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11/29/13

Mack’s Morning Report – 11/29 – 2018 Mets, Best Year Lineup, Druggies, Chris Young, Shortstop

 

There’s been a considerable amount of positive chatter here on Mack’s Mets about the long range future of the Mets system. None of us are thrilled with the limitations of the current budget being given to Sandy Alderson, but, at the same time, we must give credit to what he has accomplished via the draft, trades, and signing international free agents.

Below is what this team could look like come the 2018 season:

1B – Dominic Smith – ETA: 2018

2B – Dilson Herrera – ETA: 2017

SS – Amed Rosario – ETA: 2017

3B – David Wright

C – Travis d’Arnaud

LF – Cesar Puello – ETA: 2014

CF – Brandon Nimmo – ETA: 2017

RF – Wuilmer Beccera – ETA: 2018
 

There’s one other way we can look at this team… currently. What is the current starting lineup and the last ‘best year’ they have had in baseball?

            1B – Ike Davis:                   2012:                         MLB: 32-HR, 90-RBI

            2B – Wilmer Flores:          2013:                         AAA:  .321, 15-HR, 86-RBI        

            SS – Ruben Tejada            2012:                         MLB:  .289

            3B – David Wright            2013:                          MLB:  .307, 18-HR, 58-RBI

            C  - Travis d’Arnaud          2012:                           AAA:  .333, 16-HR, 52-RBI

            LF – Chris Young                2011:                           MLB:  20-HR, 71-RBI

            CF – Juan Lagares             2012:                           AA      .283

            RF – Cesar Puello              2013:                           AA      .326, 16-HR, 73-RBI

-sure, half of these stats were in the minors and the majority of them were not last season, but don’t let anybody tell you that this team doesn’t have a lot of hitting talent. They simply have to do it again, beginning in April, in the majors.
 

First it’s Jhonny Peralta. Now I read that OF Nelson Cruz is seeking a 4-year, $75 million dollar deal and I’m starting to figure this whole thing out. Basically, you take anything you can get your hands on before the last season you are under contract and, if you are tested and things come up positive, you take your 50 games in stride and just tell your agent to pump up the volume because there is going to be some dumb son of a bitch team to pay you what you want, right? I’m sure the players union would fight this, but we need at least a one-year suspension with full loss of pay to begin with. I also think baseball needs to come up with some kind of formula that limits the percentage of addition salary a druggie can get on a new contract. That’s right, a druggie. These are professional ballplayers breaking the rules and altering their performance for nothing more than personal gain. But let’s be clear… there is no one more wrong here than teams like St. Louis that are willing to pay this kind of bloated salary to cheats and liars. 
 

I managed to catch OF Chris Young live on MLB-TV on Wednesday morning and it was interesting that he said that Sandy Alderson gave him a promise that he would play every day and ‘he would get his 600 at-bats’ next season. That was a lot more than Alderson said last week to reporters. My assumption is Young is reporting this correctly and Alderson was easing all of us into this decision. More slickness by Sandy. Boy, I get sick of all this syrup. 
 

Alderson on Shortstop:

“So is it conceivable that Ruben Tejada or someone within in the organization is playing shortstop for us on Opening Day? I think the short answer is yes. But, again, what we’re trying to do is improve the team as a whole. And so while shortstop is an obvious place for improvement, it’s not the only one. And if we’re successful elsewhere, as many clubs do, they get by on their strengths and hope to be as adequate as possible in those areas where they’re weaker.”

Mack – It amazes me how much Sandy Alderson is sounding like a politician these days. I guess you do reach a time when you realize that it wouldn’t kill you to say something nice about the ballplayers you already have on your team, especially when you are also beginning to realize that the market for a decent free agent shortstop is quickly coming to an end. Now, go back and read the paragraph again and you’ll see what a half-assed attempt it was for saying something nice about Tejada.

I would like to see Tejada get another shot but it’s not going to work unless somebody starts publically believing in this kid. There was no problem here two years ago so there easily could be no problem this year. Age doesn’t come into play, only confidence, team acceptance, and attitude.

It is so important that guys like Tejada, Ike Davis, and Travis d’Arnaud get off to a good start. It’s no guarantee for a great season (remember John Buck’s start last year), but these guys have already proven they have the talent to succeed at this level. All they have to do is to remember how to do I again.

15 comments:

  1. Mack, with Herrera and Nimmo do you realy think it will take 3 years? Both open in St Lucie next year. And finish in Binghamton. So you might see a September call up in 2015.

