Questions of the Day:
Who is the fastest throwing Mets' minor league reliever?
Is it one of these 2 AA relievers?
Bryce Montes de Oca? 1-1, 2.93, 15.1 IP, 23 Ks, 26 year old righty.
Michel Otanez? 0-1, 1.38, 13 IP, 17 Ks, 24 year old righty. W
Or someone else?
Second question:
The new Noah Syndergaard threw an 8 inning gem the other day for the Angelos - 4 hits, one run, just 5 Ks. Now 38 innings in 2022, just 27 Ks, but 4-2 record. Clearly, he has altered his game. Can Jake deGrom follow suit, throttle down, and stay on the diamond? First, of course, he has to get on the diamond.
Observation: 45 games played thru Tuesday, Francisco Lindor now has 32 RBIs, 30 Runs. So he is on pace for 108 runs scored and 115 RBIs.
- Should we get off his back now?
METS GAME:
Baseball can at times present the most unusual scenarios. The Mets have a guy who has been in their system since 2015, started 49 games and relieved in 7 others, and has 6 career wins. Remarkably, that same guy got to start for the Mets against the Giants Wednesday. THOMAS SZAPUCKI.
A big reason for just 6 wins in that many starts is he rarely gets to 5 innings. This season, after his 2021 nerve shift surgery in his previously repaired pitching elbow, he had 7 starts in AAA, totaling 22 innings, in which he fanned 30 and had a solid 2.86 ERA. But he was 0-3 because he only had one game where he went 5 innings, in his May 15 start, so it is the only start he could have even gotten a win in. He gave up 1 unearned run, but lost. His team, Syracuse, hasn't scored very much.
AAA hitters were hitting .247 and he allowed 9 walks. This year, in AAA, that qualifies him as being at the head of the starter class when David Peterson hasn't been temporarily sequestered there involuntarily.
So Big Tom gets his first major league start against a team that just scored 13 runs last night against three studs named Bassitt, Smith, and Diaz, and which won 107 games last year. Piece of cake?
Well, he did fan the first batter…before surrendering 5 runs faster than you could say Szapucki. Bad luck to have the wind blowing out. Shaky control. Nice pick off.
Second inning, 1 more out, 4 more runs, 2 more HRs, 60.75 ERA. OUCH.
All I can ask Szapucki is, what did you learn that can make you better?
GREAT relief after his 1.1 innings was done, and a double and HR for Lindor. Francisco is HOT! Shutting mouths everywhere.
McNeil runs into a brick wall and left injured? In a 9-0 game. DUMB! We need you, Jeff! Only Pete can run through brick walls.
MINORS:
SYRACUSE - Righty Connor Grey threw 6 scoreless. Three straight starts of 6 innings and no runs. Next one called up?
Mark Vientos homer (6) and double, but no place in Queens for him right now, and smoking hot Jake Mangum garners 3 more hits. If shirt man Jankowski does not hit for the Mets, Mangum could get a shot later this year if he keeps on doing everything well.
BINGHAMTON - another dreary night of not hitting. Downed 5-1, on a mere 3 hits. Even Wyatt Young went hitless, somehow. Carlos Cortes (.165) is hitting as if he is completely lost this year. This time last year, he was tearing up AA.
BROOKLYN - Jaylen Palmer (2 for 5) seems to have figured something out. In game one, DH Jose Mena (.315) had 4 hits in an unusually high offense, 11-9 win.
Sixteen hits - used them all up. In the nightcap, though, shut out on 1 hit by Sherveyn Newton. Nick Zwack gave up one earned run in 3 innings, enough to earn an "L".. Ouch!
ST. LUCIE - Hitting pants back on our boys tonight. 12 hits - but 16 Ks, too. Them thar Lucies sure can hit, hey Pa? Consuegra HR (3). Wold, Beracierta, Villalobos and Guerrera also went deep. 5 HRs in all. Shaky 8-6 win, but they held on in the 9th. Fending off a potential calamity is part of the learning experience.
Mack - My Thoughts
St. Lucie LHRP, Javier Atencio, was added to the team's roster on Monday.
He pitched his first stateside start on Tuesday, giving up only one run in four innings, striking out four, and producing a 1.00-WHIP.
He was signed in 2018 as an UDFA, out of Ocumare del Tuv, Venezuela.
He pitched 2019 and 2021 for the DSL Mets, going, last year, 1-3, 2.44, in 15 games (14 starts). He also posted 76-K in 48-IP, for a remarkable 14.25 K/9 ratio,
The Bleacher Report tagged Atencio as a the Mets breakout player to watch, saying:
"On the older side (20) of the prospect scale, Atencio has a good fastball, but the jump to a full season will determine his future."
He's off to a great start.
-By my count, the Mets are starting to create a very worthy group of quality starter pieces in the lower levels.
Right now, I have:
Brooklyn - Matt Allen, Mike Vasil
St. Lucie - Calvin Ziegler, Dominic Hamel, Joel Diaz, Javier Atencio
GCL Mets - Richard Britto
This should only increase after the July draft.
We currently have an eight man rotation, with three (Jake, Max, Megill) of our top starters on the shelf.
Both Megill and deGrom are now long tossing on grass and Trevor should be ready to go in early June, and Jake by the end of that same month.
