FANGRAPHS - The Best and Worst Teams - Two Months In

Offense	R	xR	Difference	Defense	RA	xRA	Difference	Total	Rdiff	xRDiff	Difference
Athletics	270	256	14	——	170	165	-5	——	100	91	9
Angels	256	256	0	——	211	176	-35	——	45	81	-36
Cardinals	212	215	-3	——	188	178	-10	——	24	37	-13
Rockies	271	282	-11	——	237	249	12	——	34	33	1
Giants	234	219	15	——	186	195	9	——	48	24	24
Dodgers	234	250	-16	——	227	229	2	——	7	20	-13
Marlins	246	245	1	——	222	225	3	——	24	20	4
Braves	178	194	-16	——	174	176	2	——	4	19	-15
Blue Jays	274	280	-6	——	244	264	20	——	30	16	14
Brewers	220	229	-9	——	203	215	12	——	17	14	3
Tigers	232	230	2	——	213	216	3	——	19	13	6
Nationals	203	210	-7	——	202	197	-5	——	1	13	-12
Cubs	194	182	13	——	205	188	-17	——	-11	-6	-5
Yankees	224	226	-2	——	231	232	1	——	-7	-6	-1
Indians	230	234	-4	——	255	244	-11	——	-25	-10	-15
Rays	214	221	-7	——	241	233	-8	——	-27	-11	-16
Reds	177	186	-9	——	196	200	4	——	-19	-14	-5
Mariners	218	182	36	——	207	198	-9	——	11	-16	27
White Sox	258	239	19	——	268	256	-12	——	-10	-18	8
Astros	209	221	-12	——	247	239	-8	——	-38	-18	-20
Pirates	203	219	-16	——	228	240	12	——	-25	-21	-4
Orioles	220	225	-5	——	233	247	14	——	-13	-22	9
Twins	216	210	6	——	243	235	-8	——	-27	-25	-2
Mets	208	197	11	——	213	224	11	——	-5	-27	22
Royals	205	190	15	——	219	218	-1	——	-14	-28	14
Rangers	232	230	2	——	242	258	16	——	-10	-28	18
Red Sox	217	217	1	——	234	253	19	——	-17	-36	19
Diamondbacks	220	222	-2	——	277	261	-16	——	-57	-39	-18
Padres	175	169	7	——	203	208	5	——	-28	-40	12
Phillies	201	197	4	——	232	247	15	——	-31	-51	20

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-best-and-worst-teams-two-months-in/

ROSTER MOVE - Rafael Montero

SP Rafael Montero has been sent back to Las Vegas

ROSTER MOVE - RP - Buddy Carlyle

Buddy Carlyle has been promoted from Las Veags to the Mets

A Quick Look at Outfield Draft Prospect Bradley Zimmer

Outfield prospect Bradley Zimmer with the Humboldt Crabs in 2012. An article profiling Zimmer starts with "When people describe Bradley Zimmer, the first two words that come out of their mouths are he's big and fast. An unfortunate combination of words if you were describing, say, a ballerina. Luckily for Zimmer and the Crabs' fans, he's the promising right fielder for the 2012 team and someone with a bright career ahead of him".

In short, I want the Mets to draft Bradley Zimmer. I see no scenario in which SS prospects Nick Gordon or Trea Turner are still on the board, nor someone like Alex Jackson falls to #10. Out of the remaining options, few are as attractive as Brad Zimmer. Let's take a look at some of his history, stats, tools, and why the Mets are looking closely at this diverse athlete:

Name: Bradley Zimmer
Date of Birth: 3-15-93 (age 21)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Previously drafted: 2011- Cubs (21rd round)
Family: Brother Kyle drafted first round (5th pick) in 2012 as a starting pitcher
2014 Stats: University of San Francisco, Junior season: .368/.461/.573/1.034 with 7 homers, 31 RBI, 42 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases (but 11 CS as well). 31 walks against 34 strikeouts in 220 at bats.

Bradley Zimmer has five tools. Certain scouts are concerned that he will not be able to make enough good contact against major league pitching, that his poor stolen base percentage in college will make his base path speed moot in the MLB, and despite his toolbox of skills, some have concerns that none play up enough to make him a top 10 pick.

While the naysayers have their doubts about Zimmer, I do not. He has crushed the ball everywhere he has played, and even a rocky freshman campaign at San Francisco showed promise. He hits line drives. He hits for power. He will sustain a higher-than-average BABIP. He has size, speed, and athleticism scouts dream about. He should stick in center, ameliorating concerns about his offensive profile. He has a cannon of an arm, possessing one of the best outfield arms in the draft (I have only Gettys as better on my list) and excellent closing speed. Think Jason Heyward as a good defensive comparison, with a better arm. I actually like the Heyward comparison. They are both tall, lanky, athletic outfielders with power, speed, and on-base ability.

