Q&A with Mack: Abbott, Holt, Tatis, Stoner

Johnny asked:

"Mack, is this the same Cole Abbott who was shelled for the GCL Mets in "07 (10 games), and where has he been since?"

Mack:

Yes… real first name is Nicholas, and he was a big prep start out of Utah with signing issues. No one picked him early and the Mets took a chance with a 25th round pick. He shocked everyone by signing, and went on to pitch in ten games for the 2007 GCL Mets.
He’s been on the shelf for close to two years.

Question for Mack from VtMet:

Why do the Mets waste time/money/appearances on a "farm system" if they aren't actually going to make it productive? Mets could fit all of their "prospects" on 1 "instructional" league type of team and all of their "MLB fillin'" AAAA guys on 1 "independent" league type of team...although, with the 1 instructional level team, they would have 4 shortstops, 4 centerfielders, 4 firstbasemen and the rest starting pitchers...

Mack:

This is hard to answer in short form. Determining who is a prospect and who has the talent to make it to the majors takes at least 250 players to find five... A phenom at the A level is 95% a bust by the time he gets to AA or AAA. "The Mets", as you put it, operate this way under Omar... minor leaguers have been used consistently to attract trades for established players. In the long run this has worked for Omar. There are exceptions, but none that scream out like Kazmir.

Gary G asked:

And who would you rather see playing LF Fernando Tatis or Barry Bonds?

Mack:

Easy answer here... Frank Thomas

“62” asked: Mack ....

tell me something interesting re: Brad Holt, Tobi Stoner, and finally, Jake Ruckle, if you please. Which makes CitiField (or gets traded) first?

Mack:

Brad Holt has struggled this year only because he is working hard to master secondary pitches that he didn't have last year.

Tobi Stoner has never said a decent thing about me, or to me.

And Jake Ruckle will be lost at the end of this year to Rule V

Actually, Stoner might make CitiField before Holt, as a reliever.