- How embarassing...getting swept at home by the Phillies. Hopefully the FO takes notice and is ready to do what it takes to turn these Mets into a contender. They have to sell off what they can for prospects (at least tradable assets even if they don't fill a specific need) and then acquire what's needed. We knew it would be painful and is it ever.
- Last night Thor (Noah Syndergaard) had another dominating outing, going 7 innings without allowing an earned run. That included 1 BB and 7 K's. I know it's a small sample size, but without his one meltdown against Fort Myers, he's at 22 innings, 2 ER (0.82 ERA), 24K, and 8BB. If he continues dominating like this through June, I hope the FO gets aggressive with his development and challenges him at AA.
- I know, the bullpen is a mess. Here are the bright spots:
- Bobby Parnell has looked exception through his 10 appearances and looks like a pitcher that can be counted on.
- After 2 awful appearances, Jeurys Familia has apparently shaken off the nerves and is settling in.
- Jack Leathersich is striking out almost every batter he's been facing at AA and is currently sporting a 0.00 ERA. He should be up sometime this season.
That's three potential long-term solutions to the pen that should be in place by the end of the season. Cory Mazzoni should be back pitching soon and although he's currently starting, enough scouting reports have him eventually moving to the bullpen that I'm betting it'll be his eventual home...and he'll succeed. Josh Edgin will hopefully get back his mojo with a break in the minors. There are other minor league pitchers who could move quickly but won't have a home in the rotation. By the end of the season, the Mets bullpen could be in considerably better shape, both currently and for the long haul.
- I've never understood all the love Dillon Gee gets from Mets fans. Many bloggers and fans see him as a part of the team's future, but I'm not buying it. He's a #4/#5 at best and it's what we're getting from him. Given what a premium seems to be put on 'established' major league pitching, I hope the Mets can sell high on him at some point and wrangle a decent prospect from a desperate pitching-starved contender. I think any one of the team's second-tier prospects (Verrett, deGrom, etc.) will be able to give the Mets the same or better production.
- I don't know about the rest of you, but as of now, the only current Mets hitter I have any confidence in is David Wright. This lineup is going to need a major overhaul. The organization is going to have to trade some of its young arms to do this, and I would expect everyone besides Matt Harvey and Jon Niese to be available. It's impossible to know who's going, but arms are going to be dealt. I wouldn't be surprised to see even Dillon Gee on the market, as well as BOTH Lucas Duda and Ike Davis at some point.
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5 comments:
Hey Jack, I'm back.
One thing about Leathersich. They aren't going to rush him like they did with Edgin. My guess he finishes the season in Vegas.
Gee is working his way back from shoulder surgery. Give him a break. He's steadily regaining his velicity and command. Verrett's ceiling is Gee's floor. That is to say, if it all break's his way, Verrett will one day be what Gee is today.
Leathersich is a fun story but that number of walks will not play in the majors - and the number has only risen as he's moved up the ladder. Edgin is a much better prospect.
I agree, though, that the team is a mess. Woof.
No September call-up for the LeatherRocket?
Leather is walking a batter an inning....in the minors. You can easily figure that'll go up in the majors. He's at least a year away. Mack is right about that.
It seems to me, that every homegrown guy they call up and put in that bullpen fails. They fall in line with the rest of the mediocre arms and can't throw strikes. Elvin Rameriz, Familia, Mejia, Edgin, Carson.
They ALL have big arms that throw 95+ with the exception of Edgin. Edgin actually had some success UNTIL Terry completely over worked him during the last half of a LOSING season. Why the Mets worry about a couple of wins in September is a head scratcher. That thinking cost them Edgin this year and a better draft pick that would have been protected.
Anyway, I'm hopeful that pitchers like Mazzoni and DeGrom will eventually become part of a better bullpen, but I'm not counting on it. There's certainly a culture of mediocracy in their past few bullpens. A lot of that has to do with the lack of spending the past few years and it should change next season.
Normally I'd say Terry couldn't be blamed for the loses. He didn't pass on spending or trade away any Cy Young winners. He didn't sign multiple players to minor league contracts, hoping some of the shit tossed on the wall would stick. That was all Sandy. However, I understand why he did that. 2013 was never supposed to be the year they competed.
No, I won't blame Terry for the roster....But I will blame him for his stupidity during the games. For horribly managing his bullpens. For over working first Brydak and then Edgin. For stating Cowgill would be the everyday CF'er and then quickly benching him after 3 games. For not starting Valdespine everyday, despite being one of the three best players on the team. For head scratching pitching changes like taking Niese out knowing the Phillies would send Howard up to pinch hit.
One day, he says Duda will not be batting clean up....two days later, guess who is batting clean up? What does that say to the team about panicking. Do you think Davis believes after that, that his manager has faith in him? What about Duda's confidences? He thrived batting sixth and Terry was right about wanting to keep the fragile hulk there. Now, he's been bounced around and is slumping. Yes, I know Sandy has had a hand in these lineup changes, but again, who's the manager? It's his lineup card and his fearfulness of losing his job, coupled with being a yes man, has caused him to go against his own judgment and hurt the team.
So, in the one instant when he was correct in not wanting to move Duda from his comfort zone, he let outside interference disrupt Lucas's hot start. Why not just tell Sandy," Look, Lucas is fragile, he's finally prospering and feeling confident in his abilities, lets give him another month to really let it sink in that he belongs. That he truly is a force in this league. Let him reach 10-12 homers by June. Then we can move him.".
I honestly, despite the rant, don't care if the Mets finish over .500. I do believe that starting next year they'll be a great team. Knowing that, and wanting desperately for then to sustain such a winning atmosphere, I actually root somewhat for as many loses as possible. Again, knowing that a top ten draft pick is waiting and it's protection is vital to a better 2014 team and the future of the Mets' minor league system.
Good thoughts, Charles.
There's a big difference between someone pitching AA (a prospect league) and AAA ( a league filled with ex-major league hitters).
You will not be successful at the major league level without some success pitching against real players not school time buddies.
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