Zimmer should be one of the faster prospects to the big leagues and would share an ETA with Brandon Nimmo (something like late 2015).

Would you draft Jayson Heyward with the #10 pick? Despite his struggles, I would. Right now, it looks like Zimmer is the most likely selection, assuming the top shortstop prospects have been selected by other teams.

Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Getting close to draft day and this is one to pay attention to.

--SG

Reese Kaplan - You Can't Win 'Em All in El Paso

Friday night I had the pleasure of visiting Southwest University Stadium for a rematch of the visiting Las Vegas 51s with the home El Paso Chihuahuas (also known as the C-Dogs and sometimes the Angry Puppies).  They’re flush with their collective little chests puffed out because in some "Clash of the Caps" baseball cap contest they apparently won best design over such luminaries as the Albuquerque Isotopes and the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

The last time I was here it was with press pass in hand.  This time I was part of a group purchase of the Fiesta Patio area, a series of tables with four mesh swivel chairs surrounding them at field level just past the 1^st base  dugout (which in this stadium is reserved for the visiting Las Vegas 51s). 

I arrived around 5:45 for the 7:05 game and got in line with some of my coworkers.  Everyone seemed genuinely excited about going to the game and it was clear that despite their lackluster standing in the division, the Chihuahuas are a huge hit in merchandising.  The vast majority of the 9000 fans in the sellout crowd were wearing some form of Chihuahuas attire. 

As the game prepared to start it turned out to be an exact rematch of the pitchers from May 15^th’s game – righty Giancarlo Alvarado for the 51s and lefty Jason Lane for the Chihuahuas.  Prior to the start of the game the players were so close I was able to converse with several of them.  Josh Satin extended his greetings to the Macks Mets family.  Omar Quintanilla was smiling and seemingly enjoying his celebrity status as the locals cheer for the hometown hero as loudly as they do for the Chihuahuas.  Cesar Puello was genuinely friendly, came right up, shook my hand and said he hoped to make it to Queens someday (pointing at my chest emblazoned with a Mets embroidered logo).  

When the game started it looked like it might be another Las Vegas laugher with two loud fly balls for outs off the bats of little Danny Muno  and Josh Satin.  As Andrew Brown stepped to the plate I turned to the people surrounding me and said, “This guy has excellent power against lefties – just watch!”  Right on queue he slams the next pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run and a 1-0 Las Vegas lead.  They loaded the bases on hits by Zach Lutz,  Cesar Puello and an error landing Kirk Nieuwenhuis on first.  Unfortunately catcher Taylor Teagarden struck out to end the threat.

Giancarlo Alvarado started off strongly with a 1-2-3 first while keeping the ball in the infield the whole time.  Unfortunately his strong start was short-lived as the C-Dogs struck back quickly in the second with three runs of their own, including a very non-pitcher-like swing for a run scoring double down the line by former outfielder Jason Lane.    

With the seats right on top of the field we were wondering if foul balls would reach us and sure enough a liner foul to right bounced into our reserved group area from the upper tier with one of our employees grabbing it for his daughter.  Later on another foul was fielded cleanly by another employee who presented it to his son who had just arrived from Atlanta the previous day.  It couldn’t have happened any more perfectly. 

The game was fairly uneventful until the 6^th when Omar Quintanilla hit into a 4-3 forceout to drive in a run pulling the 51s within a run, 3-2.  Unfortunately that margin was quickly given back when a routine fly ball to end the inning pitcher Jason Lane on first running on contact resulted in a run when Puello dropped the ball making a casual one-handed play.

 At 4-2 it looked like a lost cause for the 51s until the top of the 9^th inning when all hell broke loose.   After Danny Muno hit a two-out double to bring the tying run to the plate, Josh Satin lined a ball down the right field line for a triple to drive in Muno.  Of course, if you were Jeff Francoeur fielding the ball, you would go ballistic with the umpire, insisting it was a foul ball.  While we couldn’t hear exactly what was said, he got one of the quickest thumbs I’ve ever seen.  His manager took up his cause and needed to be physically restrained when he, too, was run from the game. 

When the on-the-field festivities appeared over (and the fans were screaming that the Chihuahuas were robbed), .365 hitting Andrew Brown strolled to the plate to try to bring the tying run in from third.   The Chihuahuas pitcher, Blaine Boyer, promptly plunked him with the first pitch.  The fans cheered this unsportsmanlike conduct, but upon reflection I can’t help thinking it was not intentional as it would have been foolish to put the go-ahead run on base with a .300 hitter in Zach Lutz coming up next.  Unfortunately it was not to be and Lutz flew out to right field to end the game. 

With a hometown victory, everyone was leaving the stadium with big smiles.  The ballpark has been a huge success and brought a much needed “thing to do” in a town where the lack thereof is a common complaint.  There was no visit to the locker room this time, but I’ll most definitely be back regardless of the opponent.  

