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10/17/13

Mack Ade – Morning Report – 10-17-13 – Robert Carson, Matt Harvey ,Marlon Byrd, Carlos Beltran

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Ellie Silfin -

Robert Carson simply did not have a good season.  He appeared in 14 games and gave up at least one run in 11 of those appearances.  He was responsible for 9 home runs and 19 total runs.  His HR/9 was 4.1 and WHIP was 1.424.  His ERA was 8.24.  The small sample size of a season produced some pretty hideous results. In AAA his ERA was only slightly above 4.00.  However, in Las Vegas and the PCL in general that is not really alarming.  Carson was lucky enough to have the opportunity to pitch outside of that AAA hitters-league and he did not take advantage. http://risingapple.com/2013/10/15/mets-season-review-robert-carson/

Mack – See, this is what I mean. If we are writing about Robert Carson, we’ve really are running out of people to talk about. I used to do seasonal reviews about players but they simply have got too depressing. Regarding Carson, everyone loved him when he first joined the Mets because he looked like a monster on the mound. They also loved how he threw the ball ‘through you’ rather than past you. The problem was, once everyone got past the hidden ball thing, they realized that his low-90s fastball never moved. You and I would have problems hitting a ball like that but professionals don’t and, as we saw last year, he became a batting practice pitcher for home runs. I can’t see him even being assigned to Las Vegas which looks to be quickly filling up with quality arms from last year’s Binghamton’s team.

 

MetsBlog –

Matt Harvey will have surgery “within a week or so,” according to his agent Scott Boras, as relayed by Marc Carig of Newsday. The Mets were not aware when Harvey was going to undergo Tommy John surgery, a team official told ESPN New York.

                Mack – Didn’’t we go through this elongated waiting period before when it came to key Mets players? You would think all parties involved here would know the exact moment their franchise pitcher was going under the knife. I will feel much better when this is done and I can click on the picture of him lying in the hospital bed that he will probably attach to his first tweet after the surgery.

 

Bryan Zarpentine

                Marlon Byrd is also one of the oldest outfielders on the free agent market this offseason. He is considerably older than Shin-Soo Choo, who is rumored to be the Mets’ top outfield target this offseason, and he’s even older than Nelson Cruz, who they could also pursue. Despite his great play in 2013, Byrd’s age is reason to give the Mets some trepidation as it relates to signing him again for 2014, especially if Byrd seeks a two-year contract. Byrd was invaluable for the Mets in 2013, but that alone isn’t reason to bring him back next year. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if Byrd were to return to New York next season, but he should not be at the top of their wish list; the Mets should pursue other outfielders before giving strong consideration to Byrd. http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/10/16/should-new-york-mets-bring-back-marlon-byrd-in-2014/?hmgmHAXxGAZkjgRW.99

                Mack – Yeah, I’m filling up paper and bringing up Byrd again. As you can see, Zarpentine isn’t a big fan of him returning to the Mets clubhouse. I am. I believe the future of the Mets outfield is in the system and will pan out with Cesar Puello by the end of 2014, Dustin Lawley sometime in 2015, and Brandon Nimmo by the end of 2016. Until then, short term (2-yr) solutions like Byrd and Carlos Beltran would be fine by me.

 

Rangers, Astros, White Sox front runners for Jose Abreu –

                Mack – Did I really expect to see the Mets mentioned in this statement released by MLBTR.com? Another Cuban passed on. Is this backfire from signing Alay Soler?

 

Is the Marlins' Jeffrey Loria the worst owner in sports? –

                Did you know that Jeffrey Loria is an major art history buff. He knows bupkus about baseball. At least Bud Selig is a baseball historian. Loria just treats the Marlins like they need to be history. Yet, here he is, ruining the game, his team and whatever else he puts his arthritic hands too. Today, Loria is questioned by all Marlins’ fans as someone who could care less if the team succeeds or not. He trades players for no reason. He ignores fans for every reason. Everyone Jeffrey Loria signs, he fires, trades or just ignores (e.g., Buerhle, Reyes, Bell). Yet, there he is, sweating like pig that knows he is dinner in the owner’s box in a brand-new stadium – only there is no one to put in it. That means, fans or players.  http://throughthefencebaseball.com/is-marlins-jeffrey-loria-worst-owner/37767#0gIOSg3i88Ek6Syz.99

                Mack – Loria makes all the other owners of baseball teams look like progressive leaders. Jeff Wilpon may get in his own way sometimes, but he’s not a bad person. Loria is just the anti-Christ for baseball and Selig needs to come up with some way of forcing a sale of this team to someone that will move them to a city that has more than three fans.


