Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A)

Hitter: Kevin Kaczmarski

I wrote about Kaczmarksi in Week Six of the Prospect Watch and theorized he was next in line to receive the call. Well, news broke late Thursday night that Kaczmarski had been scratched from the Vegas lineup and would instead be flying to New York, along with teammate Drew Smith, to join the big league club on Friday.

A 2015 ninth-rounder by way of the University of Evansville, Kaczmarski didn’t reach Double-A Binghamton until his age-25 season. The batting average (.274) and on-base percentage (.370) were fine, but his five home runs in 452 at-bats and .369 slugging percentage were not.

Kaczmarski doesn’t possess even average game power and has a fringe arm, making him a non-traditional fit for right field. He doesn’t have the requisite speed for center and doesn’t profile as a regular there, either. That leaves left field as his likely position, but a complete lack of power presents quite the challenge. If he’s not a plus defender in left, where is his value coming from?

While his strikeout to walk ratios have been very encouraging, we need to take those with a grain of salt considering Kaczmarski has been old for every single level he’s played at, besides his 24 games with Las Vegas this season. Even in the high octane offensive conditions out in the desert, Kaczmarski has just five extra-base hits in 80 at-bats.

Does this sound like a promising young player to you? Kaczmarski’s receiving a considerable amount of hype that’s unjustified in this writer’s humble opinion. There’s no carrying tool with the bat and while the approach may be above average, major league pitchers will have no problem attacking him if they know they won’t be punished for it.

I think the Kaczmarski hype is more of a product of the sad state of the Mets than anything else. Mets fans are willing to blindly throw support behind an outfielder with just five home runs in 559 at-bats above Single-A because they think he can’t possibly be any worse than Jay Bruce. Here’s a spoiler alert: Kaczmarski is a role 3 (organizational depth), and I don’t expect any better than a 2018 Jay Bruce line (.212/.292/.321) from him.

Pitcher: Chris Flexen

While Flexen was never a top Met prospect, the prevailing thought was that he could eventually settle in as a fourth or fifth starter if his command improved. Well, Flexen’s command still comes and goes in spurts, and his problems seem exasperated whenever he pitches for the big league club. He walked 35 batters in his 48 innings with the Mets last season and has walked three batters in 2.1 innings with them this season.

In what now seems like a fluky 2017 season split between Port St. Lucie and Binghamton where he only walked 10 in 63 innings, Flexen earned considerable hype as the next Mets pitcher to exceed everyone’s expectations. He still has a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid-90s and a four-pitch mix, but he looks like a middle relief option instead of a starter at this point. Now, that’s actually a great outcome for a 14th round pick, but more was expected from the 6’5” right-hander. He seems destined to ride the Mets bullpen shuttle from Vegas to New York for the rest of the season.

Brooklyn Cyclones (Short-season-A)

Hitter: Kendall Coleman

With the Mets short season teams starting play this week, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to discuss some noteworthy prospects that are way down on the farm. Kendall Coleman is not one of them.

The return from the Yankees for L.J Mazilli, Coleman was an 11th round selection in the 2013 draft. While he has battled some injuries, he hasn’t played above A ball and is repeating the New York Penn League for the third straight season. We’re now approaching 800 career at-bats of data for Coleman and his career slash line sits at a paltry .207/.307/.303. So, why are Mets fans hoping for a breakout season from Coleman?

I don’t know either, because there’s nothing in the profile that suggests Coleman can improve and climb the minor league ladder this season. He did hit a grand slam on opening day for Brooklyn though, and that was apparently enough for Mets Twitter to hype him up as a toolsy outfielder that just hasn’t figured it out yet.

There are better and more interesting prospects in the lower minors, so let’s focus on those and stop trying to hype every minor leaguer as a potential big leaguer, please.

Pitcher: Ryley Gilliam

Gilliam was the Mets fifth-round pick this year out of Clemson and was promptly sent to Brooklyn, along with every other Day Two pick, to begin his professional career. Now, that’s a problem considering Gilliam is a reliever only and was lauded for his potential to move quickly through a minor league system. That’s presumably why the Mets spent a fifth-round pick on a college closer, yet here we are, on June 22, and Gilliam is sitting in Brooklyn’s bullpen.

Gilliam threw 38.1 innings for Clemson this season, dominating ACC hitters to the tune of a .165 opponent batting average. He has the potential for two plus pitches (fastball and curveball) and while he needs to work on developing his changeup, he should be doing that in Columbia at the very least.

Other organizations usually spend high picks on relievers they plan to fast-track to the majors. The Mets spend high picks on relievers they plan to send to short season ball. See the difference? Seriously, what even is the point of selecting Gilliam, who in reality should be ready to contribute by the end of 2019, if you’re going to send him to Brooklyn to begin his career?

