Reese Kaplan -- Stellar Baseball Output That Exceeds Expectations

Every now and then a player comes from somewhat out of nowhere to provide a quality level that no one saw coming.  The question, of course, is whether or not that productivity was a one-off out of character performance or if it could be sustainable.  We can all think of good examples of this type of surprise player.  Some were here to stay while others were the proverbial flash in the pan.

This analysis came to mind with a couple of starting pitchers who were forced onto center stage due to injuries to the planned regulars in the rotation.  First came Jose Butto who had made a brief unimpressive appearance in 2022.  His start against the Oakland A's resulted in five very high quality innings during which he gave up just a single run and he earned a much needed victory for the Mets.  Heretofore it was the most surprising and dominant start by any unsung rookie.

Of course, then came the forced start by veteran southpaw Joey Lucchesi whose New York arrival in 2023 was necessitated by the 10 game suspension levied against superstar Max Scherzer.  Suddenly the already fragile and thin starting rotation was in need of someone to hold down the fort temporarily and surgically repaired Lucchesi got the call.  His start did not begin very well, but once he settled down he was almost making people say, "Max who?"

Take a look at the bottom line for that start against the Giants and you just shake your head in amazement.  He went 7 full innings, striking out 9, walking just 2, allowing only 4 hits and not a single run crossed the plate.  He got the very well deserved win and made everyone wonder could he do it again.  Lucchesi has had some very nice appearances primarily with the Padres, but nothing like this dominance.  

Of course, once Butto's mandatory "stay in Syracuse" period wears off, folks are also pondering whether he and Lucchesi belong starting games for the big club instead of recently struggling David Peterson and perhaps in place of Tylor Megill.  Megill has not been bad at all, so it is Peterson skating on thin ice.  The fact that Lucchesi is left handed might mean a ready replacement is in the cards.  Butto might then become the next Scherzer start, thus allowing Megill more time up here.  

This type of box score is not relegated exclusively to pitchers.  The Mets are looking at third baseman Brett Baty very closely as his switch hitting counterpart Eduardo Escobar has been more bad than good since arriving in New York except for his September of 2022 scaldingly hot short term action.  

Francisco Alvarez is up here due to Omar Narvaez' injury and he is rightfully relegated to second string behind veteran backup Tomas Nido who has moved into the starting role ahead of him.  Alvarez is a diamond in the rough who appears to need many more innings of preparation before being handed major league starting duty.  

In the past it was most recently Jeff McNeil who came up after other strong minor league hitters like T.J. Rivera and Philip Evans couldn't quite put it together to maintain their major league ascension.  McNeil not only did better than anyone expected, he won last year's batting title and was rewarded with a well deserved long term contract.  

Some players can't keep it going regularly at the major league level.  Wilmer Flores was someone who the Mets weren't sure about yet he's carved out a real career.  J.D. Davis is now starting to do the same for the Giants.  You sometimes don't know who can succeed and who will fizzle.