy that role in any 96 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 3: of his past teams. The Nationals had a bunch of guys, 97 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 3: the Padres had and have many Machado for better or 98 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 3: for worse. He was on the Yankees Aaron Judges the 99 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 3: captain officially, so he's never been asked to be a leader. 100 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 3: So we'll see how that develops, not just this year, 101 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 3: because I don't know. It's usually something that takes more 102 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 3: than a year, but over the course of fifteen years, 103 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 3: there will be time for Moan Soa to become a leader. 104 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's gonna have plenty of time to that he 105 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: can grow into that role as maybe he. 106 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:33,799 Speaker 1: Hits his thirties. 107 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 2: He's still twenty six years old, as you said, which 108 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: is insane. You mentioned about how just how many Latino 109 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 2: players are on the Mets roster, but also we have 110 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: one of the Latino managers in baseball at Carlos Mendoza. 111 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: What differences have you noticed this season in spring training 112 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 2: versus last year. 113 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 3: He's Mendoza is a lot more comfortable. He's more comfortable 114 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 3: wandering around camp. He knows everybody. He's more comfortable talking 115 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,239 Speaker 3: to reporters twice a day, which you know he's always 116 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: been solid at. But it didn't seem to love early 117 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 3: last camp, which makes sense because it's a new thing 118 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 3: and it's a lot, and it's something that you don't 119 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 3: do when you're the bench coach, even if you dabble 120 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: in the interview stuff. So one year under his belt 121 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 3: makes a lot of difference. He acknowledges openly as much 122 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 3: that he doesn't need to meet twenty people a day 123 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 3: and then forget the next day that he actually already 124 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 3: met somebody. So I think with not only Mendoza, but 125 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: Stearns as well. The Mets leadership is in place. Whatever 126 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 3: learning curve existed last year has been scaled, so they're 127 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 3: just full steam ahead. They're a well oiled machine and 128 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 3: operating smoothly it seems, which, like I said earlier, is 129 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: a bonafid luxury for the Mets in recent years, given 130 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 3: all the turnover they've had in those spots. 131 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 4: One of the big changes going on in baseball, at 132 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 4: least spring training right now is the automatic balls strike system. 133 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 4: How have you seen some of the Mets players respond 134 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 4: to the system? So far? 135 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: Guys love it, and I wrote about this within the 136 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 3: last couple of days for Newsday newsday dot com slash match. 137 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 3: You can still see the story and near the top 138 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 3: of the list there people love it. Peter Alonso first 139 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 3: inning of the first exhibition game last month, his first 140 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 3: at bat challenges it. Not only challenges it, I think, 141 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 3: just to see how it works. But he was right 142 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 3: by like the smallest of margins on the JumboTron, they 143 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 3: showed that the distance from the strike zone was less 144 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: than half an inch, which must just be the bottom 145 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 3: the smallest margin that they will display, because it was 146 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: way less than half an inch. Alonzo likes it. McNeil 147 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 3: smile smiled openly when he got overturned. You know, Jeff McNeil, 148 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: of all people, who is going to show how he 149 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 3: feels about a baller strike going his way, challenge system 150 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 3: or otherwise. Mendoza likes it, which stands in contrast to 151 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 3: Aaron Boone, his good friend, who seems not to like it. 152 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 3: So the Mets are all in. The Mets are all in, 153 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 3: and if and when the system comes to the majors 154 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 3: next year or the year after, I think they'll adjust 155 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:05,239 Speaker 3: just fine. 156 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear that. 157 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 2: I definitely think we're all in the same agreeance of 158 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 2: if it's gonna work, it's gonna be smooth. We definitely 159 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: want it there because some of these calls the umpires 160 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 2: have been making recently getting in the way a little 161 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: bit too much. Speaking of which, you brought up that 162 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 2: Pete was the first guy to use the ABS for 163 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: the Mets of this during spring training. How's Pepe been 164 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: this spring, because obviously it came in late. He's not 165 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: really even the number one or two guy right now 166 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: on this roster. Is it a little bit different spring 167 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: for Pete? That it has felt in the past. 168 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: It's different in that he is not a top two 169 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 3: star on the team, but he honestly seems like his 170 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 3: same old self. I was actually just today looking back 171 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 3: at some of what I wrote around this time last 172 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 3: year in terms of, you know, standard season preview type material, 173 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 3: and I had a blurb in Newsday's coverage about Peter 174 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: A Lonzo seeming locked in and ready for a big 175 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 3: contract year, and obviously that didn't happen, but mean or wise, 176 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 3: the way he's going about his business, that kind of 177 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 3: seems the same. I did expect it last year and 178 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 3: it didn't happen, So maybe this isn't worth a lot, 179 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 3: But I do think it's gonna be a big year 180 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 3: for Pete Alonso. He spent six years in the majors, 181 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 3: was one of the best sluggers in all of baseball, 182 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 3: and baseball as an industry by virtue of how they 183 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 3: viewed him in free agency. Basically told him, eh so, 184 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 3: I think he's gonna have a chip on his shoulder. 