MACK - Sunday Morning Observations

 

 

Mack’s Observations –

 

            Question… based on five or more appearances, which Mets minor league pitcher has the lowest earned run average this season?

 

            We’ll get back to this later… 

 

            I was talking about following a pennant race with a friend this week.

 

            I told how an old track coach told me to “keep the blinders on” when I was running the mile. He said the worse things I could do when I was running was to get too comfortable while I was running and to look over my shoulder to see who was gaining on me. Even that little of a turn in the win would cut my speed down and could be the difference when I hit the finish like.

 

            Well, that fell

off the table as team after team caught and past the Mets during this past week. They could easily be playing themselves out of this race which could cause the decision to sell to be revisited before the end of the month. Then again, they could rebound as they seem to have started doing last night, catch their wind, and get back into this race between now and my next Tuesday post. We’ll see.

 

            Oh yeah… if you are still following this, don’t concentrate on the amount of WINS these teams have already played. No, it’s the LOSSES that matter here. Your fate remains in your hands if you have less losses. But these is nothing you can do about more wins. Rainouts and scheduling have currently cost the Mets playing less games for now, but it all catches up when everyone finishes with 162 games played. 

 

            The pitching stats for Tuesday night’s game was a gem and the combination of Jose Butto and Dedniel Nunez may become a fixture for mid to late inning relief for the remainder of this season.

 

            Pen wise, the addition of Butto adds some firmness to a squad that needs it badly. For me, Butto, Nunez, Reed Garrett, Adrian Houser, and the returning Edwin Diaz are locks going forward. IMO, the future of Adam Ottavino and others will rely on how many rentals are brought on this month.

 

            Starter wise, the addition of Christian Scott will increase the rotation to a six-man version while Syracuse will have Blade Tidwell, followed by Dom Hamel Mike Vasil, Joey Lucchese, and Tylor Megill.  Brandon Sproat remains anchoring the Binghamton rotation. 

 

            I asked a question earlier about which Mets affiliate pitcher leads the organization in ERA? If you guessed Brandon Sproat, you are so wrong. Sproat currently has a 2.05 ERA in Binghamton (Brooklyn doesn’t matter anymore).

 

            So who has the lowest ERA in the chain?

 

            Once again, we’ll get back to this later. 

 

            I had planned to write here about the next talked about emerging starter in Binghamton, but the Mets beat me to the punch on Wednesday and promoted RHSP Justin Jarvas to Syracuse.

 

            Jarvas is a 24/year old 6-2/185 RHSP that came to the Mets from the Brewers in exchange for OF Mark Cahna. He was a 5^th round pick in the 2018 draft, out of Lake Norman HS (NC).

 

            His 2023 stat line for the Brewers AA affiliate was impressive: 6-4, 3.33, 75.2-IP, 91-K. This was followed this year in Binghamton with a 5-2, 2.90, 40.1/45 prior to his promotion this week. His first AAA start was Wednesday night, going three innings, giving up two earned runs, and striking out four.

 

            Jarvas pitches with long arm action and delivers with a fast arm. He woks downhill. 90-93 vel with more projected. 

 

            Okay, so who has the lowest ERA of any starters in the Mets chain?

 

Well, this goes to Brooklyn Cyclone 6-1, 22-year old RHSP Douglas Orellana.

 

            I spoke of this guy’s talent in both 2022 and 2023. I even had him as a BLUE prospect at times in both seasons, but his consistency, high WHIP, and BB/9 ratio always drove him back to BLACK levels.

 

            This season, for the Cyclones, he has 13 appearances, nine starts, and is carrying a 1.86-ERA with 49-K in 38.2-IP. He is currently under a very limited pitch count this season due to an early injury. Still, this is cream of the crop right now, even though this is being done at a lower level.

 

           Affiliate Moves –

 

   Mets –

            RHRP Eric Orze promoted from AAA

 

            RHSP Christian Scott promoted from AAA

 

            RHRP Jose Butto promoted from AAA

 

            LHRP Tyler Jay optioned to AAA

 

            RHRP Matt Fester selected free agency

 

   Syracuse –

            RHRP Ty Adcock optioned to from Mets

 

            RHRP Victor Casteneda promoted from A+

 

            RHRP Bryce Montes de Oca promoted from AA

 

            RHSP Justin Jarvas promoted from Binghamton

 

            OF Trayce Thompson – released from his contract

 

   Binghamton –

 

            RHRP Josh Hejka promoted from A+

 

            RHRP Shintaro Fujinami assigned to AA for rehab

 

            RHRP Jeffry Colon transferred from A+ Brooklyn

 

      Brooklyn –

 

            IF Jesus Baez – 7-day IL

 

            RHRP Victor Castaneda transferred from AAA-Syracuse

 

  

Prospect Rating Changes –

 

            Syracuse RHSP Justin Jarvas from BLACK to BLUE

 

            Syracuse 2B Pablo Reyes from BLACK to BLUE