Tom Brennan - Orellana + Ovalles = O MY!! And Mark Vientos Murders Lefties

I love guppies that make me say, O MY!!!

I love seeing how the young guys are doing. Especially when they do dazzling stuff.

Two interesting ones in that category have names that start with O.

Doug Orellana is a 20 year old 6'1" righty from Caracas, Venezuela.

He is pitching for the Florida Complex League (FCL) Mets, and in his first outing in June, 3 innings, 1 hit, 4 Ks. Nothing but blue skies ahead.

But in his next 4 outings, turbulent skies.  Gale force winds, hail, pestilence.

As in twelve hits, 11 walks, and 16 runs in 8.2 IP.  Not career-sustaining numbers. But you know, it's fine if you learn from adversity, if you adapt.  He did.

You see, Dougie boy started to roll.

His next 6 outings, he threw 24.2 IP, in which he allowed a bare 2 runs, just 9 hits, 10 walks (but just 3 in his last 3 outings), and 41 Ks, striking out all of mankind.  

On Stellar Saturday, Delightful Doug's line? 5 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 8 Ks, 0 runs.

What a turnaround.  

So, to me, he is someone to watch.

Layonel Ovals, meanwhile, is a 6'3" righty from a metropolis named Moca in the Dominican Republic.

His last 2 outings after getting promoted to St Lucie have been shaky, but hey, he's 19 years old. Promotions bring new challenges. In 6.2 IP in St Lucie, 8 earned runs - but 10 Ks.

Before that, in the FCL, he threw 29 innings, fanned 44, and allowed 26 hits and just 5 walks.

Impressive.

So that is 54 Ks in 36 innings for Ovalles, and 55 Ks in 36 innings for Orellanos.  Hot dog, that's good.

I'm a big fan of guys who can "fan big".

Oh me, oh my, Ovalles, Orellana. 

Outstanding.  They overmatch, and at times, they overwhelm.

Of course, I know that Mack's Mets pitching favorites are O'Tidwell and O'Hamel, but I'll stick for now with Ovalles and Orellana.  

They're gentlemen: they love to show hitters to their seats. "STEE-RYKE THREE!!!"

BRAVES BEAT ASTROS - YET AGAIN.   

Braves win an absolute stunner against the mighty Astros in extra innings.

COME ON, ASTROS.  HELP US OUT.  SOMEBODY, PLEASE, HELP US OUT.

Vientos Vital Signs Are Mighty Deep

Mark Vientos homered - again - against a lefty - again.  He crushed an outside fastball well over the fence to the opposite field in right.  Doubled, too.

Mark Goes Deep While the Mets Sleep

That's 12 in 106 at bats vs. southpaws.  One every 8.8 at bats.

In his last 65 games, well over .300, with 21 HRs.

Over 150 games, that HR pace would result in 49 HRs.

Mets meanwhile struggled and lost to a career struggling southpaw named Falter last night. Only the Mets Faltered.

The Mets forgot they are no longer allowed to lose, since the Braves are no longer willing or able to lose.

So, I'm thrilled lefty-killer Vientos is still in Syracuse, aren't you?  

I know the Braves and Phils are.

Somehow, I think the Braves and Phils would have called him up by now.

Both love HRs, which are a Vientos specialty.

As I've mentioned before, this is not a Vientos 2022 fluke tear.  After all, he hit 21 HRs in his last 200 at bats in 2021.  No room at the Mets Hotel for such a gentleman.  Not when you can call up a Yolmer Sanchez.  

Man, Yolmer is 4 for 37 this year, and WITH 2 RBI'S, NO LESS, which was too good to pass up, don't you agree.  The obvious choice. 

MUCH better than Vientos, that much is obvious to anyone with a lick of sense.

But, sarcasm aside, a rule I was happy that changed was expanding the roster from 25 to 26, something I campaigned for in my articles many times - except I suggested 27, not 26.  

27 on the roster would have Mark Vientos on this team right now.  Hitting lefties.

CARDINAL AND YANKEE LUCK

First place NL Cardinals have it so darned easy - the 4 other teams in their division are a combined 57 games under .500.  If the Cards replaces the Nationals in the NL East, they'd probably be below .500 right now.

Yanks have it easy too - losers of 25 of their last 37, they still hold a comfortable division lead.  If the Mets lost like that, they'd be slipping out of the Wild Card race.

So, thank heavens for the excellent scheduling fixes in 2023 that significantly takes away the "dominate an easy division" slanted schedules of 2022, which is the last season a team will play a foolishly high 45% of their games against teams in their division (76 out of 162 games).

Have a great Sunday.  May the Butto be with you.