Mack - Sunday Morning Observations

 

                                                Mack - Sunday Morning Observations 

(thru Friday’s results) 

 

Mack’s Observations - 

-about the plethora of 100+ pitchers… 

Their sure are a lot now, aren’t there? And they don’t seem that special as the guys in the old days, like Bob Feller? 

Well, there is a reason for that. 

The Feller’s of that world were the exception and hitters just weren’t accustomed to standing in against a freight train like that. Today, all the kids train on batting machines that can be dialed up in the 96-100 range. These kind of machines simply didn’t exist back then. 

Facing a pitcher that hurls 100 is no big deal these days for a great hitter.

 Back then, it was close to being unheard of. 

 

-about developing starters…

 

There isn’t a team in baseball that doesn’t seek for quality starters come either the International signing period or the domestic draft. 

In defense of what seems like the ineptness of the Mets organization, no team has ever found a five man quality rotation through the above two mentioned process. 

But the Mets seem to have inept down. 

-only five of the all-time Mets starters (wins) came to the Mets as a draft pick. 

-none were signed as Latin prospects 

-only six of the all-time 50 pitchers (wins) were Mets 

-only  two (Seaver, Ryan) were Mets draft picks 

-again, none were signed as Latin prospects 

The Latin thing is far past this. It’s embarrassing. Can’t one exec find one scout that can bring home the pitching bacon?

 Life, and more prospect pitchers so on, pitchers like Dom Hamel and Mike Vasil are having difficulty early this year at this level. Many former prospects just don’t hack it once they face experienced major league talent here. 

Then, there are seven hurlers know for their velo that are off to a great start at their respective level. The first time around, Kade Morris (A). Nolan McLean (A+),  Brandon Sproat (A+), Blade Tidwell (AA), Jonah Tong (A), Cavin Zeigler (A+), and Christian Scott (AAA) have so far combined for 45 striikeouts in 36 innings pitched, giving up only three earned runs.

The 3-ER were all charged to Scott, so the other five starters gave up 0-ER in 25-IP (36-K). 

I see bright skies ahead here.

 

Cuse newbie - 

                    3B/2B/RF Rylan Bannon  

5-8 180 27/yrs. 

8^th round 2017 draft by LAD - Xavier Univ. 

Career: -0.1-WAR  20-AB  .100 

2023 - AAA:   336-AB  18-HR   56-RBI   .241 

Above average runner with range to play second and third 

Above average arm for third 

Runs deep counts while batting and walks a bunch 

Projected to hit a ton of doubles 

Needs to lay off breaking balls

 

Rumble newbie - 

                        RHSP-RP Troy Miller 

6-4 210 27/years 

Undrafted out of the University of Michigan 

College - 43-G  2-ST  1-1  4.26  61.1-IP   42-K 

Traded to Mets from Baltimore for Jacob Barnes 

TJS survivor 

2023 - AA: 1-app  7.36   3.2-IP   4-K 

Low 90s FB mid-80s cutter 

mid-80s change upper 70s curve

 

Clones newbie -

                         RHP/C/LF Bryan Jenkins 

5-11 175 23/yrs. 

17^th round pick in 2023 draft out of Univ. Of Tennessee 

2023 FCL/Lucy Mets: 0-1   9.00   2.50   4-IP 

Currently on the 7-day IL 

Simple repeatable mechanics - 3/4 arm slot 

FB up to 94 with slight arm run 

H70s-L80s slider    

Undeveloped and raw reliever

 

Lucy newbie - 

                        LHRP Ryan Ammons 

6-0 205 22/yrs old 

10^th rd. 2023 draft pick out by Boston - Clemson University 

No pro stats through 2023 

4 yr Clemson - 51.2-IP   75-K

“Intriguing fastball/slider combo from the left side 

Some effort in delivery 

Shows bat missing ability against high level college opponents 

Unclear if he will be a reliever or starter going forward” 

 

FCL returnee - 

                        RHSP Wilson Esterlin 

6-3 160 19/yrs old 

2022: DSL - 12-G 5-ST 5-1 2.70 36.1-IP   48-K 

2023:  FCL/LUCY  -   14-G   8-ST   2-3   5.18    48.2-IP  68-K  35-BB 

 

Roster Moves - 

Mets: 

RHP Yohan Ramirez traded to the Orioles for cash 

RHP Julio Teheran refused AAA - now free agent 

LHP Kodai Senga was transferred to the 60-day injured list 

RHP  Dedniel Núñez was optioned to Syracuse. 

Called up LHP Tyler Jay for major league debut

RHP Cole Sulser has his contract selected by New York 

RHP Chad Smith was released 

RHP Yohan Ramirez DFA’d

 

Syracuse: 

C Hayden Senger transferred from AA-Binghamton (back down 4 days later)

LHP Tyler Jay transferred from AA-Binghamton 

RHP Jon Duplantier placed on development list 

RHP José Butto optioned from New York and activated 

RHP Jeffrey Colon promoted from High-A Brooklyn 

RHP Danny Young reinstated from 7-day Injured List 

RHP David Griffin promoted from Double-A Binghamton 

OF Drew Gilbert placed on Syracuse's 7-day Injured List 

OF Taylor Kohlwey activated from development list 

RHP Carlos Guzman transferred from AA to AAA Syracuse 

RHP Hunter Parsons transferred from AA to AAA Syracuse 

RHP David Griffin transferred from AA to AAA Syracuse

 

Binghamton: 

C Joe Hudson acquired  From Cubs 

C Matt O'Neill transferred from AAA-Syracuse (back up 4 days later)

RHP Carlos Guzman transferred from AAA to Binghamton 

RHP Hunter Parsons transferred from AAA to Binghamton 

LHP Tyler Jay transferred to Double-A Binghamton 

 

Matt Eddy @MattEddyBA 

Francisco Lindor is far and away the most productive hitter the Mets have ever played regularly at SS. 

