Reese Kaplan -- "What We Need Right Now is a Wild Pitch!"

With the 30th anniversary of the 1986 Mets World Series championship season, a lot of people are reminiscing about where they were, what they were doing and what impact that period of time had on their lives.

I had been dating my now-wife for about a year and one of the foundations of compatibility we had a was undying loyalty to the Mets.  She was living in Queens Village and there was more than one occasion when we made the journey shorter by starting out or ending up at her apartment rather than trekking back or from New Jersey where I was living at the time.  She grew up during the Rusty Staub years – her favorite player – whereas my fan DNA could be traced to my earliest childhood.

For Game 6 we had been invited to a friend’s home to have a group gathering in New Jersey of mostly Yankee fans who were begrudgingly accepting that the Mets had indeed advanced to the biggest stage but were also indulging in some schadenfreude with the Red Sox up by a 3-2 margin and able to vanquish the Curse of the Bambino once and for all.  The only thing that would have made it more perfect for them would have been to have the backdrop of the Green Monster when the champagne poured, but this game took place at Shea Stadium.

Behind another strong start by Roger Clemens the Red Sox look poised for easy victory, but the Mets kept it close in the middle innings after Bobby Ojeda found his rhythm, but by the time both starters were gone in the 9th inning, the Mets found themselves behind 5-3.  The announcers had commented extensively about how no team had ever come from behind in the World Series.

As the Mets came up in the bottom of the 9th it surely looked like it was all over.  The elation of the 108 win 1986 season after all those long years of misery was about come crashing down.  It just couldn’t be happening!

First came pesky now AAA manager Wally Backman who served as the team’s number 2 slot hitter.  He unfortunately popped out to left field.  He was followed by now Mets announcer Keith Hernandez who promptly flew out to centerfield.  This can’t be happening!  It’s over.  It’s really over!

Everyone at the party who was a Mets fan made the silent decision not to watch the final out drive the last nail into the coffin of championship expectations.  Two of us moved over to the ping pong table to smash our frustrations against the harmless little ball.

From the den came the first shout of, “Oh crap!  Tying run on first!” from one of the Yankee fans when Gary Carter lined a single to left field.  With Kevin Mitchell coming up, it was indeed possible that one swing of the bat could tie the game.  I remember vividly raising my eyebrow at my ping pong opponent as if to ask, “Do you want to watch?”  Again, wordlessly he hooked a thumb in the direction of den as if merely uttering any words would somehow shatter the very fragile vessel containing hope and optimism.

As we arrived, Mitchell was a facing off against ex-Met Calvin Schiraldi and after fouling off a pitch drove the ball into centerfield to put the tying runs on base.  We cheered but still no one said anything for fear of how quickly it could end.

Next up was Ray Knight who’d earlier driven in a run and would eventually have the dubious distinction of being the first ever World Series MVP who was not brought back the following year to play for the team.

Schiraldi got Knight to foul off a pitch before he hit a check swing down the third base line which looked like it could lead to bases loaded, but future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs wisely let it roll foul rather than attempt to make a hurried throw to first.  In retrospect that might have been a better outcome for the visiting Red Sox as Knight launched a ball with an awkward swing into centerfield, driving in the less than fleet-footed Carter and advancing Kevin Mitchell to third base.  We were screamingly wildly, although the Mets still trailed by a run but at least it looked like they would not go down without a fight.

As Bob Stanley came in to replace the sputtering Schiraldi, Mookie Wilson came to the plate to try to figure out a way to bring home that tying run and keep the World Series dream alive.  After getting to a two-strike count, I will never forget turning to the assembled crowd and speaking for the first time since the 9th inning began and saying, “What we need right now is a wild pitch!”  Stanley reared back and indeed threw one too far inside right on cue and Kevin Mitchell raced home past as catcher Rich Gedman went to the backstop to retrieve the errant Stanley pitch.

I’m as cynical and pessimistic as anyone I know, but with this improbable come-from-behind effort to tie the score, I forgot all rational thought and became a true believing fanatic.  I figured the extra innings would come, it was a brand new ballgame and somehow the Mets would pull out victory.

Sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction and no one watching could have predicted what would happen next.  On the 10th pitch of Mookie Wilson’s at bat, he trickled the slow roller down the first base line that likely would have kept the inning alive but leaving the Mets with runners on the corners.  Instead, the ball went through normally steady-fielding Bill Bucker’s legs for a key miscue that allowed Knight to come all the way around with the winning run.  Most of us will never forget Bob Murphy’s impassioned and incredulous, “It gets by Bucker!” but the most telling came from Vin Scully who in response to the events of that 9th inning said, “Not only are they alive, they are well!”

When they fell behind in Game 7, I had no lack of faith that they would prevail after witnessing the legendary comeback.  Indeed they did and the Mets secured their second World Series championship.  In a way, Game 7 was a letdown after the emotional rollercoaster of Game 6 and a great many times I’ve started rhetorical arguments with fellow Mets fans about how they would have felt had the Mets won Game 6 but then lost Game 7.  Would it have felt like a moral victory or like kissing one’s sister?

For those of you lucky enough to get out to CitiField to welcome and celebrate the 1986 team, I envy you.  They deserve it.  They created life long memories as vivid today as they were when it happened.  Let’s go, Mets!

Mack’s Morning Report – 5-28-16 – Ernest Dove, Draft Day, Yoenes Cespedes

Good morning.

Ernest Dove, who has been an exclusive writers for Mack’s Mets since he began turning out gems, has decided to split his time between Mack’s Mets and the Metsmerized owned Mets Minors site. He has my blessing to branch out and plans on posting there his rewarding St. Lucie Mets analysis’ on the games he attends live (like last night). He will continue to post every Friday at 10am his weekly prospect post here at Mack’s Mets.

Also, I have a very special Sunday coming up on June 5^th, the Sunday prior to the draft. It will include my last composite draft for the season at 8am, followed by a list of the top (ranked) players available in the draft, by position (LHP, RHP, outfielders, infielders, catchers), posted every two hours (10am, 12noon, 2pm,4pm, 6pm).

I hope you enjoy my last draft analysis.

Marc Carig Marc Carig - on Yoenes Cespedes –

Progress required building a relationship over time, a luxury that Long and assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler didn’t have last season, when Cespedes was viewed as a rental.

But when he re-signed with the Mets, the time had come for real progress, though history showed that such well-intentioned missions haven’t always gone smoothly.

“When I was in Oakland, they tried to change my swing,” Cespedes said through a translator. “And I didn’t like that.”

The Mets, however, didn’t seek a swing change. They sought to refine an approach.

Mack – You can not attempt to ‘manage’ a player like Cespedes. It’s like telling Donald Trump how he has to run for President. There seems to be very good chemistry here and it’s nice to see that Carig has moved on from writing negative stories about Matt Harvey.


boy, that was a suck win..

W	L	PCT	GB	WCGB						NEXT GAME
NY Mets	28	19	.596	-						5/27 vs LAD, W 6-5	5/28 vs LAD, 7:15 PM
Washington	29	20	.592	-						5/27 vs STL, L 2-6	5/28 vs STL, 7:15 PM
Philadelphia	26	22	.542	2.5						5/27 @ CHC, L 2-6	5/28 @ CHC, 2:20 PM
Miami	25	22	.532	3.0						5/26 @ TB, W 9-1	Live @ ATL

Ya know, long time readers here know how I wear my emotions on my sleeve… I just read EDove’s post over on the site that is owned by the guy that tried for years to put me out of business.

I’m going to end my post today and concentrate on producing a quality series of posts for the Sunday prior to draft day.

Ernest Dove - New York Mets Prospect Watch: RP Corey Taylor

                                    Corey Taylor pitching in a game 04/16 for St. Lucie Mets


  Well what do you know, last weeks prospect watch pitcher Alberto Baldonado was just promoted after my post.  Maybe this next reliever will have the same luck.

  Today I wanted to write a post to single out 2015 7th round pick Corey Taylor.  Corey will play out the season as a 23 year old and currently still toes the rubber for the High A St. Lucie Mets. Always hard to judge guys with such a short time span starting out in the minors since being drafted.  Coming into this week Corey had just passed 37 innings in his career, all as a reliever within the system.

