Tom Brennan - UNUSUAL METS MINORS STATS
Nobody in the Mets Minors put up freaky stats quite like Joe DiMaggio did when he fanned a mere 13 times in 622 plate appearance in 1941 (rumor has it that his bat was a piece of 4' by 8' plywood that year).
But some dudes put up notable, even unusual, stats indeed.
Like:
Harold Gonzalez is 1-16 this season, despite a not-terrible 4.80 ERA. He didn't win a Cy Young award, but he did win an Anthony Young award. The hopeful news for Harol is that after Anthony Young went 3-30 for the Mets over a 2 year span, he went a much better 10-13 over the rest of his career with the Cubs, so things do get better.
Steve Villines (6'2", 2017 10th round right-hander) is a heckuva relief pitcher in 2017-18 (8-6, 2.68 ERA, 11 of 14 saves in 66 games, his latest 6 being in AA), but with freaky-good 137 Ks to just 14 walks in 94 career innings.
That's a 10 to 1 K/BB ratio, and odds are a lot better than 10 to 1 that he'll be pitching in Queens in 2019 or 2020.
That's a 10 to 1 K/BB ratio, and odds are a lot better than 10 to 1 that he'll be pitching in Queens in 2019 or 2020.
Peter Alonso - it is unusual for a Mets minor leaguer to lead anything in the power category, but Pete has two crowns this season: tied for the minors homer crown at 36, and nailed the RBI crown at 119, including 68 in as many games in AAA. Very unusual stuff for a Mets prospect. His other unusual stat? Major league call ups - none.
Jose Lobaton couldn't hit a lick for the Mets, but the light-swatting catcher hit .348/.430/.598 in 39 games with 51's, numbers that surely Mike Piazza could love.
Zach Borenstein put up nice power #'s but failed on Job # 1...containing his K total. He fanned 182 times in 133 games, which qualifies as unusually high, even for him.
Eighteen - the number of pitchers who threw at least 5 innings with an ERA of 6.00 or higher or Vegas. Those amongst the 18 with less than 10 AAA innings, like AJ Griffin, who allowed 16 runs in 3 innings, all would have had ERAs above 6.00 even had they thrown 10 innings. Somehow, Vegas finished around .500. THAT'S unusual.
Jhoan Urena - unusually mediocre in the first 90% of his season: 112 AA games, .240, .301, .361. Last 10% (11 games)? "Unusually Superman": 19 for 42, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 6 walks. Which Urena will show up next season?
Pat Kivlehan was similarly mediocre thru July 19 at .263/.319/.375 for Las Vegas and Louisville, who had released him on May 1. After that?
Similarly Unusually Freakin' Explosive: 50 for 137 (.365) with 15 doubles and 14 HRs (.781 slug %) and nearly 40 RBIs. Good luck in the future.
Pat Mazeika had a miserable hitting year in AA through July (.196), including just .140 in the latter month. But he hit .350 in August and September to jump to .231. The catcher also fanned just 35 times in about 330 plate appearances. An unusual season indeed.
Blake Taylor - the unlucky lefty went 4-17 the past two years, but was 2-0 in Vegas in 2018 while going a painful 2-17 in A ball. How unusual is that? Let the control-challenged southpaw pitch a full season in AAA...he might go undefeated. He might at least pitch better than 18 other AAA pitchers did this year.
Scott Manea had a fine season catching for Columbia (.261/.368/.432 in 100 games). But in his 150 game career, he has been hit by pitches 38 times. Unusually OUCH.
Ross Adolph had a fine rookie season, including 12 triples in 61 games for Brooklyn. Three of the NY Penn league teams had only 12 triples - and no, one of those teams was not Brooklyn.
The team optometrist gave Ross an eye exam, and found out he was seeing triple. Ba-da-bump-bump.
Jason Vilera and Chris James were unusually good starting for Brooklyn, going #1 - #2 in league ERA at 1.83 and 2.01. Vilera was also #1 in NYPL Ks at 78. He is definitely not a JV guy, he is full-blown Varsity.
I could go on and on, which would not be unusual at all, but I want to close with the "first rounder mid season slump syndrome."
David Peterson - His first 9 starts of 2018 and his last 5 of 2018 were killer: 88 innings, 62 hits, 16 walks, 91 Ks, 1.43 ERA. The 2017 first rounder's other 8 straight starts in mid-season? Painful. 40 innings, 58 hits, 14 walks, 24 Ks, 6.98 ERA.
All told, though, a great first season (ignoring last season's 3.2 inning mini-debut), and looking like he is ready to kick butt in 2019. I do love that he allowed just 2 dingers in all of 2018's 128 innings.