Herb G's Mets Minor League Report: May 30, 2014

MMLR Players of the Day: The Las Vegas relievers, Zack Thornton, Miguel Socolovich and Buddy Carlyle, who allow no hits for 3 innings in a losing cause.

 A bad night all around for the Mets farm, going 0-4.

　

El Paso (26-30) edges Las Vegas (34-21) 4-3.
Giancarlo Alvarez: (L, 1-2) 5.0 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K.
Zack Thornton: 1.0 IP, R, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 2 K.
Miguel Socolovich: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, K.
Buddy Carlyle: 1.0 IP, nothing, K.

Andrew Brown: 1-4, HR, , RBI, R.
Cesar Puello: 2-4, 2B, R.

　

New Britain (23-29) blanks Binghamton (30-23) 4-0.
Angel Cuan: (L, 1-2) 6.0 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K.
Ryan Fraser: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 2 K.

Brian Burgamy: 2-4. That’s all folks !!!

　

　
Brevard County (28-25) stops St. Lucie (31-23) 3-1.
Matthew Koch (L, 6-1): 5.2 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 3 K.
The unheralded Paul Sewald: 1.1 IP, perfection, 2 K. (ERA 1.25)
Julian Hilario: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K.

The offense slept through this one. Five hits spread among 5 players. One XBH, a double by Cole Frenzel.

　

Rome (16-38) nips Savannah (35-16) 7-6 .
Miller Diaz: 4.2 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K.
Dario Alvarez, 1.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, K.
Darwin Frias: 1.0 IP, R, H, (HR) BB, K.
Tyler Vanderheiden: (BS, 1) (L, 1-1) 2.0 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K.

Gavin Cecchini: 2-3, BB, R.
Jeff McNeil: 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI, R.
L.J. Mazzilli: 2-4, BB, R.
Dominick Smith: 2-5, RBI.
Colton Plaia: 2-2, 2 BB, 2 R.

Morning Report – May 31st – Brandon Nimmo, Frank Viola, #10 Pick, Vic Black

                                                                                             

Coming Later Today –            

                                                 

        9 30 am – Herb G – Minor League Report 

       10:30 am - Reese Kaplan - You Can't Win 'Em All in El Paso

  

        11 30 am –   Stephen Guilbert - A Quick Look at Outfield Draft Prospect Bradley Zimmer

        1 pm - FANGRAPHS - The Best and Worst Teams - Two Months In

          2 pm -  MLB Draft Insider – Mock

          3 pm -  Draft Profile - RHP - Aaron Nola
          

         4 pm - 2015 Draft Profile  -  LHP  -  Nathan Kirby  -  University of Virginia

          5 pm - Draft Profile - LHP - Kyle Freeland

         6 pm – Justin Twine, Carson Sands, Bradley Zimmer, Mac Marshall, Mike Papi

Want to learn more about sabermetrics… for free?  Go to: https://www.edx.org/course/bux/bux-sabr101x-sabermetrics-101-1558#.U4dvZWfQeJA

Brian Mangan ‏@brianpmangan  -  Mets are ranked 12th or higher in OPS at 4 positions (2B, 3B, CF, RF) and 25th or worse at 4 positions (C, 1B, SS, LF).  No middle ground.

Mets Director of Player Development Dicky Scott on Brandon Nimmo’s soon-to-be promotion to Binghamton –

“He’s tearing it up down there right now. It’s the perfect scenario where you have guys forcing your hand. It almost leaves us no other response than to promote him. That’s what you want from your players. You want them to push and play well as opposed to playing an entire year and saying, ‘Well let’s send him to the next level just because, kind of a right of passage.’ That’s just not how it works.”

I posted this yesterday as part of a local Binghamton newspaper article on Nimmo. It has a direct quote from Scott which just doesn’t happen without Sandy Alderson signing off on it. Right now, with all the humidity around the clubhouse/front office, no one is opening his mouth about anything unless it has legs.

The bottom line here is Nimmo is your only true outfield prospect in the organization (for that reason alone you would think they would pick one with the 10^th pick on June 5^th).

This is a no brainer move. No one is rushing Nimmo. He has done everything the organization has asked him to do in Florida. He needs to get a good half-year under his belt in New York State so there is a good chance he could start the 2015 season in the desert.

I still haven’t changed his opening day 2016 ETA.

Frank Viola will return to Las Vegas next week as their pitching coach.

He also will be representing the Mets at the draft in June. He seems to be getting a lot of extra exposure, but so did Mookie Wilson once. The difference here is I think there is a good chance we are talking about the Mets next pitching coach.

