Mack
– Baby Steps
There
seems to be enough Mets spring training games under their belt to allow for a
quick study. In no particular order:
-It looks like there
will be a positive return from the trades and free agent signings done in the
off-season. Chris Young and Curtis Granderson have both added a degree of pop in
the lineup that should fit well when wrapped around a 2-6 batting order that
includes David Wright and Daniel Murphy.
-You have to be
excited about the potential of the starting pitchers in this organization. So
far this spring, the combination of Noah Syndergaard,
Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Rafael Montero, and Jenrry
Mejia are 13.0-IP, 0-ER, 16-K, 0.00.
-Shortstop and first
base continue to be a mess. Lucas Duda and Ike Davis are currently nursing injuries and are part
of the five players that share a combined 6-40 stat line. Think that’s bad? The
seven players that played short combine for a miserable 3-38.
-Only Bobby Parnell, Scott Rice,
and Carlos Torres currently seem to have locked
up a trip north in the Mets pen. It’s early, but John
Lannan and Jeurys Familia have the early
lead among the rest of the candidates.
-Wilmer Flores can’t buy a hit. The entire Mets world
spent the entire off season looking for a position for him to play. Now, it
seems he has lost his bat as well as his glove.
-Both Matt den Dekker and Kirk
Nieuwenhuis are staking an early claim for the 5th outfielder
in Queens. Both have already produced some defensive gems as well as timely
hitting.
-One consolation about the bad pitching... the vast majority is coming from guys that had no chance of sticking this year anyway.
-One consolation about the bad pitching... the vast majority is coming from guys that had no chance of sticking this year anyway.
-The Kids Are Alright
– Yes we know that the crop of 2015-2017 prospects only get in these games late
and against AAA/AA pitching, but, that being said, everyone likes what they see
in Cesar Puello, Brandon
Nimmo, and Eric Campbell
-Still left to enter
the games: Bartolo Colon, Daniel Murphy, Jon Niese,
Bobby Parnell, and David Wright (which
represent 20% of the 25-man squad going north.
Eric Campbell has started well, and after his .435 on base % in 120 games in AAA last year, maybe he fits in somewhere. And unlike the vast hordes, he infrequently strikes out. He has played first, 3rd and OF. Seems to have a touch of speed too, having stolen 28 of 39 over the past 3 years. His power game is a bit short, though, averaging just 36 extra base hits (and only 8 homers) in 120 games each of the past two years. From July on last year, he hit .352 with an on base % just under .500 (yes, .500) but just 2 HR in 215 plate appearances in that span. He hits righties and lefties equally well. Why can't this guy generate more power, at 6' 3" 220? But if Duda and Davis falter, maybe he sneaks into the mix? Nothing wrong with a guy who can really get on base and not clog the base paths.
ReplyDeleteand, he's really been ready to take on a utility role for 2 years now... think of him as Josh Satin v2.0
ReplyDelete