Mack’s Mets – the premier site for information on the New York Mets talent pipeline and dialogue on Mets prospects, Mets news, and Mets opinions.
The Mets head to Arizona to pay the Diamondbacks. Tonight it's game one of the three game series.
Tonight’s Lineup: Jonathan Villar 3B; Francisco Lindor SS; Pete Alonso 1B; Dominic Smith LF; James McCann C; Billy McKinney RF; Jose Peraza 2B; Mason Williams CF; Jacob deGrom P;
Harry Ford
Mack's spin -
Ford is another of those players that have quietly moved up this year due to an outstanding 2021 season.
Right now,my 3rd catcher behind Henty Davis and Adrian Del Castillo.
C 5-10 200 North Cobb HS (GA)
5-27-21 - mlb -
16. Marlins: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, Ga.)
The Marlins are associated with a lot of the best high school athletes, such as Ford (who can run a 6.42-second 60-yard dash and play anywhere on the diamond), Montgomery and outfielder Will Taylor.
5-20-21 - mlb
21. Cubs: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, Ga.)
He’s an athletic catcher who can really run and make a lot of contact, with the athleticism to move to another position if any club that takes him feels the need to do so.
5-6-21 - MLB - 5-6 Mock Draft-
23. Indians: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, Ga.)
An incredibly athletic catcher who ran a 6.42-second 60-yard dash on the showcase circuit, Ford makes a lot of loud contact and has the versatility to play almost anywhere on the diamond. There's talk that he could sneak into the first 10 picks.
4-29-21 - Baseball Prospect Report mock 3.0 -
21. Chicago Cubs: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (Ga.) HS
Ford has outstanding athleticism for a catcher. He has above-average arm strength and quick actions behind the plate. He also has the leadership traits teams seek in a catcher and has called his own games since freshman year. Those skills have caused scouts to project Ford in center field.
4-26-21 - mlb.com mock draft -
21) Cubs: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Ga.)
Ford has an intriguing set of all-around tools, with the ability to really hit and the skills to stick behind the plate, though he’s quick and athletic enough to move elsewhere if needed.
4-22-21 - pipeline podcast mock -
19) Blue Jays (Callis): Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, Ga.) -- An athletic catcher, he runs a 6.42-second 60 and could play almost anywhere on the diamond, and he also offers plenty of bat speed and power potential.
4-19-21 - TTF - Mock 2.0 -
28. Tampa Bay Rays: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (GA)
His bat speed is among the best in the class. He has a smooth stroke and is as athletic as they come at the backstop. Hard to say if he’ll sign if he falls out of the first round. Whenever he does make the pros, he’ll stick to catcher. He can also play some outfield, too.
4-2-21 - Through The Fence -
28. Tampa Bay Rays: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb (GA)
His bat speed is among the best in the class. He has a smooth stroke and is as athletic as they come at the backstop. Hard to say if he’ll sign if he falls out of the first round. Whenever he does make the pros, he’ll stick to catcher. He can also play some outfield, too.
3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -
16. C Harry Ford | School: North Cobb HS, GA | Commit: Georgia Tech | B / T: R / R | Ht: 5’10 | Wt: 200lbs | Age: 18.2
Ford skillset is unmatched at the catcher position with the exception of a handful of players at any level. From Above Average Power, Defense, and Speed (Shows Plus speed now, should see a dip to Above-average) to go with a plus arm and showing every chance to stick behind the plate with those tools and athleticism. Teams may feel the pressure of moving Ford of C to another position to maximize his bat potential and athleticism. I think the future is behind the plate, but what a nice fallback option if it goes south, 3B/LF/CF are all potential landing spots if so. This catcher class is deep, one of the best we have seen in some time on the HS and College level. But we haven’t seen many come through either side with the skill-set Ford carries. Similar to J.T. Realmuto or Craig Biggio.
3-12-21 - top 50 HS players -
25. Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, Ga.
Ford is a weird anomaly — a catcher who is also one of the faster players in his draft class. Center field is an option if he doesn't stick at catcher.
2-27-21 - top hs players -
Harry Ford – Ford was another big riser last summer thanks to rare tools for a catcher. He’s among the fastest players in the class, but he also shows good feel for catching, as well as plus bat speed and the potential for plus power. He could theoretically play second, third, or even center field in pro ball.
