Tom Brennan: TOP MET TEEN PROSPECTS
Part 1 of 2
There is nothing like a hot prospect who happens to have achieved that status before the tender age of 20.
Of course, there are guys who think, "What's the big deal?"
Guys, for instance, like Ed Kranepool, whose major league career started at the baby-face age of 17 years, 318 days.
His career spanned 118 homers and nearly 6,000 plate appearances. He was also quite a pinch hitter for a while.
His career spanned 118 homers and nearly 6,000 plate appearances. He was also quite a pinch hitter for a while.
Eddie just challenged Adrian Gonzalez and Rusty Staub to a foot race, a 100 yard dash to start on opening day and finish on Memorial Day, or thereabouts. Eddie was SLOW!
Also super young was Doc Gooden, whose debut in 1984 occurred at 19 years, 143 days (sorry, I don't have any information on how many minutes and seconds there).
Age-wise, Doc beat to the big leagues Dodger great Sandy Koufax, who debuted when he was 33 days older than Doc.
Those last 4 seasons of Dandy Sandy going 97-27 were something to behold, but of course, consider that those #s were inflated by going 31-4 from 1962-66 against the sad-sack expansion Mets and Astros. Still, against everyone else, he wasn't all that shabby, I'm sure you'd agree.
Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, and Bob Feller all debuted at 17.
Hmm, I wonder why?
Oh yeah, they were friggin' great, that's why.
Mel Ott, listed at a smallish 5'9", 170, had his 511 homers in his career spanning 22 years (1926-1947), and he liked symmetry - he scored 1,860 runs and knocked in 1,859.
Rumor has it that Herb G was there for his first homer. It's a good thing Mel started playing young, because he passed away a few months short of age 50.
Rumor has it that Herb G was there for his first homer. It's a good thing Mel started playing young, because he passed away a few months short of age 50.
Jimmie Fox, a contemporary of Ott, and not to be confused with Jamie (Ray Charles) Fox, had 534 homers and finished his career at a robust .325/.428/.609.
He also had 4 seasons with RBI totals of 156, 163, 169, and 175. I will gladly take two Foxes for the Mets, wouldn't you? I'd ask for three, but I do not want to appear greedy.
He only had 27 of those homers at ages 33 and 34, and then his career was done, which is why he had "only" 534 homers.
That feller Bob Feller won 266 games...and it could have been a WHOLE lot more...he won SEVENTY SIX GAMES over three seasons when he was 20-22 years old, but then missed the next 3 seasons and most of a 4th season in World War II...which probably cost him 80-90 wins.
He also threw a stunning 1,448 innings by age 22, walking an amazing 815 over that span - "control is, like, so overrated."
The all time youngest major leaguer?
The Still-In-Diapers award goes to Joe Nuxhall, who in wartime 1944 got to pitch in a game at 15 years, 316 days.
His real major league debut came 8 years later...and he retired in 1966 with 135 wins, too. Joe was just happy he had something to talk about at his Sweet Sixteen party.
What about current top Mets teen prospects, you ask?
Don't rush me - that's my next article.
Kranepool actually participated in an open tryout that the Mets had when they first became a team.
ReplyDeleteIt was sponsored by an old NYC newspaper, The Daily Mirror, and you could participate if you brought with you a letter from your coach.
He was one of three kids that came out of that... a catcher (can't remember his name) out of John Adams HS, Queens), Rick Herscher, and Ed.
Amazing, Mack.
ReplyDeleteNeil Walker to Tanks for a mere $4.5 million. Should we have signed him at that price?
ReplyDeleteYanks, not Tanks
ReplyDeleteTanks, but no Tanks. Where would he have played? Would they bench the $8.5 million Cabrera? Were you thinking insurance in the event Rosario, ummm, tanks? Moving Cabrera to SS and opening up 2B? Gavin Cecchini makes minimum wage if that's the case. Wilmer Flores makes less than what the Bombers gave Walker. That ship has rightly sailed and Walker is laughing all the way to the bank on the $17.2 million Alderson gambled and lost last year.
ReplyDeleteNo.
ReplyDeleteI wish Walker well, whatever team he picked.
We decided on Cabrera and Frazier to fill 2018 holes in the IF.
Ed Kranepool was maybe the best slow baserunner ever. Knew his limitations, but took the extra base whenever available, never to my recollection got picked off and could (legally) obstruct on potential DP's with the best. Always liked the guy.
ReplyDeleteStarted the '63 season in RF BTW.
We saved money on Walker, paying only part of the $17 M but having him reject the 3-year deal we offered.
ReplyDeleteAs for Krane, no way could he outrun AG today, but as long as Rusty is bedridden, Ed would win. I was glad to hear Keith say that Rusty is "doing much better, though. 👍
Kranepool lost a race to a whooping Krane
ReplyDeleteEvans may be the new Kevin Mitchell. Has more pop now.
ReplyDeletePrefer Conlon over Matz and Vargas starting. Just needs a 92 mph dipping fastball added in really. Throws 88 mph at current. Could be raised 4 mph.
Flores hip swivel, hand, to eye still lets him down some. Always wondered why he never switched over to a step in approach. Would solve this and potentially turn him into a starter.
Juan lacks hitting self-discipline and he never upgraded this despite how many batting coaches?
The four AAA Vegas Mets I will be watching the most: Thompson, Borenstein, Oswalt, and Molina. Potentially all four could make a huge contribution here come July sometime.
I'm interested in the MIF there. With Cecchini and Guillorme there, who will be at SS and who at 2B?
ReplyDelete