From The Desk… Bahama Baseball, David Wright, Willie Mays, Brady Singer, Rob Whalen

  

Good morning.

Baseball in the Bahamas on the rise -

Baseball in the Bahamas is on the rise and while it may never rival countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela in terms of quantity, there's an argument to be made that the quality of talent coming from there is on par with other international baseball hotbeds. In all, there have been six players from the Bahamas to play in the Major Leagues, with Richardson, who made his debut in 2011 and retired in 2016, as the most recent. There were an estimated 30 Minor League players from the Bahamas from 1960s to the '80s.

            Mack – a Mets scouting job in the Bahamas… could you handle that?

5 Stars That Said Goodbye In 2019 –

            David Wright - Number to know: 133 career OPS+

PC - Mack

If Wright had been able to do anything close to what Beltre did in his 30s, he would have gone down as one of the best third basemen who ever played. Unfortunately, serious back injuries interfered, and Wright played in only 211 games from age 31 on, including two at the end of 2018 as he said farewell to the Citi Field faithful to cap a career spent entirely with the Mets. While he had his health, however, Wright was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. His 47.2 WAR through 30 ranks in the top 10 at his position. But even though physical issues kept him off the field for much of the past five years, Wright finished with a career .296/.376/.491 line. Among third basemen with at least 5,000 plate appearances since 1920, only Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews, Chipper Jones and George Brett have produced a higher OPS+.

            Mack – Let’s not forget what we lost here.

The 10 Best Players  To Ever Suit Up For The New York Mets –

           

 1) Willie Mays

Full Career: .302 avg., 660 HR, 156 OPS-plus

Mets (1972-73): .238 avg., 14 HR, 112 OPS-plus

Despite fading skills, reached base at a .350 clip as a Met and helped 1973 pennant winner.

2) Rickey Henderson

Full Career: .279 avg., 297 HR, 127-OPS plus, 1,406 SB

Mets (1999-2000): .298 avg., 12 HR, 117 OPS-plus, 42 SB

An offensive force at age 40 for the 1999 Mets club that just missed the World Series.

3) Tom Seaver

Full career: 311-205, 2.86 ERA, 3,640 Ks, 1.121 WHIP

Mets (1967-77, ’83): 198-124, 2.57 ERA, 2,541 Ks, 1.076 WHIP

“The Franchise” is the only player on this list the Mets can boast as primarily theirs.

            Mack – Interesting list. No Wright. Yes Cano.

US baseball player   surprises parents by paying off family debt for Christmas in touching video –

                  

      A first-round American baseball draft pick has surprised his parents with a big Christmas gift - using the money from his new job to pay off all of their debt.

Brady Singer, a 22-year-old player with the Kansas City Royals, posted a video on Tuesday of his parents as they read a note from him announcing the gift, and the video has been watched more than 3.4 million times since then.

"Today is very special to my heart. To give back to the two people who have given up everything to support my brother and I”, the pitcher wrote on Twitter. “I can't thank them enough. Love you Mom and Dad”.

            Mack – And you wonder why I loved this guy on draft day.

Rob Whalen   on His Career-Threatening Battle with Anxiety –

                  

     A conversation I had with Rob Whalen on Wednesday took an unexpected, and coincidental, turn. The 24-year-old right-hander brought up the first of the two starts he made for the Seattle Mariners, a game in which he was out-pitched by Boston’s Brian Johnson. A few years earlier, the Red Sox left-hander had taken a leave of absence from baseball to get treated for anxiety and depression.

It turns out that Whalen did the same thing last July — and he should have done it sooner. His mental health had been slowly crumbling, and it finally reached the point where he could no longer function normally — either on or off the field. When Whalen finally walked away from Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate, he did so knowing that he was in serious need of help.

            Mack – We wish Rob well. He was a good friend to Mack’s Mets.

Tom Brennan - TOP 5 METS PROSPECTS

Tom Brennan - TOP 5 METS PROSPECTS

OK, 2 of my Top 5 went out the door in the Cano deal:

Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn - the duo would have been my # 2 and # 4, respectively, but they will have to settle on being Seattle's # 2 and # 3 instead.

