Announcement

     Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts in the last couple of weeks. We are here to announce that as much as both Dan and I love to write about our Mets, we felt it would be in our best interest to expand our reach to all thirty Major League teams. Sadly, that means Under The Stache will no longer be posting new content. However, like it was stated before, we will be discussing all of the Major League teams, and that will be on our new website, punchoutpost.wordpress.com. Follow us there, and we will give you the high quality, original insights, as well as very well written articles about our national pastime. Thank you all for your support on this site, and we hope not only for your continued support on our new site, but to give you the best quality articles possible.

Comparing Jacob Degrom To Hisashi Iwakuma

Courtesy of 11 Alive

     At first glance, they look like completely different pitchers. One's a tall, lanky 6'4 power pitcher who averaged 93.5 MPH on his fastball. The other is seven full years older and averaged just under 89 MPH on his fastball last season. I have a feeling you can tell which one is which. However, I saw some similarities between the two pitchers, and I figured I would conduct some research to see if I was correct.

Fantasy Baseball: Top 80 Starting Pitchers

Courtesy of Grantland   

     In fantasy, there is no position deeper than starting pitcher.... until Spring Training hits. If my fantasy draft from last friday was any indication, pitcher on the surface looks like a garden of quality options. However, in a few short picks that garden quickly gets picked off and sees a flamethrower attack it until the charred remains make it look downright ugly. Anyway, enough with the imagery. The point is, don't take what seems to be a lot of depth at the position for granted. When you get the chance, fill out your rotation with whichever options suit your style, whether that be solid proven arms that you can count on, or dynamite pitchers who possess sky high upside. Without further ado, lets take a look at who I feel are the top 80 starting pitchers in fantasy.

With Murphy down, who will the Mets turn to?

Photo Courtesy of Nypost.com

According to Sandy Alderson, Daniel Murphy may begin the season on the disabled list with a right hamstring pull. The 2014 All-Star was originally listed to miss a week with his injury, but it appears like the organization would like to make sure he is 100% healthy before returning to the starting lineup. 

In the meantime, Alderson also said that top prospect Dilson Herrera will NOT return to the big league camp, after being re-assigned to the minors last week. That leaves Matt Reynolds and Danny Muno as the final two infielders with experience at second base this spring. The question is, who will the Mets go with?

Mets cut 5 more players from camp

The Mets have cut 5 more minor leaguers from Spring Training camp. The following players have been re-assigned to minor league camp: Akeel Morris, Noah Syndergaard, Kevin Plawecki, Jon Velasquez, and Cory Mazzoni. The team is now down to 39 players.

Fantasy Baseball: Top 60 Outfielders

Photo courtesy of Gammons Daily

     This is perhaps the deepest offensive position besides First Base in my opinion. This is because Outfield can provide owners with just about anything they want. They can have that extra bump in the slugging category from the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, consistency from the likes of Hunter Pence and Matt Holliday, and remember, Outfield also consists of a who's who in fantasy names. Without further ado, here are the top 60 outfielders in the fake sport.   

What I Learned From The Zack Wheeler Injury

Photo Courtesy of NY Post

     It was ironic how on a sunny Monday morning, we were delivered news that was reminiscent of a rainy day. That news of course, was the diagnosis of a full tear of the UCL in Zack Wheeler's elbow. At this point it is a given that Wheeler will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2015 season. As much as it may seem ridiculous to try and put a positive twist on this situation, I will simply say that I learned a lot from that brief second flash of the notification on my phone a few days ago.

Mets make 2nd round of cuts

Today the Mets made their 2nd round of cuts, sending 7 players over to minor league camp. Those players are Cody Satterwhite, Tyler Pill, Matthew Bowman, Gabriel Ynoa, Hansel Robles, Dilson Herrera and Wilfredo Tovar. The team now has 49 players who are still in major league camp.

As always, I will briefly analyze each out of the players who have been cut.

