Mack Ade – Morning Report – 5-17-13

Morning everyone.

By the way, Herb G. is going to guest post this Saturday (“I’m Fed Up With Disrepect”); however, we still are looking for two people to write a weekly feature, one for Saturday 12 noon and the other for Sunday 12 noon. You can write these anytime and then schedule them for those days. If you are interested in joining (or rejoining) Mack’s Mets, please email me at: macksmets@gmail.com.

Three things happened well in the Mets game yesterday afternoon:

              Jon Niese went 7.1-IP and restored the faith of his faithful following. The plans for this team in 2014 and beyond de[end up Niese being a dominant pitcher, be it with the Mets or a future team the Mets trade him to.

             Daniel Murphy continued to confirm that his bat can single-handedly win a ballgame for someone trying to win a pennant.

            And, the Mets won, which seems rare these days


Some minor highlights from last night...

    This possibly was the last start for Rainy Lara and the Savannah Sand Gnats. There really isn't much more this guy has to prove at this level. Last night, he through eight scoreless innings (1.17), while striking out nine and walking only one. Even after only seen starts at this level, his job is over here... Noah Syndergaard almost matched Lara's brilliance; however, he gave up two runs in six innings that featured nine strikeouts. It was his 8th A+ start of the year, so let's revisit the move thing after the all-star break... Hamilton Bennett (2.50) pitched a scoreless inning for Lucy... 
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We’re writing this week about members of the Binghamton bullpen and we’ll start off today with 26-year old RHP John Church. He was a 23^rd draft pick out of the University of West Florida who has had three outstanding years in the chain… 2010 with Savannah: 7-2, 2.64, 36-G, 10-ST… 2012 with St. Lucie: 2-2, 2.97, 37-appearances… and this year with Binghamton: 1-3, 2.45, 16-appearances. This isn’t a fireballer that depends on his fastball to dazzle you. No, he mixes a number of pitchers and has settled in this year as a one-inning specialist. I wrote this about Church on 6-19-10:

I figured it would be a pitcher if we are talking about a Sand Gnat player. Church is one of many young arms that is leading the SAL in just about every pitching stat that’s kept. The 23rd round 2009 pick has been in 21 games so far this season, pitched 35.1 innings and has posted stats of 3-0, 1.53, 1.13, 34-K, 12-BB. John turns 24 in November, so it’s time for him to get on to higher levels in the organization.

Church will turn 27 this off-season, but age isn’t as much a factor for a relief pitcher. He pretty much has stayed on the same team all year so I would guess the plan would be to keep him in New York State for the season. This would project him for Vegas in 2014 and possibly Queens later on that year.

Another of the B-Mets bullpen gems this year is the University of Georgia’s (7^th round – 2010) RHP Jeff Walters. Walters was a starter for Brooklyn back in 2010 (4-6, 3.32), but was converted to the pen the following year, where he combined Savannah and St. Lucie for: 36-appearances, 4-5, 2.30, 54.2-IP, 4-SV, 49-K, 12-BB. This year, he’s basically been unhittable, giving up only one earned run in 14.2-IP (0.61,, 10-saves). Like Church, he’s a control pitcher that has been placed into a closer role and, so far, it’s working just fine. You just can’t create work for closers and I’m not sure what plans the Mets have for him. To me, Domingo Tapia projects as the future closer of this team, but I could be wrong. For now, look for Walters to end his all-star season with Binghamton.

Christopher Soto asked re: Cesar Puello –

Man's hot right now. With the team so short on both 40 man roster spots and Outfielders do you see Puello as a possible 2014 OF'er? At this rate I would assume a promotion to AAA during the All-Star break, then about 30 games in Vegas before a September call-up.

                Hey Chris, long time.

                Yeah, as you know Puello is a year behind due to a number of issues. He should have graduated at the end of last season and competed for a Queens slot this past spring training. No one has every questioned his God-given 5-tools. He just doesn’t seem to apply then well mentally. He’s been hitting next to another hot hat this season (Cory Vaughn) and you have to pich to one of them. My guess is he will go to Las Vegas after this upcoming all-star game and then finish the season there.

                Regarding September, I expect the Mets to be mathematically eliminated by then. It would be foolish not to call up anyone that would have a chance to make the 2014 staff.

Ben Badler says the Mets have been linked to VZ July 2 catcher Ali Sanchez