Musings

Mets Should Promote Mark Vientos To Triple-A

Jonathan Villar is doing a fine job as a stopgap at third base for the New York Mets. He has made the flashy defensive plays, and he has had a number of key hits. However, when you boil it down, Villar is still below average at the plate an in the field. As such, the Mets need to look elsewhere for an everyday third baseman.

That was supposed to be J.D. Davis. While Davis has his own issues at the plate and in the field, the biggest issue with him right now is health. He landed on the IL with a hand injury, and his rehab stint was paused due to a neck issue. Davis has undergone another MRI, and they have found joint inflammation in his left hand.

At the moment, the Mets seem to be optimistic Davis can return to the field again for another rehab stint. That said, they were previously optimistic about him as well as Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco, etc. Put another way, don’t read too much into their optimism. Even if Davis were to be ready to return, at that point, we would again need to revisit the issue of his being incapable of being an everyday third baseman.

All told between Villar’s play and the injuries to Davis and Luis Guillorme, the Mets don’t have a plan for third base. Considering that is the case, the Mets need to start making that plan. While you can be assured they’re investigating options like Kris Bryant and Kyle Seager, they need to plan for the event neither are available.

Enter Mark Vientos.

Vientos was the Mets 2017 second round pick. At the time, Vientos was seen as the best prep bat in the draft, and he has justified that reputation with his play since being drafted. As noted by MLB Pipeline, Vientos’ “power remains the standout tool and is evident in the right-handed slugger’s impressive exit velocities.”

Looking at Vientos at the plate, there are a few key points. First and foremost, he is always punching above his weight. Case-in-point, he is in Double-A where the 21 year old is 3.1 years younger than league average. Another important consideration is Vientos typically struggles initially at each new level, but he eventually learns and makes adjustments to have strong finishes to the season.

In some ways, this is reminiscent of Dominic Smith. When Smith was a minor leaguer, he would typically struggle in the beginning of the year or a call-up. He’d put in the work, make adjustment, and he would end the year with good numbers. Smith and Vientos should be a reminder prospect development is as much about learning and adapting as it is about having success.

We are seeing some of this with Vientos right now. He had a poor start to the season for Binghamton going 5-for-38 to start the season. However, as he always does, Vientos is adapting and hitting much butter. We are seeing Vientos having a quicker turnaround than usual.

Over his past three games, Vientos is 5-for-11 at the plate with a homer and three RBI. Stretching it out a bit, Vientos is hitting .324/.350/.514 over his last 10 games with four doubles, a homer, and eight RBI. He is not just getting hits over this stretch, but he is also getting big hits:

As noted by Fangraphs, he is really making the adjustments to be a real power hitter. Notably, Vientos has ” a wider stance and toned-down leg kick.” Even with the change, Vientos is still posting big time exit velocities, and he continues to exhibit the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Long story short, he continues to show he has the potential to be a real threat as a Major League hitter.

Even with the progress, it is too much to ask Vientos to pull off what Michael Conforto and Miguel Cabrera once did. In all honesty, while Vientos has been making strides, he is still a bit too raw as a hitter and player to make the Double-A to majors jump. Even with the Mets injuries, so long as Villar is faking it well, there’s no need to make that push.

There’s also the matter of his defense. Between his struggles at third coupled with his frame and the long term prospects of Brett Baty, the Mets have at least begun taking a look at Vientos at first. Of course, when you have Pete Alonso and Smith, you do realize there is no path for Vientos to the majors as the Mets future first baseman.

However, for right now, the question is what to do with third base for the Mets in 2021. The longer Vientos stays in Double-A, the more he is taken out of the equation. With his recent success at the plate, now would be as good a time as ever to look to promote him to Triple-A. With all the recent promotions, there really isn’t anyone in Syracuse blocking a Vientos call-up there.

In Syracuse, Vientos can continue working on his swing, and he could work with Luis Rivera to improve defensively. Based on his recent history, Vientos could use the help.