  Corey, as a college arm, was sent straight to Brooklyn the year he was drafted into the organization, and is/was listed as being 6" 1" and 250LBS out of Texas Tech. In 18 innings of work Corey had an obviously very solid 1.50 ERA for the short season club.  This year, again you have to consider age, Corey was jumped over Low A and sent directly to St. Lucie, where he has continued his solid start and efforts.   Corey has started off the year again with a sub 1.00 ERA, and as I stated in my previous LIVE from Lucie post last month, we need to please keep in mind that there were runs charged to Corey in that game that should not have been if not for a poor call by the home plate umpire who had to make a judgement call on a line drive down the first base line.  The ball, in my humble opinion (along with everyone else sitting in plain view down the line) was foul, but in the minors there's only two umpires and the other umpire was stationed back behind second base area and not down the line to call it.

  Anyway, my observations from my brief eye ball test on Corey was a guy with a solid makeup.  The radar gun had him consistently at 92 MPH on his fastball. He does have weight on him and a strong build, so especially as a reliever he looks the part of a man who can hold up during the grind of a long major league season. Again, just my opinion but I believe Mr. Taylor is a young man that all of us minor league ball player followers should keep an eye on.

  As a reliever, one thing to always keep an eye on is his newly ongoing status as the St Lucie Mets closer and how he continues to close out games. His walk rate appears pretty solid, with the K rate currently below 9/9inn. And, in a short sample size, right now the right hander has one of those weird reverse splits going.  Right handers are actually hitting over .300 against him so far this year, with more hits than innings he's pitched collectively against them. Meanwhile, opposing lefty hitters on hitting under .200 against him right now. Also, (extreme small sample size alert), when behind in the count opposing hitters are batting just under .400 against Corey, and his WHIP is sitting at/around 2.50 in those situations. So even though his walk rate is solid he obviously needs to apparently improve on how to pitch back at hitters when he falls behind the count and not just simply pitch to contact to avoid a walk.

  All in all the jury is out on a young man who is technically a 23 year old college arm who is still only at the A ball level, so I would like to see him jump to AA ball after the all star break and see what happens for remainder of the 2016 season.  And again, as always, we as Mets fans have become very spoiled watching our major league starters and relievers all hurling 95+ every night, so it will interesting to see long term how Corey fits into the organization should that radar gun have been accurate and if he will continue sit in the low 90s as a righty bullpen arm.

  So here's to hoping the young man continues to put up more zeros on the board during outings like he just did last night, lowers the hit to innings pitched ratio a bit (come on umpires) and get looksy back at him later in the year, hopefully playing for Bingo.

Mack’s Morning Report – 5-27-16 - David Wright, Tom Murphy, T.J. Rivera

Good morning –

David Wright on Matt Harvey –

“A lot of us don’t necessarily agree with what he did. but we take this game very personally. And when we don’t play at a level we’re accustomed to, sometimes we make decisions that we regret. ... You want to be known as an accountable player. You want to be a stand-up guy. And this is a little blip on the radar screen. Hopefully we all learn from it and don’t make the same mistake again.”

          Mack – Keith and Ron spent a fair amount of time on this subject during the Nats day game… it seems to wear a little thin on the other players and the unofficial rule around baseball includes a commitment to ‘man up’ with the beat press, especially after a bad game. Hopefully, this will all go away before his next outing.

A reader, named ‘anonymous’, chimes in on my search for a new catcher –

        “A catcher I would target is the Rockies Tom Murphy!”

        Murphy is a former third round draft pick, in 2012, by the Rockies. The 6-1 RHH has played his entire professional career for Colorado most of which has been in the minors.

        He played 11-G, 35-AM for the parent club last year, but has since returned to AAA where he is hitting .283 after 80-Abs.

        Murphy is 25-years old and is playing in an organization that already has, at catcher, Nick Hundley, Dustin Garneau, and Tony Wolters.

       

Julian McWilliams on T. J. Rivera –

        As baseball has entered the analytics phase, Rivera isn’t necessarily a sabermetric geek’s dream player. In 2166 at-bats in the minors, Rivera only has 29 homers, which might not play well if he were to step in for Duda at first base. Still, there is something to be said about .372 with an on-base percentage of .406 and an OPS of .957.

