2012 NY Mets Thread - "Hard Times"

[EmpireWF]

a MetsMinorleagueBlog post on Mr. Wheeler...

http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/

RHP Zack Wheeler, who just turned 22 on Wednesday, has been a gift to Mets fans. Entering his start on Thursday, he was leading the AA Eastern League in opponents’ batting average (.175), was fourth in ERA (1.97) and had the highest strikeout rate of any of the league’s starters (10.25 K/9).

B-Mets Pitching Coach Glenn Abott, himself a big leaguer for 10 years and a pitching coach for over 20, is a believer, “He’s just got very good stuff. He’s been throwing strikes. He’s been in the zone good. He just needs to sharpen up his command.”

As for the low batting average against, Abbott has a simple answer, “His stuff is better than the hitters in this league. The ball really explodes out of his hand. He’s got as good a fastball as I’ve ever seen. There are guys who throw harder, but the ball really jumps out of his hand because he throws it so easy, you know.”

Like many young hard-throwing pitchers, Wheeler’s stuff was ahead of his command. In April, he walked 13% of the batters he faced (14 of 105). In May, that dropped to 9% (7 of 77). More tellingly, in April, he threw strikes on 59% of his pitches, while in May, he’s up to 66%. Abbott explains, “Early, he was rushing, but he’s been able to curtail that. And that’s made a big difference is him staying back a little bit better. He was just getting out too fast, and his arm couldn’t catch up. His command was all over the place. Sometimes he would yank a pitch or two, but since he’s been staying back, he’s been able to get through all of his pitches a lot better.”

Wheeler lives off his lively fastball, and wipeout slider while his changeup is decidedly his fourth pitch. Abbott pointed out that Wheeler has not needed his changeup, and truthfully still does not to record outs, “It’s hard. You get guys like that that have always dominated whereever they have been, so it’s hard to get them to get them on track with a pitch like that. Trying to get them to understand how important it is at the major league level. You know, it’s not about here, it’s about the major league level, but it’s coming.” Wheeler says he’s been throwing the pitch more regularly recently, telling Adam Rubin of ESPNNY, “I’ve been working on my changeup a good bit the past few weeks.”

So, what has two months in double-A produced for Wheeler? A better-paced delivery. Improved command. More time to work on his secondary stuff. And a birthday cake.

 

[EmpireWF]

Mets are calling up C Josh Thole and RP Elvin Ramirez for tomorrow. Thole is back from his concussion a few weeks back and has played a few games at AAA. Ramirez has been outstanding in the pen at AA and AAA this year (3-1, 0.65 ERA between the two....at AAA, in 11G he has 19K-1BB).

Manny Acosta has been sent down to AAA and they have to make on more move on the 40-man since Ramirez is not on it.

As for the move to bring Thole up, either Rob Johnson or Mike Nickeas will be sent down.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

NEW YORK -- New York Mets third baseman David Wright will not discuss his contract with the team during this season or next, and will engage in contract talks only during the offseason, he told WFAN radio Friday. Wright has a $16 million team option for the 2013 season.

"I think that there's too much good going on right now with this team and so many positive vibes with this team right now that it wouldn't be fair to my teammates; it wouldn't be fair to this team to do something as selfish as talk about a contract for me," Wright said. "It doesn't just affect me, it affects the guys in the clubhouse and it affects the vibe that's in the clubhouse.

"Like I said, it's part of the business but in the same hand, it's selfish when I feel I'm discussing me when we should be discussing we as a team, especially the good start we've gotten off to."

Wright said his previous experience signing a deal in 2006 helped lead him to this decision. He understands the difficulty of having to prepare for a game while dealing with contract talks. He stressed winning and his love for the organization, and added that the Mets did not come to him regarding putting off the talks.

"I want to win and I want to win badly and this takes away from the way we prepare every day. Having other guys in this clubhouse have to answer about me, I was in this situation last year," Wright told the radio station. "I had to answer about Jose Reyes and I know the last thing I want to do some days is talk about another guy's contract. I don't want those guys to continue to have to talk about this. We have a good thing and I don't want to selfishly put me ahead of the rest of the guys in this clubhouse."

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Tuesday that he planned to talk to Wright's agents during the season, although he didn't specifically say an offer would be made. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said the team will let it play out and "there's no gun to anybody's head," meaning there's no rush to complete a deal.

When asked about Wilpon's comments, Wright said he considers Wilpon a close friend, and that the right time will have to be the offseason to have these talks. The 29-year-old third baseman, who entered Friday night's game with a .365 average, second highest in the National League, wants to be able to help the Mets become a contender.

