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2/28/14

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.



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.


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.

24 comments:

  1. Familia is an afterthought in the Thor glow - but I bet he turns into Armando Benitez (without the flusters). My boy Danny Muno (the dark horse no one wants to consider) has a big intrasquad game - I for one am not surprised. Two years ago, he'd have had a wide berth with Mets - now it looks crowded everywhere for prospects (except SS, where they will likely do something else). As I say that, I do not slot Thor and Montero as prospects - they are already in the wings as regulars on hold temporarily.

    14 K's in 6 innings for Mejia, Familia, and Thor - good times are just over the horizon.

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  2. I have a feeling that Towers is referring d'Arnaud and Thor with that comment, not Plawecki and Montero. He's obviously shooting for the moon there.

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  3. I have a feeling that Towers is referring d'Arnaud and Thor with that comment, not Plawecki and Montero. He's obviously shooting for the moon there.

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  4. "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."

    I would absolutely make an offer of Plawecki for Owings or Franklin, but not for Didi Gregorios. I would also think we would need to include another lower level arm as you mentioned, not named Syndergard, Montero, etc. Owings is the D'Backs #3-5 rated prospect area and Plawecki is rated in the #5-10 area, so another arm in the Logan Verrett, Tyler Pill, Rainy Lara, Darin Gorski, Matt Koch or Hansel Robles area.

    C Kevin Plawecki & SP Logan Verrett for SS Chris Owings and a lower prospect (LHP Daniel Gibson)?

    I mentioned this yesterday, but I'd also like to see a possible 3 way deal including Ike Davis going to a 3rd team like the Brewers possibly and the Brewers sending more pieces to the D'Backs for Owings or Seattle for Franklin since Ike Davis is going to be moved at some point or he'll start the year in Vegas.

    If Ike Davis starts hitting like it's the second hald of 2012, he'll certainly be moved for a solid prospect. If he hit like it's the first half of 2012 and most of 2013, he can't be moved since no one will want him, including the Mets, which is why he'll be in Vegas trying to regain his form and be of no value to us. Either way, there's no future for Ike Davis in NY unless Lucas Duda gets hurt or does his own Ike Davis impersonation.

    Josh Satin seems locked in as the UT RH bat off the bench, certainly back up 1B, as well as being able to play a few other positions that he worked on this offseason if we needed him too. That means we don't need two LH hitting 1B since that's overkill, especially since Ike can't hit lefties AT ALL.

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  5. JShapps -

    I don't agree. I can't see any GM wanting someone right now with that injury history -

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  6. "jshapps77 said...
    I have a feeling that Towers is referring d'Arnaud and Thor with that comment, not Plawecki and Montero. He's obviously shooting for the moon there."

    That's cute, but under no circumstances with either of those men be traded, especially for the players in question. We're not in a position that we're one piece away to make a playoff run, we're multiple pieces away and giving up the pieces we're planning on building around is counterproductive and makes less sense.

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  7. I've made some predictions about Flores that I probably will regret.

    Here's another one...

    I expect Duda to make Davis go away

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  8. I would do a plaweki for owings deal. Or maybe a three team trade with either a Murphy or Ike being traded.

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  9. Also congrats to David Wright for Face of MLB award

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  10. Don't get me wrong, I know Towers doesn't have a prayer of prying away d'Arnaud, Thor or Montero. Maybe Plawecki. Definitely deGrom. I just think those are the names he's hinting at to the media. In the same way that Sandy is always asking for prospects just out of range. Aim high, then meet in the middle in the end.

    I'm not interested in Didi Gregorius, I don't think can hit enough. But I'd deal Plawecki/deGrom in a second for Owings or Franklin. That fills a big SS hole for us for a long time for little $$.

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  11. I'd like Duda to make Ike go away but I don't try the can hit 275 and drive in 75. Also don't see him as clutch.
    Other than that this spring seems the most promising one (minus Harvey) we have had in the last 5-6 years.

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  12. Meant to say I don't trust he can hit 275

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  13. Zozo -

    I don't mind i the Mets give up 2 players for Owings... they are very deep in secondary prospects...

    I would do a laweck AND, say, Mazzoni for Owings

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  14. Al Tamkus · Works at I don't work anymore
    If you could do,Jacob deGrom for Nick Johnson ... Would you pull the trigger ?
    Reply · Like · Follow Post · 42 minutes ago

    Christopher Soto · Follow · District I Coordinator at National Club Baseball Association
    Nick Johnson?? The retired 1B?
    Reply · Like · 35 minutes ago

    Al Tamkus · Works at I don't work anymore
    Nick Franklin S/S :-) sorry a senior moment ?

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  15. Sugar - given the at-bats, I would project Duda as 25-30/HR, 75-85/RBI, .360-.375/OBP

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  16. "Sugar - given the at-bats, I would project Duda as 25-30/HR, 75-85/RBI, .360-.375/OBP"

    Mack, I would be delighted if Duda puts up your stats - but in a strict platoon (until he proves he is not a liability vs. lefties) I think Duda can get close to your #'s. I think this is a big turn year for Lucas.

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  17. Mack,
    regarding the 90 win statement by Alderson.....
    let's try to look at a couple of things as an outsider that has not been reading everything and anything they can get ahold of regarding the Mets over the past few years.
    1) If you knew the Owners insist that the Mets team do not have a money problem and their payroll is not limited in any way due to the team not having money to spend

    2) If the general manager has insisted numerous times over the past few years that he has not been told by the owners that he is limited in the money that he can spend on the team and that the owners have told him that if he found a player worthy of signing, he would not be stopped by them because of money.

    3) If the general manager went into the off-season stating that the team HAD to improve at 2 outfield positions, 1 shortstop, and 1 first baseman in order for the team to improve. Yet the season started and 1 outfield upgrade was made. 1 very questionable outfield upgrade (?) was made. Shortstop and Firstbase remained the same.

    4) As the season is about to begin the general manager states that he believes that the team he has assembled can go from 70+ wins to 90 wins. AND the owner adds the comment "We Better."

    As an outsider looking at this, If the team does not win close to 90 wins....hasn't Alderson (whether he meant to or not) set himself up to be questioned on his ability to assess and construct a team?

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  18. Mack/ Thomas

    Those Duda stats are optimistic but he hits those numbers we're in business.

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  19. Anyone know where 1b prospect Dominic Smith is scheduled to play this year? Brooklyn:Savannah?
    Exciting guy to follow so..

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  20. Sugar -

    Probably Brooklyn... possibly Savannah

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  21. "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."

    Well, you know, a thinking person might purport that the excess in pitching (rather than being unceremoniously dumped for zero return) could be used in trade to fill other holes. Maybe that will eventually dawn on our illustrious GM, too. :)

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  22. Mack -

    I'm guessing Owings or Gregorius to the Yanks for Gary Sanchez. Franklin to Mets for deGrom plus one. (Yanks fleece D-Backs with Sanchez, the same way they fleeced Seattle with that other catching prospect, Montero for Pineda.)

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