1/29/14

Mack’s Afternoon Report – 1-29-14 – Ch-Ch-Ch Changes, Joc Peterson, Adam Kolarek, Thor/d’A, SP5




Robert Brender ‏@robertbrender - Hmm. Dustin Lawley. Big power. RT@Akirsh47 @tobyhyde @robertbrender which not so highly touted prospect should met fans keep an eye out for?


We placed up a small window on the right front page of the site, looking for some additional writers. We especially would love to find people interested in writing about the other teams in the league, fantasy, SABR, the history of the game, and baseball memorabilia. Once again, email macksmets@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you and discuss it.


We’ve changed the Twitter account of our founder, Mack Ade…  to Mack’s Mets. It still has the Twitter handle of #JohnMackinAde so we don’t lose the followers there. In the future, it will be used as a source of information rather than a site to communicate with Mets fans. We will only do that exclusively on the Mack’s Mets site.


Joc Pederson

OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Ray Guilfoyle, Fake Teams)- “It wouldn't be a prospect draft without me selecting a Dodgers prospect. Pederson doesn't get the love that other prospects get, but he had an excellent season at the plate in AA in 2013, hitting .278/.381/.497 with 22 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He is close to being major league ready, but is blocked by four other outfielders in the Dodgers outfield right now. I think a few trades could open up center field for him in 2015. He is well liked in the Dodgers organization and is the Dodgers best defensive outfielder. Dodgers team president, and part owner, Stan Kasten has stated several times that the Dodgers are moving into the next phase of the Dodgers ‘rebuild’ and wants to get younger. Getting younger could involve Pederson. If not, he is a top trade target for a team like the Phillies or Rays who have the pitching the Dodgers need to go farther in the playoffs in 2014.” http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22666


Adam Kolarek -

The Mets 11th-round draft pick in 2010 out of the University of Maryland continued his promising climb through the system with perhaps his very best season in 2013. The big-bodied lefty posted a 1.71 ERA in 44 games out of the Binghamton bullpen, allowing a .204 opponent average and just three longballs all season. Kolarek likely features the best stuff of the Mets current LOOGY crop, boasting a fastball that he can push up to 93 MPH. That said, he utilizes rather up-and-down mechanics and a somewhat over-the-top delivery which can lessen his impact against fellow southpaws. The good news is that, like fellow hard-throwing lefty Jack Leathersich, Kolarek has had plenty of success against rightys which helps his chances to star as a crossover reliever -- though like Leathersich he needs to watch his command. The 24-year-old also scuffled in a brief trial at Triple-A, though he's shown a clear pattern of slight adjustment before experiencing extended success at pretty much every level thus far. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2014/1/28/5334402/mets-minor-league-season-in-review-double-a-binghamton-mets


Thor/d’A

Jim Callis and I just duked it out in our most recent Pipeline Perspectives (I hope you guys are enjoying this series as much as we are writing them). The topic: The best hitting/pitching prospect duo in baseball. In case you missed it, I picked the Twins’ combination of Byron Buxton and Alex Meyer. Jim chose the Astros’ Carlos Correa and Mark Appel. In all seriousness, that’s a very close call. And there are a number of other very interesting duos around baseball that should be exciting to watch in the future:

Gregory Polanco (OF) and Jameson Taillon (RHP), Pirates: Polanco is No. 13 on the Top 100; Taillon is No. 16. They’re the only other tandem in the Top 20.

Travis d’Arnaud (C) and Noah Syndergaard (RHP), Mets: d’Arnaud is the highest rated catcher, at No. 22; Syndergaard is No. 11 overall. http://minors.mlblogs.com/2014/01/28/other-hittingpitching-prospect-duos/


SP5 –

In 1986, the Mets had three of the top 10 pitchers in the National League. Their fourth starter was Sid Fernandez. However, just because he was the Mets’ fourth starter does not mean in any way, shape or form was Fernandez an SP#4. When looking to rate starters, you cannot look at team context, you have to do it in league context.


This may seem like semantics or splitting hairs but it becomes important to note when looking at trade possibilities down the road. If the Mets had decided to trade Fernandez at the conclusion of the 1986 season, they would not have called up teams and said, “Hey, want to acquire a fourth starter?” No, they would have marketed him as an SP#2, the level of performance he delivered  http://mets360.com/?p=20488

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