Coming Up –
10
am - Podcast
– D Whit - 8 Out of the Box SS solutions for the
2014 New York Mets:
12
noon – Ernest
Dove - Has Anyone Noticed Familia's PerfectSspring?
2 pm – Minor League Ball - Top 20 Los Angeles
Dodgers Prospects
4 pm - ROTOGRAPHS - Top Spring Hitters By OPS
6 pm - SS - Jacob Gatewood - Clovis (CA) HS
8 pm – Brandon Finnegan,
Bryce Carter, J.D. Davis, D.J. Peters
10 pm -
We've got our first podcast coming up at 10am with D Whit... bear with us because this is virgin territory for us. The hope is that various writers here on Mack's Mets will be able to host (or co-host) their own Podcasts so you can get to hear a voice behind the pen. Wish us success please, but let us know if any improvements are needed also.
Jon Heyman –
Jon Heyman –
The Mets are throwing out a net for a shortstop while
continuing to monitor Tejada, who's said by all to be at a low point in terms
of confidence. They have Mets legend Edgardo Alfonzo working
on him in that area, trying to undo what's been done. Mets GM Sandy Alderson was irked to have read an early unnamed
quote from an alleged Mets official questioning Tejada's shape. In any case,
there's plenty to question now. He hasn't been so hot in reality, as he is 3
for 25 with surprisingly suspect defense.
The Mets are going to start giving more chances to youngster
Wilmer Flores, a big kid (6-foot-3) who may be
better suited for any of the other infield positions but looked good in an
early tryout game. However, a trade or signing seems like a likelihood, if not
a necessity, at this point.
The Mets had some early conversations with Drew, suggesting
they could possibly pay him about what he made last year ($9.5 million) without
making an official offer. Drew is said to have once sought a two-year deal with
an opt-out, with the opt-out being the hangup for the Mets.
And several executives around the league say they see Drew
as the Mets' best answer. “Why haven't the Mets signed Drew yet?” is the
perhaps the most common question heard from competing GMs. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24492069/ss-market-teams-eye-didi-drew-franklin-and-how-about-vizquel
Second Base –
According
to extant models, footspeed appears to be a trait which begins to decline quite
early in a ballplayer’s career. It’s not unusual, for example, to find players
attempt — and even convert — a number of stolen bases at the minor-league level
and then fail to match those rates in the majors. It’s this trend which makes
the Daniel Murphy case so curious. Last year, as
a 28-year-old, he recorded a stolen-base record of 23-for-26, both figures
representing career highs over the entirety of his eight-year professional
career. Between those stolen bases and other baserunning acts, Murphy produced
6.4 runs by means of just his feet — which contributed nicely to his 2013 line,
but (owing to the volatility of baserunning figures) is one reason why
projections systems are less optimistic regarding Murphy’s 2014 season.
However he plays, Murphy will likely hold off Wilmer Flores (i.e. his closest positional challenge)
for the most of the season — nor does it appear as though Flores is likely to
represent a clear improvement over Murphy for the time being. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-positional-power-rankings-second-base/
Game Notes –
-Now,
here’s a lineup you can sink your teeth into! The only starter missing
was Daniel Murphy, who decided to take a few
days off to rest a ‘tweaked right leg’ (per Adam Rubin).
That’s fine… what better time to be over cautious than spring training.
Marc Carig @MarcCarig - Duda
in minor league game today, will play tomorrow. Davis will DH tomorrow in Ft. Myers. Murphy planned return is
Saturday
The
understatement of the year had to go to Terry Collins when
he said that he wanted his team to play the remainder of the spring games at ‘a
different level’… really?
Adam Rubin @AdamRubinESPN - Harvey set to move back to 75 feet
Andy Martino @MartinoNYDN - OD
start gives manager a chance to both reward and pump up a guy. Gee, more accomplished as #Met than
Colon/Wheeler, would be best choice.
The
last thing the Mets needed was a bad start by Zack Wheeler… a triple from
Heyward followed by a single from Justin Upton and it was 1-0.