Kingsport Mets (Rookie league)

Hitter: Mark Vientos

Let’s talk about another questionable assignment, this time with Vientos, who’s one of the Mets’ best prospects. The Mets took Vientos out of high school in the second round of the 2017 draft, and he was decent (.262/.318/.398) in his debut season split between the GCL Mets and Kingsport. Still just 18 years old, the Mets elected to have him start the season in Kingsport instead of Brooklyn.

While Vientos wasn’t spectacular in rookie ball last season, the least the Mets could’ve done is send him to Brooklyn. Instead, they filled the roster with college performers and slowed Vientos development down.

It’s true that all prospects develop at different paces, but let’s take a look at the Braves 2017 second rounder, Drew Waters. Waters, like Vientos, didn’t tear up rookie ball in 2017. But the Braves sent him the Sally League to begin 2018 and have been rewarded thus far with a .304/.353/.536 triple-slash.

The Mets don’t move anyone fast, save Michael Conforto in 2015, and they seemingly have regrets about that transaction. It still doesn’t make any sense, but that’s why the Mets are who they are every single season.

Pitcher: Jose Moreno

Moreno will turn 22 on July 31 and is still in Kingsport, but he might be kind of interesting? He reportedly hit 99 mph in his start Tuesday and was sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball in his six innings.

Listed at a legitimate 6’4” and 165 pounds, Moreno has a ways to go to fill out his body. He also needs to work on developing his secondary offerings, which are far behind the fastball presently. While we shouldn’t read too much into the numbers because 99 mph is enough to overpower rookie level hitters, Moreno is an interesting name to follow. If things go right, he could develop into a useful arm. If things don’t, you’ll likely never remember his appearance in the Prospect Watch. Nevertheless, he’s a high upside arm in a system thin on them, so let’s keep an eye on Moreno and see if the Mets get aggressive with him (spoiler: they won’t).

Photo credit: Steve Mitchell – USA Today Sports

The Mets had 12 hits and scored six runs, which felt like an explosion considering the team’s recent offensive performance. The six runs were the most they’ve scored in a game since last Tuesday, when the Amazins’ put up a 12 spot against the Blue Jays. Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto both hit solo home runs and Wilmer Flores chipped in with three hits. Conforto finally looks “right” at the plate and I’ll have an in depth look at what he’s doing differently later this week. Devin Mesoraco had two hits to continue his unexpected but welcomed strong start to his Mets career. Jay Bruce looked competitive at the dish and reached three times on the afternoon. Amed Rosario drew a walk in his only plate appearance! Jerry Blevins was called upon for some mop up duty and didn’t allow a run. Also, Jose Reyes reached base twice?

THE BAD

Adrian Gonzalez was 1-5 with a team-high seven men left on base. The Mets have better internal options (see Alonso, Peter) and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for the organization to justify Gonzalez’s roster spot. Reyes reached twice and still has a .200 on-base percentage, which should tell you all you need to know. He also grounded into the Mets’ only double play and even made an error out at short while Luis Guillorme sat and wondered what exactly he needs to do to play. Asdrubal Cabrera, the team’s best player so far this season, was slow to get up after a play at second and was pinch hit for but should be good to go on Sunday. The Mets would be in big trouble should Cabrera require a DL stint of any kind.

THE (REALLY) UGLY

After allowing five earned runs in just three innings of work Saturday, Jason Vargas’ ERA is up to an unfathomable 10.62 in his 20.1 innings this season. The Mets have given Vargas five starts now and plan to give him another, but he’s been absolutely dreadful thus far. Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman both represent much more competitive options, but they’re also two of the Mets best relievers and a move would decimate an already thin relief corps. That’s because AJ Ramos, supposedly one of the Mets’ best high-leverage options, has been awful this season as well. After walking in the winning run Friday, Ramos was lit up for three runs on three hits and one walk in only two-thirds of an inning. It was a low-leverage situation and Ramos still wasn’t effective and at this point, your guess is as good as mine as to where Ramos and the Mets go from here. Chris Flexen was also shelled for eight hits and three walks in only two innings of work. Although he was only charged for three earned runs, Flexen was terrible Saturday and now isn’t available for Monday’s doubleheader; he’s likely to be sent down for P.J Conlon or possibly Tim Peterson, as the Mets will need another pitcher for the aforementioned doubleheader with Atlanta. Look for Conlon rather than Peterson, as he’s already on the 40-man and wouldn’t require a corresponding roster move.