But what's Dunn is Dunn, so let's move on to my current Top 5 Mets prospects (I like to start with the best, then descend to the rest):

# 1 PETER ALONSO 1B

Pounding Pete, in 159 games in 2018 spanning AA, AAA, and winter ball, had an incredible 42 HRs and 146 RBIs in his 3rd season.  All that, after just 123 games in his first two injuries-shortened seasons.  

His fielding improved dramatically, from poor in 2017 to adequate in 2018, and Alonso is an extremely hard worker.  

His power seems to be second to none in Mets history...he already holds two Stat Cast power records.   And his splits against lefties and righties in 2018?  Almost identical, showing he can hold his own against righties.

#1, and trying harder.


# 2 Andres Gimenez SS

A terrific fielding SS with excellent base stealing abilities, a good and continually improving bat, and hopefully expanding power, Andres should be an above average big leaguer.  All of next season he will be playing at age 20, and could make it to Queens in 2019, especially if there are injuries in Queens.

# 3 David Peterson LHSP

The tall former first rounder had a mostly fine season with a very rough middle of the season.  I want to look at him with the glass half full, with a ceiling at or above a Steve Matz. 2019 is a big season for David to show he is a bona fide first rounder and future rotation arm in Queens.

# 4 Ronny Mauricio SS

A great debut season in rookie ball, he might turn out to have a higher ceiling than Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez - which is darned good.  I am very much looking forward to see how great his 2019 progress will be - I slot him as a fast riser in Columbia.  Eighteen years of age in 2019...gotta love it.

# 5 Anthony Kay LHSP

Another first rounder, and the second of 3 top 10 lefty starters, Kay's first season post-Tommy John was mostly good.  Sure, he had some stinkers, but he also started out rusty coming into his A ball debut.  

The hard-throwing, talented lefty may also turn out to be as good or better than Steve Matz, who lived in Suffolk County in almost the same exact area- may he dazzle us in 2019. 

Future mid-rotation starter potential.

NEXT TIME: PROSPECTS # 6 THRU # 10

Reese Kaplan -- Baseball Beyond Our Borders

One of the regular readers here called me on the carpet when I characterized the Mets as xenophobic.  My intent with this description was to point out how they are seldom in on major league ready talents from other countries when all it takes is cash to make the deal happen.  Guys like Jose Abreu, Ichiro Suzuki, Yuli Gurriel, Seung-Hwan Oh were readily available to the highest bidder but the Mets never even got a bidding paddle.  Yes, they have spent money on unproven IFAs each year, sometimes offering impressive signing bonuses.  They also have been known to embrace foreign players once they’ve established themselves in the big leagues like Yoenis Cespedes or Hideo Nomo.

No, my frustration is the risk aversion that keeps them from even considering players from outside the USA as potential assets for the big league club.  Around this time last year I profiled a number of Japanese and Korean pitchers (other than Shohei Ohtani) who could have been a help to improve the roster, but as usual under the previous regime it was not to be. 

One of them I profiled, Yoshihisa Hirano, was picked up by the Diamondbacks for the mere sum of $6 million for two years.  For a frame of reference, the Mets paid more than triple that sum for the immortal AJ Ramos. 

What did the Snakes get for their investment?  After all, how could foreign stats possibly translate into Major League baseball?  Well, from 2006 through 2017 he pitched to a 3.10 ERA with a nice WHIP of 1.159.  For the Diamondbacks he appeared in 75 games, delivered a 2.44 ERA and his WHIP improved to 1.085.  Not bad for a $3 million per year investment, huh?

A couple of years ago the Milwaukee Brewers took a chance on former Major Leaguer Eric Thames who was an undistinguished outfielder who went to play in Korea.  Over the course of three seasons there he hit 37, 47 and 40 HRs.  They took a chance and brought him to the USA for $16 million over 3 years.  How did he deliver on that $5.3 million commitment?  Well, in his first season the Brewers enjoyed 31 HRs.  Last year was a downer due to injury, but the point is that foreign players (or American players who have gone to the foreign leagues) can offer something to big league clubs.

Now a team that cries poverty at every opportunity cannot be expected to get into the bidding wars for the likes of Ohtani and others.  Big hype is, of course, no guarantee of success.  The Red Sox are paying Rusney Castillo a nice paycheck to sit in the minors.

