The Morning Report 9.14.2015 | Niese Better but Not Good Enough Still, Front End of Bullpen Ready for Playoffs, Harvey No Longer a "Luxury"

Mike Puma | New York Post- Jon Niese kept the Mets in Sunday’s game even without the benefit of defensive support.“It was a big step forward, Niese said. “With everything that happened today it was a crazy game, but with a great outcome.” “I thought he pitched better than the results were today,” manager Terry Collins said. “He certainly had much better command and made pitches when he had to, and hopefully that is what you’re going to see from him the rest of the way.”

(Chris Soto: Ehh....it wasn't THAT good of a performance for Niese yesterday. In 6 IP, he still gave up 3 ER on 8 hits with only 3 K's. That's not exactly a dominating performance, nor is it one that will earn his playoff rotation spot back from the recently dominant Bartolo Colon. The Mets would be wise to start using Niese out of the bullpen on his "side session" days just so that he is ready to contribute from there if he is needed in the playoffs.)

James Newman | Mets 360- With lineups and starting rotations requiring so much focus and consideration throughout the offseason and during the season, the bullpen is a part of baseball that can be easily overlooked; yet it can make or break you when it comes to the playoffs. If you do not think bullpens are important, look at what happened this past week when the Mets played the Washington Nationals. The formula of Erik Goeddel, Addison Reed, Tyler Clippard and Jeurys Familia is going to become a regularity in the postseason, as Goeddel has shown he can pitch in the big leagues, while the remaining three are extremely productive veterans.

(Chris Soto: The story of the bullpen continues to be the same over the past 2 weeks. Outside of Clippard's stinker this weekend, these 4 guys have been extremely solid at the front end of the bullpen. Unfortunately, everyone else compiling the back end of the bullpen hasn't been so good and that's ok. When it comes to the playoffs, rest is no longer going to be a concern; Getting work in for everyone is not going to be a concern either. Terry Collins is going let his SP throw deep into games and then ride his best 4 arms the rest of the way; As it should be.)

Rob Taub | Huffington Post- How many people have a 26-year-old doctor? Lawyer? Accountant? Real estate broker? Not many of us, as most folks in their mid-twenties are just beginning their careers. Matt Harvey is no different. Harvey has a professional career and adult life ahead of him, yet because he's a baseball player, he faces far more scrutiny than most other twenty-somethings. This doesn't make him smarter or more insightful than his peers, yet the rush to judge him has been harsh and merciless. I like the Mets. I like Matt Harvey. I want to see the Mets win -- not just now, but for many years to come. They need a healthy Harvey for that to happen. Keep track of those innings. Take care of the elbow.

(Chris Soto: Ok....these are my final words on the Matt Harvey situation. First off, I don't think anyone is mad at him for expressing concern for his long term health. Why should we? It's a very legitimate concern. However, the process of how he handle it; trying to strong arm the Mets into shutting him down and having his agent argue with the club about the issue publicly, was an idiotic way of handling it. Plus when you add that into the numerous "excuses" he's given after every poor start, it's starting to wear thin on the fans. We are getting tired of hearing about Matt Harvey! As good as he is...guess what? Your not a luxury anymore, your a commodity. Syndergaard is also good, Matz is also good, deGrom is actually better!, and Wheeler has started throwing again. Face it Matt....your not the center of attention anymore....nor should you try to be.)

3-2-13 – Upton Trade, Eric Goeddel, Rafael Montero

P Tim Byrdak returned to camp.

Andy Martino ‏@MartinoNYDN

RT @NYDNHarper: Mets' person told me they re-signed Quintanilla in Jan. because were worried about SS if traded Tejada in deal for Upton. One problem in Mets' pursuit of Upton was that they could offer Murphy/Tejada, but didn't have a player of OF Martin Prado's caliber. Why is this interesting? Because it tells you what we didn't know before, that Alderson willing to move Murphy and Tejada for OF.

This was an interesting series of tweets I picked up on Twitter the other night. I assume Mr. Martino is turning this into an article in the Daily News, which might be out by the time you read this here.

                        So much happens in baseball that never happens.

The last thing you want is for one of your key players to find out that then were expendable. This is the part I always hated about being a Mets writer. Exactly where do you cross the line when it comes to privacy? Technically, I was a “beat reporter” in Savannah for three years. Not the biggest beat, but it was a newspaper (Bluffton Today) for a large newspaper chain (Morris Communication).

