The RantBack Digital Mailbag is a periodic feature where SportsRantNY readers get to pose questions, make comments or just get something off their chests. Last names are withheld to protect the innocent.
“After all the bullpen implosions when are the Mets going to bring up one of those prized prospects?” – Jeffrey O, Queens, NY
The New York Mets top three pitching prospects are all starters, including two guys that made headlines on Saturday:
- Nolan McLean (ranked #3 on the Mets prospect list) made his first big league start, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings to pick up his first Major League Baseball win.
- Jonah Tong (ranked #4 on the Mets prospect list) made his first Triple A start for the Syracuse Mets, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings.
Now that doesn’t mean that Mets are not using their prospect pool to bolster their bullpen. At the trade deadline, they traded two prospects, plus young righty José Buttó to the San Francisco Giants for Tyler Rogers. Next, four prospects were shipped to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ryan Helsley.
Rogers is off to a strong start, pitching to a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 innings over 9 games for the Mets. Unfortunately, Helsley, an All-Star in 2022 and 2024, is having a “Devin Williams-like” start to his Mets career. His ERA stands at 7.11, through 6.1 innings in eight games.
On paper, the addition of Rogers and Helsley, alongside Reed Garrett and closer Edwin Diaz, give the Mets a strong back-end. If Helsley and Garrett (also slumping recently) turn it around, the bullpen can be a strength down the stretch.
Finally, if the Mets make it to October, they will be able to bolster their bullpen more by moving former All-Star closer Clay Holmes back into a relief role.
“With all the hype around the NYG QB room, do you think the Giants will be able to stay disciplined and let Jaxon Dart develop? Or will they cave to the fan base as soon as things so sideways? This kids seems to have all the brains and physical skills and guts to be a Phil Simms/Eli Manning type QB. It’s hard to be patient in NY, but I’d hate to see him thrown to the wolves. Chris B, Yonkers, NY
No disrespect to Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, or Eli Manning, but the New York Giants championship identity has always been their defense, especially a fierce pass rush. That’s where the hype should be this summer as the Giants defensive line— after adding Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander to veterans Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux— should be one of the league’s best.
What’s that have to do with the QB room? Well, if the defense plays up to their potential, and the young RB’s make an impact, that will give Russell Wilson an opportunity to win enough games to keep the Giants in the playoff hunt. The longer they are in contention, the easier it is for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen to stick with Wilson.
Finally, I’m not a big fan of having a lame duck coach, a lame duck GM and a rookie QB. John Mara should extend Daboll and Schoen now for one additional year to give them breathing room.
Pressure from the fans is one thing, pressure about your job security is another. Mara should eliminate the temptation to put Dart in before he’s ready just to save their jobs.
“Now that the Rangers made some moves, what do you think about our chances this year?” – Salvatore M, Stamford, CT
Mike Sullivan dropping into the Rangers’ laps was their biggest move of the summer. Unlike Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette, Sullivan has proven that he can sustain success. While he won’t have Sidney Crosby on his team, he does have a Top 5 goalie in Igor Shesterkin, a Top 10 defensemen (regardless of what the NHL Network says) in Adam Fox, a Top 20 center in JT Miller and a Top 20 winger in Artemi Panarin.
Perhaps more importantly, Drury has been a mission to build a stronger, bigger defense to defend in front of Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. Since last December, he has added Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov, Carson Soucy and Urho Vaakanainen.
The Rangers won the President’s Trophy in 2023-24 with 114 points. Last season they collapsed to 85. While I would prefer to wait until training camp before rendering a prediction, I’m comfortable saying they will make the playoffs with around 102 points.