Tom Brennan - MARK VIENTOS IS ON FIRE
I love it when the Mets have young prospects who are on fire.
Such as with class of 2017 2nd rounder Mark Vientos.
After a poor third round high schooler selection a few years earlier in "Ivan the Whiff" Wilson, and a disappointing-so-far 2nd rounder selection out of high school in Desmond Lindsay, we fans desperately hoped Mark Vientos would do much better.
And he has.
The tall infielder had a fine debut as a 17 year old post-draft.
In 2018, assigned up a level at rookie ball Kingsport, Mark was a little slow out of the gate. Not bad, but a little slow.
But then he busted down the doggone gate.
As in, since
July 22, going 25 for 61 (.409) with 7 HRs and 20 RBIs, with 11 walks and
just 10 Ks. Killer, if you ask me (and thank you for asking). And 36 RBIs in 40 games, crazy good.
Mark turns 19 in December - at the rate he is going, might we see Mark Vientos in Citifield at age 20, let's say in September in 2020?
I don't see why not.
Speaking of dazzling 2nd rounders, Pounding Peter Alonso, drafted out of college, and now 5 years older than Mr. Vientos, has been on a hotter run than most folks who aren't really paying attention realize. Let me help you there.
Since June 19, 2017, Pounding Pete has put up these kind of prodigious numbers:
.303 in 658 ABs, 46 doubles, 43 HRs, 156 RBIs, 121 runs.
Pretty Ruthian, if you ask me.
You smiling yet?
14 comments:
Random unrelated thought:
Would you have ever thought, prior to the season, that Brandon Nimmo on August 8 would have the same on base % as Bryce Harper, and only a slightly lower slugging %?
I sure wouldn't.
Repeat after me -- the Wilpons won't endorse promoting Alonso until after a few weeks into the 2019 season to gain an extra year of financial control.
Reese,
Agree 100% on Wilpon frugality, and any smart owner would play that game with a can’t miss prospect. However, that 3 week April delay is for guys that will come up for good. I don’t see any equation where Alonso will be counted on as the 2019 1b from Opening day. I think his defense needs more work from what is being said. So, a Sept call up as a reward for 2018 performance should not impact control if his projection is mid 2019. Now, if they think his has a legit shot to be the 2019 1b, then I would not bring him up in Sept, as it would delay a mid-April arrival.
I am not sure the Mets can bring up Alonzo. They have a lot of guys that they will need to put on the 40 man roster or risk losing them to Rule 5 draft. Following is the list, I put in CAPS the ones that I think they might need to protect:
DAVID THOMPSON
Zack Borenstein
NABIL CRISMATT
Kyle Regnault
ERIC HANDOLD
Logan Taylor
Jhoan Urena
Mickey Jannis
PATRICK MAZEIKA
Harol Gonzalez
DANIEL ZAMORA
ALI SANCHEZ
Luis Carpio, Walter Rasquin, Wagner Lagrange and Hansel Moreno
As you can see, there are a lot of decisions to be made.
I can see Crismat and Thompson being passed over for the 40-man. Crismat has had a rough year in Las Vegas and Thompson missed a big chunk due to injury.
I agree with Reese on Crismatt and Thompson, as of right now, not being a big exposure if left off the 40 man roster.
Of the others, here are my thoughts:
Zack Borenstein: fans way too much, especially for a left hand hitter.
Kyle Regnaulta: wasn't protected last year when he had a better year.
ERIC HANDOLD - must go on the 40.
Logan Taylor - I'd be surprised if he got claimed if left off.
Jhoan Urena - has been very unimpressive - really doubt a big league future
Mickey Jannis - I'd be surprised if he got claimed if left off.
PATRICK MAZEIKA - let's see how he finishes season first...just .200 in AA
Harol Gonzalez - no one will want him the way he is pitching now
DANIEL ZAMORA - maybe on 40 man
ALI SANCHEZ - defintely on 40 man
Luis Carpio - I would think he might need the 40 man as of now
]
Walter Rasquin, Wagner Lagrange and Hansel Moreno - none are far enough along to be claimed.