Photo credit: Benny Sieu – USA Today Sports

Triple-A Las Vegas 51s

Pitcher: RHP Chris Flexen

Flexen is a borderline top 10 prospect in the system because of his proximity to the majors and his relatively safe floor, not because he possesses ace-like upside. Although he made his major league debut for the Mets last season and already has nine big league starts under his belt, he was able to retain his rookie eligibility by virtue of coming up two innings shy of 50, which technically makes him still a prospect. The 6’3,” 250-pound right-hander sits 90-95 mph with his fastball and mixes in a knuckle curve and a changeup that are both slightly above average, as well as a slider that’s comfortably behind the rest of his offerings. Flexen’s major league debut wasn’t pretty, as his 7.88 ERA and 6.56 BB/9 were, how do I say this nicely, absolutely terrible. His biggest weakness is his command, which seems to come and go in spurts, but it’s definitively more bad than good. The Mets sent Flexen to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the season, and the early numbers are conflicting to say the least. On one hand, Flexen holds a 3.60 ERA and has struck out 11 in 15 innings of work. On the other, he’s walked seven batters already and holds an ugly 1.73 WHIP. Now, there are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Jose Reyes not getting a h… oh different article sorry, Hansel Robles pointing at every fly b…my apologies again, I meant to say runs being scored in the Pacific Coast League. The ERA is very promising, but the seven walks in just 15 innings is a big concern for a pitcher who’s projected as a back-end starter. I prefer my No. 5 guys to be innings eaters with good command, not hit or miss guys with strikeout stuff and command issues. Flexen probably is what he is at this point, a No. 4/5 starter who has good stuff but lacks command, and all things considered, that isn’t a bad thing at all. In all likelihood, Flexen will make some major league starts this season; let’s just hope they come in September with the Mets up comfortably in the division.

Hitter: SS Luis Guillorme

I had the chance to see Guillorme live last week and let me tell you, it’s an absolute joy to watch him play baseball. In possession in some of the best hands in all of professional baseball, Guillorme makes highlight reel plays left and right and is nothing short of a wizard out at shortstop. He’s only about 5’9” and is a below average runner, but his instincts and hand-eye coordination make him one of the best defensive prospects in the minor leagues right now. Tyler Oringer took a more in-depth look at Guillorme earlier this month and is of the belief that he could eventually win a Gold Glove at shortstop. It’s unlikely that happens with the Mets though, as the team seems to have found its shortstop of the future in Amed Rosario, which means Guillorme’s long-term fit with the Mets may be at second. With less ground to cover, it’s not much of a stretch to say that Guillorme could be one of, if not the, best defensive second baseman in the majors right now. In his first taste of Triple-A, Guillorme has struggled to begin the season, as he’s currently slashing .224/.333/.306 with a 20.7% K-rate. Don’t expect it to continue though, as Guillorme has shown a knack for getting on base at every level of his professional career thus far. While he won’t ever hit for power or steal more than 10 bases, Guillorme’s all-world defensive abilities coupled with his ability to get on base will allow him to have a long and successful career in the majors.

Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Pitcher: RHP Nabil Crismatt

This was the hardest selection to make on the entire list, as Binghamton’s whole pitching staff has been outstanding thus far. There were many worthy candidates, such as RHP Tyler Bashlor, RHP Eric Hanhold and RHP Gerson Bautista, but for this week’s Prospect Watch we’ll focus on Nabil Crismatt and his unbelievable start to the season. In three starts for Binghamton, Crismatt has thrown 16.1 IP, holding a pristine 1.10 ERA while striking out 21 and walking only three. The 23-year-old spent the entirety of 2017 with Single-A Port St. Lucie, striking out 142 batters over 145 innings with a respectable 3.95 ERA. Crismatt’s best offering is his changeup and it’s his only above-average pitch, leading to most of us to believe the high strikeout totals won’t continue in the majors. Still, the minor league strikeout numbers thus far are fantastic and give him a relatively high floor as a starter. Add to that command that’s comfortably plus and it’s easy to see him as a big league starter. Crismatt projects as a No. 4/5 starter just like the previously mentioned Flexen, but they are completely different and win in different ways. I prefer Crismatt due to the plus command and high strikeout totals though, and I’m looking forward to seeing if he can keep this pace up.

Hitter: 1B Peter Alonso

I wrote up Alonso in my Double-A scouting notes piece here so I won’t go too in-depth, but I’d be remiss to leave him off this list. Alonso’s undoubtedly been the best hitter in the system thus far, slashing .340/.414/.620 with three home runs already for Binghamton. The former Florida Gator has done nothing but rake since his 2016 New York Penn-League debut and is quickly challenging Dominic Smith’s place as the Mets first baseman of the future. I don’t think it’s crazy to prefer Alonso to Smith at this point, but don’t interpret that as a shot at Smith, who still deserves a chance. If Alonso keeps this pace up, it’s going to be hard for the Mets to justify keeping him down at Double-A, especially if Adrian Gonzalez starts slumping. Alonso profiles as a future regular at first, but it remains to be seen if he’s going to get the opportunity to prove it with the Mets.

