FLASH: Jeurys Familia Suspended for 15 Games

     The MLB Commissioner's office has announced that Mets CL Jeurys Familia has been suspended for 15 games pursuant to his violation of the league's Domestic Violence policies. Familia will also forfeit 18 days of pay or approximately $730,000.

     Familia was initially arrested on November 1st in Fort Lee, NJ for allegedly scratching his wife's chest and a bruising her right cheek. The charges against him were dropped in December, after prosecutors met and spoke with his wife who indicated that the injuries were not caused by Familia. 

     While Familia is suspended, RHP Addison Reed will handle the closing responsibilities for the club. Reed has plenty of 9th inning experience from his time as the White Sox and Diamondbacks closer from 2012-2014. During this time, Reed saved 101 games with a success rate of 85% although his 4.22 ERA was rather high for the role.

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.)

The Morning Report 8.31.2015 | Familia Reveals a 4th Pitch, 1st Wave of September Call-ups, Parnell Fixing his Arm Slot, Cespedes...Is he Worth the Money?

Brian Lewis | New York Post- Closing isn’t just about talent, but temperament as well. History has shown that takes a special sort of pitcher to shoulder the burden of finishing a game, especially in a pennant race. On Sunday, the crowd of 38,938 saw Familia betrayed by a Ruben Tejada double-clutch on Rusney Castillo’s leadoff hit in the ninth, and then allow Blake Swihart’s single. Familia’s sinker was off so he unveiled a new splitter both he and Collins said will make him even better.
“It’s going to elevate him,’’ Collins said. “He’s one of the best in the game. This guy’s got 100 mph [heat], he’s got a great sinker, the split is starting to be more consistent for him, you see him starting to get hitters out with sliders.

(Chris Soto: Oh man...that splitter he threw last night was just unfair. Familia's sinking fastball is one of the best in all of the MLB, however, we have seen him get into some serious trouble on the rare occassion that pitch in "off." Without his sinker, hitters can sit dead red and spit on the slider. Adding the splitter to the arsenal gives him a 2nd breaking pitch that "looks" like a fastball but then falls off the table making him all the more dangerous late in the game.)

Adrian Knowler | Amazin Avenue- The Mets will promote Eric Campbell, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Kevin Plawecki, and Eric Young Jr. when rosters expand on Tuesday. Steven Matz will also join the club after making one more rehab start. Campbell, Nieuwenhuis, and Plawecki have all spent time on the Mets' active roster this year [but Young is] not on the 40-man roster, which means the Mets will have to remove someone from it to add him to it before he joins the team on Tuesday.

(Chris Soto: As was intially thought, the Mets are going to promote Eric Young Jr to the 40 man and active roster to give the bench a speed boost down the stretch. In the past we would see some of these guys left down in AAA to help the 51s with their playoff push...but these are different times now. The Mets can smell the playoffs so screw the AAA and AA teams. If you have value to the club, you better believe that you should be packing your bags for a flight to Queens.)

David Hong | Metsmerized Online- Mets reliever Bobby Parnell threw a live batting practice session on Sunday morning at Citi Field. He is expected to come off the DL on Tuesday, which is also the day rosters expand. The Mets reportedly gave Parnell the option of being designated for assignment, going to the minors or being placed on the DL three weeks ago and Parnell chose the DL. While inactive, Parnell has worked with pitching coach Dan Warthen to adjust his mechanics and get his arm higher so he can avoid “pushing” the ball toward the plate. “I feel like the ball’s coming out a lot better — a lot easier, too. I didn’t feel like I was ‘muscling’ it,” Parnell said. “The rest definitely helped.”

(Chris Soto: Dan Warthen may be on to something here. According to data compiled by Brooks Baseball Pitch F/X tracking systems, though it doesn't seem like a lot, Parnell's vertical release point was lower this season. In fact, his average release point in 2015 is similar to his 2011 release point when control problems flared up on him. Getting his arm higher will put him in a better position to drive through the ball which will induce more groundballs rather than line drives.)

Ernie Palladino | CBS New York- It doesn’t take a great mind to see how Yoenis Cespedes has helped change the Mets. What does is determining whether Cespedes should remain part of the franchise once the lease the Mets signed July 31 runs out. The notoriously flinty Wilpons will have to decide whether the money he’ll look for in free agency is equal to the financial pain the owners will have to endure to keep him around. Anyone who has followed the Mets knows that this ownership group regards outward cash flow as others do dental implants — painful periods endured simply to keep up appearances, such as they have been. But the recent success, much of it spurred by the 29-year-old former Oakland/Boston/Detroit star, might just get the moneymen to open up the pocketbook for him. 

(Chris Soto: Here's the thing...In the past, we would have never entertained the idea of signing another player for big money. However, did you know that todays "Full Year" payroll is $132M?. The right sizing and the balancing of contracts under Sandy Alderson actually going to rear it's "ugly" head on the bright side this season. As it stands right now, the Mets only have $60M committed to the 2016 team, $40M committed to the 2017 team, and $26M to the 2018 team. Of course, after you add in arbitration raises for Harvey, Duda, and Familia, that number rises by about $22M, but that is still about $70M less than today's current Full Year payroll. Lets assume that the Wilpons have enjoyed the packed Citi Field enough to give Alderson a starting budget of $120M next season. Higher than 2015's starting but lower than 2015's current. That gives him almost $40M to play with to fill...very few holes. Certainly $20M of that balance can go to Cespedes, right? )

The Morning Report 7.7.2015 | Familia Snubbed, Who's The Next Impact Bat, Cuddyer and Duda's Struggles, Gerardo Parra a Trade Target

Adam Rubin | ESPN New York- All-Star manager Bruce Bochy said New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia received strong consideration for a guaranteed spot for the National League squad. Bochy added that it is a sign of respect that he named Familia to the five finalists eligible to be voted in by fans this week. Fans will vote one from Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto, Carlos Martinez, Troy Tulowitzki and Familia into the All-Star Game. "I know all about him," Bochy said about Familia. "He's got great stuff. And, of course, he had a great first half. That's why he's on the fan voting. You're not on that unless you receive a lot of consideration.

