Mack’s Morning Report – 5-25 – Seth Romero, Robert Gsellman, Gavin Cecchini, Patrick Mazeika

Good morning.

Seth Romero –

It’s no big secret that Seth Romero is one the most talented pitchers eligible for June’s draft. The 6-3, 220-LB lefty had a 2015 freshman stat line of 1.94 ERA in 83 innings with a 92/22 K/BB, which was followed up in 2016 with 2.29 ERA in 94 innings with a 113/28 K/BB. His fastball early on averaged at around 93 and topped off at 95.

It’s also no big secret that he has been thrown off the University of Houston baseball team recently for repeated violations of the team policies. His first suspension was in February 2016 for “conduct detrimental to the team”. Then, this April, he was suspended again for “a violation of university and athletic department policy”. The Houston AD said “at this time, it is important for Seth to focus primarily on his academic and personal life”. Ironically, Romero was leading D1 baseball at the time of his suspension with 76-Ks in 44.1-IP.

The final hammer fell when UH kicked Romero off the team earlier this month. The school cited ‘an undisclosed event’. Sources said he had a fistfight during batting practice before Houston was to play Rice.

His complete Houston 3-year stats were 47-appearances, 28-starts, 2.43, 226.1-IP, 290-K, 70-BB.

I bring up Romero because it’s just about guaranteed that he will still be on the board when the Mets #20 pick comes up. Take away all the bullshit and he would have been a definite top ten pick and possibly the second lefty taken behind Louisville’s Brandon McKay. Now, who knows? You pass on him and you most definitely lose a future start in this sport. You draft him, and he goes back to school at some junior college so he can stat up and come back next year for an earlier pick in the draft and a higher $$ slot.

Tough call, but you pass on this guy and you may be making a big mistake.

Fangraphs reviewed a list of 2016 rookies they wrote about last year –

          

Robert Gsellman, RHP, Mets: The Mets have struggled with injuries early on in 2017 but rather than step up, Gsellman has taken a step back. He’s producing lots of ground balls but he’s still allowing too many homers (five) and he’s not missing many bats (28 Ks) through his first 36.2 innings. He’s been peppered for 52 hits already and his ERA is north of 7.00. The bullpen might be a better place for him right now.

          

Gavin Cecchini, SS, Mets: Known mostly as a good-glove, decent-hit player coming into pro ball, Cecchini hasn’t done much to disprove that scouting report. However, he’s moved through the minors well and is at triple-A as a 23-year-old. And he’s already had a taste of the majors. Asdrubal Cabrera is hurt and Jose Reyes is struggling to hit so Cecchini might get a chance to play a little as the year progresses — especially if Cabrera struggles to stay healthy (or becomes trade bait) and the Mets continue to fall out of the playoff picture.

                       Mack – I have two thoughts here:

1.     I hope we didn’t give up too early on Gsellman as a starter

2.     I would give Cecchini the second base job after the all-star break

MLB.com had an interesting article on Patrick Mazeika –

If Mazeika can polish his catching skills, his prospect ranking with the Mets -- No. 26 right now -- could rise dramatically. His Major League potential at the plate isn't questioned.

The left-handed hitter batted .354 in 2015 for Kingsport in the Rookie Appalachian League, then .305 last season with Columbia in the Class A South Atlantic League. Mazeika got a late start at Columbia, though, because of an elbow injury -- and his arm was already fringy in the view of scouts.

"I've been working hard to catch up with my defense," Mazeika said. "My arm is coming along, and I think I'm getting a little bit better at everything."

Mack – No one loves Mazeika’s bat more than I do, but I still believe his ticket to the majors will be at first base. Still, it doesn’t hurt to try and improve behind the plate.

A great story last week on Corey Oswalt and P.J. Conlon