7/6/17

Mack’s Morning Report – 7-6 – Chris Flexen, Tidbits, Kingsport Bats



Morning.


Chris Flexen

J. R. asked: - “Hey Mack, hope things are well with you and Mrs. Mack. A quick question for your next Morning Report… which prospect do you think will be the next starter to become part of the Mets rotation… and when?


            Mack – Thanks for the question and it’s good to hear from you again.
At this point, I believe that 22-year old RHP Chris Flexen will crack the rotation sometime next season. I see him finishing out this season in Las Vegas, returning there next spring after impressing the Mets brass at spring training, and being called up once the obligatory DL stints begin.

The only thing that could stand in his way is his seemingly consistent way of… yes, you got it… getting injured and going on the disabled list. Still, his talent will demand a spot in the Mets rotation sometime next season.


Tidbits -      

           P Daniel Bard made his Mets debut on Sunday:  Brklyn – 0.2-IP, 4-ER, 2-HBP, 5-BB, 3-WP, 54.00-ERA

           Ben Badler/Baseball America ranked the Mets 3rd in signing international prospects this month.

           Ben Lindberg, of https://theringer.com/2017-mlb-home-run-spike-juiced-ball-testing-reveal-155cd21108bc, said that the Juiced ball was back –

Offense increased again in 1920, as MLB began replacing used baseballs with fresh ones much more frequently within games, largely in an effort to police a new partial ban on doctoring the ball. Because the balls were in better condition, they were easier to drive. The following year brought another rise in run-scoring, this time not just because the ball was replaced even more frequently, but because hitters looked around and realized that the new game deserved (literally) loftier goals than just putting the ball in play. As Wright recounts, “The biggest factor in the big offensive leap in 1921 was traceable to a change in the approach of some hitters — they begin to shift from a general goal of hitting liners and hard grounders to driving more balls in the air.” Led by Babe Ruth, batters adapted to a bouncier, better-preserved, and (as of an earlier change from the 1910s) lower-seamed ball and started swinging for the fences. It all sounds familiar, and today’s bigger, stronger, less strikeout-averse hitters almost certainly swing harder than ever before.

Click on the link above and read a very interesting article


Ex-Met 3B Eudor Garcia on his way to play baseball in Mexico



Kingsport Bats

            Who are these guys and where did they come from? I can’t even pronounce their names no less judge their long-term projection. They are –

                       3B Rigoberto Terrazas  -  21/years old – 4th year in organization (2x DSL, 1x GCL) – hitting .390/.457/.463/920 – 3rd in league in BA

                       1B Jeremy Vasquez – 20/years old – 28th round draft pick this year - .348/.484/.435/919


                       C Juan Uriarte – 19/years old – 3rd year in organization (DSL, GSL) - .333/.395/.636/1031. 2-HR. 10-RBI

13 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, good morning.

I am holding out hope that we see Flexen in Queens after the sell off, say in September. The injuries have a silver lining - he won't be pushing an innings limit. To get to Queens in September, he'd have to stay red hot. I know, under the Mets' philosophy, a mid-2018 timetable is more likely. But if he is ready, get him up here.

Juan Uriarte is a 6'3" 180, 19 year old catcher who seems to do well throwing out base runners. Can he continue to hit? We'll see. He and Jose Reyes have something in common - a middle name: Bernabe. We always can use a Bernabe in Queens.

Vegas had Taijeron with 4 hits last night, and 2 for Rosario and 2 doubles for Smith. Trade some vets and promote these guys.

Brooklyn finally broke out with the bats last nite - 10 runs, 17 hits - AND 3rd round pick Quinn Brody is off to a hot start - 9 for 27, .457 on base % in 8 games. The 21 year old outfielder is already gaining on...Tim Tebow in the outfield minors rankings!

Ricardo Cespedes returned from injury the same way he was hitting before the injury - hot! Two hits in each of his last 3 games. Bronx-born dude is still 19.

After 3 awful relief outings, they untied the real Tyler Bashlor last night and tossed out the imposter - the real guy fanned the side in the 9th. Welcome back.

Isn't it funny in the era of homer ball, the Mets' first season in Citifield had Murphy as the team leader with a Wilpon-induced 12?

Aaron Judge has 29 homers - draft power hitters, I always say.

