NFT: Mets Minors 5/3/2016

Considering his pedigree (a relatively recent 1st round pick from HS at a premium position) it seems like in general there's pretty muted enthusiasm for him among the national prospect writers (not on Sickels top 175 or BA's top 100). Possibly an overreaction after overrating his brother? Seems like even Plawecki (relatively low ceiling guy) got more talk and preseason hype heading into AAA last year.

If he can stick on SS and continue to build on the offensive profile he showed in his breakout year last year (low K rate, high avg, high obp) he could be a really nice player.

on Mateo, long an afterthought for me

"Mateo made it to Double-A in 2013, but quickly went down with a torn UCL. He didn’t look close to all the way back in a 2014 rehab stint, and was shut down late that summer. He worked his way back again in 2015, and this year is in the Binghamton ‘pen as a 26-year-old. Unfortunately he looks like the same pitcher he was in Brooklyn. The mechanics are still rough; the arm action is painful to watch at times. But the primary issue is this: the stuff just hasn’t improved since his stateside debut. He’s throwing his changeup more, but it’s a straight 20 offering. He slows his arm down as badly as any pitcher I have seen at any level while throwing it, and he can’t get it near the zone. The fastball still has some life, and the slider still flashes, but the days of dreaming on him are long past. He looks like just an organizational bullpen arm now. After watching Bobby Parnell down the stretch, Mets fans likely don’t need this reminder, but guys don’t always get all the way back from Tommy John surgery."

The Fireflies game was held up by a 65 minute rain delay after the 2nd inning last night. Might be the reason that ingram didn't come back out.

In comment 12942613 Named Later said:

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The Fireflies game was held up by a 65 minute rain delay after the 2nd inning last night. Might be the reason that ingram didn't come back out.

NL. Thanks! Astromets usually has updates after every game and he didn't mention anything either way so I was merely guessing. Makes more sense.

Dan --
Who's this kid JC Rodriguez with the 8 game hit streak ??

In comment 12942665 Named Later said:

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Dan -- Who's this kid JC Rodriguez with the 8 game hit streak ??

Organizational fodder. Used to go by Jean. He's turning 24. Has been in the organization for 6 seasons and is a career .253 hitter who is repeating the level.

Rivera had two hits yesterday keeping his batting avg well above 300 @ 343 for the season

With his 2-for-3 day Monday, Cecchini is now 10-for-17 (.588) in the past five games.

Backman said Friday that Cecchini had been sliding to the baseball with his head going forward too much but that he had made an adjustment and become more under control in the batter’s box.

That, combined with a better awareness of Triple-A pitchers has helped him recently. Cecchini, a first round pick in 2012, is in his first season at Triple-A.

“He’s made that adjustment (and) he’s made adjustments recognizing sequences that the pitchers are throwing him, so he’s getting better,” Backman said.

As opposed to lower levels of the minors, pitchers at Triple-A are better able to harness their secondary pitches and more apt to use one in a traditional fastball count.

“A lot of the time in fastball situations depending on the pitcher, he’s learning that he’s going to get some offspeed from time to time,” Backman said.

Prior to his recent hot streak, Cecchini was hitting .182. Now, he has rapidly raised his average by nearly 100 points.

In addition to Cecchini, Bernadina, left fielder Ty Kelly and third baseman T.J. Rivera each had two hits apiece in the game.

Dilson Herrera, who has been sidelined with a sore lower back, made his first appearance in a game since last Tuesday, pinch hitting in the eighth inning.

Backman said Herrera will be in the lineup on Tuesday.

“He said he was good to go today, and I just gave him one extra day,” Backman said.
Link - ( New Window )

First a sore shoulder, Dilson Herrera now nursing a sore lower back #Mets

This offseason we are going to be in a rough spot with no internal outfield help on the horizon.

In comment 12942900 bhill410 said:

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This offseason we are going to be in a rough spot with no internal outfield help on the horizon.

Conforto might already be our best all around player and Lagares has looked very good bouncing back this year (also looked good at the plate in the playoffs last year). There's no doubt it would be very tough to replace both our cleanup hitter and possibly Walker, but overall the OF would be in OK shape if they could find a solid 4th player to mix in. The IF with Wright a 34 year old Wright at 3rd and an unproven 2B would be the bigger concern IMO.

Ha !!! I have to start checking the ages of some of these guys. JC is old for this level.

