SPOTLIGHT ON METS MINORS PITCHER TOMMY WILSON
Let's hope this is the un-hyped, excellent Wilson.
We already tried an over-hyped, lousy Wilson once.
The over-hyped one? Paul Wilson...remember him?
Paul was the first overall pick of the 1994 draft, and he, Bill Pulsipher and Jason Isringhausen were supposed to be the mid-1990's super starters version of Jake, Thor, and Matz. Well, didn't turn out that way.
Isringhausen ultimately did well, but mostly as a non-Met; Billy P was never good (13-19, 5.15); and Paul Wilson ended his MLB career a Mike Pelfrey-like 40-58, 4.86.
Enough of another Mets plan for greatness gone awry.
This article is about 2019 and Tommy Wilson of the St Lucie Mets. The 22 year old is a 19th rounder from 2018's draft.
The 19th round isn't the 40th round, but it still isn't a sexy round.
But Tommy Wilson is showing Paul Wilson how a 19th rounder can do it.
The 6'4", 220 righty 22 year old Tommy Gun out of Cal State Fullerton was outstanding in his short season 2018 debut in Brooklyn, 22 innings, 27 Ks, 1.23 ERA, 1-0, 2 for 2 in saves, 0.91 WHIP.
Yeah, yeah, but that's Brooklyn - what if they skipped him a level and sent him straight to St Lucie and started him? He'd surely falter, right? Flop. Crash and burn. After all, he was just an obscure 19th rounder, remember?
WRONG.
So far in 2019, 8 starts in High A ball, after just 22 prior pro innings in 2018, he is 4-2, 2.01 ERA, 1.05 WHIP.
Wait - it gets better. Much better.
Last 4 starts rolled like this:
May 1 - Seven NO HIT innings, fanned 9
May 8 - Six shutout innings, 4 hits allowed
May 16 - 5 innings, 3 hits, one earned run, fanned 6
May 21 - 7 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 1 walk, 5 Ks
Are you smiling yet? Do you feel NINETEEN again?
Those are 4 KILLER outings.
So what's he got? A good, deceptive delivery, pitches in the low 90s, good slider, good change.
Put it all together, and you got a GOOD pitcher. Real GOOD.
One with only 67 pro innings under his belt so far.
And, if you ask me, one who might well deserve a promotion to AA right now.
Tommy is a great first name too.
I'm sure you'd have to agree.
Tommy WIlson got profiled by MILB.COM after his last start - see link here. https://www.milb.com/milb/news/tommy-wilson-tosses-another-gem-for-st-lucie-mets/c-307342692
The article noted a very interesting tidbit:
His father, actor Tom Wilson, played the memorable role of Biff Tannen in the "Back to the Future" movie trilogy!
Can somebody scream, "McFly"?
We don't want to go back to the past - Paul Wilson - nope, there's a new, much improved Wilson in Metsville.
TOMMY WILSON.
8 comments:
I thought you were the original "Tommy Gun" so he'll have to be "Tommy Gun 2" the sequel remember you earned it he still has to prove it. Good week so far in a bizarre season but of course BIG series this week lets hope for a split then maybe most of our wounded come back for the Diamondbacks.
Gary, Tommy Wilson made his As debut today. Victimized by 2 poor plays in 2nd, he nonetheless fanned 7 in 4 innings. Which may be a sign of great things to come.
If the Mets can steal a few games on this trip, good times may be coming.
You left out the great BVW selection of Justin Wilson in the Wilson trio of pitchers...
Most die-hard Mets fans are wondering, "Is this truly a .500% team or can it be better and stay that way?" Right now, it is obviously a .500% team. The Mets are 18th statistically out of thirty MLB teams in both pitching and hitting. The only Mets to make the NL batting lead stats are of course #3 Jeff McNeil (.333BA) and Pete Alonso tied for third in homeruns with 17. Funny isn't it, because both players faced some static by not only Mets fans but also Mets management who wondered out loud if either one was good enough to even start in 2019. Tells you something, doesn't it, maybe just a little bit.
