Robrock30

Both Eppler and Buck deserved to be fired for the disaster season of 2023 with MLB's highest payroll but I think Eppler was more deserving. 

Mets are and have mostly been poor at developing positional prospects but now they are also horrible at developing pitchers. Baty and Vientos are both defensively poor and not so great offensively either.  Mauricio looks to be the most athletic of the prospects.  

Buck understands the Game of Baseball and the rules and the Mets played over their heads in 2022 winning close games taking extra bases.  They were super prepared but folded in September.  The Teams he has managed always are prepared.  He works hard and has a good rapport with the veterans.  

Everything went wrong for Buck in 2023 but I attribute most of the problems to Billy Eppler who did a horrible job assembling the roster for $ 350 MM with alot of flaws and mismanagement.  He made many head scratching decisions especially poor with bullpen but they lost the closer in the WBC and Eppler loaded up on RP with options as opposed to reliable arms.  Forcing Mets to use Dan Vogelbach as LH DH apparently was Eppler not Buck.  Developing young talent was mishandled and Buck was reticent to play the young players.  

I could elaborate if anyone is interested in Buck's pros & cons as I have observed him.

Whether he is right or wrong for the Angels manager position depends on the current direction of the team which I am confused about mostly.  Alot depends on Ohtani and I hope for the best with him but prepare for the worst.

I endorse Buck for the Manager job and I have been a fan of his from the beginning when he managed the Yankees then he created the D'backs, then he went to Texas then Baltimore and finally the Mets where I observed him closely.  The huge knock on him is he has never won a Championship yet but the Yankees Dbacks and Rangers did right after he departed.  He is a quality person well liked.  There are pros and cons with him which I am familiar with.

Don't hold the Championship against him though as it didn't go well for Joe Maddon which I still can't understand what went wrong with him.

Very sad to hear this now as I have been checked out for a while.  I enjoyed my interactions with Lou who is a HOF poster here IMO always universally respected and witty.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/06/business/steve-cohen-mets-major-league-baseball.html

According to the NY Times an anonymous letter was received by MLB containing other accusations against Eppler which MLB is investigating.  They were at Citifield Friday conducting interviews obtaining text messages, Emails and medical reports. Steve Cohen supposedly isn't a target of this investigation but it may kead to new areas.

He's guilty as charged.  Eppler's strength is signing the big fish Ohtani & Senga but he doesn't know baseball and can't construct a solid winning roster.

He shivved Buck Showalter and now the dirt on him is leaking.  Payback

Go all in I love this.  Get Joc Pederson somehow if you can.  He is big game player.

Bold Move Go All In to Win there is light at the end of the tunnel and a pot of gold awaits.  Can't trade the modern day Babe Ruth or you unleash a 100 year curse.  Bravo

A strong Escobar performance again yesterday, 2 for 4 including a triple.

Meanwhile Brett Baty made a throwing error in the 8th inning on a double play ball that started the Mets collapse.

I like this Move good platoon partner for Escobar and he always reminds me of a favorite Greek entree which I now need as one of my favorite Irish pubs ( and JFK Jr's also ) Rosie O'Grady's is kaput.

Oh what a night Angels win 25 - 1 nice contribution from Escobar scoring 4 runs with 2 hits an RBI and a walk.

Is it true that Crow is injured since April with elbow inflammation and needs to be added to the 40 man roster during offseason?

He was also drafted by Eppler no doubt

As someone who watched Escobar on the Mets he is a poor fielding 3B with low mobility who is also a poor LH hitter which is most of the time vs. RHP.  He plays a poor 2B also.

Escobar vs. RHP .180 BA .222 OBP .502 OPS 

He was cherry picked and used primarily vs LHP recently and against favorable matchups.

He has been awful for the Mets except for a resurgence September of 2022.

Respected as a good clubhouse guy and stats were negatively affected by marital issues.

Decisions Decisions Hard Decisions

Arte is set in his ways and is very aware of the possibilities.  He has been committed to providing an affordable fan experience and wants to win.  He realizes the rut he is currently in and needs to choose a direction and needs to venture outside his comfort zone.  Perhaps his ambivalence is leading him to discuss this more with the media.

My suggestion is to hire an outside objective consultant to advise him and help select the right path forward.

Things have to improve over last year which was the abyss. What started as a hopeful promising Season rapidly deteriorated with the losing streak that never ended, the replacement of Skipper Joe Maddon, and the injuries and underperformance.  

Weighing in on the subject that is MLB topic # 1 regarding Ohtani's future I don't believe that $ 500 MM 10 years gets it done with Steve Cohen tampering on the sidelines.  Be bold put $ 600 - $ 650 MM on the table for the 2 way star that is worth $ 30 MM per as a DH and $ 30 MM as a SP and show him the love.

How to pay for this I have some ideas.

I studied Far Eastern civilization and I especially enjoyed the Japan segment.

My advice is Naiyu Gaikan and reading between the lines I am optimistic that a long term deal can be creatively struck.

The Angels have the two greatest players in MLB and one is a modern day Babe Ruth.

Restoration is necessary out of last year's chaos.

Personally I have met Matt Loughlin who also broadcast Mets Games and who now broadcasts Devils Hockey who gets my recommendation as well.  

I am very familiar with Wayne Randazzo who worked with Mets Radio Legend Howie Rose recently.  He replaced Josh Lewin who I thought was extremely good.

Well played by Arte who now knows who is with him and who is against him.

Knowledge is power.

Great news he tries to win and will catch a 2nd wind.  Bring home a Championship!

The only right answer here even if unpopular is " Lock him Up "!

Be creative structure a deferred payout deal with an above market yield so that present value is fair and record setting.  Get the House in order Stadium deal, Coaching, analytics and scouting.  Find out what went wrong why this once promising  Season slipped away.  I have ideas to offer.  Naiyu Gaikan

On 8/3/2022 at 1:12 AM, Trendon said:

One question I have that I don't see an answer to is what did the Angels like about Moniak and Sanchez that made them targets in the Syndergaard trade?

Sanchez may just be a prospect flier, but what about Moniak? Did the Angels just take him to take a gamble on him or do they see tangible qualities/metrics in him that made him a desirable acquisition.

Did Perry speak about any of this, @Jeff Fletcher?

 

Moniak, the first overall pick for the Phillies in 2016, will try to find his footing out west. He had just 105 plate appearances over three seasons in the majors, missing out on his best opportunity early this season when he was hit by a pitch and broke his hand on the final day of spring training. Moniak had hit his way onto the roster in camp and would have been in the opening day lineup in center field if not for the injury.

Sanchez was the Phils' 12th-round pick in 2019. He's spent the season at Single A Clearwater.