If nothing else, Vientos in Triple-A does push him closer to the majors. In the long run, that is the point. The Mets need to be putting their best prospects in a position where they can be called-up to the majors. They also need to put players like Vientos in a position where they can work on the specific areas of their game they need to address. For Vientos, all of that should mean moving to Triple-A sooner rather than later.

If the Mets do this, they will be helping Vientos in the long run, and they could help position themselves to call up Vientos to be their third baseman should they strike out on the trade market.

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Worst Play In MLB History

While the early excitement seemed to indicate Javier Baez had the greatest base running play in MLB history, the truth is what happened was an embarrassment. When you break it all down Baez was actually involved in the worst ever play.

Before breaking it down, here’s the game situation. There were two outs and a runner on second when Wilson Contreras stole second base. Baez hit a grounder off Tyler Anderson to third. That’s when we saw bad go to worse to putrid.

First off, Erik Gonzalez‘s throw was way off-line. To be fair to him, that wasn’t that big a deal considering Baez was doing a light job towards first, an important consideration for what’s been deemed a great base running play.

Now, all Will Craig had to do was touch the bag or tag Baez. With their being two outs, once he did either, the inning is over.

Baez decided to have fun and move towards home plate. Considering Baez is much quicker, Craig really had zero chance to tag out Baez, at least not initially.

Instead of just heading back to first and stepping the bag, he chased Baez down. Now, it’s only 90 feet between home and first, and runners aren’t permitted to run outside the baselines to avoid the tag. Ipso facto, at some point Baez just loses and will have to be tagged out.

Baez reached that point, but when he reached that point, Contreras was trying to score from second. At this point, it is important to keep in mind, according to MLB rules, Contreras’ run does not count until Baez reaches first safely.

That meant when Craig threw to Michael Perez, the play for Perez was to tag out Baez. Actually, correct that, the play was for Craig to never throw it and to eventually tag out Baez or force him out of the baseline.

Alas, Craig threw to Perez, who, like Craig, was more concerned about Contreras than Baez. In any event, Contreras beat Perez’s tag which should not have mattered. After missing Contreras, Perez turned his attention to Baez.

Keep in mind while this was happening, there wasn’t a Pirates player at first base. Craig is near home plate. Anderson is who knows where. Adam Frazier is still at his original defensive position.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. Look back at the play. Once Craig catches it, the other Pirates infielders begin heading off the field.

To a certain extent, how can you blame them? After all, there’s really no possible way they should have been involved in the play. Again, Craig needed to step on first or walk back Baez to tag him when Baez ran out of room. As we know, Craig totally screwed up this play.

Well, when Craig threw the ball, he left Baez a clear path to first. That left Perez trying to hit Frazier on the run.

Not only did Perez miss Frazier, but it went into right field. What’s important here is even if Frazier caught it, it didn’t matter as he had zero shot of beating Baez to first. To wit, you have to ask why Frazier didn’t just stop and try to knock the ball down.

Well, Frazier didn’t. As a result, not only was Baez safe at first, but he was able to take off for second.

Making matters worse was Gregory Polanco did what he was supposed to do, and yet, he made a mistake as well. Poland’s charged in to back-up the play. However, the ball got by him. He rushed back to right and made a harried throw.

Polanco’s throw was off the mark, and it rolled towards third. In a twist of irony, Gonzalez, the same player whose throw off the mark gave way to this disaster, picked up the ball to effectively end the play.

So to recap, Baez doesn’t run, and Gonzalez makes an errant throw. Craig doesn’t tag Baez or step on first. Instead, he throws it, and no one covers first. When the ball is thrown away, not only did Baez get first, but he also got second.

In the end, this was just about the worst play you’ll ever see. The Pirates embarrasses themselves. Other than Contreras who busted it and scored from second, there aren’t too many involved in that play who did everything right. That includes Baez who initially jogged lightly to first.

