Tom Brennan - All The Young Dudes v2.0

Tom Brennan - YOUNG SPRING TRAINING METS DUDES – REPORT CARD #2

How are our (and Mott the Hoople's) young dude wannabes doing? (Definition: a guy is a wannabe if he does not have a lock on the Mets’ 25 man opening day roster). 

This is the 2nd edition, the first coming out on March 6.

I again break the Wannabes into 3 categories:

CATEGORY 1: 
Young Dudes Playing So Danged Good Even 
Vet-Loving Terry Collins Must Be Impressed

Category #1 on March 6 had a stunning 6 hitters and 10 pitchers. 
This week, 9 Category 1 hitters, and 8 pitchers.  Very sweet.

Luis Guillorme – the now-bulked up, formerly powerless LG has been upgraded to All Galaxy.  His new build reminds me of Carlos Baerga in his prime time days.  A homer (opposite field, no less!) and a triple, a .588 slug %!!  Luis is an LG that wants to play near an Apple in Queens.

Travis Taijeron - Last week, I noted "1 for 7 with 2 walks, and 4 Ks.  Another man who fans too much, sadly."  Very next game? 4 for 4.  Well, shut my mouth!  Through Wednesday, he is now a mighty dandy 7 for 16 with 3 walks and only 1 more K in his last dozen plate appearances.  Out of Tom's doghouse and straight to the Taijeron Penthouse.

TJ Rivera - started the spring 0-5 with 4 Ks...since, he's 7 for 18 with 4 XBHs. Off to the WBC.  As I said last week, he's ready for the bigs - but are the Mets ready for him?

Philip Evans – Evans started out the spring with 2 Brooks Robinson quality plays at 3B and a solo homer and a grand slam, all in his first 10 plate appearances. Through Wednesday, he is 7 for 19.  Do that your whole career and you're a Hall of Famer, Brooks Evans. 

Amed Rosario – play so far shouts "REAL DEAL."  He is 7 for 22 thus far.

Michael Conforto – started like a house on fire, cooled since, but still a robust .360/.385/.640.  We Like Ike, but we also like Mike.

Gavin Cecchini - people like his second base play so far.  His hitting .500 with 2 BBs and just a single K in 15 PA before heading off to the WBC is AOK with me and with R2D2.  He's for real, folks.

Brandon Nimmo -  left for the WBC after having gone 10 for 21. Like Gavin Cecchini, he is for real.  

Tomas Nido - 4 for 13 so far, so the catching whiz has made a solid impression in big league games this spring.Maybe he'll make a solid impression in Queens in 2018.

Marcos Molina - holding his own over 5.1 IP, just 1 run, but no K's so far. Stay healthy and show us you are a future big league starter.

Seth Lugo - pitched great last year, and 5 fine scoreless innings in his first two outings, then got cuffed around on Sunday.  Off to the WBC, and who knows, maybe he"ll stop off at the WNBA or visit WNEW after that.  He just wants to pitch in games broadcast over WOR and WPIX.

Rob Gsellman - also pitched great last year, scoreless ball before Wednesday's start, when the Astros hit him a bit. His Jake deGrom hairstyle gives him the edge.  In many years, he'd be a lock for the starting rotation. Right now, he is my #5 starter coming up north.

Rafael Montero - Raffie has a great line - 7 IP, 2 hits, 3 walks, 10 Ks, 1 run.  The one run was a 40,000 foot Giancarlo Stanton homer - into the wind.  It happens, but next time, keep it to 30,000 or less.

Paul Sewald - what does a guy have to do to impress folks around here, anyway? 4 hitless IP, and off to the WBC he goes. Will he be in Queens on opening day?

Josh Smoker - tossing very well, one run allowed in several outings.  The big lefty is looking to go north with the big club.

Adam Wilk -  6.2 innings, 6 Ks, 2 runs. So far, so very good. Another Queens hopeful.

Ben Rowan -  4 outings, 4 scoreless, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks. Goin' with Rowan! That is what he wants to hear Collins say.

Corey Taylor - impressing us folks - a lot.   Five outings, 5 innings, 1 run. Hard thrower.  Coming through the system FAST.

CATEGORY 2: 
Not Too Shabby So Far

Matt Reynolds - big opportunity squandered in Monday's game when he GIDP with the bases full. He's competing in a crowded infield scenario...3 for 16 with 5 walks is OK, but is it good enough?

PJ Conlon - started the spring fine, but met his comeuppance on Wednesday in the worst inning of his pro career.  So far, 5.2 IP. 4 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks, and NO strikeouts (which concerns me).  A good learning experience for him this spring.

Dominic Smith - the well-conditioned Smitty has struggled, 3 for 20 with 9 K. .320 OBP is a positive, relatively speaking. Hit, Smitty, hit.

CATEGORY 3: 
Whoever Said This Game Wasn’t Hard?

Dave Roseboom - very, very good, or very, very bad. Adds up to 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6K.  A good learning experience against enhanced competition.

Champ Stuart - 3 for 16, 9 Ks. Flawed. Overmatched. IMO.

Logan Taylor - LT pitching like he just got sacked by another LT:

5 innings, 5 walks, 4 hits, 5 runs.  Not ready.

Kevin McGowan - 4 IP, 13.50 ERA.  Oh, well. Spring's not over.

TIM TEBOW TIME: 
Not a bad debut on Wednesday vs the Red Sox, striking out on what looked like a low pitch his first time up against a superior MLB pitcher, a hard grounder into a DP to get a run home, and a HBP.  Guys have done worse. Just one nerves-inducing game. 
Back at 'em in Friday's game.

Hopefully I did miss any Young Dudes who have played a bunch - anyway, Grapefruit League followers, until next week, eat lots of grapefruit, stay healthy, and enjoy!