NEW INFO - 2023 Draft Prospect - C - Michael Carico

 

Michael Carico

C Davidson

2021 Davidson stat line - 54-G, 197-AB, .406, 1.402-OPS, 21-HR

 

1-3-23 - Your way-too-early-look at 2023 Mariners MLB Draft Targets

https://www.lookoutlanding.com/platform/amp/2023/1/3/23533801/2023-mariners-draft-targets-top-30-picks 

C Michael Carico, Davidson

6’0” 190lb Throws: Right Bats: Left

 

Heralding from North Carolina, Carico didn’t go far to pursue his post-prep career, attending Davidson, where he was one of the most decorated players in all of college baseball in his first full season in 2022. Through 54 games, the lefty-hitting backstop slashed .406/.559/.843 while swatting 21 dingers and walking (16.9%) more than he struck out (12.9%), earning A-10 Conference Player of the Year honors. His propensity to control the zone goes beyond his eye-popping OBP, which led all of NCAA; he was also the recipient of the collegiate Rawlings Gold Glove for the catcher position. His smooth, compact swing and strong plate discipline provide a lot to dream on if the Mariners show they’re unafraid to go the mid-major route with one of their early picks, something they’ve shown a willingness to due in the recent past with the likes of Kyle Lewis, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby.

 

11-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: College Top 100 Prospects - https://d1baseball.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-college-top-100-prospects/ -

 

70 Michael Carico C Davidson A-10

 

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 -

 

74 C

Michael Carico

Davidson

Carico is one of the more athletic catchers you will find in this class. He demonstrates the ability to make a lot of contact and drive the ball over the fence to all fields. Its a short compact stroke with plenty of bat speed which allows Carico to tap into his power frequency. He also demonstrates a strong understanding of the strike zone with a distinct eye at the plate. He is one of the more athletic catchers in the class, as his athleticism plays well from behind the plate.

 

7-28-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects -

 

63 C

Michael Carico

Davidson

Carico is one of the more athletic catchers you will find in this class. He demonstrates the ability to make a lot of contact and drive the ball over the fence to all fields. Its a short compact stroke with plenty of bat speed which allows Carico to tap into his power frequency. He also demonstrates a strong understanding of the strike zone with a distinct eye at the plate. He is one of the more athletic catchers in the class, as his athleticism plays well from behind the plate.

 

All the 2023 Draft Prospects in the Mack’s Mets database can be viewed by going to www.macksmets.blogspot.com and clicking on 2023 DRAFT PROSPECT DATABASE found on the top, left of the front page of the site.

 

The Mack Report (M. Alvarez, F, Alvarez, Hamel, Asencio, Mets Radio, Khalil)

Another Alvarez is back. 

The Mets signed 27-year old RHRP, Manuel Alvarez, to a minor league contract. E was an International free agent that was signed by Cleveland. He played for them from 2018-2022. He joined the Mets mid-season and pitched for both AA-Binghamton (8-apps, 0.93) and AAA-Syracuse (1-app, 13.50). 

Mack - I think this could be a sneaky good move. Start him off in Syracuse and see of he can handle batters at that level. 

 

The Athletic - Keith Law

7. Francisco Álvarez, C, New York Mets

Age: 21 | 5-10 | 233 pounds

Bats: Right | Throws: Right

International signing in 2018

Last year’s ranking: 8

Álvarez is the highest-ranked player from last year’s list who didn’t lose his eligibility through playing too much in the majors in 2022, although he did make his debut at the very end of the season and hit his first homer. 

He had a tremendous start to his year in Double A, hitting .277/.368/.553 with 18 homers in just 67 games for Binghamton, but ran into some bad luck in Triple A — he continued to make consistent, hard contact, but his BABIP dropped 30 points and his strikeout rate rose just a bit to 26 percent, resulting in a .234/.382/.443 line for Syracuse. 

He has a tremendous swing for generating that hard contact, with great balance throughout, excellent hand acceleration, and good use of his lower half to drive the ball. Scouts were more bearish on his defense when he moved to Triple A and had to catch better stuff, although the consensus is still that he can stay there, even just as a bat-first catcher who could stand to clean up some of his blocking and receiving. 

