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8/23/23

Reese Kaplan -- The AAAA Train is Chugging Slowly for the Mets


Right now watching the Mets is an exercise in you never know what you're going to get.  There are days when unexpected pitchers make first rate starts and you begin to think that maybe this team wasn't totally dismantled at the trading deadline.  There are other days when some of the seemingly asleep batters have awakened with a vengeance to wreak havoc with a wooden stick.  Then there are other days when they play with the intensity of a butterfly, flitting about, landing occasionally but not making much of an impression when they do.  

During this unpredictable final two months of the season there have been quite a number of innings played by gentlemen no one would have predicted back in Port St. Lucie's spring training would even make the team, let alone starting on it.  Pleasant surprises happen every now and then, but so too do new found flubs.  Some of the names on the offensive side of the ledger are vaguely familiar from stints playing for other clubs ehile others are pretty much unknown.  Let's take a look at how a few of them are doing.


D.J. Stewart

The burly power hitting Stewart is too old at age 29 turning 30 that he could be called a prospect.  A long time part timer with the Baltimore Orioles he made his way into the Mets organization this year as minor league filler but has found himself playing far more often than anyone would have anticipated.  Over his career which in the majors began back in 2018, he's logged 585 ABs or the equivalent of about a single full season.  During that stretch he has clubbed 31 HRs and driven in 83, pretty impressive numbers.  

Then you scroll over to look at the batting average and it becomes clear why he's never made it as a regular -- just .214.  This season for the Mets he has been a tad better at .224, but it's probably best to think of him as a paunchy Dave Kingman.  It's going over the wall or there will be a great breeze from the swing and miss.  


Danny Mendick

Infielder (and very poor substitute pitcher) Mendick on paper looked like a more likely promotion from Syracuse.  Starting a year later than Stewart, he's aggregated under 500 ABs during his limited pro career.  He has shown modest power with 11 home runs and just 43 RBIs while swiping just a single base.  

His batting average of .243 is not great but acceptable for someone who might be in a reserve role.  Unfortunately for the Mets he's been sub-Mendoza all year and he may not be invited back next year unless they trade away Luis Guillorme.


Tim Locastro

Occasionally a player has an outstanding tool and for Locastro that has been speed.  He has been in and out of the major leagues since debuting back in 2017, not showing much power nor run production.  His batting average has been insubstantial but in 492 ABs he has swiped 43 bases.  As a spare outfielder and pinch runner that number is appealing but counting on him to do damage with his bat is a slim bet at best.

Rafael Ortega

Ortega debuted for the Rockies way back in 2012 and has floated from there to the Angels, Marlins, Braves and Cubs before making his way onto the Syracuse Mets roster.  He has a little bit of power and a little bit of speed.  His batting average in the .250 range is average at best and entering his mid 30s he's looked a bit better lately but he isn't the type of player around whom you bank on the future.  


Abraham Almonte

Another familiar face from his trials with several other teams, the now rather portly Almonte has bounced back and forth between AAA and the majors, not distinguishing himself very much.  Also in his mid 30s, he was brought in as veteran filler material and towards that end it's not been a bad signing.  The most he's ever turned in was a season with 232 ABs many years ago, but for the most part he's a fringe player with modest power and formerly some speed.  If he was DFAd it is unlikely anyone outside the Almonte household would shed a tear.  

We all knew when the housecleaning and injuries took place there would be some under-the-radar folks assigned to the roster but aside from some power from Stewart they've all performed about as expected which is not very good.  Here's hoping that the minor league organization improves as discussed ad nauseum.  

13 comments:

  1. Almonte, the oldest of the bunch, has to be doing his swan song. 35 next year, hard to picture a return to the bigs in 2024.

    Ortega and Mendick are AAAAA. Every org seemingly has a few of them.

    Stewart is a subject of my 10 AM, so I will leave it there.

    Glad they lost last night. We need strong draft picks. We need to lose, simply.