Certainly those numbers will drop, but Rivera could help weather the storm during Duda’s absence — and do it at a more consistent rate than the first baseman.

He just needs an opportunity,” said one scout. “This kid hits and keeps hitting.”

His chance will have to wait, but when he gets it he’ll be ready to hit like always.

Avi: Has Matz become the #4 best pitcher on the Mets or is he even higher?

Eno Sarris: Second or third best right now!

Goopy: What’s up with Granderson? I know he’s usually a slow starter but this is reallyyyyy slowwwww

Eno Sarris: He’s pretty old. I’m not holding too long.

Richmond 4 - Binghamton 1

The Richmond Flying Squirrels scored three runs in the top of the seventh to break a scoreless tie and held on to defeat the Binghamton Mets, 4-1, Thursday at NYSEG Stadium. Major League rehabber Wilmer Flores was 0-for-3 with a walk and logged nine innings defensively at second base.

A pitchers’ duel developed in the first six innings between Richmond’s Dan Slania and Robert Gsellman. Making his first career start, Slania struck out eight and allowed only two hits in five scoreless innings. He did not factor in the decision.

Gsellman cruised until the seventh inning. With one out, Ali Castillo singled and then scored from first on a Jeff Arnold double. Ricky Oropesa then stroked a double to right center, scoring Arnold from second. Rando Moreno kept the line moving with a double in the ensuing at bat, driving in Oropesa to make the score 3-0 Richmond.

Gsellman (1-4) was pulled with two outs in the seventh and took the loss with three runs on eight hits and five strikeouts.

Binghamton fought back with a run in the seventh as Phillip Evans bounced a grounder that snuck past Moreno at short. Colton Plaia scored from second and the B-Mets cut the lead to 3-1. Binghamton would leave the bases loaded to end the threat, the second consecutive inning in which it stranded three baserunners.

Richmond got one more in the ninth when Castillo tripled and scored on a wild pitch. Ray Black (1-4) picked up the win with one scoreless inning in relief of Slania. Tyler Rogers earned his third save with a clean ninth.

Derrik Gibson went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles and Jared King was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.

MY 2015 TOP 50 PROSPECTS REVISITED by Tom Brennan

MY TOP 50 REVISITED by Tom Brennan

Last fall, I formulated my top 50 minor league prospects.  The list was premature, as some were traded or picked up by other organizations.  Some of the guys are hurt, some are slated for a short season league and have not played yet in 2016.

That said, now that we are nearly 2 months into 2016, how am I doing on those picks?  Better yet, how are THEY doing?

First 25 from 2015 this week, last 25 will be next week.

MY FALL 2015 COMMENTARY AND RANKING:

-         HOW IS 2016 SHAPING UP?

#1 DILSON HERRERA: turns 22 in 2016…has not done well in 2014 and 2015 in brief appearances with Mets. Last 2 minor league seasons? WOW.  In 862 at bats in 2014 and 2015, 58 doubles, 7 triples, 24 HRs, 121 RBIs, 167 runs, .327, 75 BBs, and 36 of 52 steals.  I speculate he will be the Mets starting 2B in 2016, and hopefully a future All Star. 

-         Little fella is leading the Mets minors with 8 homers, hovering around .280.  19 XBH in 40 games.  Like to see him dominating more with the stick.  But he is essentially ready when needed.                                                                                        

#2 DOMINIC SMITH: 20 year old 1st round pick IN 2013 was MVP in the FSL. He turned a miserable 9 for 63 start to his season in St Lucie into a surge of doubles and a .330 average the rest of the way.  Considered a superior defensive 1B, 2016 should show us the true Dominic Smith. Future All Star, especially if he hits long balls like Michael Conforto.

-         In his arrival in AA in 2016, surrounded by a weak offensive cast, Dom has put up solid but not spectacular #’s (.275/.311/.413 with 4 homers and 31 RBIs in 43 games).  I expect more when he turns 21 in 3 weeks – so does Ernest Dove.

