Mack – Q and A – Zack Wheeler, Jordan Humphreys, Neil Walker, First Base

Good morning.

Conrad asks –

OK, so say Wheeler starts the year in the BP to ease him into returning to a starting role (what the Cardinals do).  Now say he’s lights-out in relief—like black hole lights-out.  Do you keep him there?  Many pitch their way out of a starting role through failure, can you pitch your way out the rotation through success?

            Mack – Hey Conrad.

Baseball teams balance the need of the team with the ability of the player. Right now, it seems that the Mets are top heavy with seven viable candidates for their rotation.

I have seen many Mets starters have relatively successful minor league careers as a starter, only to be more successful as a reliever. In most cases, it is because the pitcher in question has the ability to throw high velo, especially in early innings.

Remember Noah Syndergaard’s first playoff inning? His fastball, which averaged 102, topped off at 103. Imagine this guy as a 15-20 pitch late inning reliever.

Two guys that come to mind are Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia. Both found more success in the pen.

My guess is, if Wheeler is ‘black hold lights out’ in relief, at any level, he will remain in relief, at all levels. I would hope that his future would be based on the care and welfare of his arm, but go ask Brad Holt how that worked out for him.

Michael asks –

                       I was looking at your web site the other day and I saw your top prospect list. There’s a name on there that I know nothing about. 

                   Who is Jordan Humphreys?

                               

    

                   Mack - Thanks for the question, Michael.    

                   Humphreys is a prep kid out of Crystal River, Florida, that was signed in the 18^th round of the 2015 draft. He only got in seven professional games that year and all were for the GCL Mets out of the pen (11.2-IP, 7-K, 1-BB, 1.54, 1.11). 

                  In 2016, he returned to starting and impressed in Kingsport (12-starts, 69,1-IP, 76-K, 15-BB, 3.76, 1.15). He also led the Appy league in strikeouts.

He was promoted near the end of the season to Brooklyn, where he started one game (6.0-IP, 9-K, 1.50).

                       So far, even though it is a small sample, his professional stat line is quite impressive – 20-G, 13-starts, 87-IP, 92-K, 17-BB, 3.31 1.16.

                       His fastball is in the lower 90s, but his secondary stuff still needs a little polish. Still, he was worth adding to the bottom of my list. Keep an eye on him in Brooklyn this season.

Bill asked –

                       Assuming he's 100% and wants to stay, do you think a Murphy-like deal to Neil Walker which includes this year at lower cost, would be fair to both sides?

                      

                   Mack - I wonder if Reese can figure out which Bill asked this question.
    
                   Lots of flags here, but yes. If he was fully healed and was producing at least at the level he was producing at last year before his back went south, I would add at least one more year to his contract.

                       He’s not the oldest second baseman in the league and he did hit 62 home runs in the past three seasons.

                       But, before you sign him up, you have to answer this… do you instead pick up Astrubel Cabrera’s option for next season, promote Amed Rosario, and shift Cabrera to second?

Maynard asked –

            Mack, why can’t Michael Conforto convince Terry to let him take some reps in camp at first base?

                 

      

Mack - That's not how it works, Maynard.

Players have no say in what positions they play. They can stop by the manager’s office and voice an opinion but managers (and their boss upstairs) have usually decided who plays where during the pre-season camp.

As for first base, it’s Lucas Duda’s job to play there in 2017 and his backups are Wilmer Flores and Neil Walker. In addition, if Duda goes on the disabled list, T.J. Rivera is a phone call away.

2018 goes to Dominic Smith who should be the starting first baseman for the lion share of the games.

Conforto’s 2017 role will be determined next month, which will either be one of the Mets outfielders or a full-time player in Las Vegas. Either way, I don’t see first base as his future.