People will understandably and justifiably love this play. They should. It was a truly fun and bizarre play. That said, make no mistake here. This is the worst play we’ve ever seen.

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Mickey Callaway Harassed Women Longer Than He’s Suspended

Former New York Mets Manager Mickey Callaway was suspended through the end of the 2022 season. At that time, the now deposed Los Angeles Angels pitching coach can apply for reinstatement to Major League Baseball.

In some respects, this is good because it’s a harsher penalty than any steroid user faces for a single offense. It’s also more severe than what the Houston Astros faced.

Going further, it’s a harsher penalty than what Jose Reyes or any domestic abuser has faced. So, yes, to that end, it’s progress.

However, the penalty in and of itself is just a slap on the wrist and falls far short of being reflective of Callaway’s actions. To that, it’s time to revisit the allegations in the article written by Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang of The Athletic.

Callaway was accused of sending UNWANTED and UNSOLICITED pornographic pictures of himself to female reporters and requesting they reciprocate. He’d leverage his position inviting these same and other reports out for drinks to provide news or leaks.

This on top of his thrusting himself towards female reporters, and you see this was a monster. This wasn’t just harassing behavior, it was borderline criminal. Keep in mind, that’s just what we know.

Callaway’s response to this was to deny wrongdoing. He did that despite behaving this way for over five years. He did that despite their being text messages between him and his victims.

Either he knew he was screwed and opted to push Major League Baseball to act, or he really had no clue his behavior was disgusting and wrong.

It needs to be reiterated Callaway’s lewd and malicious actions took place for a period over five years. It involved multiple women, and he showed no signs of remorse. He then dragged MLB further through the mud. Of course, he did that to a situation partially of MLB’s making.

The response? A two year suspension?After FIVE PLUS YEARS of harassment, he’s suspended for TWO!

TWO!!!!!

In that suspension, there’s no mandatory counseling and/or a framework for it. There’s no coinciding MLB partnership with organizations to aide in eliminating this behavior.

Sure, MLB put the provision for application for reinstatement, but that’s just kicking the rock down the road. It only has teeth if they want it to have teeth.

As we saw with Alex Cora with the Boston Red Sox and A.J. Hinch with the Detroit Tigers, if a team thinks they can help you win, they won’t care about your transgressions. Now, what Cora and Hinch did doesn’t compare to the heinous acts of Callaway, but the point remains.

After all, Callaway was “the worst kept secret in baseball.” Everyone knew what he was doing, and yet, he wasn’t fired by the Cleveland Indians. Worse yet, he was actually hired by the Mets and Angels.

In sum, we see the problem is bigger than just Callaway. To that end, we get the sense of why over five years of harassment leads to just a two year suspension.

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How MLB Can Stop Calling Overslides As Out On Replay

It happened against twice last night. Jacob deGrom had what appeared to be a hustle double. Jonathan Villar appeared to have third stolen.

However, upon replay, both players were called out. Villar came off the bag during the slide. deGrom came off the bag when he popped up.

Whenever, this happens there is consternation. Many voice they do not believe that is the purpose of replay. They’d rather it be for the “egregious” call and not the “technicality.”

Honestly, that position is more sour grapes than anything, and it’s a distortion of the real purpose of replay. The real purpose of replay is to get the calls right. The replay in both instances did its job by correcting a wrong call on the field.

Like it or not, both deGrom and Villar should’ve been ruled out. Replay did its job, and the Colorado Rockies were not victimized by a bad call.

Maybe.

The one unintended side effect we see with replays is a transition to how players are tagged on these plays. It used to be a quick snap tag to lead the umpire to believe you got him.

Now, fielders are taught to hold the tag. Essentially, they’re waiting for that split second (or more) the runner comes off the bag to get the out call. However, it’s a little more than that.

Look at that deGrom play again. Trevor Story appears to nudge deGrom, and you can see deGrom stumble a bit and come off the bag. That might’ve been what led to deGrom coming off the bag.

