Mack’s Morning Report – 9-5-15 – Jeff McNeil, David Wright, Lucas Duda, Matt Harvey

Good morning.

Please note the following transactions involving the Binghamton Mets.

September 3:

INF Josh Rodriguez transferred from Binghamton (AA) to Las Vegas (AAA)

INF Jeff McNeil transferred from St. Lucie (High-A) to Binghamton (AA)

OF Victor Cruzado transferred from St. Lucie (High-A) to Binghamton (AA)

          Jeff McNeil may be an interesting study.

          We’ve always talked about him as either a shortstop or second baseman, but did you realize that, of the 284 games he has played in minor league baseball, the most have been played at third base?

          He’s 23 years old and just completed a season at St. Lucie where he hit .312 in 468 at bats.

          My assumption is he will start at third for Binghamton next season and could become an injury reserve for David Wright down the road real soon.

Going into Friday’s game, David Wright is hitting .324 since being activated off the DL. He has recorded multiple hits in 5 of the 8 games.

Maybe I have been wrong here. Maybe there’s at least three more good year’s left in Wright. Maybe four. The Mets world seems to have accredited the arrival of Yoedes Cespedes as being what has turned this team around, but let’s not forget what Wright has added since returning.

More importantly, he hasn’t complained once about a back that must still be causing him pain requiring endless rehabilitation.

Another important Met made news yesterday.

The Binghamton Mets announced that first baseman Lucas Duda will begin a rehab assignment tonight which could result in a return to Queens sometime late next week.

Let’s face it… Duda IS the Mets first baseman and is an animal with a bat in his hand. Put him in the same lineup with Cespedes, Wright, Travis d’Arnaud, and Curtis Granderson and you have an extremely potent middle lineup to put up for the run for the pennant.

Seems perfectly timed.

Jon Heyman http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/25290191/how-much-will-matt-harvey-pitch-innings-limit-debate-coming-to-a-head- wrote an interesting article on the Matt Harvey ‘how many innings are left’ issue –

Mets star right-hander Matt Harvey may be getting close to his innings limit. Or he may not be.

It's hard to know who's right here, but one thing's for sure: The Harvey innings situation is a budding controversy and source of consternation at a time nearly everything seems right in the Mets' world.

The Mets, Harvey and agent Scott Boras are going to have to figure this out before too long, but so far they can't even agree on who the disagreeing parties are. Mets GM Sandy Alderson contends he's not going to let Boras determine Harvey's innings; meanwhile, Boras says it's not him but the doctors who are making the determination to limit Harvey to 180 innings, and the doctors are the ones the Mets have no choice but to abide. If Harvey has just two starts left this year, it's hard to see how much, if any, playoff impact he might have.

          Mack – Let me put it this way…

Matt Harvey will be pitching in the Mets playoffs.

And it’s Sandy Alderson, Terry Collins, and Scott Boras’ decision on what they have to do between now and early October to have him ready for his first pitching assignment in what is shaping up as a series against either Pittsburgh or the Dodgers.

Lou asks –

Hi Mack...hope all is well with you and yours...

The latest drama with Matt Harvey is what appears to be a change in what the Mets brass thought they agreed with Boris on Harvey’s inning limit. Frankly, I'm getting tired of all the issues that Harvey has.

Harvey is an incredible pitcher but it seems there’s always a problem... the latest is the disagreement regarding innings pitched this year. I know I'll get a lot of flack with this suggestion but here goes... Why not use him as trade bait to bring back a genuine corner outfielder plus whatever else is needed for 2016 and beyond.. our pitching staff would still be good enough to win with deGrom, Matz, Wheeler (July) Syndergard & Niese... lets face it,  when the time comes and Harvey becomes a FA he's gone..let’s shed him now and get a haul in return..

What do you think...?–

          Mack – Well, I like the idea, but only if it gets the Mets multiple players that can be slotted immediately into the lineup and only if it happens once this season is over. This team is no longer in the prospect mold. It’s a legitimate playoff contender with only a couple of future holes.

           I also like it because it would end the building drama about this guy, his agnet, and his diminishing future with the Mets in the future. We all know he's bolting as soon as he can. Why not get top dollar value this off season before something else goes wrong.

          A power outfielder is obvious, but I also would want (at least) an established shortstop, a quality reliever, or an SP5 that can immediately be slotted in until Wheeler proves he’s capable of returning.

          I don’t think the Mets would have a problem with getting two quality players for Harvey. Frankly, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. They may even be able to get a third player, possibly a future prospect.

          I have no idea who the players would be and I’ll let all of you debate that!