185 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 3: I think he's due for a big year, and I 186 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 3: think he'll be due. You know, this isn't a surprise, 187 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 3: but I'm highly highly likely to opt out of that 188 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 3: contract after the first of the two years. So so far, 189 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 3: same old Pete, and if it's the same old Pete 190 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 3: once they take the field for real, that'll be good 191 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 3: news for the Mets. 192 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 4: It probably is good for Pete just knowing watching him 193 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 4: grow up as a baseball players, knowing the kind of 194 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 4: guy he is, to have less pressure on him with 195 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 4: another true unsanctioned slugger in the lineup who everyone knows 196 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 4: is going to be the real run producer. Guys a 197 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 4: couple other players in the lineup, maybe not exactly the 198 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 4: every day line up dealing with some injuries. Right now 199 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 4: we have brand Nemo with the knee and Starling Marte 200 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 4: with the I don't know the body. Is there anything? Yeah, 201 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 4: is there anything you could really tell us about those guys? 202 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 4: Any any fear of all about possible opening the ill 203 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 4: set for either of them? 204 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 3: So not a lot of fear with Brandon Nemo. He 205 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 3: you know, he's dealt with plenty of injuries through the years, 206 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 3: and he seems to one have a good read on 207 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 3: the level of seriousness when it comes to his own body, 208 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:36,719 Speaker 3: and two seems generally is upfront about that and in 209 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 3: this case he does not seem concerned. He was supposed 210 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 3: to be back in the lineup within the next couple 211 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 3: of days, So it was interesting that coming off the 212 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 3: plantar fasciitis last year, he had that very slow build 213 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 3: up in spring training and in the past couple of years, 214 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 3: and it's been well documented, Brandon Nemo has been very 215 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 3: into the skipping the first bunch of exhibition games, getting 216 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 3: into games, eventually getting enough at bats before opening day, 217 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 3: and that's setting him up for playing one hundred and 218 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: fifty games this year. He got into a game on 219 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 3: February twenty eighth, which was a couple of days earlier 220 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 3: than last year, and like a week plus earlier than 221 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 3: the year before that. So they did that apparently on purpose, 222 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:27,319 Speaker 3: expecting some minor hiccup, some minor soreness along the way. 223 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: So when he does get back in the lineup in 224 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 3: the next day or two, he'll basically be on schedule. 225 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: Starling Marte, I don't know what to make of this guy. 226 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 3: You know, he had the knee issue last year, like June, 227 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 3: if not earlier, went on the injured list with the 228 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 3: bone bruise, came back apparently was playing through pain down 229 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 3: the stretch and in the playoffs and it bothered him 230 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 3: all offseason, and Carlos Mendoza in December at the Winter 231 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 3: Meetings referenced Starling Marte as basically a rehabbing player, even 232 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 3: though he finished the year on the field in the lineup. 233 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 3: Come to spring training, still basically rehabbing player, or at 234 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 3: least somebody who's getting a slow build up and still 235 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 3: not in games supposed to happen soon. I don't know 236 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 3: what to expect. Him starting the year in the injury 237 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 3: list would not surprise me at all. Starling Marte says 238 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 3: he'll be ready. Okay, fine, he probably knows best, you know, 239 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 3: he certainly knows better than me, So he says he'll 240 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 3: be ready. If he's not, it's probably not the big 241 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 3: of a deal, to be honest. The Mets can take 242 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 3: a look at another guy like as a car previously 243 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 3: mentioned Alexander Canario recently picked up from the Cubs. Both 244 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 3: kind of interesting guys. 245 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, we were kind of like in a way, 246 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 2: it wouldn't be the worst thing ever if Marte need 247 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 2: me a little bit more time, because then we could 248 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 2: give these guys a shot and see what they got here. 249 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 2: Considering Marte's not really going to play too much. It 250 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 2: seems like every single day, another guy who could be 251 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 2: maybe fighting for a spot where a starling Marte I 252 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 2: Elstin could help a little bit. Is Brett Batty. What's 253 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 2: the mood been around his play? Because he's looked fantastic 254 00:12:58,360 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 2: yet again in spring training. 255 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 3: I am back on the Brett Baby bandwagon. You guys. 256 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 3: Reaction suggests that maybe you're driving the bandwagon. I thought 257 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,439 Speaker 3: I was driving it a little bit, but you guys 258 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 3: are ahead of me, it seems. So I'm happy to 259 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 3: just be on as a passenger. But I'm in. You know, 260 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 3: It's it's February, it's March. It's Brett Beaty's favorite time 261 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 3: of year statistically, So take that for what it's worth. 