The Mets dropped 5 fellas from the 40 man roster yesterday. Here are my parting thoughts on the 5:
ERIC GOEDDEL: he pitched pretty well at times for the Mets, but 8 homers in 29 innings in 2017 are not worth protecting. Pretty simple. 110 major league games is an accomplishment - maybe he can latch on with a bad MLB team. Or end up in Japan.
WUILMER BECERRA: still under Mets' control, I am sure the Mets figure no one will grab him in the Rule 5. Why?
When a guy is in A ball, fans 132 times in 500 plate appearances, and has a .335 slug %, I guess you can assume other MLB teams won't be clamoring for his services. Maybe 2017 was just a very disappointing off year, and he will find power, hit more, and reduce the Ks in 2018.
PHIL EVANS: Phil spent too many seasons not hitting, putting behind several infield minor league wannabes, but then suddenly surged to win a AA batting title in 2016.
He then had a cold first half in 2017 in Vegas, followed by a hot 2nd half and a nice, brief MLB cameo.
Still, despite his hitting ascension in 2016 and 2017, he was an average fielding infielder with modest power and a decent but not great hitting tool. He could still have a successful major league career as a utility player, but the competition for those jobs is fierce. We'll see where he ends up in 2018. Maybe Japan?
TRAVIS TAIJERON: a very nice 18th round power hitter gamble pick, he for years added power to a Mets minor league system where power is awfully scarce.
Yet he could never cut down on his strikeout issues, fanning 883 times in 770 games in the minors, and 24 times in 57 MLB plate appearances.
Had his career minor league numbers been .300/.400/.550 with 20% less Ks, rather than .269/.372/.514, he might've had a real major league future. He, however, just never quite got over the hump. Try Japan?
TYLER PILL: a fine pitcher up to the AA level, going 36-21.
But in AAA and the majors, he was 7-14, 5.53 in 218 IP, with 263 hits, 30 homers allowed, and just 147 Ks. Just not a good enough pitcher, frankly; his stuff was not MLB caliber...so...might he try to catch on as a hitter?
Doubtful, but if anyone can, maybe he can, after hitting .310 in 100 widely scattered minor league at bats. Or try Japan.
I hope these guys like sushi. Sayonara.
20 comments:
Now that the Mets made the mistake of a lifetime, and released super sub Phil Evans, my # 9 pick and my 2017 version of Danny Muno, I'd have had to have done a whole lot of moving candidates around to fill in the now-blank # 9 slot in the Brennan Top Mets Prospects column to the right - so, lazily, I just stuck Adrian Hernandez in there. I know almost nothing about him, but Mack has him at # 15, so I just threw him in there at # 9.
If Kaczmarski gets a few hits today in the AFL, I may however pull Hernandez out of there and put K Kaz in there instead. The # 9 spot is open for grabs, people.
Is Tommy Milone still on the 40 man roster? Reynolds?
Viper, yes to both. As of now.
Edgin is gone .. so I guess the 40 man stands at 33 right now & if Jose isn’t resigned ...
Millone should go. Ditto Reynolds. Ditto Smoker.
Reese, absolutely right on those 3.
I disagree on Smoker
To me, Smoker is too unreliable, unless Callaway can fix him. PJ Conlon might be better as a situational lefty. I think he is ready.
I too HIGHLY disagree on Smoker.
You do not give up on an arm that possesses a 97mph+ fastball with a splitter as filthy as his.
IMO....his ceiling is actually HIGHER going into 2018 than it was in 2017 due to the sudden emergence of that split-finger fastball.
I feel he has the potential to be one of the best late inning RPs in baseball if he can A) harness his fastball command and b) understand how to mix the two pitches up better.
Smoker can stay on the 40 man one more year, Chris and Ed. He did improve in the second half after a terrible first half...maybe we'll see a better Smoker in 2018. "Better" to me would be a 2 run drop in his ERA and fewer homers allowed.
Reese, Joe Girardi out. Will Yanks ask permission to speak with Terry Collins? :)
I always give the 'smoke' as long as I can to develop.
Hurts no one learning in the minors.
Milone off the 40-man and elected free agency
Beat me to t .. and now we are down to 33 & Jose will make 32
34 with 3 on DL
Will we have 40 MEN on the 40 man?
"Are we mice or are we men?"
I agree with Christopher. Mr. Smoker has been frustrating at times, but should he refine a 2nd pitch and spot the heat to keep hitters honest, he could be downright nasty. He is 40 man worthy but no lock for the 25 man
Kacz doesn't need protection yet, but just might be OF #5 if Conforto isn't ready (and I don't think he will be). Just homered in the 1st inning tonight BTW.
I'm bumping Kacz up to #9 after his big game yesterday, Hobie.
Keep Smoker for now.
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