Mack Ade – AM Report – 9-23-13 – Wilfredo Tovar, Jhonny Peralta, 11th Pick, Cesar Puello, Instructs

Pedro Lopez on Wilfredo Tovar –

"Defensively has always been his strong part. But I think he made great strides this year in the second half in his overall approach. Hopefully today he can go out there and have some fun. He's a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter. Early on in the season, and even last year, there were a lot of fly balls he hit, and a lot of swings and misses out of the strike zone. The second half he did a much better job. I think he hit close to .300. Hopefully that can carry on to today and the rest of the season."

Mack – This is a reward promotion for a job well done. Tovar does not represent a threat to become an all-star shortstop someday, but he now is in position to take the Omar Quintanilla role if Ruben Tejada doesn’t come back at 100%. I think Tejada’s broken legs sealed (broken leg… sealed… got it???) the fact that the Mets are going to look outside the organization to fill this position in 2014.

Organizationally, Gavin Cecchini projects to be ready on opening day 2017.

So, the Mets are looking for someone that is willing to sign a three-year deal. A good candidate: Detroit’s Jhonny Peralta. He’s 30-years old, participating in a bad season for him (.239) and in an organization that has an A+ prospect biting up his ass (Jose Inglesias – already 342 at-bats for the Tigers this season - .310)

Peralta made $6mil in 2014 and is in no position to demand big bucks, but a three year deal for, let’s say, $6m, $7m, $8m… $21mil over three years… might be a good deal for the Mets to put this position on the shelf until Cecchini comes of age.

 

I can’t believe that the David Wright-led Mets have now decided to make their own little ‘protected pick’ race by going out there and winning too many games at the end of the season. What seemed like a lock only a few days ago could now go either way with seven games left. The one good news here is the shutting down of Zack Wheeler. We need as much Dice-K and Harang as we can throw at the teams we are going to play. Guys, please don’t fuck this up.

 

The 50-game Biogenesis suspensions end this week, meaning both OF Cesar Puello and UT Jordany Valdespin would be eligible to be activated if desired by the Mets. I expect Puello to quietly play in some Latin winter league and don’t expect to see Spin in the Flushing clubhouse anymore, this or any season. This drama is over. Let’s talk about Puello… remember, there was no drugs taken here. This was conversations, appointments, and paperwork only. And, it was a year before his great numbers in 2014. Puello’s stat line in 2014 (331-AB, .326/.403/.547/.950, 16-HR, 73-RBI, 24-SB) was as good as it could get and he would have easily finished the season with 90+ runs batted in. I can’t wait to see what he does to PCL pitching in April and I conservatively project him to be promoted to the Mets by the end of June 2014. The Mets know this kid is coming and don’t be surprised this doesn’t alter their off-season signing strategy. For now, CF looks like a Matt den Dekker/Juan Lagares split and I anticipate a new left fielder once the season starts, but RF could be a hodge podge of what is left on the 40-man waiting for Puello. This would allow additional free agent dollars to be spent either on shortstop or adding another starting pitcher. We’ll see.

 

The Mets Instructional League roster (these are usually the younger minor leaguers you can project a possible future with this team) in Port St. Lucie – 9/24 – 10/4:

Pitchers - Gaby Almonte, Eucebio Arias, Martires Arias, Tyler Bashlor, Andrew Church, Chris Flexen, Dawrin Frias, Daniel Herrmann, Ricky Jacquez, Ricky Knapp, Kevin McGowman, Jose Medina, Casey Meisner, Craig Missigman, Marcos Molina, Yoryi Nuez, Darwin Ramos, Persio Reyes, Scarlyn Reyes, Ismael Tijerina, Rob Whalen, Ty Williams

Catchers - Adrian Abreu, Brandon Brosher, Jose Garcia, Colton Plaia, Dioni Rodriguez

Infielders - Gavin Cecchini, Phillip Evans, Luis Guillorme, Dilson Herrera, Branden Kaupe, L.J. Mazzilli, Jeff McNeil, Matt Oberste, Pedro Perez, Alfredo Reyes, Amed Rosario, Yeixon Ruiz, Dominic Smith, Jhoan Urena

Outfielders - Wuilmer Becerra, Michael Bernal, Jared King, Vicente Lupo, Brandon Nimmo, Hengelbert Rojas, Champ Stuart, Ivan Wilson

There were some surprising omissions:

                OF Leon Canelon – the once-bonus boy just turned 22 after two seasons for the DSL team and hitting .278 for the GCL Mets this past season.

                1B Elvis Sanchez – Elvi has left the building, hitting only .109 for the GCL Mets.

                SP Octavio Acosta – normally, a guy like this is a shoe-in for the Instructs… GCL, 9-games, 6-stars, 2.28, but for whatever reasons unexplained he wound up being promoted to the other side of the field (St. Lucie) for two more games. I guess the Mets don’t consider him a young’un anymore.

                RP Waldo Rodriguez – had a wonderful GCL season (16-games, 2.49, 1.38) and could have used this time to work on hs BB/9 ratio.

                RP Carlos Gomez – I sure would like to know a little more about this guy: K-Port, 5-G, 3-starts, 23.0-IP, 0-ER, 0.00, 0.78

                RP Robert Coles – K-Port: 15-G, 4-1, 1.83, 1.12 – I expected an assignment here for the recent draft pick.

                P Zach Dotson – The big-time bonus boy was given more than ample time to get his act together and it simple turned out to be another bad Georgia pick.