4/7/24

Mack.- Sunday Morning Observations

 


Mack’s thoughts - 

Okay… no one is thrilled with how this season has begun. 

I had dinner once in a very expensive white table cloth restaurant and the chef was making the rounds of the tables just when I was finishing my, well, okay meal. My mind was racing thinking what I was going to say when he asked me if it was the best meal I ever had. 

He came to the table, introduced himself, and said “so, did you find your time here satisfying?” 

Wow. What the hell was I going to say to that? 

So, taking a lesson from this chef, let’s not ask, and answer the question “are you happy with the Mets start this year” , but replace it with the question “have we found the Mets season, so far, satisfying”. 

Obviously, none of us have, but, as the ole song says, “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden”. 

So I’d rather target into the areas that have POSITIVELY stood out. 

To me, they are (through Friday’s games): 

- Sean Manaea - we all had, and continue to have, doubts in this year’s rotation. Now, with injuries to Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill, it was refreshing to see Manaea pitch six scoreless innings. Was it the haircut? Doesn’t matter. What matters is that this team needs more of this regardless of final scores of the games. 

- Starling Marte - tore it up early and is still hitting better than the likes of Lindor-McNeil-Bader. The important thing here is he is healthy which means there is great right field defense as well as timely hitting. 

- Francisco Alvarez - what can I say about this guy? I told you the day he signed with the Mets that he was the second coming of Mike Piazza and I was right! I can’t wait for that 3-4-5 consisting of Alonso-JD-Alvarez. 

First time around, starting pitchers Sean Manaea and Jose Butto went 12.1-IP, giving up only one run. That’s good, right?

- Edwin Diaz - every Mets fan was saying prayers that the trumpets would work here and they seem to have done the trick. Celebrate away, but remember, no jumping up and down. 

-JD Martinez & Julio Teheran - no, neither of these two past all-stars has done anything for the Mets yet, but they offer a grade up from whomever JD replaces and Tyler “I ate the undercooked chicken” Megill. They also offer a huge upgrade from what the affiliates could offer to get this team back to fourth place. 

Assuming Teheran and the rest of the starters on the 40 man roster stay healthy, Jose Butto will become “Me and Julio Pitch In The Front Yard” in the current SP 5+1 setup. 

Lastly, have you checked the stat line Mark Vientos is putting up in Syracuse? I still don’t know why the Mets won’t allow this guy to be their DH when, in Syracuse, he faces pitchers that throw from the right, from the left, underhand, with both hands and throw down in general.

  

Affiliate Roster moves - 

            OF Joe Suozzi placed on the Development List 

RHP David Griffin has been assigned to AA Binghamton 

RHP Justin Jarvis added to Binghamton roster and placed on the 7-day IL 

OF Jaylen Palmer added to Binghamton roster and placed on the 7-day IL 

RHP Cam Robinson added to Binghamton roster and placed on the 7-day IL 

 

Florida Complex League Mets    @FCLMets 

Ready to get to work 

We’ve added seven players from our Dominican Academy to the Complex roster, including 2023 DSL Player of the Year Jeffry Rosa  

https://t.co/aBJCfQGLrU  

 

Jon Heyman @JonHeyman Apr 02, 2024: 

Phil Bickford to Yankees. Minors deal. $1.1M in majors 

 

Former New York Mets pitcher Chasen Bradford was arrested March 22 for an alleged DUI a day after graduating from the police academy in Henderson, Nevada, according to KSNV NBC Las Vegas, which cited the arrest report. He has since been terminated from the police force, according to the department’s press release. 

KSNV reported via the arrest report that Bradford was “hitting medians” and “driving up on a curb” when officers were sent to Anthem Parkway & Schaeffer Hills Drive in Henderson around 10:23 p.m. The department’s press release said that there were no injuries or other vehicles involved. 

After initially admitting to drinking two Coors Light beers, Bradford told officers about 30 minutes later he had drank five or six beers throughout the day, with the latest coming at 10:15 p.m., according to KSNV. 

 

Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSports Apr 01, 2024: 

SEAN MANAEA 

5 2/3 IP no-hit bid is the longest by a pitcher in his Mets debut 

 

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan Apr 01, 2024: 

News: 

 MLBPA executive director Tony Clark's salary jumped from $2.25 million in 2022 to $4.25 million in 2023, per the union's LM-2 filing. Free and unlocked at ESPN, context on Clark's salary amid calls from players to audit the MLBPA's finance. 

Updated version of this story with more details from sources: Tony Clark's MLBPA salary was $3.2 million, and he received a $1 million bonus as well. Clark's salary in forthcoming years will be in the $3 million-plus range

 

Minor league baseball team faces discrimination lawsuit for holding ladies night promotion 

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/minor-league-baseball-team-faces-discrimination-lawsuit-holding-ladies-night-promotion  

 

SNY @SNYtv 

Doc Gooden wants Mets fans to look up when his number is retired on April 14 and feel like they played a part in 16 being honored: 

"I want them to point at that number and say, 'I played a part of that.' Because they did, that doesn't happen without those guys."


