Mack Ade - Morning Report - 6-14-13

Mack Ade – Morning Report – 6-14-13

I wrote a post earlier this week calling for the dismissal of Sandy Alderson and his lieutenants. The least I could do is take an objective look at what he has brought to the organization since he arrived after the 2010 season:

1B – Jayce Boyd – 2012 Draft – Has been a pleasant surprise for Savannah in 2013. He’s fourth in the Sally League in batting average (.335), sixth in OBP (.409), and third in hits (79). I’m sure he will be moving on the St. Lucie as soon as he participated in the A-ball all-star game. Honorable mention goes out to this year’s number one pick, Dominic Smith, who should clear doctors today and announce his signing.

2B – Danny Muno – 2011 Draft – Muno has hit well at both the rookie (2011 – Brooklyn: .355) and A+ (2012 – St. Lucie: .280) level, but is currently struggling in the AA ‘prospect league’ (.224).  His OPS has steadied declined (2011: 980, 2012: 799, 2013: .695).

SS – Gavin Cecchini – 2012 Draft – the past first round draft pick never came out of camp this season for one of the full season teams, though he is 100% healthy. Had a decent (.246 - Kingsport) start for someone who just finished a full high school season and was assigned to a professional team. One scout told me once if you hit .250 under those conditions, getting used to ‘the grind’, you’re internally considered an all-star. Even money bet he opens for Brooklyn.

3B –  Jeff Reynolds – 2012 Draft – Reynolds is currently hitting .286 for Savannah, not bad for a 38^th round draft pick out of Harvard.  Stat line is equally impressive: .286/.329/.371/.700. There’s an outside chance he will end this season with St. Lucie.

OF – Wuillmer Becerra – 2012 Trade – The 6-4 Becerra signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for a $1,3mil dollar bonus. Ben Badler said: “Plus, plus speed… for some scouts, Becerra was one of the better righthanded hitters on the international market last year, though there was some disagreement about scouts on his bat. Becerra has a good combination of size, strength and raw power, and some scouts felt he had good plate coverage and feel for hitting. Others contend he’s not as sharp in game situations as he is in BP because he tends to get around the ball with length to his stroke and an uppercut swing, which isn’t uncommon for Latin American amateurs.” He could be the steal of the deal. Look for him to play for the GCL Mets this summer.

OF – Brandon Nimmo – 2011 Draft – The first round draft pick two years ago has won me over with his 2013 season (.303) in Savannah. One of the sweetest swings you will ever see. I’m not sure if he will stick in centerfield, nor do I think any huge amount of power will develop, but I can easily see his rocket arm in CitiField’s right field by 2016. My prediction is he’s the real deal.

OF – Travis Taijeron – 2011 Draft – A very interesting ‘project’. He may be the top power bat in the system. He’s currently filling in for the injured Cory Vaughn in Binghamton and has made his mark there early (19-AB, 2-HR, 1.211-OBP). He has had 789 professional at-bats and has produced 39-HR and 143-RBI, with a stat line of: .280/.372/.526/.898. There’s a good chance he will not be going back to St. Lucie which will put him in line to possibly begin next season in Las Vegas. I drool when I think of this bat playing there.

C –  Travis d’Arnaud  - 2012 Trade – Frankly, it was tough to leave Savannah’s Kevin Plawecki (.322) off of this list, but the ‘Sandy star’ at this position is d’Arnaud. He really is no longer a minor league player. His injury cam in spring training and I expect him to be sent to Queens as early as the day after he comes out of rehab. John Buck’s days as an effective catcher for the Mets seem over and it’s time to move on here. I anticipate d’Arnaud being around for a long time and being highly successful at his craft.

SP – Zack Wheeler – 2011 Trade   - I think everybody has written enough about this kid. It was a great ‘future’ trade which will become reality this weekend. Let’s all pray he lives up to the hype.

SP – Noah Syndergaard – 2012 Trade – Holding out for Syndergaard to be added to the Dickey deal might someday prove to be the gem of Alderson’s Mets career. Most scouts project him in the same class as Wheeler and Matt Harvey. Wouldn’t that be something?

SP – Robert Gsellman – 2011 Draft -  the 13^th round pick has been a breath of fresh air, both in 2012 (11-G, 5-ST, 1-3, 3.92 – Kingsport) and this season split with St. Lucie and Savannah (7-starts, 3-3, 3.55). He’s not considered prospect material, but is carrying his own weight through three levels so far.

SP – Matt Bowman – 2012 Draft – First there’s a third baseman from Harvard ad now we have a pitcher from Princeton. And, his 2013 season has just been… wow: (combined Savannah-St. Lucie: 7-0, 2.62,68.2-IP, 65-K, 12-BB) Bowman has five pitches and is a Dillon Gee type starter. I don’t see him getting to Binghamton this season and this guy could be a major piece of a future trade.

SP – Logan Verrett – 2011 Draft –  Verrett was a ‘quiet’ draft pick after the Mets picked two high school kids in the first round. This is another of those pleasant surprises (pro career: 12-4, 3.16) who has particularly taken on the AA level (7-2, 3.79) this season. Another Dillon Gee trade bait kind of pitcher.

RP – Jack Leathersich – 2011 Draft – Was just promoted to Las Vegas while I was typing this. One stat here: 71 pro innings… 194 strikeouts… 15.32 SO/9… ridiculous.

RP – Tyler Vanderheiden – 2012 Draft – A good start so far. 2012 in Brooklyn: 25-appearances, 2-0, 0.82…  this year in Savannah: 15-appearances, 3-0, 3.38.