2-17-21 - Bleed Cubbie Blue -
The Georgia prep catcher Harry Ford would make for an interesting discussion, if on the board at 21. Catcher in three or four years might not seem an organizational weakness, but Ford seems flexible enough to go elsewhere, as needed. Time spent researching potential choices at 21 both relaxes you on the likelihood of quality there, and screams that the likely quality doesn't stop anywhere near 21. Which is why it's useful to follow a college team until MLB season starts. More teams than you might think are bringing 97 or higher out of the bullpen, late. Oh, to harness some command, as well.
2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -
22. Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (GA)
Prep catchers, like their batterymates, should come affixed with a warning label about their attrition risk. While the jury is out on more recent selections, the last high-school catcher to produce more than 10 Wins Above Replacement for their career was Neil Walker (2004); Joe Mauer, picked in 2001, was the last to have a productive career as a backstop. Someone someday is going to change that. Ford, blessed with twitchiness and innate hand-eye skills, is a compelling candidate to do it. He's going to require developmental work on both ends (his hands have a tendency to separate during his load) but there's a lot of upside here, perhaps in a Daulton Varsho-like capacity.
1-26-21 - BA -
24. Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, Ga.
Areas To Improve: Refine catcher defense, prove hit tool
Ford is the unicorn of the 2021 draft as an exceptionally athletic catcher who could probably play any position on the diamond with enough time. Scouts believe that athleticism will allow him to handle the physical demands of catching, but want to see him refine the detailed areas of the defensive game to pair it with above-average arm strength. Ford has also shown electric bat speed and an ability to do damage all around the zone, but a longer stride makes some evaluators wonder if he will run into timing issues at the next level. Admittedly, we are picking nits with Ford, but given the track record of high school catching he’ll need to excel in all phases this spring to up his stock.
1-20-21 - prospect live -
#21
Chicago Cubs
Harry Ford
C, North Cobb
If the 2020 draft and Yu Darvish trade return are any indications, Chicago is looking for highest upside players it can find, regardless of age or ETA. Harry Ford might be the most talented player on the board at this point. He's become the clear front runner for top prep C in the class thanks to some extremely impressive athleticism and loud tools. A true plus runner, Ford has been showcasing a budding power bat that led the showcase circuit in homers in 2020. Ford has the athleticism and glove to stick behind the plate long term, but the overall toolset would play anywhere on the diamond. It's a high upside pick late in the first round for a Cubs system in the midst of what appears to be a step-back, rebuild.
1-19-21 - BLEED CUBBIE BLUE -
The Georgia prep catcher Harry Ford would make for an interesting discussion, if on the board at 21. Catcher in three or four years might not seem an organizational weakness, but Ford seems flexible enough to go elsewhere, as needed. Time spent researching potential choices at 21 both relaxes you on the likelihood of quality there, and screams that the likely quality doesn't stop anywhere near 21. Which is why it's useful to follow a college team until MLB season starts. More teams than you might think are bringing 97 or higher out of the bullpen, late. Oh, to harness some command, as well.
Mitchell’s Musings
LINDOR IS NOT JASON BAY…..
Yes, Francisco Lindor is NOT Jason Bay. Bay actually was WAY more productive 45 games into his initial season with the Mets.
Truth!
Hmm.
The Mets don’t have that luxury with Lindor. He’s bound by a huge and weighty contract. He’s a Met for the next 10 years and he’s making money that would make Bobby Bonilla envious. Earlier, you will find that I was not panicking over Lindor's struggles. I’m still not...panicking. But I am seriously
All that said. It’s still early enough that Lindor can turn this around and still win the hearts and accolades of the most judgmental Met fans. With every hit, stolen base or stellar play, fans (and teammates) wonder “Is this the turning point?” No one knows. Several times this season it appeared that Lindor had turned a corner. Nope, so far it’s only U-turns. 2021 has been strange. The Mets overall are near the bottom of the league in all offensive stats, yet (as of this writing) have the biggest divisional lead in baseball. Lindor aside, 2021 is playing like a Strat-O-Matic game with 12 sided dice. None of the outcomes could have been predicted by any well honed, schooled and knowledgeable baseball fan.. Especially Lindor's.
