Mike's Mets - Still Work to Be Done with the Mets

 

By Mike Steffanos

While much has been accomplished this season to improve the Mets' roster, there still remains work to do.

Over their first 52 games, the New York Mets gave us many reasons to believe that they've come a long way towards the goal of being a legitimate contender. Then they traveled west to Los Angeles. While apparently dealing with the pervasive smell of "rat urine" in the visitor facilities, they've also spent a couple of games learning that they still have some distance to go if they hope to compete with the best teams this fall.

I'm not going to allow myself a colossal overreaction to a couple of bad games out west. The Mets went into this series with Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tylor Megill all on the shelf. Assuming all three are healthy when the playoffs roll around, the Mets will be in much better shape to take on the Dodgers. Certainly, they can at least hope for better starting pitching than they received these last two days, although it's hard to fault Taijuan Walker's effort in the series opener. But the Mets have faced some elite pitching over the last couple of days — the sort of elite pitching that the Mets will see plenty of in the playoffs — and the lineup has struggled mightily.

While the Mets are unlikely to see a better pitching staff than LA's in the playoffs, they certainly will see plenty of elite pitchers on teams like San Diego, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and the Braves in their own division. They're not always going to be able to string a bunch of hits together to score some runs against elite pitching. In their first two games against the Dodgers, the Mets totaled only 8 hits combined. The only run they've scored was on a Pete Alonso home run. Meanwhile, LA has scored 8 runs over the two games and had 3 home runs in Friday night's contest.

The Mets worked hard to build a deeper lineup this season, and that hard work has paid off for the most part. What's clear, however, is their lineup isn't as deep as the All-Star team Los Angeles sends out day after day. Work remains to be done if the Mets hope to be more competitive in the postseason.

This isn't some sort of doomsday rant on my part. Even if the Mets get beat up in these next couple of games, I don't foresee a repeat of last year's implosion. They have a much better team, and Buck Showalter is a much better manager. Tylor Megill is set to make a minor league rehab start on Sunday. He'll provide a huge boost if he can return at anything close to his early-season effectiveness. There are still questions about the Mets' bullpen, but picking up a reliever or two is always doable at the trade deadline. I personally doubt very much that the Mets will swing a big deal for a starting pitcher, but I honestly don't think they need one.

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Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Ben Wetzler, JD Davis, Kyle Freeland, Brendan Illies

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 4. Touki Toussaint, Coral Springs Christian (Coral Springs, Fla.)  Toussaint might have been the hottest prospect right after last year's draft, as one mock draft in June listed him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Mock drafts produced in the last few months have Toussaint slipping some, but that may be due more to the emergence of Kolek and Gatewood than any deficiency on Toussaint's part. Toussaint's best assets are his athletic ability, a 98 mph fastball and a hard-breaking curveball. Expect Toussaint to go somewhere in the top 12. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Ben Wetzler, LHP, Oregon State (NR) - If ever there was someone pitching with a chip on his shoulder, Wetzler is that guy. After another dominant performance against Arizona State on March 21, in which he allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts to one walk, the 6’-1” southpaw now has a 0.59 ERA, 0.49 WHIP over 30.2 innings with 28 K/6 BB and just nine hits. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range and he adds a slider and change-up — both quality offerings. He attacks hitters and mixes his pitches well, commanding all three. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - JD Davis – 1B Cal State Fullerton – Davis was held hitless in two at bats on Saturday. He did managed two walks on the day. Davis has shown a very good eye and excellent patience, averaging nearly a walk a game for Cal State Fullerton. It was a rough day for Cal State’s offense which was held to three hits and failed to score asingle run. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-5-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise — week 3 Kyle Freeland, LHP, Evansville (29) - After getting roughed up a bit (4 IP, 4 ER, 7 H) in his last start, Freeland was masterful against Western Illinois on Friday. Over nine shutout innings, he allowed just two hits while striking out nine to no walks. He threw 98 pitches, 71 of them for strikes. He was one of the better pitchers at the Cape over the summer, striking out 48 to four walks over 40 innings while displaying a plus slider and low/mid-90s fastball. He isn’t going to face great competition this year but his stuff is first-round material. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-week-3/41478#ilZqhEaASo2Kkjik.99

UT - Brendan Illies, Jr., RHP/C, Puyallup (Wash.) - Illies' two-way ability allows him to maintain his spot in the Dream Team's Util position for a second consecutive season as an underclassman. Fellow junior SS/RHP Parker Kelly of Oregon has been progressing and is already breathing down Illies' neck for this spot after also just missing the cut in the middle infield and being considered for the pitching staff. Illies is the best player on the best team in the region and he's a multi-talented player who provides huge value to them. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561