If the Mets and he were so inclined could the team and Cespedes tear up the old, and sign a new contract or would he have to opt out and become a free agent in order to do so?

In comment 12942992 steve in ky said:

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If the Mets and he were so inclined could the team and Cespedes tear up the old, and sign a new contract or would he have to opt out and become a free agent in order to do so?

He could sign a new deal replacing this one. The only year that can't be changed is this one.

In comment 12943006 DanMetroMan said:

Quote:

In comment 12942992 steve in ky said: Quote: If the Mets and he were so inclined could the team and Cespedes tear up the old, and sign a new contract or would he have to opt out and become a free agent in order to do so? He could sign a new deal replacing this one. The only year that can't be changed is this one.

Thanks,

At least they have the option if be seasons end it becomes apparent they need to ensure he returns.

Attendance seems good so far and at some point even if for no other reason the numbers may justify doing so.

In comment 12942985 Eric on Li said:

Quote:

In comment 12942900 bhill410 said: Quote: This offseason we are going to be in a rough spot with no internal outfield help on the horizon. Conforto might already be our best all around player and Lagares has looked very good bouncing back this year (also looked good at the plate in the playoffs last year). There's no doubt it would be very tough to replace both our cleanup hitter and possibly Walker, but overall the OF would be in OK shape if they could find a solid 4th player to mix in. The IF with Wright a 34 year old Wright at 3rd and an unproven 2B would be the bigger concern IMO.

In theory you might be right but overall I have to disagree. Lagares with a platoon partner that hits righties sounds good but Cespedes impact on the rest of the lineup is something that can't be measured. Cespedes flair for dramatic homers changes games in a way a Lagares/de Aza (for example) combo simply wouldn't. Duda, Conforto etc most certainly see different pitches than they would sans Cespedes. Pitchers are scared of Cespedes, they aren't scared of Juan Lagares and his career .366 slugg%. The Mets minus Walker and Cespedes + a "better" platoon partner for Lagares and Herrera almost certainly are a worse team regardless of what projections you want to run.

In comment 12943017 DanMetroMan said:

Quote:

In comment 12942985 Eric on Li said: Quote: In comment 12942900 bhill410 said: Quote: This offseason we are going to be in a rough spot with no internal outfield help on the horizon. Conforto might already be our best all around player and Lagares has looked very good bouncing back this year (also looked good at the plate in the playoffs last year). There's no doubt it would be very tough to replace both our cleanup hitter and possibly Walker, but overall the OF would be in OK shape if they could find a solid 4th player to mix in. The IF with Wright a 34 year old Wright at 3rd and an unproven 2B would be the bigger concern IMO. In theory you might be right but overall I have to disagree. Lagares with a platoon partner that hits righties sounds good but Cespedes impact on the rest of the lineup is something that can't be measured. Cespedes flair for dramatic homers changes games in a way a Lagares/de Aza (for example) combo simply wouldn't. Duda, Conforto etc most certainly see different pitches than they would sans Cespedes. Pitchers are scared of Cespedes, they aren't scared of Juan Lagares and his career .366 slugg%. The Mets minus Walker and Cespedes + a "better" platoon partner for Lagares and Herrera almost certainly are a worse team regardless of what projections you want to run.

I agree. Cespedes has that something extra for the Mets that few tap into. Guys like Piazza, Delgado, Carter, etc that came to the Mets and were able to have that "it" factor beyond simply being just another power hitter in the lineup.

that would without a doubt be the #1 priority in the offseason to try to replace. This is all so hypothetical because who knows if Walker gets resigned or Wright ends up hurt again, etc. my only point was that in a vacuum Conforto - Lagares - Granderson (and presumably good 4th OF'er signed via FA) is a solid OF. If that's what they're forced to go with in the OF though they would need to upgrade the IF somehow, even if they resign Walker. Just impossible to project where the openings are going to be until the end of the season.

I'd love to just replace Cespedes deal with another identical one. Front loaded, 3 year deal, with an opt-out after the first year. Signing him for 6 years at big money still spooks me a bit.

Luckily, if we're even having this discussion at the end of the year, it means he played great the whole year and the Mets are likely going back to the playoffs. Good problem to have. Qualifying offer will also slightly decrease the amount the other teams offer him which sort of offers us a quasi built in home town discount.

