Morning Report – August 9th – The KIddies, Mail Box

Great story on why no one throws a curve anymore –

            http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/88249076/overhand-curveball-evolution-mlb-history-of-the-game#!byxPyz

Well, though late in happening, I welcome the Mets deciding to play the kids into the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. The assumption here is we will see SS Wilmer Flores and LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a much more regular basis, at the expense of Chris Young, Eric Young, and Ruben Tejada. We should also see Matt den Dekker as soon as the Mets flip a Young-coin and choose which one goes packing first.

Let's first give failure where failure is due. It was suppose to be David Wright, Curtis Granderson and Chris Young to lead this team out of the abyss this year.None have delivered on their projected numbers, especially the 25+ home runs both Grandy and Young were supposed to add to this lineup.

Playing Duda this year has produced a new 25+ home run hitter in the lineup.

Not giving up on Travis d'Arnaud looks like there is a good chance there will be another next season at this position.

Now, we need to see if Flores can consistently hit in the pros like he did at the AAA level (for 2-years) and wouldn't it be nice if another homegrown outfielder like Juan Lagares was found?

Lastly, all these moves just produce more off-season trade chips. The Mets are going to need multiple players if they want one of the Cubs middle infielders or either Tuol or CarGo in Colorado. 

Playing the rest of the season in this direction makes it much easier for both of these teams to scout us and, eventually, get a deal done.

Eno-Chat –

            Comment From Vic - Vic Black? Closer anytime in the next year plus?

Eno Sarris: Dunno, Mejia is good and Black is walking way too many people now.

Comment From Jack - Jason deGrom, good pitcher or very good month?

Eno Sarris: Very good pitcher. Made the changeup great, has gas, command, and the curve has improved.

Mail Box –


           Mack (Reese et. al.), What’s your take on waiving Granderson FIRST (assuming leaks are to be believed) as opposed to after or with CY, EYJ, Recker…and Colon?  Was there a hint of a potential nibble do you think? - Hobie

Bob Gregory -

Mack I see that Granderson has just entered his revocable waivers. What teams, if any, do you think would put in a serious claim for him in actual hopes of adding him to their team?

First of all, most of the entire Mets team was placed on waivers which is normal at this time of the year. I wouldn’t make much out of this. 

Obviously, you would have to find a team that believes he can do more than he did here. Other than that, he’s a good teammate with a wonderful smile that hits around .230 and didn’t fulfill the Mets hopes of him hitting 25+ home runs this year.

Any hoping to simply claim and hope the Mets just let him go? Any willing to claim and actually work out a trade? And of course as the Mets look on to next year and those that follow, would the Mets be willing to work out a trade with any potential teams?  Or even possibly willing to just let him be claimed and go? I think that this could actually be a debatable issue with good points depending on a team's point of view.

I’m sure the Mets would be open to any of the scenarios you list here, but I expect he’ll be back next year. I almost wish he would twist an ankle and go down for the season so we could see an Aug-Sept outfield of Matt den Dekker, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Juan Lagares. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we actually had the solution to our bat problem right in our own organization? 

And finally if you were Met GM for the day what would you be looking for as a preferable outcome?  Thanks again. Bob

Frankly, I’d keep him and I’d bat him next year at leadoff. He can’t possibly have that bad of a start again. Also, I don’t want the overall Mets salaries to continue to reduce.

            Bob Gregory –

Mack, given the current landscape of young pitchers value, perhaps it is time to reevaluate what the true worth of each pitcher is in a trade. Wheeler is demonstrating that things are really coming together for him. Some even are beginning to speak the "Ace" word again with him. I am sure there are many scouts and GMs that remember it wasn't too long ago that Wheeler was thought of being the superior pitching prospect compared to Harvey. If Wheeler continues developing as he currently is...his age, years of team control still remaining, and his salary. .... Wouldn't he be a true prize among all prizes in any potential trade? Isn't it time to re-think just how close his value would be in regards to a Tulowitzki or any offensive prize the Mets could target in a trade? I am not advocating to trade Wheeler but could his value when combined with the Mets pitching depth create a situation in which they can't refuse?  What do you think?

