The Morning Report 6.9.2015 | Granderson and Flores vs. Power/Finesse SP, Mets Farm System Still Deep, OF Desmond Lindsay = Andrew McCutchen?

Brian Joura | Mets 360-  Flores shares the team lead with nine homers. Granderson is one off the pace with eight. Let’s take a look at these two power hitters to see how they are getting it done. Baseball-Reference divides pitchers into Power, Finesse and Average, based on their strikeout and walk rates. Flores has hit all nine of his homers against average (5) and finesse (4) pitchers. Granderson has hit all eight of his homers against power (2) and finesse (6) pitchers. Overall, Granderson and Flores are oddly complementary players. Granderson succeeds against the extreme pitchers, while Flores does his best against ones that are middle of the road. Additionally, while he struggles overall against finesse pitchers, Flores has a healthy .172 ISO against them. Contrast that to his performance against the power pitchers, against whom he has just a .046 ISO.

(Chris Soto: This new concept of breaking pitchers out into "Power" "Finesse" and "Neutral" is a new addition to Baseball Reference's website. It is also a new concept for me as I currently do not delve that deep into the statistical analysis. Irregardless it does seem to provide some value in terms of figuring out who is a better match-up against what type pitcher.)


Matt Ehalt | NJ Advance Media- For the first time under general manager Sandy Alderson, the Mets did not make a first-round pick in the MLB Draft, losing their selection after signing Michael Cuddyer to a two-year deal in the off-season. Overall they’ve developed one of baseball’s top farm systems, which has been called upon often during these first two months of the season while the team has been ravaged by injuries. Thirteen players have landed on the disabled list. Even as the top prospects have been called upon, the Mets still have quality players waiting for their chances to make it to the big leagues. Here’s.....some of the team’s hopefuls:

• LHSP Steven Matz
• IF Matt Reynolds
• OF Michael Conforto
• OF Brandon Nimmo

(Chris Soto: Matt brings up a good point...Generally when a club is promoting young talent from AAA to the Show....it weakens the farm system overall. However, the Mets, under the Development Program established by Depodesta, have built an extreme amount of depth at almost every level of the minor league system. The AAA team still has Matz, Reynolds, Bowman, and Rivera...AA has Nimmo, Conforto, Cecchini, Cessa, Mazzilli....A+ has Rosario, Smith, Stuart, Urena, Fulmer, Gsellman, Molina, Morris, Whalen, Secrest.....A has Becerra, Guillorme, Lupo, Nido, Meisner, Prevost, and Weick. This was the original plan....to build a revolving door of talent that won't dry up thus causing a requirement to have a 3-5 year rebuilding project like the Phillies have to do now.)


Adam Rubin | ESPN New York- After waiting past 11 p.m. ET to make their first selection, the New York Mets drafted prep center fielder Desmond Lindsay from Bradenton, Florida, with the 53rd overall pick. Mets amateur scouting director Tommy Tanous labeled the 18-year-old Lindsay an "offensive machine" and expressed an exceedingly high degree of confidence the organization will sign him. "I would say there's a very small risk," Tanous said about the likelihood the Mets lose Lindsay to UNC. "This is a player that has expressed his interest in playing professional baseball, especially for the Mets. I know his grandmother is a huge Mets fan. Desmond will be a Met. I don't think there's much decision there."

Chris Soto: Here's my take on last night's pick.

    I think we were all surprised by the fact that Alderson went the High School route with his 1st pick. With such a limited Draft Signing Pool, I thought for certain he was going to go with an already heavily developed College Senior bat that could he could sign underslot and move quickly through the organization. However the Mets will still be able to go underslot with Lindsay while getting the long term upside (and risk...) generally assosicated with HS picks.
 
     Now...as for Lindsay the player....One thing I know the Sandy Alderson organization has been trying to do for years is to find their own..."Andrew McCutchen." In my opinion Desmond Lindsay is another shot to meet that goal. At 6-0, 200 pounds, he's the perfect size for any position on the diamond (sans 1B) but the Mets have already stated he is going to be a CF (like McCutchen). According to ESPN's Keith Law, Lindsay comes in with the following tool grades:

Hit Tool: 55
Power: 60
Speed: 55
Fielding: 65
Arm: 65

     Now the Mets are referencing his rare power/speed combo that he brings to the table but Law only has him down for a 55 speed tool...Why? Well Lindsay was dealing with hamstring issues last season and it hampered his mobility coming into the draft. According to The Perfect Game scouting site, Lindsay's best 60 yard time clocked in at 6.56 seconds. If this is true, then when he is healthy, Desmond Lindsay brings 65 to 70 grade speed to the table. This gives him 4 of the 5 plus tools required to become a "true 5 tool player." If there's one good thing that can be developed in the minor leagues....its the hit tool. This guy has a very legitimate chance to be Sandy's McCutchen. We have some video of his swing below.