Tom Brennan: Chris Suero Sneaking Up; Vientos Roars; Peterson Pearl: Mercedes High Performance

Rod Stewart sings, “Some guys get all the ink”. Then some of them stink.

Some other guys get little ink, and turn out better than you think.

Such is Chris Suero.  Little ink, no stink, much better that we’d think.

Born in the Bronx, he played DSL ball as an 18 year old in 2022. Just .204, but he walked 25 times, giving him a.386 OBP.

In 2023, up to the Complex League headed Suero. 

Just 22 games, but NICE: .281/.421/.469.

OK, in 2024, he heads to St Lucie. In his first 17 games, he’s had a 5 hit game AND a 4 walk game and is hitting .316/.451/.491.

“Just” 15 Ks in 71 PAs, too, is excellent in the K-happy Florida State League.

Defensively? The 5’11”, 205 righty hitting Suero is playing reasonably well as a catcher, 1B and OF.

He also has 10 career steals in 78 games.

This guy deserves more ink. He clearly doesn’t stink, ya think?

Keep an eye on Chris. I’ve got my four on him.

Hey, SOMEONE ON LOW HITTING (.222) ST LUCIE has to protect .385 hitter Nick Morabito in the line up.  Why not Chris?

MARK VIENTOS CRUSHES HIS CRITICS

He passed the point of being nice. Nice guys get sent down.

Now, he has a chip on his shoulder. Two, in fact. Those chips, big ones, had him fired up to produce perhaps the biggest hit of the Mets’ season, a game-winning 2 run shot, in a game that looked lost 2 minutes earlier and would have been their 6th loss in 7 games. 

Huge congratulations to Mark, the team’s only current .750 hitter.

A million pounds came off each shoulder.  He roared, repeatedly.  

I like roaring lions.  Roaring lions are dangerous to opponents.

And a BIG game-tying hit from Bader. The fans are "Just Wild About Harry".  (A song by that name was written in 1921 with lyrics by Noble Sissle and music by Eubie Blake for the Broadway show Shuffle Along.)  AND 5-0 for super pitcher Garrett.  Four way tie for the most wins in the majors.  Now just don't saying "Edwin WHO?" just yet.

PETERSON PEARL

Rehabbing David could not match Megill’s 2 innings, 6 batters, 6 Ks. He only recorded 5 Ks when he pitched the day after Megill. Still great.

Now, which of the two will replace Adrian Houser and his season-sinking 22 runs allowed in 23.2 IP?

MERCEDES PERFORMANCE

Following the 2 inning, 5 K "Peterson Pearl", 20 year old unknown Ernesto Mercedes (come on, you have no idea who he is, just admit it) threw the next 4 innings and fanned 10. Wow.  

So, 15 Ks in 6 innings.  20 in the works, maybe?  No.  The pen collapsed for St Lucie over the final 2.1 innings, and they ended up with only 17 Ks. And an 8-7 loss.

248 Ks in 221 innings for Lucie pitchers so far, who are led by Tong Terrific.

Paul Articulates – Approach the plate with the right approach

You may have noticed my frustration with the fact that none of the Mets starting pitchers have been able to deliver quality starts with any consistency.  As of Saturday night, the starting rotation was 4-10 with a 4.45 ERA.  They had gone 26 games without throwing a pitch in the seventh inning.  Suddenly, Jose Quintana comes out Sunday and gives them eight full innings with only one earned run on 99 pitches.  What a great, quality start!

His reward, of course, was his lineup going 0-13 with runners in scoring position (RISP) so he left the game with no decision.  This continued a trend where over the last 7 games the Mets have gone 8-58 (.138) with runners in scoring position which led to a 2-5 record.  

A lack of hitting with RISP has been a curse on the Mets for as long as I can remember.  Except for their exceptional season in 2022 when they just found ways to win, the team just struggles mightily when runners reach second or third.  How many times do you see a runner on second or third with no out and then the next two batters either hit a meek pop-up in the infield or strike out?  Francisco Lindor, the recognized team leader who does so many things to help the team position itself to win is notorious for those uneventful at-bats when a hit is needed.  During this recent streak, he was 0-8.

