Mack’s Morning Report – 4-25-16, Kobe Bryant, Death Bed Observations

Good morning.

First of all, thanks to all of you who have sent along your warm thoughts on my bout with pneumonia. This one really kicked me in the pants (frankly, still is as I sit here coughing into the monitor) and doctors told me how serious this was for a man of 69-years old with high blood pressure and diabetes. I couldn’t get my head off the pillow for three straight days no less write about the Mets.

I also want to thank both Tom Brennan and Ernest Dove for stepping up to the plate and adding extra content needed to keep this leaky ship afloat. I couldn’t do this without you guys.

I hope you can without me.

My doctors have told me to slow down. Since giving up swimming the English Channel has never been an option, one of the things I have to decide… for good this time… is to leave Mack’s Mets.

So, I’ve decided to do with this time with a little class.

2016 will be my Kobe tour. This will be the last year I write my Morning Report for the site. I will visit each stadium in all four minor leagues and let them shower me with gifts before the season ends. Then, I’ll… well, no, that’s not the way it’s going to happen, but I promise you this… you will get quality home written shit here until the doors close for good.

Secondly, I want to give my writers the option of keeping the site going past this current season. That’s their call, but, after the bell rings at the end of this season, I’m David Letterman.

I really had the computer and televisions turned off during my illness so I had no idea what had gone on until Sunday. We Mets fans never take the time to really step back like this.

Some initial thoughts.

          I see that the Mets aren’t ranked 30^th in hitting anymore.

I found it surprisingly rewarding to see that the current Mets are ranked second in the National League in team… fielding. That surprised me.

Despite all the drama in the early parts of this season, I found the fact that Mets have the 4th best winning percentage in the NL sort of surprising...

I’m starting to wonder if Wilmer Flores can survive on this team. It actually takes a lot of talent to be able to deliver in the batting box while playing on a limited basis. On the surface, the acquisition of Astrubal Cabbrera is looking more like the current and future shortstop of this team, at least through 2017. I guess Flores is nothing more than a backup corner infielder and Gavin Cecchini continues to not develop in the minors. On the minor side, our next bug superstar in a couple of years is going to be SS Amed Rosario and all these wannabe versions are going to have to move over and let him follow in Cabrerra’s footsteps.

In addition, Neil Walker is looking to be a gem of a second base addition and the perfect 2017 lead up to Dilson Herrera.

I guess someone needs to send Logan Verrett some flowers this week. It amazes me the depth of quality starters in this organization, which I will write about tomorrow.

Maybe I’m wrong about Travis d’Arnaud. Maybe he just is incapable (like most catchers) of hitting the ball consistently.

The Matt Harvey situation seems interesting, but, frankly, it’s going to take a few of you to fill me what’s going on here. What’s happened to the Dark Knight since that early start when he was cooking and Juan Lagares misplayed a ball in center?

I did click on MLB.com and click up the leaders in the National League in all the major categories. Man-child Bryce Harper is exactly where you expect him to be, ranking wise, but… Daniel  Murphy? My guess is the Mets are not going to get the free ride to the playoffs they were given last year by the Nats.