Mets SS OPS+ leaders • 1,000 PA 

113 Lindor

104 Jose Reyes

91 Amed Rosario

84 Ruben Tejada

81 Kevin Elster

75 Frank Taveras

75 Bud Harrelson

69 Rafael Santana

58 Rey Ordoñez 

 

Matt Eddy @MattEddyBA 

The ball does not carry at Shea or Citi, meaning that all Mets hitters are better than their surface stats. 

Lindor, Alonso, Wright, Piazza, Strawberry—all of them! 

Worth repeating: The Mets are one of 3 franchises to never win an MVP.  The other two are ’90s expansion teams. 

 

Christopher Soto @SotoC803 

The agents for Mets C Francisco Alvarez and IF Ronny Mauricio are in major hot water with the MLB. 

"....employees of Rimas offer[ed] large sums of money, cars and other incentives prohibited in MLBPA’s agent regulations to get players to switch agencies." 

I hate to think like this..... 

But Alvarez left the Boras Agency last summer in favor of Rimas Sports Agency. 

One has to wonder if illegal incentives were involved in that switch... 

 

Jon Anderson @JonPgh 

Biggest xwOBA-wOBA Differentials 

Unlucky Hitters 

1. Ty France +.124

2. Encarnacion-Strand +.121

3. Francisco Lindor +.108

4. Brandon Nimmo +.105

5. Yordan Alvarez +102

6. Adley Rutschman +.091

7. Alejnadro Kirk +.089

8. Kyle Tucker +.087

9. B De La Cruz +.083

10. Seth Brown… 

 

Florida Complex League Mets @FCLMets 

Jeffry Rosa (triple) and Branny De Oleo (double) recorded their first hits of Extended Spring Training against the Astros today, both with a 103 mph EV. 

 

Mike Mayer @mikemayer22 

Mets pitching prospect Christian Scott has an insane 34.1 K% to 3.5 BB% over his last 21 starts. 

Opponents are hitting .199 against him during that span.

 

Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo

The Mets have allowed 21 stolen bases in 96 innings so far this season. It's by far the most in Major League Baseball, 50% more than any other team. They are also the only team that has yet to catch a runner stealing.

 

Mets’ minor-league preview: Players to watch, breakout candidates for an improving system

 https://theathletic.com/5392469/2024/04/05/mets-minor-league-preview/?source=freeweeklyemail&campaign=602288&userId=11135030 

 

Bill Shaikin  @BillShaikin

Amid injuries to Shane Bieber and Spencer Strider, MLBPA chief Tony Clark reiterates union’s concern that MLB imposition of pitch clock could contribute to rise in pitcher injuries

 

Ari Alexander @AriA1exander 

Justin Verlander on the rash of pithcer injuries:

 "...I think the game has changed a lot, it would be easiest to blame the pitch clock, in reality everything has a little bit of influence, the biggest thing is the style of pitching has changed so much, everyone is throwing as

Lindsey Adler @lindseyadler

A leading orthopedic surgeon, one who has performed UCL surgeries on at least three Cy Young award winners recently, says he identify if a pitcher consistently throws a sweeper just by looking at his MRI.

Keith Law @keithlaw

Baseball spent decades deprecating the splitter and the screwball because they supposedly caused more elbow injuries, then they went and developed a new pitch that causes more elbow injuries

 

Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo

Almost two full turns through the rotation, Sean Manaea has been the Mets' best pitcher, with a 0.82 ERA, 14 K and 4 BB over 11 innings. 

 

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was charged with five misdemeanor accounts stemming from an alleged attack on his wife in September, the L.A. City Attorney's office confirmed Tuesday.

Urías, 27, was charged Monday with two counts of domestic battery involving a dating relationship and one count each of assault, false imprisonment and spousal battery. Urías and his wife were attending a Major League Soccer match on Sept. 3 at BMO Stadium, after which he was arrested, booked and charged with felony domestic violence. 

The Department of Public Safety later received cell-phone video of the alleged incident outside the stadium. 

Urías is scheduled to be arraigned on May 2. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2024/0409/julio-urias-charges-five-misdemeanor-domestic-violence-counts/73265889007/?s=03 

 

Athlete Logos @athletelogos

It’s not just Lindor & it’s not just NY. Today’s athletes are different than what you grew up with for a ton of reasons. Regardless of how YOU feel about booing your own guys, THEY don’t respond well to it. Can’t let the world pass you by stuck in your old ways.

  

Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo

We all really need to wait until the end of the month at least before we start freaking out about minor league player performance. 

It's a long season everyone.

  

Top International Players, U-15 Tournament And A Broken Signing System -

 https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-international-players-u-15-tournament-and-a-broken-signing-system-notes-from-the-dominican-republic/?utm_source=baseballamerica.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-international-signing-system-remains-broken-plus-other-notes

 

Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSports

DODGERS TOP 4 SPOTS IN THE ORDER

thru 15 games

 .353 BA

.436 OBP

1.032 OPS

That is the 2nd-highest OPS (2006 TOR 1.116) by a team’s top 4 thru 15 g [since at least 1906]

 

Kevin Kernan @AMBS_Kernan

There were approximately 900 roster and non-roster pitchers in spring training in ML camps,’’ one scout noted. “At the end of spring training, 216 of them landed on the disabled list to start the IL. The 1st 7 days of the season, another 25 ended up on IL