Tom Brennan - Everyone Talks Alonso, Lindor, and Soto, But What About Other Good Guys? And Other Tidbits

 

TOM’S TIDBITS

EVERYONE TALKS ALONSO, LINDOR, AND SOTO, BUT…

 …you also have guys like Huascar Brazaban killing it. 0.83 WHIP. WOW. 

He had a 1.25 ERA in 22 innings through Monday, a very high workload so far.  (Great on Wednesday, too.) 

So much debate on this site in March as to whether HB would make the team coming out of Florida. I was a 100% proponent. WHY?

Because he has GREAT stuff. And that 1.25 ERA is after a 1.69 spring training ERA in 11 spring innings.  Leads me to ask…

 - Is he the Mets’ best reliever?

Reed Garrett might see that question and say, “wait just a second”, with his 0.59 ERA through Monday, although he wavered on Monday, allowing 3 inherited runners to score, and one hit off of him narrowly missed being Suarez’s 8th career grand salami. Better to be lucky than good. Best, however, is to be both lucky AND good.

Griffin Canning, 5-1, 2.50 through 7 starts.  We all knew going into spring training that he’d be a Cy Young candidate, right? (When they got him this past winter, I asked why. We’ve all gotten his answer, loudly).

Not killing it? 

Dedniel Nunez, called up, faces 3 batters Monday, walks 3 batters, all of whom scored. ERA? Infinity. He had a 2.03 WHIP in 10.1 innings (14 hits, 7 walks) in AAA prior to being summoned. Will he regain his 2024 form?

Tyrone Taylor was scuffling at .169 through April 27. Next 8 games? 12 for 22, up to .258 through Monday. HOT…and superb defense.

BOOTY FOR SOTO:

Mackenzie Gore of the Nationals led the majors in Ks through Tuesday with 68 Ks in 46 innings. San Diego traded the former 3rd overall pick along with James Wood and a few other top prospects to acquire Juan Soto. San Diego loses them in that trade, and later Soto, too, and is still somehow very good. 

After the 2023 season, the Yanks acquired Juan Soto, and the Padres threw in Trent Grisham, who hit under .200 in 2022, 2023, and also with the Yankees in 2024. Released? Nope. This year, that throw-in Grisham has more HRs (9) than Soto, and is hitting higher (.284).

Baseball can be a downright weird game.

And Juan Soto knew I would write the above on Wednesday AM, so he smacked two solo homers Wednesday afternoon, looking like…well…like Juan Soto. 

And Senga was Sengasationsl again. 

METS SKIDDING:

Mets lose 5 of their last 7 through Tuesday, before Wednesday’s W.

Culprit? Some cracks in the bullpen and continued sub par hitting.  Maybe they should acquire Juan Soto to boost their offense.  Wait, they already did that. On Wednesday.  Actually, he almost had 2 more HRs in the AZ series. 

OF COURSE, THE METS’ BEST NUNEZ IS DEDNIEL NUNEZ…RIGHT??

Or…could it possibly be Anthony Nunez, the former infielder drafted in 2019 by the Padres…he signed with the Mets as a pitcher in 2024.

He threw 10 innings in low A ball last year, so his pitching resume was super slim.

Dedniel, on the other hand, pitched so well for the MLB NY Mets in 2024 when he wasn’t on the injured list.

NO CONTEST, you say. 

Dedniel is the obvious choice.  

Except….it is not at all obvious.

This year, mostly in AAA, Dedniel has thrown 10.1 IP and allowed 14 hits and 10 walks. Bad, huh?

But Anthony Nunez in Brooklyn? 

14 IP, ONE HIT, 4 walks, TWENTY FOUR STRIKEOUTS, 0.00. 

Simply. Insane.

Which one would you pick, if you could just pick one? 

I’m leaning towards Anthony. Sorry, Dedniel.

CUT PROSPECT STARTERS SOME SLACK

If your prospect guy, the one your pulling for, struggles when he gets the call up, take heart...the great Paul Skenes this season is just 3-4, 2.77, and slightly less than a K per inning.  Good numbers, I guess, but if your guy goes just 2-4, 3.77, don't worry, be happy.  After all, your guy is not far from "the best" with those numbers, with “the best” being Paul Skenes, of course.

BINGHAMTON BLUES:

A paltry 12 runs scored in their last 8 games through May 6, while they have experienced lots of cold weather and several postponements due to inclement weather. 

Playing there is rough.  But, just 85 runs in 26 games, while equally cold weather Erie in their Eastern League has scored 152 runs in 28 games. 67 more runs in 2 more games.  

Maybe it is not the weather. Maybe it’s the Rumble Ponies hitters.

THIEVERY TIMES TEN:

The St Lucie Mets swiped 10 bags yesterday.  They were caught on camera but refused to give the bags back.  4-1 win.

Brandon Sproat 5 innings of 2 H, 1 R, 5 K ball. We got the Better Brandon.  

If he got traded to the Marlins, would that make him Marlin Brando?  

Just a thought. A strange one, to be sure.

BOMBS AWAY:

Catcher Cal Raleigh on Seattle was leading the majors in HRs with 12 before Wednesday, after his 34 bombs last year.  He is a bomber.

In 1,558 at bats from 2022-2025, 103 HRs. 

Will our strong Francisco Alvarez ever re-approach that sort of HR pace? 

And Cal should have more HRs.

Raleigh plays in unforgiving-to-home-run-hitters Seattle, and as a result has 27 (70%) more career homers on the road (66) than at home (39).  

Raleigh probably dreams of playing for the Cubs. 

Wrigley and Raleigh? 

Oh my golly.  It wouldn't be folly for Cal Raleigh.  It would be jolly.