The Mack Report - Saturday, August 6th

 Last night is in the books and the Mets won 6-1… in the last seven innings. 

I’ve talked about this before. All pitchers don’t come out of their warm-up tossing in the bullpen having all their pitches in control. Taijuan Walker’s big problem last night was the location of most of the pitches he throws. They were up in the zone, and because Walker is no flamethrower, they all were just a few ticks above what those guys throw in the Home Run Derby. 

Sometimes you struggle through this and outlast the production of who you are throwing against, but giving up eight runs in a “night game” when the sun hasn’t even gone down… well, that ain’t gonna hack it. 

Equal blame here should fall on the animals in the right field stands that decided to ride Braves Ronald Acuna Jr. to the point that he was the difference make in this game. Maybe Steve ought to walk out their pre-game today and talk them into leaving this guy alone. 

Anyway, the Mets put up a respectful end of the game, which included a 2-run double by newcomer Darin Ruf. So far, we are wining the trading deadline wars. Add Ruf to

Naquin (.478-slug% through 8-5) and Vogelbach (.449) and our new platoon is turning out big victories (platoon… turning out… victories… get it?).

 

            Mathieu Voros 

The New York Mets signed undrafted free agent, 19-year old 6-5 RHP Mathieu Voros, out of the TNXL Academy (FL). 

He pitched five games for the Montreal Orioles in the Quebec Junior Elite League and posted a 2.68-ERA, while striking out 26 in 15.2-IP. 

The TNXL Academy in Florida is one of the top baseball programs in the nation and also produced Mets pitcher Calvin Zeigler.

Grading each Mets deadline get here - 

Trade #2: 

Mets acquire C Michael Perez from the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations. 

Not much to say about this one. Got (not very good) depth for the catcher position for cash. Not worth assigning a grade. 

 

Trade #3: 

Mets acquire OF Tyler Naquin and RP Phillip Diehl in exchange for prospects Hector Rodriguez and Jose Acuna. 

This trade was to shore up the Mets bench, giving them a far better replacement for Travis Jankowski, recently claimed off of waivers by the Mariners. Naquin has a 118 wRC+ against righties, and has and will be used once in a while in left field, on Mark Canha off-days. Phillip Diehl was likely a throw-in, giving the Mets left-handed relief depth, but probably won’t pitch any meaningful innings in the majors this year. The prospects going back the Reds way are not well-known, but are pieces with upside not expected to be ready for years. Jose Acuna is a 19 year old in Low-A, who had a 1.13 ERA in 8 innings for Port St. Lucie, and Hector Rodriguez is a second basemen with a 153 wRC+ in the Florida Complex League. Both were borderline top 30 prospects for the Mets, and feels like a fair price for what they received. 

The grade: B+ 

 

2023 MLB DRAFT - TOP 100 COLLEGE PROSPECTS here -

 

#19 SS Camden Kozeal Milard South, Omaha, NE 

Kozeal does everything on the diamond with fluidity and ease. He's a solid average runner with a solid average arm and strong footwork on the dirt. He works well around the bag and projects to stick at shortstop even if he's only an average defender. At the plate, it's an average, maybe above average hit tool with fringy power and a keen eye at the plate. Kozeal doesn't necessarily have a carrying tool, but a prep who can really hit and stick at the shortstop position generally goes quite well in any draft. 

 

2023 MLB DRAFT - TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL PROSPECTS HERE -

 

#10 Travis Honeyman Outfield, Boston College 

Honeyman has essentially been a steady performer throughout his college career, both on campus and in wood-bat summer leagues. A primary left fielder, Honeyman is an above average runner with high-level instincts. He's got a fringy arm, and will almost certainly stay in left field moving forward. Honeyman really began to turn heads as one of the better hitters on the Caps this past summer. It's solid-average power at the plate, mostly to his pull-side. Honeyman is a solid player in almost every aspect of the game and is a bit of a sum-of-his-parts type of player. 

 

Yesterday’s Tweets -

 

Dame @cozyoverIoad

Edwin Diaz in his last 10 appearances for the #Mets: 

11.1 IP

0.00 ERA

0.18 WHIP

.154 BABIP

6 Saves

24 K / 0 BB

Only 2 hits given up 

The best closer in baseball.

 

Michael Mayer @mikemayer22 

Edwin Díaz ranks among MLB relievers: 

1st - 2.2 fWAR

1st - 17.93 K/9

1st - 52.1 K%

1st - 0.92 FIP

1st - 44.9 K-BB% 

Top position players in the NL since the All-Star break by fWAR: 

1.0 Francisco Lindor

1.0 Jurickson Profar

0.9 Austin Riley

0.9 Pete Alonso

 

Daily Mets @daily_mets_ 

Yoenis Cespedes will play for the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League