(thru Friday’s results)
Observations…
The observations in these Tuesday and Sunday reports have featured a centralized subject. Simply because I don’t have one in mind this week, I’m going to write about a number of things this Sunday morning.
(FIRST OF ALL - feel free to send me any questions you would like me to address in future posts by leaving them in the comments section of this post, or by emailing me at macksmets@gmail.com )
First of all, let’s talk Mike Brosseau
Brosseau started this season going 3-28 for the Royals AAA franchise. He was released and the Mets picked up the 30 year old utility infielder (third, second, and first base)and assigned him to Syracuse, where he continued his tepid results, producing only one hit in his first 18 Cuse at-bats.
However… in the next 25 games, he has produced a .404-BA, 7-HR, and a 1.193-OPS.
Brosseau became ARB eligible this season and will be a free agent in 2027. He will never win a Gold Glove but he is competent at all three infield positions that he plays.
He has a career MLB 3.1-WAR with a .242-BA.
For these reasons alone, you have to consider Brosseau a candidate for the 2025 UT-IF position.
The future of Mets catching is fluid.
I’m not talking Francisco Alvarez here. I’m talking AAIHA (after Alvarez is hurt again).
The Mets have made a serious commitment to International catching prospects over the past seasons, signing Yovanny Rodriguez ($2.85mil signing bonus), Ronald Hernandez (David Robertson to Marlins trade), Daiverson Gutierrez ($1.9mil), and Julio Zayas, but it has been the surprising play by unheralded 20-year old Christopher Suero that has caught the eye of Mets insiders. Suarez has quietly put up a decent season this year for, first, St. Lucie, and now, Brooklyn.
Not mentioned here is Kevin Parada. Simply put, he can’t seem to stay healthy and, when he is, he is basically nonproductive.
They designated the elephant on Tuesday so the Tomas Nido-Luis Torrens drama has comes to an end.
All the International catchers mentioned here are at least three years away, so the key would be finding someone sound and talented enough to spell Alvarez the next two seasons.
Lastly… about prospect pitchers.
You may have noticed recently that the majority of the Mets top prospect starters seem to have gone on a strike lately. I can tell you, after doing this for 20 years, this shite happens.
There are a lot of weather related issues. first, adjusting to cold, and now adjusting to humidity and heat.
Then, there is affiliate changes, facing new opponent players more talented than the level they came from… and new strike zones, different umps, and even different baseballs. Lastly,, they are instucted to throw more under-developed pitches so their game grows.
The important thing GOING FORWARD RIGHT NOW is that the Mets have two starters, at the two top levels (Christian Scott and Brandon Sproat) dominating at their levels. Scott will be in the Mets rotation next spring. Sproat, at the latest, the following spring. That’s a very good growth pattern. Adding one dominating starter a season from your chain is something any team would be proud to have.
Roster Moves -
Mets -
C Francisco Alvarez is back from the IL
C Tomas Nido DFA’d
RP Jorge Lopez signs with Cubs
CL Edwin Diaz was activated
Cuse -
OF Carlos Cortes placed on Development List
IF Brett Baty optioned from New York and activated today
C Austin Allen activated off Injured List
OF Ben Gamel activated off Injured List
RP Danny Young optioned from Mets
Bing -
C Matt O'Neill transferred from AAA to AA Binghamton
Then placed on 7-day IL
C Andriel Lantigua transferred from FCL to AA - Binghamton
Lucy -
C Jose Hernandez transferred from AA to A St. Lucie
FCL -
Layonel Ovalles has been transferred from St. Lucie
RHP Anthony Nunez signed
Prospect Rating
OF Alex Ramirez from RED to BLUE
Brooklyn Cyclones @BKCyclones
Nick Lorusso and Junior Tilien both rank in the Top 10 in the South Atlantic League in home batting average.
Lorusso is batting .346 (27-78), and Junior Tilien has a .329 (28-85) average in Coney Island.
We'd definitely call that Efficient at Home
Florida Complex League Mets @FCLMets
We’ve signed RHP Anthony Nuñez to a Minor League contract and assigned him to the Complex.
Anthony recently won the DII College World Series with @UT_Baseball and previously spent 3 seasons in the Padres organization.
Mike Mayer @mikemayer22
Nuñez was drafted in 2019. Played a couple of years in minors as position player before being released. Went to college and won a title. This year as two-way player: .818 OPS and 15.4 K/9.
Baseball Prospectus @baseballpro
Danny Young of the Mets shined last night needing just 15 pitches (10 strikes) in a perfect inning of work. His sweeper covered over 23" of horizontal break and had an IVB of -4.9" making it our Pitch of the Day for June 11th
Evan Stockton @evstockton
Christian Scott continues to utterly dominate the strike zone every time he takes the mound.
46 of the 60 pitches he threw today were strikes...and he racked up six more strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Another successful Triple-A cameo for the top @Mets pitching prospect!
