Morning Report – 2-28-14 – Organizational Ranking, Injuries, Arm Slot, 90 Wins, Arizona, Intrasquad Game

Coming Up –

          10 am – Christopher Soto - MM's Top 25-  #7 RHSP Jacob DeGrom

          12 noon – Craig Mitchell -- Gays in the Outfield

            2 pm - Ernest Dove - Will Mets Prosper or Prepare in 2014?

            4 pm – FANGRAPHS - Top 10 Boston Red Sox Prospects

            6 pm – Carlos Rodon, Keith Weisenberg, Jacob Gatewood, Tate Blackman

            8 pm - A Quick Look - RHP - Scott Blewett - Charles W Baker (NY) HS

BP - 2014 Organizational Rankings

8. New York Mets

Farm System Ranking in 2013: 10

2014 Top Ten Prospects: Link

State of the System: Solid blend of pitching and positional talent, ranging from high-risk/high-reward types at the lower levels to safer high-floor prospects nearing the major-league level.

Top Prospect: Noah Syndergaard (11)

Breakout Candidates for 2014: Amed Rosario and Marcos Molina

Prospects on the BP 101: 3

Must-See Affiliate: Short-Season Brooklyn

Prospects to See There: Amed Rosario, Marcos Molina, Casey Meisner, Chris Flexen, Champ Stuart

Farm System Trajectory for 2015: Steady. The Mets will likely graduate four of the top five prospects in their system, but the helium from low-level talents like Rosario, Molina, and Meisner could keep the system holding strong in the top 10 in the game, despite the graduations.

          http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22906#.Uw3lAyBV0Iw.twitter

Arm Slot –

Some pitchers select their arm slot because it allows for more accuracy and/or movement even if it doesn’t allow for optimal velocity. This a choice each pitcher and pitching coach has to make. A lot of MLB organizations will take some of their pitchers and get them to throw with different arm slots that aren’t as common in order to increase their effectiveness and become a specialist out of the bullpen. These are pitchers that have enough ability to play professional baseball but are maybe lacking a bit of velocity or skill to make it as a “normal” thrower. http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/top-arm-slot-faster-dangerous/

          Mack – Interesting article for you pitchers out there

So, Sandy Alderson told the team in a closed door meeting that he things the team can win 90 game. Then, Fred Wilpon chimed in ‘you better win 90 games’.

(ya know, the ‘f’ on my computer is starting stick and everytime I type Wilpon’s  first name, it first comes out ‘Red’…  what do you think?  Red Wilpon? Sounds like a porn star.)

Was this some attempt at humor? I wasn’t in the room, so what was the reaction from the players? Was their laughter or a reaction like those last remaining members of the Stark family while they were being killed on The Game Of Thrones?

I’m going to write this off as just another bad joke and move on from here. I just can’t imagine that Wilpon has any George Steinbrenner in him.

Kevin Towers on needs –

“For us, it would have to be the right deal,” Towers said. “Our biggest needs in our system are catching. If it’s the right, top-notch catching prospect. Someone we could have right behind Miggy. More of an upper-level guy. Maybe a top, upper-end starter. We have a lot of bullpen depth, infielders. Maybe an outfielder, but probably more catching and Double-A, Triple-A type starter.” http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/nickpiecoro/2014/02/26/shortstop-showdown-starters-in-australia-other-stuff/

Mack – This, to me translates as either Chris Owings or Didi Gregorius for either Kevin Plawecki or Rafael Montero.

Well, Montero is going nowhere and deGrom, Mazzoni, Lara, Bowman, or Robles aren’t enough yet.

That would leave Plawecki…  your call.

Remember… you have to give to get.

Highlights from Adam Rubin re: Intrasquad Game -

• Kirk Nieuwenhuis helped Dillon Gee out by throwing out Kevin Plawecki out at the plate attempting to score from second base.

• Danny Muno, a middle infielder who played at Double-A Binghamton last season, went 2-for-3 with a homer, walk and stolen base.

• Jenrry Mejia opened his outing with two walks, but rallied by striking out Wilmer Flores and coaxing a double play from Andrew Brown. Mejia then struck out three while allowing a single to Matt Clark in his second inning of work.

• Daisuke Matsuzaka, the probable fifth starter, was hurt by a Flores throwing error on a rundown. Dice-K was charged with two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk in two innings.

• Carlos Torres, being stretched out for a spot-starter/long-relief role, tossed two perfect innings. He struck out three.

• Noah Syndergaard struck out five and flashed a wicked curveball, but surrendered a run in his second inning of work on a curveball up in the zone that Wilfredo Tovar took to right field to plate Cory Vaughn. Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia (two scoreless innings) both sat at 96-97 mph with their fastballs. Familia also struck out five.

• Brown homered against Joel Carreño.

• Terry Collins said he was impressed by left-hander Steven Matz, who tossed a scoreless inning with one strikeout. "Lights-out stuff," Collins said.

• Jose Valverde tossed a scoreless inning. - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/81715/intrasquad-recap-1-year-later-gee-better

Mack – It’s not a coincidence that most of the highlight reel features pitching. The Mets are going to have a hard time deciding which 12-13 pitchers break camp as part of the 25-man, which are sent to Vegas, and which are cut loose for other teams to scoop up.

          Lots of pitching here.