5/8/19

Tom Brennan: CHRIS PADDACK & METS' 2015 DRAFT

Power tools


Chris Paddack has big time tools.  

He looked hellacious for San Diego Monday night against the Mets.  Sensational.  High heat.  ZZZ-POP!

Kind of like Jose Fernandez did when he was a Miami ace.

Funny to note that, because Paddack was an 8th rounder in 2015 for the Marlins.  Not a first rounder, or a second, or a third - but an 8th rounder.

The Marlins foolishly traded him for solid closer Fernando Rodney...oh, well.  You have to give to get.

Now, Paddack is 3-1, 1.55 in his first 7 rookie starts for San Diego, with a puny 0.69 WHIP.

In the minors, 13-6, 1.82 ERA with 230 Ks in 177 IP and an awesome 0.80 WHIP.

Elite power pitcher stuff.

Why do I write about him?  Because he relished (and succeeded in) the challenge of punching out Pete Alonso twice with high cheese of the cheddar variety?  No.

As I have oftentimes written here, he was a high power pitcher available that year until the 8th round, and I often say that in the draft, the Mets must draft POWER - power hitters and power pitchers.

The Mets drafted these gents before Paddack:

Desmond Lindsay, Max Wotell, David Thompson, Tom Szapucki, Chase Ingram, Corey Taylor, and Pat Mazeika.


Would anyone like a draft do-over?  

To me, only Lindsay and Szapucki fit the power arm/power bat scenario.  

No insult to the others, it's the Mets that drafted them when they did, they did not draft themselves.

Let me reiterate: 

I never contend that all high tools picks will pan out, some faltering due to injury (Szapucki, so far) or not fulfilling expectations and injury-plagued (Lindsay, so far).  

But I would have drafted Chris Paddack in a heartbeat before the others.  

Power Supreme.  

And looking every bit like a future ace.


P.S. Paddack may have made Alonso look bad on his extreme high heat on Monday, but on Tuesday, Pounding Pete launched a rocket that would be in orbit had it not ricocheted off the old factory building in left field.  

Power Supreme. Alonso Style.

If you missed it, pull up the video - it is worth the time.  BOOM!

8 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Supposedly, Jed Lowrie (2 for 19 in rehab) is expected to return to the Mets on Friday.

What's the rush?

Anonymous said...

To sit Frazier as fast as possible

Reese Kaplan said...

Good question. Per Article XIX-C of the CBA and with the player's consent, a player on the MLB 10-day or 60-day Injured List may be assigned to a minor league club for rehabilitation purposes for up to 20 days (for position players) and up to 30 days (for pitchers).

Gary Seagren said...

Brody do what you said play the best 25.....Davis should play over Frazier a .240 career hitter but we all know why he's still here new GM same old s**t. Wow Pete is amazing but even with the win last nite Thor was crap and whats up with Conforto is he's a lifetime .251 hitter in 1777 AB's so maybe we shouldn't expect him to be Yelich but it would be nice.

Mike Freire said...

Paddack certainly looks the part and he has a good track record.....it will be interesting to see how he adjusts once MLB gets a good look at him.

What is odd is the obsession with Pete.....unless Pete stole his girlfriend or maybe kicked his dog once. The challenge came out of left field, it seems.

So, Paddack got the best of him in the first game and celebrated accordingly, but may have awoken the sleeping giant in the process. Nice "pouty" look Paddack put on after the homer last night.

Seems like an odd fellow.

Tom Brennan said...

Mike, I am thrilled Pete made Paddack pout...poor, poor, Paddack...WAH!!!!

Anonymous, it is only Wednesday - Frazier should sit today, and JD should play.

When Lowrie returns, and I'd prefer him to stay in rehab one more series rather than return Friday, Frazier should be reduced to pinch hitter - or released. I'm OK with pinch hitter...for the time being.

Mack Ade said...

I specialize in the draft for this site

Never heard of him that June

Reese Kaplan said...

He was fast tracked by San Diego, skipping AAA here in El Paso entirely.

Gee, when do the Mets ever do that with hot prospects? Conforto was the last one but even he was dispatched to AAA after his ML debut. Wait, Zamora is another one...ditto.