Options to replace Wheeler in the rotation

As we all know, Zack Wheeler has a torn elbow ligament and will miss the entire 2015 season. Losing a young stud is a big blow for the Mets, but luckily they have quite a bit of pitching depth which should off-set the loss of Wheeler. Terry Collins immediately stated that Dillon Gee would earn the 5th starter spot, but since then there have been rumors that it may go to someone like Rafael Montero, or even an elite prospect like Noah Syndergaard or Steven Matz. In this article I will list all of the options that the Mets have internally to replace Wheeler.

Mets have been scouting Matusz

The Mets have been scouting Orioles left hander Brian Matusz, according to Dan Martin from the New York Post. Matusz, the former starter, completed his 2nd straight season as a reliever last year, compiling a 3.48 ERA in 63 appearances. He had a 9.2 K/9 ratio and a 3.0 BB/9 ratio. 

Zack Wheeler Has a Torn UCL, Tommy John Surgery Likely

Credit to Zimbio

    The Zack Wheeler elbow saga has come to an end, and sadly, it was a grim one. Within a span of three and a half days, the word went from simply missing his next start, to getting an MRI and finally, the diagnosis of a torn UCL.

Fantasy Baseball: Top Ten Third Baseman

Credit to Zimbio

     For years, Third Base was considered to be incredibly top heavy. However, last year showed there are a lot of great options at the front of the line, as well as there being options that range from reliable, to high upside. Without further ado, let's take a look at my top ten ranked Third Sackers.

Mets make first round of cuts

The Mets have made their first round of cuts, sending the following three players to minor league camp: Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini and Xorge Carrillo. Nimmo and Cecchini, two former 1st round picks, were not expected to make the roster, and neither was Carrillo, who projects to open the season as the backup catcher for Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Attention Mets Fans, Zack Wheeler Is Still Second In Command

NY Daily News

      I may be wrong here, but I get the feeling that all of us Mets fans have a split opinion on Zack Wheeler. I've seen plenty on Facebook forums and other groups state that he is destined to be a second fiddle. Basically, those fans are saying that Wheeler will not only be behind Harvey in the rotation, but also behind Degrom, Syndergaard and perhaps even Steven Matz too. While this happening is a possibility, I feel like those fans are forgetting that Wheeler has just as much, if not more talent than the last two pitchers I mentioned. Plus, we all know that Zack Wheeler has been getting better as time wears on. What I want to talk about here is simply how Zack Wheeler has been taking steps to improve, and it has been under our noses. 

Edgin to start season on the DL, TJ surgery possible

After undergoing an MRI yesterday, Josh Edgin has been diagnosed with a stretched elbow ligament, according to Sandy Alderson. He will begin the regular season on the disabled list with the hopes of rehabbing the injury, but there is a strong chance that the 28 year old will eventually require season-ending Tommy John surgery. 

Taking a Look at Jenrry Mejia and Bobby Parnell

 

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

     Last week, I briefly mentioned how Bobby Parnell could cause a bit of complication in terms of the bullpen once he returns. 

Credit to NY Daily News

Edgin has elbow discomfort, to get an MRI

Uh oh. 

The Mets have announced that Josh Edgin has informed them of elbow discomfort in his left arm. The team also announced that he will undergo an MRI in the coming days to detect the source of the discomfort. 

Fantasy Baseball: Top Ten Shortstops

   

Courtesy of Zimbio

     I'd be lying if I said I don't think Shortstop is one of the weakest positions in fantasy right now. Now, there are certainly good options, but the top ranked Shortstops are considered either injury prone, or inconsistent. When I see lists ranking the top Shortstops, the majority of them seem to be the same. I personally find this a tad strange because since Shortstop is shallow, I feel like the considered "top ten" is wide open. That's why on my list, you may find some interesting choices. With all of that said, let's get this list underway.

Could Reynolds make the cut?

We are five games into Spring Training, and a few players have surprisingly come out of the gates on fire. One of those players is shortstop Matthew Reynolds, who I will be analyzing in today's article. 

