9/4/25

Tom Brennan - Various Interesting Tidbits of the Mets Kind

TOM'S TOTALLY TASTY TIDBITS


 

“DID ANYONE SEE THAT GUY? WHERE’D HE GO?”

 

Remember Alex Ramirez?  

Recent former can’t-miss prospect?

At age 22, he was summarily released from AA Binghamton in late June.

He hasn’t played since. (No, whiffle ball in his back yard doesn’t count).

Once a top 10 Mets prospect, he stole 62 of 76 bases in 178 games in 2024 and 2025.  And still got tossed into the dumpster?

What happened to this spindly, speedy guy?  

There must be a real story somewhere that I haven’t heard.

But we do know one thing: he sure didn’t turn into Manny Ramirez.

He is not even following in the path of 50 year old Alex Ramirez.

The elder Ramirez played in the majors for a few years, briefly did somewhat well, then smartly went to Japan, where he had 7,252 at bats, smacked 380 HRs, hit .301, and had 1,269 RBIs. So smart.


MEGILL THE NOT-SO-THRILLING

His last 2 rehab starts, not so thrilling, even if he “got his work in”:

8 innings, 10 hits, 6 walks, 6 runs.  

(Tuesday start, 3 runs - all surrendered in the fifth inning, of course).

He is still far better than 34 year old Kevin Herget.  Get Megill up here.


ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?

Nolan McLean is 4-0, 1.37. Four to 5 more starts to come.  

If he goes 9-0, can he be NL Rookie of the Year?


REBOUNDING

One thing you want to see from your prospects is the ability to bounce back. After 3 straight excellent AA starts, on August 27, Jon Santucci allowed 5 runs in 4.1 IP.  Ouch. How would he respond?

On Tuesday, 6 innings, one run, no walks, 6 Ks.  

Superb. He is 9-4.


JIMENEZ TIME

In St Lucie’s win on Tuesday, the Mets’ Jonathan Jimenez gave up a HR to Enrique Jimenez, but the Mets’ Antonio Jimenez responded with 2 RBIs.

Tough to keep THAT scorecard straight.


A SWITCH FOR MITCH

Mitch Voit was temporarily inactivated, hoping to get his bat activated.

It sure worked. He flipped the switch. Heck, he tore the switch off the wall.

On Tuesday, he hit his first pro HR, went 3 for 3 with 2 walks, stole 4 bases, scored 4, and drove in 3. What a game, huh?

Even Luke Voit was no doubt impressed. 

Great work, Mitch.

By the way, 85 career PAs, 15 steals in 15 tries. Wow.

Great glove for him so far, too.  

15 games at SS, 2nd, and 3rd, and just 2 errors.


BEST METS MINOR LEAGUE HITTER?

AJ Ewing is hitting a sick .386 in his first 19 minors games in AA. 

OVERALL? 69 of 78 in steals, .322, with a .415 OBP?  

One could EASILY make the case for AJ as numero uno. 

Better year than Jett.

Jett is hitting 65 points lower this year, at .268. “Just” 33 steals.

You could do worse than having AJ Ewing as a September call up.

Of course, that won’t happen. 

When it comes to hitters, you see, VETERANS-R-US.


SAME OLD SIRI

In Tuesday’s rehab game, he batted 5 times: one hit, 4Ks.

Siri in the post-season, career?  3 for 26, no walks, 9 Ks.

Do NOT call him up.

Of course, Cedric Mullins in the post-season is 3-19, no walks.  Ugh.

May I suggest Ewing for the playoffs? Can’t do worse.


FINALLY, METS LOSE…

Bullpen was Bullspit once again. Soto, the G Man, stunk. Helsley meanwhile remained an International Man of Mystery. If you release Helsley, Philly will pick him up and he’ll surrender no more runs this season and in the playoffs.

Time is running short in Metsville. And that’s no bull.

Senga should fall on his sword and accept a demotion, and call up Megill.

Sproat, too.

AAA: Alvarez grand slam. “Look, Ma, no hands!”

AA: Wenninger shaky, but fanned 7 in 4 IP.  

JT Schwartz has gone from frigid to hot.  .158 on July 10.  .206 now.

The last AA guy to go from frigid to scalding, Kevin Parada, got promoted to AAA. His debut? 1 for 4 and a walk.

The 4 Mets minors teams are a combined 83 games above .500.

Young hitting talent will arrive in 2026 in Queens.

