Manager Terry Collins led the Mets to a World Series just last year, but he acknowledges he could be fired after the season, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes. “They may fire me at the end of the year,” says Collins. “Whatever happens at the end of the year, I’ll walk out of here with a smile on my face, and get ready for spring training, or get ready to play golf, either one.” The Mets have had a tough, injury-riddled season, with Lucas Duda, David Wright, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler and others missing or set to miss significant time. “We had no idea we’d break down like this. None. It’s hard to believe,” says Collins. Here’s more from the National League.
- Cardinals righty Alex Reyes will get his first major league start Saturday in place of Mike Leake, who is sick, the club has announced (via Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Twitter). Reyes, the team’s top-rated prospect, was promoted earlier this month and has made five relief appearances, striking out 13 batters and walking four in 9 1/3 innings while throwing in the high 90s.
- Nationals reliever Aaron Barrett suffered a significant setback in his return from Tommy John surgery, as Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com notes on Twitter. He broke his elbow five weeks ago while working his way back. That obviously takes the talented righty out of the mix for a late-season return, and further clouds his future. The 28-year-old has swing-and-miss stuff, but will now need to overcome a second major surgery.
- The Dodgers have demoted righty Kenta Maeda in order to gain an extra pitcher until his next start, as MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick tweets. The move appears to be procedural in nature. Maeda will be assigned to the club’s Rookie ball affiliate; with that season coming to a close, he can permissibly be brought back before the typical ten-day waiting period.
The Mets had no idea. That’s an understatement.
Just didn’t build enough depth for the team. The team they have right now might have had a chance a month ago, but it might be too late for a miracle.
That falls on Alderson. He never ever signs a bulks of veterans in the offseason to minor league deals with invites to Spring Training. They should’ve signed a journeyman pitcher for minor league depth, but the Mets opted to stay in house with their pitching and go with all young guys, aside from Colon. What happened? Every pitcher, aside from Colon, has had at least one health scare this season and the Mets weren’t prepared for someone to fill the spot. So when they needed someone they acquired Jon Niese, who may actually be worse than Mike Pelfrey at this point. Alderson failed to build established depth for this team entering the season.
Easy to say now, but what veteran SP were they bringing in on a minor league deal 9 months ago? What veteran was going to take a AAA back seat to the Mets rotation, knowing it would take at least 2 significant injuries to be #5? Then is that player significantly better than Verrett? Gilmartin?
A ton of guys. Of course he’s not talking about MLB established veterans. He’s referring to guys who have stunk it up in recent years but have had some decent success in recent years.
Wow, Barrett starting to look like Gavin Floyd part 2.