Tom Brennan - Trade Mauricio? Call Up Blankenhorn?

Back in his skinnier days.

Two years ago, one assumed that Andres Gimenez or Amed Rosario would be the Mets' shortstop for years, or a combination of both, and wondered where Ronny Mauricio might fit in when he was ready.

Since then, they traded those two shortstops for Francisco Lindor, an Iron Man SS who quickly inked a contract extension of 10 year, after which I wondered where Ronny Mauricio might fit in when he was ready. 

After all, if Lindor played thru the end of his contract, he'll be around through 2031.

Mauricio (21 years and 2 months old) had more RBIs than Francisco Alvarez until FA caught up to him, OK?    With an excellent 41 Mauricio RBIs in 57 games through June 19, along with 15 doubles, 11 HRs, and a triple, those are potent numbers.

Not as potent are his mere 12 walks in 57 games, particularly concerning since AA pitchers likely have worse control than big league pitchers.  His "only" 56 Ks in 57 games are actually promising, considering how much other sluggers fan.  

(Still hard to remember the stick figure he was when he first started playing as a teenager and think of him as a filled out 6'3", 225 Darryl-looking slugger, but that he now is).

His .252 average coupled with his low walk rate screams out two things: 1) Not ready for the Mets, and 2) Amed Rosario clone.  

Except for two things: 1) there is no room for him on the Mets, and if they need an infielder soon, it will be Mark Vientos or Travis Blankenhorn, and 2) he has far more power than Rosario.

The switch hitting Mauricio, to me, needs to do 3 things before reaching the big leagues:

1) Get to AAA and hit .252/.293/.474 like he's hitting in AA.

2) Then start hitting better in AAA, say .290/.350/.540.

3) And meanwhile, switch positions, for 2 reasons.  One is, Lindor is the Gold Glove caliber, strong hitting Iron Man SS, and short of injury, that is not changing over the next 5 years at least. And secondly, Mauricio makes too many errors at SS.  Eleven in 52 games this year, 11 in 21 games in winter ball last offseason, and 22 in 95 games in 2021.  Add that all up and it's 44 errors in his last 158 games. Gadzooks!

Thise 3 things tell me he ought to not be ready for the big leagues until opening day 2024, despite his currently evident power numbers.  Another 225 games to get from his current level to the level of a bona fide big leaguer. 

He must have some speed, with 11 steals already this year, so I personally would change him into an outfielder.  Second base, perhaps, but it is so odd that the number of career games for Ronny include zero games in the outfield and zero games at 2B.  He's had 328 games at SS and 5 as a DH.

I think, if he works diligently on his hitting and improving his walk rate, he could and should be a future slugging outfielder, capable of 35 doubles and 25-30 HRs a year.  

But his continuing shaky D and current hitting flaws may well make him a trade chip for a team that wants to keep payroll low, loves prospects under years of team control, and has a higher priced guy who is productive now but whom, for financial reasons, they want to move.

Keep or trade - what is your call?  

Pre-season, he was ranked in the 50s, 60s and 90s by 2 baseball ranking groups, so he would certainly garner interest at the trade deadline.

Not if he has more games like Tuesday's though...0-5, including 3 Ks and a DP, and his 12th error.  And Wednesday's....0-4, 4Ks.  Jeesh! But then he had homers in back to back games Friday and Saturday and has 13 long balls and 46 RBIs.  He added 3 hits last nght.

People may see him in a few years and not know whether to yell, “Ronny, Ronny!” or “Darryl, Darryl.” Mauricio is starting to seem to have max 40 HRs in a season potential - and THAT is valuable.

BLANKENHORN:

No, not a peak in the Alps - but a peaking hitter.

In June in AAA, 24 games, thru Wednesday: .416/.490/.697.

Sizzling.

Eddie Escobar? Not hitting for the Mets. Not going anywhere.

JD Davis? Has just 14 RBIs in 148 at bats. His bat is his ticket, but his ticket has been off-peak, he has not been productive.  One stat that strikes me: he has been to the plate 1,245 times in the majors and has just 124 RBIs.  That is mediocre.

* He has minor league options.

Dominic Smith? He has fallen down and can’t get up. He has hit .195 this season as a Met and astonishingly not had a MLB homer in over 11 months. He had just 2 HRs in 64 at bats in AAA earlier this year, where he hit a mediocre .260+.  

* He has minor league options.

He also may need a change of scenery badly, like Albert Almora, Jr. who in 135 Cincy Reds at bats, is hitting .267(!), with 5 HRs and 24 RBIs!  But couldn't hit a lick for the Mets in 2021.  

Mets, meanwhile, need offense.

Blankenhorn up, Davis down?  Not sure.

Blankenhorn up, Smith down?

Or sit pat, and watch a dwindling lead dwindle?

Wednesday, Mets lose in 9th, 2-0.

What do Dom Smith and Mets’ catchers have in common? Dom hitting .195, catchers hitting .195. Only fools stand pat.

MINORS MEASUREMENTS

SYRACUSE: Vientos hit a 2 run shot (12 in 220 PAs). 10-6 Syracuse win. 

Blankenhorn stayed hot, with 2 hits, 3 RBIs.

BINGHAMTON: Alvarez hit his 15th homer in the last 5 weeks, unlike Dom Smith, who has no MLB HRs in 11 months. Unlike Smith, Alvarez is not hitting .195. 

Max fanned 8 in 4.2 IP, fanning 8. Is Max ready? “Sure Sir.”

7-3 win, 17 Rumble pitcher Ks. The two hurlers after Max recorded all 7 of their outs by Ks.  Inspired? Mauricio 3 hits (yay), 2 Wyatt Young hits (yay) - Young is 7 for 12 in his last 3 games.

BROOKLYN: Hitting malaise continues. 7 of the 9 hitters in the lineup were below .213, on the cusp of July.  Nic Gaddis 3 run shot. Mike Vasil shaky over 3.2 IP, but he fanned 7. Lost 8-5.

ST LUCIE: lost 3-2, but Ramirez had 2 hits, Tilien had a hit and no Ks, and Dominguez smacked his 15th. making Mack a happy man indeed.

Final Tilien note: just 4 errors in 35 games in the field at 2B and SS.  Very impressive, if you ask me.