What’s interesting is there is no per se rule which prevents this. A fielder cannot inhibit a runner from running between bases. Catchers are limited in how they block the plate. However, there’s nothing that states a fielder can’t use a tag to push the runner off the base.

Therein lies the problem.

Between the replay rules and the lack of clarification on obstruction, fielders are not just incentivized to hold a tag on the runner. They’re also rewarded for nudging or downright pushing or knocking an otherwise safe runner from the base.

With the trouble scoring runs and producing offense, MLB should be addressing this very issue. It’s an easy fix too.

Since you can’t review “judgment calls,” there needs to be a clear-cut rule. For replays, it should be:

If a runner was called safe on the field, and upon replay it was determined the runner came off the base, the runner shall be deemed safe if a fielder kept contact with the runner for the duration of the separation from the base.

Put another way, fielders can no longer weaponize the tag. They can’t use it to make safe runners out. By doing that, you eliminate the portion of replay which causes derision amongst fans and teams.

By doing this, players who actually should be out are out. That is, unless, their ability to stay on the bag was interfered with by the fielder.

Going back to last night, deGrom would be called safe. Villar probably would be as well. That is, unless, they were initially called out on the field.

We can debate whether that’s preferable course of action. However, it does seem to be a much better course of action than letting runners be knocked off the base and penalized for it.

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Mets Obtain Billy McKinney Because There’s No One Else Available

Right now, the New York Mets have 16 players on the IL. That number will grow to 17 when Johneshwy Fargas hits the IL. That also means Cameron Maybin is the only active player with CF experience.

With that as the backdrop, the Mets obtained the recently designated for assignment Billy McKinney from the Milwaukee Brewers. In exchange, they sent 17 year old LHP Pedro Quintana.

In terms of Quintana, no one really knows anything about him, and he didn’t receive a large bonus. Long story short, the Brewers got well to get something here, and this may be the last time we ever hear the name.

As for McKinney, we know of him for a few reasons. First and foremost, McKinney was once a big-time New York Yankees prospect. In fact, he was one of the big pieces the Yankees received in the Aroldis Chapman trade.

McKinney was a well regarded outfield bat when drafted. He was supposed to be a high contact guy with power. It never panned out that way, but maybe, theres something still there.

To date, McKinney really hasn’t translated that skill set to success. Even with his just being 26, you’re probably grasping at straws to suggest he’ll begin to fulfill his promise.

While McKinney can’t really hit, he does provide speed and defense. Baseball Savant suggests McKinney still has good sprint speed and plays a good defense in the corners.

All told, McKinney is a player with some value. He can run, plays good defense, and has some power. That’s a worthy fifth or maybe fourth outfielder.

However, McKinney is an out of options player who can’t really be that. Just ask the Brewers. That said, with the Mets he’s likely a starting player for the simple reason there’s no one better available.

There aren’t any more healthy Mets, and we’re at the stage where we’re all trying to talk ourselves into Dee Strange-Gordon. To that end, McKinney is a good option, and fortunately, there’s real upside. Hopefully, he can tap into some of that to make a desperate move into a great one.

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Might Be Time For Mets To Call-Up Carlos Cortes

The New York Mets are well past the beak glass in case of emergency point. They’re now at the 2008 stage where they called up Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy.

Put another way, they need to look at their prospect pool, and they need to identify MLB projectable prospects. At the same time, they’re going to want to avoid pressing their top, top guys into action too soon thereby damaging their development and/or trade value.

Taking everything into account, the name which stands out at the moment is Carlos Cortes.

Cortes was the Mets 2016 20th Round draft pick. He gained notoriety as an ambidextrous fielder. At second, he played right-handed, but in left, he played left-handed, which is his natural side. In essence, as a fielder, he’s Pat Venditte.

Cortes was drafted as a second baseman where it was believed his promising bat would play better. Cortes has been moved off the position and back to the outfield for a few reasons.