(Chris Soto: Man, idk how Bochy could have left Familia off the guaranteed ballot but let Mark Melancon. Yes Melancon has been on a roll, but did Bochy not see how bad he was in April? Melancon almost lost his job due to poor velocity and a 5.23 ERA. You won't see any of that with Familia. Juerys has been solid from Day 1 and his ERA has never been above 1.77 in any month this season. This was an egregious snub.) 


Kevin Kiernan | New York Post- The pitching All-Stars should be plentiful over the next few years for the Mets. But who is going to be the Mets’ next position player All-Star starter? Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, perhaps, if he can stay healthy, could be that position player All-Star. Michael Conforto has a shot. He is 22 and is a hitter, batting .325 at Double-A Binghamton. Scouts love his swing. Brandon Nimmo, 22, is climbing the ladder but still has a long way to go. The Mets are surviving with epic pitching, but this sure would be a lot more fun if the Mets had a few hitting All-Stars, too.

(Chris Soto: A healthy Travis d'Arnaud is probably the 3rd best hitting Catcher in the National League so he is absolutely an impact bat. The problem is the health part as he continues to get nicked up by unlucky type injuries. As for the next homegrown impact bat....it has to be Conforto, the numbers he is putting up are unbelievable and he hasn't the least bit of signs of slowing down after jumping from A+ to AA. In fact you could make a save assumption that Conforto could probably continue crushing in AAA too. As for Nimmo, while his performance in 2015 is certainly good, I'm not sure if he's an "IMPACT bat." I continue to see Nimmo as more of a solid role player. Pretty much the team's next Daniel Murphy. He's someone who's  I think is gonna hit .270 with 15 HR/15 SB and good defense in RF.) 


Marc Carig | Newsday- As the Mets constructed their team during the offseason, they envisioned a lineup based on length from top to bottom, with enough firepower to thrive. Instead, injuries have left gaping holes in the lineup, which has been made even worse by the lack of production from the players who have managed to stay healthy. In particular, the Mets' offensive woes can be traced to Michael Cuddyer and Lucas Duda, who had been expected to anchor the middle of the order. "It's been a grind, there's no secret to that," said Cuddyer. "The results aren't what I expect, what the team expects or what everybody else expects, either. The only thing I can keep doing is working and going out and playing."

(Chris Soto: It's easy to see why Cuddyer and Duda are struggling. Both guys have gotten away from what has always made them good hitters in the first place, Seeking and Attacking their pitch. Instead they are expanding the zone, swinging at pitches that are not even close, and getting themselves into unfavorable counts which leads to neither of them getting the fastballs they want. Perhaps its a state of carrying too big a load with Wright, d'Arnaud, and Murphy all being out at various times in the season. In either case the guys need to back track and start over and get back to being the players they've always been rather then trying to do too much.)

Kevin Alonzo | Bleacher Report- Since June 17, the New York Mets have averaged 1.4 runs in games rookie sensation Steven Matz has not started, underscoring the glaring need for general manager Sandy Alderson to acquire a bat like, say, Gerardo Parra of the Milwaukee Brewers. With the Brewers in last place in the National League Central, there's good chance they look to unload some of their veteran players. The two-time former Gold Glove winner is hitting .308 with a .345 OBP and would provide an immediate improvement over any of New York's outfielders. He's also only 28 years old, and his career numbers indicate that the Mets wouldn't be trading for just one good half of baseball.

(Chris Soto: I too like the idea of acquiring a guy like Gerardo Parra. However, great minds think alike and Parra's recent hot streak has grabbed the attention of GM's all over the league. This means that the Brewers are likely to command a pricey exchange in order to part with the Gold Glover. Parra is likely a rental player only as well since he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. He's very likely to eclipse his current $6.2M price tag if he continues to perform this season. In addition, last time he started full-time...he posted a +6.1 WAR for the Brew Crew. That could command some serious dollars.)

The Morning Report 7.6.2015 | Mets Building Momentum, Harvey's Excuses, Mets In All-Star Game, Mejia Ready to Rock

Matt Turner | Rant Sports- For just the third time this season, the New York Mets won a series on the road. After splitting the first two games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Steven Matz and the Mets came out victorious in dominant fashion Sunday afternoon, winning 8-0. The short-term goals should be to just finish out the half strong. As a .500 team back by only a few games, each win right now is so crucial. It’s possible that Travis d’Arnaud will be healthy by the end of the break, and maybe David Wright will even be further along with rehab, which would be huge for the lineup and for morale.

(Chris Soto: You could have made a very strong case in forecasting the Mets would get swept by the Dodgers this weekend. Instead they walk out series winners thanks to superb pitching from Thor and Matz and an offensive explosion on Sunday. Turner is right, if the Mets can at least finish this week strong....A healthy d'Arnaud return and the eventual Wright return after the break is going to not only bring more offensive firepower, but also bring a MUCH NEEDED morale boost to a club that really needs it right now.) 


Kristie Ackert | NY Daily News- Matt Harvey will “have to get over it.” The Mets ace is not the only starter who is uncomfortable with the six-man rotation, but he is the one who voiced it Saturday night after he lost to the Dodgers. “They gotta get over it. Matt knows that,” the Mets manager said. “I know he is frustrated by it....You can see the frustration. I understand, I certainly understand he is a tremendous competitor and wants to be out there as much as he can on a regular basis.’“It’s just that it’s easiest way,” Collins said. “So we’ve got to make the adjustment, and Matt understands that. I certainly understand why he would say that and I don’t blame him.”