Single-A: Port St. Lucie and Columbia

Pitcher: RHP Justin Dunn (Port St. Lucie)

The Mets’ first round pick in the 2016 draft struggled last year in his first taste of High-A Port St. Lucie, but he’s been nothing short of terrific in his second go around. Dunn’s started three games for Port St. Lucie thus far and owns a dominant 1.26 ERA with 19 strikeouts across his 14.1 innings. He struggled with command issues in 2017, walking 48 against only 75 strikeouts, but his 19 strikeouts more than make up for the six free passes he’s issued so far. Dunn is the owner of absolutely electric stuff, but it remains to be seen if he can hold it throughout a full season. Dunn was in the bullpen at Boston College, but a move to the rotation in his draft eligible season proved to be a good one, as he proved he could hold his stuff while starting. The 22-year-old is one of the best pitching prospects in the system, but he has a long way to go before he receives the call. The first step in that process is continuing to dominate at High-A, and Dunn looks to be back on the straight path toward the big leagues. Dunn projects as a No. 2/3 starter on stuff alone, but his inconsistent performance impact that, and he’s more likely a No. 3/4 starter with reliever risk.

Hitter: OF Desmond Lindsay

Lindsay was a second-round pick of the Mets in the 2015 draft due to his five-tool potential, but injuries and inconsistent performance have impacted his ascendance in the minors. Scouts see Lindsay and dream of an athletic center fielder with plus hit and plus power, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t come close to realizing his full potential. In an injury-riddled 2017 with Low-A Columbia, Lindsay hit a paltry .220/.327/.388 while only swiping four bases. The Mets chose to promote Lindsay to begin 2018, and the results have been more of the same, as he’s slashing .237/.356/.289 in 38 at-bats thus far. Lindsay’s unsurprisingly dealt with a minor injury already, and his complete lack of doubles and home runs are extremely concerning. At some point in the near future, Lindsay is going to need to turn the potential he possesses into results. That being said, he’s still a 21-year-old that flashes five-tool potential, and you simply don’t give up on prospects like that. Lindsay is going to get plenty of chances, and if he can stay healthy for a reasonable amount of time, he’s got a chance to put it all together and become a major leaguer.

Photo credit: Gregory Fisher – USA Today Sports

It wasn’t the Mets

WHAT HAPPENED, THE FINAL WORD:

No set of words could accurately describe how frustrating this season has been for Mets fans. The list of things that went wrong could go on and on and on. Game 162 was no different. Rafael Montero is still Rafael Montero. Dom Smith still has some room to grow at first. Chris Flexen is also Rafael Montero. The cruelest thing that happened might have been the glimpse we got of Noah Syndergaard. The one who will surely save us all.

I say cruel because, well, we have always been aware of the demigod he is. What I don’t think anyone was prepared for, nor could they have been, was just how truly vulnerable the human body can be. Now I’m not talking about your typical bumps and bruises that happen over the course of 162 games. I’m talking the insatiable injury bug that spread the Mets clubhouse like wildfire from essentially the beginning until the end.

No matter how great or strong a team looks, injuries will bring them to their knees. Super rotation, young, old, superstar, role-player. Doesn’t matter. Now, not all were freak accidents. The Mets’ (mis)management of some led not to injury itself, but to a worse version: more serious injuries that take longer to rehab and possess the potential to affect future play. This isn’t something new, but this season it reared its ugly head.

Not everything is bad; there are positives to look forward to in 2018. Hitting the reset button on the record total will only do good, but the injury bug that plagued the team this season might be what sticks with me the most. It is why I’m a little more reserved than most might be when saying next season will be fantastic and much better than this one. There are some glaring holes, and problems that won’t be easily fixable. Logjams created by team control and underwhelming play have a role in that, but so does one of the biggest questions we have been asking for a while now: Will, and how much, is the front office going to spend this offseason to improve the roster? I don’t know the answer to that, but it is just one more reason why I’m hesitant to say 2018 will surely be better.

Who knows what this offseason will look like, what the injury situation will be, or even who the manager is. For that reason, I don’t usher out this season with an eagerness to get onto the next. Instead, while I look forward to 2018 with reserved optimism, I’ll part you with this:

Farewell, 2017, and may you rot in hell.

Photo credit: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports

Game 1

The Good

Frankly, there wasn’t much good to talk about from Monday’s first game. Juan Lagares gave us a pleasant surprise with a perfect day at the plate, going three for three with a run scored. The former Gold Glove center fielder seems to be finishing 2017 strong, with seven hits in 15 at-bats over his last four games. Any signs of life from Lagares are a welcomed sight, as there is still a fair amount of uncertainty regarding how this outfield is going to look in 2018. Other than Yoenis Cespedes, the rest is up for grabs thanks to Michael Conforto’s injury and subsequent surgery. Many are still holding out hope that Lagares can be the player he was in 2014, although I wouldn’t put too much stock in a guy who tends to wind up on the disabled list as often as he does.

The entirety of the Mets offense was fueled by Tomas Nido in this contest. Nido, the 23-year-old catcher from Puerto Rico, cracked a double in the bottom of the seventh to drive in Phil Evans and Lagares. The extra-base hit was the first of Nido’s career and the RBIs were his second and third. Given the inconsistency the Mets have shouldered at the catcher position, it’s safe to assume that the job is open in 2018 and with a strong finish over the last week of regular season play, Nido may just do enough to toss his name in the ring and be a dark horse candidate to win the job next spring.