    Ceasar Puello plays RF (in my book)

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  2. 4/$75 fort Cruz is outrageous, but at the least it will serve to drive up his price, and perhaps some schmuck will actually pay it. (Jeez, I hope that schmuck's initials are not S.A.) I am ready to pass on Cruz, not so much for the PED connection or for his chutzpah in asking for $75 million, but his stats away from Rangers Ballpark are very weak. I'm concerned that he could become another Jason Bay for us.

    Re: Young - Regardless of what he says Sandy promised him, if he gets off to a really slow start, I would not be at all surprised to see him in a platoon with den Dekker or Nieuwenhuis by June.

    Re: Tejada - I don't think Sandy was trying to make nice. He was just stating the obvious. He is a consumate politician, or maybe poker player is a better description. He never gives away his intentions. Stating that Ruben could be his SS sends the message that he will not act in de3speration when talking trades with other GMs. I think the odds are actually very slim that Ruben will be his guy. And I don't think for one minute that he will sign Drew. He's going to get an upgrade at short in a trade. Whether his best deal winds up to be Lowrie, Gregorius, Escobar, Aybar, Cabrera, Hardy, etc, who knows. But I think there will be a new face next to David next season.

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  3. What kind of effect would Young getting 600 at bats have on the Mets decision to sign another outfielder? Also, how does this effect Cesar Puello?

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  4. 0 effect on Cesar Puello since Young's deal is of the 1 year variety. Lets say the baseball gods shine down on Young this year and he's hitting .250 with 20 HRs.

    You better bet your ass Sandy is going to turn right around and trade him for an organization's Top 15 prospect and call Puello up to finish the season.

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  5. Jonah -

    I'm always conservative when I project players, especially when it comes to the Mets. They move their players so slowly.

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  6. Ernest - I think the '600 at bat' comment by young was more him sending a message back to Alderson. And I don't think it has anything to do with anything. The Mets still have, in comparison to the rest of baseball, a shit outfield and they need to continue to improve it.

    Regarding Puello, you simply don't know what you have with a 'prospect' until you play him and find out. Right now you can only project what he may do which could still even be a burnout at Vegas.

    Build a decent outfield without him and Puello just becomes a bonus

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  7. Hey Mack
    I just noticed that Wilmer Flores is now playing winter ball. Do u know what position he is playing? I'm extremely curious about it.

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  8. It doesn't really matter as he won't be playing for the Mets because he's young, can hit and it makes too much sense. He'll be bundled off for some middle reliever or washed-up starter we don't need.

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  9. Ernest - yes... Flores is playing EXCLUSIVELY at second base.... he went 2-2 yesterday with 2-BB and is now 6-8, .750

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  10. Reese - you have no reason to bad mouth Alderson & Co. that way. This is not your older brother's front office. Did Sandy pack off Beltran for a middle reliever and washed up SP we didn't need? Or Dickey? Or Byrd/Buck? If Sandy makes a trade, you can bet your ass he will get top value back.

    Mack - with Flores playing 2B in winter ball, it must tell us that they have absolutely no plan to give him a shot at 1B next season. He's either trade bait or a legitimate candidate for the second base job in spring training.

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  11. Herb - My guess ( and it's only a guess) is Flores is your new Mets second baseman and Murphy will be packaged in a deal. It also looks like there is no action on either Duda or Ike, so I may get my wish and see Davis back for another try.

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  12. Mack - You could surely be right, and I certainly would not have a problem with it. But unless they get a shortstop or another corner outfielder who can be an effective leadoff hitter, they may be forced to play EYJ at second. The ideal, of course, would be to sign Choo to a reasonable deal late in the off season and use EYJ as a 4th OF with Flores at 2B. Choo would be optimal as a leadoff hitter.

    You know I am hoping for Davis to get one last shot too. We really don't know what kind of discussions are taking place involving Duda or Ike. Alderson is generally very tight lipped until something definite is done. Wouldn't a Duda for Yunel Escobar trade with the Rays be fair?

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  13. Herb -

    I would be willing to trade Lucas Duda for a PTBNL based on Duda's output in 2014 for his new team.

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  14. Mack- I'm not sure you are still monitoring this thread, but . . I don't think it's allowed to make the PTBNL contingent on performance. Moreover, it would be impractical to wait until the end of next season for the player to be selected. We'll just need to trust Sandy to get the best return he can for Duda. I'm guessing he'll be a throw-in to a package for some decent player.

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  15. I was being more of a wise ass than an accurate one :)

    I have never thought of Lucas Duda as an MLB baseball player. I love him at AAA for emergency purposes, but nothing else. Nothing against the guy, but it's just how I feel.

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