213 Miles From Shea

Recapping Yesterday:
The Mets dropped the game yesterday to the Marlins 4-2, falling to 5-4 for the meaningless spring training game season. Pete Alonso though kept his tremendous spring going, picking up a double in two trips to the plates pushing his OPS to 1.312. Nimmo also picked up a double, somehow dropping his OPS to 1.222.

On the mound, Stroman allowed only 1 run over 3.1 innings from 4 hits and a walk while striking out 4. His Spring ERA is now sitting at 3.24 and has been promising so far. He got up to 58 pitches in the outing and the goal is to get him to 90 before the start of the season. Betances also pitched and his line looked ok (a walk and a strikeout with no hits and no runs in one inning), there is concern about his fastball which started at 89 mph yesterday. Joey Lucchesi stole the show at the end of the game with 2.0 innings with a walk and 3 K’s as he tries to push his way into the rotation.

What to Watch Today:
In what’s becoming a theme for the Mets – they are playing on Saturday afternoon and there are no cameras to capture it. Frustrating. Anyway Jordan Yamamoto makes his third appearance in a today. He has recorded 5.0 innings of work with 2 unearned runs off 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. He’ll be followed by several key Mets bullpen pitchers. Edwin Diaz will get into his third game and he’s looked good so far, 2.0 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts. Miguel Castro comes in after and he’s had a fantastic spring with 2.0 shutout innings with a walk and 2 K’s.

Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?

I am very excited about today’s NRI profile! Pete Crow-Armstrong (I also fully understand that by the time this article posts, written on 2/20, Pete may already be back in minor league camp). Pete is also the last top prospect we’ll be looking at in this series. Generally he’s around the 5th best prospect in the Mets system, depending on where you look. MLB.com has the following grades for him:

• Hit 55
• Power 40
• Run 60
• Arm 55
• Field 60
• Overall 50

Pete was a first round pick for the Mets in 2020, and because it was 2020, we don’t have any stats from the minors yet to dive into for the soon to be 19 year old (next week!). He’s generally considered a strong defensive asset to Centerfield, with good speed. His plate development is going to dictate where he goes. Outfield, especially center fielders, is an area the Mets are just missing right now in the system.

Pete is the first player in this article series that we don’t have any minor league stats, any college stats (drafted out of high school) and no winter ball stats. High School stats are sometimes misleading outside of “this player is really good and is a professional playing against some players who might be professional and a lot of players that won’t be” He was a standout though on the 18U USA team where he hit .364/.405/.606. This is why I’m so excited to see him in Mets camp this year – we get to see him play against other players with similar talent! It will also be a joy to watch him play in the minors.

It’s also important to talk about Pete off the field. Pete was advocate and an activist last summer for against racial inequality and police brutality showing support for Black Lives Matter. We need more of that with white players in the league.

Recapping Yesterday:
The game last night was made for prime time. Jacob deGrom. Zack Grienke. Evening spring training game. It would have been perfect. But the Astros don’t have TV broadcast support set up yet down in Florida. We ended up missing a really good one for the Mets. Mets pitchers combined to throw 9.0 innings allowing 1 hit, 2 walks and struck out 17 batters. Jacob deGrom started everything off with 3 perfect innings with 7 K’s (and reached 102 with a fastball!). He looked great. Mike Montgomery, trying to break his way into the Mets roster, followed with 4 K’s over 2.0 innings. Barnes had a bounce back performance and Zamora allowed 2 walks, but no hits and no runs as he continues to have a great spring.

The Mets offense, despite using a lineup close to their starting lineup, was mostly silent. Brandon Nimmo collected two hits and raised his OPS in Spring to 1.263. Pete Alonso hit another homer in spring, raising his OPS to (an identical to Nimmo’s) 1.263.

What We are Watching For Today
The Mets have their first day game after a night game today! (Their previous 6 PM start, also against the Astros, was moved up to 1 PM for weather reasons last Saturday). One important thing to note, we actually can watch today’s game as SNY will be carrying it.

