I like to aggregate data.
As I sit at the beach, as da wife goes for a walk, I pondered, what else, data, and wondered about this one particular minor league Mets player, whom I will name later.
High minors, here are his season stats:
595 at bats, 44 doubles, 38 HRs, 119 RBIs, .275.
Man, that guy is definitely in the MLB Top 10 Prospects, wouldn’t you say?
Well, that’s two guys actually.
Carlos Cortes and Mark Vientos.
Captain America, David Wright?
His best MLB season was 42 doubles, 33 HRs, 124 RBIs, .302 in 626 at bats.
These two young guys have combined in 2021 for Captain America numbers, if you ask me.
Look at the duo that way, and it makes them look even more impressive than when you look at them individually.
The ambidextrous Cortes (drafted 59th overall in his draft season) had better than one double every 12 at bats, a terrific rate, and a HR every 21 at bats.
What will make him a better hitter, IMO?
I might humbly suggest not hitting righty, a side he is weak at (.198). Just slug lefty, where he compiled a robust .572 slug %.
Vim and Vigor Vientos? He would have been drafted in the first round if he did not sign when drafted at age 17.
From June 9 until I sat today in this beach chair, Vientos hit .325 in 199 at bats, with 21 HRs and 50 RBIs.
I asked Babe Ruth about him, and the Bambino said he likes the kid a lot.
I asked the Babe to rate Mark’s power. The man who once blasted 60 gave him a 60.
Back to reality…
Both lads lost games due to COVID and some short term injuries. I am sad they didn’t have more ABs in 2021.
But…
Both, to me, have a bright future. Doubly bright, if you ask me.
WOW!
KHALIL LEE:
Before I go, I looked up the Mets’ answer to Bruce Lee.
167 times on base in AAA in 372 plate appearances for Khalil. That’s a whole lot. That’s Khalossal.
You do the math. Nah, that’s OK, I will… that is 45% of the time on base. He is part of a movement called "Occupy First Base."
In that surge of on-base performance lies a bit of Ron Hunt - Khalil Lee has been hit by pitches an amazing 22 times in 98 games. Bruce Lee would have hit the dirt instead.
WOW!
BEST SIGNING, LIKE, EVER?
Albert Almora Jr. was designated for assignment. He appeared in 47 games for the Mets and did this:
.115/.148/ .321. Just 6 for 52, 2 walks, 17 Ks. Khalil Lee's AAA OBP is more than 3 times as high as Almora's.
Brutal, dude. Jacob deGrom in his career is .204/.238/.251.
WOW!
Albert can't even hit like a pitcher. Is it still OK to say he hits like a girl?
OK, ladies, that's it for today.
9 comments:
Almora was DFAd... assume he won't be back.
IMO both Ventos and Cortes need to start 2022 in Syracuse.
Lee should be in Queens.
Mack, my only reservation with Lee is his abnormally high HBP total adds a lot to his OBP.
But his average - and power #'s - have been climbing steadily over the last several weeks. I'd love to see him play Arizona, like Alonso did in 2018, before he hit the scene in 2019. As many ABs as possible to get him ready for 2022.
For that matter, I'd love to see Vientos and Cortes there, too. Especially Cortes who, thru Covid games lost and other injuries only had 140 PAs after June. If he had an uninterrupted second half, he would have been in AAA. I agree, in his case, he needs to start 2022 in AAA.
Part One "Concur"
Here's how I see all this in five words, "This season did not work."
Sure, the injury bug was again very active here with this team. It always is with the Mets. Covid19 of course did not help much either. True. But it did not work here, the Mets master plan. We were wrong on it and must assume the responsibility for this failure. Otherwise, the team won't get better, more competitive. It must now.
This will be a larger rebuild than we would have wished for following at the start of this 2021 NY Mets season. The 2021 season was a very strange one if you ask me. Started great and fell apart. But it may have been necessary in order to get to the next level.
Can everyone deal with this?
I hope so.
Part Two "Concur"
I agree with you Tom, both 3B Mark Vientos and 2B Carlos Cortes should be seriously considered for starting positions in 2022 Spring Training. You could start them in Syracuse, but who here would be that much better really in those two positions. The Mets offense this season (aside from like Brandon Nimmo) was at best lethargic looking. Like Lon Chaney Jr. almost. If you want to pay a ton of chavos to sign Javier Baez for second base for his 2021 effort, and to be Lindor's bookend other middle infielder, then I wish you all good luck. Lindor and Baez combined for what what a .245 BA.? Nice one.
The recent class of what was once the new young Mets, guys like Conforto, McNeil, Smith are now pushing thirty. A new wave of youth infusion kind of needs to happen now. Younger players like Cortes and Vientos are the very best this team has in its MiLB close. They are genuinely good and have the stats at MiLB to prove it.
Alonso, Nimmo, and K. Lee, and hopefully JD Davis "the team whipping boy", all should be in for 2022. But there were also "step back" seasons from several players here that have must be addressed as well. And a lot of mediocrity from a lot of not only positional players, but pitchers as well.
So yes, as a fan I am leaning this way for Opening Day 2022: 1B Alonso 2B Cortes, SS New Shoe, 3B Vientos, LF Davis, CF Nimmo, Lee, C Alvarez (possibly and let's all hope so shall we.)
The positional bench players should be a few guys from here and in these roles in 2021. Guys like Smith, Guillorme, Mazeika or Rodriguez, maybe even Drury or Blackenhorn as well. The bench should not be a problem going forward.
Monies for player personnel moves in this off season could come from not re-signing certain players like Conforto, Stroman, Baez, Betances, Familia, Villar, Hill, Eickhoff, Hembree, Pillar, and Maybin. And then too trades for 2021 Mets players that had like serious "so-so seasons" in 2021 and do not figure into the starting eight above.
Part Three "Concur"
Starting wise: Jake deGrom absolutely in the One Slot, Unknown from outside the organization for the Two Slot. Could be a lefty named like perhaps Snell. The Three Slot is Noah Syndergaard, Taijuan Walker in the Four Slot but make sure his arm is totally sound first, with the Five Slot going to Candy Carrasco. May want to see Walker and Candy during the winter pitch to make certain okay for 2022.
Six Starters.
Guys Like Tyler Megill, Yamamoto, Josh Walker, maybe Kilome or Szapucki for this sixth starter slot or occasional fill-in starter to rest arms intra-season.
If ever there was a time to sniff this out more it would have to be right now with both Jake and Noah returning in 2022 from injuries. These two starters have got to be somewhat looked out for now. We cannot go to the WS Dance without them both being at (or near) 100%.
Relief Pitcher wise: Castro, May, Loup, and maybe Diaz. From the same list above for the sixth man starter role, I might consider adding in the best pitcher from it for the Mets bullpen. The Mets will absolutely need one more outside addition (via a trade) for their 2022 bullpen as well. Someone outstanding would be nice.
Good posting Tom!
Thank you!
PS Go NY Giants and NY Jets! 0-6! Yikes. And a major market team too. Ugh!
Anon . . Just curious - you have Syndergaard in your 2022 rotation. How does he get there? Does he accept a Q.O. for a one-year deal, or do they sign him to a longer term bigger dollar deal?
I am seriously flummoxed on what his value is at this point and whether he would take the Q.O.
Anon, nice break down, but it beyond the scope of my article. I will address the 2022 roster later on. Meanwhile, take a crack at Mack’s daily position..by..position Opn Threads. Thanks
Anon Davis in LF field is asking for trouble..
Doi understand the love for Davis. He needs to be the first one out the door
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