The point today is to consider the one-time American baseball prospect Mel Rojas Jr.  He is indeed the son of THAT Mel Rojas.  (I’ll pause while you get your airsick bags).  He made the trip across the Pacific in 2017 and found his power stroke.  His first year in Korea he slammed 18 HRs with 56 RBIs in 336 ABs.  Apparently his team had faith in him and made him a regular.  He responded in 2018 with 43 HRs, 114 RBIs while batting .305.   

Given how thin the Mets are in the outfield, a player of this ilk could be anything from AAA filler to bench player to starter if given the opportunity.  He's still just 28.  And oh, did I mention he plays centerfield?  He’s currently earning $800,000 and may be getting tired of Kim Chee.  His price would warm the cockles of the Wilpons’ hearts. 

I’m sure with some more digging there are others out there worth investigating if BVW can get the Wilpons to look past the US border.

Tony Plate - NY Mets Looking to Make More Moves

Since the New York Mets signed free agent catcher Wilson Ramos who played for both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies last season to a two-year $19 million contract they now are looking to trade Kevin Plawecki or Travis d’ Arnaud. They feel one of them is now expendable. 

The Mets announced a couple of days ago that d’Arnaud has avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract with them for $3.515 million. 

The Mets can still possibly trade him and a few teams have been interested mainly because of his bat even though he has had health issues since the 2012 season. 

There are a few teams that also show an interest in Plawecki. Also, the Mets still hope to add a primary left-handed reliever.

After the Cano and Diaz deal and the signing of Familia and Ramos Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen stated that the Mets should now be viewed as the favorites to win the National League East next year. 

When the other teams in the division see this, it becomes part of the locker room clipboard. You do not want to fire up the other teams in your division. The other teams will be extra motivated when they begin spring training. Also, a prediction like that can put pressure on the Mets. 

Most fans believe in the concept of division titles not being won in the paper, but won on the field. 

The other teams in the division also made moves to improve themselves. The Washington Nationals added to their starting rotation and signed free agent pitchers Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez. They also signed first baseman Matt Adams to a one-year contract. 

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired 2018 All-Star infielder Jean Segura from the Seattle Mariners. 

The defending National League Eastern Division champion Atlanta Braves signed free agent catcher Brian McCann who brings plenty of experience working with pitchers which would be an asset to the Braves young rotation. I think it will go down to the wire to see who wins this division.

In other Mets news, they signed outfielder Gregor Blanco who played with the San Francisco Giants to a minor league contract and was invited to spring training. In 68 games last season he batted .217 with two homers and 12 runs batted in. 

Former Mets pitcher and free agent Matt Harvey signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. 

Another former Met, free agent infielder Daniel Murphy signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Rockies.

Mike Freire - Relax, We Are In Good Hands

Good Morning, fellow Mets' fans!

I hope that everyone has recovered from a rather hectic Christmas holiday and that you are resting up in anticipation of a nice New Year's Eve.  I am fortunate to have the week off so I have extra time to spend with the family, which may or may not be such good thing, but that is another story for a different day.

With that said, I took a quick look around and realized that things are in pretty good hands in our household.  It got me thinking about our favorite ball club and how things are progressing so far this offseason.

As most of you know, things started off with a "bang" as our new leader made a high profile and controversial trade with the Mariners to bring in a new closer and a new second baseman.  Additional moves followed and it was accompanied by some aggressive rhetoric from BVW about "not being done" and how the Mets should be looked at as "favorites for the NL East crown" in 2019 and beyond.

Pretty heady stuff, if I don't say so myself.

Since that time, things have slowed down a bit which is both normal for this time of year (lull after the Winter Meetings) and understandable with the holidays upon us.  Plus, after the very fast start, maybe BVW needed a bit of time to catch his breath?  Any of us that are on the wrong side of 40 can attest to needing a bit of a break from time to time, right?

There is still plenty of time between now and the start of Spring Training, so I fully anticipate additional moves to address the open and/or substandard positions on our roster, like another left handed reliever, for instance.

Once thing I am pretty sure of is that the "black hole" that existed behind the plate last year should now be a strength with the recent signing of Wilson Ramos and what appears to be his back up in the form of a healthy Travis d'Arnaud (and yes, I just threw some salt over my shoulder while keeping my fingers crossed as I type).  We even have quality depth in the form of Kevin Plawecki, who may end up on another team's roster, but for now is our #3 and likely ticketed for Syracuse.

