The Mack Report - Eduardo Escobar, Brett Baty, Power Rankings, Prediction: Positive ERA, Observation On Starters, Jose Butto

 Eduardo Escobar, Brett Baty, Power Rankings, Prediction: Positive ERA, Observation On Starters, Jose Butto

 

Drew Koch - https://fansided.com/2023/04/03/ny-mets-rumors-3-players-may/ - 

2. NY Mets roster: Eduardo Escobar will not be part of the roster by May 1 

A lot of things have to go right, or wrong depending on whose camp your in, in order for the New York Mets to move on from Eduardo Escobar so quickly. Escobar is owed $10-million this season, but owner Steve Cohen has shown that spending is no big deal if it equals wins. 

Escobar’s early-season struggles have helped his cause, as the 34-year-old has just one hit in 16 at-bats. If Escobar doesn’t snap out of this skid soon, New York could become very impatient. 

The New York Mets have two skilled third prospects sitting down on the farm. Both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos could make the case that they should have been part of the Opening Day roster. Instead, both infielders began their 2023 season at Triple-A. Escobar is going to be looking over his shoulder all season. 

If Escobar can turn things around and become a productive hitter, perhaps he’ll stave off the New York brass from calling for his release. But with teams like the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, the Mets cannot afford to get off to a slow start.

           Joe Pantorno - Brett Baty putting early pressure on Eduardo Escobar -

Again, a handful of games isn’t going to be enough to prompt a call-up to shake up the Mets’ roster, which would likely see Escobar used as a DH option, utility infielder, and pinch-hitter in the final year of his contract to make room for Baty at third. But if the current script continues to write itself as is, the Mets will have no choice but to give their No. 2 prospect the call to help round out the bottom of a lineup that could use some extra juice.

Mack - I can't see the Mets making an early move here. Esco is a veteran and, though I wish Baty was playing third, he has to be given until June 1st to get his game going.

PC - Hakim Wright

Joe DeMayo - Mets' updated Top 20 prospects for 2023 MLB season -

2. 3B Brett Baty

I have voiced this everywhere. Written it here, spoke about it on The Mets Pod and even tweeted about it. I believe Baty should be the Opening Day third baseman. He has hit this spring, you have seen some great defensive flashes, and bench coach Eric Chavez has publicly declared him big league ready defensively. 

If he’s not on the roster, I simply ask -- why? Long-term, Baty should hit for average, get on base and bring 20-to-25-home-run power to the table.

MLB ETA: Already debuted 

          Tim Britton and Will Sammon - Mets predictions -

Who makes the most starts at third base.

Britton: Brett Baty. Even if he doesn’t start the season as the Mets’ third baseman, Baty has several paths to ultimately claiming the job. If Eduardo Escobar struggles, even just against right-handers like he did last year, Baty is the obvious answer. If Escobar is hitting but Darin Ruf or Tommy Pham aren’t, the Mets can slide Escobar to DH and start Baty at third. The Mets’ highest ceiling as a team in 2023 includes Baty fulfilling at least some of his considerable potential at third.

Sammon: Baty. If the defense is as improved as evaluators say it is, then Baty should be the everyday third baseman at the first sign of Escobar struggling. If the veteran resembles the guy who posted a career-best month last September, then the Mets have a more difficult call on their hands. From a depth perspective, I understand having Baty start the season in Triple A — for depth purposes, it may be wise because Escobar can help. 

However, Escobar is 34 and coming off a season where he experienced some injury issues. Baty’s time will come — it’ll just be a matter of precisely when and whether he can hold on to the opportunity. Therefore, it makes sense for the Mets to want to be overly sure of his capabilities at this point and put him in the best position to succeed both for the short term and long term.

 Mack - We are going to read a lot about the Esco/Baty situation. I stand by my prediction that a change won't happen until after June 1st. 

 Mack - Let's hope that Tuesday's thumb setback is a short one.

MLB Power Rankings -

6. New York Mets

Record: 3-1

Last Power Ranking: 6

Highlight: The Shaq “I wasn’t familiar with your game” meme felt especially appropriate Sunday afternoon when Kodai Senga was carving up the Marlins with his ghost fork. Senga, who previously starred in Japan, settled in after a shaky first inning and pitched into the sixth, allowed only one run and struck out eight in his MLB debut.

Lowlight: The first was Justin Verlander going on the injured list with a low-grade teres major strain. Teres major, severity minor, says Verlander. We’ll see. Surely the Mets factored in injury risk when putting together a rotation with 20 All-Star selections, six Cy Youngs and 178 years of life between them. The second lowlight was this very casual video from lifelong Mets fan George Santos. That’s correct, sir. That’s how you say it. No notes. —SN

 Mack - Sixth is a little high in my books, especially after the miserable start the hitters have had. 

 

PC - Megan Briggs

Tim Britton and Will Sammon - Mets predictions -

Which Mets pitcher will post a better ERA than in 2022? 

Britton: Tylor Megill (5.13). This feels a little like cheating, since Megill’s ERA was inflated by one miserable start right before he hit the IL in May and his ineffective relief stint when he came back in September. Although I wouldn’t expect Megill to be as lights out as he was last April, an ERA closer to the league average feels well within reach.

 

Sammon: David Peterson (3.83). Peterson has worked on making all five of his pitches legitimate weapons, but his success will likely come down to command, which he might be able to improve with experience. From a stuff perspective, Peterson continues to turn heads; his slider remains sharp, his four-seam fastball looks better and he’s put more work behind a curveball.

Mack - I agree here.  Especially Peterson. 

Tim Britton and Will Sammon - 40 Mets, 40 observations: What camp taught us about every guy on the roster -

Starting pitchers

José Butto: When Butto made his major-league debut last August in Philadelphia, his typically reliable changeup abandoned him, leaving him to fend against a formidable Phillies lineup with just his fastball and curveball. To provide himself another option this year, Butto has added a cutter to his repertoire that, theoretically, will play well off his four-seamer to induce some weak contact.

 

Joe DeMayo - Mets' updated Top 20 prospects for 2023 MLB season -

14. RHP Jose Butto

Butto had that one-outing cameo in Philadelphia in 2022, where he was called up -- pretty much out of necessity -- and not ready. He went back to Triple-A Syracuse and, in September, posted a 1.01 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched. This spring, his velocity ticked up to touching 97 mph. 

His changeup is the best in the Mets' system -- he just needs to develop more consistency with his breaking ball. Butto's upside is likely capped as a back-end starter, but given his 40-man roster status -- as well as the need for pitching depth -- I’d expect him to be a factor in 2023.

MLB ETA: Already debuted 

                Tim Britton - Who to watch in the Mets minor-league system -

Triple-A Syracuse Mets

Pitching Staff

José Butto (No. 19 in organization) 

Syracuse’s staff was supposed to be full of arms from the 40-man roster — except several have ended up in the majors or on the injured list already. If the big-league Mets had broken camp healthy, 

Syracuse could have boasted David Peterson and Tylor Megill in its rotation alongside a bullpen with John Curtiss, Sam Coonrod and Bryce Montes de Oca. Instead, only three members of the 40-man roster are currently on the staff here: starters Joey Lucchesi and José Butto and reliever Jeff Brigham.

 Mack - Frankly, I've lost a lot of confidence in Butto. I think Lucchesi has past him in the line.