(Chris Soto: Ya know what? ENOUGH. We are getting sick and tired of these continuing Harvey "excuses". He seems to be the only one struggling to adjust to the whole 6 man rotation thing. Maybe it's not the rotation....maybe it's him. We all know that Tommy John recipients are not always 100% during their 1st season back and Harvey is experiencing that inconsistency. Yet, rather than just admitted that "hey, i understand that it's gonna take time," he continues to throw one excuse after another. That leads me the a question that was asked of me this weekend....If the Los Angeles Dodgers came to you and said....we want Harvey....and we're willing to pay Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig in order to get him....How can you say no?) 


Mike Puma | New York Post- The Mets have two players with legitimate All-Star resumes this season, but will both be selected for the game? Jacob deGrom and Jeurys Familia will find out Monday if they will be joining the NL All-Star team. Not surprisingly, the Mets were shut out in the fan balloting for starting position players, the results of which were released Sunday. According to a club source, NL manager Bruce Bochy has been “trying real hard,” to get both deGrom and Familia on the roster. One of the two is a certainty since each team must be represented.

(Chris Soto: Both Familia and deGrom should absolutely be on the All-Star team as they have not only been the Mets best players...but also two of the top players in the National League this season. deGrom is currently ranked tied for 6th in terms of WAR among NL SP's and despite being 16th in WAR among RP, Familia is still 2nd among them in terms of ERA, and 5th in saves. Bochy will find a place for both of them.)

Michael Baron | Just Mets- Jenrry Mejia has completed his final tune up with Triple-A Las Vegas as he prepares to rejoin the Mets this week. Mejia earned the save while allowing a hit in a scoreless ninth inning in the 51s 3-2 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Sunday night. Mejia will fly to San Francisco and meet the team at AT&T Park on Tuesday. He cannot be in the clubhouse while on the restricted list, which he is eligible to come off of on Tuesday.

(Chris Soto: Ready or not....Mejia is ready! He's going to be a huge boost to the effectiveness of the Mets bullpen. He also can help Mets fans feel a little easier knowing that he's gonna handle 8th inning duties, bumping Parnell to 7th inning work and Carlos Torres back to the swing role that he excels at. Now the important question is....who get bumped from the bullpen? Unfortunately, It will most likely be Logan Verrett who has been excellent since returning to the Mets organization. He'll likely get sent back to AAA and re-stretch out as a SP in case the Mets need him later on in the year to eat up some innings.)

The Morning Report 5.13.2015 | Alex Torres Struggling in New Role, Bullpen Weakness Exposed, Lagares Hurt, Tulowitzki Demands Trade?

David Wright Injury Tracker | Still Not Cleared for Baseball Activities

Brian Devine | Metsmerized Online-  Despite another wild outing by Alex Torres, Terry Collins doesn’t seem to be losing faith in the Mets enigmatic lefty. Collins says that he will continue to use Torres in high pressure situations.“That’s what he’s here to do,” Collins said. Torres allowed a run and walked three batters during last night’s appearance. However, he prevented further damaged by striking out Jorge Soler with the bases loaded. Collins defended his decision to allow Torres to finish the 6th inning. “Somebody’s got to pitch. I can’t go in the stands and pull somebody out.”

(Chris Soto: Alex Torres has been painfully bad since Jerry Blevins went down with his forearm fracture as he continues to pitch in uncustomary high leverage situations. In his career, Torres has mostly been a low to medium leverage guy where their isn't much pressure and he can maintain his BB rate in the 10-12% range. However in high leverage situations....he's been terrible his whole career as his BB rate skyrockets to 20-22%. Terry needs to start backing off using him in close games cause it is not helping the team.)


Craig Edwards | Fangraphs- The New York Mets have had the ideal scenario thus far, getting a lot of innings from their starters and solid production from their relievers when called upon. Innings are not the only way to overwork a bullpen. Putting extra stress on a few arms can have a negative effect, especially when those arms are the best in the pen. Using the best relievers can mask an overall bullpen deficiency, as the results look good. Pitching out of the bullpen every day can stress relievers and place too much of an emphasis on some relievers at the expense and rust of others. If a manager trusts only a few relievers, he might call on those players too often and wear them out. 

(Chris Soto: This is some good research by the Fangraphs team. The Mets are ranked 8th overall in relief appearances with zero rest due in large part to team's propensity to be in close games which requires the services of Juerys Familia. The Mets OVERALL bullpen is a severe weakness but that weakness is being masked heavily by the rotation's ability to get deep into games and then turn it over to the two most efficient arms in the pen in Carlos Torres and Familia. Outside of those two though the FIP for Gilmartin [5.08], Alex Torres [4.57], Robles [5.40], and Carlyle [5.63] are just terrible.)


Adam Rubin | ESPN New York- Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares has a "slight strain" in his right arm pit, manager Terry Collins said. Lagares suffered the injury last Tuesday at Citi Field, when he made a highlight-reel diving catch in left-center on a shot from Baltimore's Everth Cabrera. Lagares underwent an MRI on Tuesday in Chicago. Nothing alarming was detected, according to Collins. "There's no breaks. There's no blood clots," Collins said. "There's no real severe trauma area. It's just been bothering him. If one or two days [off] means he'll be OK, then we'll give him that."

(Chris Soto: This has been my biggest injury fear over the past few weeks. I've been saying that the only reason Kirk Nieuwenhuis is on this team is because he is the only legitimate candidate that can cover CF. Now with Lagares down for a few days, Kirk and his unproductive 37.5% K rate is going to clogged up a spot in the line-up.)