Jarred Kelenic - the 2018 first rounder had a great first 15 games and final 26 games, going .343 in 169 at bats, with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 6 HR, and 37 RBIs. Those 15 games in the middle, though? Just 5 for 51. Stats don't mean everything, as in an interview, Jarred said he was hitting is bad luck during those 15 games. I am anticipating a tremendous 2019 for Kelenic.
I asked Tom Jones how unusual it is to see unusual stats. He said it's not unusual. I'm going with that.
Jose Lobaton couldn't hit a lick for the Mets, but the light-swatting catcher hit .348/.430/.598 in 39 games with 51's, numbers that surely Mike Piazza could love.
Zach Borenstein put up nice power #'s but failed on Job # 1...containing his K total. He fanned 182 times in 133 games, which qualifies as unusually high, even for him.
Eighteen - the number of pitchers who threw at least 5 innings with an ERA of 6.00 or higher or Vegas. Those amongst the 18 with less than 10 AAA innings, like AJ Griffin, who allowed 16 runs in 3 innings, all would have had ERAs above 6.00 even had they thrown 10 innings. Somehow, Vegas finished around .500. THAT'S unusual.
Jhoan Urena - unusually mediocre in the first 90% of his season: 112 AA games, .240, .301, .361. Last 10% (11 games)? "Unusually Superman": 19 for 42, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 6 walks. Which Urena will show up next season?
Pat Kivlehan was similarly mediocre thru July 19 at .263/.319/.375 for Las Vegas and Louisville, who had released him on May 1. After that?
Similarly Unusually Freakin' Explosive: 50 for 137 (.365) with 15 doubles and 14 HRs (.781 slug %) and nearly 40 RBIs. Good luck in the future.
Pat Mazeika had a miserable hitting year in AA through July (.196), including just .140 in the latter month. But he hit .350 in August and September to jump to .231. The catcher also fanned just 35 times in about 330 plate appearances. An unusual season indeed.
Blake Taylor - the unlucky lefty went 4-17 the past two years, but was 2-0 in Vegas in 2018 while going a painful 2-17 in A ball. How unusual is that? Let the control-challenged southpaw pitch a full season in AAA...he might go undefeated. He might at least pitch better than 18 other AAA pitchers did this year.
Scott Manea had a fine season catching for Columbia (.261/.368/.432 in 100 games). But in his 150 game career, he has been hit by pitches 38 times. Unusually OUCH.
Ross Adolph had a fine rookie season, including 12 triples in 61 games for Brooklyn. Three of the NY Penn league teams had only 12 triples - and no, one of those teams was not Brooklyn.
The team optometrist gave Ross an eye exam, and found out he was seeing triple. Ba-da-bump-bump.
Jason Vilera and Chris James were unusually good starting for Brooklyn, going #1 - #2 in league ERA at 1.83 and 2.01. Vilera was also #1 in NYPL Ks at 78. He is definitely not a JV guy, he is full-blown Varsity.
I could go on and on, which would not be unusual at all, but I want to close with the "first rounder mid season slump syndrome."
David Peterson - His first 9 starts of 2018 and his last 5 of 2018 were killer: 88 innings, 62 hits, 16 walks, 91 Ks, 1.43 ERA. The 2017 first rounder's other 8 straight starts in mid-season? Painful. 40 innings, 58 hits, 14 walks, 24 Ks, 6.98 ERA.
All told, though, a great first season (ignoring last season's 3.2 inning mini-debut), and looking like he is ready to kick butt in 2019. I do love that he allowed just 2 dingers in all of 2018's 128 innings.
Jarred Kelenic - the 2018 first rounder had a great first 15 games and final 26 games, going .343 in 169 at bats, with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 6 HR, and 37 RBIs. Those 15 games in the middle, though? Just 5 for 51. Stats don't mean everything, as in an interview, Jarred said he was hitting is bad luck during those 15 games. I am anticipating a tremendous 2019 for Kelenic.
I asked Tom Jones how unusual it is to see unusual stats. He said it's not unusual. I'm going with that.
15 comments:
I finally post a family photo, but no one is commenting! Jeesh! We love to smile.
Right on cue, the noted Pat Kivlehan gets a nice MLB opportunity in a trade yesterday with the D Backs. I guess being the hottest hitter in the entire minors for several weeks was enough to get him a Get Out Of Jail Free card - good for him.
Good for kivlehan. He must have enjoyed the green green AstroTurf of home
The Mets steal some money here for a guy they were going to waive next week.
Smart move.
I hope it was for International money?
Id love them to get Victor Victor
Anonymous, maybe with new-found international $$, we could get Victor Victor, who has been compared favorably to the Nats' Robles (not our Hansel).
