About
this weekend’s series with the Braves…
I’m
now totally convinced that, not only can’t we beat this team, but that they have
developed into a far more talented than the team we root for.
The
Braves exposed us for what we are… a second tier potential Wild Card
participant which, talent wise, is far below the Braves, Dodgers, and Nats in
this league.
The
good news, if there is any, is the fact that the teams we are fighting out for
a second Wild Card slot… the Cubs, Brewers, the Phillies… all had miserable
weekends as well.
Still,
a win in a Wild Card game would only once again expose us to the more talented
teams in the league. The Cards would beat us. The Braves or Dodgers would
probably humiliate us.
I’ve
enjoyed covering this season, but the Mets need to do more in 2020.
They have
to reach out in the off-season and either sign or trade for a legitimate power
outfielder that also has ++ defensive skills. And they must retool this pen
into seven workable pieces, not three or four.
Anyway…
on to the Cubbies.
Binghamton
moves –
SP Tommy Wilson was placed on the IL
OF Will Toffey was placed on the IL
SP Thomas Szapucki
was promoted from A+ St. Lucie
IF/OF Cody Bohanek was promoted from A+
St. Lucie
Looks
like Szapucki is back on track to make the parent team sometime next year.
Stat
line in St. Lucie: 9-ST, 3.25, 1.33, 36-IP, 42-K
Kudos –
AAA-Syracuse
– CF Brandon Nimmo: 3-4, 3-R, 2-RBI
AA-Binghamton
– SP Zach Lee: 7.1-IP, R, 8-K, 2.45
Another
starter that had trouble in Syracuse earlier this season… 16-App, 6.99-ERA
A+
St. Lucie – LF Wagner Lagrange: 3-4, R, .305,
.807-OPS
The
23/yr. old currently has more home runs and runs batted in than any other
season, but at levels that still aren’t high enough to write home about (2019
combined A/A+: 370-AB, 6-HR, 47-RBI).
Plays
mostly in left.
Currently,
our top red prospect (two others in the DSL league)
A-Columbia
– RP Jose Moreno: 1-IP, 0-R, 3-K
Low-A
Brooklyn – P Christian Tripp: 2-IP, 0-R, 2-K, 0.00
Rookie-Kingsport
– SP Jordany Ventura: 4-IP, 0-R, 4-K, 1.13
GCL – SP Robert Colina: 4-IP, 0-R, 5-K
The
18/yr. old Colina started this season as a reliever, but has now been converted
into a starter.
He’s
given up only 1-ER in his last two starts, with 8-K in 8-IP
DSL-1 – off date
DSL-2 – off date
Very curious to see Szapucki against higher level competition as Wheeler being back seems less likely with each start.
ReplyDeleteSucks losing five of the last six to the Braves, for sure.
ReplyDeleteSeems like they are a step ahead of us at every turn........recent bargain bin pick ups for them
have stepped up (Hech and Cervelli, for example) at just the right time.
The recent win streak(s) have shielded most of us fans from the truth, in that the Mets are still an incomplete roster. Regardless of what happens down the stretch, BVW and Co need to take a deep dive on the roster and makes some changes for 2020.
Reese -
ReplyDeleteAlso curious to see his pitch count. So far, it has been quite low.
Mike -
ReplyDeleteAnd... it's getting tougher to attract readers to sites like this.
Met burn out maybe
It would have been interesting to play the Braves two weeks later with McNeil, Nimmo and Lowrie all back - the gap with the Braves would narrow. If Diaz got back to his 2018 form, we'd be even.
ReplyDeleteWe still have the silent Cespedes saga - which seems like a great saga for a 2nd division team to deal with. We need somebody proven.
The current Mets minors outfielders don't measure up to Matt den Dekker and Kirk....very sadly. How does an organization not have more OF talent?
Tom -
ReplyDeleteI have three 'red star' prospect outfielders in the chain:
Wagner Lagrande - playing A+ ball
Freddy Valdez - just promoted to GCL
Alexamder Ramirez - will begin to play DSL ball next season
If the Mets get back a healthy Cespedes next year, I would match that lineup against anybody. If not we need to get a big bat.
ReplyDeleteThe Braves are 11-5 against the Mets this season, they are just the better team.
ReplyDelete