Tom Brennan - Injuries; Where the Problem Lies; Minor League Hitter Prospects Progress

CHRIS SUERO: A WALK MACHINE, PLYING HIS TRADE IN BINGHAMTON 

INJURIES:

A) Soto return? Fairly soon. Tonight, in fact, against the Twinkies.

- Obviously, Soto is huge to ANY hopes of a Mets team rebound.

- Soto was .355/.412/.516 pre-injury.

- How will that affect Carson (9 for 63 through Sunday) Benge?

B) Polanco return? Not fairly soon.

I read this: Wrist soreness popped up postgame on April 14 in addition to his Achilles discomfort, which he had been dealing with since late March. No timetable or rehab progression has been announced yet. 

- couldn’t make it through mid-April. “Good”, expensive acquisition.

C) Lindor return?

- He returned TOO SOON? 22 games, just 1 RBI.

- His 3 run homer Tuesday was the entire Mets’ offense. Just 4 Mets hits.

- Devin Williams simply SUCKED in relief, to lose it. 5 batters, no outs.

12 STRAIGHT LOSSES! WHAT!! 

WHEN WILL THIS NIGHTMARE END? ANSWER: IN A LITTLE OVER 5 MONTHS.

LAD’s Edwin Soto?  El Azucar will miss months with elbow chips surgery. 

Call him Mr. Chips. Or Senor Chipotle.

I wonder if that relates in any way to his stint in the mid-March WBC?

WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES

The team’s record is abysmal.

Some blame the pitching. 

But the Mets were 16th in ERA through Sunday. That is mediocre.

But the Hitting? 

Despite 11 opening day runs, the team is DEAD LAST in scoring.

Blame the hitting. Therein lies the problem.

FIREWORKS ON THE FARM

RONNY MAURICIO, TAKE A BOW!

Ronny Mauricio hit THREE HRs! Now 8 for 15, and 5 HRs, in last 4 games!

And Jonah Tong was also awesome in AAA on Tuesday. Christian Scott reportedly to start for the Mets on Thursday…how long thereafter until Mauricio and Tong resurface in Queens?

Since Benge is now 9 for 66, I think he and Mauricio should immediately switch places. 

Minor Leaguer Hitter Prospects Progress To Date:

Here is how most of the top prospects are doing (thru Sunday’s action): 

TOP 30 PROSPECT HITTERS

AAA:

 - Ryan Clifford: Up to .254/.338/.429; pace of Ks way down in recent games

 - Nick Morabito: .262/.333/.443 (3 HRs in 61 ABs)

  - - Each also homered Tuesday, giving Nick 4 and Clifford 3.

 AA:

- AJ Ewing: .356/.473/.489, 8 of 9 steals

 - Jacob Reimer: .136/.269/.295 - SLOW START

 - Eli Serrano III: .256/.365/.488 - six XBH

 - D’Andre Smith: .171/.293/.343 - SLOW START

 - Chris Suero: .242/.469/.606 - 14 BB, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs!

 - Marco Vargas: .143/.263/.184 - SLOW START

HIGH A:

 - Colin Houck: .256/.346/.326 - heating up. Two 3 hit games in his last 3.

 - Daiverson G.: .220/.407/.341 - walking a lot. .407 OBPs are nice.

 - Mitch Voit: .212/.268/.385 - picking it up lately.

 - Antonio Jimenez: .130/.196/.283 - SLOW START

FULL A:

 - Elian Peña: .333/.426/.474 - just 9 Ks in 68 ABs! Soon-coming STAR?

 - Randy Guzman: .200/.344/.440 - 3 HRs, 11 RBIs, picking it up

 - Simon Juan: .178/.245/.200 - YET ANOTHER SLOW START

 - Others who weren’t top prospects, but are doing quite well for Lucie:

  - - AJ Salgado: 315/.406/.537 - AJ IS SOCKING!

  - - JT Benson: .353/.450/.588 - JT IS ROCKING!

  - - Sam Robertson: .302/.455/.326 - 11 of 11 in steals; 10 RBIs! Sammy!

 

I will cover top prospect pitchers on Sunday, giving them a little more time to develop their early season track record.

Overall? Some hitter disappointments so far, but it is still early. 

And except for in St Lucie, it is still chilly, which can’t favor hitters in the top 3 minor league rungs of the Ladder Climbing To Queens.

LASTLY…

Trevor Bauer opened the season for the LI Ducks, going 4 innings, 2 unearned runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, 8 Ks, 93 pitches.

If he had Mets bats backing him, he surely would have lost.