Tom Brennan - MINORS SPOTLIGHT: NABIL CRISMATT
In April, I thought I had this guy wrong.
You see, I expected big things in 2017 from Colombian Nabil Crismatt, after a promising start to his career through 2016, including a sub 1.00 WHIP.
He even got a single start cameo in AA, tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball and fanning 7 in 2016, truly impressive as he had otherwise had less than 30 innings in Columbia as his career high point through 2016.
Would he dominate in St Lucie in 2017, as I expected, or vice versa?
"Vice versa" certainly won out in back to back starts on April 21 and April 27, in which he went just 9 innings and surrendered 12 runs and a ghastly 20 hits. I figured I must've had him wrong.
Nah, Tom, you can't jump ship over a few bad starts.
My conclusion? He just must not like pitching on those days. His request evermore should be: Don't start me on April 21 and April 27, thank you very much.
Fast forward to his last 3 starts in May, and we see him (as I expected) dominating for St Lucie.
Crismatt surrendered just 1 earned run and 13 hits in 18 innings in those 3 starts, with 18 Ks, topped off by a gem on May 19: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K. Looks like a vintage Tom Seaver line.
The 22 year old's career stats?
18-12, 2.74 ERA in 95 games (23 starts), 266 IP, 281 K, 1.02 WHIP. Very. Very. Impressive. Believe me.
Mr. Crismatt joins PJ Conlon, Chris Flexen, Merandy Gonzalez, and Jordan Humphreys as my starters to watch going forward in the Mets minors. (I am not sure whether to include Justin Dunn, as he was used in relief in his last outing, after struggles as a starter this year.)
Of course, I would like to have included Tom Szapucki, but his shoulder impingement has caused him to miss the first 40 games of the season, with no identified return date that I am aware of. And I am still hoping that Harol Gonzalez (rocky season but great in his last start for Columbia) is pulling a "Crismatt" and turning the corner too.
I wonder how Crismatt would do against Michael Conforto right now?
ReplyDeleteConforto is the best hitter in NY and very hard to contain right now.
I wonder how he would do against Jose Reyes, who got his 2000th career hit Saturday after a great catch on Friday night saved the day. After his 7 for 67 season start for which I critiqued him in a series of articles, he has gone a much improved 23 for 79 (.291) and is deserving to fend off Amed Rosario for a while.
Conforto and Reyes, last night's #1 and #2 hitters, got on 8 times. Why did they win? Stop right there.
To answer the question, I think Crismatt would acquit himself well.
PJ Conlon, Chris Flexen, Merandy Gonzalez, Jordan Humphreys, Justin Dunn, Tom Szapucki, Harol Gonzalez, and Nabil Crismatt - if you were drafting them today, what would your order of preference be? Rank them 1 through 8.
ReplyDeleteMarcus Molina as well.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all. Well hopefully the sky has stopped falling and "amazingly" we are winning with good pitching and our top 2 hitters getting on base so will wonders ever cease! More bad news on D Wright as we're all wondering were this will end. It sure is a good thing there are 2 Wild cards to always give us hope but I would really like to see Cespedes get back on the field and act like the leader he says he is and oh yeah what about that MVP season Yoenis....stay tuned and Lets Go Mets.
ReplyDeleteDJM, you are right. If I am including Flexen, I have to include Molina, so make it a list of 9. I'd like to see Molina pitch a few straight games first, but his first outing back was outstanding.
ReplyDeleteGary, I missed the bad news on Wright if it was brand new news. Cespedes to win an MVP has to really step it up, having missed so many games. He'll have to step it up just to catch up to Michael Conforto.
ReplyDeleteWright's throwing program has been suspended. I would start him on a line-up composition & BP management program with double-switch aerobic exercises.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what those are, Hobie. If he can swing a bat, bring him up once rosters expand in September for a farewell tour. Look at the infield, and Rosario around the corner... his ship has sailed as a Met.
DeleteIf all the prospects nots above, my guess is by this time next year, the order will be Humphreys, Gonzalez, Molina, Dunn, Flexen, Crismatt, Conlon, Szapucki, Harol G. Not shabby.
ReplyDeleteThomas--
ReplyDeleteThey are the core curricula for the Field Manger Degree.
Cool Hobie.
DeleteTyler Pill was strong again today, Milone was awful - can Tyler sneak his way up to start next Friday for the Mets? 1.96 ERA as a Vegas starter.
ReplyDelete