So is this some type of curse, or are the Mets just practicing some poor tactics at the plate in these clutch situations?  It is most likely the latter, as all of us superstitious fans are still wearing the same socks from the last time a late-game clutch hit was delivered.

I love to talk about the mental side of sports, because I find it fascinating how much state of mind can affect physical performance.  Hitting with RISP is one of the classic cases.  In close games, the competitive balance is on the line when there are runners in scoring position, which puts pressure on both the pitcher and the batter (and the fielders for that matter).  

In the mind game of baseball, the batter should realize that the pitcher’s stress increases significantly with every ball and decreases with every strike.  So early in the count, the hitter should have a very narrow window to trigger his swing.  Pitchers that nibble get behind in the count, so pretty soon they are likely to throw something in that window. 

But I see something different in the approach with Mets hitters – they seem to either anxiously leap on an early pitch, popping it up, or they stand frozen as if they are pre-determined not to swing.  Both approaches have a low probability of a successful at-bat.  Since it happens so often, it has to be how they are instructed, not a coincidence of multiple individual failures.  They are up there thinking instead of reacting, which is bad practice against major league pitchers.

So the recommendation from my armchair is for the hitters to step to the plate full of confidence, knowing that the pitcher is under pressure, and to look for the ball in that small window where they can put a barrel on it.  Don’t worry about whether you can deliver; look forward to when you can deliver.  

I remember how I approached it back in my coaching days with young players.  When one of those game-deciding situations would come up, I would call time, call the batter over and say, “I wish I were you.  This place will go crazy when you get this hit.”  It is all in the mind.  Confidence leads to success, fear leads to failure.  The Mets’ hitters need to stop trying so hard to do something special and embrace the joy of just hitting the ball.  The rest will take care of itself.

Reese Kaplan -- A Three Day Trial for a Hot Hitter

Have you ever been top of your class and been ignored for your achievement?  Have you ever recorded the best performance metrics at your job only to watch someone less capable getting promoted over you?  Did you ever think you were ready for the permanent migration to the best of the best only to have your employer at the 11th hour hire a six time All Star?

Well, these types of reactions are what Mark Vientos likely had running through his head during this 2024 season.  Who led the team in Spring Training HRs?  Mark Vientos.  Who led in RBIs?  Also Mark Vientos.  Who got a one-way ticket to Syracuse?  If you said ¨Mark Vientos” then you are catching on here.

With the recent horrific slump by Brett Baty and the need to replace Starling Marte on the roster temporarily during his bereavement leave, the Mets looked at Syracuse to find out who was doing well.  Imagine finding someone hitting over .300 with 5 HRs and a team lead in RBIs.  That was, once again, Mark Vientos.  In a most surprising move, the Mets opted to promote the slugging corner infielder to give him three days in the big leagues.

No one is expecting a hot three days will have him switching places permanently with Brett Baty.  As quickly as he arrived he is just as likely ticketed back to AAA regardless of what he does on the field.  It will be interesting to see if the Mets actually give him a significant number of innings, but it would seem that with Pete Alonso at 1st base and J.D. Martinez at DH the only opportunity for Vientos is at the hot corner.  If several weeks of hot hitting didn´t warrant Vientos coming north with the team, a trio of days now isn´t likely to do the trick either.

Of course, if Billy Eppler was still here and Vientos was stinging the ball then it is possible that Baty would manifest some kind of injury which would enable the Mets to send him to the IL in order for the Mets to get a 10-day longer look at how often he strikes out and how challenged he is trying to man the third base position. 

For now, it is a good to see what Vientos can do based upon his ongoing hot hitting in Syracuse.  It will be almost more impressive to see him hit line drives rather than gearing up to hit the long ball in each at bat.  That approach might inevitably make him a more valuable major leaguer as a 20+ home run hitter who threatens to fan 180 times is not nearly as valuable as a .280 hitter who can increase his contact rate and cut that number by 20% or more. 

He is still young and it is possible that his skills can be enhanced with the top hitting instructors in the organization, but you have to be playing in order to see if what is talk can be implemented.  Of course, asking a player to try a new strategy might set him back temporarily in his output which will accelerate the tens of thousands of boo birds squawking for his demotion.  