Was it my job to write that a certain Mets pitcher was fucked around so bad by the Mets doctors that it cost him his career? Wasn’t it first the player’s responsibility to expose that? Yes, he shared the information with me but I could still “fill a page” without this crap

Does it make for good reading? Sure it does, but did Murphy and Tejada have to read this on Twitter yesterday?

                        Feel free to go ask Martino.

Eric Goeddel –

“Word of advice: don't try to catch a baseball with your face. Broke two bones but don't need surgery. Should be fine, just gotta wait for the swelling to go down.”

Rafael Montero

Montero, who has a first-grade education, had played recreationally growing up in Higuerito, but never in a structured format. He was aware of the uphill climb. It fueled him to work harder. Every morning he would wake up at 6:30 to train with his brother. When the brother went to work at a hardware store, Montero would go to the local park to train some more.  He arrived in Santo Domingo with a fastball that topped out at 89 miles per hour. By the time he was 20 years old, it was at 94. When the Mets discovered Montero, they found a finished product, a rare talent that had slipped through the cracks. Bidding was minimal and they signed him on Jan. 20, 2011, for $90,000.

Rafael Montero seems to be this year’s rave pitcher. No one expected him to be showcased in spring training this early and everyone, including me, had him returning to Binghamton for the beginning of the season. Now, you have to wonder about that and is there a chance he could join Zack Wheeler and Jenrry Mejia in the Buffalo rotation. He’s obviously old enough to pitch there and, after reading what he has gone through in life, I think he’d have no trouble handling it.

Manny Alvarez, Zack Wheeler, Daniel Murphy, Jorge Rivero, Eric Goeddel

Manny Alvarez:


7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump  - RHP Manny Alvarez - STOCK DOWN - Alvarez was one of those 'out of nowhere' prospects in 2010, rocketing from St. Lucie up to a starring role in the Buffalo bullpen and eyeing a 2011 shot in the majors. Well as fun as those kinds of prospects are, you always have to be wary that they can just as quickly return from whence they came...and Alvarez has. After seven disastrous outings in Buffalo (see: 10.29 ERA), Alvarez was sent back to work things out in Bingo. Three innings later he was sidelined with an elbow strain and hasn't been heard from since. Typically those sorts of things end in the initials TJ, which could realistically explain for his struggles in April. Meaning we shouldn't forget the name completely but don't expect to see him in Queens anytime soon.


Zack Wheeler:


7-31-11: - http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/07/31/nl-east-mid-season-mailbag  - Honestly, it really is something of a coincidence that these 2 pitchers rank 4th & 5th on my list; it’s not me trying to be cute. Since being taken as the 7th overall pick in the 2009 draft, the tall righty has shown plenty of raw talent. Like the other pitchers on this list, Wheeler has a low/mid-90′s fastball that can be dialed up a little from time to time. His curveball has reportedly improved somewhat from what it was last year with Single-A Augusta. The Mets were certainly looking at his ceiling when they acquired him from the Giants in return for Carlos Beltran this past week. Most reports sum Wheeler up by saying that he’s got great stuff but also has control issues. In other words, this talent needs to learn how to pitch. The Mets obviously believe in their organization’s ability to teach and in Wheeler’s ability to learn.


Daniel Murphy:


With Ike Davis probably out for the rest of the season, Murphy should receive all the starts at first base. But what about in the future? Assuming Davis comes back and David Wright sticks around next year, Murphy will in all likelihood return to second base, which is fine because the long term solution for that position is cloudy. Reese Havens, who projects as a power hitter, can’t seem to stay healthy, while Ruben Tejada needs more seasoning and double-A prospect Jordanny Valdespin is more of a shortstop and needs more time as well. So unless the Mets go out there and sign a free agent second baseman, the job is Murphy’s to lose and everyone will get a better look at what he can do on defense. - http://risingapple.com/2011/08/01/the-value-of-daniel-murphy  


Jorge Rivero:


8-1-11: - I don’t know much about this kid, but his output in 2011 is worth nothing. This is his first season in the Mets system and the 22-yr. old batted .292 for the DSL Mets in 120-AB. He was transferred stateside and is now matting leadoff for the GCL Mets. So far, after 45-Abs, he’s .289. That combines to .291 which is just fine for a young second baseman.


Eric Goeddel:


8-1-11: - Eric continued his rehab today for the GCL Mets, going: 3.0-IP, 2-H, 0-R, 0-K, 0-BB, 1.50. That’s three rehab starts and only one run given up. I’d like to see him back in the Savannah rotationfor a few more starts before the end of the season, but there’s no rush. Expect to see him back with the Sand Gnats in 2012.