5/30/18

Reese Kaplan -- The Good, The Bad & The Ugly



A victory is a good thing, considering how seldom they happen for this ballclub, yet at times when you’re winning there are some troubling things happening for the long term good of the team.  Just as when you’re losing there are sometimes encouraging signs as well.  Sunday we saw a little of each.

First the Good


Can’t we just phone the scientists who worked on Dolly the Sheep and clone Jacob deGrom?  Wow, not since the days of Tom Seaver and early Doc Gooden have you seen such consistently dominating pitching?  That gutty performance on Sunday called to mind The Franchise in his prime. 

How about Kevin Plawecki?  All of the sudden the Mets are enjoying the efforts of not one but two competent catchers.  What a way to return with a flourish – three hits, a walk and an RBI.

Wasn’t it just recently I bemoaned the notion that you wouldn't know whether or not Luis Guillorme could succeed at this level unless he actually played?  Well, he got the starting nod in the first game and went 2-4.  Then in Sunday’s nightcap and went 2-5 with 2 RBIs.  He’s up to .267 with 4 RBIs in just 30 ABs.  By contrast the other substitute SS/infielder, Jose Reyes, is at a robust .156 with 3 RBIs in more than double the number of these ABs.  One of these things is not like the other…

Michael Conforto is showing signs of life, too.  He had three hits in the nightcap and his batting average, though still just .241 it was around the Mendoza line just a week or so ago. 

Amed Rosario is both hitting and starting to steal bases.  .253 is nothing to write home about, but if he can play solid defense while contributing baserunning he’s a far better option than the likes of Ruben Tejada who was given a starting role for WAY too long. 

Jeurys Familia delivered a two inning, 3K, no walk, no hit performance to get the save on Sunday late night.  After his recent meltdown it was good to see him return to All Star form. 

Jacob Rhame has quietly strung together some good performances.  He’s arguably the last man in the bullpen yet over his last six appearances stretching 6.1 IP he’s given up just 2 runs and those came in one game in Milwaukee.  Maybe he’s the first of the 2017 selloff who amounts to something.

Now the Bad


Hansel Robles returned to the Mets from his DL and rehab assignment and provided 3 IP with no runs allowed and two hits.  That’s enough false hope to net him another month on the big club.  Unfortunately for those of us following the Mets longer than has Mickey Callaway we are not going to be taken in by a flash of competence which will give way to neck strain watching balls rocket over the fence. 

P.J. Conlon wasn’t fooling anyone with 8 hits and 4 runs in just 2 IP.  Right now he’s neck and neck in the dubious ERA battle being waged with the $16 million man, Jason Vargas.  Conlon is at 11.86 and Vargas is leading with 10.62.  Woo hoo!  It’s going to be a photo finish!

Jay Bruce is still lost at the plate.  He’s got a line of .228/3/15 and is looking both lost at the plate and frankly a bit pudgy.  I know it’s hard to exercise properly when you have a foot problem but he is a professional and needs to ensure he’s doing all he can to prepare for the game.  Theoretically you would think that there’s less pressure on his feet at 1B than there would be in LF but surprisingly Adrian Gonzalez is UP to .256 so until Yoenis Cespedes returns there will likely be no long term change in that regard.  Then it’s a matter of deciding if the club is better off with Brandon Nimmo in the lineup every day, Jay Bruce or Adrian Gonzalez.

Seth Lugo was ready to be anointed the man to replace Jason Vargas in the rotation or the man to replace Jeurys Familia in the pen.  Well, he did look like Familia the way he did in his last outing, blowing a lead for a walkoff victory.  Once again it was clear when he served not one, not two but three hits and a walk en route to losing that Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland either aren’t paying attention or have absolutely zero confidence in anyone else to get the job done when they let a pitcher who’s obviously having a bad night get creamed.

And the Ugly



Oh, did I mention that Jose Reyes got yet another starting assignment, this time due to Wilmer Flores’ trip to the DL and the club's idiotic decision to farm out Phil Evans and not replace him on the major league roster with another infielder?  He did get a hit which is a rarity – and his 1-5 performance (.200 for the day) raised his season’s batting average.  He also struck out twice.  What do Gavin Cecchini and Jeff McNeil have to do to get noticed?  If they were any more invisible their names would be Tim Peterson.

Well, at least Tim Tebow is making things interesting in Binghamton.  That’s more than can be said in Queens. 

8 comments:

Mack Ade said...

Reese:

Morning.

A few things...

1. I'm gearing up for the draft next week. My last composite draft will be posted on Sunday morning. The, I will post up individual analysis on every Mets draft pick, round 1-40, during the entire week. Reese, Tom, Erica, and Company will keep the Mets posts coming.

2. Tom is interviewing Jeff McNeil today and should have a post up later on this week.

3. I'm working on an interesting post. I have contacted 10 editors of major league blogs, telling them I am offering up Jake for a trade and I would like their offer. Three (Braves, Blue Jays, Angels) have already sent theirs and we are 'negotiating' as I write. Hopefully, I will have more 'interest' in deGrom, but, either way, I will post this up by the end of the week and ask all of you which one (if any) I should accept.

4. We should see an interesting day today. I assume Matz will miss at least one start.

5. Look... even with all the injuries, there seems to be enough bats to get us some runs. It's the lack of decent and healthy pitching that has killed this team. It now is at a rock bottom level and all Sandy can do is keep issuing plane tickets until he finds a couple of starters AND relievers that can help here.

Starter wise, you could go to Vegas for either Worley, Gagnon, Martin, or Laffey, but frankly I'd start giving the kids a peek-see... bring up Crismatt and Copeland

Relief wise... Drew Smith, Tim Peterson, and Joseph Zanghi,,, next up Dave Roseboom

have some fun. Try something new.

Tom Brennan said...

Two catchers lost in one day in April? Two pitchers out with finger issues, on the same day? Another choke job last night? Wow. What can one say?

Reese Kaplan said...

When all else fails, blame the manager. Why was Jose Reyes starting last night? The Braves started right hander Anibal Sanchez and what do you know...the Mets had a left handed infielder who happened to log 4 hits and 2 RBIs just yesterday, so clearly he belonged on the bench, right Terry, er, Mickey?

Reese Kaplan said...

Oh, and if you're going to lose two pitchers with finger injuries on the same day, why couldn't they be named Vargas and Robles?

Bob Gregory said...

Better trade deGrom and any players with value as soon as possible, before the injury curse hits them too.

Of course need to replace Alderson immediately in order to get better decision making in handling the trades

Eddie from Corona said...

Mack Really exciting to read your Draft analysis sunday...

and wow really interesting about finding out what the other side thinks...

cant wait...

Tom Brennan said...

Finger foods have been banned from the clubhouse.

Tom Brennan said...

Bob is dreaming the impossible Alderson dream!