A Brief Respite

We'll be off this week — unless something should happen.

It’s the first day of winter, and Christmas is obviously coming. Here at Shea Bridge Report, the tree is being decorated (without a Mets ornament — yet), the fire is crackling (on the TV), and the presents are wrapped, waiting to be opened (this time, I sense some Mets involvement). In a fit of energy, I also ran nine miles last night, so right now, I’m particularly into that restful, holiday feeling.

All this is to say that Shea Bridge Report will take a holiday this week, unless a press release should emerge from Citi Field that demands immediate analysis, or Luis Guillorme should finally respond to my request for a lengthy interview (I want to write a profile; is there a place for a sweet-fielding, contact-hitting player like Guillorme, who might have been a star in the ‘70s, in today’s game?). We’ll return after Christmas, hopefully with a George Springer acquisition to consider.

In the meantime, here are some of the pieces we here at Shea Bridge Report find especially deserving of inclusion in this end-of-year recap:

• This reported column on recent Mets acquisition Trevor Hildenberger, and this follow-up report on the high-schoolers who catch his bullpen sessions.

• This dissection of James McCann, and what his numbers will look like in 2021 and even further into the future.

• This E.B. White-inspired column on why George Springer is the perfect target for the Mets.

• This look at why, despite some wacky assertions to the contrary, Brandon Nimmo is really good.

• Finally, this contention that Luis Guillorme has done enough to earn a starting job with the Mets.

Stay warm, stay safe, stay merry; a Merry Christmas, a Happy Festivus, a belated Hanukkah, and hopes and prayers for a quick winter and an early Spring to all. See everyone soon — and at Citi Field soon after that.