6/6/22

Tom Brennan and Mack Ade - Mets Recap

Lindor is one of several key offensive pieces in 2022.

The Mets beat up on Ferris Beuhler on Saturday, and he now needs a Day Off. The Mets needed a win on Sunday to split this 4 game Dodgers series.

Down quickly 2-0 this afternoon, as Trevor Williams got taken deep by Trea Turner in the first.  The Mets loaded the bases in the second but Nimmo lined to center to end the inning.

Marte homered off Urias to cut the lead in half. Then, the Mets scratched out 3 runs, only to be caught bottom 9 with two runs. 4-4, and this championship bout is going to the 15th round. JD Davis doubled in the go-ahead run, then the Mets turned to ADONIS MEDINA to save the game. And despite a catcher’s interference call, Medina was excellent and the Mets won and split the four games. John Wayne told me the Mets displayed TRUE GRIT, and Wayne was always a straight shooter.

When does a split of a series feel like a win? When you face both jet lag and injuries and go into the tiger's den, lose the first two, and still manage a split.

Me? I’m proud of them Mets boys.

Considering the Braves are hot and Philly just swept a 4 gamer, including scoring 7 in the last 2 innings yesterday in a huge comeback win, it was tremendous that the Mets won those last two.  Spool can unravel quickly.

MINORS:

SYRACUSE:

Connor Grey day - he gave up 2 early runs but was great the next 3 and fanned 6.  Travis Blankenhorn hit his 5th to close it to 2-1.  He later added his 6th. Khalil Lee hit a 2-run shot, and he has gone from glacial to not icy, but still fanned 4 times.  Newcomer Daniel Johnson hit a 2-run job as well.

Trey Cobb gave up a HR in his short stint. But…see below.

Dom Smith fanned twice, and ended with a double in 5 ABs.

Strikeout machine Eric Orze allowed an opening 9th inning HR to Jeter Downs, but closed out a 6-4 win, fanning the last 2 in the process. 

Cobb goes to 2-0, Orze gets his first AAA save.

BINGHAMTON:

Rehabbing Tylor Megill fanned 5 in 3.2 innings, allowing a solo HR to Josh Breaux and another run.  He was pulled after 53 pitches to keep him under his targeted 55 pitches. Alvarez crushed a two run shot in the 3rd inning, his 10th.  

Rumbling Ronny Mauricio hit TWO HRs in the first 3 innings, his 8th and 9th.  The opposing pitcher, Sean Boyle, has an ERA above 7, so it is not like those 3 HRs were off Ferris Beuhler or anything.  But good for our young prospect sluggers taking advantage.  4-2 Bingos after 4.  

Then the relievers - Edwards and Kisena - gave up 3 runs on two HRs in the next two innings,and Kisena pitched 3 more scoreless after that in a 5-4 loss.

Quinn Brodey added an 0 for 4 Sombrero. In 2021and 2022, in 359 at bats, he has hit .170 with a .240 OBP. Not good.

BROOKLYN:

Lefty 17th rounder Nick Zwack came out firing. He left with 4 scoreless innings. 

It was 0-0 going into the 5th, then leadoff singles by Joe Suozzi and Jaylen Palmer were followed by a Fig Newton strikeout and a pop out by Branden Fryman.  Then, things got Rowdey...Rowdey Jordan doubled in 2 runs (lead off dude now has 20 RBIs).  Matt O'Neill fanned for the 3rd time to end the top of the 5th. He added a 4th later, as the Cyclones lost, 3-2.

Oscar Rojas took over for Zwack to start the 5th.  Not good. 1.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 walks, 3 runs. 2-0 became 2-3. And it ended up In a 3-2 Cyclone loss.

ST LUCIE: 

Two games, to make up one of the rainouts that drenched Florida on Friday and Saturday.  Beautiful weather to play two.  

Great pitching in 2-0 game one one-hitter win.  The brilliant 2nd rounder 

Calvin Ziegler went two hitless innings (not sure why just 2) and fanned 3, Dedniel Nunez continued his excellent rehab assignment by throwing a perfect inning...AND 5th rounder in 2021 Christian Scott allowed one hit over 4 and fanned SEVEN.  Now has fanned 22 in 13.2 innings and picks up his first pro win.

Javier Atencio in game 2 allowed an unearned run in the first. But he was brilliant through 5. Just 2 hits, one walk, 5 Ks. 

Bottom 1, the opposing pitcher was wild.  Omar de los Santos was HBP, but then a rare failed steal attempt, followed by 3 straight walks. Stanley Consuegra singled in a run, then after a strikeout, Junior Tillen walked in a second run. Unlikely to walk was the following guy, with 7 walks in 200 pro plate appearances...Jack-Thomas Wold (2021 12th rounder) singled in 2 more.  4-1 after 1. Tillen later walked again and doubled. Seems that 3 HR game was no fluke.

Final score 5-1, Atencio wins, and St Lucie pitchers held Daytona Beach to 3 total hits in the two 7 inning games. 

St Lucie? 34-16.


DSL….RECAPS will be on a sporadic basis in these daily updates.


Mack’s Thoughts 

Monday, May 6th 

Today’s featured Mets minor leaguer is Sammy Tavarez 

Tavarez is a 6-6/190 23-year old RHRP out of the Dominican Republic, who originally signed with the Yankees. He never pitched an inning for them for two years, his contract was deemed void, and he signed with the Mets in July 2020. 

We all know what happened on 2020. 