Joel Sherman | New York Post- One of the most vital moments of this season will occur between Troy Tulowitzki and his longtime agent, Paul Cohen. The two will decide whether it is time to ask Rockies management for a trade.“To say that it is not a possibility would be silly,” Cohen told The Post by phone. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why the subject will be renewed now – the Rockies are miserable again and the likelihood of being a contender any time soon is not strong.
Tulowitzki was described as frustrated with four straight losing seasons and wants out, according to two people who know him well. 

(Chris Soto: Here we go folks.....the trade rumors are going to fly around once again...Except this time rather than teams forcing the issue on the Rockies....it'll be Tulowitzski himself pushing the Rockies. This small detail could have massive effects on both his "true" availability as well as the asking price. Early thoughts is that it will require at least a Top young SP prospect, a replacement at SS, and a mid-level bat in order to acquire Tulowitzki. In my opinion...if your the Mets....your still in 1st place and you have a legitimate shot of making the playoffs....you HAVE to go get him. Offer a package of Noah Syndergaard, Gavin Cecchini, and Dominic Smith and get it done.)

The Morning Report 4.20.2015 | Injury Updates, Familia's the Closer, Wally Backman in Miami?

Injury Updates- One day after I reported that Vic Black's velocity was severely down in his relief appearance for the Binghamton Mets, The Mets announced that he was being sent out for additional MRI testing due to soreness in his neck and shoulder areas. With Travis d'Arnaud and Jerry Blevins on their way to the 15 day DL for at least the next 6-8 weeks, the Mets are calling up top prospect C Kevin Plawecki as well as RHRP Hansel Robles to take their places. We all know Plawecki's story....but what about Robles? Well...ever since he converted full-time to the bullpen, he has been flat out dominant. In 12 (2014) appearances, Robles held opponents to a .159 AVG, posted a 1.80 ERA, and K'd 10.8 per 9 IP. So far in 5 (2015) appearances, Robles continues to roll on, holding batters to a .207 AVG having not given up a run this season and K'ing 11.7 batters per 9 IP.


Joe Trezza | MLB.com- Jeurys Familia has impressed Mets manager Terry Collins enough to remain in the closer's role, at least initially, when Bobby Parnell and Vic Black return from rehab assignments. "If Bobby Parnell and Vic Black show up tomorrow, Jeurys Familia will still close," Collins said. "Again, it's been a year since Bobby's been out there. If when he shows up, he shows the same stuff he showed us a year ago, we will try to get him back in the role that he's comfortable with."

(Chris Soto: Familia has been PHENOMENAL as the closer so far this season. Mets front office executives always felt that Familia had the best stuff between him, Parnell, and Mejia and that he would emerge as the closer of the future and so far they are right. He is tied for the league lead in saves, is holding batters to a paltry .160 AVG including a whopping 0! hits in 12 plate appearances against left handers, and made Giancarlo Stanton look silly trying to swing at his slider and sinker. We have the makings of a star here folks.)


Clark Spencer | Miami Herald- Reeling from a four-game sweep to the New York Mets that left the Marlins with the second-worst record in the majors at 3-10, manager Mike Redmond's job may be in jeopardy as the team heads to Philadelphia for a series with the Phillies that could dictate his fate. According to sources who have heard rumblings, Redmond is on the hot seat and the the organization is already bouncing around possible replacements. One possibility: Wally Backman, the Mets' Triple A manager.

(Chris Soto: KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OUR GUYS! The Miami Marlins were the popular pick to win one of the wild card spots all off-season long. However, as Brian Mangan and I pointed out multiple times....Miami has NO pitching! It doesn't matter how good your offense is if your pitching continues to give up multiple runs a game. Just look at this 4 game series.....Not a single Marlins starter went more than 5 IP. That kind of inefficiency has a ripple effect. It directly affects your bullpen as they get overworked....and it affects your offense's confidence as they press to come back all the time.)

Off Day Today! Get Some Rest Boys!

The Morning Report 4.13.2015 | Mejia Suspended, Wright Pissed at Mejia, Concern for Syndergaard, Faster Pace of Play

Joseph Muller: Are the Mets going to shop for a top tier possible closer now that Mejia is suspended? What's it going to cost us? Is Rafael Soriano a candidate?

• In case you missed it, CL Jhennry Mejia was suspended 80 games for a positive steroid test. That said, the Mets still have PLENTY of A) right handed bullpen as well as B) closer potential depth. Even before testing positive for steriods, Mejia had his detractors within the Mets organizing. Especially since there are a number of front office reps that feel that Juerys Familia's stuff is better than Mejia's and that HE is the closer of the future for the club. In addition both Bobby Parnell and Victor Black started rehab assignments this weekend and should be ready to go within 2 weeks. So no, the Mets will not be interested in a guy like Rafael Soriano.

Matt Cerrone | Metsblog- David Wright doesn’t have much sympathy for Jenrry Mejia, who was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball Saturday for using the banned substance Stanozolol. “It’s obviously disappointing, “Wright said. “Not only do you cost yourself 80 games and don’t get paid, but you’re hurting everybody in here. You’re letting down your teammates and I think that probably means just as much, if not more, than hurting yourself. As much as it hurts, as much as we love Jenrry as a teammate, you make mistakes, you need to be punished,” Wright concluded. “Once Jenrry serves his punishment and comes back, we’ll welcome him and do whatever we can to make him feel like he’s part of this team. For right now, he messed up and he needs to be punished.”

(Chris Soto: Oh boy....sounds like Wright is PISSED. Let's not forget that even with Harvey's star power, this is still David Wright's team and he showed that a few times during Spring Training. If Wright is unhappy with Mejia, the front office is going to take notice. If Familia can take the closer role reigns and find significant success....all of a sudden Mejia and his $2.6M becomes a non-tender candidate at the end of the year.)


