Ike Davis has the 3rd best OBP (1.013) in the majors since the all-star game.
Going into Wednesday's game, Sand Gnat OF Brandon Nimmo since 7/18: .349/.493/.453/.945, 37 for 106, 15 runs, 6 2b, 3b, HR, 27/34 BB/K
Binghamton 1B Alan Dykstra has reached 20-HRs and 79-RBIs, both career highs.
Mets announce that OF Cory Vaughn will play in the Arizona Fall League
This makes sense. The word ‘potential’ has always been written in the first paragraph of any story written about Vaughn, even as far back as 18U. The second word always written was the first name of his father, which is a monkey you just don’t want on your back your entire career.
I wasn’t a big fan of this pick and said so on draft day.
Here’s what I said on 6-10-10:
Round 4 – #122 overall – OF – Cory Vaughn – San Diego State
Mack: Well, it didn’t take long for the Mets to pull one out of their arse. I have basically nothing on Vaughn, other than a couple of 200+ round picks on some early mocks. It is very hard to find anything positive about this guy, other than the fact that his father was named Greg. He seems to swing at anything that’s thrown his way and has been one of the divisional strikeout leaders, both in school and the Cape Cod League. Had 55-K in 180-AB and 180-K in 592-AB career wise. Multiple scouting services have reported that his hitting mechanics are horrible.
Projection: Boy, who the heck knows. Personally, I’m pissed that left on the board were RHP Sam Dyson and LHP James Paxton, and, if you wanted a toosy outfielder, what about Cody Hawn or Austin Wilson? Look, I have no problem drafting someone that shows potential, but save these kind of picks until the 15th round. There is no way of projecting any kind of ETA on this kid. Everything I have read said he is not a potential major leaguer. ETA: never
Draft Grade: F
We later met in a Savannah bar for Press Day and I can’t say he was the happiest person to meet me. He has run hot and cold over his four year professional career, hitting for power in 2012 (St. Lucie: 23-HR, 69-RBI) and average (Brooklyn 2010: .307, Binghamton-present: .292), but there has also been the .219 for St. Lucie in 2011 and .243 in 2012 for St. Lucie. What he hasn’t done was hit for both average and pop for one team in the same season.
Nothing has changed about the strikeouts. This year, even with a .292 batting average for the B-Mets he’s whiffed 62 times in 219 official at-bats. He has now played 251 games in right field, 34 in left, and 25 in the position he was originally projected to play, centerfield.
IMO, the Mets are still looking for three full time outfielders in 2014. Vaughn is not going to be one of them, but he could get his act together and join Cesar Puello as 2/3rd of a homegrown 2015 outfield. My money will stay in my pocket on this one. Don’t get me wrong… nothing would make me happier to see him succeed as a Met. He’s actually one of the nicest person you would ever meet and, you know me, I love home grown weenies.
The appointment to the AFL couldn’t come at a better time.
BTW – the guys I mentioned in 2010:
James Paxton – 7-10, 4.26 - AAA-Seattle
Sam Dyson – 1-2, 2.12 – AAA-Miami
Cody Hawn – .238 – A+ - Brewers
Austin Wilson – didn’t sign, was drafted this year, hasn’t played yet
Bill Maddon -
In the meantime, the Yankees have not developed a single impact power hitter or a top-of-the-rotation starter under Newman’s stewardship. They have only two players on the current roster — outfielder Brett Gardner and reliever David Robertson — who have developed into frontline performers out of the draft. Prospect observers say the Yankees have four potential top-tier prospects — catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielders Slade Heathcott, Tyler Austin and Mason Williams. But none of the four has been above Double-A or particularly impressive this season. They are extreme longshots to be any help at the major-league level in 2014. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/hall-calls-tampa-meeting-address-barren-farm-system-article-1.1431853#ixzz2cXKwcUj5
(Before Wednesday's game) The Mets are 34-27 in their last 61 games. That’s a .557 percentage. Prorate that over a 162-game season and it would be 90-72. Prorate that over the current season (125 games) and it would be around 69-56. This would place them one loss out of the last wild card slot.