#3  GAVIN CECCHINI: first rounder in 2012, he broke through offensively in 2015 and won AA rookie of the year. In 109 games, hit .317/.377/.442, struck out just 55 times.  He got better in the late weeks of the season defensively, a ton of errors prior to that. Mets’ infield situation is crowded, so we’ll see if he can push his way into a starting job with the Mets by 2017, or be a strong utility man. 

-          On the DL for 2½ weeks but just back off it.  Diagnosed with d'Armand Frequent Injury Syndrome (dFIS).  Needs to stay on field more.  But he has hit .500 over his last 10, so maybe a dominant 22 year old Cecchini is about to emerge.

#4 - DESMOND LINDSAY: probably too high to list the Mets’ 2015 2^nd round selection, as the 18 year old only got 130+ plate appearances post-draft…he did well, and got to play 14 games once he was promoted late in the season to Brooklyn, where he held his own.  His tools are thought of very highly.  I’d love to see him challenged and put on a full season roster in 2016.

-         Got hurt in the spring so he will do a short season league, most likely Brooklyn.  

#5 - BRANDON NIMMO: hard to list him at # 5, with just a .354 slugging % in 2015.  He gets a lot of hype, but so far the former 2012 first round pick has under-delivered more often than he has excited.  For this first rounder in 2011 right out of HS, it is time to show us a breakthrough season in 2016 and a whole lot more power.  Or trade him.

-         Very slow AAA start in 2016, but an on base machine of late.  How does getting on base 25 times in his last 10 games sound? .300/.395/.444. Needs to add long ball (just one so far).  But he is starting to look like a first rounder.

#6 MAX WOTELL: I highly ranked Max at #6 because the Mets selected the lefty out of HS in the 3^rd round, indicative of being considered very highly, and the 18 year old in 2015 pitched little (at least in official games) but put up eye-catching #’s: (10.2 IP, 2 hits, 9 walks, 16 Ks).  Long way to go for Max, but I am kind of hoping we may have another lefty like Steve Matz in Max.  

-         Mad Max should be pepping for a short season campaign to start soon. So this very high ranking will sit in limbo for a while and we’ll see if I guessed right.

#7. AMED ROSARIO: perhaps the best Mets’ minor league SS prospect, reputed to be a future above average SS with speed and hitting ability.  Power should come as the pounds are added to his slender 19 year old frame.  Could have a long and successful year as a MLB starting SS.  As a 20 year old, he should head to AAA.

 - Amed started out an offensive house on fire in St Lucie, and despite a cool recent few weeks, he sits at .301/.362/.445 after 44 games. Still seems the youth is on track for a possible starter role at SS for the Mets in 2018.  Mets need him to succed to help keep the future team payroll manageable.

#8 AKEEL MORRIS: awesome in A ball, struggled a bit when sent to AA, but finished strong.  Last 3 years in the minors: 8-4, 30 of 34 save opportunities, 163 innings, 230 Ks, 1.27 ERA.  Crazy numbers, resulting from a mid 90s fastball, terrific change up, and determination.  AAA is in his near future if he is not traded, and a likely major league fully gestated debut some time in 2016. 

 - Akeel has still allowed a high rate of walks, and had a rough start this year, but is 0.71 ERA-wise over his last 10 outings. Probable mid-season promotion to AAA if he continues his recent strong efforts.

# 9 RAFAEL MONTERO: horrible year injury-wise; I thought he’d be a top major league pitching entry.  If healthy, he deserves to be higher on this list.  If deemed healthy, other teams may make a play for him. 

 - Three of his last 4 AAA starts have been quality.  He may be closer to the Montero we all thought we had when he was first emerging.  Starting to justify my #9 slot.

#10 DARRELL CECILIANI: like him more than Nimmo – keeps pulling hamstrings, a real problem.  A bit over his head during his sporadic playing time in Queens in 2015.  In 70 games in Vegas, he went .345/.398/.581 and stole 16 of 20.  DC has a real chance as Mets 5^th OF in 2016.

 - GONE!! Off to the Blue Jays he went.  Great spring, almost made the team, but the injury prone DC was sent to AAA by the Jays and injuries have kept him to 17 games.  Seems jinxed.  Wish him well.