In comment 12943027 Metnut said:

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I'd love to just replace Cespedes deal with another identical one. Front loaded, 3 year deal, with an opt-out after the first year. Signing him for 6 years at big money still spooks me a bit. Luckily, if we're even having this discussion at the end of the year, it means he played great the whole year and the Mets are likely going back to the playoffs. Good problem to have. Qualifying offer will also slightly decrease the amount the other teams offer him which sort of offers us a quasi built in home town discount.

Agreed. Also if they open up a corner by dumping Granderson's final year it gets easier to fit Cespedes back on a differently structured deal because of how much value he can bring in LF. I think Conforto has all the tools necessary to play RF, but if that's not an option they could keep rolling with Cespedes in CF and Lagares platooning in RF. I tend to think Cespedes is going to pick up his option anyway, but there's still a lot of season left.

I'm as stats focused as anyone on here but you have to admit there are multiple times when the Mets look to be in trouble or even just in need of a jolt and somehow it's almost always Cespedes who provides it. He's flawed, I get that. If he weren't he would have scored such a massive megadeal int he off-season he wouldn't be here but for me he's a true game changing talent for us. Keeping him is the main reason I went from "I'm happy the season is upon us but..." to "YES! the season is here!" Even going with the stats he's been worth 1.0 fWAR through 20 games so he's been damn good.

with Lagres taking over CF full time and Ces playing left.

I think Lagares could be the lead off hitter as well. Last spring he did a fine just all spring in that roll even thought TC abandoned it to start the season.

It would be nice if Conforto started taking some practice in RF and maybe even try playing there a game or two by seasons end, but I understand not wanting to mess with such a young player who is doing so well up to this point.

Gilmartin 4 innings 3 hits 1 run 1 walk 3 k's (Gotta say he's pretty surprisingly effective as a SP in the PCL so far)
Nimmo 0-1, BB
Rivera 1-2
Cecchini 1-2
Herrera 1-3, SB
Taijeron 2-2, 2b

Dilson 3-5, 3b, HR (double away from a cycle)
Rivera 2-3, HR, 2 BB
Nimmo 2-4, 2b, BB, CS (now 1/4 stealing bases)
Cecchini 2-4, K
Spoke too soon on Gilmartin... 5 innings 8 hits 4 runs 0 walks 3 k's
Smoker 0.2 2 hits 0 runs 0 walks 1 k

Herrera 4-6, 2 HR and 3b, dayum. Back must be healed up.
Nimmo 2-5, 2b, BB
Rivera 2-3, HR, 2 BB
Cecchini 3-5, K

Dilson seems back.

going to keep ripping on Becerra and Nimmo's lack of homers until they make me look bad. Nimmo is an actual concern, Becerra just something to monitor. Make me look bad guys!

Would be a 10-15 HR bat in the majors. I just don't envision him as a power bat anymore. If he hits 10 all year in Vegas at 24 I'll be content. My bar just isn't that high. I want to see him go on one of those video game hot streaks again though we're he racks up a ton of hits and walks. Bonus would be if he proves he can still play CF "well enough".

As for Becerra I've heard he's been protecting his shoulder a little. Might have something to do with his power early. He's young though and has a ways to go. Plenty of time to get that together. Nice to see him shredding St. Lucie though.

Gumdrops and daisies... everything goes right..... Nimmo turns into Granderson's replacement. High OBP at the top of the order. Takes lots of pitches. About 10 HR less pop but maybe even a slightly higher OBP. 10-15 HR pop. Platoon him with Lagares(add 5 HR) who clearly is proving he can mash lefties now. Assuming all that...

1.) Nimmo L CF (Lagares platooning against tough lefties)
2.) Herrera R 2B
3.) Conforto L RF
4.) Cespedes R LF
5.) Duda L 1B

The last three spots would be interchangeable based on who's hitting or what happens...

6.) Wright/ Cheech/ Flores/ Rivera 3B
7.) TDA/ Plawecki C
8.) Cabrera/ Rosario/ Cheech

Obviously not going to be easy keeping Duda and Ces but if we did that lineup could look real nice for a long time.

That he's getting benched even in the minors?

In comment 12943813 Modus Operandi said:

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That he's getting benched even in the minors?

That's a Wally thing. Protects him against lefties sometimes. Has weird batting order placement. I also think the organization has mandates to get guys like Bernadina playing time in case there is an injury and the big club needs a AAAA player in a pinch.