AFTER THE 2ND INNING, HOUSER PITCHED LIKE SANTA GIVING OUT PRESENTS
“Yo Adrian” Houser is earning $5.05 million this year, with no remaining options.
His ERA is a bloated 7.45 with 16 runs allowed in 19.1 innings, in which he has allowed 36 baserunners via hit, walk, and HBP. Heavy traffic.
The Mets are not getting their money’s worth…I think that is fair to say.
A closer look at Houser’s season-to-date splits suggests a potential solution.
In the first and second innings this year, he has gone 8 innings, allowing 2 hits and one run.
Sizzling.
After that, he has gone 8.1 innings, allowing 15 runs, allowing 18 hits and 10 walks.
Super ugly. Worse than fizzling.
And this after a high 1.42 WHIP over the past two seasons, even when backed by a stellar Brewers’ defense.
What to do? My initial thought…
Why not turn him into a two inning relief pitcher?
Well, one might ask, who would replace said Bowser Houser?
Ther’s no Senga, Megill or Peterson to soon ride to the rescue, after all.
Christian Scott? He is one option.
He, however, in my view, would be rushed if called up now.
Yes, sir, he has fanned an incredible 26 hitters in AAA in 14.1 innings.
But he has also allowed 5 home runs.
That’s a lot, especially when one considers that major league hitters are far more lethal in terms of hitting homers than AAA hitters.
I think another several starts in AAA are called for, to not rush his development.
Who else, then?
Why, there is this guy named Joey, of course.
You remember Joey Lucchesi?
He’s the guy who went 4-0, 2.89 in 47 innings for the Mets in 2023, right?
Well, in 4 starts in 2024 in frigid AAA, he is a fine 2-0, 2.57, 1.19 WHIP. That is a far better ERA and WHIP than his league’s averages for pitchers.
The average International League team is coughing up 5 runs per game.
And in his 2023 major league 47 innings of 2023 and his 21 innings in AAA in 2024? Just 6 HRs allowed.
That is just 6 allowed in 68 innings, compared to Scott’s 6 in 20 innings.
But, you’re the GM, not me. I’m just a humble reporter. So I need:
YOUR THOUGHTS on this please.
To me, after the Mets’ recent good play (followed by a modest losing streak) makes the idea of a Mets snatch of a wild card at least somewhat more possible, we can’t have Houser bomb as a starter every 5th day. At least, that is how the fan in me sees it.
LOTS AND LOTS OF WINS IN METSVILLE ON WEDNESDAY
Lindor explodes, 4 hits, 4 RBIs, 2 HRs. Up from .034 a few weeks ago to .206. THAT’S A LOT OF “UP”.
Nido, meanwhile, down to .167.
Reed Garrett pitches like the 1986 version of Mike Scott again, as Garrett goes to 4-0, and the win today gave the Mets a 3-3 game split on their tough west coast swing.
Terrifically Talented Tyrone Taylor had a double and HR, and is hitting .327. Sweet. Maybe he really IS the best player on the team.
In the minors, only a 1 run 5-4 loss by St Lucie marred a perfect Mets day. But even that losing game had “amazing” in it. As in, Nick Morabito is at .370/.507/.519 after Wednesday’s game. A .507 OBP, translated, means “promotion definitely overdue.”
Syracuse? Dom Hamel was awesome for 5 innings, as part of a 4-0 one hit shutout. Ignore his season 4.42 ERA. It is that high only due to a terrible first season outing, but…he has been brilliant his last 3 outings, with just 4 earned runs in 15.2 IP, and TWENTY FOUR Ks. Wow.
JD Martinez had 2 hits and 2 RBIs. He has to be in the Mets lineup this weekend.
For Brooklyn, Doug Orellana went 5 perfect innings in relief, fanning 6, to grab a “hold” in a 13-3 Cyclone slugfest. Another pitcher went a mere 1/3 of an inning just before him to close out the 3rd inning and got credited with the win….weird rules.
