Mack Report – Holt, Deadspin, and the Future of Mets OF

The Mack Report – 10-26-10 – Holt, Deadspin, and the Future of Mets OF



RHP Brad Holt was the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Week. He went 2-0 and did not allow a run over 9.0 innings with five strikeouts. I’m sorry, but I’m still a long way off from being back on this bandwagon. Reports I have gotton is he is still walking too many batters and luck has been on his side so far this winter.


Look, no one was more excitied than I was when the Mets drafted this kid, but it’s been a two-year bust. I want to see a decent winter outing followed but a full season at one level… any level… with a WHIP under 1.25 and a K/BB ratio worth bragging about. Then, and only then will I re-man the Holt train.

                                                                         - - - - - -
 Mets prospect OF Tillman Pugh told me that he is in the Dominican Republic, waiting to find out what team he will be playing for this winter. “Tilly” was ranked as the Mets’ 13th top prospect this week by www.topprospect.com and should wind up in Brooklyn for the 2011 season. You might remember he was hit in the face with a fastball during his first professiona at bat last year with the Mets. I have the pic but Pugh says he’ll kick my butt if I put it up. That’s all I need… :)


                                                                         - - - - - -




Michael G. Baron

 Gotta tell ya… it’s getting increasingly tougher each day to put up quality Mets stuff what with everything basically on hold until the new General Manager is on hand. Either no one is talking or no on eis around, and that’s exactly how I would handle it if my paycheck said “New York Mets” on it. Basically, the only three safe people in that building are named Saul, Jeff, and Fred.


                             - - - - - -


Trying to figure out what the future of Mets outfielders will be is normally tough, because there is no way of figuring out which spot in the field will eventually come open, verses where certain players excel.



You can only take one thing to the book when it comes to OFers… Center fielders can play any of the three positions.



In my book, right and left fielders are always one step away from either third or first base.



Mets: The starters are simple… Carlos Beltran (who isn’t going anywhere), Jason Bay, and Angel Pagan will start the season, and remain in place unless injuries occur. This is your Mets 2011 outfield. Deal with it. It ain’t bad folks and could be a lot worse. I expect both Beltran and Bay to return to their normal output, and you’ll probably see around 60 home runs and 250+ RBIs from these three guys, batting a collective .275+.



It’s far too early to figure out the subs, but my guess is Chris Carter and Nick Evans. Both give the team 3B/1B options as well as multiple outfield slots. But remember, you’re a new GM and manager away from a new deal out there.





mrzeising

 Buffalo: Now, we start to get complicated.  Let’s assume that Fernando Martinez isn’t going to get a real shot in Queens until he has a decent, and full, season at AAA.



Let’s also assume that the Mets pitching/catching staff will number 14 (five starters, a closer, and either five more relievers and three catchers… or six more relievers and two catchers). That means Lucas Duda will return to AAA.



And lastly, let’s assume that Kirk Nieuwenhuis will return to the team he finished off with last season, the Barons.



That means… where do Jesus Feliciano, Val Pasccuchi, Jason Pridie, D J Wabick, Sean Ratliff, Brahiam Maldonado, and Emmanuel Garcia play?



My guess is Pasccuchi, Pridie and Garcia are toast, and El Toro and Ratliff will return to Binghamton.

B-Mets: so, we got Maldonado and Ratliff back here again… We also have Carlos Guzman returning from the DL, and both Eric Campbell and Pedro Zapata looking for a starting slot.



St. Lucie: And it sure doesn’t get any easier figuring out Lucy… the starters seem easy: Cesar Puello, Matt den Dekker, and Cory Vaughn. Now, pick two from Juan Lagares, Rafael Fernandez, Joey August, Raul Reyes, John Semel, and Nick Santomauro.



Savannah: Darrell Cecilliani should wind up here instead of Lucy due to the overcorwdedness their and the fact or his age. Fellow prospect Javier Rodriquez will play here as well, with two more, R.J. Harris, and Cody Holiday, fighting it out for RF. At least one of the names in the Lucy section of this will also probably be sent back here.





Tillman Pugh

 Short teams: The prospects, Gilbert Gomez and Tillman Pugh, should play Brooklyn. ZeErika McQueen, Will Cherry, Kurt Steinhauer, Chase Green, and Charlie Hinojosa will play either in Brooklyn or Kingsport.



Draft needs: Frankly, right now, none.



In summary: The outfield joins second base and third base as positions with many future options. That’s five of the eight every day positions, which means new management currently has the option to not worry about signing 50 picks. Instead, a good future direction could be overslotting at least ten picks and just filling rounds 31-50 with seniors.