In a regular season, your "starter" behind the plate usually plays in roughly 125 or so ballgames, not counting a few DH appearances and/or pinch hitting duties.  If that is the case, then there are approximately 37 games left for the back up to handle which includes day games after night games or perhaps a match up that favors the back up, etc.  Using this breakdown and making a rather large assumption that WR and TDA will both stay healthy, this is potentially what our catching tandem could produce in 2019;

.263/.311/.427  (.738 OPS)

25 HR/ 95 RBI/ 0 SB and 69 RS

***This is a simple projection based on each player's career averages that were adjusted to mimic the listed split in playing time and giving WR a larger role.  It does NOT assume any other at bats for additional players that will likely have a SMALL role next year (yes, more salt over the shoulder).

I also didn't break down the total offensive contributions from last year's team behind the plate, but it included the following players and games played;

Kevin Plawecki (71), Devin Mesoraco (57), Thomas Nido (30), Jose Lobaton (18) and TDA (4).

I think that list says quite a bit on it's own and it would be a huge upgrade for this coming season IF the team gets the type of statistical output that I think they will.

This does not take into account better defense and a higher percentage of throwing baserunners out that SHOULD follow along with everything else that WR does well. I am not a huge fan of TDA's but the Mets seem to like him and I can live with his overall production (or lack thereof defensively) so long as he is strictly the back up and he does not need to play anymore games then projected above.

Yes, Mets' fans, the team is in pretty good hands behind the plate this year and I think it will show in the most important place of all and that is the win column.

Tom Brennan - "CAN WE DO JUST ENOUGH?"

Tom Brennan - "CAN WE DO JUST ENOUGH?"

During the Sandy Alderson Era, if one wanted to sum up the Mets' approach to each season, it would be "let's do just enough, cheaply, and hope that SOMEHOW, all the pieces would miraculously fall into place and we'd get at least a Wild Card slot."

Hey, it worked in 2015 and 2016, right?

But in 2015, the Mets got red hot after a few midseason deals, and other teams collapsed.  Frequency of that sort of thing happening?  Quite infrequent.

In 2016, the Mets got hot in September to secure a Wild Card.  TJ Rivera surprisingly hit .333 in September to help that unlikely event happen.

Overall, from a Mets fan's perspective, the cheap, wishful thinking approach sucks, really.

Brodie Van Wagenen's Era has begun, with energy and more risk taking.  The team has improved.

But flat-out boldness still hides from plain sight.

If the Bronx team had exactly the same roster and salary situation as the Mets do right now, what would Cashman and company do?  Easy....

Go all out for Bryce Harper.  Then sort out the outfield logjam if/when Cespedes returns.

Add another STRONG arm to the pen.  

And add a better starter than Vargas is likely to be.

Which would raise the team payroll, a lot, certainly.

But increase the chances of making the World Series exponentially.

So...Wilpons, Brodie?  TAKE THE GLOVES OFF AND FIGHT.

Reese Kaplan -- Peter Alonso: A Nice Problem to Have

One of the great unknowns going into the 2019 season is what to expect from Peter Alonso.  After a few years of showing flashes hampered by injuries, he put it all together last year over two levels and delivered .285/36/119 while striking out a manageable 128 times given the high-power output. 

When Brodie Van Wagenen was named General Manager, one of the first things he did was fly out to Arizona to see Pete in the Arizona Fall League and to share his vision of where he saw him fitting into the Mets’ major league team.  That very effort by BVW probably spoke volumes to Alonso and one could not imagine Sandy Alderson nor any of the Three Stooges having done the same. 

Now if we were a fly on the wall in that meeting we would have learned what exactly was communicated.  The big issue, of course, is the matter of starting the season in the majors or holding him back to manipulate his service to give the club an extra year of control, a well-used technique by most clubs who have potential stars such as Kris Bryant of the Cubs. 

The issue is both financial and promotional.  Obviously, an extra year of financial control could be worth quite a bit when you see a Jacob deGrom in line to receive well over $12 million as he approaches the end of his arbitration cycle. 

