The Put it in the Books Show

The Mets just took 2 of 3 from the Tampa Bay Rays, improved to 16-11 since the trade deadline, and are once again doing that deeply annoying Mets thing where they look interesting after the season already tried to leave the building.

This week on The Put it in the Books Show, Farace, Rodriguez, and Producer Joe break down what this post-deadline stretch actually means for 2027. Farace will attempt the dangerous act of finding hope, Rodriguez will be standing nearby with a fire extinguisher, and Producer Joe will somehow make the whole thing feel less organized than the Mets’ April bullpen.

Nick Morabito finally broke through with his first MLB hit, a bases-clearing three-run double, and now gets a real chance to show he belongs in next year’s outfield picture. Mark Vientos is back too, homering immediately after returning, because apparently he heard everyone was building the 2027 roster without him and took that personally.

The rotation debate is getting bigger by the week. Nolan McLean looks like the closest thing to a lock, while Zac Thornton and Christian Scott keep making their cases. Sean Manaea is wobbling again, Jonah Tong remains worth watching, Justin Hagenman is getting evaluated, and Kodai Senga keeps making the starter-or-bullpen weapon debate even messier.

Carson Benge remains one of the biggest positives of the entire season, which means Farace is already halfway to calling him a cornerstone, Rodriguez is preparing a twelve-point warning label, and Producer Joe is absolutely one sound effect away from ruining a perfectly good baseball discussion.

We’ll also talk Juan Soto looking healthy again, David Stearns’ offseason approach, the Luis Robert Jr. fallout after Baltimore claimed him, Andy Green’s future, Brett Baty, Dylan Ross, September evaluations, and Stock Up / Stock Down.

Then it’s Giants at Citi Field, with McLean, Thornton, and Scott lined up for a very interesting young-pitching weekend, followed by the Marlins and the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium. So naturally, Farace will talk himself into momentum, Rodriguez will remind everyone math still exists, and Producer Joe will be blamed for something. Probably correctly.

The standings may not be the story anymore, but the 2027 Mets are starting to take shape.

LGM.

Preview:

The Mets are 11-4 since the trade deadline, took 2 of 3 from the Padres, and are somehow creating a little excitement after selling off half the pitching staff. Because Mets baseball apparently enjoys making sense illegal.

This week on The Put it in the Books Show, Farace, Rodriguez, and Producer Joe break down whether this post-deadline run actually means something for 2027 or if it’s just pressure-free August baseball trying to trick everybody again.

Steve Cohen admitted the Mets took too much risk building the 2026 roster, which opens the real debate: how much blame belongs to David Stearns, and how much freedom should he get to fix it?

Carson Benge keeps raising his ceiling with power, speed, and a ridiculous outfield arm. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Sean Manaea lead the 2027 rotation conversation. Kodai Senga might be turning into a ninth-inning weapon. Andy Green’s future gets more interesting. Jorge Polanco’s lost season becomes the poster child for roster risk.

Plus, Soto, Vientos, Devin Williams, the White Sox series, and the Brewers coming next.

Farace will try to find the hope, Rodriguez will explain why hope is a disease, and Producer Joe will somehow make the bullpen sound more organized than the show.

LGM.

The Mets sold off half the pitching staff, started winning immediately, swept Cleveland, then got to Atlanta and remembered they are still the 2026 Mets. Fun little vacation from reality while it lasted.

This week on The Put it in the Books Show, Farace, Rodriguez, and Producer Joe break down where the Mets actually stand now: 53-69, buried in the Wild Card picture, and basically playing the rest of the season to figure out who matters in 2027.

Nolan McLean keeps giving Mets fans dangerous reasons to believe, Sean Manaea has temporarily escaped the “Manure” nickname, and Kodai Senga suddenly has his first MLB save while the bullpen gets even weirder after Devin Williams landed on the IL.

Francisco Lindor says David Stearns is still the right guy, which gives Farace something to debate, Rodriguez something to doubt, and Producer Joe another chance to interrupt with a sound effect nobody asked for.

We’ll also hit Stock Up/Stock Down, Soto’s rehab, Jefry Yan’s energy, Carson Benge accidentally giving away Senga’s save ball, and the Nationals coming to Citi Field next.

The standings are cooked. The evaluation period is not. Farace will try to find hope, Rodriguez will show up with a shovel, and Producer Joe will somehow make the bullpen situation feel more organized than the show.

LGM.