News filtered out that Pete Alonso is due back which means one of the rotating array of Plan B, C, D and E players must be dispatched back to Syracuse or out the door entirely. With the fact Alonso only plays 1B, one would think logic would dictate a first baseman would be the one to go, but the recent play of James McCann there as a backup as well as Dom Smith suggests it may not be a like positioned player destined to depart.
My guess would be Khalil Lee is going to be the unfortunate recipient of a private talk with either Zack Scott or Luis Rojas as he very seldom plays (and when he does he provides more wind than Dave Kingman did in his heyday). He hasn’t shown the defensive exploits of some of the many injured outfielders and he appears to need to be in the lineup every day somewhere to try to improve that very weak aspect of his game.
The other player likely on thin ice is Patrick Mazeika. With his very rare usage in the game, he won’t be missed all that much. Now with two catchers returning to catching, the need for a third catcher is slim at best. Mazeika was always much more known for his bat than his glove and his sole start in the majors was not behind the dish but at first base. While I’d like to see more of his bat, if he’s not going to play then it’s not likely to happen.
Until his first hit, a light squibbler down the third base line that went for a single, Cameron Maybin might have been on everyone’s list as someone who deserved an unceremonious heave-ho, but his track record in the majors has been of productivity when healthy. This 0-27 start to his Mets career was simply a slump, not a sign that he’s past his prime. He’s a career .254 hitter with as many as 10 HRs in a season and as many as 33 SBs. Given the fact they’re now on their 4th or 5th level deep in centerfielders, his role is semi-secure for now. Besides, he likely does not have options, so choosing to lose Maybin would mean subjecting him to a DFA.
Oddly, newcomer Billy McKinney and recently promoted Brandon Drury seem much more entrenched on the team than some of the others. Both have shown long ball ability and McKinney has demonstrated defensive acumen that the club could certainly use. In his four year sojourn in the big leagues he’s accumulated almost a full season’s worth of ABs and that would include 22 HRs. Drury has played roughly three full seasons across the 2015 to 2021 period and would average about 17 HRs over a single season.
What might be a more difficult struggle is figuring out who is next when Kevin Pillar is due back in about a week or so. That time off is a much quicker return than anyone could have expected and now he’s a bit of a folk hero in Mets lore, so he’s going to get a mammoth ovation from the hometown fans when he returns to CItifield. It may be the other of Lee or Mazeika who survives this more immediately shove out the door.
Of course, the pitching options are going to be equally difficult to evaluate if and when people like Seth Lugo, Carlos Carrasco and yes, Dellin Betances, work their way back towards major league pitching. In the pen most of the relievers have been terrific with the exceptions of Jacob Barnes and Robert Gsellman. One of those two would likely be the first to go (particularly since at least Gsellman has a minor league option available).
As more and more players begin to show they are healthy and ready to resume playing, these decisions become more difficult. That is indeed a good problem to have for a first place ball club.
McIlwain, Newton slam three-run homers
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (May 30, 2021) – The St. Lucie Mets drew a team-record 18 walks at the plate as they demolished the Daytona Tortugas 15-3 on Sunday afternoon at Clover Park.
Eight of the 10 players the Mets sent to bat in the game reached on a walk. Leading the way were Jaylen Palmer and Ranfy Adon who each walked four times. Nic Gaddis walked three times and Jimmy Titus and Brandon McIlwain both walked twice.
The 18th and final walk issued by Daytona came before the Tortugas recorded an out in the seventh inning.
The Tortugas used seven pitchers in the game. Relievers Frainger Aranguren and Juan Abril both walked five apiece.
The Mets trailed 2-0 in the first inning but back-to-back walks from starter Tanner Cooper to Cole Kleszcz and Titus with the bases loaded tied the game. Gaddis then lofted a sac fly for the go-ahead run in the game.
McIlwain followed with a three-run homer to put the Mets up 6-2.
The Mets scored six runs in the sixth before making an out. The first five batters – Titus, Gaddis, McIlwain, Adon and Brandon Fryman – all walked. Adon’s free passed force in a run. McIlwain scored on a wild pitch. The sixth batter of the inning, Shervyen Newton, launched a three-run homer to make it 15-2.
The Mets used six pitchers in the game. Starter Junior Santos overcame a rocky first inning and completed three innings. He limited the damage to two runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
Luis Montas pitched two excellent innings in his season debut to get the win. He gave up just one single and struck out two. Jeffrey Colon, Sammy Tavarez and Matt Cleveland chipped in with scoreless innings.
