The Mack Report - Saturday, July 9th

 

OF Terrance Gore was promoted from the FCL Mets to AAA-Syracuse. 

Gore was drafted by KC in the 20^th round of the 2011 draft, out of Gulf Coast State College (FL). 

He has a career major league stat line of 0.2-WAR, 67-AB, 0-HR, .224. 

Gore has had four at-bats with Syracuse this year (.000) and 12 with the FCL Mets (.250). 

Known for his speed, he has been used often as a pinch runner.

 

 We have talked before about Cyclone pitcher, Nick Zwack. We need to talk more. 

Let-s review… the 6-3, lefty starter, was drafted by the Mets in the 17^th round of last year’s draft. This was a draft that is known for the Mets drafting a bunch of talented arms, but in that discussion, there never was a mention of Zwack. 

He now has become the ace of the Brooklyn staff, posting a stat line so far of: 10-starts, 3-1, 1.37, 0.84, 46-IP, 50-K, 10-BB. 

His whipping arm action fastball hits 94 with high spin rates. Tends to look like it rises as it approaches the batters. Average to above high-70s/low 80s slider with a sweepy break. 

He started the season in St. Lucie, so I expect he won’t move up again this season; however, look for him to start off the 2023 season as the possible ace of the Binghamton staff. 

 

We talked all month about expiring contracts on teams going nowhere. 

There is a right handed pitcher on the Los Angeles Angels that is rumored to be on the block before turning to free agency after this season. 

He has 13 starts this year, producing a 0.9-WAR, 5-7, 3.84 stat line. 

His name is Noah Syndegaard. 

I know the “that wasn’t a real no-hitter” crowd wouldn’t be too happy about this, but wouldn’t it be just cool to add him to the pen and make him sit out there with the rest of the relief pitchers until he was called into one inning outings? 

I’m just sayin… 

 

Next up, we continue looking for an option with the 75^th pick in this draft (thanks to Noah Syndergaard). 

Sam Horn is a 6-4/200 RHSP, out of Collins Hill HS (GA). 

MLB.com says this about the late rising Horn: 

Scouting grades: 

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

A year after the Pirates signed Bubba Chandler away from Clemson football for $3 million, Georgia has another talented right-hander/quarterback in Horn. He accounted for 4,608 yards and 45 touchdowns while leading Collins Hill (Suwanee) to its first-ever Georgia state 7-A championship last fall, and he's a four-star recruit ticketed for Missouri. He hasn't been seen extensively because he skipped most of the showcase circuit to focus on football and missed some time this spring after tearing the meniscus in his left knee last fall. 

Horn shows the potential for three solid or better pitches and could take off if he decides to concentrate on baseball. He sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph with run and sink on his fastball while featuring little effort in his delivery and plenty of projection remaining in his 6-foot-4 frame. He gets good depth on a 78-82 mph curveball and also shows feel for a fading changeup that he uses sparingly. 

A premium athlete who's also an interesting if lesser prospect as a shortstop, Horn has clean mechanics and repeats them easily. The consensus is that Chandler had more explosive stuff but Horn is a superior athlete and strike-thrower. He's also a better quarterback and more committed to football, so it may be difficult to lure him away from the gridiron. 

Mack - I know very little about this guy past this report. 

I always have caution drafting high school football stars who could turn on a dime the moment after they call out their name. I assume this would have to be an over-slot situation. 

I don’t know…

 

Friday’s tweets -

 

Chris StealyMann @StealyMann 

Trevor Williams and David Peterson are more responsible for the Mets being in 1st place than we’re giving them credit for. 

 

Foolish Baseball @FoolishBB 

According to FanGraphs, the Orioles have quadrupled their playoff odds since Opening Day. From 0.1% to 0.4%. 

 

Michael Mayer @mikemayer22 

The combination of Trevor Williams, David Peterson, Adonis Medina, Colin Holderman, Stephen Nogosek, Tommy Hunter, and Yoan López have a 3.07 ERA this season for the Mets.

MBL.com: 

Futures Game scouting reports for each team 

Mets: Francisco Álvarez, C (No. 1/MLB No. 2) 

We recently made the 20-year-old catcher the No. 2 prospect on our Top 100 behind Riley Greene, meaning he is actually the highest-ranked prospect still in the Minors. Álvarez’s plus-plus raw power has played everywhere he’s gone in pro ball, and he’s improved enough defensively that his glovework behind the plate won’t hinder his value. Having just arrived at Triple-A Syracuse, Álvarez is likely participating in his last Futures Game, so expect a rocket show both in batting practice and the exhibition itself. 

 

Pitcher DIGS @DigsPitcher 

MiLB BaGS+ Leaders 

Mets 

1. Francisco Alvarez = 162

2. Alex Ramirez = 135

3. Junior Tilien = 130

4. Brett Baty = 124

5. William Lugo = 109

6. Omar De Los Santos = 106

7. Stanley Consuegra = 102

8. Matt Rudick = 100

9. Rowdey Jordan = 99

10. JT Schwartz = 95 

https://twitter.com/DigsPitcher/status/1545451459906453506?t=QgQUTkSEzpPlExFcmA5leQ&s=03  

Tom’s Tweets Without Twitter:

METS: It was Whimper Night at Citifield. 5-2 loss due to whimpering bats.

Braves scored 12 - screaming bats there. The noose tightens.

MINORS IMAGININGS

Imagine if you will that Jake deGrom throws a 3 inning opener, allowing 3 hits and no runs and fanning 6,and someone tells Keyshawn Askew that.  

I can just hear the conversation: 

“Jake who? He did what? Oh man, I can do better than that! Let me out there.” 

So, back to reality, Askew followed Jake with 4.2 innings of 1 run, 9 strikeout ball.  No doubt Jake was impressed.

Askew, in 33 innings, has fanned 49, and has a 1.65 ERA.  The lefty is impressive and needs a promotion. Fast.

Raul “the Bear” Beracierta homered for the second straight game (7) and drove in 3 runs with 3 hits.

St Lucie hurlers fanned 18 on the night and won 5-4.

Binghamton led 4-0 after 7 behind solid Butto, but coughed up 7 in the last 2 innings to lose 7-4. Baty (11) and McIlwain homered.

Syracuse lost 6-1. Alvarez 1 for 3, Vientos fanned thrice.

Brooklyn lost 4-2.  Gaddis homered (5), andNewton and Suomi both went 1 for 4 with 3Ks each.