NOW…YOU READERS…

GO BACK TO ROOT-ROOT-ROOTING FOR THE HOME TEAM.

IF THEY DON’T WIN, IT’S THE PITCHING.



Me, personally?  If the Mets falter, and the hitting is prodigious, I am much less unhappy than if the Mets did something more historical for them: good pitching, but miserable hitting. Of course, we all want both great hitting AND great pitching.  

But, if only one component is working, give me HITTING.

IN THAT REGARD, THANK YOU JUAN SOTO AND PETE ALONSO.





21 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

I’m going for a walk on this mid 60s morning. Feel free to take some tidbits while I am strolling.

Gary Seagren said...

A.J. before the Jett very interesting and next ST should be a hoot as I can't remember the last time we had this much talent in the system if ever. So I guess Soto is worth the money now if only we could pitch. Mindboggling how bad everyone but McLean ( the Tongster gets an incomplete to this point) and Diaz are with no end in site. I just heard Senga sprained a finger on his pitching hand using an ATM should be out for the season. Also what's up with Parada who seems to have returned from the witness protection program.

Gary Seagren said...

Tom still 95 here as I Iive in swim trunks and a tank top.Usually cools down in Oct. then the snowbirds arrive.

JoeP said...

When are we even wasting our breath on Siri. This guy is truly awful. Listen, I know he is a top defensive CF, but for heaven's sake...HE'S A .150 HITTER. DFA THIS CLOWN

Tom Brennan said...

Gary, nice the cool weather arrived here. I just wish it would stay like this.

AJ gets an A+++ for his AA hitting so far. Jett has more power. But Acuna had some power in the minors, too, and how many HRs has he hit this year? So, I consider it that Jett and AJ are dead even, and May the best speedster win.

Tom Brennan said...

JoeP. Siri is a strikeout machine. In his other few minors games so far, he’s done OK, butthey are minors games. Is he really an upgrade over Acuna? He is not as good as Taylor.

My advice to AJ…keep racking up 3 hits a game. 32 hits and 6 walks in 19 AA games. Impressive debut.

Tom Brennan said...

Gary, is it 95 degrees, or are you throwing 95?

Viper said...

I kept asking why the Mets wanted to trade for Siri when they already had Taylor who is a great CF who can't hit. But, in the Mets world, logic sometimes doesn't exist. So they traded for yet another CF in Mullins just because having McNeil who can play well enough in CF and actually hit makes too much sense.

Which explains why Sproat is still in triple A while Senga and Manaea stink up the place.

ANGRY MIKE said...

Amazing how Ewing has almost 70 steals and is raking in AA but still left off Top 100 Prospect lists.

aptoklas said...

Gilbert hit his 3rd homer yesterday for the Giants. Mullins has one for the Mets. Butto is pitching well too. Please convince me Stearns is a genius.

Steve said...

And the Giants are streaking right now and getting close to that third wildcard spot.

Steve said...

Remember AJ plays second as well as the outfield just like Jett. Closer than dead even?

Gary Seagren said...

Wouldn't that be a kick in the ass if SF beat us for the WC with Gilbert their catylist. They should have resigned Bader but he was to expensive and we know how thats working out. I think we need to start a petition to lockdown DS at the trade deadline. There must be a spare unused office in Citi field we could use.

Tom Brennan said...

We once had Gil Hodges. We could have had Gilbert, too. At least we still have Drew Smith.

Tom Brennan said...

Ewing not in top 100? A typo, for sure.

Tom Brennan said...

Jake Mangum .293. Good job, rookie.

Rds 900. said...

Wishes granted. Sprout starting on Sunday.

Paul Articulates said...

Good think the Giants play in liberal California. Streaking in a ballpark in any other state would land them in jail.

Paul Articulates said...

Brilliant quote: "If you release Helsley, Philly will pick him up and he’ll surrender no more runs this season and in the playoffs." This is the risk with everyone calling for his head. Don't let a good pitcher go just because he is in a bad streak.

Tom Brennan said...

Soto, Pete, and Lindor were in deep slumps. They came around. When Helsley does, there will be Hel to pay.

Tom Brennan said...

No one speculated on the demise of Alex Ramirez, but he is only 22, and the Mets still have 26 year old similarly speedy Omar de los Santos, who has hit just .187 in 130 plate appearances, while fanning an incredible 55 times vs. 3 walks. Why did they not keep Alex-and dump Omar? I guess it will remain a mystery.