The Mets (16-8) won the final two games of the series to split the series with Daytona 3-3. The Mets are off on Monday. They return to action on Tuesday in Fort Myers against the Mighty Mussels. First pitch is 7 p.m.
Rochester, NY - The Syracuse Mets won their third consecutive game with a 1-0 victory over the Rochester Red Wings on Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. Just one day after Franklyn Kilomé’s one-hit shutout, a Syracuse starting pitcher stole the show once again. Mets starter Jerad Eickhoff delivered six innings of scoreless baseball, striking out seven while allowing just three hits and walking only one.
Good Morning. Happy Birthday Dwight Bernard and Joe Orsulak. Mets get rained out again, Pete Alonso, Seth Lugo, and Kevin Pillar all could be back today, Syracuse wins, St. Lucie wins, while Brooklyn and Binghamton get rained out.
Section Links: Mets Links, MLB Links, Minor League Links, This Day in Mets History and Comments.
SNY.TV:
Sunday's Mets-Braves game postponed due to inclement weather. ”The makeup
date for Friday's game will be a doubleheader on June 21, starting at 5:10
p.m., while Sunday's makeup is slated for July 26, also starting at 5:10 p.m.”
NY
Post: Mets confident they can bring Citi Field success on road. ” They flew
to Arizona on Sunday night to begin a nine-game road trip, which also stops in
San Diego and Baltimore, hoping to improve on their 10-15 road record.”
NY
Post: Pete Alonso about to add a ‘huge presence’ for Mets. “Pete Alonso is
expected to be activated off the injured list Monday, when the Mets begin a
series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, with reliever Seth Lugo and
outfielder Kevin Pillar possibly joining him.”
NY
Post: Mets’ Kevin Pillar ahead of schedule after brutal beaning. Saturday,
12 days removed from the scary incident in Atlanta and less than a week removed
from surgery, Pillar was back doing more baseball activities at Citi Field and
ahead of the timeline that even the Mets had projected for him.
NY
Post: Mets still see big roles for Brandon Drury, Billy McKinney. “’McKinney
right now is a guy that’s going to be in the lineup a lot and he’s going to
play all three [spots] in the outfield’ Rojas said. ‘He’s even going to play
some center…In Drury’s case, he’s going to help us in a lot of places’ Rojas
said. ‘His versatility he’s showed during the week is something we were pleased
to see, playing left, playing right, playing first. He can play some third for
us. If he swings the bat like he’s been swinging lately, we can find a spot for
him to give guys a blow.’”
NY
Post: Mets’ James McCann starting to hit since fill-in move to first base. “Saturday
night was McCann’s best offensive performance as a Met. He homered, doubled and
singled twice, keying their fourth straight win”
Probable pitchers this week in Arizona:
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 30, 2021
Monday: Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Merrill Kelly
Tuesday: David Peterson vs. LHP Caleb Smith
Wednesday: Marcus Stroman vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner
Luis Rojas announces the Mets' rotation plans in Arizona:
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 30, 2021
-Monday: deGrom
-Tuesday: Peterson
-Wednesday: Stroman
Rojas also says that Pete Alonso will be activated tomorrow and Seth Lugo and Kevin Pillar could soon follow: pic.twitter.com/v4G7W8kBG3
Interesting from Luis Rojas on his catching situation with Pete Alonso returning. Says James McCann and Tomás Nido will "split time ... because Nido's done a really good job."
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 30, 2021
Patrick Mazeika's presence on the roster as a third catcher gives the Mets that flexibility.
With Kevin Pillar now set to be activated tomorrow, Mason Williams will travel with the Mets on their taxi squad rather than be activated.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 30, 2021
Mets are going to have to make a slew of roster moves tomorrow, including a 40-man move to clear space for Seth Lugo.
"The guys just have that strong mentality that, ‘We’ll be ready.’”
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 30, 2021
Luis Rojas lauded the Mets for not letting all the bad stuff -- injuries, rain delays, snow delays, COVID delays -- keep them out of first place.
(In fact, they're tied for the largest division lead in MLB.) pic.twitter.com/euXosLJ81g
Injuries? The replace-Mets laugh in the face of injuries.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 30, 2021
The latest Beat Report:
📽️ Full video: https://t.co/Z0XutNnOth pic.twitter.com/l9N0J0CLy5
Elite company for Jacob deGrom.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 30, 2021
See him toe the rubber tonight on #SNB. pic.twitter.com/e8Xcsq9HKq
Q: #SNBLive favorite moment this season?
— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2021
- @Aidank616__
A: pic.twitter.com/zukZxsSbej
MLB
and SportSpyder NL East and MLB Links:
Some of yesterday's MLB Game Highlights:
No. 670 for @PujolsFive. pic.twitter.com/Nh3ZapS4O6
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2021
.@MrLapara comes through! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/Cd7QdUFwPY
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2021
Vladdy was HUSTLING. pic.twitter.com/SLvHpFWlnz
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2021
Here is yesterday's MLB Scoreboard.
MLB.com:
FOX Sports:
MLB Trade Rumors:
Yahoo Sports:
ESPN:
CBS Sports:
SportsSpyder:
Syracuse Mets 1 Rochester Red Wings 0 (Box Score). S-Mets get their third win in a row and 3nd shutout in a row. Jerad Eickhoff (W, 4-0) 6 innings, no runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 7 Ks; Corey Oswalt 3 innings, no runs, 1 hit, 5 Ks; Sebastian Elizalde LF 1 for 4, 1 run scored, 1 walk; Nick Meyer C; 3 for 4, 1 RBI, ; David Thompson 1B 0 for 3, 1 walk, 1 K;
Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Akron RubberDucks at Mirabito Stadium postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast. The decision for a date of the makeup game is to be determined.
Today's 1:00 game has been postponed due to rain. No makeup date has been set at this time. The Cyclones return home on June 8th to take on the Hudson Valley Renegades. pic.twitter.com/b4nrqkHtIV
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) May 30, 2021
St. Lucie Mets 15 Daytona Beach Tortugas 3 (Box Score) St. Lucie pounded 15 hits but also received 18 walks. Shervyen Newton 2B 2 for 5, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 2 Ks; Brandon McIlwain 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs scored, 2 walks, 1 K; Junior Santos 3 innings, 2 runs – both earned, 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 Ks; Luis Montas (W, 1-0), 2 innings, no runs, 1 hit, 2 Ks;
Today
in Mets History Per
Ultimatemets.com:
Born on this date:
Transactions:
New York Mets traded Tim
Teufel to the San Diego Padres for Garry
Templeton on May 31, 1991.
|
1964 |
In the nightcap of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium, Gaylord
Perry pitches ten extra-inning frames in relief, getting the victory when the
Giants beat the Mets in the longest game ever played in baseball history,
8-6. The future Hall of Famer reportedly threw his first spitball in a major
league game during the seven-hour and 23 minute, 23-inning marathon. |
|
1964 |
The Mets execute an unusual 6-6-3 triple play in the 14th
frame of a 23-inning 8-6 loss to the Giants when shortstop Roy McMillan
snares Orlando Cepeda's line drive, tags second base to double off Jesus
Alou, and then throws to first, catching Willie Mays off base for the third
out. The play is the team's second triple-killing in the franchise's brief
history, having pulled one off against Los Angeles in 1962, the team's
inaugural season. |
|
1991 |
The Mets and Padres swap middle infielders, with second
baseman Tim Teufel going to San Diego in exchange for shortstop Garry
Templeton, who will retire at the end of the season. The Friars' new keystone
sacker will hit .232 for during his two-plus seasons with the club. |
|
2001 |
The Padres rout the Mets 18-6, setting a new scoring
record for Petco Park. The team's total of tallies is one better than the
previous mark set in the 17-2 victory over Atlanta in the home opener played
in April. |
1964: At Shea Stadium, the New
York Mets and the San Francisco Giants play the longest doubleheader in major league history - 9 hours, 52
minutes - with the help of a 23-inning game in the nightcap that is won by the
visiting Giants, 8 - 6, on run-scoring hits by Del Crandall and Felipe Alou against Galen Cisco. The game takes 7:23 to play. In the
opener, Juan Marichal pitches a complete game and Orlando Cepeda goes 3 for 4 with two runs and one
RBI for a Giants 5 - 3 victory.
2013 - Jacob Turner beats the Mets,
5 - 1, in his season debut to end the Marlins' 9-game losing streak. Shaun Marcum falls to 0-6.
Centerfield Maz:
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