MACK - 2024 Mock Draft - Bleacher Nation

 

Cleveland Guardians: Nick Kurtz – 1B – Wake Forest

 

Cincinnati Reds: Jac Caglianone – 1B/LHP – Florida

 

Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon – OF/1B – Georgia

 

Oakland Athletics: JJ Wetherholt – SS/2B – West Virginia

 

Chicago White Sox: Seaver King – OF/SS – Wake Forest

 

Kansas City Royals: Travis Bazzana – 2B – Oregon State

 

St. Louis Cardinals: Chase Burns – RHP – Wake Forest

 

Los Angeles Angels: Konnor Griffin – OF – Jackson Prep (Mississippi)

 

Pittsburgh Pirates: Tommy White – 3B – LSU

 

Washington Nationals: Josh Hartle – LHP – Wake Forest

 

Detroit Tigers: Thatcher Hurd – RHP – LSU

 

Boston Red Sox: Mike Sirota – OF – Northeastern

 

San Francisco Giants: Hagen Smith – LHP – Arkansas

 

Chicago Cubs: Braden Montgomery – OF/RHP – Texas A&M

 

Seattle Mariners: Brody Brecht – RHP – Iowa

 

Miami Marlins: Vance Honeycutt – OF – North Carolina

 

Milwaukee Brewers: P.J. Morlando – OF – Summerville High School (South Carolina)

 

Tampa Bay Rays: Malcolm More – C -Stanford 

 

New York Mets: Cam Caminiti – LHP – Saguaro High School (Arizona)

 

Draft Day Age: 17 yr 10 mo

 

He projects as a starter with a buttery-smooth delivery on the mound and a legitimate four-pitch mix that is led by a fastball that's already in the low-90s with life and can easily get into the mid-90s with added strength to his long and lanky frame.

 

Toronto Blue Jays: Slade Caldwell – OF – Valley View High School (Arkansas)

 

MACK - Draft Notes

 

                                                            Mack -  Draft Notes 

(thru Friday’s results) 

 

MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline 

Another dominant outing for Hagen Smith 

7 IP

2 H

1 R (0 ER)

1 BB

11 K

ERA this season is 1.35 with 16.7 K/9

 

 JJ Wetherholt is finding his swing with his third home run in his last 7 games. More on the No. 8 Draft prospect who may be the best pure hitter in the class

 

 Jac Caglianone has power to ALL fields

 The 2024 Draft prospect is back to his homering ways after a historic 9-game streak

 UPDATE - Jac Caglianone delivers his third multihomer performance of 2024. The Draft prospect becomes just the 2nd D1 player to reach the 25-HR plateau this season.

 

 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 Goodness gracious, Seaver King.  114 mph obliterated into dust.

 Cedar Park Christian (Wa.) SS Adam Haight left the yard v. Liberty last night at T-Mobile Park. He’s a name who has continued to surge this spring and now could find himself selected in the Top 100 picks in July.

Kid can HIT (and pitch).

 

I put a ton of draft stock in FB whiff%. It's one of many reasons Hagen Smith (40%) and Chase Burns (39%) are so highly touted. But keep an eye on Florida RHP Brandon Neely. He's running a 37% whiff% on his FB. Finally starting games in Gainesville this month.

 

Kendall Rogers  @KendallRogers 

Beaver Baseball's Aiden May struck out 14, walked one and allowed just one hit in eight innings in a 2-0 win over rival Oregon.

Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo 

Mock Draft 2.0: - “It’s definitely below average,” said one scout. “No brainer below average. I guess if you cut the draft off after the top 10 picks it would be a good draft.”

 Top 400 college hitters by 90th EV:

 -Charlie Condon, 112.3

-Dakota Jordan, 112.1

-Jared Jones, 111.5

-Cam Smith, 111.3

-Blake Burke, 111

-Jeremiah Jenkins, 111

-Braden Montgomery, 110.8

-Zack Stewart, 110.7

-Nick Kurtz, 110.6

-Jac Caglianone, 110.4

 

Among the 115 college hitters we have data on ranked inside the top 400 Charlie Condon ranks...

 -4th in avg EV (98)

-1st in 90th EV (112.3)

-2nd in peak EV (118.2)

-26th in Contact% (82.7%)

-51st in Chase% (21.6%)

 

No. 7 Nick Kurtz ranks...

