12/20/13

Mack’s Morning Report – 12-20 – Concussions, Sean Gilmartin, Jeff Karstens, Masahiro Tanaka, SS Options


 


Retire 31 ‏@Retire31  -  Remember when Fernando Martinez was untouchable? Man, those were the days. 

We want to welcome two new writers here at Mack’s Mets, Marc Beekman and Dwight Hood. Dwight had his first post yesterday and we hope to hear from Marc soon. 

Steamer projects Travis d'Arnaud for a 108 wRC+ and 2.9 wins this season 

Would you be happy with the 12th best 1Bman in MLB?  http://metsblog.com/metsblog/what-would-a-dudasatin-platoon-look-like-at-first-base/  

Concussions –

Concussions occur when the brain bounces against the skull after  head is bumped or jolted. Such injuries are fairly common in contact sports, like football and hockey, and there is growing concern that repeated concussions might contribute to lingering problems with thinking or memory. This concern was heightened this week by reports that the brain of the late major league baseball player Ryan Freel showed symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative condition. He reportedly had been hit in the head multiple times during his career.

But scientists did not know exactly what happens at a molecular level inside the brain during and after a concussion. The living brain is notoriously difficult to study, since it shelters behind the thick, bony skull and other protective barriers. In some earlier studies, scientists had removed portions of lab animals’ skulls to view what happened to their brains during subsequent impacts. But removing part of the skull causes its own tissue damage and physiological response, muddying any findings about how the brain is affected by concussions. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/what-happens-in-the-brain-after-a-concussion/?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0
 

Sean Gilmartin
           I bring up this guy to remind us how this game works sometimes.
Gilmartin was a flat out left hand pitching stud out of Florida State, that was drafted 28th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2011 draft. He had five starts that year at the full-A level and went 2-1, 2.53. He also had 30-Ks in 21.1-IP and the world was an oyster.
2012 brought 27 starts at AA and AAA which results in a record of 6-10, 3.84. Higher levels meant more plate patience by the batters and Gilmartin’s K/IP ratio fell to 111/157.0.
2013 was supposed to be the year that Gilmartin impressed at the AAA level and tested the MLB level in Atlanta. Instead, he started out going 1-5, 9.09, and wound up on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis.
He did finish the season a little stronger (3-8, 5.74) but any dreams of pitching in Atlanta were doused today when he was traded to Minnesota for a very mediocre catcher/outfielder, Ryan Doumit.
This was the guy that was going to challenge Julio Teheran for a rotation shot and now he’s looking at climbing up the latter again in a new organization.
30 baseball teams… an average of 10 MLB/MiLB/DSL/VSL teams… 25 players per team… that’s 7,500 ballplayers trying to make it to The Bigs.
On April 1st , 750 will.
Tough game.
 

A possibility for the Mets SP5 job in 2014 could be RHP Jeff Kartens, who announced on Wednesday that he is 100% and will set up a showcase for teams in January. Karstens has been on the DL four times with lower back problems, groin strains, a fractured tibia, and this time, a torn rotator cuff and labrum. His last MLB outing was in 2013 when he went 5-4, 3.94, 1.15, in 19-games, 15-starts. The ex-Yankee will pitch 2014 as a 31-year old
 

We may start to see some of the big dude pitchers begin to sign soon. Guys like Ervin Santana, Matt Garza, and Ubaldo Jimenez have been waiting to see if Japan’s Masahiro Tanaka get’s posted and what he would sign for. Now, according to multiple sources including the New York Times, the posting is off and the 25-year old Tanaka will have his Rakuten Golden Eagles salary doubled under a new contract. It seems that the team felt that being paid ‘only’ a $20mil posting fee made them feel like a minor league team. Poor baby.
There is late word that Rakuten is looking into ways of getting around the $20mil minimum posting fee. Don’t be surprised if super-agent Scott Boras doesn’t help them in this venture

.
Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler   - Several sources believe, especially if no Tanaka decision comes soon, that Rakuten is exploring ways to get its money, beyond the $20MM.

Mack Ade ‏@JohnMackinAde  -   probably will use Scott Boras to help them

Ben Badler ‏ - Good opportunity for any resourceful middleman to get involved
 


Okay, play Sandy… here’s the piece of paper in front of you:
           Chris Owings – Arizona – pre-ARB -
           Elvis Andrus – Texas – $120mi thru 2022 -
           Asdrubal Cabrera – Cleveland – $10mil/2014 -
           Jed Lowrie – Oakland – FA/2015 -
           Didi Gregorius – Arizona – pre-ARB -
           Cliff Pennington – Arizona – $3.25/2014 – ARB/2 -
           Alexei Ramirez – CWS - $9.5mil/2014, $10mil/2015 –
No matter how you look at who is out there, Arizona keeps jumping out at you and the one guy they probably would consider moving (Gregorius) who did hit .252 in 357 major league at bats last year. The problem is most Mets pundits don’t want him.

