Another $25 came in the donation box from
someone that wishes to remain anonymous (as most do). Once again, I want to
thank this person and also thank the rest of you that have participated this
month. It looks like we’ll fall short of our goal, but it’s been the best
donation month in the history of the site. Again, God bless to all of you.
It was nice to see P Domingo Tapia get a start on national television, but all it did was confirm the vast difference between a potential relief pitcher and a starter. Anyone with the proper arm angle and the ability to consistently throw a 2-seamer above 94 can someday win a job as a relief pitcher, but you need a lot more if you are going to pitch through an entire lineup 3-4 times a game. Every change-up he threw was all over the place, which just hasn't been developed yet. He does have two great pitchers... fastball and slider... and it will take at least two more seasons in the minors to see if he can develop a third, control it, and remain confident on the mound. What you saw yesterday was a kid who lost it mentally and followed it with poor pitching.
Joel Sherman and I are on the same page here... link
From: Michael
Scannell - So....first a report comes out that Tulowitzki may be
available and now it appears the Mets aren't as in love with Tejada as once
thought. I know the contract is big but
I'd love to add him to the lineup. I'd
start with Duda (I could see him hitting 30+ HR playing at Coors and the Rox
need a 1B of the future) and some young pitching and go from there. No point sending Tejada over as Trevor Story would take over SS if Tulowitzki is
dealt. –
Mack: don’t always believe everything you read by
one of the beat reporters. Mets officials for years have tried to light a fire
under the ass of a slumping player by planting some bogus story with a
reporter. Remember, there are three more new reporters on the beat all trying
to out-do Yoda Rubin. Mets officials know this and this team has bigger fish to
fry than shortstop. I will say this. Omar Quintanilla is more than willing to step
in at any given moment, but this is a bad team with multiple problems. This
ship will only get back on course with a stellar 5-man rotation (which might be
now put off until 2015).
Brian Costa - Dan Warthen told
me Saturday he was very encouraged by Santana's progress, was optimistic based
on improvement over previous week. Either symptoms just started in recent days,
or there was some disconnect between team and pitcher as to his health.
Warthen was
never in the loop and, as we learned last night, Santana has still not talked
to Alderson. There is a tremendous amount of disconnect on this team that will
flow over to (eventually) new management on all levels.
It was interesting reading the tweets from the
SNY-MetsBlog staff about the addition on Bobby V to the pre-post on-air
show. Boy, did they sound excited (sic) to
have someone like him placed ahead of them in the pecking order. The good news
for the staff is the ‘V’ will eventually implode and things will get back to…
well, are things ever normal over there? Oh yeah, do you think this is the
camel that breaks Ron Darling’s back? Details to follow…
I think we got a look-see at how ticket sales
are going this season. The Mets are now offering a free ticket for an opening
week game if you buy a ticket for opening day. What this tells you are two
things… opening day is far from being sold out and the rest of the week sucks
as well. We already know this is going to be a long season win-loss wise. Now
we are confirming there will be an echo in the house.
I do have to say one thing. The Mets are
finishing the ST season as if they can really compete this year for a playoff
spot. Lucas Duda, Marlon Byrd, Ike Davis, John Buck,
and Jordany Valdespin are all hitting over .300
(warning: spring stats), while Jon Niese, Mike Harvey and
a handful of relievers look great, especially Bobby
Parnell (it’s the curve and change-up that’s been the difference). You
add to this a productive David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Shaun Marcum, and Dillon Gee and this could easily be a .500 team up to
the all-star break. Then, here comes Zack Wheeler and
Travis d’Arnaud and… wake up Mack and get your head out of the
clouds.
Marty Appel -
After Yanks and Mets openers Monday, hope you might want to come to Barnes
& Noble (150 E 86 St in NY) to meet Larry Ruttman, author of American Jews
and America's Game, a terrific oral history (chapters with Selig, Miller,
Youkilis, Randy Levine, Fehr, Al Rosen, Art Shamsky,
Dershowitz, ME!, many more). Larry will be discussing his book and engaging in
discussion in which I'll participate (copies of Pinstripe Empire also
available). 7 PM. Hope to see you there Monday
Bullpen Banter on Zack
Wheeler –
Sandy Alderson
heisted Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants after less than two years of
professional experience for two months of relatively ineffective Carlos Beltran; Wheeler has blossomed into a healthy
arm with great stuff showing strikeout per inning, front of rotation potential
with only his command (4.15 BB/9) keeping him from potential ace-hood.
Wheeler will
start the year in the minor leagues, although the destination is unknown. He
would be ticketed for Triple-A, but that would mean pitching in Las Vegas of
the PCL, which is one of the best hitters destinations in professional
baseball. He may start the year in Binghamton (AA) with an eye on working him
up to the big league roster in September (similar to what the Blue Jays did in
Las Vegas). However, if he does end up in Sin City, realize that, other than
strikeouts and walks, numbers from Vegas should be largely ignored as park
effects.
His fantasy value
in 2013 will be limited since the Mets may not want to start his service clock
until September, but look for him to make the jump around the All-Star Break if
Shaun Marcum is out long term and Wheeler’s Triple-A season progresses well.
Tim Teufel on:
Ike
Davis -
"Ike’s going to be a lot better this year. He’s moving around great. He’s
going to his glove side really well. Last year that was a weakness. I think
(the ankle) affected his range and his quickness. It limited his ability to
push off (and get to that ball). He has good hands, a soft glove. We’ve
shortened his stroke on throwing to convert the 3-6-3 a little better. I think
that will work."
Daniel
Murphy -
"From June on, he was an average to above average second baseman. We want
him to increase his range to his glove side. He’s very good on his backhand.
And he played in the shift really well. I don’t think he’ll go through the
growing pains he went through last year. He looks a lot more comfortable."
Ruben
Tejada -
"Ruben is still working his way into game shape (for a shortstop). It’s a
demanding position. Positioning is key with him because he’s not as gifted
range wise as some other shortstops. We’re working on getting him to understand
hitters, the mental part of the game, things like what guys do in RBI
situations and with two strikes."
David
Wright -
"I actually felt like his backhand was one of the best in the league last
season. I think the numbers may be because we overplay some hitters, so we
shade him off the line a little bit. We’ve worked with him in the past on his
throwing technique, but I think he’s got that wired right now. David is a step
ahead of the other guys, but remember he’s got eight years at third base and
all our other (infielders) have two years. He makes pretty good
adjustments."
Baltimore options P Kevin
Gausman
Houston OD rotation - R Bud Norris, R Lucas Harrell, R Philip
Humber, R Brad Peacock, L Erik Bedard.
Washington re-assigned first
baseman/outfielder Micah Owings and
infielder/outfielder Carlos
Rivero to minor league camp
Rockies To Designate Ramon
Hernandez For Assignment
Marlins Agree To Terms With Miguel Olivo
This is a feel good Scott
Kazmir story – link - Kazmir was very
good in 2008, but you could see he was in a dangerous place. He was relying heavily
on a single pitch, and it was the only one he could consistently throw for
strikes: his slider was a ball 45 percent of the time, while his change-up was
out of the zone at a 43 percent rate. So, in 2009, Kazmir added a sinking
two-seamer to his repertoire, and began to work that in more often than in the
past. His four-seamer usage dropped to 44 percent, sinker usage shot up to 20
percent, and he finally had a second pitch he could throw for strikes.