Yes Thomas exactly what I was thinking Victor Victor who compares to Robles!
He would be the Mets leadoff hitter in the middle of the decade of Excellence,starting CF around 2023. Around the time Rosario is a FA!
I believe Rosario will be the starting CF,when Mauricio is ready in 2021.
Gimenez will be the 2nd baseman,in 2020 moving McNeil to 3rd,till Vientos is ready
These are the Mets im looking forward to seeing
Along with Alonso,kelenic.
Steve
Steve -
Trust me... don't forget Mark Vientos here
Morning Mack:
Im not forgetting him, i believe he is the corner piece in the 2020's
That when Gimenez is ready he'll play 2nd move McNeil to 3rd
Frazier will be let go,and McNeil will play 3rd till Vientos is ready.
By 2021 the infield will look like Vientos 3b-rosario ss-gimenez 2b-alonso 1b
Alvarez depending how close he is or ali sanchez will behind the plate
Adrian Hernandez in RF, Kelenic in CF,and Conforto in LF
Some other day lets discuss our thoughts on the pitching side
Steve
Steve, remember that McNeil can play all infield positions and outfield positions. He could at worst be a super sub when the kids show up, and I think these kids will arrive fast.
And don't forget Luis Sanchez from Kingsport - he had a GREAT year at a very young age.
And Adrian Hernandez may or may not pan out - but Ross Adolph had a terrific debut season in Brooklyn and should be on the OF radar screen for mid-to-late 2020.
A lot of craziness abounding today
It never ceases to amaze me with the talk on Jeff McNeil. The guy simply is the very best and most sound player on this team, outside of the Mets starters. Yet, the ever present questioning of his capabilities. It ludicrous really. Jeff can hit like Rod Carew, place his hits anywhere on the field, hit for extra bases, hit to move runners, hit to get hits. There is no other NY Met batter who is as talented as Jeff McNeil. Plus, he is naturally baseball smart.
Still the wonderment regarding him. Idiots. They just do not know baseball. Pass the beer nuts!
Still fans questioning the composition of the young Mets core here. Allow me to rephrase. McNeil, Rosario, Nimmo, Conforto, with Alonso in ST 2019. This is the core and it is good. It's also why we are winning games right now, plus the starting pitching here of course. Goes without saying. Did you listen to Jim Duquette list the players he likes. It was the same list.
Sprinkle in hopefully a healthy mobile Yoenis Cespedes and a catcher who can smack homeruns, and there it is.
These five though. It's called a core. No, really.
MLB is going to have to address all the behind the plate injuries to catchers and umpires. Maybe drop the age limit on umpires down below 95? Could help. If their eye glasses are thicker than coca cola bottles, they shouldn't sign them up. Period. End of interview.
Tonight?
Might want to consider NY/NY. It's a hell of a town.
Everytime that I mention a minor league Mets player (in this case Patrick Kivlehan) they get traded.
I liked Kivlehan's talent and power game.
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Three more relievers from AAA/AA that I would like to see up here soon are...Lefty Dave Roseboom, and Righties Josh Torres and Gerson Bautista. Just to assess where they are currently at heading into the off season.
Baseball Talkin'
1. Swing early on in the count at strikes. This helps to avoid two strike counts later on. Each batter's "sucker-pitch" is already taped onto the catcher's wrist to lookup.
2. Do not swing for the fences with two strikes on you. Just make decent singles type contact, not homerun contact. A team can win getting singles and doubles too you know. Just getting on is king!
3. Whole Mets team should use only Jeff McNeil's bats. They seem to work good. Jeff, start a darn company with your name on it, if you have not already. I think those bats could sell bigly.
4. Put the old homeplate umpires in suits of armor. Lock them in, so they cannot get out.
5. Let Drew Smith start a game soon and go five innings, just for the heck of it Mr. Ricco. Okay?
6. Make Amed run on his hands after he gets a hit, so that it's more fair to the other teams that play the Mets. I feel sorry for the SNY TV camera man trying to keep up with Amed as he breezes around the bases in a blur each time. That poor camera person must go home each game with some kind of perspiration soaked shirts. Lucky wife.
7. Blindfold Jeff when he bats. Bet he still gets a single over the infield.
8. Maybe get Jay a massage therapist. But ask his wife first though.
9. Glue Toddfodders' helmet to his head so that he stops tipping it every frickin' at bat. (Drives my dog Fred nuts.) Recommend Gorilla Glue, should work!
10. Make Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez race around the Citi Field bases in muscle shirts and thongs. (LOL) I would bet on Gary. I think that Keith would probably be winded halfway to second base with that spare tire. Should be quite the event never-the-less! Maybe Sports Center worthy too!
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