262 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 3: In these great Fruit League games when he always does well. 263 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 3: But he's twenty five years old, he has had and 264 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 3: lost the third base job twice, and now he's in 265 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 3: the defensive versatility portion of his career, which, as Tom Smith, 266 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 3: isn't always a good thing when they're like, eh, let's 267 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 3: see if we can get you some map bats somewhere else. 268 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 3: So but I'm curious he's playing second. He took rounders 269 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 3: one day at shortstop. I wrote about it for Newsday 270 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 3: that day that the most remarkable part of that was 271 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 3: how unremarkable it was. It seems pretty normal. Nobody thinks 272 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 3: he's gonna come take Francisco Lindora's job, or frankly, even 273 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 3: give Francisco Lindoor a day off there. But if you can, 274 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 3: as Carlos Mendoza says, stand there for a few winnings, 275 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 3: finish a game in a blowout, then that might be 276 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 3: enough for him to win the utility infielder job. And 277 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 3: if he can show something in the part time role, 278 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 3: then maybe that opens the door. Maybe, you know, Mark 279 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 3: Vanto's doesn't get off to a hot start, has a 280 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 3: little bit of problems and what is basically going to 281 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 3: be a sophomore year. Maybe Brett Bady gets them at bats. 282 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 3: Maybe Jeff McNeil starts low. Maybe Bady gets a start 283 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 3: once a week at second base, and then something starts 284 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 3: to build. So Brett Batty's still interesting. The power is 285 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 3: still there. He hits the ball hard as heck. So 286 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 3: count me in on taking a look at Brett Bady 287 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 3: in some role, probably almost certainly part time to begin 288 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 3: the year. 289 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 4: There is definitely something about this point in the player's career, 290 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 4: like baby you said, had the job and lost to 291 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 4: twice at their base. Just your back is against the 292 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 4: wall like you were, you were the big prospect, like 293 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 4: you were supposed to be the guy. This is more 294 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 4: or less going to be your last shot with the 295 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 4: team that drafted, the only team you've ever known. So 296 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 4: it's cool to see that he seems like he's really 297 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 4: understanding this opportunity and taking it taking that. As of this, 298 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 4: we're also a few days off of the first rounds 299 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 4: of roster cuts. You said about halfway through spring training, 300 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 4: and one of the names that got cut wasn't exactly surprising, 301 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 4: but was I guess maybe a little disappointing was Brandon 302 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 4: Sprote to be one of the first guys cut. It 303 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 4: kind of makes you seem makes the team. Lets you 304 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 4: know that he didn't really have any shot to be 305 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 4: in the opening. 306 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: Day roster anyway. 307 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 4: Did it ever seem like for a second, especially with 308 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 4: the injuries that he did, and what is the mood 309 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 4: around some of those And it was just sid mood 310 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 4: for Brett Bathy, but around some of those minor leaguers 311 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 4: who have looked so good, especially spro and Blaye Tidwell. 312 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 3: Early Spro and Kidwell. I put them in the same 313 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 3: bucket in a lot of ways, even though Spro is 314 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 3: more highly regarded, neither had any shot of breaking camp 315 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 3: with the team. They could have thrown fifteen perfect innings 316 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: and they would not have gotten the job over Paul 317 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 3: Blackburn Macula innings. Yeah, that's just the reality they were 318 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 3: dealing with this year. The Mets a lot like Christian 319 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 3: Scott at this time last year, want to see them 320 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 3: do it in Triple A, and both guys got lit 321 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 3: up in Syracuse last year. Both guys can do way 322 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 3: better than that. Obviously. You know, the unspoken thing is 323 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 3: the service time side. So just in terms of a 324 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 3: development and pacing and timeline, those guys were not going 325 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: to be up to begin the year, probably won't be 326 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 3: up in April at all, barring some sort of catastrophe 327 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 3: to the rotation depth. That said, both guys are going 328 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 3: to be up this year. As long as they prove it, 329 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 3: the Mets will make openings for them if there are openings, 330 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 3: don't create themselves if they prove it in Triple A. 331 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 3: We saw Christian Scott in early May last year. There 332 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 3: were people within the organization who wanted to see Scott 333 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 3: before that, but they held off to early Man. So 334 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: it wouldn't surprise me at all to see one of 335 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 3: those guys sooner rather than later. And it might depend 336 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 3: on a competition between the two of them in triple A. 337 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 3: You know, if one guy's doing great and the other 338 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,719 Speaker 3: guy's not, that guy is going to get a shot first. 339 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 3: As far as the other prospects in camp, a lot 340 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 3: of excitement. I was surprised not to see Jet Williams 341 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 3: get any reps in center field because the Mets don't 342 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 3: have a lot of don't have a lot of certainty there, 343 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 3: to be honest, beyond twenty twenty five, maybe even within 344 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five, depending on how Sirie and Tailor hit. 345 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 3: But there's a version of the future when Jet in 346 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 3: which Jet Williams is the center fielder of the future. 