HAPPY MONTH OF MAY, EVERYONE.
LET'S HIT AGAIN, LIKE WE DID LAST SUMMER...Chubby Checker.
Anyway...
Brandon Sproat has had his AAA struggles.
But at least Sproat pitches.
Some guys are always hurt - saw this:
(Now in the Tigers system), "left-handed ex-Mets pitcher Thomas Szapucki (scapula fracture) is throwing bullpens twice per week and completing daily rehab."
He started his career in 2015. Just 279 pro innings from 2015-24.
No innings yet in 2025.
Started out at age 18. Soon to turn 29.
What's a scapula, you ask? The scapula is a flat, triangular-shaped bone (colloquially as the "shoulder blade"). It is located in the upper thoracic region on the dorsal surface of the rib cage. It connects with the humerus at the glenohumeral joint as well as the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint to form the shoulder joint.
Glen O'Humeral? I went to high school with that guy. He always had joints.
Anyway, silliness aside, some guys just aren’t built with quality GM parts.
The Szapper always being out with injuries made me think of this warrior:
I saw a report several weeks ago of this remarkable, fierce fighter in Ukraine who lost two lower legs and a forearm.
Post surgery, he rehabbed and was fitted for prosthetics - and headed back to the battlefield, looking totally bad-ass. That is battle-tested tough. I admire that fierceness.
Baseball hitters should take note….be warriors, not worriers.
Continuing onwards:
BRANDON SPROAT THROWS HARD…BUT NOT THIS HARD:
A deservingly repeated post...
...about Raimon Gomez:
“There are plenty of things that can exceed 104 mph. Cars, trains, airplanes, even wind. A pitch, however, generally isn't one of those -- unless you're Raimon Gomez.
“The Mets right-hander came out blazing in the first inning at Clover Park, reaching triple digits with his heater on 11 of 12 pitches for Single-A St. Lucie. Discounting the 86.9 mph slider he threw to end the frame, the slowest offering from Gomez was a 100.2 mph fastball that missed the strike zone.”
The fastest? 104.5 mph. What??? Mets guys simply don’t do that.
SOTO IS NOT THE SAY HEY KID IN HR OUTFIELD
The bat will be dangerous, but a superior defensive outfielder instead of Soto in Friday and Sunday’s games probably leaves the Mets with W’s in those two games rather than L’s.
Friday night, he failed to gloves ball on what would have been a difficult catch at the wall in right field. Had he gloved that, they win the game.
Sunday, he could not find a lazy high pop up in the sun-filled outfield. An easily catchable ball fell in for a double. The failed catch led to a cascade, where a 7-1 lead transmogrified into an 8-7 loss. (First use of the word “transmogrified” in sports literature, no doubt).
SOTO’S BAT? RELAX, PEOPLE, IT’S APRIL
Through Monday, Soto wasn’t hitting well overall. But career-wise he has hit .260 with a .460 slug % in March/April. Clearly, cold weather is not his friend. This April, he is right on that pace.
However, the other 5 months, career? .290/.425/.550.
So relax. After all, today is May 1. Don’t grade Juan on one early month. Especially when, career-wise, pre-May is by far his weakest stretch.
It is May, it is warmer, and the Soto Hit Machine is ready to rumble.
RELAX, TOO, BECAUSE ALVAREZ AND MCNEIL ARE BACK
I belly-ached a lot about the Mets’ lower-in-line-up hitters hitting NOTHING and striking out PLENTY, as the Mets struggled mightily to score runs through the first 27 games of the season.
The injured duo returned, though, and went 8 for 25 with 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, and just 3 Ks thru Monday. Just like that, the line up is SO MUCH BETTER.
Warmer weather clearly also helps all those Mets bats. I WANT THIS TEAM SCORING 5.5 RPG IN MAY.
NIMMO HAS 9 RBI'S MONDAY, BUT...
