Mack - From The Desk...

Good morning.

New tech on display at international showcase -

Rombley was among the 150 prospccts participating in Major League Baseball's first showcase under the new Trainer Partnership Program. The teen showed off his skills Tuesday, and for the first time, MLB -- with the assistance of USA Baseball -- is using advanced technology in an international showcase setting to measure those tools.

"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."

Everyone wants to 'fix' baseball, but almost no one is talking about one simple solution  -

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.

A  Mexican Baseball Team Plays in Texas. It’s a Home Game. –

         

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.

Mets expect Tim Tebow   back for another baseball season in 2019 –

       

         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.

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."

Mets have big-league expectations for Justin Dunn in 2019 -

     

          “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.