Friggin’ Drake Osborn got on base THREE more times (.464/.583/.679). He got, I imagine, a blood infusion from Barry Bonds. And Stan the Man Consuegra was on base a well-needed 4 times, and Ryan Clifford walked 3 more times. Sixteen walks in 17 games.
Binghamton won 7-6 on homers by Wyatt “Hercules” Young, J Jackson, and a 3 run jolt by Kevin Parada that had to feel G..O..O..D.
Junior Santos 2 perfect innings for the win. He may have found his niche in the bullpen.
That’s rhe deal.
Tom,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is time to look at Houser as a relief pitcher. Lucchese should be the option I would suggest.
D J, he…and perhaps Quintana…could be in some jeopardy as our Wounded Mound Warriors return in the weeks to come.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Joey was a good back of the rotation pick up. I have no problem with him replacing Houser in the rotation. Trying Houser as a longer relief pitcher may be a solution.
ReplyDeleteDo not rush Scott!
Love the bat to ball skills of Nick Morabito except for the lack of power. As he will only turn 21 in two weeks, will the power develop? Therefore, I see him as a potential fourth outfielder with good outfield coverage with a good hit skills but average arm. I would let him play out May in PSL before promoting him to Brooklyn
Gotta be the first time you used Cyclone Slugfest in a post. It's also time to give Taylor more playing time because Nimmo's in a brutal slump and Taylor's has earned it. Is it crazy to use Scott as the 3 or 4 inning once or twice a week guy to save the BP? He's surely on a restricted pitch limit so use them where they'll count. Crazy I know.
ReplyDeleteAlso what the latest update on the resurgent Alex Ramirez real deal or not?
ReplyDeleteGary, Alex needs to add double cheeseburgers to his diet. Bulk up like Mauricio did. Then, maybe.
ReplyDeleteTaylor deserves more playing time. Period.
Remember Ramirez is only 21 and a year away from being considered a top prospect.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I think Morabito will hit with more power. He’s listed at 45 power. I think he can stretch that to 50.
ReplyDeleteI think that Brooklyn is ready for Nick, and vice versa. Kid is doing everything right. 17 for his last 41, and walks, show he’s far better than his league. He is leading the league, and the next hitter is 37 points lower.
Morabito has 8 steals in 16 games, too. He has 70 rated speed.
ReplyDeleteRay, I agree with you on Ramirez but would like to see him carrying 185 or 190 on that 6'3" frame.
ReplyDeleteI think Ramirez will be our CF in 2025.
ReplyDeleteRay, I think 2026, with a call up some time during 2025 for Ramirez. Gilbert might have been the 2025 guy, but his injury, which I could be wrong, but I think he exacerbated by staying in the game after feeling the first tweak in an April 6 game, now has him out until probably June 1. You can't develop if you can't play. Alonso had two broken hands in the minors on HBPs. Unavoidable injuries. But he simply never missed any games due to avoidable injury. Baty was smart when he tweaked his hammy. Gilbert in 2022 ran into a fence that cost him several weeks, now this leg costing him several more weeks. Both avoidable.
ReplyDeleteSo Gilbert being the 2025 CF guy is iffier now. I think Ramirez would help himself by packing on some more muscle.
I think all the speculation about "our next CFer" is way premature.
ReplyDeleteAnd it ties in with 2B, too.
Between Ramirez, Gilbert, Jett, Acuña, Mauricio and McNeil, not to mention the spectre of Sosa, and throw in Nimmo and the rejuvenation of Marte, that's a big crowd for a few spots.
As for Adrian (don't call him Doogie) Howser, I'm going to Saturday's game to see him (and probably many others, but hopefully not) pitch. I'm hopeful, but not my usual superoptimist self. I was hoping that the day off today would result in him being skipped and replaced by Q, but it seems Mendoza/Stearns have other ideas. 🫰🫰🫰🫰