Adam Rubin | ESPN New York- Top prospect Noah Syndergaard is not due to start for Triple-A Las Vegas until the club's fifth game of the season, on Monday at Sacramento. New York Mets manager Terry Collins said team officials were just being cautious in waiting until the end of the first turn through the Pacific Coast League team's rotation. Apparently, Syndergaard had dealt with forearm stiffness during spring training, although Collins said it was nothing alarming.

(Chris Soto: While it made to sound that it's just a precautionary hold back....non-impact injuries to the forearm/bicep/tricep area are always massive concerns for pitchers. While the club can probably still afford to have 1 more arm go down thanks to Matt Bowman and Steven Matz emergence, losing Syndergaard would be a massive "mental" blow to the organization.)


Associated Press | New York Times- Baseball games have indeed been finishing faster this year. The average nine-inning game took 2 hours, 54 minutes through Saturday night's action. That's down from 3:05 through the first six full days of the 2014 season, according to STATS. "I don't think there have been any significant issues that have popped up to where umpires have been having to play the policeman," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "I think everybody sees the clock and therefore there's some understanding just because of the clock, and hopefully that's all it takes."

(Chris Soto: Good...Faster games means more "casual" fans tune in. For what it's worth though, the MLB did announce that they would NOT be enforcing penalties for pace of play violations during the 1st two weeks of the season instead opting for warnings so that 2:54 time per game stat could drop a bit further.)

LETS GO METS!

The Morning Report 02.26.2015 | Rehab Coins, 2nd Lefty Competition, 2015 Cuddyer Projections, Thor's Frustration, Familia's Development

Tim Rohan | New York Times - "For the last few years, the Mets’ rehabilitation team has given metal coins  to more than 40 players for getting through a program designed to get them healthy. Not every player receives one. The injury must be a significant one — such as Harvey’s Tommy John surgery — that keeps the player out for a while, and the player must put forth a genuine effort. The coins, then, are their reward. Pearson views them as a motivational tool, something the players can strive for, a keepsake they can cherish later in life. Some players are ecstatic to receive their coins; others are indifferent. But in general, they understand the coin’s purpose."

(Chris Soto: My military vet friends will understand the significance of the "challenge coin." A momento for all the hard work that you put in for X amount of years, a reminder of the botherhood that you established with the other guys you were with during your time. While not exact, these coins serve a similar purpose. A reminder of all the hard work they had to do to get back into the game. A reminder to love the game as much as you can, because, in one moment it can be taken away from you for a significant amount of time.)

Mike Puma | New York Post - "Manager Terry Collins said he expects to give Gilmartin every chance to succeed this exhibition season in a lefty competition that also includes Scott Rice, Jack Leathersich and Diego Alvarez. As it stands, Josh Edgin is the only lefty assured a spot in the bullpen. “You have to give him an opportunity to pitch,” Collins said Wednesday. “He’s got to show us what he can do. In that situation you don’t want to send him out there once or twice. As we get into spring training we’re going to find out, ‘Can he get that left-handed hitter out?’ "

(Chris Soto: Strap in folks....cause this is going to be one heck of a battle. This is the 1st time in a while where none of the starting positions are up for grabs, so the primary battles in camp are going to be for bench spots and the 2nd LOOGY role. Gilmartin is going to in for one heck of a fight as Rice and Alvarez have both shown the ability to get lefties out, while Leathersich is just a K machine against both sides.)

Brian Joura | Mets 360 - "The Mets didn’t sign Cuddyer because of his defense. Instead it was the promise of a big right handed bat that made him so attractive to the club. Two years ago, Cuddyer won the batting title and he arrives at Citi Field with a lifetime .352 wOBA. He’s clubbed 112 HR the past six years and brings the promise of a big stick to the lineup. Cuddyer offers the possibility of being an ideal fifth-place hitter.....So, how do we see him doing in 2015?"

(Chris Soto: Joura and his team are projecting a .800 OPS in 2015 from Cuddyer. If he attains that, then i will do cartwheel in the 3 feet of snow that is sitting outside right now. Only 13 OF'ers posted an OPS of .800 or better last year, so that kind of production will put Cuddyer amongst the top offensive OF in baseball again.)

  Mike Vornukov |  nj.com/mets “Noah Syndergaard's frustration finally came to a boil midway through last July. Beat up by the Pacific Coast League, his ERA hovered above five. Frank Viola, his pitching coach at Las Vegas, would not relent with his pupil. In Syndergaard, he saw a talented pitcher in need of guidance. By late August, Viola noticed a modification. Syndergaard produced better workouts and side sessions between starts. He accepted there was improvement to be made. His attitude had adjusted to the rigorous demands, and his performance lifted too. Syndergaard arrived to spring training this month flying under the radar. Matt Harvey's return has garnered the spotlight. Steven Matz is the hot-shot prospect who has stolen the attention. Yet, Viola says, Syndergaard is better than ever before. A season of deep-set struggles has changed him and bettered him. Syndergaard will testify to the results. The crucible of hitter-friendly Las Vegas has turned him from robotic hard-thrower to pitcher. A curveball and changeup now provide steady compliments to that fastball. And a person who had difficulty handling the demands of his stature received what Viola deemed a "wake-up call." Viola says the Syndergaard that has arrived here is "not the same Noah I had last year. It's that drastic difference." His bullpen sessions are more precise. He is more confident and understanding. When he will be able to pitch in a rotation with Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom is unknown. "Being in the big leagues has been my dream ever since I was a little kid," Syndergaard said.”

