Mack Ade – Morning Report – 6-21-13

The Jon Niese injury will just settle down all the reporters/beaters/bloggers writing about which pitcher will be odd man out. Yes, the Mets will be left without a lefty in the rotation and don't look to Las Vegas for one because they don't have one either. You have to go to Binghamton and your 'way outside' chance would be Darin Gorski.

I don't see this being an issue in this obvious turnaround year, but I do expect Niese to be given ample time to heal... this time.

Frankie J –

                Morning Mack. You live in Savannah. Is the trio of Brandon Nimmo, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki for real?

                Hey Frankie.

                Let me first say that no one is ‘for real’ at the ‘A’ level or below. Everything is speculation unitl they get to Binghamton, though some show excellent potential in various aspects of their game.

I like Nimmo the best of the three. He’s a potential everyday player with David Wright power and appeal. I happen to think he has one of the sweetest swings I have ever seen at this level, but I said that about Cesar Puello when he played here a few years ago. ETA Queens: earliest 2016

Plawecki has the talent to be an everyday catcher in the pros simply because there never is 30 very talented catchers in baseball at the same time. His future will be based on his ability to stay healthy.

Boyd worries me the most because of his lack of height and power. He did put close to fifteen pounds of muscle on this off-season, but it hasn’t translated into pop yet. That being said, he’s one of the top spray hitters in the Sally League.

They should all move on to St. Lucie next week (update - Plawecki and Boyd did so yesterday) so let’s see what they do there.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a mess. The team is riddled with aging, overpaid, under-preformig former superstars, their manager has worn out his welcome, and the addition of a budding young superstar has only exposed the team to more criticism by both the fan base and the critics.

Cuban born Yasiel Puig is going nowhere on this team. The 22-year old is under a cheap contract (7-yrs, $42-mil through 2019) and is hitting .479/.500/.771/1.271 after only 48 major league at-bats. This isn’t an aberration. He hit .400 for the AZL Dodgers (2012), .327 for A+ Rancho Cucamonga (2012) and .313 this year for AA-Chattanooga. The kid’s the real deal.

But here’s the problem… also under contract in the Dodgers’ outfield:

                Carl Crawford - $142mil through 2017(last yr - $21.867mil) – 183-AB - .301

                Matt Kemp - $160mil through 2019 (last yr: $21,75mil) – 191-AB - .251

                Andre Either – a mere $85mil through 2017 (last yr: $17.5mil) – 231-AB - .251

This team is not going to make the playoffs with a team payroll of 100 gazillion dollars. They will be broken up and, trust me, Kemp is going nowhere.

An outfielder hitting .251 would be a Godsend for the Mets, but not at these payroll levels. But what can be done here? Crawford’s contract is simply too big.

What about the Dodgers eat half of Either’s contract starting in the spring and the Mets have to pay $8.75mil per year through 2017? There are worst deals out there, no?

And we haven’t even touched on OF Joc Peterson and Alex Castellanos, or the fact that SS Dee Gordon can’t get past Handy Ramirez.

No, someone is going to pick this team apart and you’d like to think Alderson was having a steak with the Dodgers ‘ GM tonight at Smith and Wollensky’s.

Erik -

Mack, I don't get this part at all: (reference to part of http://metsblog.com/metsblog/this-is-the-plan/ ):

“though I still think they’re looking to bring in a first baseman, so Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda can stick at their “regular” positions”

Are they that dumb to think that Duda is a regular LF? You'd be much better off if you can get an OF, keep Duda at first where he'll do less damage in the field, and maybe get better offense from him because he's more comfortable. If you are really missing Duda's defense in LF, and have to put him back, give Satin an extended try. Or maybe bring up Flores for 1B (stop yanking Murphy around) to see if he has a major league bat. And what do you do if you acquire a 1B, just before Ike rediscovers his swing (it could happen)?

Makes no sense. Seems like our chips should be used on a quality OF.

               Great hearing from you, Eric.

I was surprised to read what Matt Cerrone said there. I don’t read MetsBlog like I used to before they cut back on original writing.

Look, in ‘my world’ and on ‘my team’, there are two first basemen fighting it out for one position, Lucas Duda and Ike Davis. Neither is in my outfield. Frankly, I have no problem with Duda’s defense at first and, so far this year, his bat is far superior (though neither is much to write home about). ‘My’ team has bigger fish to fry.

I’ll miss Satin, but his Mets days are numbered. Hell, he may go down to Vegas before this post posts.

Turner’s DL stint has fucked up the soup for a little while, especially at first. They need to leave Murphy playing second base and they need to field the best defensive team they can and let their starters try to win the game. Frankly, there isn’t much offensive difference between the players that play good and bad defense, so, at least put the guys out there that can complete a play.

Mike  - Has Castellanos' stock moved at all for you so far this season with his performance in AAA at 21? Or would you still have him outside of the top 25 or so because he's now in the OF?

Keith Law - He's in an OF corner and isn't great out there. I'd feel better with him in the 26-50 range, which would still mean I think he'll be a very good player.

Mike - Do you think Ike Davis is still suffering from the effects of Valley Fever?

Klaw - I think he's suffering from the effects of Long Swing Syndrome.

Mike (NY) - d'Arnaud will be 24 when he comes up in September, then 25 next year...getting old quick huh?

Klaw - Time's winged chariot is racing right by him. Then again, I just turned 40 and my packing/moving beard is flecked with grey, so who am I to call a prospect old?