7/5/18

Mack’s Apples - Francisco Alvarez, Reddit Done With Mets, Hunter Barco, Matt Harvey, Freddy Valdez




Fangraph’s projected Mets International Signing –
            Rank:  #10



Francisco Alvarez - Alvarez doesn't have a plus tool, but projects to stick behind the plate, has solid defensive skills, enough athleticism and feel to hit. There's some power, he isn't a base-clogger and he has a track recordof hitting, making him one of the safer bets in the Redditclass. 



New York Mets: The internet has spoken, even Reddit is done with them –

It’s official. The internet has finally thrown in the towel on the New York Mets. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone at this point. After all, it’s no secret that the Amazins are in the middle of one of their worst seasons in recent memory. However, what is surprising is that it took this long for some fans to finally reach their breaking point.



        
    Hunter Barco, LHP/OF, The Bolles (Fla.) School

Hailing from the prestigious Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., Hunter Barco is a 6-4, 190-pound rising senior who scouts love for his versatility, power and projectable frame. An intriguing prospect as both an outfielder and a left-handed pitcher, Barco has shown above-average stuff on the mound, most notably a low-90s fastball that features late movement, and excellent power from the left side of the plate. Named an Underclassman First-Team All American by Perfect Game in both 2017 and 2018, Barco is likely to be high on most clubs’ draft boards heading into his senior season. He’s committed to the University of Virginia which, as evidenced by Mike Vasil’s decision to forgo the draft this year, could be seen as an impediment to teams considering drafting Barco in 2019.


Matt Harvey 

        
   As excited as I was to write about Willians Astudillo, that's how lukewarm I am on Matt Harvey. Sure, he has now gone four straight starts allowing three or fewer runs, but he hasn't exactly been overwhelmingly impressive in that span; he has a 2.31 ERA, but just 16 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. Harvey is showing he can still be effective, but he's showing he can still be effective in the same way someone like Ivan Nova or Mike Leake can be. There doesn't appear to be much upside left here, but at the very least he's getting away from the worst-case scenario of his last stretches with the Mets. When he's got good matchups – and next weekend against the Cubs doesn't count – he can be useful. I'm not running out to get him until he has a two-start week again, however.


Girl in critical condition after being  hit by baseball   at College Home Run Derby –

         
     A girl suffered a serious injury Sunday night at the College Home Run Derby when she was struck by a baseball, authorities said.

Information was hard to come by, but the Nebraska Medical Center confirmed that the girl, 12, was in critical condition.

The incident at TD Ameritrade Park occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m.


      
     
          As for Valdez, the athletic teen has shown bat speed and the potential for plus raw power in the future. He could end up in right field and has a chance to be a decent defender, but it's his offensive potential, not his defensive prowess, that will carry him through his professional career.

4 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Alvarez and Valdez - hopefully great International signings. We sure need home runs on our picks.

Am I right to think that the two go to the Academy, and start their DSL (or GCL) careers next season?

Mack Ade said...

Yes.

They will not play until 2019.

We still have some from last year there...

P Fernando Gallegos
P Martin Rodrigues
P Jose Valero
P Carlos Castellanos
SS Jorge Polanco (17: 325k)
OF Patrick Diaz (17: 100K)

Michael Freire said...

I like the aggressiveness in that market.........most of them will probably not turn out, but all you really need is one or two per year to develop and add to the depth in the system (or create depth, that is).

Michael S. said...

https://www.milb.com/milb/news/midseason-farm-system-grades-national-league/c-283938660

Grade: B, better than the Marlins, Phillies, and Nationals and the amazing Braves received only a B+

Maybe the sky isn’t falling just yet, although I take these rankings with a mountain of salt, positive or negative....things shift every few months.