Tom Brennan: METS MINORS DARK HORSE PITCHERS
REGNAULT, ROSEBOOM, PETERSON AND JANNIS
Older pitchers not of high pedigree (e.g., drafted later than the 10th round) often are perpetually in the "dark horse" portion of the stable...until they get called up and you wonder how it happened.
Many certainly felt that way in 2017 about Paul Sewald (who actually was a round # 10 fella and despite an 0-6 record, put up a better-than-team-average 4.55 ERA in his rookie year (mostly as a 27 year old), an ERA damaged by late season fatigue that saw his ERA jump from 3.86 in late August.
Also in that happy dark horse category was 35th rounder Chase Bradford, who in 2017 at the age of almost 28 at his debut was 2-0, 3.74 in 28 games spanning 33.2 innings (compare to Matt Harvey's 6.70 ERA).
Four high minors dark horses of the pitching kind (pictured above, left to right) are:
Dandy Dave Roseboom
Killer Kyle Regnault
Terminating Tim Peterson
Maestro Mickey Jannis
DAVE ROSEBOOM - doing his best imitation of Rik Smits and Yao Ming, the 17th round Boomer missed most of 2017 with foot woes.
Mack passed on to us, however, that Dave said his foot is feeling much more Rosey now, which is super news. The bullpen lefty was 1-1, 1.87 in 52 AA games in 2016, with 14 of 15 saves.
Mack passed on to us, however, that Dave said his foot is feeling much more Rosey now, which is super news. The bullpen lefty was 1-1, 1.87 in 52 AA games in 2016, with 14 of 15 saves.
However, his brief, foot-affected 2017 in the pitching hell known as Las Vegas was unkind, with 17.1 innings and an 8.31 ERA. His first 6 games resulted in a 1.35 ERA, but 3 very bad outings in that few innings in a reliever's season can explode an ERA.
My gut tells me that if the foot stays very good in 2018, when he will turn 26, so will his pitching.
My gut tells me that if the foot stays very good in 2018, when he will turn 26, so will his pitching.
KYLE REGNAULT - this undrafted dark horse lefty did not even make his minor league debut until age 26, a time by which most draftees have departed the scene.
For the prior 3 years, he pitched for something called the Canadian-American Association, where the HORSES are not dark, they're jet black.
For the prior 3 years, he pitched for something called the Canadian-American Association, where the HORSES are not dark, they're jet black.
Starting 2018 having recently turned 29, what can we expect from Kyle? My guess is A LOT. Pitching mostly in treacherous Vegas last year, he went 7-0, 2.78 with 66 Ks in 64.2 IP. HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE!
In his 3 year minors career, he is 12-4, 2.55...what is not to like? What happens in Vegas does not have to stay in Vegas, if he can keep this up.
In his 3 year minors career, he is 12-4, 2.55...what is not to like? What happens in Vegas does not have to stay in Vegas, if he can keep this up.
TIM PETERSON - another guy getting older as we speak, the 20th rounder turns 27 as pitchers and catchers report this coming spring.
He should have stayed out of Vegas in 2017....in AA in 41 games spanning 55 innings, he allowed only 7 earned runs, good for an eye-popping 1.14 ERA...Bob Gibson ERA territory.
Oh, but those 2.2 innings for Vegas? 5 earned runs. We'll see what Vegas holds in store for Tim Terrific in 2018. My guess is he will do just fine while he is waiting like Paul Sewald and Chase Bradford did for that call up to Queens.
He should have stayed out of Vegas in 2017....in AA in 41 games spanning 55 innings, he allowed only 7 earned runs, good for an eye-popping 1.14 ERA...Bob Gibson ERA territory.
Oh, but those 2.2 innings for Vegas? 5 earned runs. We'll see what Vegas holds in store for Tim Terrific in 2018. My guess is he will do just fine while he is waiting like Paul Sewald and Chase Bradford did for that call up to Queens.
MICKEY JANNIS - much more impressive at draft time than undrafted Regnault, Jannis went in the 44th round.
I once wrote that the Mets a few years ago had many minor league pitchers hang it up despite good records and ERAs, and I wondered why they did not try to build on their successful skills by learning a "Dickey pitch", the knuckler, a true dark horse pitch.
Dickey did, and his career earnings must be (without looking it up) close to $50 million.
Jannis did take up the knuckler (before I wrote that prior article, to be accurate) and it has him closer to a big league dream.
