It’s only a Shallow Ditch

Mets fans are again suffering abandonment as the Amazins are losing more than winning and have dropped out of second place in their division. But have no fear, I think it’s not a slump but rather a shallow ditch. They’ll be back. But first …

70. Gleyber Torres gave the AL a shock last season when he came mid-season and put on a clinic with 24 homers and 77 RBIs in 123 games. He’s not exactly a speed burner on the base paths, with only 6 steals. He got the All-Star appearance but not Rookie of the Year. He had 42 walks, 207 total bases with 122 SOs. He managed to get 14 homers in 54 games this year, 31 RBIs, 3 SBs and 13 walks. He made a huge improvement in his power, his speed and his base hits. He has 60 hits, so that’s more than a hit a game; he has 16 doubles last year and 12 doubles already this year. He has a .545 SLG, .329 OBP and a .287 batting average. He’s showing improvement at shortstop for the Yanks, but they have Didi Gregorius there, now that Didi’s injured, he’s playing short but usually he’s playing second base. I think he should be around 50 because of his offensive explosion in his first season.

69. Marcell Ozuna was on the Marlins for a long time and he was playing really well there, especially in his last season, 37 homers, 124 RBIs, 93 runs and a .312 batting average. Then he got traded to the Cardinals. He’s still a big piece for the up-and-coming St. Louis team. He’s a great five-tool player, a key for any team that gets him. In Miami, he was improving every year, but in St. Louis, he just went all the way down. He’s better this year, hitting homers and getting on base, his strikeouts are low, he has as many hits as strikeouts, which is really ugly and his average isn’t good. He’s only a left fielder now, no more switching around the outfield. He’s the definition of a stereotypical left fielder, big and bulky, doesn’t run but hits bombs. I think he is perfect where he is.

68. Josh Donaldson is not good anymore. He was good, a power hitter, in six years, 173 homers. He was supposed to be something like a David Wright in his prime except slower. Again, he was good, he scored 122 runs, he got 123 RBIs, he hit 41 homers he won MVP. He was always a good fielder but right now, at 33, I think he should only pinch hit or if Brian Snitker is really feeling kind, he’ll let him play left, but that’s where Acuna is so I think Josh should be a pinch hitter because Austin Riley is tearing it up in the field and at the plate. He strikes out a lot and his OBP isn’t that good, he’s just too old, all good things have to come to an end. He was the cornerstone of the Blue Jays for a long time, everyone was afraid of him but now he’s just a guy that is just there. I think he should be moved back into the high 80s, low 90s.

67. Starling Marte probably had the peak of his career last year, 20 homers, 72 RBIs, 81 runs and 33 SBs. A .277/.327/.460 slash line, that’s pretty nice. He looks not that fast of a guy, but then the Pirates play you and he steals one or two bags and absolutely rakes. His eye is good, he’s a good fielder, I think that last year was the peak because he only has 9 stolen bases this year and a .307 OBP isn’t showing the Starling Marte we know. 36.5% of his hits are extra base hits, the only reason that is like it is because he only has 52 hits and 19 extra base hits. He struck out in 18.8% of his plate appearances, if you think about it, that’s good. His WAR isn’t good this year, but that’s not like other teams where they five or six outfielders, no, the Pirates have four!! They need to have him there even if he’s not performing because it’s either him or inexperienced outfielder Bryan Reynolds, who’s not playing well. I think he should go up to the mid-50s.

66. Mitch Haniger is one of those raw power guys that really help the struggling Mariners to get some quick runs. He’s not a fielder, he’s sort of a runner and he loves hitting. Last season he had 13 homers, he’s on pace for more homers this season than last. 38 doubles last year, 93 RBIs, 68 XBHs and 294 XBHs, he’s a hitter. He has a good eye, walking 70 times last year and 27 walks this year. After getting off to an amazing start in the beginning of the year, the Mariners have sank all the way down to the bottom of the AL West, from beginning 13-2, they’re now at 25-35, in 10 of the 12 wins that they’ve had since the 13-2 start, Mitch Haniger has gotten a run or an RBI, that’s a nice fact Haniger can brag and a fact you can use in your small talk with friends. I think he’s should go up to the high 50s.

The Mets have a hit a what I believe is a shallow ditch, losing a lot of games, but then coming back and winning a few. Let me say that Edwin Diaz needs to be more consistent, he’s lights out and then he gives up five runs. A closer shouldn’t have a 1-3 record, that’s just un-aesthetic. Pete Alonso tied the rookie home run total for June with 19, sharing the post with Mark McGwire. He’s on pace for 57 homers, which would be more than Aaron Judge, which would break the rookie homer record. I love Brodie Van Waganen because he’s not afraid to make moves and be aggressive in getting players and DFAing players and everything in between.

It’s crazy that a team hasn’t signed Craig Kimbrel or Dallas Keuchel. The Mets could use Dallas and there are so many teams that could sign Kimbrel because they need bullpen depth and a solid closer. Vlad Guerro Jr. is tearing it up in the bigs, (not as much as Alonso, but for someone who’s 20, that’s good) he has six homers, 27 hits and 11 XBHs. Carl Yastrzemski’s grandson, Mike, really defended this grandfather’s name yesterday, a triple and then a homer. Trevor Story had a huge night 5/31. Three hits, two homers, four runs and seven RBIs, so that means that he contributed 85% of the team’s runs yesterday, big game for him. One of the strangest things happened yesterday in college baseball (yes, I watch the students play ball when there are no MLB games on TV): Adley Rutschman got intentionally walked with the bases loaded as the Oregon State University Beavers were losing 5-2. It walked in a run to make it 5-3. If you don’t know, Adley is the best pure hitter in the MLB Draft. Barry Bonds was also walked May 28, 1998, and about 21 years later Rutchsman was walked with the bases loaded. The MLB draft is happening June 3, so you guys gotta watch the new pack of young, great players get drafted. The All Star Game is also creeping up on us, July 9, and you can already vote for All-Stars on mlb.com.