After making a number of top 100 lists this year, Matz is far from a sleeper, but on a team that boasts young starters like Matt Harvey, Jake deGrom, the now injured Zack Wheeler, and top prospect Noah Syndergaard, Matz goes relatively under the radar. It would not surprise me at all if Matz ended up being the second most valuable pitcher in this group over the course of his career, behind only Harvey. At the same time, he has a great chance of being the worst of the group as well, as his likely floor is middle relief lefty. While there is risk with Matz, I like the upside enough to acquire him and I am actually expecting him to be useful as soon as this season. Wheeler’s injury is unfortunate for the Mets, but having a guy like Matz to turn to eases that pain a bit. Fantasy owners in long term leagues should be taking a similar approach with a guy like Matz. When injuries and poor performance hurt your team, it will be nice to have a guy like Matz to turn to when he proves his readiness.
The writers over on Fangraphs have written fondly about the Mets young starters and this past Monday featured a post about Steven Matz, posted just after the announcement that Zack Wheeler was probably lost for the season.
I'm simply numb over the loss of Wheeler and LHRP Josh Edgin and I'm starting to think that a black cloud just follows this team (and their medical team as well) from season to season.
For me, I'm already jumping ahead to 2016 where four members of the 25-man will probably be Edgin, Wheeler, Matz, and Noah Syndergaard. Plans were to take their time with Matz and Syndergaard, but that may be sped up to the all-star break this season.
For now, the rotation will be some combination of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Bartolo Colon, Jonathan Niese, Dillon Gee, or Rafael Montero... but all this could change overnight when everybody's all-star game is played, the 'Super-2' issue is in the past for another year, and both Las Vegas starters have 10-15 more starts under their belts.
For me, the Wheeler injury proves that we have to let things like this play out on their own. In today's world, there's a good chance the Mets aren't done with losing the service of one (or more) of their remaining starters.
Thank God we are still talking about a current list of eight starters that are healthy.
Let's hope Black is fine. If he is a big issue too, on top of Wheeler and Edgin, then I'd start to be concerned more about the ability to get into the playoffs in 2015.
ReplyDeleteWe need a reliable pen so when the Harveys and deGroms leave the game with a lead, they can rest assured they'll pick up wins.
Hey Mack, as I was a pebble in your sandal writing all the time about certain minor leaguers last year, who would've thought that on March 22, you'd see an SNY headline "Muno and Reynolds in Mix to Replace Murphy on Opening Day" :)
ReplyDeleteGood morning. As much as I hate to lose wheeler, I'm sick of looking forward to next year. The Mets have some depth and I think this team is going to be a resilient bunch. Good teams overcome injuries. I think the Mets can stay in the hunt.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 100%, Mets Dreams. Hold the bullpen together (I think it wi
ReplyDeletewill, and Duck Dynasty Bobby Parnell is closer to returning, it seems, which will really help) and we're still looking mahvelous for 2015.
Thomas -
ReplyDeleteMuno and Reynolds are earning any accolades they are receiving. Imaging how excited it is for them?
Thomas -
ReplyDeleteOne more thing on your comments about being a 'pebble in my sandal'.
You shouldn't feel that way.
You, nor your writing about either of these guys, ever annoyed me.
Writers (and comment makers) take on personalities. Bob Gregory doesn't like the Mets ownership... Reese Kaplan doesn't like Terry Collins... chris Soto doesn't like me :)
You write positively, and repetitively about the same kids and pump their cred to the readers here.
That's what you do and you do it well.