Marcus Stroman gets the start today. In two games so far this spring he has allowed 2 runs off 3 hits in 5.0 innings while walking 1 and striking out 4. The runs came from one inning of work last time out and besides that inning, he’s looked great. Lots of movement on his pitches.

Scheduled to follow are Dellin Betances, Aaron Loup, Joey Lucchesi, Drew Smith, Tommy Hunter, Stephen Nogosek and Trevor Hildenberger (who was sent to minors camp earlier in the week). Betances is still looking to find his stuff this spring. Joey Lucchesi is competing for the fifth starting spot against Peterson and Yamamoto (and others). This will be Loup’s third game this spring. So far he has allowed 2 hits and an unearned run while striking out 2.

Let’s Go Mets!

Recapping Last Time:
The Mets beat the Cardinals on Tuesday 5-3 thanks to a go-ahead hit by top prospect Ronny Mauricio in the bottom of the 7th. In a small sample size this spring, Ronny has a .455 batting average, .909 OPS. Walker allowed 2 runs in 2.0 innings (his first inning was great and he confirmed that he’s going to wear the shark-tooth necklace Turk Wendell sent to him during his next start). The real story is how good the Mets bullpen was. Edwin Diaz had a great inning of work, Familial allowed a walk and that’s it, Miguel Castro struck out 2 in his inning of work. Good news all the way around.

What We are Looking For Today:
I guess we are using “looking for” very lightly. The Mets have a made for TV spring training game, starting at 6 PM tonight. Spring Training games TV coverage is controlled by the home team usually and the Astros haven’t had any TV games yet. So deGrom is going to go against Grienke, again, and no one will be able to see it. Radio coverage by the Astro’s announcers (and they aren’t that good).

Anyway, deGrom is the main story today and he was so good his last time out. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out 3 over 2.0 innings with a fastball that sat in the high 90’s touching 99, 100 multiple times. I’m also all for him making all his spring starts against the Astros at their home. He gets to face more major leaguers that won’t see him in the regular season.

Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?

It’s another prospect day in this series! Mark Vientos!

Mark Vientos is ranked differently in the Mets system depending on where you look. He’s generally considered a top ten prospect, generally in the middle range of those lists. MLB.com for example has him ranked #7. The 21 year old was drafted in 2017 in the second round and plays third. MLB gave him the following grades:

• Hit 45
• Power 60
• Run 40
• Arm 60
• Field 50
• Overall 50

The appeal of Vientos has always been his power. In his first year in the minors, 2017, he played in the Gulf Coast League and for the Kingsport Mets being 2.5 years and 3.3 years younger than the average player (identical to Ronny Mauricio the following year) and during that time he hit .262/.318/.398/.715. The following year he spent the whole year in Kingsport and hit a .287/.389/.489/.878 earning a promotion the following year to full season ball in Columbia. With the fireflies, he was still 2.5 years younger than the average player and hit .255/.300/.411/.711.

There’s now another issue to consider with Vientos, which might not be an issue by the times this article posts (article written on 2/20). Vientos tracks right now as a third baseman, his power would need to jump a lot to move over to first. Mauricio is a short stop but might have to move over to third base if the Mets sign Lindor to a long term deal, which the Mets absolutely need to do. This is why Vientos could be a trade target at some point (or Mauricio). Vientos made it through the BVW era, which is amazing. But now there are some interesting long term road blocks for him in his development.

I’m looking forward to seeing him this Spring and then for his second year of full season minor league ball!

Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?

Today we get to look an old friend, Wilfredo Tovar! Wilfredo was signed by the Mets back in 2007 and made his major league debut in 2013 with the Mets and also saw some time in 2014 as well. After the Mets he has signed with the Twins. Cardinals, Angels, Twins again and now Mets again. So close to a palindrome of a career (if he ends with the Mets).

