Tom Brennan: Trayce Thompson Struggles; and Mets' Slow Start

“HEY! IT'S FEBRUARY, AND KLAY'S BROTHER LOOKS GOOD”

Remember February?  Ahh, sweet February.

Trayce Thompson, the stats tell us,  hit .163 in the majors last year, with 77 Ks in 179 plate appearances (43%).  But that was 2023.

He hit 4 for 7 with 2 home runs in February spring games. Fans got excited. Brother of Klay....athletic. All that stuff. I said...wait until March.

In March spring ball, he went 2 for 17 with 9 Ks. March hitting on a similar pace to the misery of 2023.

First two AAA games? 0 for 7, including fanning 4 times on Saturday.

A little early to pick on somebody, 1 might ask?

I’d say no, sir, no ma'am, and here’s why:

Carlos Cortes, who had a nice, brief spring himself, has yet to get a AAA at bat.  That sucks.

And...

Yet to be announced is the AA Binghamton Ponies’ roster, but it appears the outfield will be comprised of: 

1) Alex Ramirez, whom management will want to play a lot; 

2) Brandon McIlwain, who hit well in his time in AAA last year (.382 OBP in 43 games), but has gotten demoted for reasons unknown; 

3) Rhylan Thomas, who hit 328 last year and hit very well (.353) in his 16 game stint in AA last year; 

4) (if healthy) Matt Rudick, who was the best hitter in the AA Eastern League in 2023 before his season-ending injury, and 

5) Joe Suozzi, who hit solidly last year, including in AAA for a while, and had a strong spring training in limited ABs. 

That is a very deep and crowded AA outfield, if Rudick is healthy.

So I ask...

Why have Trayce Thompson in the organization at all? 

Why clog the system with a 33 year old AAA hitter who probably would struggle hitting in High A at this point in his career? His strikeout rate is incredibly high, Keon Broxton-level Ks when Keon was saying his baseball sayonara, and a huge K level is normally a sign that a guy is burnt toast.

I’d rather see Rhylan or Brandon added to the AAA mix, frankly, probably Brandon, as Rhylan needs to play every day to see if he is the next Dave Magadan or Jeff McNeil with the bat.  I think if Rhylan went right to AAA, he'd play 50% of the time.  He needs to play at least 80%.

What say you?

METS BLUES

Exciting comeback that failed.  7-6 loss.

Mets trail the Braves by 2 games after two games, and have conceded the East to the Braves.

"The Tragic Is Back".

Yeah!  Baty pinch hit bomb ought to be a real booster for him.

But Severino?  Yes it was a bit cool out, but...he looked like "AAA filler".  

OK fastball, but lousy slider, lousy location and bad with men on base.  

You know, he looked like his miserable 2023 self, and the (now 3-0, owning-the-town-again) Yankees passed on resigning Severino, most likely because they were afraid of more of this from him.  On TV, they talked about his 2023 issues of telegraphing his pitches and not pitching comfortably with runners on base.  My guess is those are both still issues.

For those who say it's just one bad start...I hope you're right...but all those hits he gave up were not flukes. He looked lousy, in multiple ways.

Suddenly, after "9 wins in 4 seasons" Quintana was so-so in the opener and Sad Sevy Severino pitched poorly, in the season's first two games, at home, no less, I consulted with my brother Steve.  

We are both officially quite worried.