Viola is father-like with his pitching staffs and most of the players that are now bubbling to the top were part of one of his squad. The Mets need change and it starts with the coaching. I’m not criticizing who’s in place now. I’m just saying that pitchers like Jake deGrom and Rafael Montero and products of Viola and they would respond much better to one of their mentors.

Andy Martino –

        Word of the street, or at least in scouting circles, has the Mets looking at college shortstop Trea Turner (NC State), and lefthanded pitcher Sean Newcomb (Hartford) as strong possibilities for their first-round picks in the June 5 amateur draft. That’s what I heard, anyway.

        Martino isn’t the most popular of the beat reporters so it’s hard for me to believe he has any knowledge what the Mets are going to do. Frankly, after reading some of the stuff he has written, I wouldn’t tell him shit.

        Still, I agree that, if there are two players up on the board when the 10^th pick comes around that the Mets think have equal value, and one is a college player, I would hope they would see the urgency of filling in some of the holes on this team.

        And, I’m the last one to tell you to draft by position, but if both players that are tied as the best player left on the board when #10 comes around are both college players but only one is an outfielder, well, you know where I’m going here.

PEDs –

        PEDs are part of our culture and our history, and nothing anyone can do will change that. And that’s OK. We can acknowledge that, understand that, and then learn to move on. Nelson Cruz has 19 home runs. Ryan Braun is getting a ton of All-Star votes. Jhonny Peralta signed a fat free-agent contract. The game is moving on with those players, and thankfully, we seem to be moving on as well. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nelson-cruz-ryan-braun-melky-cabrera-ped-returns/

Robert Smiley to me -

        Mack, I know we'll probably find out late next week but have you heard anything else about the PTBNL in the Ike Davis deal? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

                No, hush is still the word here.

        Regarding the list of 2013 draft picks, I really don’t see anyone that jumps off the table here. It’s not going to be either Austin Meadows or Reese McGuire. I would be thrilled with OF JaCoby Jones but even he doesn’t ‘light my fire’, if you know what I mean. Past that, there are a bunch of young starters and it could be any of them.

        Don’t expect to be dancing in the halls here.

I do want to revisit Vic Black.

       All I’m looking for at the back end of the bullpen are three nasty arms attached to guys with attitudes. This is my sole notice in wanting to move Rafael Montero there.

               You don’t need a bunch of sophisticated pitches from relief pitches. Two are enough. Mariano Rivera proved one was just fine.

               Black has a wonderful fastball that sits about 95, (over the last week, Mets relievers lead all MLB bullpens in average fastball velocity (94.0  mph). Black, Familia both averaging over 96) but his bread and butter pitch is his 12-6 curve. It’s unhittable if it works and it leads the league in walks if it doesn’t.

               Thursday outing was epic. It’s one thing to guess it’s coming… it’s another to find it to swing at it.

               If Black could pitch this was effectively, and join Mejia and Familia in the back end of the bullpen, the Mets could move on to try and solve other problems on this team.

                

New Britain 4 - Binghamton 0

 The Binghamton Mets struck out 14 times and went hitless after the fourth inning in a 4-0 loss to the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday night at New Britain Stadium. Binghamton went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine aboard in their fourth shutout loss of the season.

Rock Cats starter Sean Gilmartin exuded a bend-not-break strategy to tame the B-Mets through his first four innings. The lefty allowed five hits, walked one and hit a batter, but prevented Binghamton from cracking the scoreboard. He stranded two runners in three straight innings and racked up seven strikeouts along the way.

With Gilmartin keeping the B-Mets offense at bay, the Rock Cats struck in the fourth against Angel Cuan. After Cuan kept them off the board through three, New Britain loaded the bases on a walk and a pair of singles to start the inning. Nate Hanson broke the scoreless game with a sacrifice fly to left. A walk and two batters later, Mike Kvasnicka cleared the bases with a double off the left-center field wall, giving New Britain a 4-0 lead.

Gilmartin capped his night with two less-taxing frames, retiring seven of the final eight B-Mets he faced. In six scoreless innings, the southpaw allowed five hits, matched a season-high with nine strikeouts and held the B-Mets hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

DJ Baxendale took the reins from Gilmartin and retired all five batters he faced before Ryan O’Rourke fanned Matt Clark to end the seventh inning. Matt Summers allowed the first two to reach in the ninth before closing out the game with two strikeouts.

Cuan (1-2) allowed four runs on five hits over five innings in the loss. He struck out a season-high five, while handing out three walks. Gilmartin (5-3) collected his fifth win of the season. Ryan Fraser closed Binghamton’s pitching tab with two scoreless innings.

POSTGAME NOTES: The game started late following a 29-minute rain delay…it was the most strikeouts in a game since Binghamton fanned 14 times against the Akron RubberDucks on April 28…the defeat ended Binghamton’s four-game winning streak against the Rock Cats…Binghamton has lost six straight road games - team press release