Draft 14 – JD Davis, Devon Fisher, Nick Gordon, Carl Chester, Brandon Finnegan

1-30-14 - Number 25 on our countdown is Cal State Fullerton junior first baseman and RHP JD Davis. The Elk Grove High School native was a four-year letter winner at Elk Grove High School. He was a two time All-American selection in his junior and senior year with outstanding campaigns which he hit .486 batting average with 8 homers, 60 RBI, 1.80 ERA, 91 strikeouts as a junior and a .505 batting average, 9 homers, 45 RBI, 1.56 ERA, 70 strikeouts. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. As a freshman, he appeared in 41 games while making five pitching appearances as he hit .229 with 20 RBIs and a team high four home runs. On the mound, he had a 3.52 ERA with three walks and nine strikeouts in 23 innings. He played the summer with the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League as he batted .344 with three home runs and 26 RBIs while posting a 4-0 record with a 2.10 ERA on the mound. His summer was cut short after getting into an auto accident which broken his clavicle and sprained an ankle. http://ht.ly/2DnG2Y

1-27-14 – BP - Positional Preview: High School Catchers - Devon Fisher | C/3B/RHP | Western Branch (Chesapeake, VA) | Commit: Virginia  Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/200 pounds  B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 18y 1m  Fisher is solidly built, particularly in the trunk, already showing some in-game pop to the gaps and an ability to really put a charge into the ball when he loads up in BP. He put together an impressive series of offensive showings in Cary during the Tournament of Stars last June before fading some in August at East Coast Pro and then coming back strong in October down in Jupiter. The Virginia commit shows quick hands and a fairly compact swing despite a slight wrap. He is a solid athlete, with a projectable build that should be able the weather the strain of the long pro season behind the plate. He can get choppy in his transfer, but there’s enough arm strength for the catch-and-throw game to play at the next level. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22662

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 21. Tampa Bay Rays — Nick Gordon, SS/RHP, Olympia HS (FL) - A two-way talent with great bloodlines (Tom “Flash“ Gordon is his dad and Dee Gordon is his brother), the 6’-2” right-hander may have a brighter future at short where his strong arm, instincts and athleticism could allow him to stick at a premium position. Offensively, he hits from the left side and projects to a top-of-the-order hitter with speed and a very good approach at the plate. Over 30 games as a junior, he hit .505 with 15 doubles, six triples and 12 stolen bases. Committed to Florida State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 69 Carl Chester OF R/R 5-11 167 Lake Brantley, Longwood, Fla. Miami http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

3-20-14 – Cubs Insider - • Brandon Finnegan, Texas Christian University left-hander: Opening eyes by putting up 55 strikeouts against seven walks through his first five starts this season. The Cubs are on the clock. http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/mlb-draft-cubs-identifying-targets-no-4-overall-pick

Draft 14 – Sean Blewett, JD Davis, Jon Littell, Greg Deichmann

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 27. Atlanta Braves — Sean Blewett, RHP, Baker HS (NY) - The 6’-6” right-hander was extremely impressive during the fall, hitting 97 mph and showing a sound delivery at the perfect Game WWBW in Jupiter, Florida. His curveball is still developing but he shows a good feel for it and it could be a plus pitch. With his size and arm strength, his upside is sky high and a strong senior season could propel him higher. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  44- 1B/RHP JD Davis Fullerton 4/27/93- He is one of two potential Fullerton players who will be looked at on the mound and in the batters box. Unlike, Matt Chapman though Davis has thrown more to this point showing an easy 92-94 fastball and a solid slide piece. But, he is rated high as a hitter because of his highly sought after RH power. He is not a swing and miss power hitter either as he gets the most out of each AB. (OUt of first round- Mariners selection) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 44. Jon Littell, OF, Stillwater HS (OK) - There is a ton of power in the draft class and Littell is right at the top of the list. At 6′-4″ and 200 pounds, he ha a balanced swing that allows him to drive the ball to all fields with ease. he has excellent bat speed and a sound approach at the plate, as well. he has decent speed (6.82/60) and a good enough arm (92 mph from OF) to hold down a corner outfield spot at the next level. Committed to Oklahoma State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 89 Greg Deichmann 2B/SS L/R 6-1 187 Brothers Martin, Metairie, La. Louisiana State http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/