Mack Ade said...

I shake my head when we all want Jay Bruce gone.

We have a 40+ HR, 115+ RBI, .260 hitter here who is a great clubhouse guy and loves being a Met.

What am I missing here?

Zozo said...

Hey Mack
We need a centerfielder that can play defense. Trade him ASAP and get the most you can for him is my thought.

Tom Brennan said...

Bruce keeps it up and he can, and should, stay, if the signing price is realistic. You burn all the bridges, you'll be lucky to win 70 next year. You need a strong core. After all, the Nationals have a guy named Murphy, so you need a real (and healthy) team to beat them

Tom Brennan said...

Zozo, I still hope Lagares can get a lot of play in CF in 2018, but he has to be more cautious - getting hurt the way he does is ridiculous. if he were a car driver, he'd be in the high risk pool (but then again, most Mets would join him).

Tom Brennan said...

Where was DJ Peters when we needed him against Madison Bumgarner last October? Two homers off him in a single inning! From an MILB article:

In time, DJ Peters and Madison Bumgarner may face each other in a Major League ballpark. Nobody will blame the Giants ace for pitching around him.

The Dodgers' No. 18 prospect hit a pair of homers off Bumgarner - in the fourth inning - of Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga's 14-1 win over San Jose on Wednesday.

Unknown said...

Mack I agree the guy gets no love. The problem would be outfield defense cause that puts Conforto in center but I could live with it if we would go with a Smith, Guillorme Rosario first to SS and add a third baseman. I would really like to see Nimmo play more as well as he kinda been forgotten.

Reese Kaplan said...

Our do-nothing GM could negotiate a contract extension with Jay Bruce NOW rather than waiting for him to hit the open market and face competition from other teams. Nah, that would require foresight and effort...

Mack Ade said...

Okay. I vacillate on this guy. Just shoot me.

I know that the Mets (as usual) have numerous holes to fill in order to field a world class team… a catcher that can both hit and throw… a real third baseman… a killer second baseman… a fifth quality starter… hell, a fourth quality starter… and close to an entire bullpen.

Dominic Smith, Amed Rosario, Michael Conforto, Yoenes Cespedes, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Jeurys Familia, and Jerry Blevens are a good start, but we’re far from done.

Brandon Nimmo seems to be doing a good job this season of convincing all of us that he should stick in Queens, and no one in baseball is now going to bail us out of the remaining years on the Juan Lagares contract. Still, these tow guys seem a better fit for the two utility positions than the critical starting right field.

Now, let me ask you a question… what if a 30-year old right fielder that will hit 40+ home runs this season, knock in 115+ RBIs, hit around .260, is a great clubhouse guy, and wants to be a Met comes to you and wants to sign a two, maybe three year deal to lock up the Mets outfield until after the 2020 season?

Does this quality as a gift horse?

Let’s face it… the Mets pipeline is skinny with outfield prospects. The closest thing to outfield prospects on the four full season teams would be Kevin Kaczmarski (Binghamton), Wuilmer Beccera (St. Lucie) and Desmond Lindsay (Columbia), none of which scream to the top of the MLB prospect list (the Mets seem to be finally realizing this and drafted Quinn Brody, while signing International prospects Jean Carlos Soto, and Adrian Hernandez).
We have no much money coming off the books this off-season and I just believe that the Hot Stove season would be best introduced with a new contract to a good friend to the rest of the players in the clubhouse. And yeah, he can hit the snot off the ball too!

Tom Brennan said...

I'd hesitate to extend Bruce right now - maybe he tails off in the 2nd half to 12 homers and .230 for the rest of the year, and you can sign him 2-3 years cheaper than now.

But I agree with Mack - whatever player dumping we do this year, I want this team ready to compete for the World Series next year. So what gets dismantled has to be "remantled" this off season.

Zozo said...

I would prefer Lorenzo Cain in centerfield with his 20 homeruns and 30 stolen bases and High on base percentage hitting one or two in our lineup. Plus I believe he plays very good defense

Mack Ade said...

Zozo -

I prefer beluga caviar with my sushi but it just isn't going to happen :0

Zozo said...

Why can't it happen? We have $70 million coming off the payroll. I would give him a 5 year $15-17mil a year contract. That's basically the same money they paid Granderson per year for 4 years?