ANGRY MIKE
ANGRY MIKE SYNDICATE
When you see Mets, fans complaining on social media about Francisco Alvarez being lazy, nothing could be further from the truth. Alvarez dropped out of school when he was 11 years old, splitting his time between working for his Dad’s construction company, training full-time, and traveling all over Venezuela and Nicaragua to compete in as many baseball tournaments as he could. His freakish strength and massive power potential started turning heads when he was in his early teenage years. Many scouts attributing his mutant-like powers developing from having to carry ninety-pound bags of concrete all day. From the beginning, scouts raved about Alvarez’ prodigious offensive potential, but also for his maturity, his drive, and his work ethic. Many noted how he’d begin training around 5:30 in the morning, even though they were scheduled to see him working out hours later. The fact fans and journalists began questioning his work ethic on social media this season and last season is a complete joke.
When Alvarez turned 16, he signed as an international free agent with the New York Mets, for a franchise record $2.7 million, and the scout who signed him noted, he told him two things he’ll never forget.
“I want to win a World Series and I want to be in the Hall of Fame…”
That’s a GUNFIGHTER…
< Francisco Alvarez signing 1st professional contract >
10 years later, during the 2022 season, Alvarez not only became Major League Baseball’s #1 overall ranked prospect, on September 30th, 2022, Alvarez accomplished his life-long pursuit and made his M.L.B. debut for the New York Mets, exactly fifty days before his twenty-first birthday. Alvarez became the 6th youngest player in franchise history to make his M.L.B. debut, 20 Years, 315 days, and the most highly touted prospect to make his debut since Doc Gooden.
Everyone makes plans when they’re 11 years old, from being a fireman or policeman, to being a starting pitcher or starting shortstop for the New York Mets, or a child psychiatrist like their Father. But only a few have the tenacity and the moxie to sacrifice having a normal childhood to successfully accomplish their mission.
99.9% fall short or give up their pursuit for the sake of regaining normalcy in their lives, Alvarez achieved his destiny in 10 short years.
That is “Angry Mike Syndicate”…
ALVAREZ: SCOUTING GRADES: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Alvarez may not yet have the home run totals in the M.L.B. that properly demonstrate his legendary 70 grade power. It was on full display throughout his minor league career and sporadically at the major league level. After reviewing every scouting report available for the past fifteen years, only one catcher prospect had ever ascertained the distinction of “70-grade” power tool, and he’s the starting at catcher for the New York Mets.
< Scouting Grades provided by www.mlbpipeline.com >
TOP PROSPECTS CATCHERS: SCOUTING GRADES
Has Alvarez had a season like Cal Raleigh is currently having?
No.
Has he made an all-star team?
No.
What stands out most about Alvarez’ development early in his career, as both a top prospect and as a starting catcher, isn’t his offensive skill set, it’s his defense and his ability to manage an entire rotation. Alvy, skyrocketed through the minor leagues because he put forth a “Herculean” effort to make sure his defensive skills improved exponentially, from his receiving skills, working with each individual pitcher, calling games despite being a child, and exhibiting the leadership skills every team needs. He was so impressive in that regard, that a couple Hall of Fame pitchers, named Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer explicitly told their manager, this kid stays for good, don’t even think about demoting if he struggles at the plate.
“Hey Buck, I want ALVY as my catcher…”
Remember, what he listed as his first primary goal, to win a World Series…”
Most prospects his age, with his offensive skills, focus on putting up statistics that can accelerate their ability to get paid tens millions, this bloody kid focused on improving the facet of his game that doesn’t show up in box scores or will help him during his first salary-arbitration hearing. He focused on what he knew needed to be improved if the Mets were to ever have a chance of breaking this 40+ year World Series drought. That’s why Alvarez is well-respected by every member of the team’s pitching staff and a leader in the clubhouse, despite being one of the youngest players on the team.
Only 2 players currently on the Mets have had multiple calendar months of 7+ homers in the same season when they were only twenty-one years old. They've also been training together for a couple years now too.
Francisco Alvarez
Juan Soto
Alvarez had 2 such stellar months during his rookie season, on the way to clubbing twenty-five homers for the year. Like most young prospects just entering the league, his rookie season was marred by inconsistency from one month to the next. One month he’d hit for both average and power and then his production dropped significantly for the next month. His sophomore year wasn’t that much better, as his power numbers dropped, but he raised his batting average by thirty points. The 2025 season started off even worse, as many of the Mets fandom and beat reporters literally vilified him and blamed him for all the Mets problems.
Did the mob-hate and eventual demotion to Syracuse make question whether I’m rooting for the wrong player? Not in the slightest. Alvarez made the adjustments he needed to make, helped prep our 2 top pitching prospects for potential promotions, and destroyed AAA pitching over the course of a month. That’s why Alvarez will always have my support and the support of many others.
There are only two kinds of elite offensive talents:
Players who produce statistical records during the regular season.
Players who help their teams win Championships.
Francisco Alvarez will have his years profiling as either type, but guess which one he’s going to focus being first…
Outmanned.
Outgunned.
Completely surrounded.
Our kind of odds of ALVY…
Francisco Alvarez aka EL TROLL
Gunfighter.
Angry Mike Syndicate.
ANGRY MIKE SYNDICATE: RISE OF THE JUGGERNAUT
14 comments:
Love your posts Mike and stay angry!
People keep forgetting he's only 23. Cal Raleigh had zero hrs as a 23 year old.
I’m sold, Mike. Great analysis. He needs to avoid slip and fall injuries, but drive is 90% of the battle. He has it. He could still be a Hall of Famer someday. Piazza was still a minor leaguer, I believe, at Alvy’s current age.
Another guy where moving the fences in 5-7 feet, 8 feet in CF would help unleash the beast for good.
Boy, did they underestimate Raleigh.
Who?
Angry Mike ðŸ˜
I think Cal underestimated this kind of output
Nice article. Glad to see him hitting better.
As a card carrying member of the "don't really like Alverez club" I have to admit he is hitting better. His bat will be needed moving forward.
But, I must respectfully disagree with you on his defense. While I agree that he calls a good game, he is a below average receiver behind the plate. His still out and out misses pitches that are around the plate and does not block pitches well. Have you watched him flail at pitches trying to frame them. He is actually costing the staff strikes when he does this.
Hopefully, this will be a moot point when they go to the new system.
As a true diehard fan, I will gladly eat crow if he becomes a star.
JoeP, he is much better since he came back on one foot. That scoop he made a few days ago on a wide 50 footer was epic. He is a stud, yiu just need to wait.
Hope so Gus, but I just don't see it. I was better defensively when I was 12 years old. My hope is he becomes an offensive stud who calls a good game. I could live with the rest.
Great piece Mike.
Mets currently are 2nd in.the LEAGUE for least amount of successful steals against them
Thank you very much Gary! My apologies for the delayed response, was a little under the weather today.
Thank you very much Tom! I believe Piazza was 24 or 25 when he came into the league. Hopefully Alvy stays healthy because the best is yet to come.
Thank you very much JoeP. Alvy made great strides to improve his defense, but you are right there is certainly areas to improve upon even further.
Thank you very much Gus!
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