Mike Mayer @mikemayer22
Strikeout-to-walk % by MLB relievers this year:
42.2% Mason Miller
38.9% Dedniel Núñez
35.0% Matt Strahm
33.7% Jeremiah Estrada
Ryan Clifford joins Jackson Holliday as the first minor leaguers in 2024 to hit the 50-walk plateau. Clifford has a 1.104 OPS over his last 12 games for Double-A Binghamton. Clifford had 17 (out of 25) multi-K games in May, he doesn't have any (out of 8) so far in June.
MetsMinors.Net @Mets_Minors
Colin Houck’s line from St Lucie’s game against Jupiter today:
2-for-5, 2 R, HR (2), 2B, 3 RBI, K
The 2023 first rounder has a .273 average and 1.003 OPS in June
SNY Mets @SNY_Mets
Mark Vientos has the third-highest OPS in the NL this season among hitters with at least 75 at-bats
Who will the Mets take with the 19th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft? Joe DeMayo selects Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina in his first mock draft: "Just over a month out from the draft, I have heard the Mets mostly connected to college bats. I do not envision a high school bat
Mike Puma @NYPost_Mets
As Mets near decision between Luis Torrens and Tomas Nido - and the fact Nido didn't start a game in London was telling - it should be noted that Nido if DFA'd now has enough service time that he can refuse an outright to AAA and become a free agent w/o forfeiting his salary.
Baseball
Codify @CodifyBaseball
Since April 24, no MLB team has scored fewer runs than the Atlanta Braves.
When Brandon Nimmo was interviewed last week after becoming re-elected as the player rep, he was asked about the ABS system. He said he is told that the system is missing the top of the strike zone and basically only the lower stuff gets called. Therefore, the system is not accurate. I wonder how that is affecting curveballers like Hamel and Vasil.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason
DeleteGus, are you saying ABS is BS?
ReplyDeleteGotta luv Dedniel. Seems a major find.
ReplyDeleteParada responded by 0-4, 3 Ks. 68 Ks in 48 games. .194. Oh, my.
Ryan Clifford is red hot. It is so refreshing seeing one of the prospect kid hitters red hot.
Still 60% of the MLB season gone. Maybe we see Scott and Sproat throw meaningful stretch drive innings for the 9 wins in their last 12 games this year. Perhaps Tidwell too.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY.
If you start ticking off all of the things that are suddenly going better with the Mets is it inconceivable to think that they are legitimate contender, and probable playoff team, as constructed?
Clifford now showing the power I had hoped for
DeleteMy guess is there are heavy internal discussions regarding direction to go in July
DeleteFeel bad for Brosseau. Again, I come back to the 13 offensive players per team vs. 15 3 decades ago and beyond. Lots of players would be in the bigs right now if it was 50.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel the Mets made a major upgrade with Alvarez and Torrens vs. Nido and Narvaez? I do.
Oh yeah but Alvy needs to hit
DeleteJust look at the difference with Alvarez behind the plate. Staff era way down.
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteTrue but he still needs to hit and I hope the 25 HRs he hit last year didn't go to his head like what happend to McNeil just hit the ball son because the pitchers love you but us fans are thinking of you like Piazza jr. ...no pressure.
ReplyDeleteClifford seems to be finding his groove, particularly significantly reducing the swing and miss in his game, which seemed to be his Achilles heel. He’s still only 20 yrs old, I believe, so progress this year is very promising.
ReplyDeleteMack, I’m not sure they don’t just roll with Torrens at backup C next season. I think they like him (and he looks pretty good from my couch). That leaves them needing just a 3rd string/AAA C who can be called up in case of injury. You’re right, of course, all of those exciting young backstops in the system are still 3+ yrs away.
Nick “Big Nicky” Lorusso looks like he’s gotten past his mini-slump and hitting rockets again for Brooklyn. Have a feeling he’ll be in Binghamton by the AS break.
I think your 3rd string AAA catcher next year should be Senger
DeleteMack my big question is please name you top 10 minor leaguers currently. I know you like Acuna in CF next year and Mauricio at 2nd but what to do with the rest of kids?
ReplyDeleteMack for me I always read about a throw in prospect that are. It In the top 10 who turns out to be a asset
ReplyDeleteWe threw in a catcher I never thought was an asset in E. Rodriguez who became a top 50 prospect in baseball and a asset that would have been valuable in a trade
Who are these guys in your eyes we should be seriously keeping track of now outside the top 10/15
Adam
ReplyDeleteClifford needs to work on that BA
I agree on both Torrens and Lorusso
Gary
ReplyDeleteCurrently regardless of injuries...
1. Scott
2. Acuna
3. Baty
4. Tidwell
5, Sproat
6. Jett
7. Morabito
8. Orellana
9. Danny Young
10. Jeremy Rodriguez
John G
ReplyDeleteagree
Eddie
ReplyDeletehmm...
RP Trey McLoughlin
RP Cam Robinson
RP Josh Hejka
RP Bryce de la Oca
C/1B Christopher Suero
1B Jake Zitella
3B Boston Baro
I am sorry to see Nido go, because he has had many big moments with the Mets. Unfortunately they were just spikes in an unspectacular statistical career, so the "business of baseball" took priority.
ReplyDeleteI am shocked to see that we actually picked up someone else's DFA and got some performance. So many times it has been the opposite. Good find in Torrens and hopefully he can continue to contribute.