FUJINAMI HAS HAD AAA UMPS CALLING FEWER BALLS LATELY
What looked like a promising wild card surge has begun to sputter, with a push from Eddie D, his much-needed rebound save on Thursday notwithstanding.
We always have Edwin's MVP-deserving 2022, like some will always have Paris. Ahh, memories.
Sometimes in 2024 he is a saver. Other times, he is a saboteur.
Remember that awful Sticky Fingers suspension?
When his right hand looked like an auto mechanic doing a messy lube job?
Bullpen turbulence (injuries, filling in during his suspension) has ensued.
The Tommy Trumpet guy has too often become the Crummy Crumpet guy.
So maybe it is time to consider alternatives.
(Not really, but go along with me for a minute, OK?)
"Go Sugar-Free", RFK Jr just suggested to me. Healthy...and radical.
The Mets could have gotten quite a bit for Edwin at the deadline.
Maybe they will this off season? My brother, though, says, “KEEP HIM!”
Alternative? Do we have someone who throws as hard, or harder?
How about…..Shintaro Fujinami? "WHAAAT?"
Before you laugh...(even I am chuckling)….let’s look at Fuji’s output.
In August in AAA, he has thrown 10 innings, just 2 hits allowed, 4 walks.
Since June, 18.2 IP, a miniscule 3 hits allowed.
Hitters in his 26.2 minors innings are hitting .115 against him. Ten hits.
He was ridiculously wild early this season, but seems much better now.
He's probably still wilder than one would like, but Diaz often is, too, huh?
Fuji's last bad walk outing was over 5 weeks ago, on July 24. He's walked 12 in those 18.2 latest innings since late June, but 7 of those walks occurred in 2 outings in July, and he otherwise, in his 14 other outings since late June, has not walked more than one batter in an outing, and 5 walks total in the other 17.1 IP excluding those 2 wild games.
Three hits in his last 18.2 IP? Three.
Do we really think Edwin will not be the Kerosene Kid after this?
Do we need to consider...
SO...GO WITH A SUGAR SUBSTITUTE?
Dedniel would be good. Wait, he is back on the IL with forearm ache.
To close, there is one prerequisite: you have to actually pitch.
So...the alternate answer is obvious...
BRING UP FUJINAMI TO CLOSE!
(Really, though, all I want is 2022 Edwin back)
(All I want is the 2024 playoffs. You too?)
BENGE IS BURNING HOT
First rounder Carson Benge is tearing it up for St Lucie. 8 for 12 in his last 3 games, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs. Best hitter there, it certainly appears. And he just got there.
You know I restrain myself mostly with criticism of Mets' high draft picks until the player drafted, let's say a catcher in the first round, over a good period of time, shows his greatest proclivities to being way too many strikeouts and way too few CS.
I have this funny feeling I'll not be criticizing the Carson Benge pick at all.
I really do prefer praising Mets' draft picks. No, really.
That said, Benge is sure looking like a good one. He has not pitched, but could even still, considering he hit 96 in college. My reply? No. Why?
Look at the array of injured Mets pitchers year after year. Pitching is hazardous.
I want a healthy Benge in the outfield, showing off a Roberto Clemente arm - and hitting like him, too.
I am starting to PRAISE THAT PICK. Feel free to join me.
BEST BROOKLYN HITTER IN AUGUST?
Hint:
He was hitting .118 for Brooklyn heading into August. Really? Yes.
He was one of the injured minors 2024 prospects cohort, getting hurt right around the same time as Drew and Jett in early April, with our mystery guy missing the rest of April, plus May and June, and spending most of July in the FCL and St Lucie to rehab. But he was .118 in his Brooklyn YTD stats through July. Who???
In August, D'Andre Smith, a 23 year old 5th rounder, has hit .333/.372/.500, with 5 steals in 21 games.
Keep it up, D'Andre.
The best Brooklyn hitter, however, remains QUICK Nick Morabito who, between St Loo and Cycloneville, has hit .306 this season with FIFTY SIX STEALS.
In 169 games this year and last, .306 with 77 steals in 95 tries.
Veni, Vidi, Speedi.
MIKE VASIL WINS
2 runs, both surrendered in the 6th inning, 4 hits, 2 Ks.
8-8, 5.54, 96 Ks in 119 IP in 2024.
Let's hope this is a strong 2024 finish kick.
Drew Gilbert has had his 3rd recent game where 1) he homered and 2) he went 1 for 5. The power bat (5 HRs) is showing up now, thankfully.
WYATT YOUNG SCORCHING
Binghamton had 4 hits last night. Young had 2.
His August OBP? .511.
He deserves accolades.
On the other hand, Parada in August is 10 for 77. My math? That is .130.
17 comments:
Who did so many want to trade for at the deadline? Crochet. Naturally, he pitches for the White Sox v. Mets on Sunday. We can't just face their 3 worst. Naturally.
Folks, as we head into September, I likely will be kicking back to once a week articles. Feel free to contact Mack to write, write, write!
Since July 1, Crochet has not pitched more than four innings, and many times goes two or three. They are looking to “manage his innings”. So, there is a pitcher that every team would want: opens his mouth when he barely has a year’s experience and as a starting pitcher goes three or four innings… disgrace.
Gus, hear ya. Win all 3, or bust.
And Kumar K ed 10 y/day but we got Parada! We really have to stop doing that. The trumpet worked y/day and boy did we need it great win in a must win game but aren't they all.
For some reason this season we seem to "play up" to our opponents, doing better vs top teams (Yankees, Braves)and top pitchers (see Sale, Cole, et al) than vs sleeping dogs (see Miami, Seattle).
Let's not let that continue this weekend.
Bill, get your broom out.
Gary, let’s hope Benge becomes a major star.
We are fortunate to have a reliever so talented that anything but perfection becomes reason for concern. All top notch closers have their times of vulnerability - just look at the career of Craig Kimbrell. Diaz will probably never be quite as good as the 2022 version, but he is still an elite closer. I just wish he had the capability deGrom had to self-adjust in mid-appearance, rather than having to go back to a bullpen session to figure out why his slider has morphed into a helicopter.
Remind me of Rocker's MLB record.
Paul, I would like a fallback if the slider is off track. Fire fastballs if that is all that is working.
Rocker, Ray, has accomplished nothing, if, and until, he does it in the big leagues.
David Peterson 8-1, 2.83, 16 starts. Great.
Paul, it’s a helicopter because he doesn’t have the grip needed to make it spin harder.
Ray, Martinez 65 RBIs in 373 at bats....not shabby
Edwin was firing fastballs in the 9th inning of the Friday night win. Good.
Giving up back to back devastating HRs in 2 games in late August must have jolted and awoken Diaz. Last 5 outings, 5 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 12 K. Sugar is back. Bad news for the rest of baseball.
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