3/17/24

Tom Brennan - Numbers vs. Wishes and Hopes


Mark Vientos was up 4 times Saturday night. He fanned 4 times.

That said, he had lots of K company, as there were 26 other Ks in the game.

But that sort of “4 for 4” is not good.

All we can objectively do is objectively look at the data and ask what it tells us.

In all spring training and regular season plate appearances, Vientos has done this:

Spring T: 117 PA, 106 AB, 12 R, 26 H, 8 D, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 10 BB, 38 K

Regular:  274 PA, 254 AB, 22 R, 52 H, 6 D, 10 HR, 25 RBI, 15 BB, 83 K

Total:  391 PA, 360 AB, 34 R, 78 H, 14 D, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 25 BB, 121 K

Not good.

He had 348 PA (spring and regular) before this spring, a sizable experience #. 

Is he up trending this spring?

One might expect him to, after all that previous experience and preparation.

Seems not, as he is just 7 for 41, with 2 walks and 14 K this spring.

So far, he seems like a righty Kirk Nieuwenhuis, without Kirk’s ability to draw BBs.

He needs to produce more, as his speed and glove are not offsetting assets.

We Mets fans all root for him. We’re waiting for that up ramp. 

We need it to show up in 2024.

P.S. When considering high strikeouts, I occasionally think about a guy who defined ultra-low strikeouts, Hall of Famer Joe Sewell.

“Between 1924 and his final season in 1933, Sewell recorded two seasons with just three strikeouts and three more with only four strikeouts.”

I wonder how he’d do today?

Another HOF Joe, Joe Medwick, stole just 29 of 52 in a 9 year prime career stretch.

Oddly, he had 102 triples in those 9 years.


11 comments:

Mack Ade said...

I'm tellin ya...

No one is going to like this year's output

bill metsiac said...

This certainly is an ugly Spring for MV, even with the HRs. But Stearns has committed to give him a full opportunity to show his value, and ST is much too soon to make the decision.

bill metsiac said...

He looked good in his first AB today
The ball was catchable, but hit solidly and reached the wall on the fly.

bill metsiac said...

Even better on his 2nd AB, with a massive 3-Run HR. Nice bounceback!

YOU must've inspired him, Tom!

bill metsiac said...

Both of our SPs struggled today., especially Megill, who gave up 4 ER in 5 IP. Butto closing the gap on him.

bill metsiac said...

Correction: only 3.2 IP for Megill.

TexasGusCC said...

Ok, let’s be a little objective here without looking for reasons to just criticize. Vientos has only gotten regular at bats the last month or so of the regular season and this spring. Now, spring numbers mean that you are facing pitchers that may not be on a 40 man roster, but they are what they are.

I would like to take blocks of games and see if he is progressing. Yes, the strikeouts are plentiful, but assuming regular playing time, by July I would like to see that minimized. If not, I would be concerned.

Also, let’s not forget that Vientos had a very successful minor league career and if he was on another organization, they’d be touting him. We should do the same.

I would like a winning season. One of the things that truly impressed me about the Yankees was that even when they were clearly rebuilding, they finished over .500; I think it’s like 20 years in a row? To me, that’s a compliment to the management. I don’t want to see the Mets tank. But, can the team break in prospects successfully if the goal is always to maximize wins?

Rds 900. said...

I thought MeGill gave up one unearned run plus another after he left.

bill metsiac said...

Nope. His line in the Box is 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 BB.

Tom Brennan said...

My take…Vientos should emulate Kyle Schwarber…don’t worry about average or Ks…hit homers.

I’d take .210 and 35 homers from Mark this year.

Tom Brennan said...

Gus, thought I saw the other day Yanks > .500 in each of the last 27 seasons.