NFT: Mets Minors 5/18/2018- McNeil... AGAIN

in response to a twitter question if McNeil is maybe an everyday MLB player who has been held back by injury.

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Jeffrey Paternostro ‏ @jeffpaternostro 12h12 hours ago I couldn�t really even get McNeil there in 2015 and like Quinn he�s been passed by a lot of dudes internally. Of course this is the Mets so expect him to go to St. Louis as a minor league FA and hit .300 with 25 bombs next year.

at what point do they just need to give him and Alonso a chance? To me this is the worst thing about having Vegas as the AAA affiliate because of how meaningless it is to hit there.

In comment 13967306 Eric on Li said:

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at what point do they just need to give him and Alonso a chance? To me this is the worst thing about having Vegas as the AAA affiliate because of how meaningless it is to hit there.

I've long been higher on Alonso than Dom but I will say it's tough judging his walk rate when he has Mazeika (hitting .220) and Kevin Taylor (career minor league behind him). I still think he will post good/solid OBP. This is just more of an aside.

have so many older players in AA?

Seems like these are AAA/organizational fodder type players who flash.

In comment 13967326 pjcas18 said:

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have so many older players in AA? Seems like these are AAA/organizational fodder type players who flash.

Many teams have ringers at AA/AAA the Mets however seemingly add have done such a poor job via the draft that even their "filler" is mostly older journeyman types and not the Michael Paez/Woodmansee (reasonably high picks who fill out the organization) types.

so there's definitely some amount of good luck even though the power should be legit based on every scouting report.

Mcneil is trickier to decipher - really low K rate, a pretty low .294 babip, and more XBH than singles.

Just wish there was a normal AAA team they could go to and get challenged without having to make counterproductive adjustments to such a hitters environment.

In comment 13967332 Eric on Li said:

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so there's definitely some amount of good luck even though the power should be legit based on every scouting report. Mcneil is trickier to decipher - really low K rate, a pretty low .294 babip, and more XBH than singles. Just wish there was a normal AAA team they could go to and get challenged without having to make counterproductive adjustments to such a hitters environment.

McNeil is also 26, can play multiple positions, doesn't have a Dom Smith in front of him and is a FA after the year. Not much to lose. Even if McNeil is just a Joe McEwing, not a huge deal if skips AAA.

especially with the way the team has been hitting for the last month.

hit for power he's completely unplayable at 1B as a regular. It's sad to harp on lack of HRs when he's hitting well, but he needs to show power to profile as even an average starter at 1B. He's certainly doesn't look like the second coming of John Olerud.

does/can he play? We certainly need his bat.

In comment 13967383 pjcas18 said:

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Quote: Michael Mayer ‏ @mikemayerMMO 25s25 seconds ago Top 6 picks in the latest Baseball America Mock: 1 Casey Mize, RHP 2 Joey Bart, C 3 Alec Bohm, 3B 4 Nick Madrigal, 2B 5 Brady Singer, RHP 6 Jonathan India, 3B (Mets)

Ugly top 6 on paper.

not dogging Peterson but he belongs in St. Lucie and his k-rate is disappointing so far (7.3). He will likely never be a huge K guy but 7.3 in SAL = potential trouble as he moves up the ladder, 3.2 BB/9 isn't getting it done either.

In comment 13967306 Eric on Li said:

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at what point do they just need to give him and Alonso a chance? To me this is the worst thing about having Vegas as the AAA affiliate because of how meaningless it is to hit there.

It's not meaningless, it just needs to be translated. You have to kind of discount the hitting numbers, while marking up the pitching numbers. But it's not like the inflated hitting #s in the PCL mean that nobody comes out of that league and hits in the majors...

Smith has not been good when taking the PCL into account 116 wRC+, .365 wOBA

In comment 13967393 DanMetroMan said:

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In comment 13967383 pjcas18 said: Quote: Quote: Michael Mayer ‏ @mikemayerMMO 25s25 seconds ago Top 6 picks in the latest Baseball America Mock: 1 Casey Mize, RHP 2 Joey Bart, C 3 Alec Bohm, 3B 4 Nick Madrigal, 2B 5 Brady Singer, RHP 6 Jonathan India, 3B (Mets) Ugly top 6 on paper.

Tell me about it. I represent the Mets on another site's 4 round Mock Draft and I am wondering if the Mets would not be better off taking someone who will sign for significantly below slot at 6 but still has some upside (someone like Cole Winn is not really talked about above like picks 12 or 15 so if we offer 10th slot money that will save us about $1,000,000 that we can spread around to other picks)

They've got to shake things up here before the season gets too far away from us.

I'd put one (or both of) Lugo and Gsellman in the rotation, I'd call up Alonso and/or McNeil.

Have to do something here. The season is going to be lost before mid-June if we just keep toiling around like this.

