TOM’S TIDBITS
WARNING….
READER ALERT:
I am only listing the hotter ones, or I’d be here all day.
And as you all know, I'm doing TIDBITS now.
Sputtering bats? You list the cold ones if you want to. I don't want to.
My theory:
If you can’t be hot in the minors how can you someday be hot in the majors, especially when some guys who were hot in the minors never achieve hotness in the majors? That's my hot take.
Anyway, the focus will be on prospect-aged dudes, not elderly 28+ types.
Mack has been zeroing in on the successes of prospect relievers, so I largely won’t include them here:
Here goes:
Jonah Totally Terrific Tong.
In a category...
ALL BY HIMSELF.
In his first AA start last August, 6 no hit innings, no walks, 9 Ks. Wow.
Only runner against him in that game was an error.
On Saturday, in perhaps his last AA start, 6.2 IP, pulled one out short of finishing this perfect game, 13 Ks.
And a “mere” 51 Ks in 28 IP. Nearly 17 Ks per 9 IP.
Future superstar?
Is my “TONG TERRIFIC” moniker not enough of an adulatory appellation?
TONG TOTALLY TERRIFIC?
Yeah, that’s better.
Now on to the rest:
AAA:
Nolan Ryan McLean killed it in his first AAA start, with 7 scoreless. He’s a killer. As Mack noted the other day, he allowed exactly zero of opposing hitters to barrel the ball up. Beast.
And some guy named Brett Baty got promoted and is angling for the starting 3B job in Queens. He and fellow Mets 3B Mark Vientos are HOT.
Drew Gilbert is not quite hot, but he is beginning to roll and has a .365 OBP in AAA and .385 overall.
AA:
Nick Lorusso: .291
Jett Williams: .283
Ryan Clifford: heating up. Up to .248 with 6 HRs, 19 RBIs. His 6 HRs sadly are 4 more than any other Pony.
One of Binghamton's catchers is hitting .250/.400/.500. No not Kevin Parada - it's Matt O'Neill, who perhaps deserves more playing time.
Jack Wenninger has slowed a bit but still has fanned 37 in 30 IP with a 4-1 record. He should change his name to Winninger...he's a winner
Felipe de la Cruz: dealing. 1.98, with 20 Ks in 13.2 IP. And 1.96 with 34 Ks in 23 IP overall. LEFTY ALERT!
Doug Orellana: 0.68 ERA, 0.53 WHIP. Righty.
Ryan Lambert: in High A and AA, 1-0, 2 saves, 1.29, 24 Ks in 14 IP.
HIGH A:
So many hitters are doing so well - I count 7 - I have NEVER seen hitting like this in Brooklyn…have you?
“Grade A” A.J. Ewing: .361/.453/.565 in two leagues.
Eli Serrano: 5 HRs, .388 OBP. Eli's comin'!
Carson Benge: .295/.403/.457. Future MLB All Star?
Jack the Reimer: He's killing it. Slashing at .333/.422/.641, 6 HRs, 28 RBIs. New swing from lab and hard work. Wow. Soaring faster than an Elon Musk rocket.
Chris Suero: .244/.382/.511, 6 HRs, 21 RBIs. And...he can catch. 11 steals in 12 tries!
Marco Vargas: .337/.451/.434 in two leagues.
Estarling Mercado - up less than others, due to a crowded line up, but .340/.438/.491!! Rockin' Hombre.
D'Andre Smith - Brooklyn (mostly) and now Binghamton - .297, with a .378 OBP. And 8 thefts. Cleon Jones hit .297 in 1968, too. I remember numbers better than names.
Anthony Nunez - gave up a run, proving he is mortal. 0.63 and lots of Ks. Other great relievers so far to like Saul Garcia, Ryan Ammons and Eduardo Herrera.
Noah Hall - 3-2, 1.83, 37 Ks in 34 IP. Hall...of Fame?
RJ Gordon - 3-0.
Zach Thornton - 3-0, 0.44 in Brooklyn, promoted to AA.
LOW A:
Kevin Villavicencio: .293 between (mostly) St Lucie and Brooklyn.
Vinnie Perozo and 5 HR Trace Willhoite are the best hitters not yet promoted so far. Keep it UP, guys.
Pitching-wise, the extreme velocity freak, Raimon Gomez, has 20 Ks in 13 innings. How it isn't 39 Ks in 13 innings is beyond me. One lonely earned run.
Frank Elissalt and Chandler Marsh are also relieving "unrelievably" well. Those 2 combined have allowed a scarce 7 hits in 23 IP.