"I've said it once, said it a million times, I love it here," Wright said. "I want to be a big reason why we get this thing turned around and headed in the right direction and, of course, I want to be a part of it. Those discussions, we'll wait into the offseason when we can kind of delve into that headfirst and not have to worry about Adam Wainwright's curveball and what's going on behind doors with the contract talk."

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7999063/new-york-mets-david-wright-talk-contract-season

 

[EmpireWF]

Still not worried about Wright, as long as he stays healthy. The club has to keep him and by all accounts, he wants to stay. No reason they won't be able to come to terms in the off-season.

Baxter messed up his collarbone with that catch yesterday and will miss 6 weeks. RP Ramon Ramirez tweaked his hamstring during the celebration and he's going on the DL, too.

 

[Youk]

Dickey has 30 strikeouts over his last 3 starts. Absolutely on fire.

 

[EmpireWF]

Mets 1st Round Pick (#12 Overall)

SS - Gavin Cecchini - Barbe High School (Louisiana) [Committed to Mississippi)

6'1, 175 pounds - 18 Years Old - R/R

Gap power, plus speed (he's a base stealer), he has to improve his swing.

Defensively, some say he projects better to 2B because his range/glove range from average to good depending on who you read.


------------------------

Mets Compensation A Round Pick (#35 Overall)

C - Kevin Plawecki - Purdue University (Junior Class)

6'2, 215 pounds - 21 Years Old - R/R

This is the pick they received for losing Jose Reyes to Miami.

An offensive minded catcher who is good at making contact leading you to believe he should be able to hit for average.

Doesn't have much power now, remains to be seen if he can develop any.

Defensively, he's a well rounded guy but the weakest part of his game is his arm strength. Can do just about everything else needed behind the plate.

 

[EmpireWF]

I believe Jeurys Familia's start with the AAA Bisons will be on SNY tonight because the Mets have an off day.

 

[EmpireWF]

Since the Mets got swept this weekend and play Baltimore next...how about some MiLB news...

Wilmer Flores was named the FSL All-Star Game MVP. He hit a 2-run base hit off Tigers prospect Bruce Rondon.

Also, according to his twitter, Binghamton RHP Colin McHugh has finally been called up to AAA. And this from MetsMinorLeagueBlog:

It was not just that McHugh pitched to a 2.41 ERA in 74.2 innings with a 3.8 K/BB ratio (65 K/17 BB). In 22 appearances since the 2011 All-Star Break, he owned a 2.00 ERA in 130.67 innings while allowing just 102 hits with a K/BB of 4.3 (130 K/30 BB). The point is, he wasn’t just really good in 2012. He has been outstanding for the B-Mets for almost a full year.

McHugh won’t overpower anyone, but he can change speeds, work both sides of the plate with an arsenal that includes a four-seam fastball, a two-seamer, a curve, a changeup and a cutter.

 

[Mogriffjr]

Since the Mets got swept this weekend and play Baltimore next...how about some MiLB news...

Wilmer Flores was named the FSL All-Star Game MVP. He hit a 2-run base hit off Tigers prospect Bruce Rondon.

Also, according to his twitter, Binghamton RHP Colin McHugh has finally been called up to AAA. And this from MetsMinorLeagueBlog:

yeah mchugh has been awesome, he's profiling more of a #4, 5 type pitcher but that's not bad at all...you never know who's going to come and become a stud/good pitchers from the crop of Wheeler/Harvey/Familia/McHugh...

 

[EmpireWF]

Mets promoted SS Wilmer Flores to AA Binghamton today.

In 64 G with Single-A St. Lucie this year, Flores hit .289/.336/.463 with 10 HR, 42 RBI, 31 R, 18 BB, 30 SO, 3 SB. He turns 21 in August.

 

[EmpireWF]

Matt Harvey has been doing extremely well at AAA the past month.

In his last 4 starts: 25 IP, 18 H, 6 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 32 K, 2.16 ERA and a BAA of .194

The Mets rotation right now is superb between Dickey, Santana, Niese, Young and Gee. 20 quality starts between the five over the past 30 days. So, there's no direct need to bring Harvey up yet but it's good to have some kind of depth just in case.

------

Mets July 2012

Enter the month 43-36, 2.5 GB the Nations in the NL East


1 - @ LAD
3, 4, 5 - vs. PHI
6, 7, 8 - vs. CHC
13, 14, 15 - @ ATL
17, 18, 19 - @ WAS
20, 21, 22 - vs. LAD
23, 24, 25 - vs. WAS
26, 27, 28, 29 - @ ARI
30, 31 - @ SF

Hopefully, the bullpen can continue it's current hot streak well into the month. The two series' with the Nationals will be huge, along with the trip to Atlanta and the month ending trip out west.

