 |
| 1964 World's Fair |
Coming
Up –
10am – Christopher
Soto - Astros Call Up OF George Springer, Help Out The Mets.
12 noon – d’Whit
- Who's the PTBNL? Reviewing 2013 Pittsburgh Pirate Draft Picks Round 1
2
pm – Baseball America - College Top 100
Hitters
5pm - Jeff Hoffman, Aramis Garcia, Skyler Ewing, Sean Reid-Foley,
Alex Jackson
8pm – RHP
- Jeff Hoffman - East Carolina
We
lost power here on Easter Sunday, which resulted in blowing out my router. I’m
still waiting for someone to come to my house and install a new one (welcome to
small town America), so most of my writing for this report (Tuesday) is being
written offline on Sunday night.
The
Mets will either be one game above or one game below .500 when you read this;
however, it will still be a flawed team.
We
spend a lot of time on this site discussing what we feel the Mets do right or
do wrong, but let’s stop and realize something before go forward.
The
2014 Mets are playing without their best starting pitcher and probably one of
the best in baseball (Matt Harvey), their
primary closer (Bobby Parnell), a very
serviceable starter who could be productive as a long reliever (Jeremy Hefner), and the most productive outfielder on
the team (Juan Lagares). They also have played
with a leadoff hitter (Eric Young Jr.) with a
below-average OBP and three starters, SS Ruben Tejada,
RF Curtis Granderson, and C Travis d’Arnaud have hit far below projected levels.
And
yet… the team is either one game below or one game above .500.
You
know, after reading what I just wrote, I’m surprised this team has won a single
game this year!
As
a writer, I can’t get excited or depressed about this team, but I haven’t seen
that many examples of them being blown out to the point that the eventual end
of the game could be predicted early. Saturday’s game was a perfect example of
a game that looked like the Mets lost three times. The good news was they remained
competitive throughout the pitching breakdown that was going on, on the field.
I
believe the plan should remain to finish at the .500 percentage level at the
all-star break, sell off Bartolo Colon (if
anyone wants him), probably also sell Chris Young for
a long term shortstop, and call up both Rafael Montero and
Noah Syndergaard, who seem to be fermenting a
little at the AAA level.
There
is one adjustment you can make to this plan. What if Chris Young proves out to
be a good 2014 sign? The Mets are short in outfield talent and it wouldn’t kill
them to think about offering Young an extension through either the 2015 or 2016
season.
Lastly,
hopefully the Mets will continue to tinker with the pen. We just came off eight
wonderful scoreless innings in the Sunday game, but this represents the
exception. Jeurys Familia still looks shaky at
best and things would work much better if the Mets could find another lefty.
I’m hoping we’ll see the return of Vic Black soon
and maybe the new kid from Pittsburgh will join him as well.
A
work in progress.
| G | AB | R | H | BA | OBP | OPS | |||
| MLB | David Wright | 18 | 76 | 9 | 24 | 0.316 | 0.369 | 0.751 | |
| Daniel Murphy | 16 | 72 | 10 | 21 | 0.292 | 0.307 | 0.64 | ||
| AAA | Zach Lutz | 18 | 67 | 13 | 20 | 0.299 | 0.44 | 0.858 | |
| Wilmer Flores | 15 | 62 | 8 | 16 | 0.258 | 0.338 | 0.709 | ||
| AA | Brian Burgamy | 12 | 42 | 5 | 12 | 0.286 | 0.434 | 1.029 | |
| Dustin Lawley | 12 | 45 | 6 | 9 | 0.2 | 0.25 | 0.583 | ||
| A+ | Jairo Perez | 6 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 0.375 | 0.4 | 0.858 | |
| Robbie Shields | 2 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.667 | ||
| T.J. Rivera | 14 | 60 | 12 | 23 | 0.383 | 0.422 | 0.989 | ||
| A | Jeff McNeil | 14 | 50 | 7 | 16 | 0.32 | 0.397 | 0.957 | |
| Victor Cruzado | 13 | 42 | 8 | 8 | 0.19 | 0.32 | 0.653 | ||
It’s
no big secret that none of us, including the Mets front office, have had any
worries about third base in quite a while Sure, David
Wright (.316… all batting averages quoted are end of games 4-20) has
gone down with a couple ticky-tacky injuries, but he has always bounced back in
the quickest amount of time and he has also always produced quality numbers
over the length of his career.
The
other great thing to put in our back pocket is the fact that he’s under a Mets
contract through the 2020 season. This is a positive thing. I wish I could say
the same about the Mets other lengthy contract, but, at least, Wright’s has
proven to be an asset to the team.
Players
like Wright have the ability to change the direction of how a team drafts. It’s
not a coincidence that you haven’t seen the Mets draft anyone to challenge
Wright at this position in the past five to seven years. Still, new would be a
good time to start to look to the distant future, as well as check out some of
the guys that could be called upon in case of any lengthy injury to the
Captain.
Wright’s
backup in Queens is Daniel Murphy (.292) (which
is fine if both stay healthy), but, trust me, Zach Lutz
(.299) would be pulled from the Vegas game in a New York minute and put
on a plane to where the next Mets game was scheduled. I wish the Mets would pay
Lutz more than the AAA rate. He’s such a valuable insurance policy for the
team, especially since no one is currently pushing him in the system.
Lutz’
backup is actually Wilmer Flores (.258), who is
now the primary shortstop for the Fifty-One’s (is that how you call them?).
Binghamton
shares Brian Burgamy (.286) and Dustin Lawley (.200) at third, though Lawley is trying
to break through as a future Mets outfielder. Obviously, as you see, he’s not
off to the kind of start everyone had hoped for this season.