In comment 13967469 Mike in NY said:

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In comment 13967393 DanMetroMan said: Quote: In comment 13967383 pjcas18 said: Quote: Quote: Michael Mayer ‏ @mikemayerMMO 25s25 seconds ago Top 6 picks in the latest Baseball America Mock: 1 Casey Mize, RHP 2 Joey Bart, C 3 Alec Bohm, 3B 4 Nick Madrigal, 2B 5 Brady Singer, RHP 6 Jonathan India, 3B (Mets) Ugly top 6 on paper. Tell me about it. I represent the Mets on another site's 4 round Mock Draft and I am wondering if the Mets would not be better off taking someone who will sign for significantly below slot at 6 but still has some upside (someone like Cole Winn is not really talked about above like picks 12 or 15 so if we offer 10th slot money that will save us about $1,000,000 that we can spread around to other picks)

If I had more trust in the Mets scouts this would be the year to do it.

In comment 13967450 81_Great_Dane said:

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In comment 13967306 Eric on Li said: Quote: at what point do they just need to give him and Alonso a chance? To me this is the worst thing about having Vegas as the AAA affiliate because of how meaningless it is to hit there. It's not meaningless, it just needs to be translated. You have to kind of discount the hitting numbers, while marking up the pitching numbers. But it's not like the inflated hitting #s in the PCL mean that nobody comes out of that league and hits in the majors...

Here's what's meaningless about Vegas - no different than how some players get ruined playing in Coors field because it's not just that the ball goes further, every pitcher pitches differently there compared to other ballparks because they know they are at a disadvantage to the point where they aren't even using some pitches. It's hard for me to see what part of being thrown into a bizarro world where offensive stats are so cheap helps prepare our young players for citi field and the much more difficult adjustment of facing major league pitchers who will have every advantage. To use an analogy from another profession, it's like going to traffic court as practice for your first supreme court case.

And not to regress to the argument from yesterday's thread - this is a great example of how the Wilpons are truly the heart of the problem with this organization bc it's 100% on Jeff that they ended up in this situation in the first place.

When he was heavy last year, he hit for power.

Drops 35 pounds and the power goes. A heavier guy transmits more momentum to the ball.

I honestly just don't think Dominic Smith is much of a prospect.

What is your gut feeling on McNeil?

Smith was 5th in the entire PCL in hits and he had fewer AB's than anyone ahead of him.

He was 11th in the entire PCL in OPS.

I get it's a hitters league but being among the best hitters in that league should have made him a prospect.

and he didn't strike out a ton or even a lot.

He hit well the year before in AA as well.

I don't know why some players don't bring minor league success to major league success, but Smith has barely had a chance in the majors.

I never would have signed Gonzalez. I would have publicly said 1B is an open competition, but privately Smith would have been penciled in.

At least this way you know if he's one of those guys who will never be a major league 1B. AAA is stupid for Smith IMO.

In comment 13967657 Vanzetti said:

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What is your gut feeling on McNeil?

I've always liked him but this seems out of wack... Jeff P saw him in person a few times this year and still isn't buying so I'm not sure what to think. Guys have changed their profile before (Murphy?) but it's still a small sample size so hard to really say.

Another first round AAAAer.

He should switch to catching

none of them profiled to be top hitters at their positions, all of their best case scenarios (at least from more recent projections) were more as role players or maybe solid starters. I don't think it's crazy to say the skill that will either keep them in the bigs or sink them is their ability to make consistent contact since it's not at all realistic for any of them to magically become 30/100 guys. So in that context I don't think the notoriously high babip in the PCL does do them any favors when they have to adjust to better pitchers in the big leagues and a more level hitting environment. Rosario too. He's seen his K rate double and his BABIP fall 40 points since leaving Vegas.

For guys like Conforto (and maybe Alonso) it doesn't matter as much. They may be good enough hitters that they can just succeed anywhere. But with players that next talent level down, I just can't shake the memory that it's like Cuddyer hitting .330 in Colorado and then coming here and reverting to .260.

In comment 13967669 spike said:

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Another first round AAAAer. He should switch to catching

Cecchini doesn't the minor league success that Smith does and Smith is 2 years younger.

on his OWN team his rankings....(100 PA's or more)

wRC+ 4th
wOBA 4th
ISO 7th
HR's 7th
BA 3rd
OPS 7th
he's been quietly quite bad for a guy you want to be a starting MLB 1b. No other way to spin it. If you think better production is coming, that's a whole other story.

Smith was woefully unimpressive in the bigs last year - maybe it's a SSS, but nothing he's doing this year is making me feel any better.

We've seen too many guys post gaudy Vegas numbers for me to care about what he did there last year. He was crappy against MLB pitching and I really don't see him ever being anything more than a bench player or below average regular.

In comment 13967711 DanMetroMan said:

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on his OWN team his rankings....(100 PA's or more) wRC+ 4th wOBA 4th ISO 7th HR's 7th BA 3rd OPS 7th he's been quietly quite bad for a guy you want to be a starting MLB 1b. No other way to spin it. If you think better production is coming, that's a whole other story.

This year, right? I just think the way the Mets have handled Dom, from last year's call up to now sends a message to him and the league and it's not a good message.