More importantly, all of this is being accomplished by players that simply weren’t in the plan… Juan Lagares, Eric Young Jr., David Aardsma, Zack Wheeler, Travis d’Arnaud, Josh Satin, Wilmer Flores, Andrew Brown, Gonzalez Germen, and Carlos Torres.
At some point next year Cesar Puello, Jack Leathersich, Rafael Montero, and Matt den Dekker will be added to this list.
Add this to the existing David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, Justin Turner, Matt Harvey, Dillon Gee, Jon Niese, Jeurys Familia, Josh Edgin, and Marlon Byrd and the list grows to 24.
One could make a case of operating 2014 lean with remaining decisions in the pen, at short, and one outfield slot.
Zack Wheeler is 6-2 this season with a 3.49 ERA and 62 K's in 69.2 IP, 1.38 WHIP. I know I should be more excited about this, but I’m just not. It just seems to me that he is throwing too many pitches and is just having extreme trouble the third time around the lineup. Tuesday night was especially disappointing because he couldn’t finish the seventh inning. Forget the triple that scored the three runs against the Mets… there never should have been bases loaded that inning. We’re getting deep into a long season and it seemed like he wasn’t throwing everything he could have all night. He sat in the 92-93 range, but shot it up to 95-96 in the 7th when he knew he wasn’t coming back for the 8th. In my opinion, I think Wheeler will be a very successful pitcher for the Mets. But I’m just not sure if he will be a superstar like Matt Harvey looks to be.
The Bleacher Report says that the Mets are going to promote SP Rafael Montero, CF Matt den Dekker, and SP Jake deGrom.
I never liked The Bleacher Report. I never thought they spent any time caring if their writers were accurate or not. It’s nothing more than a web site full of independent bloggers, most of which aren’t being paid to make definitive statements about ballplayers.
We all have opinions, so here’s mine.
We won’t see Montero.
We will see a lot of den Dekker after their playoffs.
deGrom will get one, maybe two starts.
24 comments:
I also agree that we will see DeGrom for only 1 or 2 starts in early September with the big league ballclub before he gets shutdown due to innings. Hefner will be transferred to the 60 Day DL to make room for him.
With the recent signings of Matt Fox and Daryl Thompson, i think we will also see Giancarlo Alvarado added on September 1st. As well as den Dekker which will occupy the remaining two 40 man spots.
If they're to promote deGrom in Sept, why not just let him start Friday instead of Torres?
I don't know, sounds like he probably won't be up.
DenDekker, I'm looking forward to his promotion.
Montero will not be up cause he's not going to be added to the forty. He also, like deGrom, is on an innings limit. That's another reason why I doubt Jacob won't be up.
Cory V just doesn't get me excited. I'm more intrigued by Lawley or Tajieron. Obviously, Puello is the only true starting outfield prospect in AA or above. The rest seem like fourth outfielders or platoon guys.
More importantly, will we see Ruben Tejada and Lucas Duda come September 1st? I don't think either are the answer but I'd like to see Tejada get some swings against big league pitching. A hot September by Duda might make him tradeable to some team looking to add a LH power bat in a platoon or DH role. I would expect a setup reliever or single A mid-tier prospect in return at best.
I read something previously that if we keep Tejada down until Sept. 9th I think that we get another year of team control. I think this w
I read something previously that if we keep Tejada down until Sept. 9th I think that we get another year of team control. I think this would be the only reason we haven't brought him up yet. He had 2 impressive seasons for a SS barely older than 20. He was always solid defensively and average at best with the bat. But this year he was awful in both aspects.
I don't have anything concrete to back my feelings here, but I just think that the Mets brass (especially TC) is done with Tejada
What to do with guys like Vaughn, Dykstra and Lawley ? They are all 'kinda old' for the levels they are at. I guess they now have a role model in Josh Satin, but Satin may never be an every day player on a major league.
With a player like Nimmo still being years away, should the Mets keep trying to sign the perfect moneyball free agent outfielders while waiting for the next big thing, or give these prospects a chance, in their late 20s, to contribute and see if they can hit major league pitching?
Mack - I think you need to back way off Leathersich. He is very far from exhibiting major league command. It may happen for him but you can't credibly paint him into the Mets 2014 picture.
Good question Ernest...