 -16th in avg EV (94.1)

-9th in 90th EV (110.6)

-11th in peak EV (114.6)

-28th in Contact% (82.5%)

-10th in Chase% (14.4%)

 

No. 5 Braden Montgomery ranks...

 -3rd in avg EV (98.3)

-7th in 90th EV (110.8)

-13th in peak EV (114.4)

-68th in Contact% (77%)

-47th in Chase% (20.8%)

 

 Teddy Cahill @tedcahill

 Chase Burns struck out 14 today in a win at Notre Dame, raising his season total to 127 in 69 innings and 11 starts. He's 16 shy of Rhett Lowder's single-season program record.

 

 Georgia Baseball @BaseballUGA

 Everything is bigger in Texas...including Charlie Condon 14 homers!

                         Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB 

            27.

  

Jake Bargery @JakeBarg 

Dylan Hansen 

24 RHP, Downingtown East,

PA Coastal Baseball commit 

FB: 91-93 T94 (LIFE)

SL: 76-80 (Slurvy)

CH: 82-84 

6'3" 205 lbs.

 Hansen was in constant attack mode all game. He's a strike thrower with a breaking ball able to generate tons of swings and misses

 

 Brian Recca @brian_recca

                                             Ryan Dromboski '24

Penn Baseball 

FB: 91-93 t94

SI: 90-92

SL: 80-93

CH: 81-83

 Best start of the spring for Dromboski v Princeton. Durable build w/a no-nonsense mentality on the mound. Showed off 4 pitch mix highlighted by a filthy slider that racked up 15 whiffs.

 

Braden Quinn '24 U Conn

 Big, lefty RP works from 3rd base side of rubber, showing back to hitters before hip turn. Stuff plays up from a high, over-the-top release point. FB sat low 90s w/ big ride. Gets depth and sharp bite on '+' SL. Currently up to 50 Ks in 29 IP

 

 Ben Badler  @BenBadler 

Saw 6-foot-9 RHP Mavrick Rizy on Saturday. Up to 96 mph in this outing, whiffs on the slider and the splitter for Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. LSU commit and name to know for the 2024 MLB draft

 

 Stephen Schoch @bigdonkey47

 On Sunday Lyle Miller-Green went 6-for-6 at the plate. Last night he hit 3 home runs, his third was 111 mph of the bat and 458 ft. Dude can mash

  

BA (sub only) - 2024 Top MLB Draft Prospects

 https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2024-top-mlb-draft-prospects/ 

 

 MLB Mock Draft 2024 Version 2.0: Updated Picks For Every Team -

 https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-mock-draft-2024-version-2-0-first-round-picks-for-every-team/?s=03 

 

 The Arkansas ace has steadily improved over three seasons with the Razorbacks. Hagen Smith has cut his walk rate, increased his strikeout rate while limiting hard contact.

 

 MLB Pipeline - Prospect Rankings 2024 

 https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/ 

 

1.19 Slade Caldwell OF Valley View HS (AR)

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 45 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

Gatorade's Arkansas high school Player of the Year as a junior in 2023, Caldwell continued to play well on the showcase circuit before he broke a fibula during the USA Baseball 18-and-under trials in August. Though he lacks size, he's a dynamic player who's an outfield version of the Mets' Jett Williams. Williams played his way into the first round in 2022 and Caldwell could do the same in 2024.

Caldwell is an advanced hitter with a mature approach who makes consistent line-drive contact to all fields. His 5-foot-8 frame means he has shorter levers and a smaller strike zone than most prospects, and he parlays them into a quick left-handed stroke and on-base ability. While he won't be a slugger, he has impressive bat speed and enough strength to provide 15 or more homers per season. 

An aggressive player who delivers constant energy, Caldwell has well-above-average speed and makes things happen on the bases. The Mississippi recruit is a quality defender who covers a lot of ground in center field and will have no problems remaining there in pro ball. His fringy arm strength is fine for center.