On the flip side, promoting Peter Alonso on Opening Day would signal the end to the last seven years of prospect suppression and could help generate immediate interest by fans who have become cynical and jaded by the last few years of lackluster performance.  Think, for example, how the presence of Jeff McNeil ignited interest in the club at the end of a lost 2018 season. 

The excuse that would be used about Alonso is that his defense needs work, just as the Cubs said about Kris Bryant.  I don’t know how 2—3 additional weeks in the minors would convert someone from Dr. StrangeGlove into Keith Hernandez.  It is a thinly veiled effort to justify the service time delay and one I’m sure the Player’s Association will be tackling in the next agreement.  Bear in mind that Alonso won Defensive Player of the Month for the extra efforts he put into his game. 

Now there are a great many people who make it to the majors on the strength of their bat alone without having a position they play adequately.  You don’t need to look any further than recently banished Wilmer Flores to see someone who could swing the bat but couldn’t deliver adequately at any spot on the diamond where he was tried.  Rumored trade candidate Nick Castellanos on Detroit is in a similar situation having flamed out at 3B and now struggling to handle corner outfield responsibilities.

There are players who improved significantly over the course of their careers as defensive players.  Tony Gwynn is a great example of someone whose hit tool not only justified him being on the big club, but over the years he turned himself from liability to adequate.  Who’s to say Alonso can’t do the same?

Personally, I think they will go into Spring Training telling the world that 1^st Base is an open position, and may the best man win.  If Alonso has a hot Spring, then they can justify the immediate promotion.  If he does not, then they have additional fodder to say he needs more time at AAA. 

If he does indeed begin the year in Syracuse, I would expect Todd Frazier (if he’s still here) to play 1B with Jeff McNeil at 3B.  The wildcards in the mix include Dom Smith and even Travis d’Arnaud. 

It’s not even January so there’s still a lot of time to reshape the roster.  I’m in the camp of hold him back for three weeks.  You’d still get enough of a season to make him a solid Rookie of the Year candidate and gain that extra year of control. 

How about you?

Merry Christmas

Mack's Mets is closed for Christmas day.

Enjoy the holiday.

Tom Brennan - Mets Site Top 30 Prospects - Hitters - My Comments

Tom Brennan - Mets Site Top 30 Prospects - Hitters - My Comments

Previously, I tossed out a few articles on prospect starting pitchers and relievers.

Today, my favorite category - hitters.

The Mets' Top 30 Prospects list on the NYMETS.COM website has a very notable amount of 21 and under hitters, 13 in all, 7 of whom will be 19 or under in 2019. 

Exciting, while also a slap at the dearth of older hitting prospects in the system (and the few drafted hitting prospects cracking the Mets' list - most of these 13 guys 21 and under are international signings).

Let's run them down:

#1 - Andres Gimenez

Ranked as a 60 in hitting, arm, and fielding, 55 in speed and 35 in power.  Seems about right for him, and hopefully the power escalates in 2019 and beyond.  Plays all of 2019 at age 20.

# 6 - Ronnie Mauricio

A gifted SS who does not turn 18 until April, the Mets site lists him at a 50 overall rating, with 60 fielding, 55 arm, 50 hitting and running, and 45 power.  This international signee should add a lot more power as he cruises along.  I'd not be surprised to see him in Queens before he turns 21.  Should be headed to Columbia this season.  Talent rises quickly, and Brodie is aggressive, if you hadn't noticed.

# 8 - Mark Vientos 

The Mets' site grading makes him look like a better fielding version of Wilmer Flores with more power.  Just a 30 runner, but 5 power, 50 hitting, 55, arm and 50 fielding.

# 9 - Desmond Lindsay

He turns 22 in January, time to put up or shut up.  Job # 1 - stay healthy all season.  He is listed with 60 speed and 50 hitting, power, arm, and fielding.  Can he turn disappointment into delight in 2019?  In a very weak outfield prospects contingent above rookie ball, he has a chance to show he is the best of the upper minors OFs in 2019 - or a bust.

# 12 - Adrian Hernandez 

Turning 18 as spring training starts, the international bonus baby is 5'9", 210  - but fast - 60 speed fast.  45 in hitting, 50 in power and fielding, and 55 in arm.  I'd put him in Kingsport.

