NICK MEYER BEFORE HE WAS DRAFTED YEARS BACK
“Ronny Mauricio this, Ronny Mauricio that…”
All the talk is about the high profile guys.
How about observations regarding five other erstwhile dudes who get little light of day?
NICK MEYER:
Former 6th round catcher, now 26, who was viewed as great glove, no hit at draft time has morphed of late into Fine And Versatile Glove and Decent Hitter. In Syracuse in June, July, August, he is 26 for 96 (.271) with 5 HRs and 18 RBIs.
He has caught 31 games, with just 1 error, 1 passed ball, and a 30% CS rate.
He’s also played 16 errorless games at 3B, 2 at second, 5 at first (2 errors) and 5 outfield innings. Oddly, Nick is yet another righty hitting much better v. righties than lefties. He stole 14 of 18 in 79 games last year, too. With Luke Voit gone, hopefully his ABs expand.
He would have been a perfect #3 catcher back in the day when teams routinely carried a 3rd catcher for his D.
Future utility guy, though? Maybe.
JOE SUOZZI:
Undrafted son of a local politician, the 25 year old has hit far better than many drafted dudes. Through Sunday, he was 4 for 10 with 2 HRs in Syracuse, in just his 3rd season, and overall .276 with 5 HRs in 214 at bats this year, splitting time between 1B and the outfield. His career .249 in a little over 600 at bats has been dampened by nearly a quarter of those ABs being in Brooklyn where he has hit around .215.
His teammate…
BRANDON MCILWAIN:
Brandon has an average in the .260s with 29 XBHs in 330 at bats, 10 steals, and a decently low K rate. Also 25 and steadily edging up the ladder, going 8 for his first 24, with 2 HRs, in AAA. At least one Brandon is hitting. “Let’s Go, Brandon.”
WILKIN RAMOS:
A 22 year old righty hurling in AA, he is 4-2, 2.64, with 48 Ks in 44 IP and a 1.20 WHIP. Mack likes him, he is young for his level, and he has produced. Let’s see the progress from here on.
BRENDAN HARDY:
Been around a long time, now 23, the 2018 31st rounder missed the first several weeks of 2023, but the righty reliever’s control has greatly improved in 2023, and in 22 innings, 35 Ks, 1.11 WHIP, and 2.08 ERA. Impressive in 2023 so far, now it is time to show success over more innings and at higher levels.
That’s it for today, folks.
The Mets may not win much, but you are all winners, even if you are unheralded like these aforementioned 5.
FCL METS MAGIC:
The FCL Mets thru Tuesday had scored 205 runs, and allowed 205 runs, in 41 games.
.500 team?
Nope. 25-16. Magical.
Maybe they can tutor the NY Mets on how to win the close ones.
Jett Williams taking Brooklyn by storm. Midway through Wednesday, on base 18 of his first 34 times up. Just 19. WOW! Might just be the best prospect in the system??
And…two mighty pitching performances…
Mike Vasil takes no hitter into the 9th before surrendering a hit - Kudos.
Jordany Ventura went 6.2 IP for Brooklyn, 1 hit, 1 BB, 10 Ks - Kudos.
The latter had been in the top 30, fell out of it, BB America has him #29, but Ventura has allowed just 10 hits in 26 Brooklyn innings, quite notable, and an indicator he is ready to RISE.
METS WIN A 4-3 CONTEST
Pete HRs again. Funk for him is over. Vientos hitless again. Only starter who didn’t have one hit…everyone else had one. Walker tossed a nice 8th. Ottavino was shaky to start to 9th. Nice save by Bickford.
Remarkably, 10 days after the deadline, they are 7 out in the Wild Card. Makes me wonder….
Had they made no dump deals, might they have been perhaps an easily fixable 4 games out in the Wild Card with 48 games left?
Of course, winning is not goodfor draft positioning.
ReplyDeleteChristopher Soto pointed out something yesterday
DeleteBecause the Nats had a lottery pick 2 yrs in a row they are not eligible for one this year
So if they finish with one of the 6 worst records the team ranked 7th will replace them and be awarded a lottery pick
The Mets have series coming up with Nats Cards and Pirates
ReplyDeleteThese 3 could determine if Mets get a lottery pick
I have been a big proponent of Meyer becoming the backup catcher behind Alvarez
ReplyDeleteNido, after a very slow start, due to his eye problems, now is up to .313! He'd be a fine backup for Alvy, allowing Meyer to play regularly upstate.
DeleteThe position is getting crowded, with Narvaez here and some fine prospects in the lower minors.
Narvaez will be gone next year
DeleteThe battle will be between Nido and Meyer until Parada comes along
Two wannabes, Coonrod and Reid-Foley, combined to record 4 outs while coughing up 8 runs. “NEXT!”
