This Mississippi State alum may get to Queens quickly if his scorching bat keeps this up.
A welcome day off for the Mets, as they jet back across 3 time zones, and a few thoughts from the Twilight Zone:
1) SZAPUCKI POST-MORTEM
Some Thomas Szapucki pitches didn't look bad. His fastball was often 94-96, faster than I expected, but looked very straight. The wind was blowing out, and 2 HRs to dead center got caught in the wind and sailed over the....391 mark?
What kind of dead center distance is 391? Little league?
On a normal day in Citifield, 2 of those HRs, the ones to dead center, were more likely flies to the edge of the track in center field.
He looked really good fanning Darin Ruf twice. Quality pitches. If all you saw of him was those 2 at bats, you'd have come away feeling like, "hey, he's good."
The HR he surrendered to torrid Joc Peterson was on a 95 MPH fastball on the upper inside corner. Normally, I think that is a good pitch, but Joc should have been getting a diet of slow curves instead. He was looking high and inside and he turned on it. Don't challenge guys who are blistering hot.
The Giants just flat out had their hitting pants on against Szapucki. They smelled blood in the water. Of course, like any good sharks, after they had feasted, they just swam around for the rest of the game digesting, and didn't do anything at all.
All to say, that had to be the most horrific initial start I have ever seen, but I am not quite sure he can't build on it and that he is nothing more than scrap heap material. He had 7 starts in AAA, but just 22 innings. Hard to say about a guy whose career started in 2015, but his call up was premature. I wonder how he would have done if he had 12 AAA starts and 50 innings. He might have been sharper.
Also, what if his first start had been against Pittsburgh, which is averaging their usual paltry 3.3 runs per game, and not the Giant's 5.2 runs per game? As well as the Mets have scored this year, they've put up 1 less run in 3 more games than the Giants, who are hitting like Big Red Machine, West Coast version.
Just remember, even the great Tom, Tom Seaver, was 12-20 against the Big Red Machine. The opponent matters. He got to face early Mike Tyson.
Lastly, Chris Bassitt got his clocks cleaned by the Giants the night before for 8 runs - they are just a very potent team. Won 107 games for a reason in 2021, I'd say.
2) Dom Smith, Jen Psaki told me, has circled back. He hit .198 his first season and after yesterday's game, was hitting .198 in 2022. I'd prefer he start at .300 and circle back to .300, though, wouldn't you agree?
3) Some ask...why are JDD and Luis Guillorme not playing more? Simple. Pete and Lindor have played every game. McNeil, Escobar, and Nimmo, almost every game. If it were not for his bereavement leave, Marte would be playing almost every game. Canha has played in 75% of the games. That doesn't leave a lot of games for JDD, Luis, Dom, and Janko. You want to play more? Catch.
4) WALK LIKE A MAN: Speaking of catching, Nido has been up 70 times, walked twice and fanned 26 times. Mazeika has been up 25 times, walked none but fanned just twice. Big strikeout difference. McCann, by the way, walked twice and fanned 11 times in 64 plate appearances. So that is 4 catcher walks in 46 games - WOW, that's low. Equals the 4 times McCann has been HBP.
5) Braves beat Phils - my guess is they smell blood in the water, too, with Jake, Max, and Megill out.
6) GREAT LOCAL WEATHER BUT...Yankees were in town, so it has to be nice. They have this arrangement worked out, you see. Mets return to play the Phillies Friday night....forecast? PM showers. Typical.
OK, enough - on to the minors. A full slate of 4 games.
Stars of the night: Francisco Alvarez and Jake Mangum.
SYRACUSE - 34 year old former major league pitcher Tim Adleman started for our boys and went 3 innings. Jake Mangum kept on hitting, going 4 for 5 with 3 doubles, Khalil Lee hit his first Syracuse HR and walked, and the bat of Mark Vientos has officially heated up. 5-1 lead going into the 7th became 5-4.
Then, Alex Claudio in the 8th allowed 6 hits and 5 runs in 1/3 inning, putting Syracuse down by 4 runs, making Tom Szapucki's outing in Frisco look rather brilliant by comparison. If someone asks you what International League team thinks they're actually still pitching in Las Vegas, judging by the team ERA, it's Syracuse.
Eric Orze came in to finish the 8th and fanned both hitters. He sure strikes out a ton of guys. That's a good thing for the resume. He added a 1-2-3 in the 8th. He is entering the fringes of the Laguardia Airport radar screen; Laguardia is a suburb of Metsville.
In the 9th, a 2 run single by Vientos, his 3rd hit, plates two, to make it 9-7, but was thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch it to a double. Mark has shot up to .239. and rising fast. Blankenhorn stayed under .200 by making the game's final out.
BINGHAMTON - Francisco Alvarez no doubt watched the Joc Peterson show with envy, so tonight, Alvarez hit 2 HRs and a double in his first 3 at bats. Then added a single in his next AB. Then a walk. He is officially on fire.
