Reese Kaplan -- BVW, It's Getting Late Early!

For the past decade or so the Mets have had a philosophy of asking their younger ballplayers to play what many think is an excessive amount of innings under their belt at the minor league level.  Last year while the club was falling back into the obscurity of the second division there was Peter Alonso tearing up the minor leagues yet the club held him back for more seasoning. 

In the interim as you look around the league you see youngsters like the Braves’ Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna, Jr., the Nationals’ Victor Robles and Juan Soto, the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Rowdy Tellez and Richard Urena, and the Padres’ Chris Paddack and Fernando Tatis, Jr.  The Jays may soon add Dante Bichette, Jr. as well. 

So what about the Mets?  Well, there are two problems at play here.  There is philosophy – the desire to make sure a player is 110% ready before getting a chance.  Then there is the extremely poor track record in drafting (in particular position players).  It’s not that there are superstar youngsters now down in AA and AAA being held back while others are getting chances.  In fact, right now people are clamoring for the 32 year old Carlos Gomez and the 38 year old Rajai Davis to get promoted to the big club. 

So far we have seen the new GM trade away some promising youngsters in deals for Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, Keon Broxton, J.D. Davis and now for the immortal Wilmer Font.  Shouldn’t he be doing the reverse and trying to rebuild the rather barren farm system as his successful pitch to “win now” has already blown up in his face due mostly to injuries. 

There is a little hope in terms of some live pitching arms in the minors, including Anthony Kay, David Peterson, Toby Dibrell, Harol Gonzalez and others.  In fact, depending on whose prospect lists you follow, they have from 14 to 16 arms in their top 30 (not including a few of these names). 

What’s not nearly as encouraging are the bats.  Mark Vientos, Andres Gimenez, Ronnie Mauricio and maybe some of the other lower level hitters might someday make an impact, but things are going to have to change lest we get more first round flame outs like Gavin Cecchini, Reese Havens and others. 

Since 2019 is rapidly descending into another nightmarish season, looking ahead to 2020 (assuming health) should include Alonso, Cano, Amed Rosario, Jed Lowrie, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Wilson Ramos.  Juan Lagares and Todd Frazier will be at the ends of their overpriced deals.  The problem is there’s not much in the way of depth behind them, particularly since they don’t let Dominic Smith try on his outfielder glove once again.  Even with this crew returning you have to worry a bit about Cano, Ramos and Lowrie getting older, and Nimmo not yet having rediscovered what worked for him in the past.

On the pitching side of the ledger, it’s pretty bleak, too.  Jason Vargas and Zack Wheeler are likely gone with perhaps just Kay ready to step up to the majors.  The reinforcements in the pen behind Edwin Diaz have not yet worked out as planned, but they’re under contract to go along with Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman. 

BVW came in with a lot of fanfare and made some bold moves but since the off-season ended he’s been doing his best Sandy Alderson impression, sitting on his hands other than the puzzling trade for Font.  I’ll bet there are any number of politicians who wish they could get a little bit of whatever charm Brodie has because like a politician, he’s thus far talked a good game but not executed on his promises.