It's not all batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage, folks.
What prospects need to address the other side of their performance - DEFENSE.
Which players have discussed the errors of their ways - and stopped making them?
HIGH ERROR GUYS - THANKFULLY, NOT MANY:
AS EXPECTED, ALL CAN BE FOUND IN THE INFIELD:
Mark Vientos - after 13 errors in 54 games in 2018 at 3B, the 2nd round 2017 Mark has made 14 in 55 games this season for Columbia. The bat has heated up somewhat since April, but the glove needs to follow suit. Mark is playing all of 2019 as a 19 year old.
Ronny Mauricio - the 18 year old international bonus baby is hitting quite well at .291 for Columbia, but the error rate remains kind of high - but he is also kind of 18 years old. As a 17 year old in 2018, he made 16 errors in 53 games, and has improved a bit to 13 errors in 53 games this season.
Manny Rodriguez was drafted last season (10th round) and has been St Lucie's starting SS this season, hitting .255/.346/.323 in 50 games. The 22 year old has made 11 errors this season, a modest improvement over his debut season in Brooklyn, when he made 12 errors in 51 games.
Blake Tiberi (2016 3rd rounder, who missed most of 2017 due to injury) has made 9 errors for St Lucie, mostly at 3B, a bit high, but basically average. The doubles-hitting Tiberi (18 doubles vs. 1 HR in 213 ABs) is hitting .272/.354/.371.
Carlos Cortes (2018 2nd rounder) has slid a bit in his fielding, with 9 errors in 36 starts for St Lucie at 2B this year, vs. 7 in 45 games in Brooklyn last year. Cortes' bat has heated up and he is hitting .260 with a fine 38 RBIs in 60 games this year, due to a strong .321/.403/.518 with RISP this season.
BINGHAMTON?
Excellent D - only two players with more than 4 errors, none with more than 6. Impressive considering they played weeks in cold weather.
Excelling in the field, Luis Carpio at 2nd, SS, and 3B has just 2 errors in 36 games; Will Toffey just 3 in 40 games at 3B, Andres Gimenez just 4 in 41 games at SS, and Paul Paez improved in 2019 with 5 errors in 34 games.
22 year old C Ali Sanchez, besides hitting better in 2019, has just 3 errors and thrown out 50% of attempted swipers, his typical excellent career rate.
SYRACUSE?
Excellent D also - only Dilson Herrera has had fumble fingers, with 11 errors, 9 in 24 games at 3B, 2 at 2nd base. Next high in errors is Danny Espinosa with 6, 4 of those in 30 games at shortstop - which is not high at all.
Tim Tebow? Just one error - and hitting better this year than Keon Broxton...at least Tim has not fanned 45 times in 97 at bats this year, like Broxton has.
Rene Rivera has been outstanding with the glove (and good with the bat, too). ZERO errors, and has gunned down 16 of 26 base runners. Gold Glove stuff.
That doesn't cover everyone - but Mets minors defense has been satisfactory in 2019. Syracuse, Binghamton, and St Lucie have allowed around a half unearned run per game, while the young Columbia squad has allowed 55 in 62 games.
They are not as good, though, as the big fellas in Queens, who have allowed just 26 unearned runs in 67 games - which by major League standards is still high, as six teams have allowed only between 10 and 15 unearned runs this season - Cincy the best at just 10 allowed.
AND THE SLICK-FIELDING 1999 METS?
JUST 20 UNEARNED RUNS ALLOWED - ALL SEASON
BUT, HEY, THAT IS SO "LAST CENTURY"
12 comments:
The major league defense has been really bad, in ways that aren't fully captured by traditional stats. The infield in particular struggles to turn double plays and the range just appears abysmal.
So the team can't pitch, hit, field or run...which might explain yet again why they find themselves below .500.
I'm ready to field any questions.
Cortes has played many of his games as a DH
The Mets ranked 18th in making double plays this year, with 52.
They clearly need to sign up for Optimum Double Play.
Surprisingly, Houston has the fewest, at 32.
Pirates turned an amazing 215 in 1966.
Mack, lots of infielders on St Lucie. Cortes needs to field better when he does play.
His major league comparable, Robbie Cano, has made just 4 in 44 games, or 1 every 11; Cortes is at 1 every 4 games at 2B.
Tom -
There is one thing I want to offer up a different opinion than you had.
You mentioned in an earlier post that Binghamton starter, David Peterson, had a decent outing.
I beg to differ.
The outing you spoke of, June 11th, had him giving up 5 runs and 4 earned runs in 6.1-IP.
That makes his last three outings as 12-ERs in 15.2-IP...
He now has 11 starts this year with a 4.82-ERA
Last year for St. Lucie: 13 starts 4.33
These are not what you want from a red chip 1st rounder
I saw Manny Rodriguez a number of times last season. I think he made 3 errors in one game and could have been charged with even more. However as the season went on, I did see improvement. He can go to the hole, grab the ball, and throw out the runner at first. That is something a Major League Shortstop needs to do. FYI, Kaz Matsui could not make that play.
John - nice. Now let's see if Manny Rodriguez can hit his way past the many middle IFs standing between him and Queens.
Manny also showed me good speed and the ability to beat out slow ground balls. However I see tyat this year he has 6 stolen bases and 6 caught stealings.
John, let's see if M Rod takes off in the second half. Considering last year was his debut in Bklyn, he is doing quite solidly so far after skipping Columbia. Two guys who did not skip Full A ball: Jeff McNeil and TJ Rivera, so I give M Rod credit for how decently he has done so far.
Mack, I agree on your view of Peterson, mostly - but he was decent early - he was scoreless thru 4, I believe allowed 2 in 5th, and the 2 allowed in the 6th were scored off his reliever - still, he has struggled too much for me to have any feeling that he will eventually be more than a back end starter in MLB.
Unless he comes up with new tricks. What is he seemingly missing: velocity - he seems to not be a power arm. And the numbers show it.
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