A simple question:
We've focused a lot on our top 4 hitting prospects:
Alvarez, Baty, Mauricio, and Vientos.
Some prognosticators think that by this time next year, Kevin Parada will perhaps be the top catching prospect in baseball (Alvarez having already graduated to the big leagues).
So...is the quintet of Alvarez, Parada, Baty, Mauricio and Vientos the best group, ever, of 5 prospect hitters in the Mets minors at the same time?
If yes, why?
If no, which players from a prior year collectively were superior?
And...happy new years. Prospero ano y felicidad.
This would take a bunch of research and I am out of pocket.
ReplyDeleteI would think up there would be the group led by Jake, Jeff, Pete, and Conforto
Mack, Jake graduated in 2014 and Conforto in 2015, but just Alonso and Jeff and a bunch of nobodies could compete with the 5 in this open thread. But, in 2018, you also did have Tylor Megill, David Peterson - and Jared Kelenic. But that is 3 hitters, 2 pitchers, not 5 hitters.
ReplyDeleteIn 2001, you would have had David Wright, Jose Reyes, Alex Escobar and Brian Cole, if the latter had no tragically died. That 4 would have been very hard to top.
Regarding Parada
ReplyDeleteHe is a far better defensive catcher and will have a stat line like Piazza
I really wish the Mets would keep both catchers and eventually use Alvy as a DH while letting Parada catch
It's a lot better grouping of young talent than I am use to seeing for these NY Mets. However, my only knowledge of seeing this grouping play (beyond seeing a few later on for a glimpse in 2022 on the big club) is off of youtube.
ReplyDeleteAll the players that you have mentioned above in your post, do have obvious MLB talent capabilities now. It's just a matter of finding them the room and opportunity on the parent club to play on a consistent basis so that they can complete their big league adjustments.
The talent is huge with this group and not to be wasted. Kevin Parada is a terrific young catcher with big power swing like Francisco Alvarez. Two fine young catchers.
If me, I would absolutely start Brett Baty on 2023 Mets third base. Reports suggest that he just has very minor refinements to be made around third base bag. Having played some third myself, this could easily be honed in come ST. Kevin's bat strength is phenomenal and very swift.
I would also try-out both Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio in ST, for left field and DH as someone here has already suggested doing recently.
Good plan
DeleteAll three of us (you, Mack, and myself) love seeing really good Mets younger players get their shot on the parent club. It's true. To me, it is the most exciting part of an off season team building and mid-season player replacement process.
ReplyDeleteOne that should never be overlooked.
It's nice to build George Steinbrenner type teams. They can be quite good. But I have a feeling that "most fans" prefer seeing the best MiLB kids in the system actually get their chance to play as a NY Met.
Mack, keeping both Parada and Alvarez makes huge sense. Injur insurance, and the two will provide lethal hitting.
ReplyDeleteBoth could have epic futures
DeleteLove the kids, do not want to see them traded.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing.
ReplyDeleteI have always really liked what I have seen from watching Mets' catcher Tomas Nido play. I like his hustle, his reads, his attitude, his focus, his ability to work well with every single pitcher on the NY Mets pitching staff, and his overall catching skill set. However, I have always had a sort of hard time understanding two basic things with his batting mechanics.
It is his crouching down in the batters box, and then too what he does with his front foot once the pitch is coming in.
Tomas sort of begins his approach with an abbreviated step-in with his front foot, and then goes immediately into this sort of toe pivot/hip swivel thing. My point in mentioning this is simply that with this combination I just felt that Tomas Nido is not maximizing his own really excellent power swing. I think it holds him back some, where those doubles he hits could easily become homeruns for him. He's still a young enough player to adjust.
Such I’ve for Parada! Let’s we him play before we call him a Piazza who wins Gold Gloves! Mauricio will be the bet hitter of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteThe Fab 5, with Alex and Jett soon thereafter to turn that group into the Magnificent Seven. Will it be allowed to unfold?
ReplyDeleteExcellent young group…….keep them all!
ReplyDeleteI still think a 50-50 platoon between Parada and Alvarez would be awesome (the other can DH, so we keep both bats active), by 2025, at the latest.
I agree with Woodrow on Mauricio……need to find a place for his bat (one of the corner OF slots?)
Would a future OF of Baty (LF), Ramirez (CF) and Mauricio (RF) be interesting, or what? Especially if Correa signs and we extend McNeil and Pete……no room in the Infield.
Mike, many possibilities that come with patience. A key Mets goal should be to eliminate the 20% to 25% of usage of hitters who are poor each year. Cut that number by half and the offense will surge.
ReplyDeleteI predict the Correa deal will be signed and then it's open market on the other 3B prospects. Hell, for that matter, Mauricio better get an outfield glove, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful problem to have: To much talent but wait did I say to much talent and when did we last say that...NEVER though 85-88 was close and did you ever think not signing a top FA (Correa) could be overcome with in house talent? Happy New Year to all and can't wait till Spring Training LETS GO METS!!!!
ReplyDeleteHello all,
ReplyDeleteGreat prospects but where will they play?
As it stands now and probably for the future, Alonzo and McNeil will be extended to big contracts so that leaves what positions open for these prospects to play?
Lets say that Correa gets signed and Alonzo and McNeil extended that means that the entire infield is taken for many years to come along with CF with Nimmo.
Marte is still here and Canha too.
So, where do these guys play? they can't all be DH's.
For me is bittersweet as I like a team that has talent coming from the minors.
Hi Viper
ReplyDeleteThey will to some degree get slowed, and more AAA at bats could help, such as Mauricio, who has no AAA yet. Between injuries, and Canha, Escobar and probably Guillorme gone by this time next year, I think sufficient space will afford itself for these 4, and by the time Jett and Alex Ramirez are ready, I'd think Marte may be in descent and Jett? I dunno. I just like the idea of removing all weak at bats from the line up. Hard to do, but with 11-12 strong offensive players, no easy outs. A nightmare for opposing teams.