What To Expect In Second Half
Guess what? That unofficial second half of the season begins tomorrow night in the Bronx for the Yankees and down in Miami for the Mets. And sad to say the odds of another Subway Series in October are as good as you hitting all numbers on a mega millions jackpot.
So teams in different directions which is all repetition as to why and the record speak. But here you go as to why. The Yankees come out of the All-Star break with the second best record in baseball next to the Dodgers. They are a team on that destiny to take in October.
The Mets, well consider their second half as a continued watch of rookie phenom Pete Alonso and some possible record breaking moments. And look at Jeff McNeil to pursue a NL batting title which has occurred once in Mets’ history with Jose Reyes. Look at J.D. Davis, in that class of the underrated on a roster, and he should get more time in the lineup.
And look at the Mets as possible sellers in a few weeks at the trade deadline. The movement of Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Jason Vargas, Todd Frazier? Take your pick. But it all is in the hands of GM Brodie Van Wagenen and getting something back that is constructive for the Mets to rebuild their farm system.
Robinson Cano? Unfortunate. He stays put. The Mets are stuck with the contract and four more years of a declining player who has less home runs than the entire Mets pitching staff combined.
As one NL scout told NYsportsday, “Time for the Mets to rebuild.”
He was referring more to a bullpen with the worst team ERA in the NL. The Mets won’t move Edwin Diaz, the primary culprit who came here with Cano. And Brodie Van Wagenen is the culprit. His first and major trade that never looked good on paper because two highly touted prospects are moving up the ladder with the Seattle Mariners.
Oh, the talk will be also about the manager. Mickey Callaway is a lame duck. The manager knows that, we all do. The GM is staying. Reportedly the Mets are exploring who will replace Callaway, who may not be the primary reason his team under achieved in the first half.
Remember, the manager is as good as the players. The bullpen was a culprit and constructed around Edwin Diaz. Had the E.R.A. that surpassed 7.00 at one point not resulted with numerous blown saves, perhaps we are talking about a different story for the Mets as they countdown their final 72 games.
Remember, this will not be another 1969 Miracle in Flushing, Queens. And you can bet your life savings on that.
But this has become a special season for the Yankees. You can’t fault manager Aaron Boone or GM Brian Cashman. They have pushed the right buttons. Cashman ,in particular, always manages to get what he needs. He proved again with the record number of injuries to the roster in the first half that a “B” team could start for any team.
Then again, the Yankees have the resources with the revenue and top baseball personnel. And with the trade deadline in a few weeks, the Yankees in need of a quality starter for October is obvious. They can’t depend on Masahiro Tanaka,CC Sabathia, James Paxton or J.A. Haap.
Though they have the ability to provide innings and take it to their bullpen.
This is an agenda for Brian Cashman. Something to monitor is the pursuit of the one pitcher that can get the Yankees to go deep this October. And Domingo German appears to be healthy.
More so, the return of Luis Severino to the rotation and more important, getting Dellin Betances back in the bullpen is something to monitor in these final months.
But as is the history, don’t expect the Yankees and Mets to pull off a trade for Zack Wheeler or Jason Vargas, Then again there is that aggressive approach of Brodie Van Wagenen.
Stay tuned and play ball for the second half!
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