Mack’s Apples – Omar Minaya, Luis Guillorme, Rich Dauer, Nick Madrigal, A Braves Look at the Mets

Good morning.

New York Mets:  Fred Wilpon - and company have lost touch –

We all remember Omar Minaya. He had his run but he was basically run out of town. Fans had enough of Omar. Now the Mets bring him back as a special assistant to Sandy Alderson! That’s the move that will bring us back to the playoffs, Mets fans. How do we say this nicely? We don’t. SAY WHAT?!?!?! This is the priority of the ownership? If this isn’t prove that Fred Wilpon is clueless I don’t know what is.

It might just be time for the MLB to step in. Fred Wilpon may be a nice, old man but he doesn’t know what he is doing for the product on the field. Keep this in mind, the team has not won a title since he took over sole ownership. When he spends money recycling general managers for no apparent reason, you see why. The man has lost touch and he is clueless.

I’m far from the only Mets writer that is putting the heat on the Wilpons. And I will not stop doing it until this family has divested their interest in the team I once loved.

Three prospects that could bring good cheer in  2018 -

                  

     Luis Guillorme  - A 22-year-old shortstop, Guillorme’s glove gives off the impression of a young Omar Vizquel. The comparison is lofty, but both are on the smaller side (5-foot-9) and possess that slick-fielding ability that makes you want to see a second look.

The thing that makes him such a great fielder is his hands. Take a look at them on display below.

The good news is he made strides in 2017 to make a push for the next level. Although he may never hit for power (two career home runs), he walked 72 times in 2017, good enough for a .376 OBP. If he can get on base consistently and continue to flash the leather, he could be a contributor at second base this season if the Mets fail to address the gaping hole at the keystone this winter.

Someone told me recently that I seem to be becoming a ‘small ball’ guy. That’s not true.

I have always been a ‘defense first’ guy and a middle field of Guillorme, Amed Rosario, and Juan Lagares is going to win me 10+ more games, becau8se of what they do defensively, than we did in 2017.

The race to save a beloved coach’s life  - Rich Dauer -

With nearly one million revelers joyously drinking in their team’s first championship, the Astros’ World Series victory parade had wended through the sun-baked streets of downtown Houston to City Hall, where the next phase of the celebration would take place. On stage, the exhilarated Astros were joined by local politicians and a number of luminaries at the start of the official ceremony honoring the team. It was then that Rich Dauer, the club's first base coach, abruptly began to stagger, almost as if he was drunk. He stepped to the back of the stage with the other coaches as the players were being introduced to the crowd.

            Great story with a happy ending.

 MLB Madhouse came out with their Dec 23^rd mock draft and they have the Mets taking 2B Nick Madrigal –

For the past few seasons, the Mets have taken a huge gamble on defensive liability and a lack of speed. While they made due in 2015 and 2016 thanks to their pitching and reliance on power, the 2017 implosion of the staff and injury bug which bit many exposed many issues that needed to be addressed. Because the Mets are either unable or unwilling to invest in big ticket free agents to address current issues, like third base, and with the mind boggling addition of former GM Omar Minaya to the front office, it’s a wonder what this team is planning on doing in the future, and whether or not they really are focused on competing with Washington.

The Mets went to Oregon State in 2014 to grab a young masher named Michael Conforto, so it makes some sense for them to make a return trip in 2018 to get another Beaver in Nick Madrigal. Madrigal is arguably the best college hitter in the class, and at a diminutive 5'7", he does have some Jose Altuve in him. He may not be homer happy, but he can change the game by making consistent loud contact, and being a speed threat on the basepaths. He is defensively talented enough to play shortstop, although he does have a professional future at second base.

The Mets’ had the opportunity to get a glimpse of Amed Rosario and Dom Smith at the end of their lost season. While they still have a little ways to go before we can consider them fulltime big league contributors, having a quick riser like Madrigal would make for a very strong double play group, and Madrigal would be a nice addition to the leadoff spot. Mets fans had better hope the team invests in pro ready collegians, because it’s clear that in a big market, the team is acting a lot like Oakland or Tampa Bay, as opposed to their crosstown counterparts.

Here's how an Atlanta Braves blog looks at our off-season link -           

       

     In 2016, the Mets were a Wild Card team and the first signs of a pitching breakdown emerged with only 2 starters able to muster 150 innings.  In 2017, the wheels simply fell off as only Jacob deGrom surpassed 120 innings.

Noah Syndergaard managed only 30.  Matt Harvey threw 93, and was faring poorly when he did throw (6.70 ERA).

Meanwhile, the rest of their roster was either bad or hurt or sometimes both, leading to a club that mostly mailed in the second half of the season.  David Wright is chronically hurt.  Michael Conforto nearly destroyed a shoulder during a swing.  Yoenis Cespedes couldn’t keep his legs going.

After game 80 in 2017, the Mets were just 4 games under .500 (38-42).  They were 5 under (45-50) after July 22nd.  They finished up 22 games under at 70-92, punctuated by an 11-0 loss on October 1st.

Oh, and the Amazin’s have a new manager:  Mickey Callaway – the former pitching coach of the Indians.  Good luck Mickey… you’re gonna need it.