MFS62

From Jim Bowden, ranking his top 10 players he saw in the Futures Game: 8. Francisco Álvarez, C, New York Mets I had never seen Álvarez in person before, and he blew me away in batting practice with his short, compact swing and loud, sweet-spot contact. He carried it over in the game, hitting a bomb. Behind the plate, he looked solid, although I didn't see him enough to really be able to break him down defensively on the one look. Still, so far it looks like the Mets will have their long-term solution after James McCann. Later

Anthony DiComo reports Thomas Szapucki needs season-ending ulnar nerve transposition surgery. Of course he does, if only because one of the baseball "experts" (ESPN? SNY? I forget) suggested Szapucki would be the kind of bait necessary to get Kris Bryant. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Well, duh. We play "God Bless America" every time there's a pitching change, and then the broadcaster won't be allowed to cut to a commercial. Why do I have to solve everything? You don't. You're an editor. They just review other peoples' ideas. They're not supposed to have their own ideas. (J/K) Later

Frayed Knot wrote: The current rotation in your minor league system is NOT a reason to draft pitchers. I agree. A minor league team is just a life support system for your real prospects - giving them games in which to develop their skills. But an organization still should have some pitchers who will one day be able to help out the major league club. And this organization is lacking many of those. Not to beat up on them (I only used them as an example), but when the minors had more teams / leagues, I'm guessing the guys I mentioned would have been one (or two) levels lower, being given more time to develop whatever abilities they have. I was putting a positive spin on their draft selections. If you take what I wrote as something more than that, you could say it was an implied shot at BVW and his staff for leaving the organization in a situation where Rennie and Velera are in the starting rotation for their teams at their levels. This draft is the start of rectifying that problem. Later

In case you're wondering why they drafted so many pitchers, this might be a clue: Here are the scheduled starters for their minor league teams tonight: Syracuse: TBD Binghamton: Rennie 1-4 8.77 ERA Brooklyn: Vilera 1-5 9.36 ERA St. Lucie: Moreno 2-1 5.90 ERA Hold the fort down there guys. Help is on the way. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Interesting in that the only other non-pitcher the team has selected so far is firstbaseman J.T. Schwartz, also from UCLA. Bingo! I really did laugh out loud at that. Later

Cautiously optimistic. While the lineup will "look good" when all the regulars are in it, I remember last year's team that led the NL in BA and still struggled to score runs. The bases empty homer was their signature move. I'd like another certified RBI bat in the lineup, either in the OF or at 3B. Later

In case you missed the Futures Game, Brett Baty went 0-2. Francisco Alvarez went 1-1 with pinch hit home run. Later

It seems like a good, safe pick. But I had one "uh-oh" moment when the talking heads were evaluating the pick. One of them said (I paraphrase) "sometimes his fastball isn't a swing and miss pitch". And his tone seemed cautionary. There was no explanation. Does that mean his fastball is straight (no movement)? Does that mean he loses velocity as he goes deeper into games? Does that mean he loses command of location? Is it something that can be corrected with coaching? I wish the person had explained it instead of just dropping it in there. Later

=ashie62 post_id=71025 time=1626021908 user_id=90] They are talking about a CF from Boston College. Sal Frelich 5'9' 175 lbs He is not going to hit for power but is a top of the lineup guy. Boston College??

Lefty Specialist wrote: So, piecing together 9 innings.... Loup for 2, then.....? Eickhoff? Yikes! I'm not getting warm and fuzzy vibes about this one. Later

It's tonight at 7 PM! And it takes place while the 4 PM games are finishing so well done MLB! Fangraphs' final mock has the Mets selecting Colson Montgomery, SS, Southridge HS (IN). https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mock-draft-3-0-the-morning-of/https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mock-draft-3-0-the-morning-of/ Keith Law of The Athletic ranks Montgomery AT 56. The Mets have the 10th pick and 56 is much more than 10: [bLOCKQUOTE]Montgomery is a big kid, 6-4 and 200-odd pounds already, likely to move to third base but with a plus arm that should let him profile there. I like his left-handed swing and he's supposed to have a good approach, but scouts have questioned how he'll hit against better pitching, and he already turned 19 in February.[/bLOCKQUOTE] https://theathletic.com/2580901/2021/07/10/2021-mlb-draft-big-board-keith-law-ranks-the-top-100-draft-prospects/https://theathletic.com/2580901/2021/07/10/2021-mlb-draft-big-board-keith-law-ranks-the-top-100-draft-prospects/ MLB Pipeline has Montgomery at 25 which is closer but perhaps draft someone else, Zach. https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/ PLEASE not another lefty hitter. They already have Brett Baty who fits that description. It is very frustrating when they keep losing to mediocre lefties like the Tyler Andersons of the world. Howz about a righty hitter, Zach? And maybe one ranked higher? I'll climb down off my soapbox now. Later

=G-Fafif post_id=71004 time=1625971918 user_id=55] Luis Rojas has no corresponding answer as of Saturday night, but discourages Jake talk for Sunday.

