5/24/14

Morning Report – May 24th - Daisuke Matsuzaka, Eric Campbell

Coming Later Today –

                10 am – Reese Kaplan  -  With the Game on the Line, Who You Gonna Call?

                 12 noon  - Sports Illustrated - Mock

 2 pm–  Top 13 RHP in 2014 MLB Draft - Updated 5-23-14

                 4 pm -  Top 13 OF in 2014 MLB Draft - revised 5-23-14

 6 pm -  Matthew Railey, Max Pentecost, Ryan Castellani, Michael Chavis, Tyler Beede, Matt Imhof


8 pm - Top 11 SS in 2014 MLB Draft - Updated 5-23-14


College stat lines –

     Chris Oliver – Arkansas – 6.2-IP, 0-ER, 1-K

     Sean Newcomb – Hartford – 7.0-IP, 2-H, 0-ER, 14-K



Savannah pitchers Akeel Morris (41.9%) & Dario Alvarez (40.8%) rank #1 & #2 respectively in all of minor league baseball in K% (min 20 IP).


Juan Lagares is hitting .356 (16-45) when batting 1st in the lineup.


Here’s something if you are one of those fans that think the cup is half empty again and you’re waiting for the all-star break to rid the team of some dead wood, Daisuke Matsuzaka remains unhappy as a relief pitcher. The good news for you is the current 2.14 ERA he’s producing in this limited role. There always is a handful of teams looking to add a backend rotation starter to their pennant push and the Dice-man just might be the one guy that could get you a decent return this summer.



Terry Collins seems to be falling in love with general, all-around good guy, Eric Campbell and I would expect him to start playing all the postions he has played well, in the past, in the minors.  They include 3B, 1B, both middle infield positions and both outfield positions. In fact, a story could be made for developing a plan for him to play every day in some capacity. I wouldn’t worry about his bat. His defense, even in the outfield (as proven Thursday night) is not a liability either. He’s on a good three year tear: 2012 – Binghamton: .297… 2013 – Las Vegas: .314 … 2014 – Las Vegas: .355.
One caveat… don’t look for two much pop here. He projects out with a top of a potential 10-HR per season.



I’m being told that the new policy of using ‘the kids’ in Queens may translate into moving up some of the better players in the system, both based on how well they are playing right now, but also based on projected ceiling and future positional need. The problem is that the vast amount of positional talent that needs to be moved is clogged up behind both AAA and AA players just filling a AAAA capacity. Draft time will bring you in a bunch of new faces but no one that can immediately play at that level.
Some suggestions:

     Work Darin Gorski into the Las Vegas rotation, at the expense of either Dana Everland or Giancarlo Alvarado. Replace Gorski in Binghamton with Steven Matz.

     Promote Jack Leathersich and John Church to Vegas, demote back to Binghamton Buddy Carlyle, and release John Lannan

     Promote Kevin Plawecki to Vegas and return Xorge Carillo to Binghamton… then deactivate Kai Gronauer when Travis d’Arnaud is activated and send Juan Centeno back to Vegas.

     Get the SS train moving… Matt Reynolds to Vegas, Phillip Evans to Binghamton, Gavin Cecchini to St. Lucie, and Amed Rosario to Savannah, Release either Omar Quintanilla or Anthony Seratelli.

Promote Brando Nimmo to Binghamton and send Cory Vaughn back to St. Lucie (or packing).


There are more at the Savannah level, but they aren’t going anywhere unless some of the above mentioned moves don’t come first.


ODDS OF DRAFTING MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRIBUTOR, BY DRAFT PICK
Draft PickChance of 10+ WAR PlayerChance of 3+ WAR Player
1-535%55%
6-1025%43%
11-1523%41%
16-2017%32%
21-3011%23%
31-407%15%
41-507%15%

7 comments:

Bill Metsiac said...

Nimmo---I know Mack doesn't agree with me, but IMO his phenomenal season to date (hitting almost .350 with an OBA almost FIVE HUNDRED!) gives him a shot at arriving in Queens sometime next season. He should, as Mack says, be moved to Bingo in July of this year. If he can successfully finish the year there, I see no reason why he can't open '15 at Wally World and get another mid-season promotion. Of course, this is predicated on his having Eric Campbell-like success, and there's no way to know if he will, but I wouldn't rule it out.

As for Lannan, where the heck IS he? When he agreed to go to Vegas, he said he needed to tke care of a "family situation" first. That was weeks ago, and as far as I know he hasn't reported yet. I wonder if he ever will, but I agree with Mack that at this point it looks like he isn't needed. If Edgin can pitch well enough to be a solid #2 LHRP, there's no role for Lannan in Queens. It's too bad. It would've been a nice story if this Long Island kid found success here.

Ernest Dove said...

Regarding Campbell, word is that Murphy and wright are supposed to get a day off during this 20 game stretch. Plus soup can play first against lefties, or RF against lefties. Whatever gets him out there while he's hot

Tom Brennan said...

Sounds like a great promotional plan Mack. Clear out the AAAA guys (some who, like Seratelli, are doing well, but are in an unusual Met year with so many young guys needing promos).

With a Vaughn, the likelihood of a successful career has really diminished here...why not release him and let him try elsewhere? Kirk N is a guy who just strikes out too much to succeed in the majors, IMO, Ankiel-like, so I would also let him try elsewhere...maybe you can trade him for a low level prospect.

That would clear the field for the Puello and Dekker and Muno types to play daily while still promoting Reynolds types who will also play daily.

Two years ago, Rivera was the only .300 hitter in an anemic minor system. Now there is a different and much more welcome situation, that requires some harder choices. Time to make them.

Reese Kaplan said...

What of Wilfredo Tovar? Would he simply slide over to SS in Binghamton or would you advocate he move up to Las Vegas, too?

Mack Ade said...

Afternoon everyone -

Re: Nimmo - I just can't see the system rushing him this fast

Re: Lannan - I don't expect to see him back and Babe Ruth wouldn't deserve this much time off - cut him

Re: Campbell - I don't want any of you to think of him as a starter at ANY position. Think Rod Kanehl here. The Mets will fit him in the lioneup 80% of the time if he remains effective,

Re: Tovar - I would probably give him one last shot at Vegas

Anonymous said...

I agree with the players being move,think you overlooked Dilson Herrera and TJ Rivera,should be moved along with Nimmo and Fulmer at the end of July? I'd like to see/have Plawecki catch Matz a couple times before he goes to Vegas though! Let him go to vegas at the end of August,with a cameo in September atleast as a bullpen catcher to see some of the pitchers hee hasny caught before.
Steve

Mack Ade said...

Anonymous -

Plawecki is an interesting call.

Some in the organization feel he's major league ready right now and d'Arnaud may be in his way. I expect Alderson to give d'Arnaud as much rope as he needs to prove himself, but I like your idea of hooking up Matz and Plawecki early