MACK - Sunday Morning Observations

 

                                            Mack - Sunday Morning Observations

 (thru Friday’s results) 

 

Mack’s Observations - 

We are done with the March-April portion of this season and it’s time to award the first Mackie Awards for 2024: 

Shit, It Looks Like I Was Wrong About This Guy Award goes to Binghamton outfielder Alex Ramirez. He is really impressing the hell out of me so far this young season. He will easily finish the season in Syracuse if he keeps this up and will put himself in position for a 2025 call-up, along with the other top outfield prospects. Drew Gilbert. Both now line-up as future replacements for Starlin Marte and Harrison Bader. 

Shit, It Looks Like I Was Wrong About This Guy, But For The Wrong Reasons. Award go to Syracuse starter, Mike Vasil. Whether Texas Gus agrees or not, Vasil has been a major disappointment this season. His excellent 2023 AA season made me dream of more here. Sorry. Just me telling you how I feel. 

Runner-up for this award goes out to Binghamton catcher, Kevin Parada. This guy was suppose to mature one year behind Francisco Alvarez and this just isn’t happening, either offensively or behind the plate. Frankly, right now, both of the catchers named Hernandez (Jose at A+, Ronald at A) are not killin’ it the number one catcher prospect in the chain may be one of the two current DSL catchers, Julio Zayas or Yovany Rodriguez.

 What Does A Guy Have To Do Around Here To Keep A Job Award  goes to Syracuse ex-relievers, Tyler Jay. The former early first round pick threw 5.2 scoreless innings… that’s a 0.00 ERA for those of you from Ohio… with four walks, NO WALKS, and a 0.88 WHIP… and this didn’t get his cut once. Nope. So far (sic), HE HAS BEEN CUT TWICE. 

My Pure Helium Award goes out to St. Lucie starter, Jonah Tong. It’s hard not to get excited about this guy, even though it is very early in his professional career. The 20-year old was drafted in the 7^th round of the 202 draft and pitched to a 6.00-ERA last year for the combined FCL-Lucy teams, but his 38 strikeouts in 21 innings showed early promise. Still, the 22-BB showed worked was still needed maybe the new lab helped here.So far this season: 18.2-IP, 36-K, only 5-BB. Oh. And 0-ER. GTFOH.

 The Yeah, I Can Hit At AAA, So What? award goes to DH/3B Mark Vientos. So this guy is told he’s not good enough to be the everyday DH against all  pitchers, and is sent back to Syracuse to prove again he can dominate at this level by playing everyday against all pitchers. He hits beaucoup dingers and hits 300+ this season playing… still with me here?…. and just when he begins once again he can hit against pitchers left or right… the Mets call up J.D.Martinez to do that job. Jeez… Mark has become the Seth Lugo with a bat in his hands.

 The How Many Times Do I Need To Tell You That This Guy Goes Both Ways award goes to the Cyclones SP/DH, Nolan McLean. No one believed me when I touted this guy. Not even a writer here that will remain anonymous (cough, Tom, cough).Yes, it is early but the dude is hitting in the .350/1.200-OPS range plus tossed five scoreless innings (6-K) this past Tuesday night. But hey. What the hell do I know.

 

Lucy newbie -

 RHRP Candido Cuevas

 6-1 200 19/yrs old Bahamas

 2022 - DSL/FCL: 1-3 5.09 35-1-IP   42-K    21-BB

 2023 - St. Lucie:     2-2    4.56 23.2-IP   33-K    17-BB

 Signed 8-26-2021

 Twice injured in 2023

 2-pitch pitcher in 2023 - mid-90s FB  above average 2350 spin

 FB generates good % whiffs + weak contract & ground balls

 Low-80s 12-6 curve

 

Cyclone newbie -

                                             RHRP Justin Lawson

 23/yrs old 6-3 200

 2023 round 15/456 from NC State

 2022: NC St 19/apps 2/starts 5-3

3.82 37.2/IP 41/K 18/BB

 2023  NC St 27/apps 5-0 3.96

52/1/IP 67/K 17/BB 

Low 3/4 slot with simple repeatable mechanics

 Low-mid 90s fastball

 Sharp late bite slider low-mid 80s

 Could develop into a quality reliever

 

 FCL returnee -

                                     C Andriel Lantigua

 20/yrs old 6-0 190 D/R

 2022 - FCL: 56-AB .125/.269/.161/429

 2023 - FCL: 35-AB .257/.429/.314/743

 Above average bat speed

 Softer body potential up-the-middle guy

 

 Roster Moves -

                 Mets:

 LHRP Kolton Igram claimed by Texas

 RHP Grant Hartwig optioned to AAA

  RHP Michael Tonkin DFA’d

LHRP Josh Walker recalled

LHP Brooks Raley 15-Day IL with left elbow inflammation.

