Tom Brennan - 500 AT BATS OR BUST
One guy in the Terry Collins era who always had to beg, borrow, and steal at bats was our very own Wilmer Flores.
Wilmer got off to a slow start this spring with the stick, but starting in early March, through March 23, he is a power-filled 15 for his last 34, which to me is not the least bit surprising.
This dude, after all, can flat-out hit. I like flat-out hitter types.
The good thing is Mickey Callaway sees it - and acknowledges it, too - and is looking for Wilmer to pile up some real playing time and at bats.
It is good that the somewhat glove-challenged Flores has made himself into a jack of all trades in the field, and is therefore available to suck up lots and lots of at bats as a 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, or OF.
I'll just say it - I for one am looking forward to Wilmer getting at least 500 ABs this year. There - I feel better now.
I personally think that Wilmer could put up some amazing numbers with 500 at-bats, such as 25 or more homers, 85 or more RBIs and a .285 or better average. Throw in a whole bunch of doubles in as well.
The man is too valuable with the stick to be sitting on a bench gathering splinters.
Perhaps he is ready to be our 2016-17 version of Daniel Murphy. Remember him?
I'm looking forward to some mighty fine offense from Flores.
How about you? Am I expecting too much...or too little?
17 comments:
Wilmer after a cold April last year hit .295 with 17 doubles and 16 homers in 300 at bats. I'd like to see that over 500 ABs myself.
Tom, I need to pinch myself. I usually have to force the conversation to Flores, but to give me the opening is like a dream.
First, the Mets are almost Championship quality but need to manage their personnel better. The Statue of Adrubal Cabrera is not better at second base than Wilmer Flores. The faster Callaway and Co. see this, the better. Cabrera is a nice player, but has no upside. Conversely, Flores is equal to the glove yet a much better offensive producer. Once we settle the winner of the Gonzalez/Nimmo argument (expecting Nimmo to take it) and then move Bruce accordingly, the Mets lineup can have Flores between Conforto and Bruce, and Frazier at #6 where he belongs. Along with a great staff will be an equally strong lineup.
Let’s play, What Would Collins Say!
On Gonzalez: We know Adrian Gonzalez. He’s a veteran and we just need to give him a chance to get going.
On Nimmo: Nimmo has done well and we will look for opportunities for him off the bench.
On Flores: We all know Wilmer Flores. He can be a weapon against lefties and a solid player off the bench.
On Reyes: Reyes will get his at bats. We will look to rest Rosario often and not wear him down as the minor league season isn’t as long and he will have a chance to observe and learn from time to time.
On Frazier: We know Frazier has power and power wins you games. Just stick him at cleanup 150 times a year and you’ll be successful.
Man, did I HATE Collins. Bill, you think Reese did? LOL, not even close, IMO.
I was going to say had I made such hypothetical (end eaerily accurate) proclomations I'd be accused of piling on.
To Tom's point earlier, I don't think the issue is about whether or not Flores can produce. I've been shouting it for the past three years to give the man more ABs. The issue is whether or not he actually gets the chance.
TexasGus, great points, and what many people forget is Daniel Murphy GOT BETTER. Flores potentially could be Daniel Murphy II. Why not? Kid can hit. Murph was faster, though, to be fair and balanced. Flores hits into more than his share of DPs.
Some get locked into, "well, Flores is a substandard SS" and then seem to feel he is substandard defensively regardless of position. Why CAN'T he be an average defensive 2B? or even an above average defensive 1B? How many 1Bs ever played SS?
Think back to last April - Flores hit poorly, true, but played very sporadically, while Reyes played almost every day and hit .100. Play Flores REGULARLY this season and watch him surge.
I do not think it is outside the realm that some year, if he gets up enough, he could do 35/100. 100? Why not? Exclude his first career month in AAA, and he averaged an RBI a game over the remaining 120+ games. I can't think of any other Mets prospect who can do that.
Same with Cespedes, folks assuming he will get re-injured and hit 25-30 homers. The ball rockets off his bat like very, very few others, like a HOF bat frankly. I look forward to a Huge Year from Cespy. 40 minimum, maybe 50. Disagree? Watch his next homer. Or his last one.
The reality is Flores will probably get around 400 at-bats at best.
Also, Cabrera wasn't resigned to sit on the bench.
It is what it is.
OK, Tom.....you summoned the "stats geek" on this blog (I know, who let that guy in here?)
If you use 600 AB's as a "season", WF has played in 2.5 years worth of games and he has produced the following "average" season;
.260/.298/.426 (.725 OPS) with 23 HR/81 RBI/1 SB and 69 R
However, if you use his 2017 stats (which amounted to half a season), his full season numbers would look like this;
.271/.307/.488 (.795 OPS) with 36 HR/104 RBI/2 SB and 84 R
IF he gets a full season of plate appearances (spread all over the diamond), I don't think your projections are too far off.
He is our Ben Zobrist, right?
Mike, he is our Ben Slow-brist.
Mack, even if he gets 400 AB's, that would be 20% more than last year - I think he'd be pretty happy with that many more ABs.
Good news today is Jake is killing it, and Harvey strong thru 3.
You conveniently left out the fact they weren't doing it against Nationals or Yankees bats...they were only doing it against the Mets :)
You got me there, Reese. I do think, though, that Thor and Jake will be top 5 in the Cy Young race.
"Did" ?????
I hope you guys are right about Wilmer. I will be rooting for him, but I just wish some AL GMs liked him as much as you do.
LOL, it has lessened substantially, but I guess you’re right.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/offseason-in-review-new-york-mets-10.html
TexasGus writes:
>> Let’s play, What Would Collins Say!
On Gonzalez: We know Adrian Gonzalez. He’s a veteran and we just need to give him a chance to get going.
On Nimmo: Nimmo has done well and we will look for opportunities for him off the bench.
On Flores: We all know Wilmer Flores. He can be a weapon against lefties and a solid player off the bench.
On Reyes: Reyes will get his at bats. We will look to rest Rosario often and not wear him down as the minor league season isn’t as long and he will have a chance to observe and learn from time to time.
On Frazier: We know Frazier has power and power wins you games. Just stick him at cleanup 150 times a year and you’ll be successful.
Man, did I HATE Collins. <<
I'm confused, because isn't that exactly where the Mets stand on all these players as of today, 3/26/18?
Adrian is going to get his shot for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, whatever. That's the deal.
Nimmo is going to get opportunities off the bench . . . once Conforto is back.
I'd be happy to see Flores start the year at 1B, but it's not happening. This organization just won't give him 450 ABs.
They have Reyes on team for a reason. I'd have dumped him, but he's going to be super-sub, likely ahead of Flores.
They signed Frazier to play him.
In the end, all the things you blame on Collins are exactly the same today with Calloway.
I'm personally glad Mets let Collins go and hired Calloway. But the essential player roles have not changed.
People seem to think that mgrs who work for Sandy have more authority than they actually do. Well before his Mets tenure, Sandy earned his reputation as a hands-on GM.
Sandy decides who gets cut, who stays, and how long the leashes are. And that's why what Anonymous just said is right on. Mickey has input, as did Terry, but Sandy runs the show.
As for Jose, unless he really heats up in the first week or two, he could be history. Mickey was very outspoken about his love for Evans, and barring trades or injuries there will be no room for both him and Jose once 4to returns. The clock is ticking...
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