First, about the threesome you mentioned. You can't hold against players that went to college and then had to go through the system. I never signed off to this '24 year old is the end of the prospect' bullshit.
I guess Juan Lagares is proving that, given the opportunity, projected 4th outfielders can thrive in the majors. All will eventually play Vegas. Potentially, I consider Lawley and one you didn't mention (Taijeron) having the most potential.
Nimmo has work himself past a weak wrist and the Savannah humidity and is becoming a very good 2 hitter. I don't see the Mets rushing him but he has a legitimate ETA of 2016.
The Mets may already have the 'moneyball' kind of outfielder you are looking for... RF 23-yr old Kyle Johnson (traded for Cowgill)... Burlington/Savannah/St. Lucie: 419-AB, .298/.394/.411/.804, 24-doubles, 82-K, 56-BB, 42-stolen bases
yeah...
it's funny how some of these guys just seem to peak overnight...
I guess another year in hell (Vegas) is due for him
In my opinion (based on nothing), the Mets won't start DeGrom but instead will let him get his feet wet with a few zero leverage relief stints in Sept. he'll be at his innings limit.
Yeah, this prolonged stay in Vegas feels like a message. He'd better come into camp in tip top shape and ready to compete for his roster spot. And I'm hoping that the Mets make a serious move to improve SS in the offseason to the point where Tejada is not a consideration to start.
Hey Mack,
I'm going to assume that management goes outside to trade/sign one corner OF this offseason.
But if management sees Puello as their potential future RF, they'd be smart to re-sign Byrd to a 2-year deal. He seems to be very well-liked in the clubhouse and by management, he's been nothing but clutch, and even playing every day at 36 hasn't slowed him down yet, and we're nearly through August. If you can play him 130 games next year, and get anything close to what you're getting this year, he'll be a bargain. And the minute he starts to look his age, you bring Puello up and Marlon's your 4th OF. Why go looking outside for someone to hold Puello's spot for a year or two, when you've got a Byrd-in-the-hand right now?
If, of course, you don't believe in Puello, then you might as well start looking for a long-term answer in RF now, though you still probably risk doing worse - at a higher cost - than a couple of more years of Marlon.
Everybody seems to forget that he has been one of the top 4 National League outfielders this year.
I would do both.
I would resign Byrd or sign Beltran to a two-year, with a third year team option and shut down RF for two years.
I would platoon den Dekker and Lagares in center
and I would try to sign Choo or Elsbury for LF
Under these terms, I would use Puello in a package to get a new SS
it will now be Dice-K
Leather needs more time in AAA.
Another pitcher who needs to repeat a level: Tapia. He has probably been the worst pitcher of all the prospects this year.
ALL of Tapia's bad stats came after his burned hand incident. Sadly, his career could come to an end here
Burned hand?
here's my take on all of this: with Ellsbury and Choo being Boras clients he'll get some idiot owners to pony up say 5 years for 60 million minimum and neither are worth it. I'd platoon Den Decker/Lagares in CF, sign Byrd for 2 years and go with E.Y. in left to start the season and bring up Puello when he's ready. The big move for me would be trading for Tulo. I have no idea what it would take to get him but we have to try and he would be the perfect player to add power and answer the SS situation. When you consider that we have finally developed what looks like a top 5+ starting pitching rotation and hoping Ike has a hold on first base (fingers crossed) which would give us 4 position spots filled going into next year we are really way ahead of were I thought we'd be last April.
as I understand, he burned his hand accidentally while cooking at home which put him on the DL... had 6 starts in April (26.1-IP, 2.73)... May was lost due to the injury... only 6.1 innings pitched, and his ERA has been 5+ since
I too believe that the future success of this team goes through pitching and the shortstop position. I did before Reyes left and I still do.
I'd sign Bryd. Keep Lagaras in center with DD. then I'd pull the trigger on a trade for a good outfielder. Sandy has no choice.
He can't waste the youth and dominance, the peak years, of his rotation.
Mack,
Have to disagree with you on Wheeler. You were disappointed he could not get out out of the 7th. It's only his what 11th/12th start in the majors.
The guy was dominant prior to that inning was throwing strikes and they were bullets.
Yeah, you're probably right.
I was being a little rough on him. It's been a long season for me.
Post a Comment