You would be forgiven if you missed his time as a Met. In 2013, as a 21 year old, he had 19 PA’s and hit .200/.294/.200 and then in 2014 he had only 3 PA’s. He had a longer look in 2019 as a 27 year old where he was in 31 games and 88 PA’s with a .193/.239/.253/.492 line.

Despite struggles in the majors, he’s done well in the minors with a .268/.324/.352 line and in International leagues he has hit .279/.324/.361. He did turn some heads with his three most recent minor league lines:

• 2019 AAA .321/.355/.446
• 2019 VEWL .293/.331/.414
• 2020 VEWL .323/.407/.415

So why not give Wilfredo Tovar another chance? There are no infielders on the Mets who are immediately ready. He’s had some interesting recent stats in the Venezuelan League (there are similarities here with the David Rodriguez signing), so why not take a risk! Tovar and Jose Peraza are basically competing this spring for next infielder up in the case of injury for the Mets, maybe even trying to squeeze on to the roster by the end of Spring.

Recapping Yesterday:
The Mets dropped to a meaningless .500 record after losing 9-5 to the Nationals on the road. The result in spring doesn’t matter, but individual performances (sort-of?) matter and it was the first time the Mets had multiple players record at least two hits in a game. Francisco Lindor got 2 hits, which were also his first two hits as a Met. Mark Vientos, a top prospect, smoked two doubles. And fan favorite Luis Guillorme, who should see more playing time this year, recorded two hits raising his batting average to .455 this spring. A good chunk of the Mets runs came from a pinch-hit 3 run bomb by Jake Hager (the second player in as many days to hit a 3-run homer).

On the, “oh boy, we need to work that out side” was the defense. The Mets recorded three errors on the day and is reflected in Yamamoto allowing 2 runs over 3.0 innings, but none earned. Matt Allan made his Mets debut and allowed 4 hits and 3 runs, but only one of the runs was earned. Sloppy day for fielding.

What To Look For Today:
Taijuan Walker makes his Mets debut today! The Mets newest pitcher worked in 11 games last year totaling 53.1 innings with a 2.70 ERA, 1.163 WHIP, 4.56 FIP and 161 ERA+. Walker rounds out a good off-season for the Mets forcing an open competition for the last rotation spot that includes David Peterson. Walker will be followed by Edwin Diaz who had a super easy outing a few days ago where he threw only 7 pitches. Other key bullpen arms are on deck in Trevor May, Jeurys Famila, Miguel Castro and Drew Smith. Two of the more interesting pitchers in camp, Sam McWilliams and Ryley Gilliam will make their 2nd and 3rd appearance respectively and one of the more intriguing NRI’s, Tommy Hunter is slated to go to. Unsure if everyone will get in the game today but there’s a lot to look for as far as pitching is concerned.

McCann behind the plate has been fascinating to watch this spring as he builds relationships with the starting pitchers. We’ll also get our first look at Drury over at third base. If you were tuning in to watch the Mets starting outfield today you’ll be disappointed in Pillar flanked by Almora Jr. and Fargas.

Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?

Jose Peraza is the top infielder on the Non-Roster Invitee list with a chance of making the team this year. Peraza was signed by the Braves in 2010 and was part of a three team trade at the deadline in 2015 between the Braves, Dodgers and the Marlins. In that trade Peraza ended up going to the Dodgers with Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson and Alex Wood. In total 13 players in this trade. He would soon after make his debut with the Dodgers.

He was then involved with another 3-team trade in December of 2015! Peraza was traded to the Reds with a couple of other players. The White Sox were also involved. Mets “legend” Todd Frazier went from the Reds to the White Sox. Anyway he spends a while with the Reds until he becomes a free agent at the end of 2019 when he signed with the Red Sox and then with the Mets in 2020.