I think he can handle it, even if he’s only a soft 45 on defense, because the bat will make up for any of those deficiencies. Despite the drop in his average in Triple A, his swing and history of hard contact point to stronger batting averages as well as OBPs with 25-30 homer power at his peak.

                                 New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/mets/new-york-mets-top-50-prospects-2023/?s=03 

1. Francisco Alvarez*, C, 21, MLB

MLB’s #1 and Mets #1 catching prospect, Alvarez, got his first taste of the majors in the end of September and even got some at bats in the Mets short lived wild card series. Alvarez has an explosive bat with power to all fields with the catching ability. Always has great ISO numbers along with 58 career minor league homers. 

He has already got the first career major league hit/homer out of the way and fans will see plenty more of Alvarez in Queens this year as he will contend for 2023 Rookie of the Year playing catcher and DH. 

                                    1-25-23 - The Athletic

 Various publications have ranked the 21-year-old Francisco Álvarez as one of baseball’s top five prospects because of his raw power and elite bat speed. However, his defense lags behind. Specifically, the Mets want him to improve his receiving, which is a teachable skill and something the club views as paramount for their catchers. 

Generally speaking, Eppler said he views Triple A as a “very important stepping stone for a player.” The way Eppler sees it, Double A commonly features high-end traits like big velocity. It tests players’ physical tools. Triple A features more experienced players, like pitchers messing with timing by throwing 2-0 changeups. It tests the mental side. 

                                        CBS - 

1. Francisco Álvarez, C, No. 3 on top 20 (2023 seasonal age: 21)

Álvarez reached the majors late last season when the Mets were seeking another capable right-handed bat for their postseason run. He didn't fare well in five regular season games, but ultimately it doesn't matter. Álvarez has big-time raw power and he's improved his defense enough to bet on him sticking at catcher. 

Strikeouts are always going to be part of his game, and he's been pull-heavy in the minors, a combination that may limit his batting average upside. Even if it does, there's more than enough pop-and-walk potential here for him to become an offensive force. 

Mack - Well, if you are the top prospect on a team, there is going be a lot of reporters write about you. Especially if you are wearing the uniform of a New York team. 

 

New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/mets/new-york-mets-top-50-prospects-2023/?s=03 

8. Dominic Hamel, RHP, 23, Single-A

One of my favorite prospects in the organization, Hamel uses his elite spin rate on all pitches to get by hitters. He was named Mets’ organizational pitcher of the year after throwing 119 innings with 145 strikeouts while holding his opponents to a .196 average across both Single-A levels. Hamel is an analytical dream and projects to be a mid rotation starter if the continued development goes as planned. Check out my interview and breakdown with him last spring! 

Mack - Those of you that follow what I have said over the Mets drafting process know how high I was when the Mets drafted  Hamel in the 3^rd round of the 2021 draft. Frankly, I couldn’t believe he was still on the board. Sure, he finished the season that year for Dallas Baptist with a 4.22-ERA, but he went 12-2 and struck out  136  batters in 91.2 innings pitched. 

Last year, for Brooklyn and St. Lucie, he went 10-3 while striking out  145 batters in 119 innings pitched. 

A steal. 

 

1-25-23 - The Athletic

The Mets need a couple more hits from their international efforts. One sleeper from the class is 6-foot-4, 195-pound outfielder Enderson Asencio (Dominican Republic), whose exit velocity, loud bat and power have reminded some scouts of Franmil Reyes. 

Mack - We’ll keep an eye on Asencio when hie debuts for one of the DSL teams. 

 

Keith Raad And Patrick McCarthy Join Howie Rose On NY Mets Radio Team

Inside Radio - It appears the New York Mets have settled on their radio broadcast team as Keith Raad has reportedly been recruited as Wayne Randazzo’s successor to serve as a partner to play-by-play announcer Howie Rose. Additionally, the franchise is expected to announce that Patrick McCarthy, who is the son of former Mets announcer Tom McCarthy, will serve as pregame and postgame host for games carried on Audacy news WCBS-AM (880). 

Raad has been serving as the main announcer for the Brooklyn Cyclones, who are a Single-A minor league affiliate of the Mets. McCarthy has been announcing games for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, which are a Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. In addition to hosting the pregame and postgame shows, McCarthy will reportedly serve as a fill-in play-by-play announcer when Rose is off. His father Tom served as a play-by-play announcer for the Mets from 2006-2007 and is currently the Philadelphia Phillies TV play-by-play announcer. The younger McCarthy filled in for his dad for a pair of Phillies games last season, while the elder was covering preseason football games. 

