Mack Ade – Morning Report – 6-11-13

Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisBA - Mets sign 10th-rder Luis Guillorme for $200k. Florida HS SS, slick-fielding Venezuelan who drew a Vizquel comp from one scout.

The Mets are now ‘officially’ in a sell mode.

No, they aren’t going to announce it, but phone calls are being made as we read. You just can’t keep playing baseball the way this team is and ‘sell’ to your players, the fans, the advertisers, and everyone else involved with this team, that you have a winner on your hands. You don’t and it’s time to begin to change things.

The draft looks to be a good one, but, it fits into the youth plan that was started by ‘Sandy and Company’ two drafts ago. Right now, you have the makings of two minor league systems:

a.      Strong arms in the upper levels

b.      Strong bats in the lower level

You have ‘trading chips’… in fact, it’s easier to list the players not on the block: d’Arnaud, Wheeler, Harvey, Montero, Murphy, Wright, Nimmo, Syndergaard, Leathersich, Plawecki, Cecchini, Dom Smith + draft class. Everyone else is in play.

Sandy Alderson to WFAN –

Some interesting tidbits… Josh Satin will play exclusively on 1B… both SP Rafael Montero and RP Jack Leathersich could skip Las Vegas and eventually be sent straight to Queens from Binghamton (save on airfare)… Zack Wheeler will pitch in next weekend’s doubleheader in Atlanta… Andrew Brown, Eric Campbell, and Wilmer Flores all have a chance to be promoted to the major leagues this year…

Mack Ade‏@JohnMackinAde - @michaelgbaron - Michael, after hearing this, do U feel Mets are now in 'sell mode'?

Michael Baron‏@michaelgbaron45s - @JohnMackinAde not at all.

I don’t buy it. Alderson can go on 100 radio talk shows and say he’s a buyer. Show me the player! I still say the phones are ringing, but in reverse order.

Jon Presser‏@metsjetsnets88 - Alderson won't be appreciated by a large segment of the fan base until after he's gone and his draft classes have replenished the farm system

Stats from Extended Camp:

                SP Darwin Frias – 14.3-IP, 19-K, 3-BB, 2-ER, 1.26

We post up the information we find online about the Mets draft picks, which we did for 21^st round pick, RHP Morgan Earman. Then, we got this from ‘a fan’:

                        Bruce Cathcart said...

Look Guys, the scouting report here is all wrong. I watched this kid throw all season and sat right behind the scouts on many of Morgan's outings. The kid is 6'4" 190 lbs. He threw as fast as 96 but throws a solid 92 mph for seven innings... 8 in their game against La Quionta HS, a Div. II team he shut out allowing only two hits. He as a split finger fast ball and a wicked curve at 77-80 MPH that buckled the knees of the opposing batters in the CIF Finals, plus an effective change up at this level. He has an agent and is being advised. Slot money is at best $100K for 21st round. That doesn't begin to touch a 4 year full ride to the University at Arizona where he can grow and throw for at least 2 years before re-entering the draft. He went late in the draft because of old scouting reports. He is a real "sleeper" that the Mets should open up the checking book to sign him for what he is worth. At least get him out for a day to throw at their AAA team and then determine his worth!

Wally Backman on Wilmer Flores playing second base –

“The thing is, he turns the double play well, he has good hands,” he said. “His range is a little limited, but we’re working on trying to increase it as much as possible. The more he plays second base, the better he’ll become. Position will be a big factor for him.”

This doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement coming from a guy that usually does things like that. I read two things into this. One, the Mets are running out of options for this bat and two, Backman is being to think before he opens his mouth. I’m sure the elevation of quiet Tim Teufel throught the system quicker has taught him a lesson.

From Bryan Zarpentine - LINK -

He’s come a long way as a second baseman, and now Daniel Murphy has a legitimate chance to be an all-star at the position. He won’t beat out Brandon Phillips as the starter, but Murphy has as good a chance as any other second baseman in the National League to make the team. If he’s named, Murphy would be a great candidate to pinch hit in a key spot during the game, which is even more reason for him to be on the team, since the game “matters”.

I’ve been re-sold on this guy and he’s off my trade list. I consider him one of the top bats in baseball right now.

Travis d'arnaud @Travisdarnaud - I can start buying left shoes again!! - 12:31 PM - 10 Jun 2013 from Florida, US, United States

This is very good news… for 2014. For 2013, it’s a series of rehab steps that probably will get him to Queens sometime in late August. Watch for his rehab to remain in Florida. He will probably play for both the GSL team and the St. Lucie Mets. Then, it will off to Vegas.

What you fans need to do is start lighting candles that John Buck can get hot again. It’s time to get his name out there to teams looking for both catcher and DH help for a pennant race.