Ex-Mets pitcher, Pat Zackry, passed. He was 71 

 

Jorge Castillo @jorgecastillo Apr 01, 2024: 

Juan Soto has been named American League Player of the Week. 

 

SNY @SNYtv Apr 01, 2024: 

Carlos Mendoza says J.D. Martinez has been getting at-bats every day down in Port St. Lucie. 

The Mets will reconvene with him in the "next couple of days" to determine his next steps

  

Syracuse Mets 

            Cuse Newbie 

LHRP Kolton Ingram 

5-9 170 27/yrs. 

Drafted 37th round 2019 by Tigers 

MLB career - -0.2-WAR 8.44 5-G 5.1-IP  7-K 

5 minor seasons: 11-8  3.15  147-G  25-SV  200-IP  245-K 

2023 AA - 2.63   .177 opp-BA   27.1-IP   38-K   

 

Rumble Newbie: 

RHRP Andre Scrubb 

6-4 270 29/yrs 

8th rd pick in 2016 by LAD

Missed most of 2022 with an injury

 Elected free agency in November 2022 

2023 - Mex/ATLL: 2 TEAMS 1-1 3.62 

2024 - PRWL: 10-apps 1-0 1.35 9-IP 16-K 

 

SNY @SNYtv Apr 01, 2024: 

The Mets are among the teams scouting Japanese ace Roki Sasaki  

https://t.co/TXHMHJnrye   

https://t.co/Ck6WzOWhWo  

 

Why did the MLBPA suffer an attempted mutiny, and what comes next for the union? 

(sub only) 

https://theathletic.com/5382469/2024/04/01/mlbpa-mutiny-clark-whats-next/?source=user-shared-article  

 

Featured Weekly Clone Newbie 

RHP Victor Castaneda 

6-1 185 25yrs old (26 in August) 

2022/Milw AA/AAA: 26-G 25-ST  6-6  4.10 

2023/Milk Rk/AA/AAA: 12-G  1-ST  1-0  4.50 

23/24  MXPW: 14-ST  5-3  3.53 

Stocky. 3/4 arm slot. Hides ball well 

Average 91-93 fastball. 

77-79 curve. Show me strike one pitch. 

Nasty splitter. Drops off the table. 

Command is an issue.

 Overall 40 rated low level reliever

 

 

 

16 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Nice reading there, Mack. Very enjoyable. Have a great Sunday.

TexasGusCC said...

Good morning folks. Drew Gilbert left yesterday’s second game of the DH early with an apparent leg injury, according to Yahoo sports. I haven’t found out anything more yet.

Lots to chew on Mack, thank you.

Mack Ade said...

You two, Tommy boy

Mack Ade said...

My pleasure, Gus

bill metsiac said...

Thanks for that update on Gilbert, Gus. I noticed that after his 1st AB he got a hit and a PR cane in for him, per the Box sxore.

bill metsiac said...

Mack, excellent wrap, as usual. I don't think our middle bats will be Pete/JD/Alvy, though. Mgrs don't usually go for RH/RH/RH, and Marte will be in the mix, too. Baty has hit well as #4 this week, and unless that was just an illusion, i expect him to fit between JD and Alvy.

One question-- what the heck is the Development List?

Mack Ade said...

He actually stayed in the game for the next batter. He then advanced to second, called time, and they decided to take him out then

bill metsiac said...

Did that replace EXST?

Gary Seagren said...

Mack great stuff as always and I for one take back anything negative I said about about Baty as he's showed much improvement overall so keep up the good work Brett. I wonder how much Lindor has helped him. Funny how things work out because if Ronnie Mo doesn't get hurt Baty's probably in Cuse right now. I also wonder just what David and Stevie really expected from this bunch going into this season beyond the usual BS you hear every spring about how great everything is and of course we're think playoffs of course. I also would like to really hear the explanation for Vientos not coming north as it's head scratching and he's performing in the frozen tundra of Syracuce. Why do I see him falling through the cracks and ending up mashing for someone else kind of like Turner or TDA. Please no.

Mack Ade said...

Not familiar with that

They added this last year (I think). Also changed DL to IL

LWGAF

Mack Ade said...

This is a strange game, Gary.

Look how Gerigh got his shot.

The thing the Mets can't seem to realize is production from prospects take time. The league will continue to adjust to them until they learn how to adjust back.

Maybe Baty can give Lindor some batting tips going forward

Mack Ade said...

*Gehrig

Rds 900. said...

Got to love the way Baty is playing.

Gary Seagren said...

Agree Mack but as long time fans were super impatient as I really want to live long enough to see us win another PLEASE! I agree too with the current plan although the JD signing kinda screws Vientos. Also trying not to get to ahead of myself on Alvy/Baty as we have traveled the long road that was littered with the bodies of "can't miss" prospects. Hopefully they are Reyes/Wright "The Sequel"

Mack Ade said...

My guess is one of us will never see a crown again

bill metsiac said...

The Vientos explanation is easy. He could be here sitting on the bench, or upstate playing every day AND playing in the field.
Which benefits him more?