347 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 3: So I thought maybe the big league staff would want 348 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,360 Speaker 3: to see him in the outfield a little bit more. 349 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 3: That apparently didn't happen. He's nonetheless a very exciting player. 350 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 3: Ryan Clifford, I am still in on I know he 351 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 3: struck out a lot. I know, you know a lot 352 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 3: of the peripheral numbers weren't pretty, but he hits the 353 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 3: ball hard. He actually improved upon getting the promote to 354 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 3: double at twenty one last year, So I'm in on 355 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 3: Ryan Clifford. But he also defensively of note to me, 356 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 3: at least worked out, I believe, exclusively at first base, 357 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 3: aside from maybe shaggingflies during VP, so they say he 358 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 3: can stick in the corners. He has a good throwing 359 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 3: arm for right field, but feels like first base is 360 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 3: the future for Ryan Clifford. 361 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: What about any of them? 362 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 2: Is there any buzz about like the pitching lab at all? 363 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 2: We love talking about it on the podcast. Here, Is 364 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 2: there like any sort of excitement that's felt inside the 365 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: organization about what's going on with the pitching and just 366 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 2: these random guys popping up looking great. 367 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 3: Yes, but not in an explicit oh thank god for 368 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 3: the pitching lab way. The Mets have gotten to a 369 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 3: place with the pitching lab, which is what was that 370 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 3: middle of twenty twenty two, I want to say twenty three. 371 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 3: It's a couple of years old now, so it's basically 372 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 3: just part of how the organization operates. They get, they 373 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,439 Speaker 3: sign these guys, they draft these guys, spent a lot 374 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 3: of time for Saint Lucie. Pitching Lab is just part 375 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 3: of the development. They claim, guys off waivers, guys popping 376 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 3: in the off season, early in camp, and it's just, 377 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 3: you know, it's not like, you know, read Garrett really 378 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 3: figure out his splitter because of the pitching lab. Is 379 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 3: not It's like they claimed to Read Garrett because they 380 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 3: thought he could be nasty. They took a look, they 381 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 3: did some things, and he had a little bit of 382 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 3: a breakout year last year. So it's just going to 383 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 3: be I think, moving forward, the Mets, in their ideal 384 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 3: version of events, becoming a little bit of a pitching 385 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 3: factory for waiver claims, for prospects for free agent signings 386 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 3: like Luis Severino and Sean and i a last year 387 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 3: and using that technology, that pitching infrastructure to help the 388 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 3: guys make the most out of themselves, as opposed to 389 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 3: you know, dead Neil Nuniez popping out of nowhere last 390 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 3: year and being like, thank God for the pitching pitching lab. 391 00:19:57,960 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 3: You know, this is this is a win for the 392 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 3: pitching lab. No, it's just it's just how the Mets 393 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 3: operate now, and it's a part of their technology and 394 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 3: infrastructure and all that. 395 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 4: Just to build on the pitching lab, because we're gonna 396 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 4: keep talk about the pitching lab. We will love to 397 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 4: see the pitching lab over here is has the Max 398 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 4: Cranic mania, has the fervor hits Port Saint Lucy the 399 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 4: same way it's hit New York and Twitter. Because this 400 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 4: guy seems like a pure revelation, as like a late 401 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,479 Speaker 4: game multi ending weapon, possibly someone who can grow into 402 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 4: a starting pitcher at some point. But is there as 403 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 4: much confidence internally as there is right now externally for 404 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 4: Max Cranick. 405 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 3: Yes, hell yeah, they like they like Max Kranick. They 406 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 3: have liked Max Kranick. Really, you know, he was he 407 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 3: was in camp technically as a starter last year, kind 408 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 3: of stored in the competition but not really got hurt 409 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 3: with the hamstring early and then shortly into the season, 410 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 3: upon getting healthy, turned into a reliever and the stuff 411 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 3: ticked up. He started throwing a little harder, and he 412 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 3: absolutely won some fans in the organization, fans with power 413 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 3: decision making fans, it within the Mets, and you saw it. 414 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 3: At the end of last year they added him to 415 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 3: the forty man roster and of all of the kind 416 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 3: of random guys they could have added to the last 417 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 3: bullpensilot for the first round of the playoffs. It was 418 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 3: Max Cranic and he didn't get into the game, but 419 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 3: to me, that spoke volumes about what the Mets thought 420 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 3: of him. And he was only going to pitch in 421 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 3: that series if it was a blowout, right, he was 422 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 3: not going to be pitching in any meaningful innings because 423 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:26,959 Speaker 3: the short series, YadA YadA. But the Mets like Max Kranick, 424 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 3: and he's continued to impress in camp and he's built 425 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 3: up in basically a Jose Bhutto role multiple innings at 426 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 3: a time, two three innings, forty five pitches, and he's 427 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 3: physically ready for that too. Cranic's already gone three innings 428 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 3: in live VP. He's routinely gone multiple innings and exhibition games. 