Mack - Good news but it is Keith we are waiting for. 

 

^{Mets outfielder Khalil Lee accused of assault and verbal abuse by ex-girlfriend}

^{https://theathletic.com/4147323/2023/02/01/khalil-lee-mets-assault/?source=user-shared-article} 

^{Mack - I’ve got nothing to say here  other than the fact that I am sick and tired of reading about male athletes beating up their wives or girlfriends.}

Tom Brennan - Some International Signing Thoughts

Almost all international signings start out their careers with their teen peers in DSL.

International signings are not my bailiwick, but hopefully this cobbled together information is useful.

NY Mets ($5,284,000 total pool) - most of it spent on 4 players:

Daiverson Gutierrez, C, Venezuela (27th overall - $1.9 million bonus): a Mets' website article by a gentleman named Jesse Sanchez said the following about him and the next two players: Gutierrez can hit, and his above-average power potential is noteworthy. His power has drawn comparisons to Francisco Álvarez at the same age.  On defense, Gutierrez has a chance to have an above-average arm along with other emerging skills behind the plate. He has been praised for his plus makeup and his leadership skills. 

Anthony Baptist, OF, Dominican Republic (29th overall - $1.1 million bonus): For those of you who crave speed, Sanchez says this: Baptist is one of the fastest players in the class and also one of the most exciting. He is expected to start in center field and stay at the position as he develops, primarily because of his speed, but also because he has the potential to be an above-average defender. He can chase balls down in the outfield, and like all prospects his age, he is working on fine-tuning his routes and angles.  The hope is that his speed -- he has been consistently clocked at 6.1 seconds in the 60-yard-timed run -- will also come into play on the bases and he can develop into a base-stealer in the future.

Christopher Larez, SS, Venezuela (43rd overall - $1.5 million bonus): Sanchez writes: He is one of the most polished shortstops in the class and has a chance to be a five-tool player at a premium position.  He already shows good bat-to-ball skills and has a chance to be a plus hitter in the future. There’s a chance he develops more power as he grows and his body matures. Defensively, his instincts are noteworthy, and he features all of the skills an emerging middle infielder needs to make his way through the Minor Leagues and eventually the big leagues.  

Daviel Hurtado, LHP, Cuba ($640,000 bonus) - Metsmerized says "The lefty has a fastball up to 95 mph and a big curveball." Pretty HOT for a young hurler.

And the rest of the pack (clearly there will be more, since the Mets run two developmental league teams out there each year) - 27 guys were signed in mid-January, and shown here in this article are the names of 20 of them:

Misael Lopez, LHP, Dominican Republic

Heriberto Rincon, OF, Dominican Republic

Enderson Asencio, OF, Dominican Republic
Julio Zaya, 3B, Dominican Republic
Derek Rodriguez, OF, Venezuela
Osiris Calvo, LHP, Dominican Republic
Wilmer Lugo, LHP, Venezuela
Henry Pizani, C, Venezuela
Jean Brito, RHP, Venezuela
Elwis Mijares, RHP, Venezuela
Jonathan Perez, OF, Venezuela
Leydeman Ruiz, SS, Venezuela
Keiver Garcia, SS, Venezuela
Jesus Anton, RHP, Venezuela
Misael Lopez, LHP, Dominican Republic
Vladi Gomez, SS, Dominican Republic

Brennan Thoughts: Most will never see the light of day in the major leagues, and perhaps most will never even make it to stateside minor league ball, but the annual cycle goes on and on and on.  Teams tend to spend the most money where they see the most potential, so I would imagine the top 3 especially, plus Hurtado, have good potential to climb to the major leagues in 4 to 6 years.  None, at least as of yet, have been added to the Mets' top 30 prospects, and most likely, all 4 will not make it that far, but we can hope.  

Interesting, too, that almost all of the internationals come from VZ or the DR.  Guatemalans and Hondurans likely too soccer-focused.  Only baseball is a REAL sport, though.

I did also see that Baseball America apparently had Gutierrez higher, as # 20 and Larez higher,  as # 25, with Baptist also in their top 40.