So, I think there is clearly room for Alonzo on the 40 man.
Now, if the Wilpons act like Coupons, they will delay Alonzo as Reese indicates. If smart, they will get him up here in Sept. I very much believe he will be ready for opening day 2019.
Tom,
I agree with most of your thoughts on players. I would also include Mazeika because he has hit in the past and is a catcher. I think Alonzo will get a chance next year, and I would like to see him get a chance this year. I think the Mets will bring up Dom Smith soon, and see if he can turn it around. Should be fun.
I have said that as Mazeika moves up the ladder he's likely to struggle with his slap like swing against better competition who can exploits his weaknesses.
He really should work to improve his swing mechanics this offseason - however, I think Mets should and will leave him unprotected. The chances of him being selected isn't that high with no standout tools coming off terrible AA season. He's like a Josh Thole clone but in an era in which those kind of tools won't get you very far.
Ali Sanchez is a look to be protected. Having 4 catchers on the 40 is already one or two too much but Mets have no choice. There's zero room for Patrick M.
OOps... Meant to say Sanchez is a lock to be protected...
LongTimeFan1, great perspective on Mazeika. And I agree, Ali has to be protected - his bat is coming along nicely, and he is still SO YOUNG!
Speaking of Desmond Lindsay, he is rehabbing with the Gulf Coast Mets and has 2 doubles in 3 at bats in a game in progress today. Also, long-injured Jacob Zanon is doing the same, and has a double and triple today.
Vientos is looking mighty fine..........there will be a vacancy at third waiting for him in a year or two.
The 40 Man Post Above...
It may sound crazy, but maybe too Zach Borenstein. Zach was an International League All-Star this season and can hit a team some homeruns, 22 thus far I believe it is. How many of these does the franchise have really? Most homerun hitters strike out a lot. Look at Bartolo Colon for proof of this.
Did anyone see the 2016 Game on SNY last night?
It's the one where Bartolo hits the homerun. Did you see how much bigger Conforto and Wright were back then? Amazingly so. Both about 25 pounds heavier and not fat accumulation either.
This "homerun ingredient" is presently absent from the 2018 NY Mets 25 man roster, especially with Yoenis down.
My other four 40-man protection players might be RP Daniel Zamora, RP Eric Hanhold, 3B Dave "Rocky" Thompson, and Mohammed Ali Sanchez.
No on catcher Patrick Mazeika because he hasn't hit enough thus far and the Mets probably will add in a catcher here from outside I think. And "maybe" on Nabil Crismatt, who has been not so great at AAA, but was good at AA. Jury still out on Crismatt. But it is too early on with him.
Mets vs. Yankees
Game One interesting.
Severedino vs. deGrom.
Should be fun.
If Mets win, the Yankees could fall to over 10 games out. Imagine WFAN after that possibility?
Red Sox are on the verge of the best all-time Red Sox and MLB record for a season. Manager Alex Cora really has played a perfect hand wisely and the team is hysterically funny to watch in the dugout.
Alex lets the team have a lot of fun playing together and sometimes joins in with them too, I have noticed. They come to play but are loose winning. But it is much easier a thing to do when your team is 50 games over the .500% mark too.
Even without Big Poppi (and his many barbecues) out, this Red Sox team plays like they all grew up together. It's such a fun team to watch. Forget the ridiculous computer generated analytics and sabertooth metrics. Like how many times on average, each player uses the bathroom (number two) over the course of a leap year season.
Oh man.
Or how many twelve-fingered starters cannot pitch past lunchtime? (For goodness sakes alive) I'd bet Ron Darling knows this!
(Actually here, can you name MLB's only 12 fingered starter in history?)
But to me, it is still a great game, this game we have here of chance, skill, errors, excellence, and enough excitement for all.
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