Good
morning.
We
talked earlier about the need for outfield depth in the pipeline.
I
believe there is enough minor league infield talent in both the pipeline and
the parent team to insure a healthy return.
I
can’t say the same thing for starters.
Once
again, we go into a season thinking our rotation is strong, that we have ample
SP6 candidates at the AAA level, and we have a ton of ‘red’ prospects in the
chain. Then the season starts.
The
obvious was the poor start by our big three, but the addition of some ‘red’
prospect busts in the chain only has maximized the need to bring in some new
stud blood into the chain.
Right
now, I have only one starter and two relievers that could make an impact in
2020. All three are pitching in AA-Binghamton.
RHSP
Anthony Kay is giving us everything we can ask
for him at this stage of his development. We had to wait a year when he had to
sit out with a bum wing, and his 23-starts, 4.26 in 2018 (St. Lucie, Columbia)
could be considered as his rehab year, but he has it all going for him this
season where he is 6-starts, 1.52, 0.98.
As
for the relievers, 23-yr. old RHP Stephen Villines is
just pitching nuclear since being drafted in the 10th round and
graduating at Kansas in 2017. He went 0.41 for St. Lucie last season in
16-appearances and so far this year for the B-Mets, he pitching 0.00.
The
other relieve is ex-Clemson closer, Ryley Gilliam.
The Mets have really fast-tracked Ry which has caused a few bumps along the way
(a good friend of the site and ex-writer here, Ernest
Dove Jr., told me the other day when we were discussing the lack of
production so far this year out of our prospects ”what would you rather have?
Sexy stats in Brooklyn?”) Ernest is right, we have to move these prime choice kids
up the chain and if it takes a rough outing or two, so be it.
So,
how does drafting a starter in the first round of the 2019 draft help us now?
Well,
it doesn’t, but what once looked like a shite-load of ‘red’ prospect starters
in the chain, has now turned into a severe problem down the road.
Past
Kay, our next top prospects would be a struggling Simeon
Woods-Richardson in Columbia, and another Firefly, Willy Tavares, who has been used mostly as a back-end
piggyback starter.
What
happened to David Peterson? Well, a lot of us
are asking that.
Thomas Szapucki (4-G,
5-IP, 1.69, a sub-par 1.50-WHIP) is slowly being nurse back to the Columbia
rotation, but he’s 23 already and needs to jump on the train. Jordan Humphreys has still not come back from TJS.
Anybody
in Extended Camp? Maybe Junior Santos.
This
isn’t enough folks. It’s Kay and a mash unit. We need a couple more stud
starters to develop. Maybe one internationally and another from this draft and
there is a great chance that not one single starter will be picked before our
pick comes around.
This
draft is considered pitcher-weak which could just fall our way with one of the
top three red chip starters in this draft.
They
are all lefties.
Zack Thompson –
Kentucky
3rd Man In
- Thompson is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound hurler who has a four-pitch mix, featuring
a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His fastball sits in the low-90s
while occasionally touching 96 mph.
His
slider is his best secondary pitch. It sits in the low-80s and generates a high
spin rate. His curveball features more depth than power, while his changeup is
a respectable offering.
He
has a clean delivery and throws from a high three-quarter arm slot.
2019
stats: 12-starts, 5-1, 2.08, 1.03,
78-IP, 113-K
Hunter Barco -
The Bolles School (FL)
PG
- Hunter Barco is a 2019 LHP/1B with a 6-4 208 lb. frame from Jacksonville, FL
who attends The Bolles HS. Square shouldered tall and very projectable athletic
build. Mid to low 3/4's arm slot, significantly lower slot than last October,
lands open with his front side, works quickly and attacks hitters. Steady low
80's fastball, pretty much sat at 91 mph,
outstanding late running and sinking
life to all quadrants, can back door a fastball glove side intentionally,
throws to spots and likes to come inside to right handed hitters. Change up has
the same type of life and is a quality pitch. Slider has a short cutter-like
break, not able to get over it as well as from a higher release slot. Left
handed hitter with a smooth and easy swing, drifts into contact, looking to
drive the ball in the air. Smooth defensive player at first base.
Nick Lodolo -
TCU
Lone Star Ball
- Nick Lodolo is a 6’6” lefthanded pitcher who is in his junior season at Texas
Christian University, and is listed at anywhere from 180 to 195 lbs. Lodolo was
drafted #41 overall in the 2016 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Damien
High School in La Verne, California, but didn’t sign. He has a low- to mid-90s
fastball, a good changeup, and a breaking ball I’ve seen described as either a
slider or a curve, depending on the source. He’s got the type of three-pitch
mix that profiles in the rotation, but the reports indicate there’s concern
that he’s been hit harder than his stuff would suggest he should be hit.
2019
stats: 12-starts, 6-4, 2.34, 0.99,
77-IP, 89-K
The higher the velocity, the better f i e any draftees. If it ain't high 90s, it gets off her quickly.
ReplyDeleteBesides that thin slate of candidates, I still am high on Tony Dibrell, a/k/a Tony Dibs. Get him to AA fast and see wazzup.
Szapucki another 2 very nice innings. Innings cap year, but starting to look good.
I also have increasing hopes for the Fireflies' Dedniel. Lots of Ks. Few walks.
From a scout's perspective a lefty can get away with low 90's fastballs whereas a righty needs to light up the gun to be a first round pick. having never seen Dibrell I can only go by what I've heard and the reports are intriguing. I do want a college pitcher because, as Mack said, the pickings at the tiger end of the system are thin. We'd have to wait 3 or 4 years to see the fruits of a high school pitcher.
ReplyDeleteLooking at David Peterson, it takes 3 or 4 years for Mets college pitchers, too.
ReplyDeleteHolmer/Tom
ReplyDeleteWe have consistenly gone for the big RHSP early in the draft and three of our recent first rounders fall in this category... Peterson, Anthony Kay, and Justin Dunn.
They average around 3 years older than high school seniors and 5 years older than the International kids.
College juniors usually can move up the chain quicker, but not if you draft a guy (Dunn) and then preform TJS on him.
Peterson has beena disappointment so far, but he can still correct taht.
And Dunn? Big loss.
I want to move to a big time college lefty this time.
Let me continue...
ReplyDeleteEvery team HAS to have 6 ++ starters on opening day to pull a season off.
There is nothing you can do about pitcher's arms needing some short term rehab. I simply love the 10 day IL. Go out of the 25-man, come right back.
But... you need an adequate fill in pitching AAA ball to pull this off.
Peterson, Kay, and Dunn was making me feel that we would reach this depth level by the beginning of the 2020 season, but maybe even surpass it.
Lastly, we don't operate like other teams. We don't go out and pay the big bucks for the best out there when one of our wings go limp.
Frankly, right now, NO team is doing that for either pitcher still out there (both last names start with a K)
Hear you, Mack.
ReplyDeleteI just wonder if we need a lefty - we have Kay (looks can't miss); Peterson (if he becomes what they expected him to); and Szapucki (if he does progress).
Meanwhile, Jake is here, but will Zack and Thor still be in 2 years? Both are righties - a replacement righty might make more sense.
I like Dibs, but want to see that righty in AA before getting too excited. After that....righteous righties are rare indeed. I still think Richardson will be big, but not before 2021 or 2022.
I understand what u r sayin about lefties but I am talking about the June draft.
ReplyDeleteThe projected talent for LHSP is far greater than RHSP