Jairo Perez (.375), a newcomer to the Mets is
now your primary St. Lucie third baseman with Robbie
Shields (.333) ready and waiting in the dugout. Frankly, it’s too early
to tell if we should keep an eye on Perez. Standing in the background is T.J. Rivera (.383) who has had the lion share there
this season but is now playing first base.
And
lastly, Savannah adds two non-prospects to the list, Jeff
McNeil (.320) and Victor Cruzado (.190).
Summary: There are a couple of interesting names in
the extended camp (Jhoan Urena, Pedro Perez); however, this might be a good time to
take a good look at someone like Notre Dame’s Jack
Flaherty or Sprayberry (GA) HS’s Michael Chavez
with their 10th pick in the draft. Neither one of these two project
as a top 10 pick but they could do worse.
Past
that, look for more Wright and, hopefully, no wrong coming from this position
for years to come.
17 comments:
You mention selling off assets like Colon and C. Young however there is hope we can fight this off and compete for a Wildcard. Team has shown it can fight off any losing streaks to date.
Lutz so far is dealing with one of his flaws - K's. Just 12 in 80 plate appearances. He'd be adequate should Wright get injured - for a while at least. The new standard is, "of course, he'd be better than...." - just drop Grandy's name in there, and that means pretty much everyone is better.
Bob, I think Mack's plan makes sense - bring in good talent, particularly at SS if they seem set in waiting til then to address that spot, and bring up Montero, Thor, and Degrom. Black seems to be resurrecting himself, so he should be back soon, and just maybe Walters can help. The pen may be just good enough until they all arrive over the next two months. Maybe Leathersich gets it sorted out and could help, but I can live with one pen lefty if need be - quality over arm balance.
Jason Bay last year in his swan song was doing OK until he swooned mid-season and was released. He ended up at .204 in 206 at bats, with 11 HR, 6 doubles, 26 walks, 20 RBI and 30 runs. If Grandy can get there in his first 206 at bats I'd be thrilled.
I think it's time for them to start dealing from their strength, which is their pitching. I believe Gee can get you that shortstop we so desperately need and we can bring up DeGrom to take his place (until Montero and Thors are ready in June). DeGrom in all our estimations probably won't be a starter for us in the coming years, so why not start his clock a little early? We can also send him down when they come up and get back that service time? I estimate that our core 6 pitchers will be Harvey, Wheeler, Thor, Niese, Montero, and Mejia with DeGrom probably traded or in the pen.
So why not call up Arizona and offer them Gee for Owings and a reliever? I think that's not asking too much? They are desperate for a starter. Or offer him up to Rangers, skanks or any other team in need of a starter.
That's not a reasonable offer for Owings. It might start a conversation for Gregorius but I doubt it.
Personally, I'd rather see Lutz than Josh Satin as the right handed half of the 1st base platoon with him, like Satin, able to spell Wright if he needs a day or two off.
James Preller · Follow · State University of New York at Oneonta
Lutz has no position, little mobility, hands of stone. He's a bat, born at the wrong time. Earl Weaver could have used him in the early 70s. With today's 12-man staff, there's little room for a "hitter" in baseball, everybody wants a Joe McEwing type for flexibility and two LOOGYs. I guess the Bobby Abreu experiment will put the test to that theory. Of course, we know that TC is going to roll him out there in pastures from time to time, which is sad. I have a core belief that defense matters, particularly when you build around pitching, particularly when you play 81 games at Citi Field.
Sugar -
That is the decision you are going to have to make at the all-star break. Do you honestly feel you have enough to make it to the playoffs with a ballplayer like Young that you are going to lose at the end of the year unless you deal him off for something earlier.
Zozo -
This will always be a pitcher team first and, right now, your two 'favorite' members for the 2015 Magic Rotation are Gee and Mejia... you may want to consider keeping Gee around.
Thomas -
I know how much you fall in love with minor league statistics but they really don't translate to the majors, especially the ones in Vegas.
James... and I... are right. The best you have with Lutz is an insurance policy in case Wright goes down.
Like everyone else I'm tired of waiting for next year or the future. That's why I remain perhaps foolishly optimistic about this year. Sick of the seeing an empty Citifield and the Yanks on the back pages. Hear me Sandy?
Lutz as nothing more than an insurance policy is actually something I agree with you guys 100% on - I could have said that more clearly. I am not expecting him to suddenly blossom. He is marginal.
But yep, I do love my minor league stats!! So when I see a guy like Bowman, for instance, doing what he is doing, I get excited at the prospect of more quality talent closing in on the majors.
Agreed Thomas.
Thomas -
Bowman shows the early ability to develop into another Gee
Where does he fit in in 2015? U got Harvey, wheeler, Synndy, mejia, Montero and your only lefty Niese. Also don't forget we have Colons contract as well. So that is 7, that is why I say strike while the iron is hot with Gee.
I think it's fair an he would probably be the best pitcher anyone is willing to give away this early in the season. If we have to put a minor leaguer in there for good measure, I would put in a Cecchini or someone of that low level to sweeten the pot. Just not Domonic
John - I just don't see a shortstop out there worthy of Gee PLUS another player
Hey Bob, if Grandy is truly a streaky player and is about to get hot, this 10-9 team despite his horrid production can go a long way.
I, Though, am truly concerned after I looked back and included last Sept, this spring, and this April together for Grandy: 205 at bats, .160, 75 Ks. That makes Jason Bay look like Mike Trout by comparison.
Let's hope a Cleon Jones comparison is the right one instead. The year Cleon hit .297, he was around .160, as I recall, in early June. I'd like to see Grandy do not that but a better average and lots of HRs to make this season a true $15MM one.
Post a Comment