First and foremost, the Mets have an abundance of middle infield talent and not much outfield prospect talent in their system. Another reason is Cortes’ relative struggles in the field.

Through two minor league seasons, he had a .948 fielding percentage and 3.80 RF/9. To put it in perspective, Murphy was putting up better numbers than those. While the struggles were to be expected with the position switch, apparently, the Mets just didn’t see enough there to continue with Cortes at second.

That said, it’s a tool he carries. No, Cortes is not going to be your second baseman. However, for a start or two, he could be that. In some ways, you can liken him to Wilmer Flores on that front.

That’s not to say he’s the next Flores. Rather, the ability to even stand at a position has value at the Major League level. Like Flores and many before and after him, Cortes is going to lie and die by his bat.

Cortes has done some impressive things with the bat since being drafted like homering to right in Brooklyn. That’s no easy feet. Despite his being 5’7″, there’s real power in that bat.

We really saw that bat play in Australia during the winter. In 14 games, Cortes would hit an astounding .392/.429/.706. That was made all the more impressive when you consider he didn’t play in a game in 2020 like most minor leaguers.

That didn’t exactly carry forward to the Double-A season. He’s hitting just .239/.316/.418. However, Cortes does have a four game hitting streak right now, and he’s been a bit unlucky with a .269 BABIP.

There are positive underlying numbers like a 10.5 BB% and .179 ISO. He’s actually spraying the balls fairly evenly. In sum, he’s using all fields, has pop, and he’s not an easy out.

The question is whether the versatility and the bat where is at now should lead to a call-up. The honest answer is no. No, it should not be considered.

But, that’s a position for when everyone is healthy. At the moment, the backups to the backups to the backups are now injured. That’s not hyperbole. That’s the state of the Mets.

With that in mind, the Mets have to ask themselves whether they want a retread Major Leaguer on his last legs, a minor leaguer like a David Thompson who hasn’t taken that leap, or a Cortes should get the call-up.

Unless the Mets can swing a deal, preferably one better than Cameron Maybin for $1, the answer seems to trend towards Cortes. At the very least, he can play second and left, and he can be a fun novelty with his being ambidextrous in the field. And who knows? Maybe, he’ll really hit well.

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At Least James McCann Was Good

David Peterson was rather pedestrian allowing three earned over six innings. That included homers by Ryan McMahon and Elias Diaz in the second.

Honestly, the game was over at that point. The Mets have a Four-A lineup out there, and things went from bad to worse when Johneshwy Fargas injured himself trying to track down a Garrett Hampson RBI triple in the fourth.

Fargas initially stayed in the game, but that collision into the wall was just too much. He’d eventually leave the game with an AC joint injury.

For a while, it looked like Austin Gomber would no-hit the Mets. That made the Jonathan Villar fourth inning single a relief. That relief turned to angst again when Francisco Lindor followed with a GIDP.

In these situations, we can dwell on the negative, or look for the positives. Well, there was a real positive today.

Due to the injuries, James McCann was pressed to play first base despite not playing there in his professional or collegiate career. Frankly, he was great.

McCann looked like he’s been there for years. He didn’t just make all the routine plays. He made highlight ones as well:

We’d also see him homer. This was easily his best game as a Met, and hopefully, this is the type of game which can jump start his season.

To do that, Tomas Nido may have to relent. While he was hitless, he was good behind the plate, and he made a great play on a wild pitch.

In the end, with Brandon Drury homering in the ninth, this was a 3-2 Mets loss. At this point, we just need to remember the Mets are still in first place, and Jacob deGrom returns tomorrow.

Game Notes: Brodie Van Wagenen was in attendance. Rockies had the worst road record in the majors.

