Tom Brennan: Zach, Jack, & Other AA Starters; Megill Fan Tomfoolery

AM I THE ONLY ONE EXCITED ABOUT THE METS' AA PITCHING?

 

As we are all absorbed in... 

TONG MANIA

Let’s not forget sizzling Zach Thornton.

In his last five starts, Zach has had one “bad” outing: 

Five innings four hits two runs. Not so terrible.

Pretty good, actually.

But the other four? 26 IP, six hits, one run. Friggin' extraordinary. 

Zach (thru Fri) is 6-0, 1.53, 0.70 WHIP in 2025. In High A and AA. 

With fine control. 

WOW.  Crazy #s.

AND WHILE YOU ARE AT IT....

Don't forget his teammate, Jack Wenninger, either.

After four straight excellent starts in which he gave up just one run in each, he had a "bad" one on Friday - 4.2 IP, 6 earned runs.  

Why "bad" - and not just simply bad?  

Because 9 of his 14 outs came via the strikeout.  NINE.

So I actually consider that "bad" start to be quite a good start.  

A bit of a rough start is all part of his development.  

As a pro, in 174 IP, 213 Ks vs. just 55 BBs, and a 0.99 WHIP this season.

Tong, Thornton and Wenninger?  

Killer Mound Trio in Binghamton. 

How "killer"?

This year: 165 innings, 101 hits, 47 BBs, 217 Ks, 2.23 ERA.

kind of like Pedro Martinez Cy Young Award #'s, collectively.

And let's not stop there...

The promoted Nolan McLean, and Jon Pintaro and Joander Suarez, have also given the Rumblers GREAT starts this year.

In fact, through Friday, the Binghamton starters collectively this year?

17-11, 2.57, 322 Ks in 245 IP (11.8 per 9).

Mama Mia, that's some Cy Young quality pitching!

(Wins are a little low only because in several starts, starters were pulled too early to qualify for a W.

450 PLUS!

You’ve gotta love Coors Field. BOMBS AWAY!

Alvarez hit a BOMB to CF, 450 feet, yesterday. 

It was, though, only their 2nd longest of the series, behind Ronny Mauricio Strawberry’s 456 foot BOMB earlier in the weekend.

IN JUNE’S FIRST 8 GAMES:

Alonso 6 HRs, 18 RBIs (what??)

Soto .564 OBP (what??)

McNeil 3 HRs, .296 in 7 games

Alvarez .333 in 7 games

Marte .316, 7 runs scored in 7 games

Lindor .286, bit hits, and a fractured toe.

Ronny Mo starts his return 0-11, then went 5 for 8.

Mets 19 HRs, 50 RBIs in 8 June games.

Not EVERYONE has started June fast, but these breakouts?

Healing for the team’s one weak spot this year…

HITTING.

FINALLY WEAK NO MORE.

MEGILL FAN TOMFOOLERY

In baseball, forgetting to drill down is frankly tomfoolery.

Example: 

Soto’s numbers are lower than expected still because he has hit in a lot of bad luck this year.

Example: 

Many criticized David Peterson pre-hip surgery, insufficiently wondering if he’d ever be more  than mediocre.  Those same folks expected mediocrity after his hip surgery. But he was repaired and able to pitch without hip issues.

Result? He is 16-5, 2.86 in 192 IP since his return from hip hell. My Ace.

Here is another example, and the one I want to focus on:

Tylor Megill has the highest Mets starter ERA, at 3.76. 

He doesn’t, however, suck, as some seem to suggest.

First of all, that 3.76 is not high. It is better than league median. 

Second of all, he is on a pace, despite unstated innings limits on all Mets starters, to fan an incredible 210 batters this year.

Third, the level of competition he’s faced matters, too.

Seaver, as I’ve repeated, was just 12-20 lifetime vs. the lethal Big Red Machine.  

So, did Tom … uhh … suck?   Note even a little bit. He was terrific.

Likewise, Megill has given up 4 earned runs to 4 teams this year:

LAD, NYY, Cubs, Cards.

Drill down. Those 4 teams are ranked # 1, # 2, # 3, and # 8 in scoring.

18.1 innings, 16 earned runs against those 4. 

To 4 teams averaging being the 3rd best scoring machines in baseball.

Megill vs. every other team this year?

Just 11 earned runs in 46 IP. 2.05.  And what is wrong with that is…..? 

(Waiting for response)

“Megill Tomfoolery” is always casting Megill in a “glass half empty” light.  

When probably 28 or 29 other teams would have him in their starting rotations. And several of those teams would have him as their SP 1.

Take it from Tom: 

Stop the tomfoolery. Drill down. And relax. He’ll do fine. He already is.

There is zero guarantee that the soon-returning Manaea and Montas will be as good as Megill.

He already IS doing fine, that Megill fella.

ELIAN PEÑA

The mega bonus baby has started his DSL career by going 0 for 17 (.000).

Let’s hope his next 17,000 plate appearances are much more productive.