4/26/16

Mack’s Morning Report – 4-26-16 – Depth of Starters



Good morning.


I did talk to a friend of mine before beginning to write yesterday’s first Morning Report since my return and I asked how things were going. He said the rotation was having some difficulties… lack of control by Matt Harvey… injuries by Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler… and a horrendous start by Steven Matz. Still, when I looked at the league stats, the team was ranked 4th out of 30 teams in the lowest ERA.

Noah Syndergaard – no one can question what is going on right here at this moment. Easily, one of the top five starters in 2016 baseball (the one downside of Syndergaard's game right now may be what looks like his inability to stop runners from running on him... there were five successful steals in the Reds game on Monday, but further study did show that catcher Travis d'Arnaud, not known for a great arm to start with, pulled himself out of the game in the 8th inning with soreness in his throwing arm).

Matt Harvey – yes, Harvey has had some problems, but, he showed some positive signs in his last outing and this is still The Dark Knight, right?

Jacob deGrom – two for two so far with a baby birth and muscle stain slotted between them… there’s no long term problem here.

Steven Matz – he’s pitched three times this year, once being served up to the home Gods (7-R, 37.80-ERA)… but, his two away starts are: 13.1-IP, 2-ER, 1.35). Everything’s okay here.

Bartolo Colon – Colon has pitched in four games this season, is 3rd in innings pitched, 3rd in strikeouts, and producing a 2.89-ERA. This is basic workhorse material.

Logan Verrett – Boy, you couldn’t ask more from a guy that no one wrote a lick about a year ago… he’s started two games in emergency situations, pitched in two more, given up only one run in 14 innings, and leads the team with the lowest ERA.

Zack Wheeler – Wheeler is still considered the heir apparent to the SP5 slot on this team, as well it should be. Let’s assume the Mets will stay with their current plan to shift Colon over to the pen with Verrett when Wheeler returns.

Sean Gilmartin – And what about this guy? He’s produced a 1.62-ERA in three starts down on the farm and there won’t even be any room for him to return to the Mets pen once Josh Edgin works himself back.

Major League baseball teams averaged 10 starters last season. So did the Mets. Having this much quality talent can only be a benefit to a team with limited offensive resources. Yes, the Mets bats did return recently, but it was the pitching that kept them in the games.

I assume Washington will cool off at some point this season. If they don’t, they’ll have to be beaten by the Mets. And those victories will come from this staff.




16 comments:

Ernest Dove said...

We're also seeing the HUGE benefits of fielding a team built for homers. When they take turns hitting them each game.
I seem to recall one particular macks mets writer who'd already proclaimed Conforto the teams future #3 hitter back last may 2015. I wonder who that was ;)

Tom Brennan said...

Teams may have averaged 10 starters last year, but I wonder how many of those were Sept call ups.

We have a truly great staff, already preforming better than most and about to hit full stride. Comforting. And we do have Verrett, Wheeler, Gilmartin, Ynoa and Gsellman as needed. WOW

d'Arnaud shoulder has me concerned - hopefully nothing.

Walker and Conforto, especially, are really exciting. Duda seems to be accelerating. Good stuff.

Tom Brennan said...

I think that # 3 slot call dovetails to you, Mr. Dove :)

Mack Ade said...

Ernest -

Guilbert? lol

Mack Ade said...

d'Arnaud's arm has always concerned me

Metsiac said...

Given our 2Bman's tendencies this month, blasting the HRs and rarely drawing a BB, maybe he should consider changing his last name to"Trotter". He's still young enough to command a 4-5 year deal after this season, and I'm beginning to think "the plan" of him just being a seat-warmer for Dilson might need to be changed.

Of course, it's way too soon to come to conclusions, but could it be that his future could be right here? I don't expect his HR barrage to continue, but if he gives us a .285/20 HR season, why not?

Hobie said...

>> ...and I'm beginning to think "the plan" of him just being a seat-warmer for Dilson might need to be changed. >>

I think that too...
but in terms of the mid-term prognosis at THIRD base.

Tom Brennan said...

Agree, Hobie...Walker switching to 3B, possibility of being re-signed increasing. We are competing with Nats, we need to cement our strategic advantage.

Mack Ade said...

Metsiac - Hobie - Tom

ALL options have to be considered to keep this kind of potential power in the lineup.

a 3-4-5 of Conforto, Cespedes, and Duda, followed by this guy would work for me for years.

Metsiac said...

Hobie---I can't agree, unless Wright retires. The contract Walker will command (and deserve)if he has the kind of season I described, is FAR too expensive for a part-timer.

As long as David is here and able to play even 50 games a year, Neil will be a 2Bman. Here or elsewhere.

Mack Ade said...

One option Metsiac -

If Wright falters and REALLY starts to show his age, he could consider a Cuddyer-like exit with a healthy payout far less than the amount of money still owed him

Wright is very rich and bleeds orange and blue. He easily could choose to do what's best for the team.

Tom Brennan said...

I agree, Mack. If Wright proves to himself that he is done, he will look to retire gracefully at a buy out or via insurance if truly unable to go.

That could be at year end, and coincide with them re-signing Walker for 3B and putting Dilson at 2B.

Metsiac said...

I don't doubt that for a minute, Mack. Depending on his insured contract (if he has one), if he's forced to retire he might not be losing much at all, except his burning desire to be part of a World Champion Mets team.

But, if he's here and able to play, the Mets are NOT giving a fat contract to a part-timer, even one who might play 100 games at the position. And I doubt Walker would be interested even if they did.

He'll play 2B.Somewhere.

Ernest Dove said...

I love Walker too but:
Dilson might still be a star (and cheap)
Sandy & co. Don't wanna pay anyone his age close to 4-5 yr deals.
We still need money to extend young aces year after year upcoming.
Although him playing 3B is intriguing and sad for this huge David fan.

Anonymous said...

Sadly, I think that we may have seen the best of Travis D.........so much potential, but he can't stay healthy long enough to put everything together and play to his ability.

Sore throwing shoulder? Eh....doesn't sound too promising and if he needs surgery, then there goes another season (he's not getting any younger)

It is nice to have another prospect waiting in the wings (Plawecki). He doesn't have Travis' power, but he is a good contact hitter and much better defensively.

bgreg98180 said...

Regarding Gilmartin:

Even more encouraging to see his pitching performance is occurring in Las Vegas.

Nice.