4/1/15

The Morning Report 4.1.2015 | Mets Rotation is Strong, Collins on the Hot Seat, How to Keep Puello, Niese's New Motion



Stephen Guilbert

Matt Harvey: 18.2 IP, 17 K, 1 BB
Jacob deGrom: 22.0 IP, 21 K, 4 BB
Jon Niese: 16.1 IP, 13 K, 2 BB
Bartolo Colon: 11.2 IP, 11 K, 3 BB
Rafael Montero: 15.0 IP, 14 K, 2 BB

Rotation Results: 8.1 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, 6.2 to 1 K:BB ratio
MLB Average: 7.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.7 to 1 K: BB ratio


Jon Heyman | CBS Sports- it's safe to say there's only one manager where there's a book out to verify how hot his seat is. There it is, right there in black and white, on the pages of, "Baseball Maverick: How Sandy Alderson Revolutionized Baseball and Revived the Mets." You read the tone and you can almost feel Mets manager Terry Collins' seat getting warmer. Alderson, [said] Collins was "likely" to be back in 2015, [but] things were going so badly that it was really only "51 percent" that Collins would be back. And if that isn't enough, Alderson added regarding Collins, "Frankly, for me, that percentage has been eroding."

(Chris Soto: While I think it's foolish to base a manager's job security based on a book where words can be twisted, I do think this is a make or break season for him. This is the most talent Collins has been given during his tenure with the club, and based on Spring Training results, it is enough to compete for a playoff spot.)


Danny Abriano | Rising AppleBefore the Mets traded Matt den Dekker to the Nationals, they had a decision to make regarding outfielder Cesar Puello. After dealing den Dekker, the decision should be a simple one: the Mets need to find a way to keep Puello in the fold. On the 40-man roster and out of options...If the Mets don’t carry Puello on the 25-man roster, they’ll have to pass him through waivers in order to send him to the minors. If placed on waivers, Puello will almost certainly be snatched up, potentially by either the Phillies or Braves, who are both in dire need of outfield help.

(Chris Soto: I would love to hold onto Puello as much as the next fan, however, there is just no space on the club for him. That said, there is a bit of trickery that can be done in order to "beat the system." The team could start the season with only 4 SP's on the roster and carry Puello as an extra bench player. When April 11th rolls around and the 5th starter is needed, they can then try and pass Puello through waivers. In theory, 40 man rosters should be more rigid by then which will make it easier to pass through.)


Joe Janish | Mets TodayFinally! It only took an entire year, but Jon Niese discovered the mechanical flaw that was causing his shoulder pain. Niese realized that his shoulder ailment was connected to his mechanics. However, he didn’t understand what it was about his mechanics that was causing the problem — apparently he thought it had something to do with his arm angle. Niese said he noticed in his last bullpen session that his right leg was stepping toward the first-base side — not directly at the plate — as he landed. That caused him to throw across his body and, he believes, fatigued his left shoulder. During a 76-pitch session Thursday against New York Mets batters, Niese concentrated on striding longer and toward the plate. He suggested that helped his shoulder feel better.“It actually felt a lot better,” Niese said. “I wasn’t fatigued at the end.”

(Chris Soto: This is an excellent read and I would suggest everyone go check out the rest of the article in detail. Niese has looked EXTREMELY strong this spring. The change in his motion is allowing him to repeat his delivery easier and more efficiently. Also, as an added "consequence," his curveball has developed more of a 12-6 bite to it's motion which is throwing batters off. I'm expecting an excellent season from Niese this year.)

6 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

I'd love to see Puello stay. His spring only looks mediocre because everyone else has been so hot. He's had a .357 on base, which on a lot of other teams would be a fine spring showing.

Niese is a spring surprise to me and a very pleasant one. Doing outstanding.

This Met staff needs psychological help - they're a bunch of control freaks! You can't say enough about Harvey's return, with just 1 walk.

I think the Mets are better than the Nats.

Reese Kaplan said...

@Stephen Guilbert...sigh...if only it were so that Montero would get the chance to pitch every 5th day. However, veteran mediocrity always triumphs over youth and potential with Collins in the dugout. Unless/until his boss orders him who to play, Collins will always go back to the well in hopes of getting someone going.

Christopher Soto said...

Per Adam Rubin....

Insider states that Dillon Gee has won the job

Reese Kaplan said...

Now that one farcical open competition is over, when does Johnny Monell get the advice to always bet on black when he's in Las Vegas' casinos?

Hobie said...

Chris-

Not sure what hanging on to Cesar for a few days does. If as you say, it forces 40-man decisions on a claiming club, and that is enough to let him slip, fine do it.

But isn't he out of options with ANYBODY. Doesn't a claimant have to put him on their 25? Maybe it's a good thing he has had a meh spring.

Christopher Soto said...

That is correct Hobie.

Teams generally have a roster slot or 2 available coming out of spring training by moving players to the 60 day DL

But if we wait till April 11th to waiver Puello, teams will have already burned up those spots.

Also you are correct, any team that claims him and tries to option him to the minor leagues will have to attempt to pass him through waivers.