 (Herb G. Thor certainly seems to have matured in 2014, and both he and his spring workout buddy Steven Matz, will be hard to leave out of the Mets rotation in 2015. Both appear to be ready. However, if the Mets’ brass is serious about making a run at the post season, they certainly might opt for experience and leave Niese and Colon in it until the end. On the other hand, if the Mets have fallen out of the race, they could go with the youth program and bring up the dynamic duo from Las Vegas.)


  Mike Puma | nypost.com “Jeurys Familia might have raised the bar too high for himself last season. The right-hander was so good for the Mets — pitching coach Dan Warthen said he was maybe as good as any reliever in baseball for the season’s final five months — it might be best to lower expectations on Familia for 2015. That’s asking an awful lot,” Warthen said Tuesday referring to Familia’s 1.86 ERA from May 1 through the end of the season. “But I have great confidence that he will be a big factor.” The 25-year-old Familia took a long-awaited leap last season. In a bullpen that includes power arms Jenrry Mejia, Vic Black and Bobby Parnell, it’s Familia who might have the best overall stuff. He is expected to begin the season in a setup role, but the Mets still view Familia as capable of handling the ninth inning.”

 (Herb G. The emergence of Familia is an exciting development. He has always had great potential, but seemed to fall short on delivering it each year. Now we are left to wonder if the way he finished last year is the real Familia. If so, he has to be added to the mix of possible closers on the team. It is a good problem to have, but does not make T.C.’s job any easier. Although he may be the best of the lot, he is probably #3 in line behind Mejia and Parnell. And without closer experience, his value as a trade chip would not be quite as high.) 

Position Battles Worth Watching: 13 Pitchers, 3 Bullpen Spots

One of the largest fights this Spring Training, as it is every season, will be for the final spots within the bullpen. This year only 4 guys are really guaranteed spots going into the season; RH Bobby Parnell, RH Victor Black, RH Carlos Torres, and LH Scott Rice. That leaves 3 spots left in a normal 7 man bullpen. Let's break this battle into two separate sections and assume that the team will carry 2 lefties this year.

Battle to be the 2nd Lefty

Favorites- Josh Edgin

Guys w/ a Chance- (none)

Longshots- Adam Kolarek

This is more of a minor ST battle that probably won't be a fight at all. While Josh Edgin is the incumbent and most likely winner, he was heavily criticized last season for his atrocious start. In 11 April appearances, Edgin held a 9.64 ERA and allowed a .325/.386/.525 batting line in mostly low leverage situations. Even worse, after being sent down to both AA and AAA, Edgin did not improve posting ERA's of 7.88 and 5.91 respectively. Edgin also suffered a season ending injury in August 

Adam Kolarek, meanwhile, had a career best year for the Binghamton Mets making appearances in 44 games and posting a 1.71 ERA and holding lefties to a .214 AVG and only 3 extra base hits all season. His low 90's fastball has a two plane break away from lefties which induces plenty of weak contact. He combines it  with an advanced change-up and a newly added slider which makes him just as effective against righties as well.

While Kolarek has looked good, Edgin has looked good in bursts at the MLB level and is on the 40 man roster. The team is almost certain to give Edgin at least one more chance while Kolarek gets some work in at AAA but he'll give Edgin a run for his money this ST. Don't be surprised if you start to hear his name more often if Edgin gets off to another rough start.

Royal Rumble over Last Two Spots

Favorites- Jeurys Familia, Gonzalez Germen

Guys w/ a Chance- Ryan Reid, Joel Carreno, Miguel Socolovich, Kyle Farnsworth

Longshots- Jeff Walters, Chasen Bradford, John Church, Cory Mazzoni, Logan Verrett, Jack Leathersich

Both Familia and Germen are expected to be major players in the bullpen this season but they may receive some stiff competition from recent minor league contracts signings in Reid, Farnsworth, Carreno, and Socolovich. 

The 29 yr old Reid had a career year in AAA last year and earned an 11 inning cup of coffee at the MLB level where he performed well in all but 1 of his appearances. 

The former Blue Jay, Joel Carreno, brings eye popping K rates into the competition thanks to a plus slider that's extremely tough on righties. In 2013 he held righties to a .101 AVG while striking out 41% of them. 

Lastly, there's the journeyman, Miguel Socolovich. The 27 yr old Venezuelan spent time in Boston, Chicago, Baltimore, and most recently in Japan for 2013. He didn't rack up many innings there (11.1) but he only allow 1 ER in his short time there.

The rest of the guys are longshots to make the team but, with chance to showcase their abilities, good performances could lead to potential promotions to the MLB level in case of injuries or ineffective by the other guys. Walters should be the 1st in line though since he is on the 40 man roster already. 

Mack Ade – AM Report – 9-16-13 – Protected Pick, Ulnar Collateral Ligament , Jeurys Familia, Noah Syndergaard, Tim Lincecum, Wally Backman

It’s far too early to speculate who the Mets might choose in the 2014 draft if they had one of the protected picks, but, for those of you doing the research and trying to learn more about who is going to be out there for the taking, forget these names…  NC State LHSP Carlos Rodon… NC State SS Trae Turner… East Carolina RHSP Jeff Hoffman… Rancho Bernardo (CA) HS catcher Alex Jackson… and Clovis (CA) HS SS Jacob Gatewood. These five will be long gone when the Mets get to pick their projected 7^th-9^th overall pick.

What this does do is leave a handful of very talented high school pitchers… Conway (SC) HS RHP Grant Holmes… Milton (GA) HS RHP Dylan Cease, Hilo (HI) HS LHP Kodi Medeiros, and Shepard (TX) HS RHP Tyler Kolek, two great college righties, Florida State RHP Luke Weaver and Vanderbilt RHP Tyler Beede and there is a good chance that no outfielder will be picked until the Mets are on the board. Right now, that would translate as either Virginia’s Derek Fisher or Gainsville (GA) HS Michael Gettys.

