HOW ARE THOSE ST LUCIE METS LOOKING? Tom Brennan

HOW ARE THOSE ST LUCIE METS LOOKING?  Tom Brennan

Yes, there’s a baseball world beyond the games played by the pros in Queens.  Four Mets’ farm teams are active right now…who’s on each roster and how does that roster look to my four eyes?

I wrote about the vaunted AAA Las Vegas 51’s and the irrepressible AA Binghamton Mets previously. 

Today’s missive?   The High A ball St. Lucie Mets, Lucille Ball’s favorite squad since Branch Rickey passed on.   (I Love Lucy, and by the way, did anyone ever see the Safe at Home movie with Mantle, Maris, and…yes…Fred Mertz?)

Back to baseball: No Binghamton snow in Florida, thankfully, so St Lucie is cruising along, about a dozen games in as you read this.

So what do I think we have on the St Lucie roster?  It’s good. Read on:

PITCHING: A decent but not awe-inspiring squad:

Name	Thw
		STARTERS – SOLID, AND THERE ARE A FEW REAL PROSPECTS
Josh Prevost	R	Tall prospect who missed a lot of time in 2015.  Off to a good 2016 start.
Chris Flexen	R	Back in mid-2015 from TJ surgery, I suspect the 21 year old will have a big year.
Scarlyn Reyes	R	Got a really late career start. Needs break out year to show he’s real.
Corey Oswalt	R	Done well in lower minors, except a lot of hits allowed.  I suspect it gets tougher.
Ricky Knapp	R	See Corey Oswalt – ditto.
Casey Delgado	R	Undrafted – nice first year starting for Savannah.  Potential future pen or # 5 guy.
		BULLPEN IS VERY SOLID, IF NOT SPECTACULAR
Alberto Baldonado	L	Tons of Ks and 1.91 ERA in Savannah in 2015.  In system since 2010.  Prospect?
Kevin McGowan	R	13th round in 2013.  6-11, 4.73 ERA in 2015.  Needs to improve to progress.
Robert Coles	R	28th round in 2013.  Solid 2015 in 40 outings for St Lucie. (6-2, 2.45).  24 year old.
Jimmy Duff	R	Solid 2015 at Savannah and Lucie.  3.00, 13 saves.  Great control. 20th round 2014.
Mike Gibbons	R	Not drafted.  Decent 2015.  On DL to start 2016.
Ben Griset	L	13th round in 2013.  Decent 2015 (3-1, 2.97).  2 great relief outings in 2016 St Lucie.
Paul Paez	L	Solid 2015 (4-2, 2.14) for the 38th rounder in 2013.  Can he defy the odds? On DL.
Tim Peterson	R	Injury shortened 2015.  Off to a great start in 2016.  171 Ks in 146 career innings,
Corey Taylor	R	Fine pen debut in Brooklyn in 2015.  Is an encore in the offing?

CATCHERS: No future Mike Piazzas here:

Name		Bat	Thw
Tomas Nido	R		R	8TH Rd, 2012.  22 yr.  Decent in 2015 (high K’s, low BB). Hot 2016 start.
Lednier Ricardo	R		R	28 year old Cuban.  Signed in 2015. 100 total minor at bats.   We’ll see.

INFIELD: Like Vegas and Bingo, some fine prospects:

Name	Pos	Bat	Thw
Phillip Evans	3B	R	R	Lost in the deluge of quality middle infielders.  Still young.
Luis Guillorme	SS	L	R	Future major league utility guy, possible starter.  S. Atlantic MVP in 2015.
Jonathan Johnson	2B	L	R	Older guy (27) – decent year in 2015.  On DL.
Michael Katz	1B	R	R	Pretty good hitter.  Porous bat (a K every 3.3 plate appearances).
Amed Rosario	SS	R	R	Future major league starter/star?  Climbing fast.  Plays all of 2016 at age 20.
Kevin Taylor	2B	L	R	Every team needs 2 Taylors.  Seems to be organizational filler.
Jhoan Urena	3B	S	R	Bad 2015; prospect or bust/  We’ll see in 2016.

OUTFIELD: Decent Squad:

Name	Pos	Bat	Thw
Wuilmer Becerra	RF	R	R	Best OFprospect in Mets’ higher minors, or Nimmo? We’ll see
Patrick Biondi	CF	L	R	Already 25, fast, decent low power hitter.  Not sure how far he’ll climb
John Mora	CF	L	L	Similar skills to Biondi, but 3 years younger.  Future 5th OF? Smallish.
Champ Stuart	CF	R	R	Very fast, both in terms of speed and in piling up Ks.  Make or break.

Looks like a team that will contend to lead its division. 

Next article: the A-ball Columbia Fireflies.

The short season teams will just have to wait until they start in June.