Mack’s Morning Report – 2-8-14 – Mets Pitching, Juan Lagares, Eno-Chat, DSL

Coming up - 

    Herb G - WTF? Another Day, Another Twist in the Road to Stephen Drew


Ernest asked –

Hey Mack, any updated speculation as to what happens with all the MLB/AAA ready pitching the Mets have? Simply too many guys for too little spots. Can’t all go to the bullpen. Can’t all stay at AA. Who stays, who goes. Who does go to bullpen. Who gets traded for "cash consideration".

            Mack – Ernie baby, how’s it hangin’?

I can only speculate here on my own ‘best rotation’ scenario. Ask 10 Mets fans and you’ll get seven different rotations.

Me? Baring injuries and burnouts, my 2015 rotation would be Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero, and Jenrry Mejia.

Frankly, I would take my two ‘MLB veterans’, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, and dish them off for positional players needed. Every team wants a pitcher that has already been successful at the major league level. They especially want pitchers under 30-years of age.

This leaves me Darin Gorski, Jake deGrom, Cory Mazzoni, Rainey Lara, Matt Bowman, Hansel Robles, and Gabriel Ynoa to pick who heads up the Las Vegas rotation or moves to the pen.

(2016 will bring new decisions for Michael Fulmer Luis Mateo, Luis Cessa, and Steven Matz, but that’s not to worry about now.)

In my case, I would move Robles to the pen (I hink he's moving there in 2014 anyway) and let the other six piggyback for the first two months in Vegas. Frankly, any of these guys are available via trade for the right positional prospect; however, we might have already received the right two players for Gee and Niese.

Pen wise, the Mets will have an opportunity to create a St. Louis-type model of 3-4 guys that can dish up 94-97 for 12 pitches each in the 7^th and 8^th innings. Young meat like Jack Leathersich, Jeff Walters, Adam Kolarek, Joel Carrero, John Church, and/or Chase Bradford could all be added to the mix.

MARK MOKRIS asked -

Mack,   Don't know whether you ever listen to Sirius/XM MLB Radio but today Jim Duquette, former Mets GM and one of the regulars on Mets pre and postgame show on SNY, said that his sources in Mets organization  told him that Sandy Alderson does not want the bats of both Tejada and Lagares in the same lineup.  That of course means that if Mets don't sign Drew or trade for a shortstop then Lagares will not be starting in centerfield.  As someone that has never  been a big fan of Drew, if the choice is between Lagares or Tejada I choose the upside of Lagares and thus am now rooting for the Mets to sign Stephen Drew.  I think this explains Terry Collins talking about Chris Young in centerfield and Eric Young being leadoff hitter and starting in left.  Just thought I would pass this along to you.  As always, I hope that you and your family are well.

Mack – No, I don’t listen to Sirius and I warn everyone that no one knows what’s coming out of this camp yet.

There is a Latin separation, especially during social hours and lock separation; it isn’t not a more critical than any other team. The malcontents have been removed.

I know in my heart that the Stephen Drew deal isn’t dead. It’s still a one year deal by the Mets and may be Boras’ best option in the end. Boston, the Yankees, and the Dodgers are offering only two-year utility deals, and The Mets may be the only 500+ at-bat option for Drew.

Also, David Wright gets a big say here.

Mark Normandin/Over The Monster is writing an even more confusing scenario Friday morning, saying Boras now wants an opt out for his client after one year. I always found it strange that the Mets would want a one year deal for someone that would cost them a significant draft pick. It always led me back to the speculation that the Mets always had a two year deal ‘on the table’.

This seems ‘more true’ what with this latest demand by Boras. Usually there are less demands at this point of a negotiation. Stupid, stupid stuff here.

Eno- Chat –

           Comment From john - Evan Roberts and Jon Heyman going off on how the mets should sign Drew AND Cruz. Can someone take away their microphones please. Morons.

Eno Sarris: I’d take Drew. That way, if Tejada works out, he’s an option at second, but the pressure is off. Nelson Cruz? good god.

Comment From Brad - I can keep Matt Harvey for an 8th rd pick. Is he worth keeping so I can have him for 2015 or should I let him go?

Eno Sarris: Oh. Yeah. I think so. I mean, we can learn from Luebke, but that’s something like a 10% chance. And 90% chance of Harvey in the eighth in 2015 is sessy.

Comment From Grack Zeinke - If Alderson is truly appalled by the price for Drew then there is no excuse for them not to find a SS alternative via trade. With the arms they have in the pipeline they could even afford to deal Montero to get a quality young SS. Alcantara?

Eno Sarris: Loser of Owings/Didi? Just hope it costs the lesser pitchers and not THOR.

Comment From Eli - Does Ike Davis have a chance at becoming anything better than bad?

Eno Sarris: Yes! 10% walk rate, .200 ISO all possible. I think it might be .240/.330/.450, but with good glove, that’s aight. He’s bad vs lefties, and more of a mistake hitter, but he does have a bit of an eye at the plate and power

Comment From john - instead of drew, wouldnt the mets be better of going after Aldemys Diaz? probably cheaper, won’t cost a draft pick. I know Alderson for some reason doesnt like dabbling in the cuban market, but come on. Drew? 1 good year in last 4 and it happened to be last year?

Eno Sarris: Diaz’ stats in Cuba are really vanilla. Worse than Guerrero’s, and Guerrero just lost the job in LA before he had it. Good thing that $48 million check cleared.

Sandy on DSL Mets –

           “One of the things the Mets have had for some time are two teams in the Dominican Republic, and partly that’s about the unpredictability of signing players that are 16, and frankly the more of them you can have the more opportunity you have for success because it’s so hard to predict who will be successful at age 21 or 22, which is five or six years down the road. So capacity is important. But also it’s critical to have the kind of staff that can take a player fairly rough around the edges and have the patience to work with that player through their ultimate transition to the United States.”

Mack – Wow… I forget sometimes that some of these players could play five years of professional ball before they turn 22 years old. There’s no way in hell knowing what you have when you sign them at 16.