This will be an extremely talented first round and it’s going to be close to impossible to miss this high up the chain.

Long shot… the best college bat in the draft:  Notre Dame 3B Jack Flaherty.

 

Dr. Marcus Elliott, a Harvard-trained physician specializing in sports science -

"I'm certain we're going to look back on what we did here in 2012, 2013 and not too far into the future and think that it was really primitive. There are reasons guys end up tearing their ulnar collateral ligament or end up with repetitive trauma to a rotator cuff. There are mechanical explanations for all these things. And we haven't spent a whole lot of time trying to understand what those reasons are. Some of them had inadequate shoulder mobility or not enough trunk stability or hip stability, so it affected their release point. We took anywhere from three weeks to six weeks to keep working on these performance metrics so that they didn't have the pressure of going out to perform while they were huge injury risks. To people in the medical community, the right approach is to be about building systems, understanding the system of the athlete in front of you when you're exposing him to the risks of the game." http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130913&content_id=60455388&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

RP Jeurys Familia has rejoined the Mets and will pitch for Indios del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.

Familia is still only 23 years old, even though it seems like he’s been around for decades. Nobody has ever questioned his talent, just his command and accuracy with the sickness he throws. His limited 2013 included eight games in the minors (2-starts) for three teams (9.0-IP, 1.00) and eight appearances in the Mets pen (10.1-IP, 7-K, 7-BB, 3.48). He wasn’t supposed to be ready at this point of the 2013 season, but he is so why not start him back on the road to success. I’m sure the winter league time will be used to build up arm strength, but, in my book, any chance of a successful 2014 has to include a talented pen and the 6-4 righty would make the perfect 8^th inning ROOGY if he gets his shit together (note to readers… don’t be surprised that Bobby Parnell isn’t ready by opening day. I’ve had that surgery and it’s tricky for a person that doesn’t throw the rock every day at 95mph).

 

Baseball Prospectus on Noah Syndergaard -

Syndergaard’s fastball is an elite offering with premier velocity and life. His curveball plays well off of his fastball and has sharp break with bat-missing ability. Overall, Syndergaard is a future top-of-the-rotation pitcher with a near elite arsenal. He also has the ideal physical frame for a pitcher. The arsenal is complete with no major weaknesses, and secondary offerings still have room for projection moving forward.”

Mack – Thor represents the last of the ‘Big 3’ that we’ve been waiting to form. He should graduate to Queens around the same time Matt Harvey’s arm heals, but, for safety sake, let’s just say that it will be opening day 2015 when the Mets rotation features Harvey, Zack Wheeler, and Syndergaard.

I’d like to think that the Mets will invest some of that available 2014 money into another starter like Tim Lincecum. Can you imagine the effectiveness of him being the SP4 in 2015?

 

Mets bloggers like Joe D at Metsmerized and Mark Healey on some satellite radio show have to stop pontificating about Wally Backman not rising to the role of Mets manager someday. It’s not going to happen and it’s simply not their decision. We writers are supposed to report on what is decided by the Mets, not spend useless time pontification our personal feelings based on how many times we have had dinner with someone. I come from an era where reporting was first waiting for the decision to go down rather than trash the possibility of something that hasn’t happened yet. Guys, you’re looking bad on this one, especially you Healey. Do you really think this guy would have any chance at this job if he didn’t play for this team once? Let it go, old friend, though you no longer consider me a current one (note: Healey paid me my first  fee for an online story… $50 for his site at Gotham).

 

11-20-12 – Rule V, Ticket Prices, Clarity, Ahmed Rosario, Jeurys Familia

Today is the deadline to protect Rule 5-eligible players on the 40-man roster.

AAA --- Buffalo Bisons
Daniel Herrera
Dylan Owen
Josh Satin
Chris Schwinden
Zack Wheeler

AA --- Binghamton Mets
Eric Campbell
Juan Centeno
Mark Cohoon
Allan Dykstra
Gonzalez Germen
Darin Gorski
Brad Holt
Jeff Kaplan
Jefry Marte
Brandon Moore
Travis Ozga
Francisco Pena
Armando Rodriguez
Wilfredo Tovar
Pedro Zapata

A+ --- St. Lucie Mets
Kyle Allen
Joe Bonfe
John Church
Angel Cuan
Kai Gronauer
Alonzo Harris
Richard Lucas
Aderlin Rodriguez
Adrian Rosario
Robbie Shields
Taylor Whitenton

A --- Savannah Sand Gnats
Yohan Almonte
Marcos Camarena
TJ Chism
Albert Cordero
Jim Fuller
Craig Hansen
Brandon Sage
Ismael Tijerina
Jhonathan Torres
Carlos Vazquez

A- --- Brooklyn Cyclones
Luis Cessa
Julio Concepcion
Dawrin Frias
John Mincone
Eudy Pina
Dimas Ponce

R --- Kingsport Mets
Martires Arias
Jeyckol De Leon
Edioglas Villasmil

Other
Matt Bouchard
Lachlan Hodge
Michael Johnson
Jake Kuebler -----------------   me?  I protect Eric Campbell and Armondo Rodriguez.

Campbell would be one of my UT players starting in 2014 and Rodriguez is on target to make the pen sometime this season. 

Michael Baron‏ - @michaelgbaron -  $63 for Opening Day tickets at Citi Field, for a not so good seat. That's quite a lot of coin

          In case you haven’t noticed, there is a holiday promotional plan out there for fans to purchase tickets to the 2013 New York Mets season. Michael’s comments above echo what the team is asking you to commit to before they seem to be committing to anything more in 2013. No David Wright extension. No RA Dickey extension or trade. And, no new outfielders. I don’t know how you are living your lives, but $63 is Thanksgiving dinner on my table this year. I no longer live in the city I love, but your nuts if you think I’m going to wait on line for gas, then park at the stadium for how much, and chuck down $63 for a bad seat to watch an incomplete team? I love the Mets, but you have to give me more to support them this extensively.