David Wright, and The Value Of a Clubhouse Leader

Courtesy of Fansided

     I typically am one that looks up all different types of stats, and to me, they are a very important way to evaluate a player. However, there are a few cases where a player's value goes beyond the stats. David Wright is one of those few players

Ruben Tejada Could Be Very Useful

   

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

     Just like the majority of Met fans, I firmly believe that if Ruben Tejada ever becomes our starting shortstop again, we could be in serious trouble. However, that isn't to say that he could be incredibly valuable in his own right.

Fantasy Baseball: Top Ten Second Baseman

     For years, people talked about how Second base was starting to come around and become a better position offensively. It seems like now that day has finally come. The position isn't exactly gleaming with elite offensive options like First base, but it has become a position where solid contributors can be found. Without further ado, here are the top ten Second baseman.

Bold Predictions for 2015 (AL edition)

A few days ago I wrote an article that included 5 bold predictions for each NL team, and in this article I will conclude the series by going through each American League squad, and giving them 5 bold predictions as well. 

An Analysis of the Mets Bullpen

Baseball is that much closer to starting, Hallelujah!
Photo Credit to NY Post

     We know that this could easily be the best bullpen the team has had in years. In fact, if all goes as planned, this might be one of the best bullpens the team has ever had.

d'Arnaud used 2014's demotion as a "wake up call"

Travis d'Arnaud had a rough 1st half of 2014, hitting a mere .180/.271/.273 with 3 HR and 9 RBI in 39 games. His demotion was well-needed, as there were visible issues with his approach, such as his batting stance that seemed a tad bit far from home plate. Upon returning from Las Vegas, the 25 year old slugged .272/.319/.486 with 10 HR and 32 RBI in 69 games. In a recent column by Bill Madden of the Daily News, Travis looked back at the 2014 season, and cited the demotion as a "wake up call."

So, Where Does Bobby Parnell Fit In?

Photo Credit to NY Times

     Last week, we found out that Bobby Parnell will likely start the season on the disabled list as he enters the final steps towards recovering from Tommy John surgery. He's expected to return sometime in late April, so he isn't going to miss any significant time.

Campbell has been trying to add catcher to his defensive repertoire

Eric Campbell, the man who is also known by "Soup," has been working hard this spring to add the catching position to his repertoire. Of-course, the 27 year old already has loads of versatility, stretching from the corner outfield positions, and each infield position. Right now, he's is more than likely on the bubble to make the team come April, However, having the ability to play almost every position on the diamond would give him a serious edge once Terry Collins determines his top 25 in a month.

Fantasy Baseball Player Spotlight: Albert Pujols

Photo courtesy of Sports On Earth

     Last time out, I released a ranking of the top ten first baseman. In that list, I mentioned how Albert Pujols is actually one of my favorite players. This may seem a bit biased (but it's February and there is gonna be nothing of current news to talk about until Spring Training games start), but I also feel like Pujols is also an intriguing fantasy player. Why you may ask? Well, right this way.

Fantasy Baseball: Top Ten First Baseman

     First Base is a position where offense is expected. First base is such a deep offensive position to the point that seventeen first baseman posted an wRC+ of 100 or better. Compare that to Catcher, where about five did that. Better yet, Joe Mauer who has ranked at the top three Catchers for years (and would've at least been a top ten fantasy Catcher), doesn't even make my list of top ten first baseman. Without any further ado, here are my top ten first baseman.

NY Times

Bold Predictions for the 2015 Season (NL Edition)

The National League is generally regarded as the "easier" of the two leagues, but there are many teams that are primed to make a big splash this upcoming season. Several of these teams may have an impact on the Mets' playoff chances. With that in mind, I am going to list 5 bold predictions for each team in the National League.

Fantasy Baseball: Top Ten Catchers

   

Photo Courtesy of Grub Hub

      Over the past few years, Catcher was seen as a shallow position where the productive players were few and far between. Not much has changed, as once again, less than ten catchers posted an OPS of over .700. In fact, of all qualified Catchers, David Wright's number represents how many Catchers did that this year. did so. However, that isn't to say that productivity can still be found at the position. With that said, here are my top ten Catchers. 