They're looking into bringing in bullpen arms without giving up anything significant, perhaps they also look for a right-handed bat for the bench.

Still can't believe they've played this well, it's nuts.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The New York Mets are reportedly interested in reacquiring their former closer, Francisco Rodriguez, from the Milwaukee Brewers.
New York is looking to improve its bullpen and Rodriguez is one of the players it is targeting, a source told the New York Post on Monday.
Rodriguez, also known as "K-Rod," has 292 career saves, including 83 in three seasons with the Mets (2009-11). He sets up John Axford in Milwaukee.
The Mets (43-37) trail the Washington Nationals by 3 1/2 games in the National League East. The Brewers (37-42) may be sellers as they are seven games out and in fourth place in the NL Central.
Rodriguez has a 4.11 ERA this season and is making $8 million, which could make him expendable to the struggling Brewers.
Current Mets closer Frank Francisco is on the disabled list with a left oblique strain. He has 18 saves but also has a 4.97 ERA in 31 appearances.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mets-reportedly-interested-reacquiring-k-170016487--mlb.html

 

[Mogriffjr]

I'd advocate bringing him back, he shouldn't cost much and if he will slot behind Parnell and be an 8th inning guy, it should work (really feel Parnell is ready to close)

 

[EmpireWF]

If they were to trade for K-Rod, it would be to close. Move Francisco to the 8th inning, Parnell to the 7th, use Batista as a long-man with Byrdak as the lefty and Rauch mixed in...not bad.

 

[Sigona]

Blow up the fucking bullpen...the relievers are a combined 10-17. That's 4th worst in the entire league.

 

[EmpireWF]

At the All-Star Break….

1. WAS 49-34 (83 games)
2. ATL 46-39 (85 games)
3. NYM 46-40 (86 games)
4. MIA 41-43
5. PHI 37-50


The Mets fall to 3rd place at the break and have played the most amount of games out of the top 3 NL East teams. They're six games above .500 thanks to their home record 26-20 (20-20 on the road). Easily, expectations have been exceeded at this point and we hope they can continue to compete for the division or at worst, one of the two playoff spots.

MVP - David Wright - .352 BA (leads the NL), 11 HR, 59 RBI, 56 R, 9 SB, 50 BB, .443 OBP, .567 SLG, 1.010 OPS

Best Pitcher - R.A. Dickey - 12-1, 2.40 ERA, 123 K, 26 BB in 120 IP

Clearly, nobody expects Dickey to maintain his torrid pace, but if he can finish the year going about 13-4 in his remaining starts to finish 25-5, we'll sign up for that right now. They need more stability from Gee and Niese (combined, they're 13-10) and Johan has done well, and although he's coming off shoulder surgery, they're counting on him to be a great #2 down the stretch.

Mets Reportedly Have Interest In…

- C Ramon Hernandez, Padres ; C Kelly Shoppach, Red Sox ; C Miguel Olivo, Mariners

The NYP says the Mets will look to add a right handed hitting catcher via trade to platoon with lefty Josh Thole. While Mike Nickeas is a solid defensive catcher, he provides little with the bat. However, the report says Colorado likes IF Justin Turner who has turned into a very good utility bat off the bench in clutch situations. Not entirely sold on trading for injury plagued and old Hernandez.

- Assorted Bullpen Arms
Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Matt Reynolds, Rockies ; Huston Street, Padres ; Brett Myers, Astros ; Grant Balfour, Athletics

While a right-handed bat is needed, just as important is relief for the bullpen which has been arguably the worst in all of baseball. Whatever they have to do, if they're still in contention in a couple weeks, they need help big time.

 

[EmpireWF]

:facepalm: Gee had surgery to repair a blood clot, they're hoping the doctor's got it. He's on the DL...Niese, Dickey and Young will be the starters beginning Friday night.

No word on who they may call up to replace him, they're probably calling up a reliever until they need the starter next weekend.

The Post says Matt Harvey is not considered an option (Wally Backman said he could help the big league staff if necessary), probably because whomever gets the start will only be expected to start 1 or 2 games max.

Hefner?

 

[EmpireWF]

Matt Harvey is on pace to debut next Saturday...if the Mets go that route. He will start Monday in Buffalo.

 

[EmpireWF]

Matt Harvey pitching well through 4...could get the call to to make his MLB debut in 5 days.

LOL Adam Loewen just blasted a home run against Toledo.

 

[Mogriffjr]

Harvey went 6 and 2/3 innings but a lot of meh about his outing, despite giving up 1 run on 4 hits, 4 walks.

I'd say he'll be pitching Saturday with the Mets and I'm excited to see what he can do.