He was touted a prospect from day one, but wildness preventing him in 2021 from excelling. In 31-IP, he had 34-BB, giving him a whopping 9.9 BB/9% (5.81/8.08) 

This season, in Brooklyn, there is quite the improvement: 

10-games, 13.2-IP, 21-K, 2-ER, 1.32/0.95, 5.9-BB/9 

Fastball - Upper 90s. T101

Sinker - low-mid 90s

Slider - low-mid 80s

Curve - hi-70s

Change - hi-80s 

Tavarez has both the talent and velocity to become a top reliever in this game. What he needs to concentrate on is pounding the zone. 

I see him easily ending the season in Binghamton. 

 

Today’s featured draft eligible player is Orchard Lake HS (Mich) (2022: 37-0), 6-4, 200 pound senior, Brock Porter. 

Porter throws a 96-97 fastball that touches 100 and hits 2500 rpm spin rate. He has two curves, but his best pitch might be the best curve in the class. It’s in the upper 70s and that’s a difference of speed between it and the heater of around 25 mph. 

Porter is committed to Clemson and I walked away from my interview with him believing their would be a good chance for him to play three years for my daughter’s old school; however, with the firing of the Tigers old term coach, Monte Lee, who recruited him, all bets are off now.

 

The return of SP Kumar Rocker on Saturday may change the entire dynamics of the first round picking this year. 

On Saturday, he basically threw one bad pitch that resulted in a 2-run homer. His fastball hit 99 and any signs of his weak arm issue last year has either healed or vanished. One evaluator yesterday said that his slider was “70 grade”. 

If he keeps this up, watch for him to re-enter the first round next month, as high as a top 15 pick.

The higher the better for me. Make him a top 10 pick and the Mets can feast on the best of the rest. 

 

MLB Pipeline has added Mets OF Alex Ramirez to their top 100 prospect list. 

They now have: #7 - Alvarez, #23 - Baty, #71 - Mauricio, and #100 - Ramirez. 

https://www.mlb.com/prospects  

 

I see nothing but blue skies ahead for Mets infielder Luis Guillorme. I truly believe we are witnessing what we saw when people like Jake deGrom and Jeff McNeil blossomed… the making of a star. 

Sometimes it just takes longer than other players. Usually, when it comes to late Mets bloomers, it happens after the team trades them. 

In my opinion, Guillorme should be our starting third baseman regardless of who else is on the team or what you are paying them.

16 comments:

Mack Ade said...

Re: Adonis Medina

I can't tell you enough about how much confidence a young pitcher can develop after that closing inning last night. With the tying run on second to boot.

We may be watching the emergence of our new 8th inning guy

Mack Ade said...

Re: Zwack

Will do a profile on him for Wednesday

Mack Ade said...

Re: 2023 3B

Guillorme, Vientos, Baty, Mauricio

This base is gonna be a real mess.

Tom Brennan said...

I take a look at Mauricio in an article later this week.

Brock Porter looks good. Rocker - hope we don't regret taking a pass last year.

Guillorme - we live in a "power" era - early season HR slack seems to have dissipated a lot. Luis' one shortcoming is lack of power, but he seems excellent at most everything else.

I need a good Zwack Attack.

Mack Ade said...

There will be no Rocker regret.

We get another Top pick this year..

Paul Articulates said...

Yesterday was a very exciting conclusion to a battle between the top two NL teams. As Tom said, we should be proud of the way the Mets battled back to square the series. The whole team is contributing (Thank You JDD), Guillorme is influencing the game every day he plays, Lindor is looking like the star we acquired, and the chants of MVPete are growing.

I loved Mack's comment on Medina. You learn how good you are when you are put into a challenging situation and you perform. Kudos to Buck for trusting him there.

I will also echo Mack's comment on Luis - he should be the starting 3B. This is not the first time I have called for Luis and Eduardo to switch roles. Luis is earning it by performing better, and that's what makes this team win.

TexasGusCC said...

Just a few additions to above, before I put in my one cent:
Escobar is signed for two years, so he needs to be on that depth chart. I prefer Guillorme at second base, but I know that creates a different problem. Escobar is terrific at third base and has a rocket if an arm.

Medina went in as the last possible arm available. It worked out.

There must be a way to juggle all these guys effectively, or maybe trade them off. The only spot that is in play is Plummer/Dom Smith.

Tom Brennan said...

Plummer vs. Smith is going to be interesting. Smith ought to be the better hitter - but Plummer is far more athletic and a real outfielder. With Canha around, Smith availability as back up 1B is less critical. Vientos could also man 1B in a pinch if he can stay on the field.

Mack Ade said...

Did you ever think that Nido purposely hit that bat so the kid didn't have to pitch to that stud?

bill metsiac said...

We could end up drafting Rocker again, at #11, can't we?

bill metsiac said...

Add McNeil ahead of Dom and Nick. With Luis at 2nd and Escobar at 3rd, Jeff could see a lot of action in LF.

bill metsiac said...

No. I didn't. Still don't.

TexasGusCC said...

Bill, I was referring to the last roster spot. Certainly McNeil is a better option than either Smith or Plummer.

Tom, I still think Davis is the best backup first baseman in the team. Don’t know when Buck will see my reasoning.

Mack, then why not just walk him? While your thinking is out of the box and shrewd, Nido would have to anticipate the swing when reach out, or it would happen all the time. If that could be the case, catchers should do that every time a pitcher screws up. Mets are getting every break this year… hope that stays.

Tom Brennan said...

Gus, I think JD defensively would be better than Pete at first with a little practice. 3B is a more challenging position.

TexasGusCC said...

Tom, I’ve ragged about Alonso defensive deficiencies for a while and I get where you’re coming from. However, anyone that has worked hard and has obviously shown marked improvement and states he wants to improve to where he wins a gold glove, I will support. Not many players work to improve on defense, it’s the offense that always gets the buzz. So, now I am applauding the Polar Bear and will not knock him.

RDS900 said...

Time to recognize LG is a great utility player. Let him continue to excel there.