Fantasy Baseball: 5 players I Won't Be Owning in 2015

Salvador Perez is great in real life, but his recent trends scare me
Courtesy of Fansided

     After doing analysis on the projected first round and whether or not contract years actually affect a players performance, it's time to tell you five players I wouldn't even touch with a ten foot pole in this years draft. 

NL teams who could fight the Mets for the wild-card spot

The Mets are entering 2015 with a good chance to make a late season push into the playoffs, but with the division likely going to the Washington Nationals, New York will have to aim for one of the two wildcard spots. Over the last couple seasons, the wildcard spots have been wide open, and this upcoming season should be no different. 

Let's take a look at the National League, and dissect potential wildcard candidates that may give the Mets a run for their money.

What Would Matt Harvey's Trade Value Be?

Courtesy of Fansided 

     In my last article, I posed the question of whether or not the Mets should move their ace Matt Harvey in the next few seasons. I figure I should make this clear, I believe there is very little chance the Mets actually try and move Harvey. I simply wanted to pose an idea for discussion. However, since we're at a slow part of the offseason, I figure I would present this article as more of a thought experiment. For hypothetical sake, what if the Mets decide that they want to move Matt Harvey in the next few seasons?

Matt Harvey: Ace of the Future or Trade Bait?

   

Photo credit to USA Today

      I post this article quite begrudgingly, but it is an issue that very well could face the Mets soon. If Matt Harvey returns back to form this season the Mets will have to come to a decision, is it time to lock him up, or is it time to consider what they can get in return for him?

Ranking the starting pitchers in the NL East

As we know, pitching is the name of the game, and the NL East has a ton of above-average hurlers. In this article, I will be ranking the top 25 starting pitchers in the division, so I will be excluding anyone who comes out of the bullpen.

Fantasy Baseball: Do Walk Years Affect Performance?

     For years, it has been hypothesized that a player entering the final year on his contract is set to have a great season. In theory, this makes a ton of sense, as the player will be motivated to work harder in order to have a good season, and then be able to command a big contract in free agency.
     I was incredibly curious to see if this theory is actually true, so I figured I would do some research. I also figured that in the process of doing so, I would share my results with all of you. Let's get right down to it.

Mets ink another lefty

Courtesy of wikipedia.org

The Mets have signed left hander Duane Below to a minor league contract without an invitation to spring training. He will instead head directly to Triple-A Las Vegas, and hope for a mid-season call-up. 

Will Matt Harvey Rediscover His Form?

Photo courtesy of Newsday

     This has been one of the frequently asked questions among Mets fans since the day of his Tommy John surgery, will Matt Harvey continue dominating hitters when he comes back?

What Is Wrong With Simplicity?

     There's a good saying I once heard. That saying is "less is more".  Funny when you hear it. The statement itself is so simple, yet it hits on so many levels. I believe this statement is a philosophy that the Mets organization and their fanbase should take on.

What if "the plan" doesn't come full circle?

Sandy Alderson recently told reporters that he expects the Mets to contend in 2015 with the current group of players that they have. 

"One of the reasons we've been fairly quiet is that we've got players with the potential to take us, to improve us by 10 games, which is what we need." the GM said. "We expect to take the next step forward...We won 79 games last year, which was an improvement over the year before, but we need to take a bigger jump next season. One of the reasons we have been quiet in the offseason is that we have quality players at each position. They're not all proven above-average major league players, but we're at the point where we have to give them the opportunity to perform."

 As we know, nothing is guaranteed, and prospect hype can sometimes be false. I'm going to play devil's advocate here, and wonder what would happen if nothing went as planned in 2015. Let it be known that I DO NOT believe that these results will necessarily happen. I am, however, looking at the worst case scenario for everyone around the diamond. 