My guess is, with good health going forward, and Steve's wallet, we should be okay at this critical position until the talented guppies swim up stream.
- Going into this game, Francisco Lindor was ranked 7th in the NL for RBIs.
-3B Kris Bryant (.270), was placed on the IL with a back strain. Probably dodged a bullet here.
- Syracuse OF Daniel Palka is now ranked 5th in the league with 10 home runs
- Since May 1, 3B Mark Vientos leads the Syracuse team with a .294 batting average.
- I guess it is time to realize that, going forward, Thomas Szapucki is not a viable option for the Mets rotation.
For now, Bassitt, Walker, Cookie, Peterson, and Williams.
- One has to wonder at this point why the Mets didn't just start Trevor Williams, even though he only had 3 games of rest. The Mets shut the Giants out, 3-0, past Szapucki.
-Jeff McNeil doesn't know how to quit, does he? He said his bruised knee will not prevent him from playing on Friday.
-Geez. We left a lot more than our heart in San Francisco.
21 comments:
Re: fastest throwing minor leaguer
I think the question should be:
Who is the best pitcher that throws 95+ and has the lowest BB/9 ratio?
Re: Connor Grey
I need to do a player profile on him this weekend.
Good move, Mack. Apparently Grey is a local kid.
Right now, that guy is Michel Otanez.
Eric Orze ERA is high, so he is adjusting, but he is a K machine.
O.K. guys I get it I'll give Lindor some props and I agree with the "why didn't they just start Williams and do a BP game". The Szapucki start was reminiscent of that Glavine game back in 07 but fortunately not nearly as important. Hopefully after the draft our minor league system will get some love because it seems like forever we've been told we only have some talent in the upper levels. Also I love this Mets Recap guys keep it up.
Also what's your opinion on Mangum career wise going forward?
Thank you Gary.
Not too shabby from two retired writers.
Magnum has a lot going for him. Ability to spray. Lightning leadoff speed. OBP guy. And potential Gold Glove in center.
His only knock is no pop.
I'm not sure this team likes no pop outfielders.
Lots of great stuff here guys. There’s a bit more starting material in the minors, I’m thinking Butto and Askew.
Can Szapucki just become a reliever already? If the guy doesn’t have the buildup of stamina, what the heck are they expecting?
Last whine from me (for now) is about Thor. Seems his velocity has been down ever since he came back, but i have a feeling that’s by design. His only rough start was going home to Dallas where the Rangers knocked him around, but otherwise he has done well against some good offensive teams: Astros, Red Sox, Rangers (3), Orioles, Rays… Can it be that Syndergaard found tranquility away from the microscope? Will Jake feel the same? Conforto was open about that!
I agree with Gary, in fact, I was thinking that when I saw the promotion to AAA. Next stop, Jankowski’s job…
In fact, let’s find similarities:
Jankowski: Mangum
Davis: Vientos
Smith: Baty
Cahna: Plummer
Gus, I think Jankowski is at real risk from Mangum, and potentially soon, if Mangum keeps hitting.
If Davis gets traded over the next two months, Vientos could be ready. Heating up. I'm guessing he hates cold weather.
Baty? Gotta cut down on the Ks. I see a minimum of 300 more minor league at bats for him. He is not yet a Kirk Nieuwenhuis equivalent offensively.
Plummer? Needs to keep racking up AAA at bats and raise that batting average. My guess is he'd be around a .200 hitter if called up now.
I noticed for good reason you did not bring up Khalil Lee - one of several Mets minor league hitters to undergo real regression in 2022. Actually, more than several - but there are only so many spots in the big leagues anyway.
Mauricio could use 500 more at bats to raise his OBP.
Indeed Tom, it is hard to defend Lee’s lack of contact. Too, I don’t see a comp to Mauricio on the team. I can say Guillorme as a young player playing around the diamond would be good for Mauricio, but they are different players.
Lastly, I’m hoping to see Lee become a better Jankowski, but… he. has… to… strike the little white sphere…
As I was pondering this, last night I saw Jacob Berry’s name and remembered how Alonso was snickered at for his defense and Conforto was too going into the draft. Seeing that offense is hard to teach but defense is a culmination of hard work, I now know who I want in the first round and what type of play I want going forward: Offensively talented that is willing to work, because truth is, hitting the ball is the hardest talent to have and not teachable. Hence, take those guys and let them do defensive drills to improve. Gwynn did; Schmidt did; Carew did; etc.
Good point about Thor.
As for other starters, I welcome both those two to step up.
Let's all of us get to know Plummer. Will feature him here over the weekend
Berry is easily one of top hitters in this draft
Plenty of power too.
His defense was in question on third base, thus mostly playing first., corner outfield, and DH now.
DH is real position now.
Gus, very true. LOTS of Mets minors hitters who really can’t hit. It is truly hard. Heck, when I was young, I doubt I could have become a very good hitter. Defense in the outfield? That I could have done well. Had speed, agility, and arm. Defense can be improved. Pete proves it.
Where?
I'm not ready to write off Szapucki yet. A Lefty who can throw 97 with a good curve ball is worth keeping.
Ray, I agree. Flexed got written off to a terrible start as a Met, then was 14-6 last year.
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