Mack Ade – AM Report – 9-2-13 – Daniel Bard, Dodgertown, Matt Harvey, The Best of the GCL Mets

J.P. ‏@Jaypers413  - RT @jnorris427: Talked to two scouts today about Mets. Both said they thought Noah Syndergaard would be better than Wheeler in the long run.

 

The Mets may want to consider taking a flyer on RHRP Daniel Bard. The Red Sox designated him on Sunday. Bard was a ‘can’t miss’ draft pick (2006 – 28^th overall) out of North Carolina that became one of the top set-up men in baseball (2010 – Red Sox – 73-G, 1.93, 1.00, 74.2-IP, 76-K).  He had a good 2011 except for a miserable 10.64 ERA in September. He came back last year as a starter and that didn’t work either. Injuries set him back this season and he only played in 18-games for a combined four Red Sox teams. Bard is only 28 and looks like  perfect candidate for someone that needs a new home with a new pitching coach. I’m sign him to a minor league contract in a heartbeat.

 

Very good news for the 2014 Mets pen... RP Jeurys Familia started the last regular season St. Lucie game yesterday as part of a rehab program. He'll obviously be 100% in the spring.

 

Dodgertown –

Los Angeles agreed yesterday to allow its Dodgertown moniker to be used at the team’s former spring training base of 61 years in Vero Beach, Fla., four years after McCourt rejected a similar request from Minor League Baseball, which converted the site into a sports training and destination complex in 2009. Former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, who heads a group that purchased a majority stake in the site’s operation in November 2011, announced yesterday that he reached a licensing agreement with the team that allows him to call the famed complex “Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida.” - http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/dodgertown-returns-to-vero-beach/                                                                           

Mack - This is ‘nice news’. Many of us were first Brooklyn Bums fans before the Mets came along. I went to Vero Beach and wrote a center page feature story on Dodgertown for my old newspaper, The Bluffton Today. For some reason, I can’ find it, but I did find a shorter version of it I put on this web site in 2010: http://www.macksmetsreport.com/dodgertown-revisited/  It still is so sad that the Dodgers couldn’t have stayed in this town that has basically dried up since they left. It’s still very, very sad.

 

 

Mike Cardillo on Matt Harvey Future Payday -

Pre-injury: Eight years, $22 million per season. Post-injury Five years, $18 million per season. Harvey talked about earning a $200 million deal earlier this year. With the injury, it’s doubtful the Mets will rework his current deal right away. They could try to buy out his arbitrator years, but would be dealing with Boras to do so. Bear in mind there are stats out there that over a third of current MLB pitchers have had elbow surgery, so Harvey’s career is far from in jeopardy, but until he’s back out there healthy his future contract status is up in the air. We’ll talk about this a little more with the next candidate, as it bodes well for Harvey.. http://thebiglead.com/2013/08/30/mlb-contracts-five-young-players-in-line-for-big-paydays/

Mack – I’m surprised anyone is talking about a long term contract for Harvey. I guarantee you it’s the last thing the Mets, Scott Boras, or Matt Harvey is thinking about right now.

 

The Best of the GCL Mets -

3B Jhoan Urena – 157-AB, .299/.351/.376/.727 – Urena is easily the most pleasant surprise on this team. This is the second year for the 18-year old in the Mets organization (2012 – DSL: .279). He does need to spend a little more time practicing ground balls (17-E),but his immediate future as a Met seems locked in. Look for him either at Kingsport or Brooklyn in 2014.

1B Dominic Smith – 167-AB, .287/.384/.407/.791 – We all know who Smith is. No one questioned his talent or ability… just some of us questioned why the Mets keep using their first pick for high school kids rather than someone that can help them in 2-3 years. The 18-year old was promoted to Kingsport this week for their playoffs, which is probably the team he will play for next season; however, there is an outside chance you could see him on opening day in Brooklyn.

2B Leon Canelon – 151-AB, .278/.327/.364/.692 – This was the third season for Canelon as a Me, but the first two were spent with the DSL team. The problem here is his age… he turn 22 next month. He basically has no power and doesn’t steal, so I’m not sure what his long term future is; however, he has earned himself a promotion to Kingport.

SS Luis Guillorme – 159-AB, .258/.337/.283/.620 – This year’s 10^th round pick had a nice first professional season (like I always say… hitting .250 in the same year you played in school is like hitting .300). He’s only 18, but it’s hard to project where he will play next year because of the bunch of guys ahead of him (Phillip Evans, Gavin Cecchini, Amed Rosario, Jeff McNeill, Victor Cruzado).

OF Wuilmer Beccera – 173-AB, .243/.351/.295/.646 – This is the kid from the R.A. Dickey trade that we all expected to light the world on fire this season. Well, he didn’t do that. He started strong in June (.346) but had a miserable July (.176).

OF Ivan Wilson – 160-AB, .219/.321/.300/.621 – Wilson was one of the top four picks in this year draft, all high school kids and all assigned to this team. He struggled more than the others but did lead the team with 13 stolen bases. He’ll move on simply based on the Mets investment.

SP Gaby Almonte – 10-G, 3-2, 2.31, 1.33 – Almonte has had slow progress with the Mets. This is his third year in the system and he just turned 21. He’s earned a promotion but I’d like to see him bumped two levels to Brooklyn.

SP Andrew Church – 9-G, 3-3, 5.91, 1.63 – the 2013 second round pick has not had a fun summer, but these things happen to pitchers that have been player all year in school. There’s no way he was going to make a full season team anyway because of the back log of talent ahead of him (projected Savannah 6-man rotation: Diaz, Gant, Gsellman, Valdez, Flexin, Whelan).Maybe Brooklyn.

SP Casey Meisner – 10-G, 1-3, 3.06, 1.16 – The ‘big guy’ (6-7) probably had the most success this year out of the four high school early round draft picks. Led all the primary starters/relievers with a 1.15 WHIP. In my book, he’s a lock for the Cyclones.

RP Cameron Griffin – 13-G, 0-0, 3.77, 1.53 – The first of two ex-college kids that need to get moving. Griffin finished his first professional season at 22-years old. He’ll never get to Queens if he doesn’t jump a couple of levels and he’ll never do that unless he pitches lights out at some point in his professional career.

RP Waldo Rodriquez – 16-G, 1-2, 2.49, 1.38 – Rodriguez has an even bigger problem than Griffin. He turns 23 in October. The one thing he does have going for him is the fact that he’s a lefty. It will be interesting to see what team he pitches for next spring.