ReplyDeleteTom
DeleteCoonrod and R-F once again prove having a decent stat line at lower levels means nothing
One must remember your pitching against dome really terrible bats down there
Mack, I do like Meyer, too. Wish he could squeeze a little more juice out of the bat to make it a no-brained.
ReplyDeleteMets simply need to lose at least 60% of their remaining games…so they will somehow figure out how to win 50%.
ReplyDeleteBraves coming in for 4 games this weekend Tom so that should help regarding losing 60% of our remaining games. As far as being in the WC race if we didn't trade half our team to me it comes down to Diaz missing the season because we're still very much in the running if we had him so how does the team prevent players from going to the WBC in future years? Now the difference in our long term future has dramatically changed and we won't know the answer for some time but right or wrong I'm blaming Trumpet man for this season.
ReplyDeleteThe Trumpet blew Taps in March. The 5 year plan snapped like a Patella tendon.
ReplyDeleteBill, the problem with Nido is he really is just a catcher. You’d have 3 “just catchers.”
ReplyDeleteGary, hit some Braves in this upcoming series. Change the course of their season as they changed the Metswhen they (intentionally?) injured Pete. A bone for a bone.
ReplyDeleteMake a lasting impression
DeleteThrow one.into the dugout
Aren't we all getting really tired of...
ReplyDeleteThe NY whining babies?
The "Lost Season", we lost, we keep losing, we are losers. Whine, whine, whine. So who here are the true losers? A: These fans who think this way as well as the NY Mets press who expect nothing but a WS ring each season. That's who. If you think like a loser, you will become a loser. This is all about winning again!
This trade deadline was the greatest NY Mets trade deadline ever. Not kidding. Contradict me if so desired, I dare you to. But prove me wrong with details of how there was a better trade deadline season than this one. I am elephant ears.
It's more a win/win than a "Lost Season" here, because these NY Mets got their MiLB system intact again at every level. The majority of players they got back, all have MLB potential. Most have possible star potential as well.
Remember when the Mets had a rotation of Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz, and Wheeler as their top five. This could be better a better rotation than that was, and soon. It could.
So translated out, what does this all mean?
It means no more off season pickups of 34 year old starters on the trending down and maybe coming off recent arm injuries too. No more 34 year old outfielders looking for a second (or third) chance after being written off by their original teams. No more backup catchers who could never start anywhere because they cannot hit at the MLB level. No more let's hope this new relief pitcher can pitch successfully in at least one inning stints. Kiss these days goodbye!
Welcome Mets fans, to the "Brave New NY METS WORLD."
And thank you greatly Mr. Cohen and Mr. Eppler, because you guys got it and made corrections right away that could lead into not just a one year great team, but in near time a NY METS DYNASTY. The kind I have been harping on here for over a decade now. It can be done.Good example: The 1990's Atlanta Braves. That recipe and replenishment program system was superb. It can be done now here. It has been begun.
I salute you both gentlemen!
Back up catcher,very underrated position! Most winning teams have a good one.
ReplyDeleteThe Syracuse Mets
ReplyDeleteWednesday:
3B Ronnie Mauricio doubled, so as did CF Brandon Mcllwain (who is hitting .333 BA) there at present. And C Mike Perez and LF Carlos Cortes hit homeruns.
Also to note:
Both Hunter Parsons and Adam Kolarek pitched very well in relief.
Atlanta Braves
ReplyDeleteThey come in hurting at starting pitching. Max Fried was hit hard (again) versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. And Spencer Strider has had injury issues as of late as well.
So...Let's Go Mets!
If the Mets win their final 49 games, Atlanta will have to go 29-21 to win the division outright. MAKE THEM SWEAT…WIN 48 STRAIGHT!
ReplyDeleteLet's start by sweeping them this weekend!
DeleteTo my Eyes
ReplyDeleteI don't see the injury to Edwin Diaz as the main reason this team played the way they have in 2023. Sure it was a major blow to the bullpen. Absolutely. But Dave Robertson pitched very well when here. There were opportunities galore for set-up relievers, but few had what it took until later on in the season.
The starting pitching had Health Issues and the 3-5 at times were not hoped. The batters were hitting below their norms (both average and homerun wise except Polo Alonso)and at times they looked seriously lackluster as well. Catching was an issue until Alvarez arrived.
So you see, the below average play here was a factor of several areas and not just Edwin's injury.
My point here is that
Yes, Robertson pitch very well, but if Diaz were here Robby would've set him up (along with Otto and Raley), and we wouldn't have been hurt by AAAA callups.
ReplyDeleteIn the long run the Diaz injury was a blessing in disguise but of course we will probably win enough to end up out of the top 7. I totally agree with you Anon and I can't wait to see what they do this winter.
ReplyDelete