Frayed Knot wrote: 1) Install/enforce pitch time limits. I'm open to different interpretations of exactly how to do it, but do it. I was hoping that having this in the minors leagues for the past few years would slowly infuse the bigs with players who never developed the quirks, tics, yoga poses, and dance steps between each pitch thereby making an actual clock not necessary but it's not happening fast enough so a physical clock with strict enforcement is likely needed. 2) No additional warm-up pitches for incoming relievers Mid-inning pitching changes represent a longer break than the breaks between half-innings (roughly 2-1/2 minutes per) and this for guys who have already warmed up!! I have no idea why this doesn't seem to even a topic for discussion with all the other silliness being discussed, but it doesn't. And if managers truly believe that an incoming reliever is going to take a few pitches to adjust to the "new" mound that's maybe a shade different from the one in the pen, well then that's just something he's going to have to consider when he makes a change. At worst, this beats the hell out of the three-batter minimum requirement. Rules that dictate strategy are bad rules. 3) Die mound conferences, Die! Think about it: if you were designing the sport today no one would permit the game to be stopped while a fat old man waddles out to the mound as often as he wants to talk to players who already know how to play the game. And even with the current limits -- five per team per game -- there's effectively no limit at all considering the exemptions allowed. One of the NYPost writers (I forget which one) has been floating the idea for years about a fixed number of 'time-outs' per game, they can be used for mound conferences OR for replay challenges (you use more of one then you get fewer of the other) but once they're gone, they're gone. If nothing else, this would favor the more prepared team. You brought that pitcher in now stick with him or remove him, those are your choices. Giving him a verbal spanking or a verbal pep talk shouldn't be options. These are good ways to shorten games. #1 is the best. If they just did that, it might diminish the need for #2 or #3. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Tall, beefy, .. college basketball guy. So, there are miles and miles of Heart(lieb). Can we keep the song going? Later

=G-Fafif post_id=70824 time=1625858291 user_id=55] The Mets have claimed righty reliever Geoff Hartlieb from the incoming Pirates and assigned him to Syracuse.

I think JD Davis and a minor, minor league prospect (not our top 5) might be enough to bring back Kris Bryant if Bryant is on the last year of his contract. We can only vote for one (I voted Bryant), but Davis, Szapucki and #2 minor league prospect SS Mauricio (Lindor is our shortstop) might be enough to bring back both Bryant and Davies. OE: added a vote for Davies. Thanks, Marshmellowmilkshake. Later

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=70811 time=1625855574 user_id=68] =metsmarathon post_id=70808 time=1625855205 user_id=83] unlike, say ... reciting declarations of agnosticism ....

He was good enough to make a Brooklyn Dodger fan like me grudgingly admit he was good. Later

Time for Walker to turn up the heat and cook up some Osso Bucco. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Earl Weaver was a brilliant strategist and leader who turned the Orioles into an organizational model from top to bottom, but there's a strong argument that his combativeness worked against him, alongside his high self-regard. SABR says Paul Richards and Jim McLaughlin built the "Oriole Way" model. https://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/the-oriole-way/https://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/the-oriole-way/ Later, Weaver was one of those who used it at the major league level. Frank Cashen learned it there, and implemented it with the Mets when he came to New York. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Earl Weaver was a brilliant strategist and leader who turned the Orioles into an organizational model from top to bottom, but there's a strong argument that his combativeness worked against him, alongside his high self-regard. SABR says Paul Richards and Jim McLaughlin built the "Oriole Way" model. https://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/the-oriole-way/https://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/the-oriole-way/ Later, Weaver was one of those who used it at the major league level. Frank Cashen learned it there, and implemented it with the Mets when he came to New York. Later

=TransMonk post_id=70386 time=1625581282 user_id=71] I'm sure the winning despite adversity helps, but now I do feel like I'm warming to his managing style because I can see his face.

Frayed Knot wrote: I want to see them have to use Chapman for mop-up duty in a blowout loss. Chapman, followed by a position player. Later

Edgy MD wrote: That's about as definitive a Yankee Stadium Special as there can be. Judge may have done Luis Rojas a favor. Now he can pull Walker without controversy. He's thrown over 100 pitches. Later