                                    Mack – Hey Bob.

Your ‘true worth in a trade’ is currently 1. Wheeler, 2. Harvey, 3. Syndergaard, and 4. deGrom… my guess is #5 would be Montero over Niese and Gee, only because of both their injuries in the past.

Harvey would return to #1 if and when he proves his arm is 100% healed. Until then, the ‘ace’ of this staff is currently Wheeler.

I know this four hits a night shit is getting very old, but, you have to trust me here. You have no idea how wonderful it is going to be when Harvey is followed by Wheeler, who will be followed by Syndergaard, who will be followed by deGrom, who will be followed by Montero.

I’ll give you this. You will accomplish your ‘bat needs much quicker if you sell off Wheeler. You will get a top level shortstop or left fielder in an hour. You might get both.

You then would be left with a 2015 rotation of Harvey, Colon, deGrom, Syndergaard, Gee, Niese, and/or Montero.

It’s tempting. It’s very tempting.  

                        John Looby –

                        Hey Mack, another question for you to ponder.

Putting your scouting hat on, at what level do you start looking at what numbers players are putting up when you judge them? I understand that players in short season or lower level ball may be asked to work on a specific weakness of their game which could lead to a short term town turn in production.

Mack – You basically judge nothing that is done at either the GCL or Kingsport level. These are pure teaching schools where Mets coaches are trying to build on the player’s natural talents, not what they were taught in school.

Going from Brooklyn up to Binghamton (up to three promotions) comes from the staff and is based on overall performance and the team’s judgment on whether the player is ready to make the jump to the next level. Don’t get me wrong… stats come into play but only to make the jump to the next level.

It’s only gets real at the AA level. You’re not going anywhere if you don’t put your total game together here.

Don’t get me wrong. You will notice when certain aspects of one game stick out. Take Cory Vaughn and Dustin Lawley. Both have had disappointing overall seasons in the past while, at the same time, led their respective league in a major offensive category. Team officials will definitely recognize something like this and will spend a few more years with players like this trying to turn them into the complete package.

You also could get an early glimpse at a future strikeout artist (Jack Leathersich, Akeel Morris), while, at the same time, early stats could expose a pitchers control weakness by the number of walks he throws.

But you have to remember… everything being done at these lower levels are mostly being done against players that never will make it in this game.

But… as a general rule… St. Lucie stats begin to be taken serious followed by a demand to produce in Binghamton.

On a related matter, how much stock to you put in Sabrmetrics when judging a young player, or even the production of big league players? I am reading "Dollar Sign on the Muscle" at the moment. It's a wonderful read and really got me thinking about scouting and judging prospects.

You’re asking me a tough question because I’m not a Sabr person. I have nothing against it; in fact, I think it’s a wonderful new tool that should be used in conjunction with what happens on the field, but I’m one of those old farts that sit behind home plate with a radar gun (I never sat in the press box when I was a reporter).

There isn’t a SABR person in the world that can put down in some equation what Eric Young Jr. did today, cutting off that ground ball on the way to Juan Lagares.

Now, I will ask Christopher Soto and Stephen Guilbert to chime in here and give them the other side. I believe both are pro-Sabr guys and maybe they can answer this question better than I can. 

Terms I work with -

Batting

Pitching

Fielding

AVG - Batting Average

G - Games Played

AB - At Bats

R - Runs Scored

H - Hits

2B - Doubles

3B - Triples

HR - Home Runs

RBI - Runs Batted In

TB - Total Bases

BB - Bases on Balls (Walks)

SO - Strikeouts

SB - Stolen Bases

CS - Caught Stealing

OBP - On-base Percentage

SLG - Slugging Percentage

OPS - On-base Plus Slugging Percentage

Other:

AO - Air (Fly) Outs

GIDP - Ground into Double Plays

GO - Ground Outs

GO/AO - Ground Outs/Air (Fly) Outs Ratio

HBP - Hit by Pitch

IBB - Intentional Walks

LOB - Left On Base

NP - Number of Pitches

SAC - Sacrifice Bunts

SF - Sacrifice Flies

TP - Triple Play

TPA - Total Plate Appearances

XBH - Extra Base Hits