Mack – Some Early Observations

Good morning.

The sample is quite small, but I can’t help but jot down my thoughts after the first delightful six games of the regular season and opening day of our affiliates.

1.     I can not imagine anyone being unhappy with the approach of our new manager. A minor leaguer friend of mine that was one of the guys invited to Big Boy Camp this spring training, told me that this year is like working for a manager that doesn’t have a ‘grandfather’ approach to this game. Good way of putting it.

2.     How could anybody find something wrong with the 5-1 record so far? The hitting, the fielding, and what about the tremendous pitching? Nothing seems to be being done wrong.

3.     The relief pitching has been remarkable. Even Hansel Robles (2-IP, 0-R,  6-K) has turned out to be all early Cy Young candidate. Six pitches have thrown 17.2 innings of run-less ball.

Frankly, I think the Mets have struck gold on both Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo coming out of the bullpen. These two guys pitching two to three inning stretches at a time could do wonders to our SP3-5 pitchers no longer having the pressure to get past the first five innings. Arms stay healthy… followed by Gsellman or Lugo… and ended up with two of the big three of Swarzak, Ramos, Blevins, or Familia. Everybody wins.

4.     The decision to place Michael Conforto back in the one-spot on his first game back, against one of the best pitches in baseball, was a touch of genius and showed the entire clubhouse just how much of a team friend guy our skipper his. He reminds me of Dabo Sweeney from Clemson. The players at Clemson would kill for Dabo and these Mets players are early on killing for Callaway.

5.     If I have any criticism, it would be the choice to play Jose Reyes over Amed Rosario at shortstop. Rosario is one of the players that is the future of this team. Reyes isn’t. He’s a great player from the past that had a shit spring and an even worse start (0-7, .00) this season. At the same time, Rosario has gone 5-15 (.333). I fully understand older players needing a day off once in a while. I don’t understand younger players needing TWO days off in the first six games. This screams of a return to Terry Collins thinking and we all know what that got us in the past.

6.     My other question so far is a positive one. What if Gonzales keeps hitting above .300 and plays adequate first base? You know you aren’t going to sit Conforto, Cespedes, or Bruce for many games. What do you do about both Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares, who did everything right in spring training to prove they are capable to step up to a starting role? It would seem that one should be shipped. It also seems that this would be the humane thing to do. Everybody, especially those that show the ability, deserve to be given the opportunity to be great, regardless of what team they would play for. It’s been rumored for over a month that Sandy has been approached by other teams for the services of Lagares (west coast bound?) and my hope that it happens, but only if we get back two quality MLB top 100 ranked prospects in return. We need to strengthen the pipeline and depth at one position can create depth at two more.

7.     Speaking of prospects, I’m also thrilled with opening night in the pipeline. Especially St. Lucie starting pitcher Justin Dunn, who got back on the bump and turned in a stellar 5-IP, 7-K, 0-BB, 0-R effort. It’s so important that he gets off to a great start, does well in his second stint with Lucy, and heads on to the AA level where he is supposed to be at this point in his professional career (RP Ryder Ryan followed Dunn with a 4-K, 2-inning stint). Speaking of shutouts, Drew Gagnon opened up with a 5-K, 6-inning shutout for Binghamton, while Tony Dibrelli added for four more blank innings (with 6-Ks).