what do Mets junkies think of 2B-Nick Madrigal at pick#6, 21 years old, batted .380, perhaps a Jose Altuve clone. Could probably reach the majors in a year or two, giving us a real nice core of young position players in Smith/Alonso, Rosario, Madrigal, Conforto. I know this is so far off, but just been projecting out.
Corey Oswalt seems like the one they're pushing, but at one point Molina was highly regarded (pre TJS?) with good stuff, but poor mechanics IIRC.
Corey Oswalt seems like the one they're pushing, but at one point Molina was highly regarded (pre TJS?) with good stuff, but poor mechanics IIRC.
Might be but his statline is deceiving. Stuff was majorly down from pre-TJ. Most had him 90-91 which with his "okay" secondaries isn't an MLB SP. He was always viewed as a likely RP but even then the velocity has to come back a bit to be all that interesting.
MMO
His 2017 season was a mixed bag. Although he stayed healthy, his results and a diminished amount of strikeouts didnt please many scouts. Before his surgery, he was hyped up as a strikeout machine, but he only accumulated a 7.3 K/9 and 89 strikeouts in 2017. His velocity, previously sitting in the mid to high 90s, was down a few ticks as well.
Although Molina throws two above-average pitches, his future most likely lies in the bullpen. He shows the ability to repeat his mechanics well, however they betray him due to his lack of ability to generate any power from his lower half of his body. He improved them after his surgery, but probably not enough to fulfill his ceiling as a front-of-the-line starter.
Hes had a nice run as a starter for the past few years, but will most likely appear in the bullpen in the major leagues. Nevertheless, hes still on the Mets 40-man roster and will be one of the first pitchers the Mets call up when they need a spot starter this upcoming season. Molina has had a rough few years but looks forward to a healthy 2018 season."
Amazin Avenue
"Before his Tommy John surgery, Molina sat comfortably in the low-to-mid 90s with his fastball. During the 2017 season, it averaged 91 MPH and often backed up into the mid-to-high 80s for entire games. Whether this simply represents Molina shaking off the rust from his surgery or a new paradigm for him remains to be seen. His slider and changeup still appeared to be quality pitches, giving the right-hander an added length of rope if his fastball does not return to form."
45s
Talking to Jose Reyes today, doesn't seem OF is going to be a thing for him. Obviously plans can change, but seems they want him focused on his infield positions. Has been taking balls at 2B so far but has freedom to take balls at 3B, SS. 1B is not a consideration.
It's more about Reyes and his limited versatility as a bench player when he's basically "unplayable" at SS at this point. Not even knocking Reyes but there is little he adds (on paper) vs. Wilmer so ideally he could play other spots. Not a huge deal.
No. -15 DRS at SS over only 630 innings. That's "unplayable". 3B -5 over 279
But yeah he was AWFUL defensively last year.
12:31
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, some are concerned about his size. If you think hes more brittle because of it, I guess I get that. But why else does that matter? Hes shows you he can do everything else. I dont like the Next X, for anything, especially a player as unique as Altuve.
1:13
Eric A Longenhagen: Dont think the pitch mix works as a starter (its deep but only a few of his pitches are good and theyre all firm) but like him as a kitchen sink reliever
No. In fact, all three of them might miss out. A realistic pen as of today looks like...
Familia
Swarzak
Ramos
Blevins
Purke
Wheeler
Montero
Sewald and Robles are the next two on the outside looking in. One makes it if we use a 4 man bench. Both make it if we forego a second loogy like Purke.
I do think Bashlor makes some noise and could force his way at some point over the summer but he has some work to do. Mainly, prove that he really has cut down on the walks (SSS so far).
Does a Bautista make some noise if he's popping 101's on people and getting outs? Does a Drew Smith if he's pitching well in Vegas?
Im excited to watch how our pen is going to evolve in 2018. Its already very good IMO.
Obviously, performance and injury can dictate otherwise but it looks like the last two spots in the rotation are Harvey and Matz's to lose.
I think ultimately we are in store for some good things this year. This log jam was going to happen eventually when we got healthy. Maybe the health wont last but I have a hard time believing we will have a anything close to what we saw last year again. Im actually intrigued with watching Wheeler in the pen. He might just become a cost controlled closer/setup guy for two years... who knows?
2.) Lugo
3.) Flexen
4.) Oswalt
5.) Knapp
6.) Molina (to start.. possible transition to reliever later)
Thats kind of deep considering you also have to backup starters in the ML bullpen as well.
0% chance.
I do think Bashlor makes some noise and could force his way at some point over the summer but he has some work to do. Mainly, prove that he really has cut down on the walks (SSS so far).
Does a Bautista make some noise if he's popping 101's on people and getting outs? Does a Drew Smith if he's pitching well in Vegas?
Im excited to watch how our pen is going to evolve in 2018. Its already very good IMO.
Bautista walked 31 over 59.2 innings last year.. in low A.. and A ball. If he has a good half season in AA maybe he's on the radar but as of right now he's at best a 2019 option.
@Buster_ESPN
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The Astros Forrest Whitley, one of baseballs best pitching prospects, has been suspended 50 games without pay for a violation of the minor-league drug program.
Joe DeMayo
@PSLToFlushing
3s4 seconds ago
Adrian Gonzalez not being a great teammate and mentor for Dom so far in camp .. color me surprised.
NOT.