RHP Grant Hartwig activated

RHRP Sean Reid-Foley activated

LHRP Kolton Ingram DFA’d

 

Syracuse:

RHP Max Kranick reinstated from  IL - optioned to Syracuse.

LHP Nate Lavender placed on Syracuse's 7-day Injured List

LHP Tyler Jay clears waivers, is sent outright to Syracuse

C Hayden Senger transferred from AA to AAA Syracuse

Binghamton:

 C Matt O'Neill transferred from AAA to AA Binghamton

 RHP Luis Moreno transferred from AAA to AA Binghamton

RHP Andre Scrubb placed on Development List 

 

St. Lucie: 

Activated 2B Marco Vargas off the 7-day IL 

 

Prospect List Changes -

 

St. Lucie RHRP Jack Wenninger - black to BLUE prospect

 

Brooklyn OF/1B Ryan Clifford RED to BLUE prospect

 

St. Lucie C Christopher Suero - black to BLUE prospect

 

 Binghamton Rumble Ponies @RumblePoniesBB

Mark your calendars! The Rumble Ponies will be live on SNY, the flagship television home of the Mets, on all of the following dates!

 Saturday, May 4th - 1:05 pm

Saturday, May 18th - 1:05 pm

 Thursday, June 27th - 6:35 pm

 Thursday, August 1st - 6:35 pm

 Saturday, August 24th - 6:07 pm

 Thursday, September 5th* - 6:35 pm (game may possibly air on SNY)

 

Florida Complex League Mets  @FCLMets

RHRP Joseph Yabbour had 5 whiffs and 3 strikeouts over 2 innings in yesterday's Extended Spring Training game against the Cardinals, topping out at 98 mph with his fastball.

2B/SS/CF/LF A.J. Ewing went to the opposite field for his first home run (103 EV) of Extended Spring Training earlier today against the Astros.

 Tim Britton @TimBritton

 Tonight's the first of 39 games in 41 days for the Mets. They're likely to bring in a sixth starter. Could it be Christian Scott? Some intel within:

 Sub only

 https://t.co/zmSEMmsr58 

 

 Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal

 Kevin Pillar designated for assignment so White Sox can make room for Tommy Pham

 

 Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo

 Michael Tonkin has really experienced the "baseball is a business" thing hard this month. When the Mets traded him to the Twins, he broke his lease in NY and shipped his belongings to Minnesota. He had to fly to LA before his stuff got there while his wife waited for it. Now DFA'd again.

  

SNY Mets @SNY_Mets

 MLB players with at least 4 HR and 5 SB this season:

  Elly De La Cruz

 Mookie Betts

 Shohei Ohtani

 Mike Trout

 Starling Marte

 

 Soph @allidoiswinnick

 Starling Marte wearing a tracksuit 2/3 unzipped w no shirt underneath is the Mets 2024 vibe and I'm so here for it

 

 Not Gaetti @notgaetti

 Not enough people talk about John Franco

 • 424 SV, 90 W, 2.89 ERA, 138 ERA+

• One of 8 pitchers with 400+ saves

• Most saves by a lefty in MLB history

• Most saves in New York Mets history

• 3x NL saves leader, 30+ saves 8x

• Gave his #31 to Piazza after the trade

 

 Baseball -

 MLB's oldest living player celebrates 100th birthday

 https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mlbs-oldest-living-player-celebrates-100th-birthday 

 

BP:  The Splitter “Revolution” Part 1 -

 https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/89832/in-the-dirt-the-splitter-revolution-part-1/?t=U9W7HBAk2yFZheFpWJNWXA&s=03 

 (sub needed)

 

 ROX ARROYO @ROXSystem

 IMO, Trevor Bauer’s MLB demise wasn’t so much the off field allegations as it was his on field antics. Throwing the ball out of the stadium, showing up teammates, mound nonsense, and Manfred trolling can’t happen. Nobody wants to hire a liability. Professionalism is everything.