Regardless of everything else going on in the world, the Mets are playing baseball and, that much, makes us happy. Taking things with a grain of salt, let’s take a look at how some of the key prospects are looking in the early going.
Gavin Cecchini, 2B/SS – You may have noticed that the Mets have made the switch and that Cecchini is playing second instead of shortstop. This is because he struggled last year defensively and because a certain uber prospect was nipping at his heels. Through two games he’s 2 for 3 with two extra base hits and 2 walks. If that’s not a good start, I don’t know what is.
Michael Conforto, LF/RF – As we go into spring training we know that Conforto is unfortunately likely to find himself off to Las Vegas to begin the year, unless Alderson finds a take for Jay Bruce. That being said, he’s been hitting the ball very well thus far. In the first game, he not only got a hit off of a lefty, but he hit a homerun, In the second he had a clutch pinch hit and in the third he was 2 for 3 with another homer. Bruce, who?
Dominic Smith, 1B – It’s the first time many of us have seen Smith and he hasn’t gotten many opportunities thus far. His double against the Tigers had to feel good to some people.
Amed Rosario, SS – Rosario was held hitless in his first outing but drew blood with his first hit and first RBI in his second game and followed that up with another hit and another RBI in game three.
Marcos Molina, RHP – There aren’t a ton of peripherals to hang one’s hat on but two innings of hitless and walkless baseball are better than bad.
Rafael Montero, RHP – Montero was the third pitcher to come in against the Red Sox and he managed a couple of strikeouts in his two innings of work. Personally, I had assumed he was no longer a Met.
David Roseboom, LHP – The most surprising thing about Roseboom’s first appearance is that he managed two full innings. With Josh Edgin struggling to return to form, Roseboom is the internal option for lefty relief work.
Someone suggested Ike as an insurance policy for Duda. How about that? Where is Ike now?
Ike Davis is currently on the Angels roster.
The Mets have 1st base pretty well covered with a depth chart that should currently read:
Lucas Duda
Wilmer Flores
Jay Bruce
Dominic Smith
Matt Oberste
Still bewildered we kept Montero over Ynoa…
Who is Roseboom? I’m not familiar with him.
Roseboom is a lefty reliever who has solid peripherals. He quietly saved 14 of 15 opportunities for the Binghamton Mets in 2016.
If Conforto were to keep this up and force himself into the three hole in the batting order….then Bruce and already spent $13 moves to first….then the still unable to play Duda gets cut This spring because he is an injury risk (but not disabled) and the Mets only pay him for a partial year and save the money. Just thinking out loud.
On Conforto, a few hot weeks in Florida shouldn’t matter. Kirkkkkk used to routinely rake in ST. The results are pretty meaningless. Club needs to decide on what they have in this player. Use their eyes, watch him closely, figure it out. He hit over .400 in AAA last season. We know where he belongs.
In the Mets lineup.
I think he’s a hitter — and better than Bruce right now, today. Everything about Jay Bruce says “Milwaukee.”
I’ll be surprised if he can field a satisfactory first base.
Metsense, I had the same thought. My biggest issue is not the redundancy between Bruce and Granderson, but between Bruce and Duda. You just can’t have those two bats in the lineup at the same time, even against righties.
I like what I saw from Cecchini at the end of last season and hope he has a strong enough season to warrant a call up. I think he should at least get a long look at the second base job next season if Walker leaves.
I thought he passed Herrera last season, glad to see the move to second base.
Top of my head, last time I remember a team starting a keystone combo of rookies was the Detroit Tigers in 1977 with Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. It’s probably happened since, but I’d guess it’s extremely rare.
Might be fun to see in Vegas.
I get that Neil Walker is a solid professional. Reliable, dependable. But, sigh, yawn. Don’t we have to start locking up the big boys?
Look-see what I found:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/make-or-break-year-travis-darnaud.html
What about Phillip Evans? good grief, he looked pretty amazing at 3B