429 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 3: So I put out my roster projection today on the 430 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 3: Mets off day, and Cranic's on there and comfortably on 431 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,159 Speaker 3: there as I was going down the death chart and 432 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 3: filtering through names. So I know it'll be up to 433 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 3: him to stay if and when he does break camp 434 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 3: with the team, because he has options. He can be 435 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 3: sent down if they need a fresh arm. All that 436 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 3: usual roster minutia stuff. But that's what Jose Bhutta was 437 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 3: last year too when he first came up. That's what 438 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 3: Dadaniel Nuniaz was. He was a guy who's we need 439 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 3: somebody who can cover some innings if we need it 440 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 3: in a pinch today. And they earned their way to 441 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 3: higher leverage spots. And Max Krani's gonna Max Kranick is 442 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:27,640 Speaker 3: going to have that same opportunity. 443 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 2: Was there any surprise with the announcement of outriting Sean 444 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 2: Reid Fuley And does maybe Krannick's production kind of be 445 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 2: the reason why you put your guy like sewanrie Fully out. 446 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 3: I don't know that I would connect those dots with 447 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 3: a I don't know that I would connect those dots 448 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 3: with a line, maybe a dotted line. I was a 449 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 3: little surprised because the Mets have really liked Sean Reid 450 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 3: fully for a couple of years. For the times that 451 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 3: he's been he's been able to get on the mound. 452 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 3: His shoulder is frequently a problem. We saw that last year, 453 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 3: but then they kept tim avoiding arbitration, you know, before 454 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: the non tender deadline, So that did surprise me a 455 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 3: little bit. It did however, make Max Kranick's path to 456 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 3: the opening day roster much easier because if you are 457 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 3: taking Sean Reed Foley off the forty man roster and 458 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 3: if you're comfortable risking losing him to another team via 459 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 3: waiver claim, then he's not in the opening day picture. Yeah, 460 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 3: so that opened up another spot in my eyes, and yeah, 461 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 3: I saw, I was surprised by that. But you know 462 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 3: you're talking about like the twenty fifth, twenty sixth guy 463 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 3: in the roster. 464 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 4: Who'd you have losing the roster spot to Cranic now? 465 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 4: Because would you have Kranic, Nunias and Greed Garrett all 466 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 4: on this team together? 467 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: Like who who? 468 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 4: Who's out of that bullpen roll for Cranic having that 469 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 4: bullpen roll? 470 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 3: Let's see. Uh, you know, I'm gonna try to do it. 471 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 3: Off the top of my head. At newsday dot com, 472 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 3: slash Mets has my full roster projection bank. But the 473 00:23:56,240 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 3: three locks to begin the year are Diaz, Stanic Budo, 474 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 3: I have Nunya's Daniel Nunya is being ready and healthy, 475 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 3: but aj Minter needing a little while. So that's four spots. 476 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 3: And then it was Red Garrett and Danny Young who's 477 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 3: out of options and showed something as a as a 478 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 3: lefty last year. I think he fits better too as 479 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 3: a second lefty as opposed to the top slash only lefty, 480 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 3: which was sort of a tough draw last year time. 481 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 3: So I like Danny Young at least to begin the year, 482 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 3: and then the last two spots went to Cranic, and 483 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 3: then I was frankly I couldn't decide who to put 484 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 3: for the eighth and final spot, so I picked Jose 485 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 3: Urania since he can cover a couple innings, was solid 486 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 3: last year in a swingman roll, with which the Mets 487 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 3: might like, especially given that you know, starting pitchers don't 488 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 3: pitch super deep early in the year, especially some of 489 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 3: the names the Mets are probably gonna end up with 490 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 3: coming out of camp, so Urania has an opt out. 491 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 3: I figure maybe they keep him to preserve that organizational death. 492 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 2: I wanted to also know because Jose Glaciers got announced 493 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 2: at signed as signing today. Yeah, obviously there was an 494 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 2: off day for the Mets, But do you think that 495 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 2: there's gonna be any sort of reaction or anything about 496 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,640 Speaker 2: that from Mets players or Mets management seeing that he's 497 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 2: not gonna be on this team for sure next year 498 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 2: or this year. 499 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 3: I guess probably not. I mean that ship had pretty 500 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 3: much sailed on day one or day three of spring 501 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 3: training when David Stern spoke and pretty much said so yeah, 502 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 3: that they were looking at others for the UE till 503 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 3: the infielder role at the time, of course Nick Madrigal, 504 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 3: who's now out for the year. Even when Magical got hurt, 505 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 3: I rechecked with Mets people and said, does this change 506 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 3: anything on the Iglesias front, and they said no, So 507 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,399 Speaker 3: you know, Iglesias coming back was never really going to happen, 508 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,160 Speaker 3: which I think, and this might be a hot take 509 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 3: fans that I've talked to in real life. My friends 510 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 3: who are Mets fans don't love it. But Iglesias not 511 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 3: being on the twenty twenty five Mets is fine and 512 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 3: even good for him, even if his heart is broken 513 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 3: right now, because what he did last year was a 514 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 3: one in a million outcome for a guy who signed 515 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 3: a minor league deal. Between the