Tom Brennan - Any Minors Bullpen Help for These Mets?

Eric Orze - MiLB.com

Pitching was looking pretty good.  After all, the big boy was back in the rotation.

Then Tylor Megill's shoulder barked after his first few innings the other night of looking like Harvey circa early 2013. 

More than a month in the IL doghouse?  Ruff, ruff!

Colin Holderman was revelatory - until he suddenly visited the IL, too.  His call up replacement gave up so many runs it made me ILL.  At least that's my Reed on the subject.

Any help on the farm?

Not much.  Maybe.

Steve Nogosek and Adonis Medina could be back at any time - maybe by the time you read this, one or both are (in fact, Medina was - and allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 1 of his own in 1.1 IP - not great)...those two still have to prove to me they can provide the kind of pitching a team in a hot pennant race needs.

Who else?

Connor Grey?  Started the season pretty well, but 7.82 ERA in June. I think that the majors might be a rude comeuppance for him.  Still feels like a Tyler Pill type to me.  (Man, could Pill hit, though).

Tom Szapucki?  No, No Nanette - the Zapper needs a lot more innings in AAA and a stretch of domination (if one comes). 35 AAA IP, 46 K, 3.60.  Last outing was decent - 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K.  Call me back when you hit 100 innings and we'll reassess.

Michel Otanez and Bryce Montes de Oca?  Both just got to AAA.  Not yet. Maybe later in 2022. (Nice Bryce inning last night).  Both walk too many still.

Trevor Cahill?  Well, if your idea of change is one Trevor for another, maybe, but I think Cahill is 2021's version of Eickhoff until proven otherwise.  Pass.

RJ Alvarez?  Pitching OK, but walking too many.  Pass for now.

Justin Dillon?  Pitching OK, but not feeling he is a bona fide answer for a playoff contender that wants to not become a playoff pretender.

But wait!  

How about a guy with 37 Ks and 8 walks in 25 innings? 

Eric Orze.  I'd like to see him keep the ball in the park a little more, and keep pitching well, as he has recently - he was rocked in spring training and early this season, but he has been promoted aggressively.  I think he has what it takes.  He feels like he is a month away to me. 

(Maybe not a month...maybe sooner…he threw 3 scoreless with 6 more Ks Friday night, so he is up to 43 in 28 innings).  

In June, in AAA, he has 8.2 IP, 1 run, 5 H, 1 BB, 12 Ks.  Nah, I'd say he is VERY close.  Not bad for a guy drafted last year.

Yoan Lopez?  Seems like a fill-in guy.

Trey Cobb was great in AA and adjusting to AAA - he is 3-1 in AAA, but with 12 runs allowed in 14.1 IP after an outstanding season start in AA, so no, he's not ready.

In a moment of extreme desperation for a lefty, I would consider Brooklyn's Nate Lavender, who is 5-1, 0.65...27.2 IP, 41 Ks.  Only 34 innings as a pro since drafted last season.  Move him up FAST, so he is ready for a call up if needed.  Just 13 hits allowed, but 18 walks, so the reality is, he needs to fix the control.  

Another neophyte lefty, Daniel Juarez, has been terrific in relief (1-0, 1.73, 41 Ks in 26 IP), but he's only done it in St Lucie, so 2022 as a Met is most likely not happening.

Jose Butto?  Get him to AAA first. 4-4, 3.40, 95 Ks in 52 IP in 2022 AA.

Jordy Yamamoto?  Needs innings, then, well, maybe, as long as he is not Eickhoff. 12.2 IP, 19 Ks, but 6.39 ERA.

And a dark horse…Dedniel Núñez. Healthy, off to a great recent stretch. Let’s see how the next month goes for Núñez. He did give up a run last night.

That's my list.  Did I miss anyone?  No, Sammy Tavarez is pitching well, but is not ready either.

Looking at that list, Steve Cohen may want to play, "Let's Make a Deal."  Or just call up Eric Orze, who might just say, "yes, I can be a 2022 version of 2021 Paul Sewald if given the chance."  Sewald, if you are not paying attention, is 13-5, 3.05 as an ex-Met in 2021-22, with 127 Ks in 88 IP.  Now, if we'd kept him, this article would have been superfluous.

METS: 

Brewers outhit the Mets 10-9, but for the Amazins, it was a10-4 win for Carrasco as Lindor parked a 3 run shot, Pete whammed a grand slam (63 RBIs), and the Mets suffered 4 more HBP. Adam Ottavino fanned the side in the 9th (the 36 year old has fanned 33 in 24.2 IP).

The 63 Alonso RBIs in mid-June are already higher than the Mets' team leader in 6 of their full seasons!  I think this season, he passes them all.

MINORS: 

17 Ks for Syracuse pitchers, 14 runs for its hitters. Dang, the Syracuse bats that were so cold early in the season are scorching now, despite no recent Lee or Plummer.  Struggling Cody Bohanek had a badly needed 3 for 3, 4 ribby night.

In 13 games, Dom Smith is hitting .291/.361/.491, with 2 HRs, 9 RBIs...and 3 steals!  Meanwhile, former major league 1B/OF Daniel Palka is hitting .375/.437/.688 in 16 June games, with 18 RBIs.  Which would you call up?

Binghamton - Frankie Alvarez 3 for 4, and the revived Carlissimo Cortes 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs. Last 4 games, 6 hits, 2 walks, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs.  Some recalcitrant dude named James McCann, meanwhile, fanned 4 times. Now 1 for 9 with 7 Ks in his rehab.  

I get it...call McCann back up soon, and leave Alvarez on the farm. Alvarez has been absolutely scorching, climbing from .209 to .286 since May 11, and hits HRs (10 since May 26) like he's taking BP.  

Me?  I'd throw out logic and trade James and call up Alvarez. Or perhaps send down JD Davis (2 HR, 14 RBI) and let Alvarez DH.  I know, I'm thinking too much out of the box here.  But if you didn't owe McCann more than the major league minimum upon call up, frankly, who would you call up?

Bingo 9-8 losers. Tough late loss, as the pen (including Yamamoto) folded.

Brooklyn?  3-2 losers.  JT Schwarz up to .269 with 2 hits, and very hot in June.  Let's see if he can go on a tear.

St Lucie - fell 6-3. Alex Ramirez and Junior Tilien went 0 for 9, while recently returned enigma, Greg Guerrero, was 2 for 4.  Now 6 for 20 this year.

Saul Gonzalez nicely fanned 7 in 3 hitless innings. Omar de los Santos stole 3 bags (a stunning 35 for the year).  That's more than the top 2 current major leaguers in steals, combined (17 + 16 = 33).

The Lucites fell, 6-3.

Gus, if you've read this far down (few do), please give us a DSL update.  Thank you in advance.