Sanchez adds this, which is also informative: An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year -- in practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2006, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with MLB in advance in order to be eligible to sign.  Teams are allowed to trade international bonus pool money starting Jan. 15. 

Lastly…Mets sign DJ Stewart, former 1st round OF with the Orioles. AAA filler. Career .213 in MLB but regressed the past 3 seasons. Career .185 lefty hitter on the road. I know, just a tweak or two…

Reese Kaplan -- When a Game Takes an Unforgettable Turn

One of the things that people relish about the game of baseball are particular plays or game performances or mishaps that burn themselves into your memory forever.

Who can ever forget, for example, the act of the volatile but original players Jimmy Piersall running around the bases backwards while a member of the New York Mets when he connected for his 100th home run off future Mets manager Dallas Green pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies?

Of course, while that one was purely a bit for the Bizarre Hall of Fame, how about when Tom Seaver fanned 19 San Diego Padres in a record tying effort for the 20th century. Not only did he have 9 strikeouts going into the 6th inning, but he accomplished something never repeated in baseball history when he whiffed the last ten San Diego hitters in a row who faced him to finish the game with 19 strikeouts done in a mind blowingly masterful way. Right after the ceremony of receiving his 1969 Cy Young Award, Seaver made this one game in 1970 even more unforgettable.

Going back the other way, how about the extra inning 1986 World Series Championship year there was a game in which manager Davey Johnson flip flopped pitchers as outfielders as he ran out of regular position players and needed the extra pitching arms available in the game while getting a rest from the wear and tear on their arms? Yes, indeed, Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco alternated between the pitching mound and the outfield depending on the hitting situation by the opposition while starting catcher Gary Carter wound up playing the infield. Yes, that was one of of a kind.

You can go on and on with various weirdnesses associated with the Mets. How about the Game 6 of that same year's 1986 World Series when it seemed as if the Mets' magical year was crashing to an end when they faced a two-out situation with Mookie Wilson at the plate who grounded what appeared to be a game and season ending ground ball to highly commendable fielder Bill Bucker at first base only to have it wind up going underneath his glove to the Bob Murphy incredulous, "It gets by Buckner" proclamation signifying the Mets' come-from-behind victory and necessitated a deciding Game 7 to follow.

Of course, no Mets history would be complete without the, ahem, temper of former minor league manager Wally Backman. Whole videos have been made profiling his less than family friendly explosions at umpires over their calls and decision making inabilities. Watch the attached video when the little ones are out of earshot.

Position switches are nothing new in baseball, but the Mets have done some that make you scratch your head to the point of bleeding. How about second baseman Juan Samuel as a center fielder? What about outfielder Todd Hundley? How about Kevin Mitchell as a shortstop? Then there were various position players in blowout games when wasting the bullpen was ill-advised that wound up taking over as relief pitchers (most recently the only positive contribution from Darin Ruf).

So think long and hard about the unexpected and unusual in your Mets fandom. What made you shake your head in disbelief? Yes, there were some great positives such as Johan Santana's first-ever Mets no-hitter, but I'm asking about the things that were even more stunning. Have at it.

NEW INFO - 2023 Draft Prospect - OF - Chase Davis

 

Chase Davis 

OF          Arizona 

 

1-9-23 - FIVE SUPER-SLEEPERS WHO COULD GO NO. 1 IN THE 2023 MLB DRAFT

https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2023/1/7/five-super-sleepers-who-could-go-no-1-in-the-2023-mlb-draft?s=03 

CHASE DAVIS, OUTFIELD, ARIZONA

Davis was an extremely high-profile blue-chip as a high schooler in 2020. Prospects Live graded him the No. 44 overall prospect available in that class. He had plenty of money offered his way but felt it best he go to the University of Arizona and develop his craft a bit more and give it another go in 2023. After being utilized in more of a part-time role in 2021, Davis worked as the starting left fielder for the Wildcats last spring, posting a .289/.414/.583 slash with 18 homers. He worked a 16.6 percent walk-rate and struck out 22.8 percent of his at-bats. 