What were Dom's team ranks last year as a 21 year old in AAA?

Second year at AAA. He is in a hitters paradise in Vegas. Seems like he has plateaued . Still early. But he has been disappointing so far

In comment 13967732 pjcas18 said:

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In comment 13967711 DanMetroMan said: Quote: on his OWN team his rankings....(100 PA's or more) wRC+ 4th wOBA 4th ISO 7th HR's 7th BA 3rd OPS 7th he's been quietly quite bad for a guy you want to be a starting MLB 1b. No other way to spin it. If you think better production is coming, that's a whole other story. This year, right? I just think the way the Mets have handled Dom, from last year's call up to now sends a message to him and the league and it's not a good message. What were Dom's team ranks last year as a 21 year old in AAA?

Yes. That's his rankings for this year. Last year he was
(Las Vegas)

2nd in wRC+
2nd in wOBA
3rd in ISO
2nd in OPS
2nd in homers

and make the jump to the majors if Agone continues to stink it up?

I would consider it... Conforto basically made that jump in 2015 and was a solid contributor during the WS run.

to block anyone. I'd take the chance and bring some of these kids up. But the Mets don't have the stones to do it. Hence, we are struggling through another crappy season.

In comment 13967763 debo_GIANTS said:

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and make the jump to the majors if Agone continues to stink it up? I would consider it... Conforto basically made that jump in 2015 and was a solid contributor during the WS run.

I'm sure they are considering it.

In comment 13967765 Metnut said:

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In comment 13967763 debo_GIANTS said: Quote: and make the jump to the majors if Agone continues to stink it up? I would consider it... Conforto basically made that jump in 2015 and was a solid contributor during the WS run. I'm sure they are considering it.

LOL, why bother. So they can just ride the pine like Nimmo did when he was batting .400 with a .500 OBP?

Lagares out for the season.

Weeee

In comment 13967799 arcarsenal said:

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Lagares out for the season. Weeee

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

One of the few (actually, like only one of 2) players that was actually playing well. Being a Mets fan has to be waaaaay worse than being a Jets fan.

Same shit, different year. Cespedes on the DL, Frazier on the DL, Lagares out for the year, deGrom pitching on eggshells... this is usually where everyone starts getting hurt.

Are there any updates on TJ Rivera? Is he doing anything baseball-related yet?

I can't believe that we're so fucking bad that I'm asking about TJ Rivera now...

It's almost too much bad luck for one team to have over this many years. I truly believe that the Wilpons bring bad luck to this team (as crazy and irrational as it sounds). They've been mostly bad since they stole the team from Doubleday with a couple of good years sprinkled in.

In comment 13967803 arcarsenal said:

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Same shit, different year. Cespedes on the DL, Frazier on the DL, Lagares out for the year, deGrom pitching on eggshells... this is usually where everyone starts getting hurt. Are there any updates on TJ Rivera? Is he doing anything baseball-related yet? I can't believe that we're so fucking bad that I'm asking about TJ Rivera now...

Rivera won't be back for at least another 6 weeks.

Now or never, Brandon.

Time to play every day.

Swihart can come here to play LF

Lagares just can�t stay healthy

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Michael Mayer ‏ @mikemayerMMO 55s56 seconds ago Wuilmer Becerra is making his 2018 season debut tonight in right field for the Columbia Fireflies.

hard to believe he's still in Columbia. Seems like his 4th time in Low A. Unless this is just rehab, but maybe he would have said for rehab if it was.

Alonso 0-2 but drew One walk and then was intentionally walked with a runner on first to push the tying run to second. I don�t really see the point of keeping a guy in AA when they not pitching to him. Sandy no doubt waiting for McNeil and Alonso to cool down before bringing them up

In comment 13967985 Vanzetti said:

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Alonso 0-2 but drew One walk and then was intentionally walked with a runner on first to push the tying run to second. I don�t really see the point of keeping a guy in AA when they not pitching to him. Sandy no doubt waiting for McNeil and Alonso to cool down before bringing them up

The Mets never bring anyone up when they are hot and try to catch lightning in a bottle.

DeGrom at least looks nasty tonight. Would be nice to win a series for once and get some positive vibes around the team.

In comment 13967917 pjcas18 said:

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Quote: Michael Mayer ‏ @mikemayerMMO 55s56 seconds ago Wuilmer Becerra is making his 2018 season debut tonight in right field for the Columbia Fireflies. hard to believe he's still in Columbia. Seems like his 4th time in Low A. Unless this is just rehab, but maybe he would have said for rehab if it was.

yet another bust

Frazier is DAYS away from returning and Cabrera might be our best hitter. So we want to bring him up to rot on the bench and cool off? No thanks.

In comment 13968080 ZGiants98 said:

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Frazier is DAYS away from returning and Cabrera might be our best hitter. So we want to bring him up to rot on the bench and cool off? No thanks.

LF or 1B. Get Bruce or Gonzalez out of the lineup. Nimmo can play RF