production, the song, the 516 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 3: fan favorite stuff, the manager favorite stuff, it was it 517 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 3: was ridiculous. And if he had come back and stunk 518 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 3: a little bit, which was possible maybe probable, that he 519 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,399 Speaker 3: was obviously not gonna repeat what happened last year, then 520 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 3: it would have ruined things. But that he had a 521 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,959 Speaker 3: perfect one and done stay with the Mets means he 522 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 3: could come back as many times he wants in the future, 523 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 3: sing his song, show up to FanFest, and be a 524 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 3: beloved alum for the rest of his life. And the 525 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 3: Mets did Jose Galasias at favor in preserving that for him, 526 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 3: and they'll just in baseball wise, they'll be just fine 527 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 3: without him. 528 00:26:58,440 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: That's a good spin. I like that. 529 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's also probably good for this team just to 530 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 4: be able to turn the page on that year. The 531 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,199 Speaker 4: year was so special and so unique that it'd be 532 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 4: it would be almost a disservice to try and bring 533 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 4: last year into this year because it's a new team. 534 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,359 Speaker 4: It's a new year. But I can't believe we've done 535 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 4: twenty twenty five minutes now and not talking at all 536 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 4: about the rotation. 537 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: What's what's the level of. 538 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 4: Conference right now, Tyler McGill, How are the people feeling 539 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 4: about Tyler McGill. 540 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: Because we heard. 541 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 4: Carls Mendoza without Sarato the other day and he spoke 542 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 4: highly of Tyler McGill said he's a dude, said, the 543 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 4: stuff's amazing, said, we're relying on him this year. Is 544 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 4: that the company line right now in Tyler McGill. 545 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 3: That's the company line, and that has been the company 546 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,640 Speaker 3: line since like twenty twenty two on Tyler McGill, when 547 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 3: he was lighting it up in double A and about 548 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 3: to come up and all that stuff. And now I'm 549 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 3: happy to buy it to a certain degree. And he 550 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 3: did show something I think late last year when he 551 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 3: recame up for Blackburn, who had bumped him from the 552 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 3: rotation and was frankly dominant. So there was a lot 553 00:27:57,280 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 3: of growing Tyler McGill did last year as far as 554 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 3: as understanding how pitches work, doing his homework on opposing lineups, 555 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 3: stuff like that. So that's good. I don't have him 556 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 3: in the season opening rotation barring further injury, and I 557 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,400 Speaker 3: think that's fine. He can be that next guy up 558 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 3: in TRIPLEA when another starter inevitably goes down, or when 559 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,479 Speaker 3: they want to slot in the sixth guy whatever. So 560 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 3: I buy the Tylor McGill stuffed the company line, as 561 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 3: you said, but I would buy it more if they 562 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 3: put him the bullpen for real. None of this dabbling stuff, 563 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 3: none of this short series in the playoffs stuff. If 564 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 3: he truly went to the bullpen and did what Max 565 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 3: Kranick did, Who's what jose Buto's doing now and give 566 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 3: that a real earnest go as a transition, then that 567 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 3: is really intriguing to me. And the Mets aren't there yet. 568 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 3: Obviously they still believe. But depending on how things sorted 569 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 3: out rotation, death wise, performance depth wise, maybe that happens 570 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 3: by the end of the year. Who knows. 571 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm sure CODEI has a lot to do with 572 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 2: this too, because we finally saw him get into a 573 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 2: game the other night. He's starting to throw a little 574 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 2: bit more. Uh, what's the expectation he's going to be 575 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 2: ready to go by opening day? 576 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 3: The expectation is going he's going to be ready. But 577 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 3: that even when you're discussing it with Mets people and 578 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 3: you are getting the company line, the caveat is right now, okay, 579 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 3: because great could I Sanga is an enigma. Let's be honest. 580 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 3: Last year was weird. Mets people at times were exasperated 581 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 3: by their understanding or lack of understanding about what was 582 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 3: going on. When he was going to pitch where he 583 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 3: was at and so at the Mets. Mets. Mets officials 584 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 3: at times seemed as in the dark as the public 585 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 3: on the state of Kodi Right now, could I Sanga 586 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 3: seems happy. He seems upbeat in ways that he was 587 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 3: not for a lot of last year. And that makes 588 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 3: sense because he's healthy. He's throwing. He threw two innings 589 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 3: in his first grape Fruit League game a couple of 590 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 3: days ago, and last year he didn't even get into 591 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 3: a great Fruit League game. He went down before the 592 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 3: calendar even flipped to March, and as we know, barely 593 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 3: pitched the entire year, So he could be. He's healthy 594 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 3: right now. And actually, I was just thinking about this today. 