All Things Spring Training 2016 (except games)

[David]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/702195720384720897[/tweet]

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Soler: still the most handsome.

uh doy

[Banedon]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/702195720384720897[/tweet]

 

Schwarber better tweet Maaco.

[David]

plz dont get hurt jake

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCEks_cw-UZ/

[imb]

little disappointed in jake's core

[Gmoney08]

plz dont get hurt jake

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCEks_cw-UZ/

 

Is that LaStella?

[Tracer Bullet]

Is this also where we can talk about our regret that we didn't sign one of Cespedes' cars?

 

http://deadspin.com/yoenis-cespedes-is-driving-a-different-ridiculous-car-t-1760997516?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Deadspin_twitter

 

He almost left it without the parking break on. lol

[Sammy Sofa]

Is this also where we can talk about our regret that we didn't sign one of Cespedes' cars?

 

http://deadspin.com/yoenis-cespedes-is-driving-a-different-ridiculous-car-t-1760997516?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Deadspin_twitter

 

He almost left it without the parking break on. lol

 

Cuban players are basically the greatest.

[David]

Ricketts always makes the same Knute Rockne joke about his talk to the team every year

[dawson1989]

Is this also where we can talk about our regret that we didn't sign one of Cespedes' cars?

 

http://deadspin.com/yoenis-cespedes-is-driving-a-different-ridiculous-car-t-1760997516?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Deadspin_twitter

 

He almost left it without the parking break on. lol

 

Feels like the right time to say I expect him to regress badly and just be a rich man's Souza.

[Sammy Sofa]

Is this also where we can talk about our regret that we didn't sign one of Cespedes' cars?

 

http://deadspin.com/yoenis-cespedes-is-driving-a-different-ridiculous-car-t-1760997516?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Deadspin_twitter

 

He almost left it without the parking break on. lol

 

Feels like the right time to say I expect him to regress badly and just be a rich man's Souza.

 

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111127013/4145280-yosemite+sam+%26+bugs+bunny+-+hare+trimmed+(pistols+at+ten+paces)+(low).flv.gif

[dawson1989]

Is this also where we can talk about our regret that we didn't sign one of Cespedes' cars?

 

http://deadspin.com/yoenis-cespedes-is-driving-a-different-ridiculous-car-t-1760997516?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Deadspin_twitter

 

He almost left it without the parking break on. lol

 

Feels like the right time to say I expect him to regress badly and just be a rich man's Souza.

 

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111127013/4145280-yosemite+sam+%26+bugs+bunny+-+hare+trimmed+(pistols+at+ten+paces)+(low).flv.gif

 

Sorry Souza was fresh on my mind. Basically I expect Cespedes to be a .270, .320, .450 guy with a ton of strike outs and 25ish HRs. Decent but by no means the star bat the Mets need and paid for. Seems like a guy who got his contract and now won't be as focused. Not good for a guy that already had a lot of swing and miss.

[David]

 

Feels like the right time to say I expect him to regress badly and just be a rich man's Souza.

 

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111127013/4145280-yosemite+sam+%26+bugs+bunny+-+hare+trimmed+(pistols+at+ten+paces)+(low).flv.gif

 

Sorry Souza was fresh on my mind. Basically I expect Cespedes to be a .270, .320, .450 guy with a ton of strike outs and 25ish HRs. Decent but by no means the star bat the Mets need and paid for. Seems like a guy who got his contract and now won't be as focused. Not good for a guy that already had a lot of swing and miss.

 

strikeouts do not matter if he's putting up the numbers you say and in his first two years he was almost worth his 2016 salary, and in 2014 he was worth $25M and last year (which I understand you consider an aberration, but that doesn't mean you can entirely handwave it away) he was worth more than twice that.

 

the numbers you project him for are worth his salary unless he basically becomes adam dunn as far as defensive contribution

 

and i'm relatively down on cespedes and don't think he'll repeat anything resembling last year...i'm mainly taking issue with what you think x amount of production is worth in dollars.

[dawson1989]

 

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111127013/4145280-yosemite+sam+%26+bugs+bunny+-+hare+trimmed+(pistols+at+ten+paces)+(low).flv.gif

 

Sorry Souza was fresh on my mind. Basically I expect Cespedes to be a .270, .320, .450 guy with a ton of strike outs and 25ish HRs. Decent but by no means the star bat the Mets need and paid for. Seems like a guy who got his contract and now won't be as focused. Not good for a guy that already had a lot of swing and miss.

 

strikeouts do not matter if he's putting up the numbers you say and in his first two years he was almost worth his 2016 salary, and in 2014 he was worth $25M and last year (which I understand you consider an aberration, but that doesn't mean you can entirely handwave it away) he was worth more than twice that.

 

the numbers you project him for are worth his salary unless he basically becomes adam dunn as far as defensive contribution

 

and i'm relatively down on cespedes and don't think he'll repeat anything resembling last year...i'm mainly taking issue with what you think x amount of production is worth in dollars.

