Morning Report – August 4th – Arnaldo Berrios, Greg Maddux, Wild Card Race, Mail Box

In the end, Stephen Drew would have been the right decision...


From PG –

Arnaldo Berrios is a 2014 OF/2B with a 5-10 167 lb. frame from Barranquitas, PR who attends Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. Medium athletic build, has some present strength. 6.72 runner, solid outfield fundamentals, accurate throws with good arm strength, quick arm but can speed up release, looks to have the athleticism and tools to play in the middle infield. Switch hitter, good hand strength for his size, big hitch to start his swing from both sides, complicated timer, better bat speed from the left side, needs to keep hands up before swing, ball some off the barrel well left handed, tends to pull off pitches right handed. Young player with solid tools to develop, has improved over the past year. Good student. Named to the Caribbean Showcase Top Prospect team. http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=357350

Greg Maddux –

             The great unwritten Greg Maddux story is now finally being written about since he has been announced as a member of the Hall of Fame. Reporters agreed years ago to keep this one ‘inside their pants’ until it couldn’t influence the voting. Seems Maddox had a sicko sense of humor and liked to go over to rookies in the shower when they were both nude and welcome them to the team… by urinating on them. I was told of this around 10 years ago and long time Mack’s Mets readers may remember me saying I knew something about this guy that will someday make news. Well, there it is

            (Mike Vorkunov ‏@Mike_Vorkunov  - Just heard the Greg Maddux urination story Chipper Jones told on @LeBatardShow. Maddux is a Hall of Fame pitcher and, ugh, weirdo).

            You little pisser you…

Wild Card Race  (results through Sunday’s games unless otherwise stated) –

      Mets – 58 loses:  last week:  4-3 - record since ASG: 8-8 (record since 8-2 run: 24-17)

            Nats – current division leader - 49 loses:  last week:  4-4 - record since ASG: 9-7

            Braves – 54 loses:  last week: 2-6 - record since ASG: 6-11

            Marlins – 57 loses:  last week: 4-4 - record since ASG: 10-7

          Brewers – current division leader - 51 loses:  last week:  2-4 - record since ASG: 8-7

            Cards – 51 loses:  last week: 3-3 - record since ASG: 7-7

            Pirates –  52 loses:  last week: 5-3 - record since ASG: 10-6

            Reds – 55 loses:  last week:  4-4 - record since ASG: 5-11

        Dodgers – current division leader - 49 loses:  last week: 5-2 -  record since ASG: 9-6

            Giants - 51 loses:  last week: 2-4 - record since ASG: 7-8

I think you’re starting to get the idea how hard this is going to be. It’s not like the Mets have to pass one team.

The only way this was going to work was if the Mets played in the 65-80% win range for 3-4 weeks and created the urgency for the race. That hasn’t happened. Frankly, the Mets haven’t won enough games and only Atlanta and the Reds have lost enough to allow the Mets to catch up ‘a little’.

I’ll keep breaking this out for a couple of more weeks but frankly a .500 win-loss record might be a more realistic goal here.

Mail Box –

            Michael Scannell -  

With all the talk of the Rockies heavily scouting Syndergaard's last start, has deGrom supplanted him in the team's long- term plans? I'd hate to see that be the case, as deGrom should have premium trade value and I truly believe Thor had SP1 upside.

            Mack – I don’t think so.

Remember, every team needs at least five starters. Detroit just proved you can’t ever stop looking.

Let’s remember that deGrom has basically come out of nowhere to claim a rotation slot

Let’s also remember that teams have a ton of scouts and all that could have been is a response to the Rockies GM picking up the newspaper (does anyone still do that?) and reading that the Mets are interested in Tulo. That rumor alone would get a telephone call out to the head of your scouting to make sure you have scouts for the next series at all the affiliate levels of the Mets. That’s how it works.

The Mets had plenty of starting pitchers to trade this past week but the problem is the only ones any team wanted were the guys that Sandy has on a protected list.

Both Syndergaard and Rafael Montero had wonderful last outings in Las Vegas. Let’s say that Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, and deGrom are SP1-4 next season. You have Niese, Gee, Colon, and Montero to pick for the SP5.

Colon is basically a 12 month rental at $11mil. Gee and Niese are 24 month rentals. Montero probably offers the Mets the better long term return (or at least until Steven Matz is ready sometime in July 2015).

These are the trading chips the Mets have, but the problem is you have to find someone that wants them. It doesn’t seem to me that Alderson is the kind of GM that gets on the phone and pimps out his players.

And it changes weekly. There is a much better market out there right now for de Grom than either Niese or Gee.

Yes, this is a much slower way to build a team, but it’s the road we are on.

Michael, Alderson needs to walk into Fred Wilpon’s office and convince him that new money has to be committed to an established star that plays either shortstop or left field. Then, he needs to pick up the phone and call what teams have prospects at these positions that are ready to break through and are blocked by current ‘stars’ (Cubs, Dodgers, etc.).

But, here’s the difference.

Tell their GM you don’t want the prospect. Instead, you want to established star with the contract in place. What percentage of money would have to be paid by each team would have to be negotiated, but Alderson needs to offer up multiple players to get this done… some combination of established pitching (Gee, Niese) plus one or two prospects (Plawecki, Urena, Nimmo, etc.)

You can speed this process up and still keep your best pitching, but it will take new money.

Jack Leathersich –

              Tommy Emolo  -  I love reading your daily articles about the Mets farm teams and players.  I have become well informed of the Mets farm through your site and sites like yours over the past 4 + years now.  Anyway, I am well aware of Jack Leathersich what he has done and what his problems have been that may have prevented him from reaching the big league club.  My question is, what do you think the Mets (on August 3rd, 2014) are thinking when it comes to him?  He hasn't even been promoted to triple A yet, let alone to the Mets, yet just about every single night, he doesn't give up any runs, and has at least 1 K!  His problem (walks) seem to be much better to?  What is preventing him from not only getting moved up to triple A, but even going right past that and getting called up to the Mets!!  Surely they can make room for a reliever with his stuff, no? I would love to hear back from you on this, because I honestly value your opinion on Met prospects. Thanks, Tommy

            Mack – Thank you Tommy for your kind words in your email.

  Leathersich has suffered from the same problem other Mets pitchers have… being successful in both New York State and Nevada.

Regarding AAA, he has pitched plenty of times there… actually 28 appearances last year… and produced a horrible 7.76-ERA. Yes, the K/9 were still off the charts (14.59), but his BB/9 rose to 9.00.

We’re into the last month of the minor league season and I just don’t see many roster changes coming up. In addition, I’m not sure the Mets want to send any more of their prospects to Vegas. The contract with them as an affiliate runs out at the end of this season and I don’t think the Mets are going back to the PCL.

Lastly, expect the ‘Leatherman’ to get an invite to the Big Boy ST camp anyway.

Minor Notes –

Hardest Mets to strike out: 1. Murphy 12.6%, 2. Abreu 14.9%, 3. d'Arnaud 17.6%... Mets with most strikeouts: 1. Recker 31.4%, 2. Campbell 26.0%, 3. Granderson 23.2%... Red Sox designate Mike Carp for assignment… Mets with most games of at least 1 XBH and 1 BB in '14: Duda (20) Granderson (10) Tejada (9) Murphy (9) Wright (8)…