1/21/19

Tom Brennan - METS PROSPECTS # 36 THRU # 40

     

     Tom Brennan - METS PROSPECTS # 36 THRU # 40


In the first 7 in this series of 10 articles on the Mets Top 50 prospects, I outlined my indisputable top 35 dudes.

These included the following, respectively: Messrs. Alonso, Gimenez, Peterson, Mauricio, Kay, Vientos, Szapucki, Lindsay, Alvarez, Richardson, Kilome, Hernandez, Nido, Valdez, Humphreys, Newton, Toffey, Sanchez, Dibrell, Cecchini, Mazeika, Winaker, Paez, Vilera, Thompson, Cortes, Gilliam, Brodey, Hanhold, Tebow, Jannis, Kaczmarski, Viall, and Carpio.  

OK, OK, newly acquired guys like RHP Kyle Dowdy should be in my list, and aren't yet, but he is a top 20 Mets prospect to me, based on my logic in a recent article on Kyle (read it if you missed it) - I will add him after this 10 part article series is finished.

Today, I move on to the equally indisputable # 36 thru # 40 dudes.  

Can they all be relievers?  Much to my relief, the answer is: Sure!


# 36  MATT BLACKHAM  RHRP


Another Tommy John alumnus, he has pitched well, albeit somewhat wildly, since becoming a pro.  About to turn 26 the smallish 5'10", 150 righty is a fine 13-7, 2.30 in his career spanning 156 innings with 214 Ks (12.4/9 IP) and 70 walks 4.0/9 IP).  

His ERA in Binghamton in 2018 was a somewhat higher 3.42.  He will compete for a call up to Queens in 2019, but he needs to continue to improve - lots of decent minors pen arms.  


# 37  STEVE VILLINES  RHSP


The 23 year old sidewinder has put up sensational K/BB stats in his career (137 Ks and 14 walks in 91 IP), along with a fine 8-6, 2.68 career record.  He even pitched reasonably well in his 11 innings in Binghamton in 2018.  I should probably have him ranked higher, but I won't "dispute" myself.

Can't see why Villines won't compete for a call up to Queens in 2019 - it will be curious to see in early 2019 if his unconventional style can be equally effective at higher levels.    

I'd peg him for Binghamton or Syracuse to start the season.



# 38  JOSHUA TORRES  RHRP


JT was a surreal 9-0, 1.19 with Binghamton!  58 Ks in 45 IP. The Hall of Fame figured that in about 20 years, he'd be eligible for Cooperstown immortality.

But JT gave up 13 runs in just 8.1 IP for Las Vegas.  Good news, though, for Joshua...we did get the number of the Vegas truck that hit him.  And the Syracuse Mets won't get near Las Vegas in 2019, so it is all smooth sailing ahead. 

I hope what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas when it comes to his pitching stats!  

Which Torres will show up in 2019?  If it's the Binghamton one, he will no doubt be in Queens in 2019.   The Vegas one?  Well, he'd have to buy his own Greyhound ticket there.

I have him pegged for Syracuse right now to open the season.




# 39   RYDER RYAN  RHRP

Nolan Ryan he may not be, but he also throws quite hard and happily, had quite a solid season, with real progress...4-3, 3.23 ERA, 59 Ks in 53 IP between Binghamton and St. Lucie.   


He has an outside chance of a late season call up, but we might well see him in Queens in 2020. 

Perhaps he will be the closer this season for the Rumble Ponies.



# 40 DAVE ROSEBOOM  LHRP

You could get into heated arguments as to whether the lefty Boomer has enough heat to make the big leagues.  

However, he was simply great in 2016 in Binghamton (1-1, 1.87, just 1 blown save in 52 outings, 0.90 WHIP, and a 1.11 ERA versus lefties)...had my attention.

2017?  A disastrous brief time in Las Vegas, and injured much of the year.

