My glass tank is running pretty low on topics for the ‘room’ right now. We’ve covered the same subjects over and over and I welcome any of you coming up with something today, next week, and every week until something happens in Metland.
For now, I’ve taken the time to project what I think the Las Vegas team will look like on opening day. The list has been produced as if no one is on the DL (which never happens) and I frankly ran out of pitching slots (Erik Goeddel and Adam Laffey) to list everyone, but here’s what I have for now:
SP Rafael Montero (there’s seven starters here so he wouldn’t be missed if he opens up in Queens)
SP Noah Syndergaard
SP Darin Gorski
SP Jake deGrom
SP Cory Mazzoni
SP Logan Verrett
SP Mark Cohoon
RP Jeff Walters
RP Adam Kolarek
RP Chason Bradford
RP John Church
RP Jack Leathersich
RP Chase Huchington
RP Justin Hampson
RP Daniel Herrera (missing: Robert Carson, Dylan Owen, Ryan Fraser)
1B Alan Dykstra
Eric Campbell
2B Danny Muno (need at least one more utility infielder)
SS Wilfedo Tovar
3B Zach Lutz
C Juan Centeno (Replace Centeno with Anthony Recker if he’s promoted)
Francisco Pena
OF Cesar Puello
Dustin Lawley
Darrell Cecilliani
Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mike Baxter possible 5th outfielder)
Comments?
20 comments:
Do you think Cory Vaughn is going to Binghampton?
Yes I do, Michi.
He's lagging a little behind due to past injuries.
That looks like a very strong pitching staff. I'd be extremely happy if we never see guys like Swinden pitching for the Mets or even taking a spot in AAA again.
It's going to be very interesting to see how Dykstra, Puello & Lawley respond to Vegas. These seem like the only guys who have the ability to potentially become big leaguers and not just AAAA Lutz type players.
Dykstra may not be back. He's a free agent and will probably get a few offers better then what the mets will offer him.
Montero should start the season with the Mets.
This is a strong AAA team IMO....
I think they should start using DeGrom and Gorski out of the bullpen right away next year...its where they project anyway, and it opens up a couple spots for veterans on minor league deals.
You could say the same for Mazzoni too. The Mets have a lot of pitching depth, but not all of it is pitchers who'll stay in the rotation.
Funny, last off season we were raving about Lucy's rotation: Thor, Fulmer, Tapia, Mateo, Verret....
A lot can change. Thor made huge strides, Verret did well. But injuries to Fulmer and Mateo took a toll and Tapia was simply horrible. A lot can change in one season.
I really want Fulmer to bounce back. He may end up the fifth starter in 2016 which would spell doom for the rest of the majors. I can only imagine what the bullpen would look like when all these other guys need a spot of play.
I'd keep Gorski in the rotation after how he dominated AA. He seemed to resemble the pitcher who dominated St Lucie. He's older, but could still end up a quality starter at some point and the Mets are short on lefty starting prospects.
Id also cut Cohoon. He seems to have topped out talent wise in Bingo. Schwinden should probably go as well. I'd rather the Mets look to find some quality guys looking for a second chance like they did with Torres.
I agree with you Craig.
Neither deGrom or Gorski has a future as a Mets starter so why not start the conversion now?
You're right on mazzoni charley....hes probably Not going to develop another pitch, and that puts him in the bullpen also.
And i don't think that they will keep cohoon or schwindon....there's just no room
So who is the manager? If Backman doesn't return do all of the managers get bumped up one level? I assume Flores is either in the majors with the Mets or more likely another team. Assuming one or two of DeGrom, Mazzoni, Verrett, along with an A level pitching prospect are traded for either a shortstop or bat then which pitchers have the greatest trade value if the Mets decide to hold onto say Mejia, Montero, and Syndergaard. Considering how much of the season he missed why wouldn't DenDekker start next season at AAA. Is it more likely that Valdespin and Nieuwenhuis are released or return as organizational filler? What can Captain Kirk do to remake himself into a prospect or has that ship sailed?
Keep starters starters as long as possible. You can always put them in the pen when needed. This happens a lot.
I dont know if DeGrom, Mazzoni, Gorski and Verrett have a future as starters for the Mets. But when you keep them as starters in Las Vegas you can always use them when a Mets starter goes down. And I would prefer a Mazzoni over a Schwinden type of starter any day of the week.
Mateo and Fulmer are on the shelf and can not be counted on come opening day. I've heard very little about Mateo who tried to come back and failed
Sadly, Cohoon and Schwinden really have no trade value.
I think you'll see Mazzoni remain in the rotation in 2014 as showcasing.
Question: does Havens get one more shot? I'm guessing not and the reserve IF is Bixler, Hicks or Josh Rodriquez. My choice would be Josh.
It would really surprise me to see Havens back in a Mets uniform.
And... J-Rod deserves the job.
I appreciate the effort but when you accumulate these lists you really need to exclude any potential minor league free agents. So eliminate Gorski, Hampson, Dykstra, Campbell and Pena.
Sandoval is probably your utility infielder because the others mentioned like Bixler and Rodriquez are free agents.
I would assume that Vaughn starts at Las Vegas bless they bump Lawley over him, but Sandy rarely jumps a player two levels at a time and not over a legitimate prospect.
well, actually, it's my list and I don't have to exclude anything. They were my thoughts based on who is in the organization now and who could be resigned.
And regarding Vaughn and Lawley... my guess is Lawley. That's why it's called 'The War Room'.
I assume Pedro Lopez makes the promotion from Binghamton to Las Vegas as a reward for his work this year with Wally off to wherever a franchise exists that will let a manager manage and not just be a yes man to the front office.
The Mets have pitching depth to trade because god knows they have no offense that impresses anyone this side of David Wright. I think trader Sandy will clear up that logjam in AAA. Now, instead of trading for countless middle relievers we will trade for countless middle infielders and 4th outfielders. At least that's seemingly how "the plan" may shift.
Does anyone else get the feeling the organization has no use for Wilmer Flores? Are they done dicking around with Davis and Duda? Ruben Tejada is even more on the outside looking in than Flores is. Eric Young is a 4th outfielder -- just as he's been all of his career -- but sadly he's one of the Mets better offensive threats.
My prediction stands -- both Murphy and Flores are gone, Young shifting to 2B and they will load up on new "Rick Ankiels" via the trade route, using the loss of the protected pick as the excuse not to sign any major free agents.
Of course, if they really wanted to rebuild the team they would trade Wright for pretty much name your price -- such as Tulowitzki -- slot Flores in at 3B and keep Murphy at 2B. You still have to address the outfield corners and 3B, but the offensive combination of Flores plus Tulo is higher than Wright plus Tejada. They don't have the guts, of course, nor would Colorado be accomplishing much as their contracts are both expensive. It's a nice pipe dream, though.
There's no way Mateo tried coming back from TJS within 5 months of having surgery.
Fulmer got hit with a comebacker. A doubt that will affect him next spring.
I think Lawley, Puello, and Cecilianni all will be starting in Vegas come 2014.
So you see Captain Kirk released, Vaughn in Bingo and Dan Dekker At Citi Field? I could live with that but think it is more likely that Lawley goes to Bingo and Vaughn to Vegas. Lawley comes up when Puello hits the show with Thor and Montero in June.
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