Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Yovanny Rodriguez, Joey Lucchese. Current IL List
Jim Bowden -Which early MLB results have staying power? -
Pete Alonso’s prodigious home run pace - Pete Alonso is on pace to hit more than 50 home runs this season, and I believe he’ll accomplish that feat for the second time in his career. He first did it in 2019, when the ball was the liveliest it had been in decades. This year, the ball seems to be flying off bats, but certainly not at the 2019 pace. However, the Polar Bear power is real, regardless of which ball MLB is using. Alonso is second in the NL in home runs, RBIs and total bases, and I think he’ll end up leading the league in homers with more than 50 once again.
Mack - I too think Pete will, not only hit 50. but easily pass it around mid-September. I’m guessing 56.
ROB PIERSALL: Brandon Nimmo -
In 21 games, Nimmo has two home runs, 12 RBIs, three stolen bases, a .368/.479/.526 triple slash, a 183 wRC+, .442 wOBA and has already put up 1.6 fWAR.
Despite his success at the plate, Nimmo has become a human highlight reel in center field. In 168 innings so far defensively, Nimmo has one defensive run saved, a 0.7 UZR and his outs above average is in the 96th percentile according to Baseball Savant.
Mack - I’m so proud of Brandon. He had so many critics (including me) when he was drafted by the Mets. Who drafts a baseball player straight out a high school that has no baseball team? Well, the Mets did and I am now very glad they did.
I especially love his defensive play which tells everyone in the offices that have glass windows that center might be solved for many years.
The Mets expect to sign 16-year-old Venezuela catcher Yovanny Rodriguez in the 2024 International Free Agent period.
Ben Badler of Baseball America said this about Y-Rod:
Rodriguez is another elite talent eligible to sign in 2024 and for some scouts the No. 1 catcher in the class, on par with many of the other elite Venezuelan amateur catchers from recent years. Rodriguez earns glowing reviews for his defense, where he has the attributes in place to develop into a plus defender. He has soft hands and stellar quickness with a plus arm and an efficient release. That allows him to register pop times under 1.9 seconds in games on his best this with sharp accuracy. It’s a well-rounded skill set for a catcher, too, as his hitting ability stands out with a high contact rate from the right side of the plate and he flashes good power for 16.
Mack - The Mets will sign a top catching prospect that can throw out runners trying to steal second base?
Will Sammon - On Joey Lucchese -
In the beginning, Lucchesi, who grew up 40 minutes from Oracle Park, battled nerves. He was called for a pitch-clock violation before his first pitch of the game. His parents were in attendance. It was the first time they saw him pitch in-person since 2019. Lucchesi never invites them. Their presence makes him nervous, he said. But heading into this start, he figured why not. They deserve to see him, he thought; who knows how long his career will last? Well, now they have an open invite.
That’s because Lucchesi settled down by the end of the second inning. He found his rhythm. He consistently hit locations. He racked up timely groundballs. He was on his way to authoring a gem.
At that point, Lucchesi told himself, “Oh, I got this. Let’s go. Just ride that wave.”
Said Lucchesi, “And I did.”
Mack - I predicted in the pre-season that Lucchese would be a big addition this year for the Mets and I’m sticking to that story.
The Athletic - Current IL List -
Tim Locastro Back spasms May
Stephen Ridings Right lat strain June
Stephen Nogosek Right elbow bone bruise April
Sam Coonrod High-grade right lat strain June
Omar Narváez Medium grade calf strain June
Justin Verlander Low grade strain of teres
major in right shoulder May
José Quintana Stress fracture in left ribcage July
Elieser Hernandez Right shoulder strain May
Edwin Díaz Torn patellar tendon in
right knee 2024
Carlos Carrasco Right elbow inflammation May
Bryce Montes de Oca Tommy John surgery 2024
Mack - I went on the IL, coming down with eye strain, while reading this list.
The dreaded IL. Every Mets fan’s worst nightmare.
