Tom Brennan - Heating Up in Mets Minors; Vientos Strategy

Luke Ritter a few years back

WELL...IN THE BIG SHOW LAST NIGHT...

A big win with a big 19th inning double by Brandon Nimmo, after facing a very dominant Gerritt Cole.  Justin V was equally nasty, giving Mets fans hope.  Glad to see Marky Mark Vientos pick up a hit and a walk.  All we are saying, is GIVE MARK A CHANCE.  Glad to see that the dangerous and rambunctious Francisco Alvarez picked up a hit as well.  Since Correa, Baez, and Lindor's combined batting averages are at or below .220, can we not worry every day about stuff like Brett Baty's batting average slipping to .229.  Play the kids, who are hitting about the same already as the Big Dawgs.

Anyone know how Vogelbach's summer vacation is going?  Maybe he is hanging out with Big Pete.  I hear the fishing is nice this time of year.

Atlanta beat Detroit twice?  We have Atlanta right where we want him.

ON TO THE REAL ARTICLE:

Let's look at Mets prospect hitters (and pitchers) who have been heating up of late.

In games through Sunday (unless noted):

Luke Ritter: Hits 11 HRs in 15 games in AA, gets promoted back to AAA. Go Prodigious, or Go Home.

Kevin Parada - 17 for his last 52 at bats for Brooklyn. Keep that up, and how long can it be before a promotion to AA for the Mets' #1 ranked prospect?

Jose Chirinos - DSL Dandy, the 6'3" 18 year old righty threw 4 perfect innings, with 5 Ks in his first start.  In his 2nd start, on Monday, 4 IP, 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 7 Ks. Verlander is getting worried.  Julio Zayas, a catcher on the same team, is hitting .435 in 23 at bats with 9 RBIs. And he’s just 17. And Christofer Larez is 10 for 22 (.155). Daris Cordero, also 17, has played 6 games, with just 4 hits…and TEN walks. .583 OBP. Call those four up to the Mets. Pronto.

Continuing on: 

You think “Matt Rudick” and most of you think “little guy…slap hitter.”  

Wrong.

The “little guy” has more HRs (9) than Big Ronny Mauricio (8). His OB % was also 80 points higher than that of Mauricio, who, many fans are salivating to be promoted.

Lefty Daniel Juarez has a sick 0.39 ERA and 32 Ks in 23 innings. Just 5’11”, 155.

Joe Suozzi is hitting .323 in May and June in 68 at bats, but mostly singles.

DeAndre Smith has only started playing recently after his return from injury.  The IF, after 4 hits last night for Brooklyn, is hitting .429 (9 for 21) for the season.  And 3 steals.  Only 71 career pro at bats so far, but call him up, too.  We could use a .400 hitter in Queens, how's I see it. 

Karell Paz, a St Lucie OF, is hitting .345 in his first 10 games of 2023. May he hit .345 forever.

One pitcher seemingly harnessing his fine stuff is Brooklyn reliever Brendan Hardy, who in 9.1 IP has walked just 2, allowed just 5 hits and fanned 17. Prior to 2023, he had however walked 98 batters in 98 career innings. I’d say that’s improvement.

And Dylan Tebrake, 8th rounder in 2022, has fanned 23 in 14 Brooklyn innings and sports a nifty 1.88 ERA.

VIENTOS STRATEGY?

So, I voted on the All Star ballot, which listed eligible players. Several of them that have collectively hit a ton of HRs, like Kyle Schwarber, are hitting slightly above or below .200.

So…should the Mets totally turn loose Vientos, who hit huge amounts of HR per at bat since June 2021 in the minors, and if he hits a HR every 15 at bats for the Mets, but hits .190, should he play and even play a lot? 

Guys like Schwarber play a lot, and he’s hitting just .172.

Or are they trying to get Vientos to take a measured approach and neutering him in the process?  “Swing away, Mark, swing away.”

Thoughts?