When former Mets infielder Amed Rosario came in to pitch in the 9th, throwing what was generously clocked as 45 MPH slop, Nimmo had a chance for 10 RBIs, but couldn't get even a hit off of Amed. Probably was laughing too much.
Tyrone Taylor meanwhile is no fool - he hit against IF Luis Guillorme last year and Amed on Monday, and in those 2 ABs is 2 for 2 with a grand slam and 5 RBIs. Considering that Tyrone is just .237/.287/.376 in his year + as a Met, with 40 RBIs, he really those 2 hits to boost things a bit.
DAVID PETERSON IS STILL MY ACE
You pick your own. Yo can pick Senga, Megill, Canning, Holmes...but Peterson is MY ACE. Why? Because this year and last, he is 12-4, 2.94. I like lefties with winning percentages like Whitey Ford.
THREE DUD STUDS
The following 3 prospects were all ranked in the Mets' top 10 at one point or other. But are struggling mightily in AA.
Ryan Clifford in 2024 and 2025 in A and AA - .225.
- He does walk a lot, but his Ks are high. Still hopeful, but the average?
Alex Ramirez - 2024 and 2025 in AA - .210 both seasons.
- 48 steals in equivalent of a full season, but a .290 OBP. Little power.
Kevin Parada - .202/.287 OBP in 2024 and 2025 in AA.
- 197 Ks in 572 PAs at AA. Worse so far in 2025. Catching skills meh.
If the Mets traded all three in 2023, what would they have gotten? My guess is a lot.
If they traded them now, what would they get? My guess is a lot - less.
WEATHER ODDITY
The weather could not have been better for Tuesday night's homestand opener. One of thse 10 best days on LI on Tuesday. But a few hundred miles north, in Syracuse, they got rained out.
BENGE BINGE
He started out quietly, but in his last 3 games through Tuesday, Carson Benge went on an 8 for 14 Benge Binge. May the Binge continue.
Meanwhile his teammate Anthony Nunez, the converted infielder in Brooklyn, gave up his first run Tuesday. It was unearned. In 10.2 IP, he has fanned 18 while allowing just 1 hit and 4 walks. That Is Sick.
YANKEE MYSTERY
The Yanks lose Soto, and while Judge and Goldschmidt were hitting .385 through Tuesday, the duo combined had “just” 10 HRs. Besides those two, the rest of the now-Soto-less Yanks squad, is not suffering. In fact, in 30 games, the Yanks other than the hot Judge and Goldy somehow had hit 41 HRs.
Is it park dimensions? The ball carry? I'd say both.
The Yanks, you see, had a jaw-dropping 33 HRs in their first 15 home games.
The Mets meanwhile have had just 14 HRs in 14 home games, so if the Mets hit 19 HRs Wednesday (I wrote this article before Wednesday's game), they will have pulled even with the Yanks in terms of hometown HR output.
Why do I mention it?
Because Citi Field long shots don't carry as well, with balls dying on the warning track, and thus the fences should be moved in 5-7 feet to compensate. (And 8 feet in center).
I feel like I've suggested this already, but I am not sure.
Of course, the Mets somehow were 13-1 at home through Tuesday, so that is a major factor.
25 comments:
At this point, I am concerned about Clifford. He should be raking in AA. Instead, he's barely raking in his yard
Cohen says Pete will test the market
We could have a long term problem at first
2026 1B FA
Wilmer Flores
Brett Baty 4.0 as 2026 first baseman? Wilmer is 1 for 19 over last 5, batting .229, and will turn 34 in August. Lots of RBIs…so far. But…it is a long season.
I said Soto could sit for Anthony Gose, if Gose is called up. Soto hitting .241. Gose was a.240 MLB hitter. Better speed and defense. HMM…
I have one for you. 2026 Mets first baseman? Jacob Reimer.
I want Reimer in AA next week. Last guy that hit that well in Brooklyn? Pete Alonso, of course.
Reimer has played some 1B. It is possible. Promote him, push him.