The Bad

Receiving the spot start for this afternoon’s game was Chris Flexen, who last started on Sept. 3. The 23-year-old started well, limiting the Braves to one run (an Ozzie Albies solo home run) over his first five innings, but eventually ran into trouble in the sixth. After loading the bases, Flexen was pulled in favor of Josh Smoker, who allowed all three runners to score. Flexen finished with an unimpressive line of three hits, three walks, four strikeouts, and four earned runs.

The Ugly

Yesterday was just one of those games where the performance of the bullpen left you with nauseous feeling. Josh Smoker’s box score line looks pretty clean, but he was fortunate in that the three runs he allowed were charged to the starter. Every reliever who followed surrendered at least one hit and earned run. In total, Erik Goeddel, Kevin McGowan, and Jacob Rhame surrendered six hits, five earned runs, and three walks. It’s hard to blame the bullpen for the loss today given the lack of offense and rough effort from Flexen, but they certainly ensured the Mets wouldn’t fight their way back into this one.

If reading this hasn’t caused you enough pain already, every player in the Braves starting lineup recorded a hit, including their starting pitcher, Lucas Sims. Sims, a rookie from Lawrenceville, Georgia, shut the Mets out through the first six innings of this afternoon’s game, so feel free to add him to the list of no-name pitchers to dominate the Mets.

Game 2

The Good

As demoralizing as Game 1 of this doubleheader was, the Amazins rallied back in the second game, avoiding becoming a season-worst 25 games under .500. Seth Lugo put forth one of his best efforts of 2017 and notched his seventh win on the season, a sentiment that is even more impressive when you recall the fact that he has been battling a partially torn UCL in his pitching elbow. Lugo shut the Braves out over his six innings, allowing only two hits and no walks while striking out seven.

Jerry Blevins and Chasen Bradford contributed accordingly, keeping the Braves off the board for a combined two innings. Under normal circumstances their effort may seem a bit pedestrian, but when you contrast them to how awful the bullpen was yesterday afternoon, it’s nice to see the relievers do their jobs correctly.

Travis d’Arnaud had a night to remember (only because there are not too many to be had these days), knocking two hits in three trips to the plate and walking once. Following Asdrubal Cabrera’s RBI groundout in the third, d’Arnaud was able to extend the lead to 2-0 when he singled to center field to score Lagares. Facing Jose Ramirez (not to be confused with Cleveland’s MVP candidate), d’Arnaud launched one over the left-center field fence to extend the Amazins’ lead to 3-0. This would prove to be the deciding run after the Braves etched across two runs in the ninth. Monday night’s effort is a momentary sigh of relief for d’Arnaud in the midst of another disappointing season. Sit back and smell the roses, Travis, because you very well may not be a starter anymore come spring training.

Brandon Nimmo and Matt Reynolds each had a solid night at the plate. Nimmo cracked two doubles and a single in four plate appearances and Reynolds singled twice. While Reynolds ultimately has cemented his fate as a utility-man, Brandon Nimmo is starting to open some eyes on whether he can be an everyday player. Last night’s effort raised his batting average to .274 and his OBP to a .393 clip. Numbers like that are at least worth the discussion of whether Nimmo could have a starting job in 2018.

The Bad

2017 is just not Jeurys Familia’s year. Between the blood clot issue and his struggles on the mound, you can count on the fact that he’s eager to start the 2018 season and wipe the slate clean. Monday night’s outing was a textbook example, as he came very close to blowing a three-run lead. Despite surrendering an RBI single to Jace Peterson and an RBI groundout to Matt Kemp, Familia avoided a complete meltdown en route to his fifth save of the season.

Despite a measured level of success with the Las Vegas 51s, Travis Taijeron has failed to get it going at the Major League level. An 0-3 effort tonight lowered his batting average to a crisp .159. Not that Taijeron factored into the Mets’ long term plans at all, but his September cup of coffee put him in a position where he had more to gain than to lose. Unfortunately, some players are just stuck in the purgatory that is being too good for Triple-A, not good enough for the MLB.

What’s Next

The Mets take on a familiar face in R.A. Dickey tonight with a resurgent Rafael Montero toeing the rubber at 7:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Andy Marlin – USA Today Sports

It goes without saying, but Montero is not a serious rotation candidate for next year, unless the Mets’ goal is to approach 95 losses again. Montero is out of options, and with the Mets having so many marginal or questionable pitchers already penciled in for next year, coupled with an impending 40-man roster crunch this offseason, it could make sense to finally pull the trigger and DFA Montero. And while it seems something the Mets wouldn’t do—if they haven’t DFA’d yet, why would they now?—it does appear to be a logical move at the very least, given that Montero’s absolute ceiling right now appears to be a unreliable swing-man with good stuff, but poor command.

Chris Flexen and Kevin McGowan had combined for three scoreless innings in relief of Montero. They were followed by Erik Goeddel, who got absolutely shelled in the eighth inning; he gave up four runs on three home runs while only recording one out. One of the dingers he served up was Giancarlo Stanton’s 56th of the season, as Stanton continues his chase of Roger Maris’ 61 homers for seventh place on the all-time list.