 

Haha. Sorry but a .770 hitter is not worth $25 million a year. Go ahead and pay that much and see how good of a team you field.

 

Anyways, even if you think his play merits that much money my point was the example stats I gave will not be what the Mets need in their lineup. They finally opened up their wallet because they need him to be a great player who at the worst is somewhere in between what he was with the Tigers and what he was after the trade. They have no one else who is capable of lifting that lineup high enough to be a contender. If he is a sub .800 hitter, the Mets won't score enough.

[David]

 

Haha. Sorry but a .770 hitter is not worth $25 million a year. Go ahead and pay that much and see how good of a team you field.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=13110&position=OF#value

 

It's far from laughable.

 

Anyways, even if you think his play merits that much money my point was the example stats I gave will not be what the Mets need in their lineup. They finally opened up their wallet because they need him to be a great player who at the worst is somewhere in between what he was with the Tigers and what he was after the trade. They have no one else who is capable of lifting that lineup high enough to be a contender. If he is a sub .800 hitter, the Mets won't score enough.

 

The Mets may not score enough, but if they don't (which they probably will), it won't be because they have one guy putting up a .770 OPS. The Mets second half offensive surge wasn't just because of Cespedes. It was because of Granderson. It was also because of Conforto. Duda was amazing. D'Arnaud was really good. Some of those might be sustainable and some might not be.

 

Oh, and by the way, a .770 OPS is pretty well above average in today's run environment. Probably around 10% above average. In CF it's even better, although you can subtract a few runs defensively for him playing there. You might need to re-calibrate your expectations for what good offense is.

[dawson1989]

 

Haha. Sorry but a .770 hitter is not worth $25 million a year. Go ahead and pay that much and see how good of a team you field.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=13110&position=OF#value

 

It's far from laughable.

 

Anyways, even if you think his play merits that much money my point was the example stats I gave will not be what the Mets need in their lineup. They finally opened up their wallet because they need him to be a great player who at the worst is somewhere in between what he was with the Tigers and what he was after the trade. They have no one else who is capable of lifting that lineup high enough to be a contender. If he is a sub .800 hitter, the Mets won't score enough.

 

The Mets may not score enough, but if they don't (which they probably will), it won't be because they have one guy putting up a .770 OPS. The Mets second half offensive surge wasn't just because of Cespedes. It was because of Granderson. It was also because of Conforto. Duda was amazing. D'Arnaud was really good. Some of those might be sustainable and some might not be.

 

Oh, and by the way, a .770 OPS is pretty well above average in today's run environment. Probably around 10% above average. In CF it's even better, although you can subtract a few runs defensively for him playing there. You might need to re-calibrate your expectations for what good offense is.

 

I'm well aware of fangraphs and their value system. I'm actually pretty heavy into advanced stats and like most of them. Paying a player of that caliber $25 million isn't smart in the real world. You got limited money unless you are the Yankees. Just because a computer says his play is worth that much doesn't mean you can actually pay that much and still have enough to field the rest of the team well enough to contend. The Mets don't have the deepest pocket books. If Cespedes turns out to be the player I described, the contract will not be good for the Mets.

 

And yes everyone else raised their level in the 2nd half. You think that has anything to do with the Mets getting a player who dominated like an MVP thus allowing everyone else to see better pitches? If Cespedes falls down to levels like his 2nd and 3rd seasons opposing pitchers will adjust.

 

Finally, I realize .770 is a decent bit above average. Problem is your using all players. He's an outfielder. I believe the average starter OPS in the outfield is above .770 making my example a below average player for his position. I don't think any GM would accept paying that much for .770 OFer which gets back to my argument that in the real world of baseball he isn't worth $25 million a year.

[David]

I'm well aware of fangraphs and their value system. I'm actually pretty heavy into advanced stats and like most of them. Paying a player of that caliber $25 million isn't smart in the real world. You got limited money unless you are the Yankees. Just because a computer says his play is worth that much doesn't mean you can actually pay that much and still have enough to field the rest of the team well enough to contend. The Mets don't have the deepest pocket books. If Cespedes turns out to be the player I described, the contract will not be good for the Mets.

 

And yes everyone else raised their level in the 2nd half. You think that has anything to do with the Mets getting a player who dominated like an MVP thus allowing everyone else to see better pitches? If Cespedes falls down to levels like his 2nd and 3rd seasons opposing pitchers will adjust.

 

Finally, I realize .770 is a decent bit above average. Problem is your using all players. He's an outfielder. I believe the average starter OPS in the outfield is above .770 making my example a below average player for his position. I don't think any GM would accept paying that much for .770 OFer which gets back to my argument that in the real world of baseball he isn't worth $25 million a year.