I think Clifford will still come through. He just has to warm up, which in Binghamton happens around mid-May. As for Soto, I am not worried about his bat. I am worried about his outfield play. It was disappointing that he didn't catch that long fly ball, but it was a tough play. What was not tough was the "I think I am going to dive, no I really shouldn't hurt myself" sliding muff later in the same game. Need some diving tips? See Tyrone Taylor.
Tom, you mentioned Taylor in your article and just wanted to say that he has really impressed me this year so far. His defense has been off the charts and he's getting some clutch hits, including his HR last night to give the Mets a chance to come back. He's also an excellent base runner. If the guy in right filed starts hitting, I can easily live with Taylor as the primary center fielder
tell the dude he is going to be paid anyway if he gets hurt and start diving
Soto is Vogelbach in the outfield? He's hitting like Vogie, too.
Jon, when they got Siri and he hit 3 HRs in his first 10 spring training ABs, I thought he'd learned something about hitting. It was quickly seen that he had not. I ALWAYS had Taylor ahead of him because he is nearly as good a defensive OF and runner, and a much better hitter. Yet, I heard a lot of Siri, Siri, Siri early. Remember, I compared him to Keon Broxton very early on. For those with short memories, Broxton was a very painful experience as a Met. Let's cut ties with Siri. He is inept offensively.
Clifford was 1 for 13 in spring training. It was warm there. I still maintain his ceiling might be Kirk Nieuwenhuis. I am much more interested in Jacob Reimer as the Mets future 1B. That could happen if they immediately get him up to AA and start pushing him hard. Send him back to Arizona too. If Pete could play more than 150 games in 2018 in Arizona and the minors, so can Reimer. Let's go. Reimer is the man for Mets future 1B. not Clifford.
I have often in articles pushed for Luke Ritter to keep plugging on, where he might get a break. But he was 1 for 13 in spring training and .198 in AAA, with a still-unacceptable 34 Ks in 95 PAs. It is not happening with Luke. I would move on from him, and start pushing guys up. Jett Williams to AAA, Reimer and D'Andre Smith to AA. Let's go, David.
Taylor is the perfect 4/5 OF. Very good defensively, a spot start here and there and that's it, no more.
Siri should be DFA'd
Ramirez and Parada should be cut. Enough is enough. They are blocking better players. Gifford...meh. I don't really see him doing much better. Hope I'm wrong.
Soto needs to be made the DH immediately. He's brutal. Stop babying him, maybe he will opt out in 5 years. Take away his luxury suite and start playing kissy face with his family. Maybe he will leave.
No
He's Duda
I'm not sure where to play him but I would promote him after Sunday's game
Ritter is AAAA
Look
You no longer have to kiss Soto’s is an EMPLOYEE of the team
Bring him into Mendy's office. Have Soto’s interpreter there too even both they can both go Spanish. Tell him that he needs to lead this team, not skate until the weather is more like his homeland. Run him out there early for dragging. Then at least 100 balls in the cage at 70+ mph
My major concern right now is Vientos lack of production in crucial spots.
It is a wonderful thing to have won this many games with all of the flaws discussed here today. Get 'em fixed and bring on the Dodgers!
Soto also seems a bit un-speedy, which is a concern in year 1 of 15. How slow will hebe in 10 years if he does not adopt a very strong conditioning regimen? But will I be around in year 15 to complain? Iffy.
Juan, it is May 1. May is one of your best career months. Gentleman, start your engine.
I'm finally starting to hear all the complaints I stated about Soto all winter. The conditioning, the defense, the lack of speed/hustle. Never wanted him, never will.
Now if he wins us a world series, I will gladly kiss his aa in Macy's window
When I think of him for 15 years my sphincter gets awfully tight.
Vientos was great in April
Joe, hopefully his pride will rule the day. When looking at Soto, we need to remember Lindor struggled under his super contract, for a while.
Post a Comment