The Mack Report - Rhys Hoskins, Justin Verlander, Brett Baty, Mets Shortstop Rankings, Sam Coonrod

Rhys Hoskins, Justin Verlander, Brett Baty, Mets Shortstop Rankings, Sam Coonrod 

 

Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki)  -

Phillies statement: Rhys Hoskins had an MRI today that revealed a left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear that will require surgery. The recommended surgery is an ACL reconstruction. Additional details regarding the surgery, including the date and surgeon, are to be determined. 

Mack - A thought… 

The Phillies could feel they need to secure the services of someone that can play first this season. The Mets have that person in Mark Vientos and they could approach the Phils to see what they would offer for his service. 

THe Mets could put a gun to their head, the same way the rest of the league is doing to them for a replacement for Edwin Diaz,

 

Andy McCullough, Will Sammon and Sahadev Sharma/The Athletic - The 2023 Aces Project: MLB insiders rank starting pitchers by tiers, from No. 1s to ‘guys’ -

Tier 1 (100) — The Inner Circle

1. Justin Verlander, RHP, New York Mets

Rating: 100

Ace votes: 20

Age: 40

2022 stats: 18-4, 1.75 ERA, 175 IP, 9.5 K/9, 2.49 FIP

2022 rating: Not ranked 

You may notice that Verlander was unranked last year. That’s because he wasn’t featured on the survey after missing almost all of 2020 and 2021. It didn’t seem fair to ask evaluators what to make of him. 

Well. Now we know. 

Verlander returned from Tommy John surgery with one of the best seasons of his storied career. He captured the World Series and the American League Cy Young award. On the wrong side of 40, he expects to do it all again with the Mets this season. He is 56 victories away from 300. Would you bet against him? 

“He will always be a No. 1,” one scout said. 

“To miss a year and still come back as a No. 1 is crazy,” one executive said. 

“At 40, this is what the best pitcher in baseball looks like,” one evaluator said. 

Mack - The last time I felt this confident giving a Mets pitcher to pitch in the first inning was Tom Seaver.

  

Will Sammon/The Athletic - Mets prospect Brett Baty has forced a tough decision thanks to an improved glove -

Club and rival evaluators say Baty has improved defensively. Nobody suggests Baty suddenly turned into Nolan Arenado, but team officials have seen more consistency, something that they value. Mainly, Baty has inspired confidence within the Mets that he can play third base at the major-league level. 

So what now? 

At this point of spring training decisions can come quickly, as evidenced on Wednesday when the Mets optioned top catching prospect Francisco Álvarez to Triple A. But at least as of Wednesday night, the Mets remain open to the possibility of including Baty on the Opening Day roster. 

Mack - Heyman is now saying that Vientos will make this team before Baty does. 

You will be reading this on Tuesday so we may know by then, but, on my team, they both would make it. 

I pray for the day this team starts operating like the Braves. How many washed up old guys who came off a shitty spring bounced back after the Mets took them to Queens for the start of the season? 

UPDATE

BATY GOES TO SYRACUSE AND COMBO OF ESCO AND GUILLORME WILL OPEN UP AT THIRD..

 

Ben Clemens/Fangraphs - 2023 Positional Power Rankings: Shortstop -

3. Mets

Boring! We want shortstops who changed teams this winter, and preferably last year too. But Lindor is only boring from a transactional standpoint, because he put together one of the best years of his stellar career in 2022 and looks poised to repeat the trick this year. 

Lindor doesn’t have elite power. He doesn’t have elite plate discipline or even elite speed. He’s still an excellent hitter, though, because he does two things well: make contact and put the ball in the air. He might not look like a 20-25 homer guy, but that’s exactly what he is. 

That kind of offense would play anywhere on the diamond, but Lindor’s defense makes him special. He’s the kind of shortstop you’d play even if he had a below-average bat thanks to his combination of sure hands, great instincts, and an accurate arm. Statcast rates him as the best shortstop in baseball over the past two years – and the past three years, four years, five years, and so on. 

Guillorme, like Lindor, is an excellent defender. Unlike Lindor, he’s a so-so hitter, so he only figures in the picture as a backup. This is the Lindor show – and even though the Mets have added a lot of star power in recent years, he’s still the main attraction in Queens. 

Mack - I stand by my prediction that he will have a banner season for the Mets and lead them in RBIs.

 

2023 Mets King of Spring Training, update #2 -

Sam Coonrod - 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 6 Ks in 4 IP

Coonrod continues to make quite the case to crack the Opening Day bullpen, looking untouchable so far this spring. He’s struck out over a batter per inning and has touched 99 mph on the radar gun. Opponents have hit just .133 against him in Grapefruit League play so far. 

Mack - Sad what has happened since this was written. 

He was pitching so well after a miserable 2022 where he went  -0.3-WAR, 0-0, 7.82.