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  2. LOTTERY PICK UPDATE

    The Mets made strong strides towards the blottom last night

    They lost while the Pirates and Tigers lost

    Standings as of end of budiness last night:

    1.6:

    Pirates ----

    Tigers 1

    METS 1 1/2

    Question:

    Can you get the 1.6 pick AND make the playoffs?

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  3. I liked DJ when he came out of FSU (2015: 12-HR, .318, 1.094-OPS) and though he would make a good late 2nd day pick by the Mets.

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  4. Mack, Stewart has turned into a second decade pick up, instead.

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  5. ROSTER MOVES YESYERDAY

    LHP Tyler Thomas - Transferred from AAA Syracuse to AA Binghamton

    IF Dariel Gomez - returned from Rehab Assignment at St. Lucie and reinstated from IL at Binghamton. Transferred from AA Binghamton to AAA Syracuse.

    LHP Joey Lucchesi optioned from New York and added to the Syracuse roster today

    C Nick Meyer placed on Syracuse's 7-day Injured List

    IF José Peraza placed on Syracuse's 7-day Injured List

    RHP Grant Hartwig optioned from New York and added to the Syracuse roster today

    C José Mena promoted from High-A Brookyln to Syracuse

    P Dennis Santana has elected free agency

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  6. Mack, the Mets May have another draft competitor. Yanks in total free fall, 9 straight losses, 10.5 out of wild card.

    Mets are just 2 games worse than them, with many games left. Damn Yankees.

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  7. Mr Mack I think the Mets win more games then the Yanks. Any way they both win the lottery tickets.

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  8. Nice article. Fine summary. Love this site and its contributors for non heavy reading. Most appreciated.

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  9. Mack, another negative for Mets high draft pick run…31-28 at home in 59 games…28-40 in 68 road games. 22 left at home, where they are playing decently this year, and only 13 left on the road where they’ve stunk.

    Collapsing Yanks the opposite, 14 left at home, 23 on the road, where they’ve been far worse in 2023.

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    Replies
    1. Regardless of home or away

      Next three Mets series

      LAA
      TEX
      SEA

      Delete
  10. What needs to be done this off season.

    1. The Mets need to wave goodbye to all their starting and relieving pitchers who over the course of this 2023 season have not solidified their chances here with the Mets. Pitchers who have been given every opportunity to gel and stick, but have not. This is a long list of names qualifying. They must be (at best) in Syracuse for a second opportunity to solidify their skills, or released.

    2. Mets need (in my opinion) two big name starters added in for 2024, as I mentioned above. Young starters with promise. But really good players will be needed by these NY Mets to make these two trades happen. So who is used as the lure will be decided, and it may not be an easy call to make.

    3. Okay, lets now talk about the homerun power hitting Mets. Maybe three everyday players, namely Alonso, Alvarez, and Lindor in particular, are true homerun threats. To me Alvarez "might have" the most upside of the three, but he must also learn how to hit for average like Carter and Piazza did. The Mets haven't had a real power hitting catcher bat here in the lineup since Mike Piazza. Let's be honest. So to me, and if this logic holds true, I'd trade the other two. The Mets have really decent MiLB depth at middle infield and first base. A lot of good young players. But the pitchers coming back in this trade, need to be young, somewhat proven already, and well scouted out with all upside. I concur with Mack on the Mets MiLB lefty kid starters, but their righty kid starters may be even better.

    4. So to me, this off season is all about two things. First, getting the best starters the Mets possibly can into the rotation (maybe 6 and not just 5), whether from outside the organization via trades (like above suggested) or from within their own MiLB system. But do not rush any kid starters from within the system . We want these pitchers coming up when they obviously have indicated that they are ready to make this jump. Guys like Mike Vasil come to mind here, as do one or two others. Secondly, it's about building a good strong young team that can grow into an outstanding "team chemistry".

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  11. Mets Bad Move

    1. "Catire" Wilmer Flores - .304 BA in 2023
    HR
    18
    Tied-70th
    RBI
    46
    Tied-138th
    OPS
    .910

    Might even take over 2B Jeff McNeil this season.

    ReplyDelete