The Mack Report - Omar, Stanek, Cron, Ronny, Barlow

Omar, Stanek, Cron, Ronny, Barlow

 

                                                       PC - Mack

Bob Klapisch | For NJ Advance Media - After long Mets’ tenure, ex-GM Omar Minaya says hello to ‘iconic’ Yankees -

Q: Best memory with the Mets? 

A: The relationship I had with the staff. We built something great there. Even though we lost (in the NL Championship Series to the Cardinals) in 2006, we were drawing three million, four million fans a year (between 2006-2008). We were bringing New Yorkers together. 

We got very close that year, I wish we had won, but making it to the LCS shows you we had a great team. 

Q: Biggest disappointment? 

A: Not closing it out in 2007 (with a seven-game lead with 17 to go). That was a tough way to end a season. It was a big disappointment to all of us. 

Q: Switching gears one last time. Tell me about your son, Justin, who might be more famous than you at this point. 

A: (Laughs). I remember when people used to ask him, ‘are you Omar’s son?’ Now people ask me, ‘are you Justin’s dad?’ I love it. 

Q: For those who don’t know… 

A: Justin is playing (professional basketball) in a G-League team in Mexico, leading the team in minutes. He’s very, very close to making it to the NBA. 

Mack - I’ve told my Omar son story a number of times on this site. My respect for this man really grew when I saw him naving a catch with young Justin after Spring Training one day. 

 

Alec Brown/CTH - https://climbingtalshill.com/posts/the-crazy-trade-the-astros-could-consider-making-with-the-mets-after-their-injuries-01gvv07bxr7b -

The Crazy Trade The Astros Could Consider Making With the Mets After Their Injuries

Houston's bullpen is loaded, and with arms like Ronel Blanco and Matt Gage proving their worth this Spring, they have even more assets than they possesed last year. Ryne Stanek becomes expendable in this case. 

Stanek just set a franchise record for ERA last season, finishing with a 1.15 ERA. That said, he finished in the first percentile in walk rate and his 77th percentile xERA, while still solid, is more in line with the pitcher he actually is. It's likely he regresses this season, and Dusty Baker already showed last postseason he didn't trust Stanek, repeatedly passing him over for Montero, Neris and Abreu. 

Mack - I followed Stanek big time out of Blue Valley HS (KS) before the 2010 draft.

I like him a lot, but he’s a free agent after this deason and I would never trade a top prospect for a one and done anyone. 

 

SportsNaut - Jason Burgos - 4 players New York Mets could target with insurance money from Edwin Diaz injury -

CJ Cron

The Colorado Rockies seem in a perpetual rebuild and this season is no different. A player the New York Mets might be able to pull away this early in the upcoming season is first baseman, CJ Cron. The 33-year-old is in the final year of a two-year contract and the Rockies would be willing to part with him if New York were open to including prospects like Brett Baty or Mark Vientos in the deal. 

Cron has smashed over 20 homers five times in his nine-year career, including 31 in 2021, and 28 during an All-Star year last season. 

Mack - One, why in God would I trade for a first baseman, especially one in their final year of their contract?   

 

2023 Mets King of Spring Training, update #2 -

Ronny Mauricio - .280/.333/.800 in 25 ABs

Mauricio’s blistering hot start has fallen off somewhat, as his batting average has dropped 100 points since our first update. But, his four home runs this spring still lead the team; he launched another tape measure shot in yesterday’s game—a 452-foot blast that was a sight to behold. Mauricio’s eight RBIs are second only to Vientos for the team lead. 

Mack - The stats here are now dated, but that doesn’t matter. Ronny has returned to the backfields and he will start the season in Syracuse. 

My hopes is they play him either on second or left field. 

 

Jim Bowden: Mets have trade options to find new closer after Edwin Díaz’s injury -

3. Scott Barlow, RHP, Royals

Age: 30

HT: 6-3 WT: 210

WAR: 2.8 W-L: 7-4 ERA: 2.18 SV: 24

G: 69 GF: 47 IP: 74 1/3 SO: 77 BB: 22 WHIP: 0.996 

Scott Barlow relies heavily on his secondary pitches, throwing his 84 mph slider nearly 45 percent of the time and his curveball 31 percent of the time, and for good reason: Opponents hit just .189 against the slider and .138 against the curveball. He’s been solid in the closer role for Kansas City, converting 24 of 28 save opportunities last year. The Royals signed Aroldis Chapman in the offseason and could use him as their closer if they dealt Barlow, who is under team control for two more years. 

Mack - Now. Here’s someone with quality that has two more seasons left before free agency. 

I would consider him for Kevin Parada.