595 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,719 Speaker 3: I was thinking about something Sanga told me during a 596 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 3: lengthy interview about variety of things last year that his 597 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 3: whole baseball life was and he was talking about high 598 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 3: school at the time, when he was pitching as a 599 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 3: high school pitcher, that he would pitch once and his 600 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 3: shoulder would hurt, and then a while later, when his 601 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 3: shoulder stops hurting, he would pitch again and the shoulder 602 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 3: would hurt. So it's like, so the shoulder stuff is 603 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 3: just literally his whole baseball life popping up now and then, 604 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 3: and it's his whole thing has been pitching and the 605 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 3: shoulder hurts, and then pitching it and the shoulder hurts. 606 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 3: So will that happen again this year? 607 00:30:59,360 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: I don't know. 608 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 3: It didn't in twenty twenty three, it hasn't this spring training. 609 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 3: So he's healthy for now. 610 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 4: That's a that's a good, great place to be. I 611 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 4: want everyone to be healthy exactly now. 612 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 3: For now among us is not healthy for now. 613 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 4: Right especially not just be Yah. Last guy I want 614 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 4: to talk about. I think this is the last one 615 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 4: I have, Mark, if you have anything else, but David Peterson, 616 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 4: with the expectations after the big year last year and 617 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 4: also an electric first spring training start a few days ago. 618 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 3: I like David Peterson, and last year was awesome. Sub 619 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 3: three ra made every start once he came back from 620 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 3: the hip surgery on time, some big big balls moments 621 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 3: in the playoffs, have the bullpen. There was a lot 622 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:49,000 Speaker 3: to like with David Peterson. I would be very, very 623 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 3: impressed if he did all of that again, because as 624 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 3: good as as good as he is, as much as 625 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 3: you can like David Peterson, he won outpitched his peripheral 626 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 3: or underlying numbers quite a bit like year the Mets 627 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 3: of times were saying a little bit to themselves, a 628 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 3: little bit not to themselves, of Okay, we'll see how 629 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 3: long this lasts, and then it never lasted. Well. It 630 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 3: was almost as if when Peterson got a taste of 631 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 3: that success, he started carrying himself differently, including on the mound, 632 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 3: and it became a little bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. 633 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 3: So maybe that pays off in a big way this year. 634 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 3: That said, if David Peterson is a sub three year 635 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 3: a guy in a full season, that would be insane, 636 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 3: really really, I don't know that anybody's expecting that. So 637 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 3: if we're being honest, there's probably a little bit of 638 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 3: regression at least coming with David Peterson. So you know, 639 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 3: if he can be a mid to back end guy, 640 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 3: that would be a win for the Mets. 641 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 1: I know. I had two more questions here. 642 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:51,200 Speaker 2: One's going to be We heard Francisco Alvross offseason talk 643 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 2: about how last year was a really tough year for him, 644 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 2: that there was a lot of things mentally and physically 645 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 2: that just weren't going right for him. 646 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 1: How's his attitude been the spring training? How's he looking feel. 647 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 3: His attitude has been good. He's been aggressively happy, like 648 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 3: really excited for this season, which, let's be honest, is 649 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 3: a big season for Francisco Albres. He still only twenty 650 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 3: three years old, super young, still all that stuff, but 651 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 3: his year three of being the starting catcher for the 652 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 3: New York Mets, and at some point you kind of 653 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 3: have to make good on that former top prospect in 654 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 3: all of baseball billing, which he really hasn't quite yet. 655 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 3: He's been what an average hitter, Power went down, average 656 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 3: went up last year, So it's time. I think. I 657 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 3: think this year could be a big, blossoming year from 658 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 3: Francisco Alvarez. He put a ton of work in the 659 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 3: offseason on his swing, on his body and strength. He 660 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 3: wants to play one hundred and thirty games. He wants 661 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 3: to hit a lot of home runs. So Francisco Alvarez 662 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 3: expects big things. It feels like even more so than 663 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 3: the past few years when he also expected big things. 664 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:02,280 Speaker 2: And I kind of and then my other question was 665 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 2: going to be you said Jeff McNeil was smiling earlier 666 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 2: with the ABS stuff. 667 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: Has he been. 668 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: Smiling outside of that? Has he been a little bit happier. 669 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 2: We want to see happy Jeff over here. 670 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 3: At the rate of smiles for Jeff McNeil, I think 671 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 3: all involved want to see happy Jeff, most especially his teammates. 