YOUNG AND HUNGRY
Lest we forget, Francisco Alvarez was ranked baseball’s # 1 prospect by some rankers.
Yet many seemingly felt he was locked in a Kodak moment in fall 2022.
When he didn’t look ready. Even though the timing of his promo was terrible.
And like he worked on nothing this off season.
Heck, reasoned some, he might need all of 2023 in AAA to work out the kinks.
He started out 1 for 12 thru his first few games, with lots of stolen bases allowed.
“HE IS NOT READY!”, they screamed.
But with Tomas Nido’s batting average being about the same as Twiggy’s weight, at .118, and no other viable alternative in the minors (unless you feel that a catcher who got called up and hit .050 was viable - after all, AAA Michael Perez is hitting .170 and Nick Meyer is hitting .150), no alternative.
Thus, Alvarez was just going to have to show he could at least be Tomas’ caddy until Omar Narvaez returns (is Omar really a Met? I missed a few games and never saw him in a Mets uniform).
So, since the early 1 for 12, Francisco Alvarez thru Sunday was 10 for 38 (.263), a solid pace and one which most other Mets, other than Nimmo, Baty, McNeil, and Vogelbach, have not recently achieved.
Just look at the list of others who are sputtering for the season thru Sun.:
Canha: .222
Pham: .220
Lindor: .217
Marte: .213
Escobar: .159
Nido: .118
None have hit as well as Alvarez’s .263 pace over the same recent Alvarez stabilization period.
Nor have Pete Alonso and Luis Guillorme hit as well over the same stretch - both sit at .235 for the season - keep in mind that Alvarez would be sitting at .240 if he had one more hit.
So, Baty is at .286 and Alvarez has righted his ship.
The Kids Are All Right.
WHO will dispute me on that? “Who Are You?” asks Roger Daltry.
That success from the young duo in my mind now opens a promotion door for sizzling Mark Vientos, who hit his 10th HR in 112 ABs not a fluke: he hit 21 HRs in his last 200 ABs in 2021). Mark added a double, boosting his OPS to an insanely high 1.120 (Escobar at half that, at .571).
Mark is simply killing lefties, and righties.
Thermometer has popped, ready is he.
When a kid like Vientos sees two of his peers succeeding, I believe that has to lower the pressure. Bring him up. Once he succeeds, and he will, bring up the almost-as-sizzling Ronny Mauricio when the time is right over the next several weeks. (More on that below).
The old and wretched are not getting it done. Adjust.
When the team’s pitching sucks, it helps to not have a sputtering offense at the same time, or you find yourself in a season-crushing 3-11 stretch (2-9 of which was against weak teams). Kids can infuse energy.
Just do it. Of course, then there is this:
CALLING UP - MAURICIO??
Saw a rumor posted that Ronny Mauricio and not Mark Vientos could be the next call up. We'll see. Maybe both? That would really shake things up, but I cannot see both at the same time.
RANKINGS THAT RANKLE:
Baseball America (I am not a subscriber, as I like to think for myself) apparently just updated its top 100 in baseball. Mauricio is apparently # 99 - seems very conservative. Vientos apparently is not in the top 100.
How that is possible, I cannot discern. After all, Mark is averaging a HR every 11 ABs (Ruthian) and has an unconscious 1.120 OBP. Knowing their lack of defensive wizardry so far, and not knowing prospects on other teams all that much, I nonetheless cannot fathom how they are both not top 50.
At least, though, 7 Mets prospects are in the top 100, even though those include Alvarez, Baty, and Senga, all of whom are currently big leaguers, though, and none of whom are going anywhere, though. Though I thought you already knew that - though.
Khalil Lee-less?
Khalil Lee was released by Syracuse.
He lost his mojo and had to go-go.
Personal problems I imagine contributed. But he is a puzzler. He had a terrific .451 OBP in 2021 in Syracuse. Nimmo type stuff. Yet, the next two seasons, he hit around .210 with an OBP almost 100 points lower. And fanned 167 times in 129 games. Maybe this, maybe that, but no "maybe" about the fact that he's gone.
I guess there is always the Long Island Ducks as a possibility, suggests one Quack.