My Take on the First Round

Credit to Sports Talk Florida

      Last time on my fantasy baseball series, I covered a projected first round of the draft. This time around though, I want to give my thoughts on the first round.

What can we expect from Travis d'Arnaud in 2015?

Travis d'Arnaud has been traded twice already in his brief professional career, and some believe that he will be nothing more than an average offensive catcher with less than stellar defense. Injuries have plagued the soon-to-be 26 year old backstop, but the youngster is primed to take a big leap in 2015. 

Should We Really Expect a Dud from Duda?

Photo courtesy of Jim McIssac from Newsday

      Lucas Duda had a great season. That is obvious as evidenced by his 30 home runs in a pitcher friendly park. It is also important to note his .228 ISO ranked 12th among all Major Leaguers. However, there has been some talk about a possible regression this season. The question I have, is the talk of a Lucas Duda regression overblown? 

The Mets Missed The Boat on Daniel Murphy

Courtesy of nextimpulsesports.com

    The Mets feel like they have a team that can be competitive in 2015, I get it. Or maybe Sandy Alderson is just trying to make the fanbase feel that way so they can sell tickets. Either way, it has been made abundantly clear that Daniel Murphy is going to test free agency at the end of the season.

Evaluating The First Round of the Fantasy Baseball Draft

Photo Courtesy of espn.go.com

(The following is based off of the top ten rankings from fantasypros.com)

(This will take into account 12 team drafts)

Flores has been working hard, ready to start if needed

The shortstop issue has been a hot topic for discussion throughout the entire off-season, and as February nears, it appears as if Wilmer Flores will be the go-to guy. In an awesome piece via Newsday, the youngster talks about the hard work and effort he has put in this winter in order to prove that he is capable of handling the everyday shortstop gig.

Fantasy Baseball

    Hi everyone! I wanted to say that from all of us here at under the stache, we greatly appreciate the support from each and every one of you. Now this isn't an article as much as it is an announcement. The announcement as you can probably tell is about fantasy baseball. We figured that since draft day for most will be a little over a month, we would give tips. Even though this is mainly a Mets website, we want to shake things up just a little bit. Through the use of analytics and other methods of research, we will provide you with all the information you'll need to achieve ultimate bragging rights or that cool cash prize. Be sure to check out the rest of our articles and keep a look out for Monday, as that is when I'll release the first article of my fantasy baseball series where I will take a look at the projected first round.

Previewing 2015: First Base (MLB and MiLB edition's)

The Mets entered the 2014 season with both Lucas Duda and Ike Davis manning first base, with Josh Satin on reserve as a platoon partner. While the position has been a dark hole for New York ever since Carlos Delgado left a few years back, fans remained hopeful that either Duda or Davis would develop into a player who is capable of putting up a respectable rate. When Ike Davis was shipped off to Pittsburgh in late-April, Duda was handed the starting gig on a silver platter, despite not doing much to secure it (only hit .256/.333/.465 with 3 HR in 15 games before Davis trade). 

In this article, we will be previewing the 2015 first base situation for the Mets, including minor league players. 

Max Scherzer and Deferred Money

Photo Credit to Geoff Burke, USA Today Sports

    As most probably know, the Nationals recently signed Max Scherzer to a "record" contract of 7 years and $210 million. The catch with this deal though, is that is isn't actually $210 Million. The deal has been reported stating Scherzer will be paid $15 Million a year for 14 years by the Nationals.

Why Does Nobody Want Bartolo Colon?

Credit to rantsports.com 

   I don’t know about you, but Bartolo Colon has value. Colon has shown value to the Mets as a solid back of the rotation starter who can eat innings, prevent runs efficiently in those innings and is affordable at $11 million for only a one year commitment. The problem with all of this is, it still seems that no team wants him. 

