Mack’s Morning Report – 6-7-15 – Random Thoughts

Good morning.

There has been considerable press recently about the amount of pitches the Mets have limited Las Vegas prospect, Steven Matz, to this season. Some tend to feel that this is a preventative measure to insure that he doesn’t hurt his surgically repaired arm again. This isn’t true.

The Mets know two things about Matz. One, this is a true pitching gem and two, it may be the last front end starter their system produces in this continued decade.

I want you to take this to the bank… the Mets will work Matz into the rotation at some point this season… if… and, this is a big if… if the team is in contention and needs his talents in the rotation.

The ‘Catch 22’ here could be if other pitchers start blowing games and the Mets begin to fall from contention before Matz is worked into the lineup.

The ultimate goal here is to have a golden rotation of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matz, and Zack Wheeler. We’re going to have to wait until around this time next season to see Wheeler fill the last slot.

There are things called ‘team chemistry’ and you just can’t boot Jonathan Niese and Dillon Gee out the door. Both right now are determining both their own future as well as Matz.

As for Gee's comments yesterday, if you really don't care about all this anymore Dillon... and I can call you by your first name since I know you... why don't you just stop cashing the checks?  

I guess we should all cut him some slack for a couple of days and I hope Jay keeps the beat gnats away from him until he can collect his thoughts. We really could use his talent in the pen if his head is on straight.

Stay close to this story. It could be rapidly changing.

  

Okay, you’re the Texas Rangers.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre goes on the disabled list and they call up phenom prospect Joey Gallo to replace him.

So what happens if Gallo hits a thousand home runs while Beltre sits out ‘a month’ with a ‘strained thumb’ (poor baby? This follows a May where Beltre hit .293, 4-HR, and 16-RBIs in 123-AB).

Beltre is being paid $16mil this season and will be paid… by somebody… $18mil next year.

Thoughts?

There is a chance that last year’s number one overall pick in the draft, LHP Brady Aiken, could still be available when the Mets pick comes around in the second round. Aiken didn’t sign with Houston, wound up having Tommy John Surgery, and is now passing around mysterious medical information that only General Managers are allowed to receive (WTF?).

I would think that the last thing representatives for Aiken would have wanted to do was turn this into a media circus, but it does seem to be happening. I’ve never read anything negative about the character of this guy… I think, like Matt Harvey, had a certain figure in his head when drafted by Houston and it wasn’t offered.

Right now, his projected draft range per Fangraphs is between 10^th and 60^th overall. One team with a pick in the middle of the second round said they would take him sight unseen and offer him a slot bonus of $1mil.

Could this be the Mets?

Mack Ade 

I watched the San Diego game this past Tuesday night on the MLB-TV feed and caught the interview that the beat press had with David Wright in the clubhouse.

I also read, over and over, the comments Sandy Alderson had about the Wright situation and where he thought both the team and Wright’s direction was going.

As I’ve mentioned before, I suffered from lower back stenosis and had a successful operation when I was in my late 30s. I haven’t had any pain since, but I also haven’t played any third base or shot any hoops. The surgeons had to rebuild my spine, taking parts out and replacing them with a cage, and I was told to ‘cool it’ for the rest of my life (I did still try to play golf, but the ball kept going in the same lake).

The point I’m making… Wright can see the lack of progress and you can see the pain in his eyes when he discusses this. He knows he will never be the kind of player he demands of himself. And he knows his doctors are not going to allow him to put himself in that position.

I agree with Wright… he is too young at 32 to have the kind of surgery that is needed, but surgery is the only thing that will eventually take away this problem. Stenosis doesn’t disappear with pills, aroma therapy, or acupuncture. The canals keep closing, your movement keeps becoming more restricted, and your pain keeps getting worse.

Wright now knows this and he looked almost like he’s guilty of signing that contract extension and letting down the fans. I’m sure he feels bad, but it doesn’t matter at this point. The Mets are NEVER going to have the old Wright playing third base again and Alderson is already hinting that the only solution to that problem lies outside the team and its affiliates.

For now, I hope they make a deal for Ben Zobrist to finish out the 2015 season in a Mets uniform. This will give Alderson the time needed to structure a deal in the off-season for a more permanent solution (Murphy for 2/3 years?).

As for Wright, thank you David. I thought that the days you and Jose Reyes joined the parent team were going to create a World Series team for sure. I hope you do the right thing for you, your long term health, and your family. The last thing I want to see is you sitting on the bench like you were Danny Muno or someone.