Thoughts?

15 comments:

greg b said...

Mack i rather the mets try getting a shortstop who is majorleague ready instead of some of the retreds that are out there and making outragious money.

Mack Ade said...

I agree with you Greg, which is one more reason why I'd first like to give Tejada one more shot in 2014.

I don't see 2014 being our year. At the same time, Gavin Cecchini and Amed Rosario are moving up the affiliates and one of them might be ready by 2016.

The money seems to be spent for this year and what's left should probably be used for the pen. We really need someone there.

Kevin said...

If Arizona is looking for a trade for a big SP, then their best ammo is their young SS surplus.

Since they traded for Trumbo and moved Prado to 3B full-time, I doubt they have much interest in Flores. They just traded for a closer so a guy like Vic Black or one of our power bullpen arms don't seem to help them out either.

I just don't see us as a great matchup with them for a trade anymore.

Anonymous said...

Agreed Kevin.

The team is not in a position to trade off SP at this moment.

Craig Brown said...

Elvis Andrus is the perfect fit for the Mets...Leadoff hitter type/Dynamic defender at short. But I can't think of a good reason Texas would trade him away...

People point at the contract as being a bad one, but I don't agree at all. Its on the long side, but by the time the contract is in its last year 15 mil per won't get you a backup catcher...

That being said, I agree that they should just give Tejada another shot...If he shows up in shape I believe he will hit .280 with league average Defense--Stephen Drew will do the same thing with maybe 12 more home runs...Certainly not worth 13 million a year.

Mack Ade said...

see... and I thought I would never read that Elvis had a good contract.

I'm a realist at this point.

Money wise, there's enough left for a relief pitcher.

Past that, you would have to trade of a SS and I just don't see anyone doing that with the Mets

Reese Kaplan said...

Dee Gordon is superfluous to the Dodgers and is a backup there. Here he'd be a shortstop, leadoff man and mercifully keep Eric Young, Jr. on the bench. I can't imagine he would cost very much.

Mack Ade said...

I would be thrilled with Dee Gordon.

Ernest Dove said...

I'm still dreaming of a season filled with 20+ homers for Wright (happy bday), Granderson, Young and Duda/Davis.
If Tejada goes back to hitting .270+ , with gap power, mayhe he goes back to hitting leadoff.

Tejada
Murphy
Wright
Granderson
d'Arnoud
Young
Davis/Duda
Lagares

steve said...

I've been saying for weeks Dee Gordon is who they should looking at! Even if he is platooned with Tejada,it will be upgrading the position? It pushes Tejada,also gives them more speed. It could also lead to a bigger deal with LA,including Pederson? Who knows at this time? I'm sure Sandy has lots of smouldering fires waiting for teams to budge,so he can pounce

Kevin said...

I like the concept of Dee Gordon but I just don't think he is very good.

Pros: He's young, cheap and fast

Cons: 35 errors in 160 games at SS, 0.301 career OBP.

Sorry but I'll pass.

David L. Whitman said...

Mack-I say roll with Tejada this year and look into a strong FA market for SS in 2015:

JJ Hardy
Asdrubal Cabrera
Yunel Escobar
Jed Lowrie
Hanley Ramirez

Mack Ade said...

D Whit -

Sounds like a plan...

Craig Brown said...

The best thing about Dee Gordon is that anyone who has seats behind first base has a great shot at a souvenir baseball.

Herb G said...

Dee Gordon is an interesting possibility despite the apparently weak glove, since he can't cost much. You have to look past his limited major league numbers, and look at his minor league career .301 AVG and .360 OBP, with 73 SBs in 2009 and 49 this year in only 92 games. In a platoon with Tejada to start the season, he might spur Tejada to excel and win the job outright.

That said, I still want Sandy to inquire on Seattle for Miller or Franklin. I continue to believe that we could match up well with the Mariners. IMHO, either Franklin or Miller would be better in the long term than Gregorius, and by the time Rosario or Cecchini is ready, we should have a pretty good picture of whether we had the SS of the future in the majors or the minors.