ReplyDeletePete will have trouble hitting HRs as they pitch around him. The cure? Baty and Alvarez in the line up, instead of Esco and Nido, to strengthen the batting order. B & A got on base 6 times last night.
I hate the “who gets a win” rule. Lucchesi pitches well, leaves with a 4 run lead, and the pen chokes. The guy who gave up the go-ahead grand slam gets the win? Stupid.
Dennis Ribant RIP.
ReplyDeletePete has really improved his batting approach. He hits the ball where it is pitched and he hits it hard. He is all about the RBI, and that is fairly unique for power hitters. With McNeil in the 5 spot behind him, it is much more difficult to pitch around him.
ReplyDeleteNimmo has been great, and I am not surprised. I have been a fan of his for years because I see him improve his game every year. He is expanding in all dimensions - hitting, fielding, and now beginning to use his speed more on the base paths. 2024 Brandon will be even better!
Marte has been absent recently, but last night I saw him make much better contact with the ball. Here he comes. Once he heats up, the top 5 in the lineup are going to do a lot of damage. That is contagious, and my bet is that the young guys feast off of it and start raking as well.
Tom
ReplyDeleteConflicted
What a wonderful display of hitting going into the Braves series
What a horrible display of pitching going into the Braves series
Paul
ReplyDeleteIt's getting increasingly harder ever day to fill out a lineup card without the names Baty and Alvarez on it.
Alvarez is looking more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteHow long till Vientos and Mauricio are up?
ReplyDeleteMy guess... May for Vientos. Need his bat against left hand pitchers
DeleteProbably will give Mauricio the month of May to spend more time on playing second
On things Mets
ReplyDelete1. Brandon Nimmo has become not only a top hustling MLB player, it's the way he has always played and nothing new really. The Mets' critics dissed him a little earlier (undeservedly I felt) on his outfield play. Boy were they ever wrong, and I knew it. He's my favorite Mets player, but there are others here shining now too. Pete, Jeff, Francisco, Brett to name four. This is a superlative field of players we have here now.
2. The only small criticism I have of Manager Buck Showalter, because his record does speak for itself in wins and losses, is for him to always be open minded with the new AAA proven players. With management ahead of Buck, always remember that Mets players are human too. There was consistency with some of these top Mets Syracuse players. They had proven themselves quite for real in ST, and developed (I think anyway) their worthiness to stick.
It's unwise to expect immediate huge-scale success upon their initial arrival here. If you call someone up after the season has begun, to perhaps fill a specific need on the club let's say, and they do quite well in that effort, please do not favor sending them down immediately afterwards. Again, these younger Mets players are human too. All the frailty of their individual way of thinking is in-play.
With the younger players new here, it can be such an emotional thing as well as just a talent thing normally. Enthusiasm, adrenalin for certain, but also a little wonderment of the unknown does enter into their early on performances usually. This is quite normal. Think of your own very first job in your own life to recall what I mean, despite of course the scale here being a much larger one. Just coming out of the dugout or bullpen that very first time as a NY Met on the big stage. (Ask Jerry "The Coffee Guy", he knows this stuff I tell ya'." Once the new players get settled in up here, and show their true abilities, game in and game out, then they'll know that they truly belong here.
3. Yesterday's game was sensational in the hitting department and Dave Robertson is a terrific closer, and indeed a very well needed one. The whole team contributed beautifully, and I was so very proud to see that! They are baaaack!
4. Starting pitching has taken a hit since DAY UNO of this season really, as we all have seen. Especially in the health department. Wish I had the cure for this. Maybe more Burpees, jogging, swim ballet, and probiotics? Not sure really. Something though.
Still liking young pitchers Denyi Reyes and Jose Butto. Eric Orze, Humberto Mejia, and Seth Elledge showed well pitching in the 7-3 win over Toledo last night. The hitting was sensational for Syracuse also, and there are new players to be watching there in Syracuse now. Like for instance Jonathan Arauz, Danny Mendick, and Jaylin Davis.
We are on our way Mets Fans! It's gluing!