I
can’t believe what Juan Lagares just did, saving
a homer. He just has to start. Still the next batter did go yard and this just
isn’t a good start by Wheeler.
The
top of the first ended 2-0 Atlanta, but it felt like 10-0.
The
Mets counter in the bottom end… EYJ bunt single followed by crisp line drive
single by Lagares… Wright sac flies Young home… Grandy hit into inning ending
DP… end 1: 2-1 Braves
Wheeler
having come control problems in the second… one hBY, another close one up high…
but line out DP gets him out of the inning.
Travis d’Arnaud hit a solid line drive to left, but,
when things are going bad, the ball always seems to go right in the direction
of the outfielder.
Perfect
timing… first person interviewed during the SNY live coverage in the dugout was
Eric Campbell.
Tejada
looks much more confident today… doubles in his second at bat, but then steals
third… people with no confidence don’t try that (came home on Chris Young’s single)… 2-2 Mets.
This
quickly became the Lagares-Tejada show…
Wheeler
settled down for most of his outing but needed a two out help by Kyle Farnsworth to get out of a bases loaded sixth
inning. Still, these are the games we seem to endless talk about… gave a lead
after six innings by your starter… in this case, 4-2… then turn it over to a
talented pen…
Whatever…
6 comments:
Mack,
I agree with you in that it is basically impossible to keep Lagares's glove out of the lineup. I heard Eddie Coleman say it yesterday, and I agree wholeheartedly, that he robs a hit or nails a runner in virtually every game. History shows that there is room for a gloveman like that in CF at the bottom of the line-up, even if it is a weak line-up. And, Juan has not exactly been an offensive slouch. There is a decent if not good chance that as he matures and gets a little more selective at the plate that he can be an average hitter, which makes him a great value. With both Tejada and EYjr serving as spot starters and late game help, that to me is a big improvement.
Regarding SS, it was nice to see Tejada have a decent day. If strongly believe Alderson needs to bring in another SS, but I don't think that means the write off Tejada, especially if the SS hits LH (Drew, Didi). A move like that strengthens both the starting line-up and defense and the bench. Ruben is a significant upgrade over Q, and he can spell a LE SS, Murphy at 2B vs. tough lefty, and Murhpy at 2B late game for defense, as well as provide depth at both positions should someone get hurt (as they always do). It really just comes down to cost, either in $$ for Drew or prospects for Didi. I would not trade Gee straight up for Didi, but I would for Ownings. Word is the marlins have said no starters are available, which is good for the Mets. To me, the bottom line here is that there are too many options out there now to stand idle, a good GM should be able to fill the need for this season and beyond without getting fleeced or compromising the future financially.
TP -
I agree with you and Coleman on Lagares. The Mets would not have won that game unless he was in CF. He seems to bring that every game.
The 2014 Mets have a lot of 'almosts'... Juan Lagares almost hits well... EYJ almost plays second base and almost has a decent OBP... Wilmer Flores almost plays everywhere... Ruben Tejada almost hits consistently...
You may have to rotate these four with Chris Young and Daniel Murphy, where two of them come off the bench each game... I don't know...
With this team... it's so each to pencil in David Wright and then things start to get muddy...
Could there be a correlation between Fonzie's pep talk and Ruben's 3 for 3? Is a turnaround in the works? I'm usually the optimist, but I am highly skeptical in this case. I only hope that a brief blip in Tejada's performance doesn't lull Alderson into a false sense of security, whereby he lets Drew slip away and doesn't pursue a trade.
You gotta love Lagares' glove. If he can continue to hit anywhere near where he is hitting so far this spring, (.316/.381) he has to be penciled into the lineup regularly. His 7.14% BB rate is an improvement over last year's 4.75%, but still not good enough. I know, I know, it's ST and it means beans, but it's all we have to go on as of now.
using Reese logic, does Tejada sit today?
I found it curious that he did not. I also found it curious that they played Quintanilla at 2B instead of Flores. I guess his bag is already packed for LV.
From Bill Metsiac -
root for Tejada. If Ruben can play as he has in the past two days for an extended period, and becomes the leadoff hitter, Juan becomes the everyday CFer.
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