FCL:
Too early for a team off to a SLOW start.
I'm done, except...
Casey Stengel on prospects, back in the day:
"See that fella over there? He's 20 years old. In 10 years, he's got a chance to be a star. Now that fella over there, he's 20 years old, too. In 10 years he's got a chance to be 30."
SKENES V. METS ON MONDAY NIGHT
Paul Skenes was tough over 6 innings, but the Pirates are the 1962 Mets PLUS Skenes, so the Mets prevailed 4-3, after Brazaban escaped a 9th inning on two Mets errors on moderately difficult plays that allowed the tying runs to score before Bryan Reynolds grounded into an inning ending DP to keep the score tied.
Bottom 9, Lindor got on via an error on what should have been ruled a hit, as the ball skidded off the second base bad under Kiner-F's glove. A Soto single and an Alonso sac fly and - well - a win over the Bucs in a Skenes-started game is quite satisfying.
Braves win, Philly loses, so the Mets lead the Fluffies by 2.5 games, and the Bravados by 6.5 games.
25 comments:
One mentioned, two not. Must have been doing well because of their promotions yesterday. Ramon Gomez mentioned, Matt Allen and Nate Dohm not.
Matt Allan and Nate Dohm both struggled in their last outings. Hopefully just a momentary blip for both.
The two in their last start combined for 5 innings, 10 hits, 7 runs, 4 walks. Not pretty.
Good to see both promoted, though. I like the fast promos.
I'm surprised at all this moving up in early May. Used to take around 10 starts to earn that
Guess the NEW powers to be in the Mets minor league brass has more brass then those in the past.
So many pitcher prospects both starters and rrlievers
How do they say it? Case in point?
Zach Thornton was lights out in Brooklyn but it was only 4 STARTS
Now in Binghamton?
7.71
I say, Challenge the pitchers. Learn thru failing, not coddling.
Last starts were not pretty as you state. The previous starts were deserving though. Allen appears to be handled very carefully as he averages only two innings per start. Must be some master plan as long as he stays healthy.
As Brooklyn is bad for hitters (historically), it is better for pitchers. I would expect to see a regression due to the change in ballparks and change in level. First start wasn't bad. Second, well. Looming forward to that third to see if he can make those need adjustments.
Just noticed I have been posting as Anonymous
In general, moves of pitchers are not pressed by killers on the FCL team (sic) nor by New pitchers from the 2026 draft. minis no need to rush anyone in May
That being said, the rush has begun
MY CURRENT CURIOSITY
1. when will McLean go to Syracuse
2. When will either Tidwell or Hamel be moved to the pen
3. Will Wenninger continue to develop
4. Is Douglas Orellana for real
5. Who does Tong push out of the Syracuse rotation
You've always been anonymous to me, Steve
I have been told that the 👶 steps for Allan will continue all season and he is scheduled to end the season where he was just promoted to
Remember
Citi lab is an Uber away
McLean’s last start was his first AAA start, so he is there already. No turning back. I would push Tidwell to pen for Tong Terrific.
Great time to be a Mets fan.
Point 1 - DOH
The Mets' franchise arc is pointing STRAIGHT UP.
Here's a TASTY tidbit. Binghamton pitchers lead the Eastern League in most strikeouts - and fewest walks. 326 Ks in 245 IP. That's right around 12 Ks per 9 IP - for THE WHOLE TEAM. WOW.
I want to revise a comment - not Tidwell, it's Hamel's time to join the Syracuse bullpen has arrived. Hamel's last 4 outings, I believe, are averaging a run per inning. Time's up.
A rotation with Sproat, Tong, McLean,Tidwell, and Waddell ought to be awesome. Spurring each other to new heights.
I still predict that Waddell will wind up in the Citi pen
Good morning, Tom. It’s worth mentioning that A.J. Ewing has also swiped 21 bases this season. Playing mostly CF right now. Still just 20 yrs old through August. Could he finish up the season in AA at barely 21? Exciting stuff.
AJ gets an A in Stealing, Adam, pretty incredible. Yipes, Swipes!
Hopefully Waddell does great and we can all be Waddellers.
Binghamton’s comatose hitting continued Tuesday night, a 1-0 loss, 2 hits. Hot Brooklyn probably has a better hitting team right now. Maybe the two teams’ hitters should switch leagues.
Anthony Nunez was also promoted to AA, and threw a scoreless frame Tuesday night.
Felipe De La Cruz was promoted to Syracuse at the beginning of the month with one start (6 IP 1 H 0 ER 9 Ks) and 2 relief appearances in AAA.
Post a Comment