I wouldn’t have guessed two months ago the Mets would be in a position to buy and not sell at the trade deadline, or that they stood any chance of reeling in the Braves in the standings, or any of that and here we are. It’s important not to forget this Mets team has also demonstrated it is capable of awful of stretches of baseball so I’m keeping my expectations in check. Next goal: 10 games over .500.
The first new arrival is shaggy reliever Ryne Stanek of Seattle, acquired for a minor-league outfielder, Rhylan Thomas. Stanek (yes he’s named after Ryne Sandberg) looks like a hunting-and-fishing type who should get along well with Jake Deikman. It’s easy to find highlights of him fist-pumping out there, and could be an exciting reliever, which is always fun to have, and necessary with Dedneil Nunez joining Reed Garrett and Sean Reid-Foley on the injured list.
Stanek has worn 45, 55 and 35 in his career. I saw a mockup of him in 65 with the Mets. That’s available, but so is 55, 85, 95 and 35, now that Adrian Houser has been kicked off the 40. That move came as Kodai Senga returned, however briefly collapsing in a heap near the mound like he was Ike Davis or something.
You wonder if that means a trade for a starting pitching might also be in the offing before Tuesday at 6.
One more note from the Twitter, where I don’t hang out very much anymore, but to be young again!
@Springer66 #46. I think this is the second time in Franchise history 2 Young’s on active roster. 2014 Cris & Eric Young. #LGM pic.twitter.com/Y84D0hA8jn
— Dave’s Mets Dugout (@DavesMetsDugout) July 23, 2024
Promising pitching prospect Christian Scott is arriving even sooner than I would have guessed and without an obvious need for a starter (unless they cut bait on Adrian Houser or something). Clubhouse video from Florida, where Scott will start tomorrow, shows he will wear No. 45, which belonged last to Sam Coonrod (it belonged to Cole Sulser in Spring Training, only to see him turn up in 54 for his ineffective appearances).
I’m glad they are giving Scott a pitcher number to begin his career and so won’t have him looking like a clown as they’ve forced Jose Butto into with that unseemly No. 70. Butto should go to the clubhouse and demand No. 21 while its still available. He’s a good enough pitcher to pull that off.
Yesterday we saw Danny Young become the all-time Mets leader in wins by a guy wearing No. 81. If you remembered that Johneshwy Fargas was the first to wear 81, you win a prize of some kind.
I forgot how tiresome it is to be cycling in 3 new guys every week onto the roster, only to see them disappear in a few days. This is life on the butt-end of the Mets bullpen, especially in this era of 5-inning starts.