Mack Ade – Morning Report – 6-19-13

The ‘silver lining’ of this season is the fact that all this losing is forcing the hand of the team to finally look to the future and go young. You are going to see some serious movement in the system once all these minor league all-start games are over. All, I repeat, all of the Mets prospects will bump a level so this team can get closer to putting the ‘current’ behind them an someday get these kids some major league reps a half season before it will be needed.

This is exciting stuff if you do what I do for a living.

I wrote earlier this week that I’m going to judge every day players based on a ‘Duda-level’ of performance. You play-hit better than Lucas Duda, you stick on my team. Well, the same goes for Dillon Gee. I’m really not into wins and losses in 2013 so the Braves walk-off means nothing to me. What does is his resurgence of pitching during a horrible time for the team. Sure, his seasonal ERA is 4.56, but it’s 1.64 (4-starts) in the month of June (22.0-IP, 4-ER). You do better than this, in these times, you stick on my team.

My 2014 rotation is set now: Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, Montero, Gee.

I’m happy the Mets have put the whole trade-Parnell crap behind us. You just can’t keep getting rid of core players, especially when you don’t have that many. I still think this team has the makings of a decent bullpen next year. Health is the issue, but Parnell, Jack Leathersich (pre-ARB), Scott Atchison (ARB-3 next year), Jenry Mejia, and Jeurys Familia is a pot load of talent. Like I said, health will be the issue here, but you throw in Josh Edgin as the LOOGY and that’s six pitchers. Cory Mazzoni could make seven and Logan Verrett eight.

My 2014 pen is: Parnell, Leathersich, Atchison, Mejia, Familia, Edgin, Mazzoni, Verrett

I’ve mentioned a number of times about ‘doing the math’ when it comes to becoming a major league baseball player. Here’s another look:

                6,000,000,000 people on Earth

                Little league-2 million players

High school-455,000 players

College-25,000 players

Drafted-1,500 players

MLB-750 players

MLB positional starters per team – 30    

John Sickles  LINK wrote a great piece of Stat Heads vs. Grumpy Old Men (like me):

I think the problem comes when people get locked into one way of viewing an issue and assume that people looking at the problem from a different quadrant are wrong or stupid. We are all human; all of us are better at viewing problems from certain angles than others. Wisdom is being able to understand the best arguments from all quadrants and finding a way to incorporate them in a larger view, or at least appreciate them.  

Most people know the "stathead vs. traditionalist" argument is simplistic and I think most people have an intuitive understanding of what these maps are trying to point out. There is also a large component that I haven't addressed yet, namely how hierarchies of knowledge incorporate and supersede (not necessarily destroy, although sometimes they do) earlier viewpoints.

I try and represent both sides here at Mack’s Mets. I’ll quote you stats and I’ll tell you my opinion about the player. You just can’t tell me that sitting either behind home plate or next to the dugout all season doesn’t translate into knowing which player either has more talent or is willing to give his all to achieve the goals of the team.

I also can’t tell you enough that you will also recognize who doesn’t give a shit, is going through the motion and can’t wait for the game to end so he can spend some of his bonus money.

Occasionally, players can work harder than their God given talent, which will get them to the majors (Josh Thole), but, in the long run, talent always wins out. And, sadly, it works in reverse also.

A good story by Sickles.

More Sickles –

                                The key for Zack Wheeler has been steady development of his command. The Giants tried to alter his mechanics back in '10 and the first part of '11, but Wheeler went back to his high school delivery shortly before the Beltran trade with good results. It works for him and he's shown consistent improvement in his command ever since. Wheeler doesn't have much left to prove in the minors and the promotion is certainly deserved. As with any young pitcher, he made need some time to find his sea legs in the majors: not everyone can be Matt Harvey and dominate immediately. Overall, even if he doesn't get there right away, Wheeler projects as a number two starter. LINK

                                I’m sticking to what scouts started telling me two years ago. This is this future Mets SP1.