 

I believe they are playing him in centerfield...if he's not an unmitigated disaster there defensively, that OPS would be very good.

 

And no, I don't think Cespedes made everyone around him perform better, and if you sincerely think that the mere presence of Cespedes elevated all of those players to the degree that you're saying, I find it hard to believe you're as into advanced stats as you say you are.

[dawson1989]

I'm well aware of fangraphs and their value system. I'm actually pretty heavy into advanced stats and like most of them. Paying a player of that caliber $25 million isn't smart in the real world. You got limited money unless you are the Yankees. Just because a computer says his play is worth that much doesn't mean you can actually pay that much and still have enough to field the rest of the team well enough to contend. The Mets don't have the deepest pocket books. If Cespedes turns out to be the player I described, the contract will not be good for the Mets.

 

And yes everyone else raised their level in the 2nd half. You think that has anything to do with the Mets getting a player who dominated like an MVP thus allowing everyone else to see better pitches? If Cespedes falls down to levels like his 2nd and 3rd seasons opposing pitchers will adjust.

 

Finally, I realize .770 is a decent bit above average. Problem is your using all players. He's an outfielder. I believe the average starter OPS in the outfield is above .770 making my example a below average player for his position. I don't think any GM would accept paying that much for .770 OFer which gets back to my argument that in the real world of baseball he isn't worth $25 million a year.

 

I believe they are playing him in centerfield...if he's not an unmitigated disaster there defensively, that OPS would be very good.

 

And no, I don't think Cespedes made everyone around him perform better, and if you sincerely think that the mere presence of Cespedes elevated all of those players to the degree that you're saying, I find it hard to believe you're as into advanced stats as you say you are.

 

You realize CF is no worse than a corner OF spot now right? A .770 OPS in CF would be right at average.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Gonna be a whole lot of bewildered people when cespedes goes back to bring a 2.x WAR guy this year.

[Sammy Sofa]

Cespedes is TT's Lex Luthor.

[David]

And, again, I'm not arguing in favor of Cespedes as a player. What I'm arguing is that your assessment of value is off and some of the other tangential points regarding the Mets offense last year and next year are wrong.

[David]

I'm well aware of fangraphs and their value system. I'm actually pretty heavy into advanced stats and like most of them. Paying a player of that caliber $25 million isn't smart in the real world. You got limited money unless you are the Yankees. Just because a computer says his play is worth that much doesn't mean you can actually pay that much and still have enough to field the rest of the team well enough to contend. The Mets don't have the deepest pocket books. If Cespedes turns out to be the player I described, the contract will not be good for the Mets.

 

And yes everyone else raised their level in the 2nd half. You think that has anything to do with the Mets getting a player who dominated like an MVP thus allowing everyone else to see better pitches? If Cespedes falls down to levels like his 2nd and 3rd seasons opposing pitchers will adjust.

 

Finally, I realize .770 is a decent bit above average. Problem is your using all players. He's an outfielder. I believe the average starter OPS in the outfield is above .770 making my example a below average player for his position. I don't think any GM would accept paying that much for .770 OFer which gets back to my argument that in the real world of baseball he isn't worth $25 million a year.

 

I believe they are playing him in centerfield...if he's not an unmitigated disaster there defensively, that OPS would be very good.

 

And no, I don't think Cespedes made everyone around him perform better, and if you sincerely think that the mere presence of Cespedes elevated all of those players to the degree that you're saying, I find it hard to believe you're as into advanced stats as you say you are.

 

You realize CF is no worse than a corner OF spot now right? A .770 OPS in CF would be right at average.

 

.770 would've been good for 9th in MLB among qualifying CFers last year.

[David]

Gonna be a whole lot of bewildered people when cespedes goes back to bring a 2.x WAR guy this year.

 

In 2012 he was a 2.9 win player in 129 games. That's kind of an unfair characterization of that season, but whatever.

 

2013 is really the only year he was a bit underwhelming, at 2.4 in 135 games. 3.3 in 2014 and 6.7 last year. There's a lot more very good than there is MEH.

 

And I do not like him.

[Sammy Sofa]

Gonna be a whole lot of bewildered people when cespedes goes back to bring a 2.x WAR guy this year.

 

In 2012 he was a 2.9 win player in 129 games. That's kind of an unfair characterization of that season, but whatever.

 

2013 is really the only year he was a bit underwhelming, at 2.4 in 135 games. 3.3 in 2014 and 6.7 last year. There's a lot more very good than there is MEH.

 

And I do not like him.

 

Of course you wouldn't; he's clearly a man of taste:

 

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/new-york-mets-mlb-spring-training-yoenis-cespdes-lamborghini-waffle-maker-022416

 

Cespedes sends out an Mets staffer in his Lambo to buy a proper waffle iron. Man, is he awesome.

[David]

hey, i love me some waffles. i just think eating them without syrup for no good reason is a good litmus test for insanity.