The Mighty Montes...Larger than life, and coming soon to a stadium near you.
Nothing like a good 5 minute article from a retired writer, I always say.
After Sunday's action, Binghamton had a woeful team 6.58 ERA in 14 games.
But, like a bad stock market, there can be hidden gems.
One such jewel is Bryce Montes de Oca, he of the 101 MPH fastball.
After overcoming injuries, he had a solid but somewhat wild debut season in 2021.
Bumped to AA this year, the early returns are quite promising:
5.2 IP, 1 hit allowed, 3 walks, 10 Ks.
Can't hit what you can't see, I suppose.
Keep that up and he may be in Queens in the not too distant future in 2022.
Big Bad Bryce. A gem in the rough. Having a Bryce is nice.
P.S.
That team ERA is so high despite the top 6 pitchers (including Bryce) allowing just 6 earned runs in 40 innings. The rest have allowed over 90 runs in the other 80 innings thrown by the team. Those guys need to Do It Like Bryce.
P.P.S.
That Max Scherzer is really something, huh? Thanks, Uncle Steve, for going shopping in the Quality Aisle.
If I was Mr. de Oca, I'd watch a lot of Scherzer footage and be a copycat.
This just in...Citifield will be renamed the following whenever Scherzer starts...
Could he return to starting
ReplyDeleteBryce has been a nice surprise for an otherwise slow starting AA team. I expect much more of them, and hope that Bryce continues to show control of that rocket arm.
ReplyDeleteI like the Maxwell House suggestion, because when Max is pitching, like with a good cup of coffee, your eyes are wide open.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThe Mets are like Maxwell House, good to the last drop( out).
According to Google Translate, his name in English is "Heaps of Hollow".
ReplyDeleteHe'll DEFINITELY need to get a nickname.😁
Fun points, gents. A guy like deOca could rise quickly to Queens. I hear his favorite movie is 101 Dalmatians
ReplyDeleteNice 3 inning, 6 K outing from Szapucki.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Juarez is showing 2021's sensational pitching was no fluke. 8 scoreless in 2022, 15 Ks.
Jaylen Palmer appears to have fanned 21 times in under 40 ABs. Not good.
I watched my grandson play his game this afternoon (he did well, the team did not). Over our sub sandwich dinner, the conversation turned to the Mets. Last night vs the Cardinals the team had only struck out seven times. Three of the seven were by Nido. Through 8 innings tonight, they have only struck out three times. For the year, they have the third lowest strike out percentage behind Texas and KC. His question was why? Change in players? Change in hitting thought process? New batting coach? My response was it is a combination of all three plus better years from different players resulting in lower strike outs.
ReplyDeleteThoughts?
SteveM, I think the one size fits all approach changed with the new manager and hitting coach this season. If a guy like Nimmo or Canha likes to work walks, go for it. Other guys? See a good pitch, swing. The old work the pitcher crap gets hitters to 2 strikes a lot. And from what I have seen, statistically, very few guys even hit .200 on counts where the pitcher has any count with 2 strikes on them.
ReplyDeleteI think the approach is just right now.
Yes, the players have a bit to do with it. Conforto was not a good clutch hitter, and was simply lousy vs. lefties. I so much prefer Marte.
Nido? A defensive catcher who just cannot hit, until proven otherwise. Nice to see McCann getting it together. He had 2 very solid hitting seasons before the Mets.
I also think that when a team scores, hitters relax. Relaxed hitters who don't press hit better. They are not hitting great, but they are hitting much better than 2021, and that is all I ask.
Heard Sewald say the key to his success was Seattle coaches telling him to pitch up in the zone, rather than low and away. Simple. Gee, wish Mets coaches could have suggested trying that.
ReplyDeleteThurs nite in AA, Montes de Oca fanned 4 in 2 scoreless innings. He is on the radar screens at LaGuardia. Won't be here tomorrow, but he is coming FAST now. One earned run in 7.1 innings, 14 Ks
ReplyDelete