Are the 2019 Mets talented enough at every position to challenge the very best MLB teams this year? Now, that is a question for you to ponder. But can you be completely detached and honest enough to fairly assess this question? I wonder.
My own estimation is that the talent is here now, but for this 2019 team (as is) to make a serious playoff run now, well, everything would have to fall perfectly. How often has that happened here lately?Yes, the talent and capability are both there with this present 2019 Mets team. But can it in fact maintain its health the remainder of the way, and stay consistent? No one knows.
What I might prefer is adding in here the more proven younger Mets' MiLB players, allowing them the opportunity to fit in with this 2019 team this season and not just next. The reasoning is basic logic really. The Mets will indubitably move forward with large key questions regarding their pitching staff's own health and readiness. The rotation has arm/health issues already, add in confidence and consistency issues. In other words, starters can look really good one game and then not so good the next. As a whole, the rotation has "not settled in yet" at any real consistency level.
The bullpen is not much different really. The Performance variance can also swing widely game to game. Their own consistency has been challenging.
As far as the Mets hitting and overall fielding, it looks more sound to me. I see no true glaring deficiencies with it really. However, fans might prefer having the best Mets players at each position, over starting the highest paid players instead.
There may be a way to accomplish all this.
On the starting pitching side, perhaps keep an eye on Kay (five straight AA wins), and maybe too Uceta (who could be a five inning outings starter, until stretched out again.)
Maybe bump D. Peterson and H. Gonzales up to the next level, when completely ready and perhaps soon.)
With the bullpen, I really like both AA's Blackham and Gilliam. Their stats jump up the most, and their consistency has been impressive as of late.
These suggestions are bi-fold. Firstly, there are still too many things that could determine whether the 2019 Mets are good enough for a realistic chance in 2019. Injuries here always lead the way.
The second reason is that I personally do not see Jake deGrom coming back here in 2020 after his current contract expires. Jake can get upset easily I have noticed. And just how healthy is his arm now, and can it hold up over the duration of his next long term contract? Or would the Mets be much wiser instead, to begin rebuilding their 2020 starting rotation now, piece by piece, yet still remain competitive while doing this?
Anthony Kay, David Peterson, and Harol Gonzales are all really impressive to me. With Colin Holderman (and others) coming up behind them maybe.
It kind of seems like every time the Mets think they are right there and close intra-season, they somehow manage to take a noticeable step backwards in their planning acquisitions from that point. Perhaps this can be corrected now simply by keeping to a really strong MiLB draft system plan, one that has the depth to become true Champions once again. In house mainly.
Look for a moment at the Knicks as a learning tool. They acquired Carmelo Anthony as a solution, a player who never met a shot that he did not like. Now they want a somewhat leg brittle Kevin Durant, and maybe too another old star to go with Durant.
The fans may come (for awhile) to see them, but in the end nothing has really changed at all except shirt names. They will head back to square one each time.
Building a dynasty on a team's drafting strength, may still be the cure. And add into that mix sparing and precisely what is additionally needed.
Reese, to my knowledge, Brodie VW had nothing to do with Mookie Wilson, who used to swipe bases more than mmy wife swipes her credit cards.
Anonymous, I believe that if we get a healthy Lugo, McNeil, Lowrie, and Nimmo back soon, we are as good or better than Philly.
I think Jake and Thor have been disappointing, but will be much closer to 2018 standards from here on out.
Anthony Kay and Ryley Gilliam could be here by August in relief even without injuries on the majro league level (Blackham, Villines? I am not as confident). David Peterson? Possibly also before year end in relief.
If they are in the race, a Haggerty call up to add speed could happen.
Philly to me is within reach. Bryce harper has fanned 244 times in 2018 and 2019 so far, a staggering total. But only reachable if we can get and stay healthier quickly.
Not discounting Atlanta or the Nats, but I think the Mets can bypass them, too.
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