I once wrote that the Mets a few years ago had many minor league pitchers hang it up despite good records and ERAs, and I wondered why they did not try to build on their successful skills by learning a "Dickey pitch", the knuckler, a true dark horse pitch.
Dickey did, and his career earnings must be (without looking it up) close to $50 million.
Jannis did take up the knuckler (before I wrote that prior article, to be accurate) and it has him closer to a big league dream.
2017 was really good for Jannis, who just turned 30 (and, for knuckleballers, 30 is the new 20). Jannis was 8-7, 3.60 for AA Binghamton in 21 starts, an impressive improvement over his 2016 against weaker competition, so it is clear that the craft is being refined.
Cy Young Award winner RA Dickey was 35 when he came off the scrap heap and made his Mets debut, so Mickey still has time. 2018 should be fascinating to watch in terms of how well he progresses.
Cy Young Award winner RA Dickey was 35 when he came off the scrap heap and made his Mets debut, so Mickey still has time. 2018 should be fascinating to watch in terms of how well he progresses.
You want a stable rotation and pen?
These 4 dark horses connote STABLE.
And, speaking of arms, none fell off on the first official day of pitchers and catchers, so it is all clear sailing ahead.
And, speaking of arms, none fell off on the first official day of pitchers and catchers, so it is all clear sailing ahead.
15 comments:
Tom -
Nice list. You have four guys that we used to cann 'non-prospect prospects'. They are one great season away from a trip to Flushing and a chance to show why they've been doing this since grade school.
Comments on your Fab Four:
Roseboom - everything was gong along just great until he stumbled in Vegas. I mean, really stumbled coming off a bad foot, which I am sure played hell on his delivery. I look for Dave to turn it around this year in Vegas and be one the 'next one up' candidated for the Mets pen if there is help needed there.
Regnault - I have never been that concrned with the age of a reliever. What I am concerned with is how his arm is doing. Kyle is another of those dark horses... did I say that?... I like and could make his way to Queens, probably in September
Peterson - again... age doe not matter... only results do. He is stuck with going back to Vegas first (boy, do I guess that the next wave of relievers in the chain are going to love having an East Coast AAA team starting in 2019).
Jannis - If I an not concerned with age on a reliever, I REALLY am not concerned with someone older that throws the knuckle. We are going to see this guy in Queens soemtime, if nothing more than a crowd pleaser.
RA is reportedly considerico retirement, but if he would accept a MnL deal I would offer him one. If he doesn't win a ML job he'd have value as tutor forJannis. If he does retire, maybe he'd consider a job as ST instructor.
RA Dickey was 10-10, 4.26 last year in 31 starts - hard to believe some team would not sign him to a majors contract.
RA's stats last year are far lower than the average SP5 in the league.
RA redux would play real well for minor league/ tuturial/ no-risk deal. Is there any truth to those spurious reports of him being too unctuous for some clubhouse clique. Seemed t-rific!
-metmonkey
Bill has a good point re: mentoring Jannis. For that alone he'd be worth the spring training invitation on a minor league deal.
And they should be better in a park like Citi.
Metmonkey -
I have never heard anything negative about Dickey in the clubhouse.
I hope one or more of these guys develop.....especially the lefties, as we are pretty much all right handed, minus Blevins.
Mike, if the Mets do need a lefty in-house, they could still opt to call up mostly starter turned reliever in AA late in 2017 PJ Conlon, a fine all around pitcher who camps out in the high 80's. I wonder if Calloway/Eiland tutelage could help him add a few MPH. He still could be a valued pen arm without the added velocity: 20-12, 2.35 minor league career so far.
What reports?
Bill, I have no idea what reports the responder referred to, but I do remember the report of him winning a Cy Young award for the Mets. Now that is the sort of report I love - hopefully we'll get another such report for a Mets pitcher this coming November.
"Anonymous" referred to a bad rep, but no backup info.
Yep, Bill, to me, Dickey from Day 1 forward with the Mets had a great rep.
And a 39-28, 2.95 career ERA with the Mets, to boot.
RA was one of my Mets favorites.
Ya, again, on parting from ny, there were "spurious" reports in radioland (wfan) that he rubbed some the wrong way with his willingness to open up. I loved him and the documentary he made about his climb, literally and figuratively, and was just wondering aloud why the nets have not gobbled him up.
Post a Comment