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Jacob deGrom Getting Up To Speed

With the way players are dropping like flies on the New York Mets, they need Jacob deGrom now more than ever. Well, he’s on the road back with a rehab start.

deGrom pitched three innings, and well, he was deGrom. He was hitting 102 MPH on the gun, and he completely overmatched the hitters of the St. Louis Cardinals Low-A affiliate.

Overall, deGrom pitched three scoreless innings striking out eight of the 10 batters he faced. To that, deGrom made these minor leaguers look exactly like Major Leaguers.

If we see deGrom throwing 102 and striking out everyone he sees, we basically just need to make sure he feels good tomorrow. Should deGrom wake up feeling good tomorrow, the Mets are that much closer to getting the best pitcher in baseball back.

They need it too because the Mets only have two viable starters healthy, maybe just one.

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Tomas Nido Earning Starting Job

James McCann earned a 40 million deal with the Mets due to his offensive and defensive breakout. With his 54 wRC+ and very poor framing numbers, he’s just not that player right now.

With all the injuries the Mets are experiencing, they can’t wait for McCann any longer. To their credit, they don’t seem to be anymore.

For the past two games and for three out of the last four, Tomas Nido has gotten the start. In those two starts, he’s rewarded them with a three hit game and a game winning homer:

So far, Nido has done more than that. So far this year, Nido has a 142 wRC+. Believe it or not, that’s good for fourth best on the team. If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, Nido would rank as the top offensive catcher in the game.

That may come as a surprise, but perhaps, it shouldn’t. Since last year, Nido is hitting .276/.344/.552. We’ve seen him undergo Lasix surgery after early career struggles, and as noted by Justin Toscano of nj.com, Nido worked with Lorenzo Garmendia before the 2020 season.

While it’s still too small of a reliable sample size, we are seeing the same impact Garmendia had on J.D. Martinez with Nido. More than that, considering all we’ve seen this year, it’s incumbent on the Mets to ride this out to see how real it is.

That goes double when you look at Nido’s framing. In fact, according to Baseball Savant, he’s one of the best in the game. It’s way too early to say this, but if this continues, there really needs to be a discussion about Nido being one of the best in the game.

Before that happens, he’s got to play more. Right now, that’s happening. That’s good because he’s earned the playing time, and frankly, McCann has always been his best while splitting time behind the plate.

Whatever the reason, Nido has arguably been the Mets top performing player. It’s gotten him more starts recently. If it continues, it may very well end with him getting the starting job.

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Mets Need J.D. Davis Back

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Looking at the New York Mets injury situation, which hit a nadir when Kevin Pillar was hit in the face, they need all the help they can get.

Honestly, looking at things, they need J.D. Davis back.

Part of the reason is Jonathan Villar‘s struggles. Yes, he is in fact struggling. So far this year, Villar has an 87 wRC+ at the plate, and at third base, he has a -2 DRS and -1 OAA.

There’s also the current pinch hitting options. Patrick Mazeika is a feel good story, but he has a 76.1 exit velocity, and that’s even with the homer.

Now, Mazeika’s presence has allowed the Mets to go to James McCann and Tomas Nido as pinch hitters. While McCann delivered last night, he’s struggled mightily at the plate.

Also, for what little it’s worth, Nido has not been a good pinch hitter in his career. That said, he probably should get more time behind that plate, but that’s a discussion for another day.

The Mets are getting something from Jose Peraza right now, but he’s still not putting up great numbers. There should be very genuine interest in Johneshwy Fargas and Khalil Lee, but it’s apparent the Mets don’t believe either is truly ready.

Breaking it all down, the Mets need help. Yes, Davis is the worst defender in the majors. Yes, his offensive production to date has been nearly entirely BABIP and juiced ball reliant.

Taking all that into account, he’s needed at the moment. He can at least stand at third and in left. He will give you an honest at-bat. Where the Mets are right now, that is sorely needed (pun intended).

Hopefully, Davis’ rehab game goes well permitting the Mets to active him sooner rather than later. At this point, with the way things are going, we can only imagine who else gets injured between now and the later.

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