"We
thought it was important that top Latin American prospects be given the same
type of developmental environment as elite players from the USA," said
Morgan Sword, MLB's senior vice president, league economics & operations.
"These are state-of-the-art evaluation tools that will help our clubs make
decision and help players showcase their abilities. It's also good,
training-wise, because this technology has a lot of benefits for players
looking to improve their skills and development."
What if MLB
made a change aimed at people who are interested in baseball, enjoy watching
the games, or are loyal followers of one of its 30 teams? You know, the people
who most frequently spend their money on its product.
This change
would provide as many as ten MLB cities each year with an increase in
meaningful games fans will shell out money to watch. It would, in all
likelihood, give the league a larger television audience. It would give fans a
reason to stay engaged longer into the season. And it wouldn't necessitate
unneeded tinkering with the on-field product.
It's time for baseball to expand its
postseason.
The national anthems of the United States and Mexico were played over the stadium speakers as the flags of both countries fluttered in the hot summer wind. Fans chatted away in English and Spanish. Burgers and popcorn were as prevalent as carne asada tacos and apple slices covered in tamarind sauce.
It was time
for the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos, the Owls of the Two Laredos, one of the
oldest teams in Mexican baseball, to take the field here at Uni-Trade Stadium
on the Texas side of the border.
Except this
was not an away game.
Tebow, who turned 31 in August, played 84 games for Double-A Binghamton this season and batted .273/.336/.399 with six home runs and time split between left field and DH. Tebow's season ended in late July thanks to a broken hamate bone in his right wrist. Across parts of two minor-league seasons and a 2016 stint in the Arizona Fall League, Tebow has batted .240/.317/.356 with a notable step forward in production this season.
Assuming
Tebow does return in 2019, he seems likely to open the season at the Triple-A
level. That, seemingly, would position him for a potential call-up at some
point.
Mack - I've been rough on Tebow and have accused the Mets of staging a circus act at his expense. Regardless of whether or not this is true, I have never been high on a 31-year old just entering AAA ball.
There seems to be plenty of outfielders to go around in the 2019 season.
Let's see what he does in Syracuse and revisit this discussion around next year's All-Star break.
Mack - I've been rough on Tebow and have accused the Mets of staging a circus act at his expense. Regardless of whether or not this is true, I have never been high on a 31-year old just entering AAA ball.
There seems to be plenty of outfielders to go around in the 2019 season.
Let's see what he does in Syracuse and revisit this discussion around next year's All-Star break.
Ryan M. Spaeder - @theaceofspaeder
- Dodgers Sandy Koufax tossed a 13 inning
complete game, striking out 15 on 205 pitches, 57 years ago, on Sept. 20, 1961.
Keith Law on Mets pipeline –
"Above the median. Good chance they'll be top ten. Most of their big names had great years, they landed a stud in Jarred Kelenic, their second rounder Simeon Woods-Richardson looked better in pro ball than in the spring, and they had some pop-up guys like Shervyen Newton establish themselves as prospects too. I get Mets fans on Twitter telling me how bad they think the farm is, but they're totally wrong. They've drafted well, consistently, and hit on some international guys too."
“The first time I met David Wright was when he was rehabbing with us in St. Lucie. Got a chance to see how great of a guy he was and the second time was facing him. To be able to go out and do that on his field — I mean, he’s the captain — so to go out there and do that against him, to get a chance to shake his hand after and help him get ready to come back on the 29th is even bigger of a moment now than I knew, since it’ll be his last time on the field.”
After it was over, Dunn said Wright told
him his stuff “looked pretty good and to keep working.”
On Friday,
Wright said of Dunn, “Very impressive. He’s a mid-90s guy, and once he gets
consistency on his slider, he’s going to be tough, especially on a righty.” Wright
said he thought Dunn’s slider, at its best, was “Corey
Kluber-like.”
Mack - Dunn will start in the Syracuse rotation next spring next to his fellow prospect, Franklyn Kilome. These two, as well as Anthony Kay and David Peterson, represent the 'next' Mets rotation being groomed.
Mack - Dunn will start in the Syracuse rotation next spring next to his fellow prospect, Franklyn Kilome. These two, as well as Anthony Kay and David Peterson, represent the 'next' Mets rotation being groomed.
6 comments:
I'm higher on Dunn than I am on Kilome who has control problems. I hate giving away free passes. That's the issue with most of the so-called "power arms" Sandy and then Ricco obtained in their sell-offs. What good is the ability to throw it through a wall if you can't find the wall?
Kilome was MUCH better on walks after the Mets got him...10 in 38 innings...so I am hopeful there.
I love our lower minors prospects...the Mets minors should, I agree,be top 10 going into 2019, as they also get Szapucki and Humphreys back.
My plan for the wild card is make it a 3 games in two days affair, Monday and a Tues DH. Don't lengthen the season's WS end.
Kilome was a great get for two months of a player. I wish all their vets were that good.
Mack, in your list of future rotation pieces, let’s not forget Szapucki is coming back this year and Humphreys too.
Tebow was on his way in 2018 prior to his hamate injury. We'll see in 2019 how he plays...can he pick up the momentum again?
Gus -
I purposely left off both Szapucki and Humphreys because, one, I don't know if they are fully cleared year and, two, I assume they will be put on a slow plan in St. Lucie.
Because of this, I can only project them as a 'possible' 2021 rotation piece.
BTW - I had Szapucki as our top SP prospect before the injury
I like the use of technology, so that's good news.
Tebow? Could he be a reserve outfielder, pinch hitter with power and pinch runner with some speed on a good ball club? Maybe??
Interesting that Keith Law is optimistic about our minor league system. Accolades usually follow a year late, for most analysts. KL is pretty well respected, so that bodes well for the future, IMO.
I am psyched to see the AAA team in a "normal" environment.
Post a Comment