WBC in the rearview for Nolan McLean, the regular season on the road ahead for the Mets

·41 min·4 clips

Nolan McLean hit 99 mph on a big stage, but can the Mets' rotation stay healthy for the six-month grind ahead?

The episode opens with a recap of the World Baseball Classic, focusing on Mets pitcher Nolan McLean's outing for Team USA in the championship game against Venezuela, where he hit 99 mph but gave up a home run to William Abreu. The hosts discuss the tournament's overall success, noting Venezuela's win and fun stories like Italy's espresso machine in the dugout. A mailbag question sparks a debate on whether the WBC should be held after the World Series to avoid pitch counts and spring training injuries, though the hosts acknowledge logistical challenges. The conversation shifts to Mets spring training, highlighting Carson Bench's strong performance and his likely roster spot. They analyze the final bench competition, arguing Mike Tauchman provides a safer floor than Vidal Brujan, especially as insurance if Bench struggles. The bullpen discussion centers on the last spot, with Brian Hudson favored over Craig Kimbrel due to recent performance and Kimbrel's velocity decline. Starting pitching is a major focus, with concern over Sean Manaea's fastball sitting at 88 mph, contrasted with optimism for Kodai Senga, who is showing 99 mph velocity and a sharp ghost fork. The hosts preview the Spring Breakout game on SNY, where Joe will be on the broadcast, and highlight prospects like Elian Pena and Jonathan Santucci. Mailbag questions cover Ryan Clifford's potential at first base, Mark Vientos's roster status, and Zach Thornton's readiness. The episode closes with a reminder to subscribe and watch on SNY's YouTube channel.

As heard by us

A grounded Mets camp discussion ties Nolan McLean's WBC moment to the roster calls still ahead.

The Mets Pod frames the World Baseball Classic as a useful way into the Mets' near-term roster picture. Connor Rogers and Joe DeMeo start with Nolan McLean's solid championship-game outing in a USA loss, then move through the rotation, Carson Benj's strong camp, and Mike Talkman…

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Why you'd press play

You get Nolan McLean pitching on a big WBC stage, Carson Benj staying hot in camp, and the Mets depth math as Opening Day nears.

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