You could make the argument Davis was rather green in 2022 having not played extensive time the year before. A year older and a year wiser at the plate, Davis could see his game take off to another level in 2023. Like Hurley and Wilken, Davis is a batted-ball monster with exit velocities befitting a player much bigger than Davis is. Last season, his peak exit velocity  ranked among the best in the country. His contact quality was streaky, so the variability of his batted balls was a rollercoaster, but at his best, there are very few guys in the country who can hit a ball quite as hard as Davis. He did show quite a bit of swing-and-miss in his game, whiffing on close to 32 percent of his swings. He was particularly exposed against spin last season, posting a contact rate of just 50 percent against breaking balls. That will need to improve in 2023 if Davis is to go in the first round.   

Where Davis outpaces his peers, Hurley and Wilken included, is in the athleticism department. He’s comfortably an above average glove in either corner and possesses a weapon in his 70-grade arm. He is a solid average runner who has a chance to steal double-digit bags as a pro.   

Davis has a bit farther of a climb than Hurley and Wilken do to reach his draft ceiling as a No. 1 overall pick, but the athletic tools and impact at the plate both exist. The swing-and-miss must improve. If it does, scouts may once again begin singing his praises as “Carlos González 2.0”.

1-3-23 - Your way-too-early-look at 2023 Mariners MLB Draft Targets

https://www.lookoutlanding.com/platform/amp/2023/1/3/23533801/2023-mariners-draft-targets-top-30-picks 

OF Chase Davis, Arizona

6’1” 217lb Throws: Left Bats: Left 

Questions linger about whether Davis can stick in center field, but nobody is questioning Davis’ skills in the batter’s box, where he slugged 18 homers and slashed .289/.414/.583 in his first season as a full-time player for the Wildcats. While there’s a little swing-and-miss to his game–he posted a 22.8% strikeout rate playing largely against talented Pac-12 pitching–he posted a 16.6% walk rate. The 21-year-old struggled badly in 15 Cape Cod League games over the summer, but believers in his power stroke will be tempted to gamble that he adjusts to swinging the lumber as a pro.

11-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: College Top 100 Prospects - https://d1baseball.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-college-top-100-prospects/ - 

38 Chase Davis OF Arizona Pac-12

11-12-22 - 2023 MLB Draft – Top 50 College Prospects -

https://www.prospects1500.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-top-50-college-prospects/ 

40. Chase Davis, OF, Arizona – Davis has one of the smoothest swings in college baseball, and his head stays on the ball well allowing him to track the ball through his entire swing. Despite that, there is still some swing and miss in his game and his offensive production comes primarily from his power, but that is a potential plus tool. He has primarily played out in left for Arizona, but he has a very good arm that would be just fine in right so he does have some positional flexibility in the outfield.

11-2-22 - 2022 Fall Report: Arizona - https://d1baseball.com/fall-report/2022-arizona/ - 

Junior Chase Davis had a breakout season in 2022 (.289/.414/.583 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs). The toolsy lefthanded hitter brings a plus arm and plus power to the party. He may play left field for the Wildcats as Hi Corbett Field plays much like Coors Field, where the dimensions dictate that your best defender should be deployed in left (see Carlos Gonzalez). With another big year, Davis could be a very high pick.

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 - 

57 OF

Chase Davis

Arizona

Many saw Davis as a Top 50 prospect in the 2020 MLB Draft, though he went unselected due to signability concerns and headed to Tucson. Regardless of the dollars and cents, Davis always wanted to honor his commitment to the Wildcats. He's yet to get the chance to showcase his talents full-time, but we're talking about a good hitter with projectable power and a huge arm in the field. He's an above average who most believe is destined for right field. Davis figures to be a mainstay in the Wildcats lineup in 2022 and 2023.

All the 2023 Draft Prospects in the Mack’s Mets database can be viewed by going to www.macksmets.blogspot.com and clicking on 2023 DRAFT PROSPECT DATABASE found on the top, left of the front page of the site. 

JD's Top 10 1st Basemen- PIITB by JD

 JD’s Top 10 1^st Basemen – PIITB by JD

    I am back with my next set of positional rankings for the 2023 season. Unfortunately, this one won’t include two Mets in the top 10 like the starting pitcher list. But, our next extension candidate, (and my pick for captain) Pete Alonso will make an appearance. Let’s kick it off!

1. Paul Goldschmidt- How could I not put Goldy at #1. Coming off a career year and his first MVP season Goldy has to get to the #1 slot. This man had a 7.1 fwar coupled with 35 homers, .317 average and a 177 wrc+. The next couple of guys on this list may end up having a better 2023, but it would be disrespectful to Goldy for him not to be #1. 