Ronny Mo picked up his 25th RBI and, tied 4-4 heading into the 9th, Jeremy Vasquez singled to break the tie, Zack Ashford singled in another.
Michel Otanez, Mack's fireballer, came in to try to close things out. First dude, punched out on 3 pitches. Second dude, ground out to Ronny Mo. Then he walked the next guy, a .136 hitter, on 5 pitches. But he pushed the next guy out swinging on a 1-2 count. Save # 5. A closer, indeed. ERA drops to 1.29. Laguardia radar is starting to pick him up.
Cortes and Brodey just can't seem to ever get a hit anymore. Since their demotion from AAA, they're hitting .083 and .091. Yipes. Starter Jose Butto threw 4 scoreless innings, followed by a 3 run 5th. Trey Cobb threw 2 more (no earned runs, 4 Ks) to keep it close to allow for the game-winning rally.
One more quiz question: What do you call a guy who has fanned 17 times in his last 9 games and is 0 for his last 16? Answer: Your # 2 Mets prospect, Brett Baty.
Me? Mark Vientos is way ahead of him and deserves first dibs.
BROOKLYN - we should all wanna see more of Carson Seymour. He gave up a run in the 4th and 5th as he, too, was being extended pitch-count-wise, and left after 5 trailing 3-1, but allowed just 4 hits.
Jose Mena was hitting .320 after his first hit tonight; 24 for 74 up to that point, so he ought to be on our radar. He is 25, and I know little about him, but the catcher has 2 HRs and 15 RBIs. Keep hitting and rise through the ranks. 3-1 final, 8 hits.
ST LUCIE - Dominic Hamel was throwing a gem tonight for the Lucie. First 5.1 innings, 9 Ks, 2 hits. Then a walk and a single on a 9 pitch at bat and, at that point, was at 90 pitches. Then, a 3 run shot on pitch # 94. Then, pulled. So, the next time you look at his ERA, remember they were trying to extend his pitch count and he gave up a 3 run shot. Trying to extend him is a good thing.
Also, Raul "Boom Boom" Beracierta hit a 2 run shot (3) and is hitting over .300. Omar de los Santos (slightly under .300) picked up steal number 23. He could have 50 at this rate by July 4. Why not?
Daniel Juarez? Save # 3, fanning the side. Not yet on the Laguardia radar screen, but in the same time zone.
MACK'S THOUGHTS
- Today's featured minor leaguer is someone who has been getting some positive ink lately.
Binghamton RHRP sidearm specialist, 25/yr. old Josh Hejka.
Hejka is a true undrafted find out of Baltimore's John's Hopkins University.
He started his Mets career in 2019 and has turned heads with his funky delivery, ability to generate groundballs, and throw both a high spin T88, 2400rpm fastball, but a 72-75, 2600-2800 slider.
The results?
2021
Combined A+/AA/AAA - 2-1, 3.65
2022
A+ - 1-0, 0.00, 7.2 IP
AA - 1-0, 1.00, 9 IP
I see him heading to Syracuse latest the all-star break.
- There has been a lot of discussion about why the Mets seem to consistently sit down hot hitters or hitters that have a great stat line against the other team's starter.
There is a plan here but you might not like it.
Buck fills out his lineup cards at least two games prior to when that lineup comes into play. Thus, going 4-5 on Tuesday isn't going to be worth squat on Wednesday.
In addition, Buck wants all his field players to get a share of the action, specially those that are stuck in a depth situation
Thus, different 3rd basemen and outfielders throughout the week.
You may not like it but the results speak for themselves.
- We are getting close to Draft Day and one of the players being picked in mock drafts with the 1.14 pick is 21-year old LHP Connor Prielipp from the University of Alabama.
In 2020, Priellip was picked to be the top pitcher off the 2022 draft and one of the top 5 picks in the draft.
Then, first COVID shortened the 2020 season and then, Connor went under for TJS in 2021.
He is still on the mend but Alabama has plans in using him in the CWS playoffs.
Priellip has a fastball that tops at 99 and a ++ upper 80s slider but all of that is in question until he returns.
Combined 2020/2021 stats:
4-1 0.96, 7 starts, 28 IP, 47 K
Me?
I would be thrilled if the Mets pick him.
- 19/year old C/DH/1B Vincent Perozo is changing Florida clubhouses, going from Extended Camp to the St. Lucie Mets.
Perozo comes out of Venezuela and hit .178 last year for the GCL Mets team (52-ABs); however. Michael Mayer is reporting that he has been hitting the cowhide (is it cowhide?) off the ball in extended play this year.
- I know the last 2 games have been crazy losses, but going into Thursday's games, the Mets are tied with the most shutouts in the league... 7
- OF Johneshwy Fargas was transferred from AAA Syracuse to AA Binghamton. He was hitting .191 for Cuse.
-OF Matt Winaker was returned to the FCL league. He was hitting .136 for Binghamton.
- Syracuse SP Connor Grey hasn’t given up an earned run in his last 17.2 innings pitched.