Tommy Milone finished off the eighth inning, pitching in what feels like his 500th consecutive game.

On offense, the Mets didn’t do much. They mustered just two runs, the first run coming on a Travis d’Arnaud single in the fifth, and the second on a Brandon Nimmo solo homer in the seventh, after which Nimmo still couldn’t keep that dorky smile off his face, even when losing 5-2 at the time. The homer brought his wRC+ up to 122 on the year. He’s been the only real positive to take out of the last two months of this dreadful season.

And, surprisingly enough, a 122 wRC+ is also what Kevin Plawecki has managed to do in 60 plate appearances since his recall last month. The 26-year-old backstop managed two more hits yesterday, solidifying his case to be in the catching mix come next spring.

OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY

Amed Rosario is still sick, though he was back in the clubhouse today. He blamed an undercooked meal for his stomach ailment.

Sandy Alderson said it was “highly unlikely” that Matt Harvey will be in a different uniform next season. The team plans to tender him a contract.

TOMORROW:

The season winds down as the Mets begin their final homestand of the 2017 season against the Nationals. Jacob deGrom starts for the Mets against a pitcher the Nationals have not determined yet. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove – USA Today Sports

It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these. The distraction of starting a Ph.D. and moving back to my native NYC has been rather nice, giving me a multitude of excuses to duck out on watching a bad Mets team drag the corpse of their season across the finish line. It’s always worth it to tune in at the end of the season though, just to listen to GKR for a couple more hours before the long offseason begins.

To the game itself. Matt Harvey toed the mound as the Mets started a three-game set in Miami, their last trip south of Philadelphia for the season. Opposing him was Dan Straily, the Marlins’ return in the soon-to-be-infamous Luis Castillo trade with the Reds this past offseason. To make a bad game worse, Amed Rosario was scratched with an upset stomach, giving us an extra dose of a Cabrera-Reyes-Cecchini infield. This season really can’t end soon enough.

Game Recap

The Mets seemed primed to jump out to an early lead against Straily, with Nori Aoki singling and Jose Reyes walking to start the first inning. Both runners would be stranded, however, as Asdrubal Cabrera and Travis d’Arnaud struck out, sandwiching a line out from Dom Smith. That missed opportunity immediately became irksome, as a couple of soft ground ball hits and a line drive from Justin Bour drove in a run for the Marlins in the bottom half of the inning to put the Mets in an early 1-0 hole.

Harvey was able to dance around more trouble in the second, stranding two runners who reached on softly hit ground balls up the middle. He wasn’t as lucky in the third, however. Giancarlo Stanton started the inning with a three-pitch walk, and Bour followed two batters later with a screaming line drive double to put runners on a second and third with one out. A wild pitch to Brian Anderson pushed Stanton across the plate, and an intentional walk and another infield single loaded the bases for Dan Straily with two outs. Harvey was able to stop the damage, but was up to 54 pitches and seven hits allowed (four of them very soft, two of them extremely hard) through three innings.

After stranding a plethora of baserunners through the first three innings, the Mets finally generated a response in the top of the fourth. Brandon Nimmo worked a walk (what else is new) before Juan Lagares grounded into a fielder’s choice and stole second base, putting a runner on second with two outs. Gavin Cecchini followed that up with a ground ball single up the middle to drive in Lagares, cutting the Miami lead to 2-1.

Harvey and the Mets gave that run and more right back. Dee Gordon led off the bottom of the fourth with a bunt single, then stole second. Harvey then yanked a fastball into Tomas Talis, putting runners on first and second with none out for Stanton. I’m sure you’ve already guessed how that turned out, as Stanton vaporized a flat fastball in the middle of the plate for a three-run home run that landed in the back right of the home run monstrosity in center field. The homer was Stanton’s 55th on the season, and it gave the Marlins a 5-1 lead. It was also the longest home run at a 17 degree launch angle or lower ever tracked by Statcast, travelling 455 feet.

The fifth inning started just as poorly for Harvey, as he allowed a flair single to Ichiro Suzuki and a ground ball single to Mike Aviles. That would chase him from the game, as the pitcher who used to be the Mets’ next best hope lasted only 4+ innings, the seventh straight start in which he went five innings or fewer. He allowed 12 hits, and, while there was certainly some bad luck in there (three infield hits, two dribblers into the outfield, and a flair that dropped) he also gave up plenty of rockets. Harvey’s stuff is still flat and his command is still spotty. On the bright side, he seems to have recovered at least one of the ticks he lost, but that’s really reaching for positives.

Tommy Milone entered in relief and retired Christian Yelich (pinch hitting for Dan Straily) on a weak dribbler in front of home plate. Dee Gordon made that out irrelevant, lining a triple into the right-center field gap to push the Marlins lead to 7-1. All seven of those runs were charged to Harvey, ballooning his ERA on the season to an almost inconceivable 6.59.

