Mack Ade – Morning Report – 5-18-13

Morning everyone. 

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about this announcement.

We dipped deep into the free agent pool and snagged ex-Mack’s Mets writer, Christopher Soto (a.k.a.’Soto’ – The FLASH king). Details on this free agent signing are still being worked out, but he wll be taking back over the management and ranking of the Mack’s Mets prospect list. I am so happy about this (now, if I could get Groveman and Rubin…).  

We wrote yesterday about Las Vegas outfielder Jamey Hoffman. I might be the only Mets writer that has ever called for him to be promoted. Another guy I frequently write about that seems to be invisible to the rest of the Mets writers is utility-extraordinaire Eric Campbell. Campbell has just about played every position other than catcher and pitcher, but he’s been used primarily at 1B, LF and 3B.  He came out of Boston College as an 8^th round pick in 2008. He had an outstanding year last season at the very difficult AA level (.297/.391/.439/.830, 9-HR, 50-RBI) which earned him a shot at the AAA level this year. So far, the 26-year old is paying dividends, hitting .318, 4-HR, 17-AB through his first three at-bats last night. The only negative word on Campbell is the fact that he doesn’t do anything that spectacular, but who cares. Our system needs more of these kind of workhorses that can put out positive stat lines. 

Re: Mike Harvey… it’s always interesting to listen to another team’s announcers talk about the Mets players. It’s obvious that everyone in baseball thinks that Harvey is in his own special place right now. This is so Tom Seaver-exciting.  

Word I’m getting is “around” June 15^th will be the day that Rainy Lara, Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero, and Zack Wheeler go up a level, though there is a chance that Lara could be promoted earlier. What all this will translate into is a better Mets team, led by a threesome of Harvey, Wheeler, and Jon Niese in the rotation. Things will improve, but not to the playoff level, which is just fine with me. Montero will pitch every five days at Las Vegas and come to camp next spring with the intent on winning the SP4 slot in the 2014 rotation. Syndergard will finish the season where he will probably begin next season (Binghamton) and he will conservatively be targets for opening day 2015. Still, there will be Dilllon Gee to fill the SP5 slot and the Mets will just about be there to make their playoff run behind their rotation. 


Some highlights from last night... it was great to see that SP Jenrry Mejia finally made it back to the mound, pitching a rehab assignment at St. Lucie. He went three innings, striking out six, while walking three (a typical Mejia outing)... Jim Fuller (0.89) gave up only his second earned run of the season... Dustin Lawley (.245) hit his 9th home run of the season, which ranks him second in the Florida State League. DH Josh Satin (.300) hit his 6th home run of the season for Las Vegas... Cesar Puello (AA - .294) continues with the hot bat, doubling in two runs. That gives him 24-RBIs ranking him 12th in the Eastern League. John Church (2.21) got the win after tossing two scoreless innings, followed by Jeff Walters' (0.57) 11th save.

There are some players that could ‘possibly’ make an impact in 2014. We need to keep track of them. Stats are before last night's games:

                1B (UT) – Eric Campbell – AAA: .318/.432/.576/1.008, 4-HR, 17-RBI, 1-E

                2B-1B – Wilmer Flores – AAA: .265/.317/.429/.746,3-HR, 25-RBI, 5-E

                C – Travis d’Arnaud – (DL) - AAA: .250/.429/.472/.901, 1-HR 8-RBI, 1-E

                2B – Reese Havens – AAA: .231/.322/.295/.617, 1-HR, 7-RBI, 4-E

                SP – Zack Wheeler – AAA – 8-ST, 2-1, 3.74, 1.34, 43.1-IP, 47-K, 18-BB

                OF – Cory Vaughn – AA: .294/.379/.500/.879, 5-HR, 25-RBI, 2-E

                OF Cesar Puello – AA: .288/.357/.510/.866, 5-HR, 22-RBI, 3-E


                OF - Kirk  Nieuwenhuis - AAA: .224/.316/.373/.689, 2-HR, 5-RBI 

                C – Blake Forsythe – AA: .280/.357/.510/.866, 2-HR, 12-RBI, 0-E

                SP – Logan Verrett – AA: 8-ST, 5-1, 3.15, 0.99, 54.1-IP, 35-K, 14-BB

                SP – Rafael Montero – AA: 8-ST, 4-3, 3.47, 0.99, 46.2-IP, 54-K, 6-BB

                SP – Cory Mazzoni – AA:  3-ST, 1-1, 1.98, 1.24, 13.2-IP, 14-K


                SP - Jenrry Mejia - rehab:  1-ST, 3.0-IP, 6.00

                RP Chase Huchingson – AA: 14-G, 2-0, 2.14, 1.43, 21.0-IP, 21-K

                RP John Church – AA: 16-G, 1-3, 2.45, 1.09, 18.1-IP, 22-K

                RP Jack Leathersich – AA: 13-G, 1-0, 2.04, 1.36, 17.2-IP, 33-K

                RP Adam Kolarek – AA: 12-G, 0-1, 2.65, 1.41, 17.0-IP, 10-K