2. Freddie Freeman- No surprise here. Freddie has been one of the top first basemen in the game for the last several years. He is coming off one of his better seasons but one that is not as “Freddie-esque”. We are used to more power out of Freddie but his value did not take a dip by any means. He hit to a tune of .325 (second in baseball behind McNeil), with 21 homers, a 157 wrc+, and a 7.1 fwar.

3. Vlad Guerrero Jr.- another unsurprising guy on this list. We heard about this guy forever. He arrived just a few years ago. He had a down year last year, but he will find his stroke again and be a dominant force for years to come. Vlad’s I expect a strong comeback for Vlad. He came off a year in which he hit 32 homers, had a 132 wrc+ and a 2.8 fwar. I predict Vlad will boost himself back up to that 4-5 fwar range. 

4. Pete Alonso- a lot of lists have Jose Abreu at this spot. He will make an appearance soon. Pete is one of the top power hitters in the sport. Him and Aaron judge are 1/2 in home runs since 2019. Pete came off a 4 war season hitting 40 bombs with a 143 wrc+. He is only getting better and is proving his consistency. 8/216. Get it done Steve.

5. Matt Olson- yea Braves fans. Pete is better than your guy. Olson is an excellent player in his own right. A good defender with a bat to pair. Olson had a 3.1 fwar season last year along with 34 homers and a 120 wrc+. Another consistent power player, just not as good as the Polar Bear.

6. Jose Abreu- one of the games top 1st basemen of the last several years. Abreu has always been a source of great power over the course of his career. Not last season though. Jose only hit 15 homers. That didn’t stop him from having a great season. 3.9 fwar and a 138 wrc+ prove. His savant peripherals were still elite showing he still has that pop. He’s 36 years old so maybe his power will dwindle but I wouldn’t count him out.

7. Nathaniel Lowe- now comes the fun part of the list. Lowe is just 26 years old and is already one of the top 1st basemen in the game. He had just a 3.0 fwar last year but slugged to a tune of a .302 average, 27 bombs, and a 143 wrc+. He will keep getting better and likely move up this list.

8. Ty France- another newcomer to this list. At just 27 years old, France is a premier first baseman in the game. Swatting 20 bombs with a 2.4 fwar and a 126 wrc+ is a good spot to be in for France. He has been consistent over the last few years and I think he’s going to take a jump.

9. Rhys Hoskins- this one might be somewhat surprising to some people. I’m high on Hoskins. He’s a great power bat in an era where power is more important than ever. Not that it’s particularly hard to find a right-handed power hitter, but Hoskins provides that consistency. I feel like I know exactly what I’m getting every year from this guy. He had a 2.2 fwar last year while hitting 30 bombs and a 122 wrc+. Hoskins is a great performer with the potential to be even better. 

10. Anthony Rizzo- I know some of you were probably expecting Luis Arraez here, but he is now a second baseman for the Marlins after Jazz moves to CF. Rizzo has the advantage of playing at Yankee stadium 81 games a year. With the short porch, Rizzo’s approach fits well. He hit 32 homers last season with a 133 wrc+ and a 2.4 fwar. I expect Rizzo to hit 25-30 homers this year. His power could take a dip but the lack of shift and the short porch provides more value to Rizzo.

 

Leave your thoughts below!

Image Creds: Shane Acedara 

Reese Kaplan -- A Player Trying to Make it Big Shouldn't Act Small

Many of you have heard the news about prospect Khalil Lee being charged by his former beloved of spousal domestic abuse. It is unfortunately not a new story in sports (or in life, for that matter) and it continually confounds me how someone can treat another human being in this manner when you claim to love the other person.

Many are advocating the Mets do a little investigation of their own and if there is substance to the allegation that they sever ties with the man both as a show of support for doing the right thing and getting a man off the 40-man roster whose performance didn't suggest he was going to be a star caliber player in the major league.

When Lee was quoted as saying, "How much is this going to cost to go away?" it seemed as if the handwriting was already on the wall.  Choking and abusing one's ex-girlfriend wouldn't result in police activity unless there was some substance to what was being charged.  Syracuse police have been diligent in corralling Lee and having him answer for his actions.