Quote:
Joe DeMayo
@PSLToFlushing
3s4 seconds ago
Adrian Gonzalez not being a great teammate and mentor for Dom so far in camp .. color me surprised.
NOT.
He oddly cited this...
Adrian Gonzalez is the boss of the infield -- there is no getting around it. Dominic Smith has been nowhere to be found on field around first base this week during infield drills.
Instead, Monday it was just Gonzalez and Tuesday it was Gonzalez and Wilmer Flores.
Smith handled first base, but both days it was with the minor league players invited to camp...
What's worse, whereas there had been a lot of talk about Gonzalez mentoring Smith, I've seen Gonzalez working more with Flores, as well as Amed Rosario.
In fact, Gonzalez is seemingly very tight with new bench coach Gary DiSarcina, who is running camp for the position players and, as a former shortstop and third baseman, being very hands on with the infield rotation.
Quote:
Joe DeMayo
@PSLToFlushing
3s4 seconds ago
Adrian Gonzalez not being a great teammate and mentor for Dom so far in camp .. color me surprised.
NOT.
think it came from this metsblog post which seems more about the coaches having Dom in a seperate group from the regulars (which include Gonzalez).
Pics and Observations from PSL: Get used to Adrian Gonzalez at first base - ( New Window )
yea this seems much more of a Mets coaches issue than a Gonzalez issue. It's mostly positive about Gonzalez.
Let's not act like Ron Acuna Jr. of first basemen. He showed a little pop at the end of the year, but defensively he was atrocious and it came at the expense of making contact. Lucas Duda would have been an improvement.
Matt Ehalt
Verified account @MattEhalt
1m1 minute ago
Callaway on Wheeler: Hes definitely a starting pitcher. For us to be the best possible team we can be, we have to have him be a starter and hes going to go out there and do everything he can to win this competition we have going on.
Sadly, based on history, the odds of Thor, DeGrom, Harvey, Matz, Vargas and wheeler all being healthy for any length of time is very small, so this situation probably sorts itself out.
Do you really think all 6 will be healthy?
I hope so, god knows the Mets (and their fans) could use a positive injury season, but history hasn't been kind lately.
Quote:
tough/near impossible to go 6 starters AND go with the pen Callaway seemingly wants to but 6 starters might be an option otherwise.
Do you really think all 6 will be healthy?
I hope so, god knows the Mets (and their fans) could use a positive injury season, but history hasn't been kind lately.
Do I "think" so? Probably not because the injury Gods hate every team I root for. But in theory ST is so short that somehow, someway everyone is healthy OD...
Yea literally the only benefit to signing Gonzalez over someone like Lucroy (or even Duda) is that he's cuttable if he sucks or Smith wins a job out of ST (or early in the season). If Gonzalez is clearly cooked hopefully they move on to Wilmer or Smith quickly. Or Bruce once Conforto is ready.
Good Fundies is short for Good Fundamentals
@goodfundies
23m23 minutes ago
Tyler Bashlor, Drew Smith and Gerson Bautista have impressed in camp so far, which I know will make some folks here very happy #alloftherelievers
I know, he or she linked a NY post or NYDN article I think, which is where I pasted the image from, just wanted to give the proper credit since I copied it from their tweet.
Quote:
be clear "goodfundies" is just a fan. Not knocking him at all however.
I know, he or she linked a NY post or NYDN article I think, which is where I pasted the image from, just wanted to give the proper credit since I copied it from their tweet.
Just to be clear I wasn't taking a shot at you or him. I've seen Bashlor and Bautista mentioned by all of the writers or most of them. I just meant he's a podcast host not someone whose own opinion would be that of a scout or (I doubt) talking to any scouts/Mets people. Smith is a weird one, stuff is above average, K-rate is disappointing.
Maybe twitter is considered public domain, but I like to make sure I properly credit who I copied and pasted a tweet from, almost never is anything like that my own opinion.
I don't watch these people and I don't have access to most major news outlets now that they all want you to subscribe or at least create an account which I refuse to do.
In any case, it's all good, I didn't think you were out of line, and I don't mind your credentializing them as a fan vs media.
RHP Jose Valero - 6'1 180" DOB: 8/17/2000.
LHP Carlos Castellanos - DOB: 1/27/2001.
SS Andres Parra - DOB: 9/9/1999.
more on INTL:
Michael Mayer
@mikemayerMMO
30m30 minutes ago
From @BenBadler on July 2nd catcher Francisco Alvarez (Mets are favorites), "Has a stout build, and while some scouts think he will need to improve his defense to stay behind the plate, he has one of the best track records of hitting and hitting for power in games in Venezuela."
Valdez, 15, is considered one of the top prospects in the 2018 July 2 international free agent class.
The Dominican right-handed hitting and throwing corner outfielder is a big kid. He is 63, 209 pounds and will turn 16-years old on December 6.
Here is what Badler has to say on Valdez
Hes a big, physical corner outfielder whose best tool is his raw power. Its a power-over-hit profile, with an aggressive swing and pull approach, which costs him balance at times. In games, he went 1-for-6 with a strikeout. Valdez is a below-average runner who needs to improve his mobility tracking down balls in the outfield. Valdez has a strong arm that fits in right field, but as a 15-year-old with his size, theres some risk he could go to first base. If he does, he would give his infielders a big target. He looked adept at scooping balls out of the dirt when he was there during infield.
from Mayer on metsminors.net
Man, he looks like he's gotten old in a hurry.