#11 JEFF MCNEIL: thought he should have been co-MVP of the FSL with Smith.  McNeil played 119 games for St Lucie, .312/.373/.382 with 80 runs scored and 16 of 21 steals.  Only 59 Ks.  A whole lot to like.  Solid D. Add some pop and his value will be indisputable. 

 - Hernia surgery has limited him to 3 games this year. Presumably will return in a few weeks.

#12 PATRICK MAZELKA: this 2015 8^th round selection had a superlative season in Kingsport.  He hit a robust .354/.451/.540 in 62 games, and just 1 error catching.  Get him into a full season league in 2016.  In my opinion, make that assignment St Lucie and let's see what he's got. 

 - Super intriguing.  He misses several weeks, but upon his return, in his first 8 games at Columbia, he is.444/.529/.519.  In nearly 300 plate appearances in his career so far, he is hitting .364. High hopes for this guy, especially considering the putrid offensive output of the Mets' catchers so far this year.

#13 LUIS GUILLORME: S. Atlantic League MVP.  He should have been promoted mid season, but with a glut of infielders in higher leagues, he played 122 games, hit .318/.391/.354, and drove in 55 runs, stole 18 of 26 and flashed leather.  Only area of focus would be more extra base hits.  Most likely slated for the FSL, where he will try to win another MVP. 

 - St Lucie in 2016 has been a wall of resistance for Luis, but he seems to be adjusting, having reached base 17 times in the last 10 games to climb to .250. No triples or homers career-wise, and just 33 doubles, in over 1100 at bats are red flags for Guillorme's future as a possible major leaguer.

#14 EUDOR GARCIA:  2014 4^th rounder manned 3B for the Gnats and in 105 games, .296/.340/.442.  Needs to tamp down a little on the Ks, and boost his walk rate.Possible candidate to replace David Wright at some point at the hot corner. 12 errors, needs to tighten that up.

 - His drug suspension will be up soon, then we'll see.

#15  WUILMER BECERRA:  Wuilmer’s year (.290/.342/.423) virtually cloned Eudor Garcia’s for Savannah, except he stole more (16 of 24).  A real possibility for the OF in Queens by late 2017 or 2018.  Headed most likely for St Lucie in 2016.

 - At #15, ranked too low by me. Despite a recent cool off, he sits at a tremendous .353 after nearly 40 games in St Lucie. Only 10 doubles and no homers are perplexing, as one would expect decent long ball pop from Wuilmer - can't imagine it won't come soon.

#16  DARIO ALVAREZ: in 2014, dominated in A ball in relief, was lousy this year in April and May 2015, and back to dominance in 2015 from June on.  Great breaking ball got Dario lots of minor league strikeouts in 2014 and 2015: 176 in 115 innings. Walked a few too many in 2015.  He could be a lead lefty out of the Mets pen in 2016 – or fail to cut it - time will tell.

 - Overrated by me. He had a high strikeout, but otherwise awful, 2016 and was just dropped from the 40 man roster to make room for Ty Kelly to be added to it when promoted to the bigs.

# 17  SETH LUGO: RHSP, a 34^th rounder in 2011. Pitched well enough in AA in 2015, got to start 5 games late in the season in AAA, where he went 2-2, 4.00, and struck out 30 in 27 innings.  He feels like a Dillon Gee quality pitcher, when Gee was close to major league ready.  Seems he could be a Logan Verrett equivalent and, as such, a 5^th starter/pen type eventually. 

 - Wrong so far.  Seth has had a very rough go of it in 2016. Eight starts, 7.45 ERA, but showing improvement. Can he get hot and justify my 17th rank? Time will tell.

#18  LUIS MATEO: promising enough to be a highly ranked Mets pitching prospect heading into 2013. Tommy John effectively blew away most of 2013, most of 2014, and half of 2015.  But Luis got in 17 relief outings in 2015, with a 1.59 ERA, 24 Ks in 22.2 IP, and a 0.79 WHIP.  Which tells me he is healthy.  If healthy, maybe the old Luis is back and he makes the Mets pen at some point in 2016. 

 - Too optimistic of me. Luis has been mediocre in the Binghamton pen this year, below the trajectory I expected.  11 runs in 20 innings, just 13 Ks, 1-3.  Let's see where he goes from here.