If the club was a bit deeper in outfield prospects it would be an easier move to make than it is right now, but AAAA outfielders are not all that difficult to find as teams make roster adjustments and spring training cuts. It might even breathe life into Darin Ruf for a chance to make back the money he essentially stole from the team for his abysmal 2022 performance.

Of course, these types of situations are not new for any team or for any business. The fact that the employees of the team have an ultra public personal makes it a bit more difficult to sweep such things under the rug. Still, teams have tried to do just that depending on the caliber of the player in question.

Going through the Mets' 60 year history of playing in the National League there were any number of other incidents that the team needed to address. During the 1986 championship year we found out about Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and others having issues with both substance abuse and interpersonal relations.  Then there was that rape allegation, too...

Who can forget the whole Frankie Rodriguez fisticuffs with his family while in the clubhouse area? It resulted in his quick ouster from the roster and while he still had talent, no one really gave the Mets a hard time for making this type of hasty shove out the door for an undesirable element.

It's not just violence that creates public relations and media scorn headaches for a team. Remember the spring training incident with Mets' players urinating on a pizzeria? Neither Shane Spencer nor Karim Garcia suited up for the team anymore.

Then there was the Brett Saberhagen incident with spraying bleach in a super soaker at reporters who were not members of his personal fan club. It was not the first time for the pitcher who also had thrown firecrackers at the media in the past.

Vince Coleman set off an explosion at Dodger Stadium which required him to face legal charges for the incident. He was never anyone's favorite player and despite his prodigious running talents, no one was crying a river after he got repercussions for his actions.

Any of us Mets fans can go on and on about players who didn't conduct themselves in a professional manner or who deserved serious repercussions for what they had done. What happened with Lee is not going to be the last incident that will ever occur with men the team employs, but the actions the Mets take can help send a message to other players that violence and other criminal activities will not be tolerated. 

The Mack Report (Allan, 2016-2020 SP Draft Picks, Parada, Vientos, Figgy, D.J.)

 

New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/mets/new-york-mets-top-50-prospects-2023/?s=03 

11. Matt Allan, RHP, 21, Single-A

Matt Allen has the most interesting case in the Mets organization because he hasn’t pitched since 2019. A once top 5 prospect, Allen continues to slip due to his multiple arm procedures. He looked decent in his 10.1 innings in 2019 with great fastball potential. He projects to be ready for the 2023 season and can fly up the list if he performs without any injury. Definitely one to watch. 

                        1-25-23 - The Athletic

If all had gone according to plan, right-hander Matt Allan, 21, would’ve been a prime candidate for a debut by now. However, injuries have disrupted Allan’s development and timeline. Allan, formerly a top-100 prospect, missed all of 2022 after undergoing a second elbow surgery in January following his 2021 Tommy John surgery. He has not pitched in an affiliate game since 2019. Eppler said he is in a throwing program the Mets developed to build length and velocity. 

Mack - Here’s a guy I really had big plans for. It’s hard to project Allan going forward. The first thing the Mets have to do is keep him out of the Mash tent.

There were seven top shelf starters drafted between 2016-2020. It included Allan. Let’s take a quick look at all of them and their progress so far: 

2016:  Justin Dunn - 1^st round - traded to  Seattle as part of the Edwin Diaz trade. 2022 stats: -0.1-WAR, 1-3, 6.10 

            2016:  Anthony Kay - 1^st round - Traded to Toronto for Marcus Stroman. 2022 stats: 0.0-WAR, 0-0, 4.50.  Has been consistently inconsistent throughout his career. Was released last week and currently a free agent.. 

2017:  David Peterson - 1^st round - still a Met,  2022: 0.9-WAR, 7-5, 3.83. Projected to start  in Syracuse and play the role of the emergency SP6. 

2018:  Simeon Woods-Richardson - 2^nd round - traded to Toronto for Marcus Stroman. 2022 stats: -0.1-WAR, 0-1, 3.60. Projected to be in the 2023 Minnesota Twins rotation. 

2019:   Josh Wolf - 2^nd round - traded.to Cleveland as part of the Francisco Lindor trade. 2021-2022 minor league ERAs were 5.61 and 6.35. So far, no loss for the Mets. 

             Matt Allan - 3^rd round - Still a Met. TJS. Hasn’t pitched in 3-years. Who knows at this point? 