672 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 3: So there hasn't been a huge sample size yet. Honestly, 673 00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 3: I noticed. I just happened to notice because I was 674 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 3: looking at the numbers and spring trainings that do not 675 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 3: mean a lot, But Jeff McNeil came into camp saying 676 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 3: that his spring training numbers mattered. He wants to get 677 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 3: up to a hot start because his best years happened 678 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 3: when he had a good spring training and he can 679 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 3: just take that into the regular season. And then after 680 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:40,240 Speaker 3: what's that? 681 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:41,240 Speaker 4: That sounds so Jeff? 682 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 3: It sounds so Jeff. And then after five games he 683 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 3: was hitting like seventy eight, and it's like, but then 684 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:49,440 Speaker 3: you know, he had a good day in Fort Myers 685 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 3: on Sunday, He's had a couple knocks, So you know, 686 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 3: I'm not sweating whatever Jeff McNeil does in spring training, 687 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 3: even if Jeff McNeil's sweating it a little bit. But 688 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 3: I find myself defending Jeff McNeil more often than a 689 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 3: lot of people because I think he's good and he 690 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 3: was really figuring it out in the second half last 691 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:15,000 Speaker 3: year before he got that freak broken wrist off a 692 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 3: curveball that nicked him. So when he stopped trying to 693 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 3: just touch the ball and poke it and started trying 694 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 3: again to hit a ball hard, which is the whole point, 695 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 3: things started working out for him and he was matching 696 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 3: some dingers and having a much better second half overall. 697 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 3: So he's taking that second half mindset into this new year, 698 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,440 Speaker 3: and I think that'll serve him well, as will his 699 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:47,360 Speaker 3: defensive versatility. You know, he's fine at all of the 700 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 3: spots he plays. So there's a lot of value to 701 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 3: Jeff McNeil even if he gets even if part of 702 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 3: the fan base tries to trade him like every six. 703 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: Month day, every moment. 704 00:35:58,080 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 4: It's also it's crazy. We live in a world right now 705 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:01,880 Speaker 4: where Jeff McNeil's the old like one of the oldest 706 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:02,400 Speaker 4: players on the. 707 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:03,239 Speaker 3: Mets entire team. 708 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it's crazy. 709 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 3: Tell me, Jeff McNeil was born ten days before me. 710 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 3: So now I'm like, oh my god, this is what 711 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 3: have I become. If Jeff McNeil yesterday felt like, you know, 712 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 3: that old rookie who came up in twenty eighteen after 713 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:21,880 Speaker 3: lighting up double A and triple A. So it is 714 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:23,720 Speaker 3: kind of funny he's got some gray in the beard 715 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 3: now he looks grizzled. So I'm a Jeff McNeil believer, 716 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 3: still very much so. And you know, if he could 717 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 3: just be solid in the bottom third of the lineup, 718 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 3: then the Mets are gonna score a lot of runs. 719 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 2: Last one before we let you go, one bold prediction. 720 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 2: It could be player wise, could be team wise. 721 00:36:40,719 --> 00:36:42,360 Speaker 1: What do you got, oh man? 722 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 3: One bold prediction? Oh, I was just mulling this today. 723 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:51,960 Speaker 3: I think the bullpen could be absolutely nasty because the 724 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 3: Mets have more dudes that they really really like, then 725 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 3: they have spots. And that's especially true if Nunia is 726 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:02,680 Speaker 3: his health and he doesn't completely blow out, which is possible. 727 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 3: It's true if Minter, if and when Minter comes back, 728 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,360 Speaker 3: because he's been so good for so long as a 729 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 3: top lefty lateen in guy. It's awesome. Now, given what 730 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 3: we know about believer volatility and how difficult to predict 731 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:19,920 Speaker 3: their performance, it could be a train wreck by Memorial Day. 732 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:23,360 Speaker 3: Let's be honest. But I'm I'm a I'm a believer. 733 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:27,399 Speaker 3: Uh So Bullpen's one and then the other thing. I'm 734 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:29,320 Speaker 3: totally drinking the kool aid on and for the record, 735 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 3: I don't drink the kool aid in a lot of spots. 736 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:35,360 Speaker 3: It feels like maybe I'm buying into a lot of 737 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:38,879 Speaker 3: stuff over the course of this. But one thing I'm 738 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:42,520 Speaker 3: absolutely a believer in is the Clay Holmes transition. I 739 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 3: think I think it. I think he could be so good. 740 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 3: I'm coming out with the story in a couple of days, 741 00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:52,800 Speaker 3: pulling uh all of the hitters on the nastiest pitches 742 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:56,000 Speaker 3: in camp, which is just a fun little exercise to 743 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:58,080 Speaker 3: learn about what guys think of their teammates on the 744 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:01,279 Speaker 3: other side. And let's just say, Clay Holmes is featured prominently. 745 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:04,759 Speaker 3: So I'm looking forward to putting that story together and 746 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 3: has just made me more of a believer in the 747 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:07,760 Speaker 3: whole Clay Holmes experiment. 748 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:09,360 Speaker 1: James, you got anything or is the time for us? 749 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 4: I'm good. Just I'm hearing Tim say that about Clay Holmes. 750 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:13,880 Speaker 4: I didn't even want to bring up Clay Holmes this 751 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:16,080 Speaker 4: because we're being so confident him. I think the people 752 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 4: even moved on past Clay homes. Now we've moved past 753 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 4: for Clay Holmes. Clay Holmes, I don't know what was 754 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:23,319 Speaker 4: the word for vigor. We got it all as much 755 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:23,799 Speaker 4: as we need. 756 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, but Tim, let everybody know where they can find you. 757 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:28,480 Speaker 2: Thanks for coming on again. We do appreciate it and 758 00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:29,799 Speaker 2: uh what they can look forward to. 759 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 3: Happy to come on anytime. You can find me at 760 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,520 Speaker 3: newsday dot com slash Mets that's where all our stuff 761 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 3: is and of course on Twitter at Tim B Healy, 762 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:41,400 Speaker 3: t I m b as and boy h e A 763 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:45,359 Speaker 3: L E y. So it'll of course be another fun 764 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:46,320 Speaker 3: season for the Mets. 765 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:48,399 Speaker 1: Can't wait. Tim, thanks so much. 766 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:49,920 Speaker 3: Hell yeah, thank you