Anyway, Peraza is is a career .270/.310/.372/.681 career hitter. He struggled last year with the Red Sox, hitting .225/.275/.342/.617 in only 120 PA’s. He has also hit above a .740 OPS in 2016 and 2018. 2016 was his best season by far where he hit .324/.352/.411/.762. Peraza is also only 27.

I think the pitcher version of Jose Peraza is Arodys Vizcaino or Tommy Hunter. Like both of these pitchers, Peraza has had success in the majors before. I would be more worried about him on the Mets if he was slated for a starting role, or a utility role. But that’s not the 2021 Mets. He’s fighting for a spot and if there’s a injury to a bench player he may slot in well. He’s going to get an extended look this off-season. I’m curious to see how his contract is structured to see if he can opt out if he doesn’t make the team or if he will request to be released so he can sign a major league deal with another team if he has a strong spring.

Recapping Yesterday:
It’s the second week of spring training! Yesterday we started to see the hallmark of the second week: starting pitchers getting three innings of work in and bullpen pitchers making their second appearance. There’s now a third calling card of the second week – baseball games lasting all 9 innings.

Stroman had a bumpy start in the first inning yesterday, allowing 2 runs, but then settled down after than pitched two more innings of scoreless baseball. After the game he commented that his fastball usually takes longer to get to 93-94 mph than it has this season and that it’s a good sign. He was followed by Loup and Blevins who each allowed a run, Barnes who bounced back and didn’t allow any runs. The side-armer, Hildenberger struck out the side and Nogosek had an amazing line of allowing 3 walks but striking out the side. Zamora, also battling for a bullpen spot, allowed a hit and nothing else. So a good day on the mound for the Mets.

On the other side, Alonso continued his hot spring picking up another hit, increasing his OPS to 1.135. Pillar increased his spring OPS to 1.825 with a double (also had some real questionable defense in the game) and Villar absolutely destroyed a baseball on a 3 run homer.

What We Are Looking For Today:
Jordan Yamamota will make his second spring start as he continues to compete for the last rotation spot (both David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi did well their first time around last week). Jordan looked great last week, scattering two hits and recording a strikeout in one inning of work.

After Yamamota we’ll get to see highly touted Mets prospect Matt Allan get some work in! Followed by Betances who is looking to rebound from his first spring training game.

On the other side we’ll get to see a good amount of regulars in the lineup, despite it being a road game (without split squads this year, it’s going to be the norm). The Mets will open up with Nimmo/Lindor/Conforto/Smith which on days when Alonso doesn’t play could easily be the top 4 in the lineup. Nimmo is off to a hot start this spring and Smith is coming off a game where he hit a homer. Mets prospect Brett Baty is the starting DH and hopefully get at least 2 PA’s.

Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?

Every few days we get to cover a top prospect in this series and today we cover the top top prospect in the Mets System – Ronny Mauricio! The Mets signed the 19 year old in 2017 and he was instantly considered a prospect with the highest potential in the Mets system. MLB.com has Ronny listed as the Mets top prospect and gives him the following grades:

• Hit 50
• Power 60
• Run 40
• Arm 60
• Field 55
• Overall 55

Ronny’s age with his performance has been impressive. In 2018 he played in the Gulfcoast League and for the Kingsport Mets, he was 2.8 years and 3.3 years younger than the average player in those leagues respectively and hit .273/.304/.410/.713. The following year he played for the Fireflies, 3.5 years younger than average, and hit .268/.307/.357/.665.

This spring we are looking to see where the Mets play Mauricio. For a good portion of the winter, there were rumors that the Mets would trade Mauricio for a third basemen/starter because of the expectation is that Lindor will be signed to a long term extension (this article was written on 2/20 and I’m hoping that Lindor has signed a massive extension by the time this posts).

But the Mets don’t have a third basemen and maybe Mauricio can be a third basemen. I’m sure a lot of eyeballs will be on the Mets in spring training games when he plays the hot corner and then in the minors this year to see where the Mets are giving their top prospect reps.