                               

 

Dave Lennon

                With that mind-set, Mozeliak still is likely to make Carlos Beltran the qualifying offer of $14.1 million, which will guarantee the Cardinals a sandwich draft pick to compensate for his departure. But Beltran sees the writing on the wall in St. Louis, and turning 37 in April, he's looking for a three-year deal that should take him to retirement. Judging by his hard-core conditioning regimen and recent good health -- he's played 151 and 145 games the past two seasons -- Beltran appears to be a safe bet for that extra year. As insurance, he also seems to be warming to the idea of going to the AL, where he could DH. Beltran still considers himself a regular corner outfielder, so he'd want to DH only once or twice a week. But the NL doesn't offer him that flexibility, and he is smart enough to realize his legs will require more rest as he approaches 40. http://www.newsday.com/sports/free-agent-carlos-beltran-might-be-good-fit-for-yankees-1.6262284

                Mack – Well, so much for my building blog plan…

 

Baseball America –

                Post analysis of 2013 draft –

                                Best Pure Hitter… 1. D.J. Peterson, 3b/1b, Mariners … 2. Dominic Smith, 1b, Mets … 3. Austin Meadows, of, Pirates … 4. Billy McKinney, of, Athletics …5. Colin Moran, 3b, Marlins

                                Fastest Runner… 1. Johnny Davis, of, Brewers ... 2. Omar Garcia, of, Brewers … 3. Matt McPhearson, of, D’backs … 4. Adam Engel, of, White Sox … 5. Champ Stuart, of, Mets

                                Best Defensive Player… 1. Reese McGuire, c, Pirates … 2. Luis Guillorme, ss, Mets … 3. Stuart Turner, c, Twins … 4. J.P. Crawford, ss, Phillies … 5. Daniel Rockett, of, Royals

10 comments:

  1. I keep seeing d lawley name, is he legitimate prospect? Thenwhy didnt the mets promote him mid season to binghamton because his 24 .

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  2. Mack, could you see Puello in Queens after the super 2 thing half June if he does the same in Las Vegas what he did in Binghamton last season? And make the RF'er at that time, (Beltran, Byrd, Cruz or ??) a nice piece to trade. Wouldnt it be nice to trade Beltran for Wheeler #2 or Byrd for Herrera #2!!

    You sure about your outfield for the next years. I mean, do you think Nimmo will be better then Lagares in CF? I can see Lawley becoming an outfielder, perhaps end 2014. I assume he is the starting LF-er in Las Vegas with Puello in RF and Ceciliani in CF.

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  3. In response to Abreu....

    I'm not sure why everyone is clamoring to sign this guy.

    1) While he possesses premium power, his swing is reportedly slow and has holes. Scouts are not sure how this will translate to the bigs against premium quality pitchers. (This sounds like another 1B we already have.....Ike Davis.)

    2) Scouts are down on his defensive abilities at 1B and believe he profiles as a DH long term. (Last I checked the NL doesn't use the DH)

    3) Bidding for Abreu is reportedly expected to reach 6 yr/$70MM. (Why would I pay $11.6 for the Cuban Ike Davis when I could have the American Ike Davis for $3.7M?)

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  4. Keep loria and marlins in Miami....... us florida mets fans enjoy the cheap tickets, air conditioning and overall home field advantage.

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  5. If you've got a guy - Puello - who put up MVP numbers in AA (the prospect league) at 22 years old, and your outfield is currently short two starters, then you have to plan as if this kid will be starting for you, and soon.

    Byrd would be a great choice for a long list of reasons: because he won't break the bank, will take a 2 year deal, is great in the clubhouse, came back from his own 50 game suspension - and so could likely really mentor Puello, and he becomes an extremely valuable 4th OF/insurance policy/stabilizing veteran presence during your 2015 championship run (gotta plan for success.)

    Then, with the other spot, presumably LF, you could go either way. Bring in a long-term solution if you find the right one, or, if not, take a chance on a fill-in, with the downside that you might finish 2014 with Byrd in left and Puello in right. Not terrible, and you get another year to watch Lawley/Nimmo progress before deciding whether to invest dollars or prospects in LF.

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  6. Beltran for a few years would be an ideal placeholder for Nimmo.

    As far as the other two OF positions, I think the Mets' best bet is to look outside the organization. I still like the idea of drafting an elite hitter to come up later this decade...and having a veteran to hold down a position until then. The other OF spot could/should be a leadoff hitter.

    I'm not sold on Lawley and if the Mets plan on competing in the next couple of years I think Puello will be part of a trade package.

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  7. he did blossom this past year, but we'll find out what he is made of this year...

    don't hold his age against him... he's a college boy stuck on a team that always starts their draft picks too low

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  8. I happen to think that Puello is for real and will become the Mets RFer by the end of this year, for years to come.

    I haven't signed off on Nimmo as a CFer yet, but I also believe you've seen the best of Lagares this past season. I see Nimmo as a potential LFer.

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  9. Byrd is too iffy at this stage. Pass.

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  10. I like the Beltran idea but as always that was before I just read about him wanting a 3 year deal and realizing DHing is in his future the Yanks will probably grab him.

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