PERSPECTIVE!!
As Mets fans grope for answers, if someone told you on Feb 1 that after nearly a quarter of 2023, you‘d get just 41 innings out of Max, JV, Carrasco, Quintana, and Diaz, they’d give up 29 runs with no saves, and Narváez played just a few games, would you be shocked they'd have a 17-18 record? Not so shocking in that light.
Speaking of Scherzer, I saw this in the NY Post, which has to make one very nervous going forward:
When Scherzer takes the mound on Tuesday in Cincinnati....he’ll be doing so while still pitching with discomfort below his right scapula, around his shoulder blade. “I’m doing everything I can to get through this without having it linger through the rest of the season,’’ Scherzer said before the team left for the road trip. “I’m in a good spot… I’m not going backward [with the injury], I’m moving forward. That’s the good part.”
21 comments:
No comments in 2 hours? Why bother.
Maybe Sherzer shouldn’t pitch. If he breaks down and mousses 50 games….
Some of us don't wake up early. I have a few comments, though.
Regardless of what BA says, I refuse to count a 30-year old veteran who has never played an inning in the U.S. minors a "prospect".
Of the other 6 on their list, having Mauricio at #99, and Vientos not included at all is either an insult to them or a compliment to the others. I'll take the high road and choose the latter.
It's interesting that none on the list except Senga are pitchers. No Hamel, no Vasil, no Tidwell? Hmmm...
Finally a small point--- Mark's 1.120 is indeed high, but can't be his OBP. It's his OPS.
Scherzer “knows his body.” He had a similar but worse injury a few years back. If he does miscalculate, season’s over.
You’re right, Bill, OPS. So, he is hitting literally at a Ruthian pace in terms of power and average, but not top 100? SMH.
Over 162 games, at his current pace, Vientos would hit .339 with 52 doubles, 52 HRs, and 140 RBIs. The past two years he hit better after the first month of the season, too. In AAA, age 23, not in top 100. Really?
Mets sign Gary Sanchez to MILB deal. Last year in Minny, 419 ABs, .205, 16 HRs, 61 RBIs. Compare to Tomas No Do.
Give us some time to wake up guy
Guess one of the 2 year signed catchers, that was moved to the 60IL means.he may not be back this season
Tom,
We enjoy your posts, however work has to come first. Keep those posts coming!
Many times there are few.commenta on my posts
No biggie
Just figured out the problem with Peterson. Never gets to face the Mets. Hope our hitters turn things around quickly, otherwise a very boring season.
Thank you, gents.
Ray, many pitchers must lie awake at night thinking, WHY CAN’T I PITCH AGAINST THE METS, TOO. I NEED A BREAK.
The Senior bus to Atlantic City will be arriving soon and needs to pick up many current players as maybe a few weeks playing the slots will help. Whats our obligation on the Max contract next year? So we dump Canha EE CC Pham and not sure if we can on Max. Sign Ohtani with Diaz returning and we could turn it around with help from the kids.
Oh and one more thing ...WE LOVE YOU TOM! hang in there alot of are old and sleep later.
These prospect lists can be pretty dumb. McNeil/DeGrom never hit a top 100 list....
Think about that...DeGrom won ROY and multiple Cy Youngs and has done nothing but dominate since the day he came up.
McNeil has only been in 2 All-Star games, won a batting title and been a defensive wiz across multiple positions. Not only was he not mentioned but he had the prospect evaluators like Law mocking him shortly before he came up and dominated in the back half of the season he played.
Law enjoying to double down on his love to hate McNeil predicted a steep drop off this year. So far he is just about on pace to produce the same WAR as last year. :)
Of course its always nice to see you guys on the list but they can miss pretty badly.
Compare to Nido of '22. Comparing different years is meaningless.
Gary, thanks. I think Max has a huge PLAYER option for next year. Let’s hope he doesn’t go from scapular to scalpel.
Dallas, great points. I may be in a very small minority, but I think Vientos could be Pete II. In his last 690 minor league ABs, 54 HRs. Who else does that? I think the answer is nobody.
My guy Jose Peroza was 4 for 4 with 3 HR and 5 RBI for Binghamton tonight.
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