Frustrated fan watching Chris and Tim
Tim Tebow had a bad year.
So, mostly, did Chris Flexen.
Tebow hit just .163/.240/.255 in 78 games, with 98 Ks before getting hurt.
He lacked enough at bats to be considered "qualifying." But even without qualifying, he hit very, very poorly.
In fact, the lowest International League qualifying hitter came in at .204, which is 41 points higher than "Timmy T".
If Tebow raises his average by a huge 100 points next season in AAA, he would still be at just .261, which is not normally a major league calling card since, more often than not, guys drop 50 points or so from their AAA average when they face major league pitching.
And Tebow, as one of our Macks Mets writers recently pointed out, may never reach his major league dream due to a 2020 rules change.
Starting next year, the maximum major league roster size no longer expands from 25 to 40; it expands just 2 slots, from 26 to 28. It is hard to imagine Tebow being one of the two call ups in September, whereas had he not gotten hurt and then heated up in the last several weeks of AAA 2019, he (despite his awful season start) might have gotten a call-up.
But miracles do happen. The fact that the Tebow name is a powerful draw still makes it a miracle that could happen, I suppose.
I often opined that he might even make it on baseball merit, but that it was vital at his age not to miss time.
But the past two seasons, he only played 161 of a possible 280 games, so he missed LOTS of time, making the slope a whole lot steeper.
Chris Flexen?
He has a 3-11, 8.07 Mets ERA, which is also not a major league calling card. More like don't call us, we'll call you.
He was OK in 2019 in AAA, but not great - yes, 92 Ks in 78 innings was spiffy, but a 1.46 WHIP in AAA is pretty sub-par. That's some WHIP....
I mean, who does he think he is, David Peterson?
But, unlike Tim Tebow, it seems Flexin' Flexen can hit!
3 for 6 in AAA, 1 for 2 as a Met - that's .500, and just one K.
Maybe he should take Tebow's spot in the Syracuse outfield. He'd probably hit better, and certainly would have a better arm out there. Why not?
Chris Flexen will be out of options next year. Either he will make the team or be lost on waivers.
ReplyDeleteOr, John...no one will pick him up off of waivers.
ReplyDeleteHis MLB ERA so far should not even be attractive to Baltimore.
If you were a GM, would you want a 3-11, 8.07 ERA pitcher?
I am guessing that Tim Tebow's goal in 2020 is to be at least as good as Keon Broxton.
ReplyDeleteKidding aside, I wish him an injury-free 2020, so we can see if he stalls or somehow climbs.
My plan for Tebow is to have him play home games for Syracuse and Binghamton as the two cities are only an hour apart. That way Tebow can avoid the long bus trips and both cities get the attendance boost. One is usually home when the other is on the road.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure where Flexen fits? He is clearly a AAAA type and has not handled several opportunities to start for the Mets in the past. But, could he eventually convert to a one inning, middle reliever? Get him to amp up his fastball (shorter outings) and pick one additional pitch to refine, like a change up or slider (instead of an arsenal that a starter needs).
ReplyDeleteIf that isn't feasible, then it is time to move on, right?
Oh and Tebow is a nice story, but I think he has maxed out his abilities at around the A+ or AA level.
Mike, Flexen has to reinvent himself or it is over. No team will want a guy on their major league roster with a career 8.07 ERA and 2.13 WHIP over 68 innings. Would Baltimore? I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteTebow has lost his benefit of the doubt - he needs to slug his way back into considerations. He did very little slugging in 2019.
I wasn't kidding - I wonder if Flexen should try to make it as a hitter.