This is a moot point. I couldn’t afford to live in New York anymore so why dream about going to a game I can’t afford. Still, $63 for a bad seat? Simply amazing.

Howard Megdal Capital New York writes about clarity coming to the Mets regarding the contract negotiations for both David Wright and RA Dickey:

Oh, and while they resolve their long-term relationships with their two best and most popular players, the Mets still need to figure out how to pay upcoming expenses. As of Monday, the loans against the team, due in 2014, and against SNY, due in 2015, remain unamended. The team got some good news when YES, the New York Yankees' version of SNY, was recently valued at $3 billion. One thing, and essentially only one thing, is certain right now. Each day that passes between now and December 3 reduces the chances that the Mets will keep R.A. Dickey and David Wright. A trade will bring clarity. An extension will bring clarity. And if Alderson's understandable timetable is to be trusted, we'll all have it soon, for better or worse.

Megdal continues to equate the financial status of the team (one business venture)to the future result on the field. ‘On paper’, the vaue of the franchise and the SNY Network easily are valued in the $3.5-4BIL range. The Wilpons may treat the Mets like a low-rent lower east side apartment house, but they are far from broke.

Ben Badler‏ - @BenBadler -  GCL most likely RT  - Q:  Any idea if Ahmed Rosario opens in the GCL for the Mets or in the DSL?

          -agree…  expect players like Rosario, SS Leon Canelon, 3B Pedro Perez, and C Adrian Abreu, C Manuel Hilario, and OF Vincente Lupo to all make it to the GCL team.

Ben Badler ‏- @BenBadler - Wouldn't shock me, but he could use more Triple-A time RT Q – Jeurys Familia in pen to start year?

          -also agree…  he’s simply not ready and has failed to show the proper amount of command needed to make it in the pros. Familia needs to string together 6-8 good outings before being considered for Queens.

Rob Castellano has a wonderful breakout on the 2012 Binghamton Mets, which includes these thoughts on Wilmer Flores:

The re-emergence of Flores' outstanding bat couldn't have come at a better time as it helped to counteract the continued decline of his defensive value. Finally moving off of shortstop for good, Flores shifted all over the Binghamton infield getting reps at first, second and third. However, his extreme lack of foot speed minimized his range and consequently his value at second base and to a lesser extent third, where he proved serviceable. The good news is that his bat looks like the real deal no matter where he plays. What he lacks in athletic ability and defensive upside, he makes up for with one of the most advanced bats in all of minor league baseball and it's not a stretch to imagine him as one of the club's best offensive threats by this time next year. It's unclear where he'll fit with the Mets as they are currently constructed, yet if he replicates his success early next season they'll be forced to find a place for him. 

                              This one's pretty simple... Flores will play 3B in 2014 if Wright departs. If not, he will find himself on an American League team as part of a future trade...

                                      Hot Stove

Cubs sign P Shawn Camp - $1.35mil + $200K incentive – 2012 Cubs: 80-G, 3.59

Toronto DFA P Joel Carreno – 25-yrs old – 11-G, 6.14-ERA

Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, Josh Edgin, Jordany Valdespin, Kirk Nieuwenhuis

SP  Matt Harvey –

Kevin Kernan‏ -  Matt Harvey tells me his goal is to go to the big leagues at the start of the season

March 2^nd - 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 37 pitches…

Kevin Kernan - Looked to me that Matt Harvey was clipped on the hand on ball hit back up the middle by Nickeas. TC came out and ended inning

John Harper - Matt Harvey so-so 2 innings here in mets intrasquad game. Threw a couple of impressive change-ups, critical pitch to his development

Wally Backman - Matt is on a quick track, I think. [Harvey] has got more pitches, got more stuff and he’s very determined to get to the big leagues real fast, and his stuff definitely plays in the big leagues."

SP Jeurys Familia – 

Anthony DiComo‏ - Finally got a chance to sit down with Jeurys Familia today. Struck by how polished and professional he was

March 2^nd - Familia 2.0 IP, 0 H, 2 K, hitting 94

Terry Collins  - “Familia, boy, he’s got one of those really short strokes where the ball really jumps on you,”

Toby Hyde - Still, if you want to make comparisons, his fastball command and movement seemed a little ahead of Harvey.

Familia - “I don’t want to change anything from today, but I want to take a little more control of my changeup,”

Collins - “If the case may be this year that it looks like Harvey is going to make it, if it looks like Familia is getting close, I would like to get them to the next level. Get them to Triple-A, where they are going to see some better hitters, guys who have much more plate discipline and challenge them a little bit.

  RP Josh Edgin – 

Toby Hyde - Edgin was the only minor leaguer to throw live BP Thursday. One, this puts him ahead of his minor league brethren, and two, keeps him on schedule with the big leaguers. Afterward, he said he felt “good.”

SS  Jordany Valdespin –

Matt Cerrone - Jordany Valdespin, who looks to have a world of talent, but who is seemingly always been pressed by his coaches

OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis –

March 2 - Kirk Nieuwenhuis belts a long 2-run HR to give Team Orange a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

David Lennon‏ - Collins described Kirk Nieuwenhuis as a RH Jim Edmonds. Cool.

Terry Collins - “He’s got skills, he’s got great skills.He’s the kind of guy you hope, wherever he goes, this spring shows you that he’s healthy and does what he can do.”

Toby Hyde - As a nearby scout who thinks he can stay in CF said, “He runs pretty well for a big guy.”

Nieuwenhuis - “You’ve just got to go out there and put the injury behind you and keep playing,”