Milone walked Tomas Telis before being replaced by Hansel Robles. Robles’s results weren’t any better, as he allowed RBI singles Stanton and Ozuna. Brian Anderson then lined the second two-run triple of the inning for the Marlins before scoring on an RBI single from Suzuki. Erik Goeddel entered and finally stopped the bleeding, but the Marlins had turned things into a laugher, leading 12-1.

The rest of the game was fairly mundane. Chris Flexen tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in relief. Jacob Rhame gave up a home run on the second pitch he threw, walked a batter, and struck out one in an inning of work. Jaime Callahan added a clean inning in the eighth. Meanwhile, the Met offense didn’t score, going quietly into the night in a 13-1 loss. At 65-85, they remain in line for the fifth pick in the draft.

Thoughts from the Game

Time to twist the knife of a lost season and another brutal loss a bit more. Eleven years ago last night, Jose Reyes and David Wright danced in the clubhouse and smoke cigars on the field as they clinched the NL East title. I don’t mean to re-write the eulogy for the 2006 Mets for the three millionth time, but it’s a sobering reminder of how far away the current iteration of the Mets are from getting back to that level.

I also want to share a pessimistic bet I’ve made with a couple friends. Nori Aoki is a marginally useful extra outfielder, and honestly not the worst option as a reserve on a good team. He’s also performed quite well since joining the Mets on September 2, running a 119 wRC+ in his very brief tenure. However, it should be very clear that Nori Aoki has no business being a starting outfielder at this point of his career, and if the Mets try to sell him as such (or even as a short term replacement should Michael Conforto’s return from shoulder surgery be delayed at all) it will be an abject disaster for 2018.

Other Mets News

Noah Syndergaard pitched a simulated game in front of the major league coaches in Miami today, facing a handful of live hitters. There’s a chance Thor gets back in a major league game this season, even if it’s just as a reliever, but it’s nice to see the Mets being extra cautious with one of their players for once.

Photo credit: Steve Mitchell – USA Today Sports

In the bottom of the seventh inning of last night’s shellacking, Phil Evans took the field at third and Matt Reynolds replaced Jose Reyes at short — Reyes had himself replaced Amed Rosario, who left the game in the fifth with a tight hip flexor. As the few hopeful signs of the future began to succumb to the injury bug (just which Greek God have the Wilpons angered, exactly?), and the lineup turned over from exciting prospects to players who had fans and broadcasters alike scrambling for the media guide, it became abundantly clear that the Mets, unsatisfied with ruining the present, were intent on putting a cloud over the future. Robbed of joy, robbed of hope; it must be the Mets.

Jen-Ho Tseng, making his major league debut starting for the Cubs, initially struggled, hitting both Reyes and Dom Smith with pitches, but emerged from the first only surrendering one run. The Mets grabbed another couple of runs in the second, with Reyes driving in Rosario and Brandon Nimmo doubling in Reyes. The teams began trading home runs, with Smith and Travis d’Arnaud hitting back-to-back dingers in the top of the third to put the Mets up again, and Anthony Rizzo answering in the bottom of the frame to close the gap to one run. The Cubs would take the lead for good in the fourth, scoring five runs and knocking Seth Lugo out of the game.

Lugo went three innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and striking out four. I wish I could say it only feels like yesterday that we were watching Lugo pitch in the World Baseball Classic, but I can’t. It was an eternity ago, long before this hellish summer that refuses to end and will no doubt become a milestone in Mets fans’ mythology of suffering. Lugo was replaced by Josh Smoker, Jerry Blevins, Paul Sewald, Chris Flexen, and Jeurys Familia out of the pen. (In case anyone was wondering how the Jason Heyward swing reconstruction project was going, it’s going just fine, thanks.)

Rosario would be lifted in the bottom of the fifth with a tight hip flexor. Before replacing him at short, Reyes played a nimble at second base, for what it’s worth. (Nothing. It’s worth nothing.) Rosario had a great series at Wrigley, going 6 for 9 and stealing two bases last night alone. This being the Mets summer of discontent, that meant he was ripe to be struck down by the gods. d’Arnaud twisted his right knee in the same inning. Seemed a fitting cap to the day that it was reported the Mets would be sticking with their strength and conditioning coach.

Tomas Nido got his first major league hit and first run batted in with a ninth inning RBI single. Then he tried to score from second on a ground ball squibbed in front of the plate to end the game. For almost any other team, that would be an unbelievable end to an execrable game. Met fans can believe it all too well.

Tonight, the Mets head to Atlanta, where Rafael Montero (5-9, 5.05) will face Sean Newcomb (2-8, 4.38); first pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.

Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski – USA Today Sports

I could hit you with the numbers (again), but the shock value that contextualizing it in numbers once had no longer even really exists; it’s mostly just numbing at this point. For example, I could say that seven of the 12 Mets pitchers with the most innings pitched this year have ERAs over five. But that’s not really surprising at this point. I could also mention that as of Tuesday, the team’s 117 ERA- is the fourth-worst in franchise history. But that’s whatever by now. I could even bring up the fact that if you remove Jacob deGrom’s stats, the team ERA, even before last night’s game, would be 5.08, which would be the worst team ERA in franchise history—six points worse than the 1962 Mets. Okay, that one still stings a little bit.

And last night, we saw another disheartening performance from a pitcher who not only had a positive outlook coming into the year, but who was, and still could be, a huge part of this team’s future. It has been a completely lost season for Robert Gsellman—who BP ranked as the #2 prospect in the Mets system pre-season—and it took another saddening turn last night in Chicago. Gsellman worked through the first three innings without allowing a run, but was walking the tightrope the entire time and completely lacking command. He finally cracked in the fourth inning, when he allowed a four-spot to the Cubs, with three of those runs coming on a home run by Kris Bryant. Gsellman walked four on the night and gave up five hits in just four innings of work.

Next year, the Mets will have a cornucopia of pitchers bidding for spots in the rotation. Only two spots are guarenteed: deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Everyone else will need to earn a spot. This month of September is crucial for guys like Gsellman and Seth Lugo to build their case for a rotation spot next season, and Gsellman’s outing last night did not help, as his stock continues to plummet after a wonderful 2016 debut campaign.

The game was pretty much over from there. Tommy Milone, Jacob Rhame, Josh Smoker, and Chris Flexen all pitched the subsequent innings in that order, and every single one of them gave up one run. Milone is a guy who probably shouldn’t even be pitching for the Mets anymore, Rhame is still working out the kinks at the MLB level, and Smoker and Flexen haven’t looked like MLB-caliber pitchers all season.

The Mets lost the game 8-3, which ultimately doesn’t matter. What does matter, though, is that they were able to find innings for Rhame and get some more evaluation on Gsellman and Smoker. In addition, Amed Rosario had a productive day, going 2-for-4 and making a nice leaping grab in the field. Rosario’s yet to light the world on fire, but it absolutely looks like being a competent MLB shortstop is his floor right now. Dom Smith’s struggles continued, however, as he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Gavin Cecchini and Brandon Nimmo were both benched again last night, which is good. Very prudent.

OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY:

Reliever Eric Hanhold was announced as the PTNBL in the Neil Walker trade. Honhold is a 23-year-old reviever in A+ ball who became a full-time reliever this year, and has substantially improved as a result. His K-BB numbers have increased, and he’s had his best professional year in run prevention so far. So he’s mildly interesting. (Editor’s note: Go Gators)

The Mets also called up catching prospect Tomas Nido to the big leagues yesterday. The 23-year-old posted a 74 wRC+ for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies this season.

TODAY

The Mets play game two of their series against the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Matt Harvey takes on Jon Lester in a rematch of Game 1 of the 2015 NLCS, except both pitchers are discernably worse now. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

Photo credit: Patrick Gorski – USA Today Sports

Ron Darling and Wayne Randazzo took the opportunity provided by Reyes’ first MLB start as an outfielder to play a prerecorded interview in which Terry Collins praised Reyes’s versatility. Collins claimed Reyes could adjust to the new position because of his purported athleticism. As if the 34-year-old Reyes has somehow become more agile in 2017 than he was when he started his MLB career 15 years ago.

When Billy Hamilton hit a second-inning line drive to left and Reyes took a negative-3% efficient, Family Circus route to the eventual double, Darling studiously ignored the evidence of Reyes being bad at baseball. Instead, he began complimenting Reyes, favorably comparing him to Tony Phillips, a Darling contemporary who remained in the big leagues until age 40 while playing every position except pitcher and catcher. Phillips posted a .392 OBP from age 31 to 40, so he’d be a best-case, unlikely scenario for the rest of Reyes’ career. Yet that’s not why the comparison struck a nerve.

I don’t require perfection from my Mets broadcasters, and goodness knows the #GKR booth is regularly entertaining. Still, I couldn’t help but cringe at the Reyes-Phillips comp. Maybe Ron was unaware, or maybe he forgot, but Phillips was arrested in 1997 during his age-38 season for felony possession of crack cocaine. Mets’ broadcasters’ blind spot toward Reyes’s own arrest on domestic violence charges has drawn its share of criticism. A careless link between a player who pled guilty to a drug offense and one who avoided charges because his wife declined to prosecute should not be lightly excused.

Ah, there was a baseball game during all this. Chris Flexen allowed five runs in the first inning, four of them on a Scott Schebler grand slam that followed a single and two walks. The Reds added two in the fifth and another seven in the eighth. It got so bad for Chasen Bradford that nominal catcher Kevin Plawecki was brought in to relieve him with the bases loaded and no outs. Plawecki sandwiched a Billy Hamilton double between a GIDP and retiring Joey Votto on a 4-3 groundout. Consider it a moral victory in an otherwise pathetic 14-4 defeat.

Photo Credit: David Kohl – USA Today Sports