2018? 3-3, 2.72 in Binghamton, with 61 Ks in 49.2 IP, and just a 1.69 ERA against fellow lefties.  But more brief Vegas pain, with 7 runs in 3.2 IP - but thankfully for Dave in 2019, Vegas is no more in the universe called Metsville.

If Dave comes out of the gates strong in 2019, perhaps he will make his major league debut this year as a lefty specialist.  May he play long and prosper.




40 Mets prospect rankings are now in the books, so let's move on to 41 - 45 in my next article a few days from now.

Oh, and here are the links to the prior articles in this series:


#’s 31-35



#’s 26-30:

#’s 21-25:

#’s 16-20:

#’s 11-15

#’s 6-10

#’s 1-5




17 comments:

Reese Kaplan said...

Blackham is wild? 214 Ks vs. 70 walks is a 3:1 ratio. Granted, 70 70 walks over 156 IP translates to a somewhat ugly 4 per 9 IP but when you're striking out over 12 in a 9 IP span that might be liveable.

Mack Ade said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mack Ade said...

I am surprised you have The Villian this low

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, if Blackham can knock off 1 walk per 9 IP, he is a contender. Otherwise, he is Akeel Morris, a pitcher I used to have high hopes for but didn't have that major league gear. So I ratcheted him down this far. I penalized Nogosek more for his worse control, although his name gets mentioned a lot. Walk a lot, take a walk, I always say (well, it's the first time I said it, full disclosure)

Tom Brennan said...

Steve the Villain just lacks the heat (mid 80s) for me to put him higher.

I was all excited about soft tossing PJ Conlon, too, but his slow speed is much less effective against the Big Hombres

Steve has to show me - more important, he has to show THEM.

That said, maybe Steve is so laser sharp he can succeed with the lower velocity

Reese Kaplan said...

Sidearmers don't need great velocity. They need the weird launch angle of their pitches and the movement they gain that keeps people either swinging and missing or driving it into the ground.

LongTimeFan1 said...

Thomas Brennan:

I'm happy you posted links to your previous player rankings and reviews but am surprised to see they aren't linked to macksmets.blogspot.com.

Instead, they're linked to blogger.com which requires sign in to Google in order to read. I'm interested in what you previously wrote but not if it requires Google sign-in. I avoid signing into the prying eyes, consumer and customer profiling Google whenever I can. Why not link it to the original article on macksmets.blogspot.com which doesn't require sign-in?

About Dave Roseboom - you mentioned his velocity as not high enough for the majors. Can you provide an MPH? Thanks.

Tom Brennan said...

LTF - I will see what I can figure out re: links

What I read about Roseboom was that a few seasons ago, he sat around 87-90. If he has ramped up since, I am not aware of that.

Mack Ade said...

LTF

I got a message into Dave and will post it up when he gets back to me

LongTimeFan1 said...

My thanks to both of you - T.B and Mack Ade about the links.

T.B.

Insofar as Dave Roseboom, hopefully his velocity has picked up a bit. But he could potentially still be effective at that velocity if he has good movement, deception, control and solid secondaries. I liked him years ago but he's been derailed by injury. Though there's less acceptance these days for softer tossing relievers, lefties still have better shot to reach the majors given the demand.

Tom Brennan said...

LTF, hope you are right. I remember a pretty fair non-fireballing lefty named Whitey Ford. David could still have success.

Mack Ade said...

Tom/LTF -

The link s are listed on the right column of the blog.

Mack Ade said...

LTF -

Dave's fastball topped out at 89.84

Mack Ade said...

LTF -

Actual response:

"88-91... touched 92 once in a blue moon"

LongTimeFan1 said...

T.B and M.A - Thanks for the follow up info, comments and links.



Dave Schulps said...

I know I'm late on this one, but I'm surprised Ryder (The Truck?) Ryan is rated so low. Your answer to Mack re Villines doesn't apply here, he brings the heat. So why just 38, when you think we could see him this season or in 2020?

Tom Brennan said...

Good question, Dave. One could certainly make a case for Ryan being ranked higher. I think there is real potential there. I hope he hits my top 10 this time next year.