4/6/13

Mack Ade – Morning Report – 4-6-13




Jim Callis@jimcallisBA
Didn't have strong debut but thought he'd go to low A. @fitzcom: #Mets send Cecchini back to short season ball...supposed to be polished???


I've mentioned this a number of times...

Mets fans spend too much time worrying about pitching and offense and fail to realize that this team loses 20+ games a year due to defense at a level that is unacceptable for a major league baseball team.

And it doesn't just translate into errors. It can be a ball that Justin Turner doesn't run down or a poor decision made by Ruben Tejada. They are unacceptable at this level and championship teams make very few of these mistakes.


Marty Appel

Just back from a sneak preview screening of "42", the Jackie Robinson film. Loved it! Moves into my top 10 of baseball movies. Chadwick Boseman great as Jackie, Harrison Ford terrific as Rickey. Authenticity abounds right down to Red Barber having a 3-minute egg timer in the booth to remind him to give the score. Yeah, a few errors, but they are just there for those who like to show off how smart they are about baseball. This was a great American story, well told, well acted, and well worth seeing!



Some early thoughts…

1.    I don’t think we’re going to see Rafael Montero remain on the Binghamton staff past the all-star break. This really isn’t being said because of his first game but because of his entire spring. Montero has progressed far past the level he is playing at and many consider him AAA-ready. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him slot into the opening created when Zack Wheeler goes to Queens, followed by a September call up. What this would do is give you four pieces (Harvey-Wheeler-Niese-Montero) into the 5-star rotation that will be completed on OD 2015 with the addition of Noah Syndergaard.

2.    Regarding Wheeler, 86 pitches in less than four innings shows why he’s still in the minors. He consistently fell behind the batters Thursday and the Mets will work on that control issue at least through April and May. Oh, he hit 98 in the first inning.

3.    Don’t be a Jeurys Familia hater… yet. Give the kid a couple more outings before you turn him into this year’s version of Elvin Ramirez. He has so much talent but just can’t pound the strike zone consistently.

4.    Binghamton also has three relievers you need to keep an eye on… Jack Leathersich, Jeffrey Walters, and Adam Kolarek. All three will finish the season in Las Vega with ‘Leather’ possibly going all the way to Flushing.

5.    Look for Alex Panteleodis to make a remarkable recovery from his ‘inflammation’ and mound up if the Hansel Robles injury take him out of the St. Lucie rotation.


Josh Satin – “First time playing in California since college”


Michael Scannell to me:

Do you remember when we were worried that the Mets should've taken Grandal instead of Harvey in 2010 because the need at catcher was so glaring?  Now we have Harvey AND d'Arnaud.  Jon Niese may have more experience and pitched opening day and Zack Wheeler might have more "electric stuff", but Harvey is and will be the ACE of this staff.  Guts, determination, and heat.  He's got it all. Even David Price loves him - link  Maybe he'd like to join Harvey as 1-2 in the Next Mets rotation lol.

                        I had the pleasure of seeing Price play against the Sand Gants during the same year that Jesus Montero and Justin Heywood tore them up to, Price never threw a bad game against the Gnats.
                        Harvey over Grandal worked out because he came to the Mets as a time tested college junior and… don’t get me started.


Orioles Claim Josh Stinson


Las Vegas Stars' Sandy Alomar Jr. to be inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame for the class of 2013.


Ross Clark to me

Hey Mack, Finally baseball is more than just opinions again. With the Mets seemingly having no interest in a starting pitcher one would think that he will be up with the big club after the 20 day deadline if things go well for him.  In this situation how dies this affect the starting rotations, will we see someone in each level bumped up this early?  Did the Mets hold someone back in extended spring training that could make the leap?

            No, the plan is Wheeler, but the debate is when.

          First thing first. If I remember, the Mets went 8-0 last season and then, after the all-star break went into the tank. Don’t get excited yet.

          Shaun Marcum should be back sometime this month and the Mets will use the month of April to gauge every position, especially the rotation. One thing… 
they have no desire to bring back either Collin McHugh or Chris Schwnden. Done that.

          April will also be the month that Jenrry Mejia might (I say might) heal and be ready to give it another go.

          Sandy Alderson looked very bad in not signing either (or both) Upton and Bourn. He doesn’t want to bring up Wheeler and have him trip on the steps coming off the plane. If you ask 10 scouts that follow this kid regularly, nine will tell you he’s ready now. He’s ready now, but you won’t see him until May earliest.

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