# 19  CHRISTIAN MONTGOMERY: 11^th round 2011 out of HS, had adjustment problems, hardly pitched before 2015 in Brooklyn.  He dazzled early, with 9.2 shutout innings in relief, fanning 18.  Hot and cold in Savannah after being promoted there, but in his last 4 relief appearances there, the hard throwing righty went 7.1 innings, allowed 2 hits, and fanned 16. Who does that?  Perhaps this gent can be another Jeurys Familia.  Let’s see how he does in 2016.

-         Jekyll and Hyde. Two awful games to start the season, mostly intriguing since then: 1.59 ERA, 24 Ks in 17 innings over his last 10 games. But he still is only at Columbia, so he needs to keep refining and dominating to progress.

#20 MATT REYNOLDS: great season in 2014 for this 2012 2nd rounder, great spring 2015 that had many speculating if he’d make the Mets out of camp, great AAA April, then…well, not so great.  He struggled the rest of 2015, including dealing with an elbow injury.  A .267/.319/.402 season line.  He did drive in 65 and score 70 and steal 13 of 17. Bad year that he will rebound from?  One could see him repeating AAA or being traded. 

-         Got his first big league hit after being called up. Had been cold in May pre-call up, and mediocre most of 2015 in AAA.  Not sure if he’ll be more than a fringe big leaguer at this point.

#21. JACK LEATHERSICH: on the verge of moving from prospect to post-prospect major leaguer when he got sent back down as a roster maneuver, then felled by a TJ elbow  - just as he seemed poised to clear the major league hump, a huge setback. Presume he’ll miss much of 2016.

 - GONE!! I  posted my ranking shortly before the Cubbies got him last fall. Still on the mend.

# 22 ROB GSELLMAN: 13^th rounder out of HS in 2011, the RHSP in St Lucie in 2015 went 6-0, 1.76 in 8 starts.  On to AA for the 22 year old: he was solid at 7-7, 3.51, but only 49 Ks in 92 innings there.  I do not like to project relatively low K guys very high, but he had a heck of a year, and perhaps should be higher on my list.  Hoping for a big 2016 for Rob.

 - Started out hot in 2016 in AA, cooled a bit, has gotten no offensive support, so he sits at 1-3, 2.56 after 8 starts.  Part of the learning experience. 37 Ks in 46 IP are decent, but a bit low.

#23 CHRIS FLEXEN:  14^th rounder out of HS in 2012, Flexen pitched really well until he needed Tommy John surgery in 2014.  He pitched some great games for Savannah in 2015.  I am looking forward to seeing a healthy Flexen move up the charts in 2016.

 - Slow 2016 to date in St Lucie. 2-5, 4.47 ERA in 8 starts. Just 31 Ks in 48 IP.  Needs to step it up a lot or I overrated him.

# 24 PAUL SEWALD: Mets' 10^th round selection in 2012 went 3-0, 1.75 in AA, 24 of 25 saves, an 0.86 WHIP, and 56 Ks in 51 IP. For his 4 year career, he is 11-5 in 192 IP, 227 Ks, 0.97 WHIP, 47 of 49 saves.  Who could do better? What keeps him from being a Top 5 Mets prospect is a fastball that tops out at 91.  Next stop Vegas, surely the majors should not be far behind.

 - I UNDERRATED HIM! Paul has hit some adversity of late (a few blown saves), but in his recent 6 game "bad" stretch, he surrendered 10 hits in 5.2 innings, but also fanned 10. Still has a 2.74 ERA. He is the best reliever in the Mets minors right now, bar none.  I expect he will be a September call up - if the Mets were less pitching- rich, he'd be up already.

# 25 GABE YNOA: mediocre in 2015, 9-9, 3.90, just 82 Ks in 152 IP (4.8 per 9 innings).  Let’s hope he can ramp up the performance and Ks in 2016. Possible back end rotation or pen guy, unless Ks jump a lot. 

-         LOW K GABE has been strong this year, with just 28 Ks in 57 IP, but is 5-1. 2.50 after 9 AAA starts.  Don't know still how a guy with low K rate succeeds at the much tougher big league level, but a guy who career-wise is 52-26, 3.15 should figure out a way to be at least a long arm in a major league pen.  Trade bait?