Brandon Sproat starting in Cincy

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Multiple reports say he's on his way up!

https://sny.tv/articles/brandon-sproat-strong-consideration-mets-start-9-4-25

[Fman99]

We've watched him all year at Syracuse. He's got the goods. Tong and McLean have set the bar high for him ! I love that the MLB teams don't really have a book on any of these kids yet. I feel like historically the Mets have only been on the receiving end of being stymied by young call ups.

[Edgy MD]

Word.

All starters falter. Nice to have talent ripening as veteran starters falter.

[roger_that]

Again (and you're probably sick of hearing me repeat this point) this pattern of calling up rookies who succeed immediately ONLY when the MLB talent falters is a terrible indictment of the Mets' ability to recognize talent in their minor leaguers. If Senga needed to be sit down, put on the IL, stuck in the bullpen until he straightened himself out several weeks ago, but was kept in the rotation simply because they had no confidence in their talented AAA pitchers, that's on the front office, and I find it damning indeed.

[Edgy MD]

No, I am not sick. You flatter yourself.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

If Senga needed to be sit down, put on the IL, stuck in the bullpen until he straightened himself out several weeks ago, but was kept in the rotation simply because they had no confidence in their talented AAA pitchers, that's on the front office, and I find it damning indeed.

 

I don't think there was ever any evidence that they lacked confidence in the AAA pitchers. I just don't think you remove a veteran like Senga, Montas, or Manaea - whom you are paying a hefty price to pitch - without being absolutely positive they are not going to reverse course and that takes some time. They did promote Blade Tidwell earlier in the season.

[roger_that]

I don't think there was ever any evidence that they lacked confidence in the AAA pitchers. I just don't think you remove a veteran like Senga, Montas, or Manaea - whom you are paying a hefty price to pitch - without being absolutely positive they are not going to reverse course and that takes some time.

 

How about if that "need" for absolute positivity costs the team a playoff spot? Then it kind of looks like cowardice, a lack of judgment, dithering, weakness in the decision-making process, poor personnel evaluation, and general schmuckerie, don't it?

These kids could be the best thing since Gooden, Darling, and Fernandez, or maybe since Seaver, Koosman, and Gentry. Imagine if they'd held them back so that Bruce Berenyi, Ed Lynch and Mike Torrez (or Al Jackson, Jack Hamilton, and Bob Hendley) could take their turns?

Edited September 4, 2025 by roger_that

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I don't think there was ever any evidence that they lacked confidence in the AAA pitchers. I just don't think you remove a veteran like Senga, Montas, or Manaea - whom you are paying a hefty price to pitch - without being absolutely positive they are not going to reverse course and that takes some time.

 

How about if that "need" for absolute positivity costs the team a playoff spot? Then it kind of looks like cowardice, a lack of judgment, dithering, weakness in the decision-making process, poor personnel evaluation, and general schmuckerie, don't it?

 

But they made the moves before it cost them a playoff spot. If they called them up in late September when out of the wild card by 5 games, that might fit your point. But when they started getting worried, they brought them up, ahead of some very big series. I think it shows the opposite of what you are saying.

[Cowtipper]

Good to see Sproat make it. Tong, Sproat, MacLean—a good group. I still have faith in Hamel, too, but he'll probably do better in a bullpen role. Not a lot of young depth immediately available, but this fella named Dylan Ross (a reliever) is also at Triple-A and he's doing very well.

[Centerfield]

I like bringing up Sproat, but McLean should get the start on Sunday.

First of all, that’s a tough game to give a rookie starter. The Philly games are less meaningful at this point. Also, you don’t want Philly to see McLean again so soon. Not just for the this game, but in case we see them in October.

This is short sighted in my opinion.

[ashie62]

I'm happy, I have advocated for these call-ups recently

You can never have enough pitching. Manaea, Senga etc are still options maybe just not right now

[roger_that]

But they made the moves before it cost them a playoff spot.

 

Well, yeah, any time before they get eliminated from the playoffs--whether in July, August or mid-September--is BEFORE it costs them a playoff spot. But that's just excusing the inexcusable.

[MFS62]

Would you have thought he was ready after his first nine starts of the season, through which he had a 6.69 ERA?

Or would you have brought him up after his appearance before his last one, in which he went 3.2IP 7H 7R 5ER 2BB 4K, raising his season's ERA to 4.50?

Since that shaky start to the season, he has a 3.19 ERA and 86 strikeouts over 84 2/3 innings.

But when, exactly, would you have said he was "ready" to be brought up before now?

For reference, you can check his game to game progress in his thread in the Prospect Forum

Later

Edited September 4, 2025 by MFS62

[Centerfield]

They're not just "not eliminated". They're 4 games up on a playoff spot. A better argument can be made that failing to call these guys up cost them the division, or a chance at a first round bye. I think that's a more plausible argument.

With McLean, I think there's no question it would have been better for the team had McLean been up earlier, but it's tough to know if he would have arrived here had he been called up earlier.

Tong, is still an open book. We have no idea what he will be. Sproat hasn't even thrown a pitch yet.

[ashie62]

Would you have thought he was ready after his first nine starts of the season, through which he had a 6.69 ERA?

Or would you have brought him up after his appearance before his last one, in which he went 3.2IP 7H 7R 5ER 2BB 4K, raising his season's ERA to 4.50?

Since that shaky start to the season, he has a 3.19 ERA and 86 strikeouts over 84 2/3 innings.

But when, exactly, would you have said he was "ready" to be brought up before now?

For reference, you can check his game to game progress in his thread in the Prospect Forum

Later

 

I have followed and Sproat has been effective his his last 11 starts or so

Nolan McLean said that the key for Sproat turning around his season was getting ahead in counts as his stuff is so good

I thought they waited a bit long on McLean to debut but I would be nitpicking

Good luck to Sproat on Sunday

[roger_that]

It's tough to know if he would have arrived here had he been called up earlier.

 

That's what they're paid for. Otherwise dorks on the CPF could do it for cheaper. Even for free.

[Fman99]

It's tough to know if he would have arrived here had he been called up earlier.

 

That's what they're paid for. Otherwise dorks on the CPF could do it for cheaper. Even for free.

 

Whoa, wait a minute. We're baseball dorks?

[Cowtipper]

All aboard the Sproat boat, baby!

[Frayed Knot]

mlb.com does a 'What to Expect' write up on Sproat: https://www.mlb.com/news/what-to-expect-from-brandon-sproat-in-mlb?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

They even include an action photo

[FIMG=300]https://popicon.life/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/169sprout.jpg[/FIMG]

I thought he'd be taller.

[kcmets]

Otherwise dorks on the CPF could do it for cheaper. Even for free.

 

I haven't dorked since 1977 lol...

[roger_that]

Otherwise dorks on the CPF could do it for cheaper. Even for free.

 

I haven't dorked since 1977 lol...

 

That Fman dude is one clever MFer....

[kcmets]

So I screwed up the quote box... not fixing...

[Cowtipper]

LOL, that was pretty funny, Fman. Good one.