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 12^th 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 28^th 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 1^st , 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

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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?