Cross off the Rangers as a suitor for Dillon Gee

The Rangers seem to be out of the Dillon Gee sweepstakes. Today, they acquired pitcher Yovani Gallardo from the Brewers in exchange for a package of prospects. These youngsters include 21 year old infielder Luis Sardinas, and pitchers Corey Knebel and Marcos Diplan. Also, Milwaukee will send $4 million over to Texas to help balance out Gallardo's contract. 

Are the Nats ready to run away with the NL East?

Yesterday it was reported that the Nationals and Max Scherzer had agreed upon a 7 year, $210 million deal. More specific details regarding the contract leaked several hours later, including a deferment which will pay Scherzer $105 million over the following 7 years after his contract expires. Essentially, it is a 14 year, $210 million deal. Not that bad for a guy who, only a few seasons ago, was considered a number 3 starter at best.

The Case For Wilmer Flores as The Mets Shortstop of The Future

        

Credit to Zimbio.com

      Sounds crazy and ridiculous, I know. However, despite the defensive concerns and everything in-between, Wilmer Flores truly has a shot at being the long term answer to shortstop the Mets have oh so desperately needed since the Jose Reyes fiasco.

Previewing 2015: the Outfield (MiLB edition)

As of now, it appears as if the outfield is a strong suit for the Mets heading into 2015. However, that doesn't stress the importance of the prospects that the Mets have in their farm system, as they could be a key piece in both the short and long term future of this franchise.

In this article, we will take a look at the top outfield prospects in the organization, while determining their MLB ETA's. 

Curtis Granderson’s Contract Is Already a Mess

Credit to newyork.cbslocal.com

       When the news broke about Curtis Granderson agreeing to a contract with the Mets, the majority of Mets fans were filled with joy. Me on the other hand, I slammed my phone against the counter of where I work. Of course though, I wanted to give the deal the benefit of the doubt and give Granderson a chance in a Mets uniform.

Mets avoid arbitration with three, 2 remain unsigned

UPDATE 1/16/14: Mets, Murphy avoid arbitration, agree on $8 million deal. 

UPDATE: 1/29/15: Mets, Mejia avoid arbitration, agree on $2.6 million deal.

Today was the deadline to exchange arbitration figures with arbitration eligible players who remain unsigned. The team has brought back Dillon Gee and Ruben Tejada on one-year contracts. Lucas Duda appears to be headed to arbitration.

Previewing 2015: the Outfield (MLB edition)

Jason Bay. Angel Pagan. Carlos Beltran. These players were included in the Mets' starting outfield throughout the 2011 season. That particular season proved to be an important one, as it was Terry Collins' first time as the team's skipper, and Sandy Alderson's official starting point for his rebuilding plan. Pagan and Beltran were dealt away, and Bay, well, didn't turn out. 

The team has manned a considerable amount of fringe players in the outfield since that point, including Jason Pridie, Scott Hairston, Mike Baxter, and let's not forget the legend himself, Collin Cowgill. 

Coming into the 2014 off-season, the Mets knew that they would have to acquire an outfielder, simply because the combination of den Dekker/Nieuwenhuis/Campbell just wasn't going to cut it. In a move that surprised many, they inked free agent veteran Michael Cuddyer to a 2 year, $21 million pact. In doing so they forfeited their 2015 first round pick, which seemed out of sync for a front office that had been relying on the draft to build their farm system back up once again. 

In this article, we will be previewing the 2015 outfield situation for the Mets, excluding minor league players.

Why The Mets Dodged a Bullet Not Trading For Troy Tulowitzki

Photo Courtesy of blogs.denverpost.com

          There have been two narratives to the Mets offseason. One of those two have been the anticipation towards Matt Harvey joining a very talented, as well as a young rotation headlined by the reigning National League Rookie of the Year in Jacob Degrom, and the steadily improving Zack Wheeler who happens to have electric stuff. The second narrative has been the chatter among Mets fans regarding Troy Tulowitzki. Troy Tulowitzki seems to be the most polarizing player among the Mets fanbase in years, and he isn’t even a Met at the moment of writing this. In this writers opinion, consider it to be a great thing the Mets have not traded for the man known as Tulo.