# 13 - Francisco Alvarez 

A $2.7 MM signee catcher, he will be making his debut as a 17 year old in 2019.  A 50 hit tool, with 55 power, a bit slow, but a 55 arm and 45 fielding.  Maybe he can become our Gary Sanchez power-wise.

# 14 - Sherveyn Newton 

The Mets' site describes the soon-to-be 20 year old from the Netherlands as having a very advanced hititng approach...drawing tons of walks...keeping his K rate relatively low."  He struck out 84 times in 56 games, so if that is relatively low, I am curious as to what relatively high might be.    Despite the Ks, he had a very good season in Kingsport.  He was rated in the Mets' listings with all 50 ratings, except for 45 power, which he has the size to add to significantly.  But the K rate must come down.

# 15 - Freddy Valdez

Really big at age 16 (6'3". 210), he will debut as a 17 year old with a $1.45 MM signing bonus.  55 power, 50 arm and fielding, and 45 hitting and running.  Outfielder unless he can't stick out there, otherwise, he may be pushing Peter Alonso at 1B in 5 years.

# 17 - Luis Carpio

He did not hit well in 2018, but had a very low BABIP, so that should improve in 2019.  The 21 year old SS/2B was bizarrely listed as having just TWENTY power, despite, having 21 doubles and 12 homers in 393 at bats in 2018.  Which looks like Wilmer Flores stats.  Which seems more like 40 or 45 power to me.  Highly ranked fielder with good speed, he needs to improve in 2019.  The clock is ticking and he needs to hit more to be relevant in a crowded field.

# 18 - Greg Guerrero

What can one say?  He missed a lot of 2017 and then all of 2018 with reportedly a shoulder injury.  Yet, the former $1.5 MM bonus baby rates as a 60 arm, 50 hitter, 45 power.  But can he be healthy enough to show the injuries are in the rear view mirror in 2019 as a 20 year old?  One thing's for sure - he ain't Vlad.

# 23 - Ali Sanchez

He made strides in 2018 in staying healthy and hitting, and had 20 doubles, a triple, and 6 homers in 328 at bats, but is also listed as having 20 power!   Seems more like 30-35 to me, and perhaps ready to rise some more - this catcher's calling card is a 65 arm and 60 fielding.   Big year to show if he can hit enough to make his stellar glove work in the majors.

# 24 - Luis Sanchez 

The 5'8', 175 second baseman had an outstanding offensive year in Kingsport (.348/.446/.471), in a hitters' league.  He should also vault to Columbia - lets see if the 19 year old can show size doesn't matter a la Altuve.  He was ranked as just having a 50 hit tool - let's see if that is underrated or not in 2019.

# 27 - Stanley Consuegra 

The 6'2", 170 outfielder hit not very well (.217) in the Gulf Coast League, but at age 17 - so his 45 hit tool rating seems conservative.  The $500,000 signee is rated to have a 60 arm, 55 speed and power, and 50 fielding.  To me, that says he has real future potential.  Probably to Kingsport to develop in 2019.

So, to recap, an exciting, very young batch of hitters above, only a few of whom came through the draft.  Glad, as a Mets' fan, that this contingent is wrapped as presents under our figurative Chrismas tree.  We should get some real good ones out of this bunch.

What about the older hitter prospects, though?

Yep, the Mets' Site's Top 30 had older drafted hitters too, but fairly few - just 6, in point of fact:

Peter Alonso at # 2 (and arguably # 1), light-hitting Tomas Nido at # 10, the oft-injured, getting-old-fast duo of Gavin Cecchini and David Thompson at #'s 16 and 19, recently acquired Will Toffey at # 21, lefty hitting catcher Pat Mazeika at # 25, and Quinn Brodey at # 30 (just .224 in his first 416 minor league ABs).  

Besides King Peter the Great, the other 5 ollder dudes don't scream "Future Major League Regular" to me, a testament to how weak the Mets' drafting of hitters has been over the past decade, frankly.  

Hopefully, Brodie's Boys will turn the Mets' drafting of hitters from MORIBUND to MARVELOUS.

And that, ladies and gents, wraps up my look at, and critique of, the Mets Site's Top 30 Prospects as listed.  I personally would have had some other guys in my Top 30, like Brooklyn Cyclones 2018 star  Ross Adolph instead of Quinn Brodey, but that is a subject for another day.

Happy holidays, you scalawags!