First, the Mets win 5-1, with a strong 1st Mets outing from Paul Blackburn.
Pete homered, Nimmo snaps his slump with 3 singles. Butto 2 scoreless, Maton a scoreless 9th. 13 Mets hits. Phillies lost again, and the Braves won, so the Braves are 5 games out, the Mets 7 games out, 53 games to go.
Whether you want to consider the thought yet or not, the Mets winning the Division title is a possibility.
Continuing on:
I decided to look at the St Lucie roster, to see if perhaps I'd missed the Mets' first rounder, Carson Benge, the 6'1", 185 pound lefty hitter, being assigned there.
He is not. Nor is Jonathan Santucci, the Mets' 2nd round power pitcher, selected at # 46 overall.
However, I did see that the Lucie roster has 34 pitchers. THIRTY FOUR.
Incredibly, fourteen of those are on the injured list, most of them on the full year and 60 day IL, and Grant Hartwig was on the rehab list and one other pitcher (Gomez) was on the development list.
In the infield, 7 active infielders were listed, with an eighth (Marco Vargas) on the IL.
Outfielders? Just 2:
Willy Fanas and Estarling Mercado.
Yohairo Cuevas is listed as an infielder on the roster, one of the 7 active ones above, but he has in fact almost entirely played outfield this season.
Perhaps, after the 2024 offensive struggles of first rounders Parada and Houck, the Mets will choose at least for the next few weeks to have Benge play in unofficial FCL Mets “after-season” games and not rush him.
We'll keep an eye on any draftee assignments and let you know.
IS SPROAT READY? DO YOU REALLY NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION?
Brandon Sproat may have answered that question tonight. With his arm.
He went 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, no runs, THIRTEEN Ks for Binghamton.
ELEVEN STRAIGHT K’s!
Check out the video, then decide if he is ready:
Yes, he’s ready. No one wants to rush anyone. But he’s ready.
MARTE REHAB GAMES NEXT WEEK
He just has to prove he can run the bases, but he has been running, so he is ready. He should start rehab games in St Lucie.
Maybe he returns after this 10 game road trip.
Then, assuming no one gets hurt in the interim, Ben Gamel goes. Ben has only gone 3 for 14 with 4 walks since his recall on a June 25.
His salary per Spotrac is as follows, so at least he is earning some of it:
“Ben Gamel signed a 1 year , $1,200,000 contract with the Mets, including $1,200,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,200,000. In 2024, Gamel will earn a base salary of $619,392, while carrying a total salary of $1,200,000. Gamel's adjusted salary with the Mets is $619,392.”
Yes, Sproat is ready... for Syracuse
ReplyDeleteDon't rush him
Question...
What is the major league record for most KS in first 5 innings?
Answer
4 pitchers including Max
13
I am unaware of anyone ever fanning 11 in a row at any level. I watched the video clip of his Ks. Lethal pitches. Looked like Harvey 2012. Frankly, looked like Seaver. Watch the video if you have not. Better than any current Mets starter. Better than anything I saw from Scott when he was cooking in the minors.
ReplyDeleteBut…having just shored up the major league arms in the system, he will likely be slow-walked. Unless he keeps doing what he did last night. I think if he stays healthy, he has Cy Young potential in 2025, not just ROY potential. Another BUT…I would not discount his being activated for the playoffs if needed.
Time for him to take the next step. Syracuse here he comes.
ReplyDeleteRay, he is a man against boys in AA. Promote him. Demote someone if you have to.
ReplyDeleteGotta watch the linked Sproat video, people.
ReplyDeleteSproat did this in one game.
ReplyDeleteI saw this about someone who fanned 13 straight for SDP over a 3 game span:
Earlier this season: “It's an elite fastball,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Tonight, he was throwing some splitters that were filthy. The command of the secondary pitches, coupled with a special fastball in the zone -- that's what gets you 13 straight punchouts.” (Over a span of 3 relief outings). Who?
SD Padres pitcher Jeremiah Estrada.
He now has 66 Ks in 41 innings. The Cubs mystifyingly released him at the end of 2023, the Padres signed him, and he started 2024 with a month in AAA, where he fanned 20 in 8.2 IP.
My brother asked: where was David Stearns on this guy last year?
Your brother was right to ask that, LOLLLLLLLL!!
ReplyDeleteSproat should be moved up, and then shut down. Bring him up next April.
Who threw yesterday for the first time in some months? Matt Allen! Go Matthew!
Marte should be platooned. I wrote the numbers yesterday.
The Mets need to take it one day at a time. Mendoza made a good point about this “long road trip”. They are professionals; part of the job. It’s not even brought up. Why are we bringing it up?
The Yankees are holding back Dominguez until next year in order to get an extra first round pick if he wins ROY. Shouldn’t the Mets be thinking that also?
ReplyDeleteGus, a lot to weigh with Sproat. I did look back at Futures Game footage of him. 99, 99, 99, and nasty sliders. But if it makes sense to delay him until 2025, do so. Seems he has 45-50 innings left, since he did 106 innings in college last year.
ReplyDeleteTom, Mets fans are an impatient and very demanding bunch. If the Mets fail to make the playoffs, was it a waste? Should they have sold last week? Can we not be grateful that they gave us a summer of hope rather than give up without a fight like they did last year? Did anyone really enjoy last August and September?
ReplyDeleteGus, I agree. We are getting older. Win this year. It is not just talent. Breaks can sometimes just go a team’s way. Win THIS year.
ReplyDelete