2020:    J.T. Ginn - 2^nd round - Traded to Oakland as part of the Chris Bassett trade. Pitched at the AA level in 2022: 10-starts, 6.11-ERA. 

So far, no damage, though the SWR trade will, in the long run, probably haunt the Mets. Other than that, it looks like the right guys were traded, regardless of all the pissing and moaning you read on Twitter. 

 

The Athletic - Keith Law

44. Kevin Parada, C, New York Mets

Age: 21 | 6-1 | 197 pounds

Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Drafted: No. 11 in 2022

Last year’s ranking: Ineligible

Parada was one of the best college hitters in the 2022 draft class, hitting .361/.453/.709 for Georgia Tech and striking out in just 10.4 percent of his plate appearances, and he continued to get on base in his 13 games in pro ball after signing. He’s a bat-first catcher who has an unusual setup at the plate, holding the bat over his back shoulder like it’s a golf bag, but he gets the bat head to the zone on time, even against better stuff. I wouldn’t rule out someone trying to change that eventually, but for now, it works for him. 

He made a lot of hard, loud contact, including 26 homers, tying him for sixth among all Division I players even though he faced good quality pitching in the ACC. Behind the plate he’s a bit rough, with some scouts questioning whether he’d stay at the position. He has a 55 arm and he’s fine blocking, but has trouble framing and some issues receiving better stuff. 

He’s a sneaky good athlete who has already improved substantially on defense since high school, and doesn’t have that much farther to go to be average-ish with the glove. His bat is the carrying tool, with high contact rates and the potential for 20-25 homers a year. 

                New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

            Prospects 1500 

4. Kevin Parada, C, 21, Single-A

The 1st round, 11th overall catcher Parada attended Georgia Tech where his bat was valued slightly higher than his defense. Parada is a decent defender who probably won’t be able to be an everyday catcher, but will definitely find his way in the lineup because of his plate approach. A great hard contact hitter to all fields will definitely hit for average, but don’t be surprised to see 20 homer seasons and some power along the way. 

Mack - It’s going to watch how the two catcher prospects play out. 

I happen to think Parada is the keeper and Alvarez should be traded (when Parada is ready) for a young arm, but the Mets could try and convince one of them that their future is as a DH.  That might work, but probably just through the arbitration years. 

Imagine if they kept that catcher prospect they traded for Joey Lucchesi? 

 

1-25-23 - The Athletic

The Mets asked Mark Vientos this winter to work on his agility in an effort to enhance his defensive value and versatility. Vientos, primarily a third baseman, played 27 games at first base for Triple-A Syracuse last year. Eppler said he anticipated Vientos continuing to see action at first base and third base. 

In 16 games with the Mets last season, he mostly served as a right-handed designated hitter; rival scouts said he lacked enough foot speed for the outfield and wasn’t quick enough for third base. 

Some team officials were encouraged by Vientos’ pre-game on-field work with the Mets and how he seemed to quickly learn the demands in the majors as far as preparation and work ethic. 

Mack - I consider Vientos a one demensional player. Total value going forward is as a designated hitter, no matter how many fly balls are hit to him in practice. I also think the Mets missed the trading boat this off season on this guy. His huge HR/AB ratio in Syracuse should have brought him some offers. 

The future of the DH position could, long term, lie in the two top catcher prospects. 

 

Michael Mayer @mikemayer22

The Long Island Ducks announce Nelson Figueroa Jr. will be their pitching coach for the 2023 season.

Wally Backman continues as the manager 

Mack -  Nelson and I are friends. I remember the day he joined Twitter and added me as his first follower. This gig is pure enjoyment for a guy that the Mets totally screwed as a player, but came back anyway to work on-air, then was screwed by the team again. Have fun, Figs. 

This might be Khalil Lee’s replacement… 

The Mets signed veteran outfielder, D.J. Stewart and invited him to camp this spring. He had reached the Orioles; major league level three times, for a total of 26 home runs in 622-ABs, with an excellent 13.2% walk rate. His downside is his overall .213 batting average and his rated sub-par defense in the field. 

Stewart joins Tim Locastro, Abraham Almonte and former Reds’ farmhand Lorenzo Cedrola among non-roster outfielders who’ll be in big league camp.