Tom Brennan: Don't Forget Dom Hamel; And Mets’ Hitting Party

DOMINIC HAMEL, THE 81ST OVERALL DRAFT SELECTION IN 2021

Mets fans these days think of minor league pitching and after briefly thinking positive things about Jose Butto, who has a 3.38 ERA in 48 Mets innings in 2023 and 2024, and they think about  10 other things:

Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott, Scott.

Any why not?  

Christian Scott has been superb.  No, let me correct that: SUPERB.

So superb that we may see him in the majors real soon. 19 Ks in 9 IP? Wow.

But there is this other starter in the high minors who has a 16-10, 3.65 career record, and has fanned 323 in 254 innings (11.5 Ks per 9 IP).

Yep, Dom Hamel who just turned 25 in March.  

Old? Not really. Jake deGrom made his MLB debut at 25 years, 11 months.

Dom struggled early in AA last year, but in his last 62 innings starting in July, he allowed just 17 earned runs and fanned 80, vs. 25 walks. Dang good, bro'.

On April 5, he started and was brutal, walking 7 and allowing 5 runs in 2.2 IP.  

It was also windy and in the 30s.  Thursday was his second start. 

In Thursday's start, the thermostat was fixed and it was 66 glorious degrees at game time.  

Able to grip the ball, he fanned 10 in 5 innings, and allowed 3 hits and 1 lonely walk.  

In other words, DOM-inant.

So, here is what I say...throw that first "winter ball" game the heck out.

Game 2 is the real Dom Hamel.  And I think it won't be long before we see the real Dom Hamel pitching in Citi Field.

And DOM IT, I'll be DOM happy when that happens.

METS RECENT HITTING PARTY CONTINUES

6-1 win. Lots more hits.  Fourteen, to be precise. 

This team can hit. If JDM is healthy, they will REALLY hit.

Sweet reception for Lindor, who got on twice.  If the team keeps raking like it has over the past 4 games, he WILL join the hitting party. You press when 1) your team is losing AND 2) not hitting.  Right now they are winning AND hitting like the dickens. Lindor will join in.  He has to - he can't let a young upstart like Brett Baty out hit him by .226 points for very long.  

And while Lindor's .111 average is painful, it was 79 points lower at .032 a week ago. If he again raises in 79 points in each of the next 2 weeks, he'll be hitting .269.  I'll take that in a heartbeat.

Like Jeff McNeil.  Before his last 5 games, .091.  Last 5 games?  8 for 17. Suddenly at .257.  The Squirrel is back.

Luis Severino 1 hit allowed over 5 innings for the W.  Good for Sevi, picking up his first Mets W.  Hopefully, 2 starts in now, he can get us some 6 inning outings consistently.

Former Met Michael Wacha came into the game with a stunning 26-6 record spanning 2022, 2023, and 2024 to date, but he got badly whooped last night and left 26-7.

Lastly, JDM first entered a Mets minors line up last Friday.  His second and last game was last Saturday.  He did not play yesterday.  Something about a sore back and an injection.  I dunno, who can keep up?  Anyway, the Mets are up to 13 games played without JDM.  When will he join the Mets? Game 20?  Game 30?  The September stretch run?  Time will tell.