Not much has been said about Kyle Dowdy, the player the Mets selected from Cleveland in the Rule 5 Draft. The Mets added another hard-throwing righty in Dowdy and maybe that’s the problem. They added a bunch of this type previously and none of them have really stepped forward and claimed a job. In fact, it’s been mostly the opposite. When given a shot they’ve mostly failed. The success story so far has been Drew Smith. And Smith isn’t guaranteed a bullpen job for Opening Day. In fact, the last bullpen slot may come down to Dowdy and Smith, with Dowdy having a leg up in that they risk losing him if they send him to the minors.
Dowdy saw a big velocity increase last year, to the point where he’s touching 99 on radar guns. But as Hansel Robles will tell you, throwing hard by itself doesn’t make you a good reliever. In fact, despite the fact that Smith had an average fastball velocity of 96.3, his best pitches last year in the majors were his curve and change. Dowdy has been primarily a starter in the minors, with 20 of his 30 games last year as his team’s starting pitcher. In addition to his fastball, he features a curveball as a strong pitch and a slider and change as other offerings.
I like that there are a lot of arms in the mix for the last slot or two. I like Bashlor’s arm and Inthink Avilan will stick but there will be recycling among these arms all season m, especially once injuries hit.
Re: free agency stalemate, could it be that it all traces back to Harper and Boras? Maybe he’s the champagne cork stopping up the bottleneck or the wad of nasty hair clogging up the drain – depending on how you look at it. Macahado, Keuchel and possibly Kimbrel and Marwin may all be thinking that their best possible pay day could be from “stupid money” Phillly if they miss out on Harper. So, until captain spotlight is off the board, nothing moves.
In essence, Boras is holding the whole market hostage while he tries to shake every last penny out of the Phillies – the most obvious destination from the start. Once that domino falls, Machado will take the best offer from the Padres or White Sox and the other dozen or so good players remaining will finally pack their bags for Florida or Arizona.
Truer words have never been spoken. Completely agree.
With Machado going to the Padres for 10/300 is Harper far behind there???? Is SD gone mad?
Phillies all alone at the prom?
Chris,
I actually think this is a good gamble for the Padres. I hear there is a 5 year out. As someone pointed out, the Padres are the sole big 4 franchise in their city. I can personally attest that they have a beautiul ballpark, albeit not a hitter paradise. They have a loaded farm and money to spend. The bigger question is why not do it?
Regarding the Phillies, and for that matter, the Nats, I am mixed on whether I want them to overpay and be miserable or whether I want the remaining big FAs – Harper, Kimbrel, and Kuechel – to land out of the division
Overall, though, I think the Machado deal is good for baseball. Hopefully the remaining FAs will sign soon, the bad feelings can subside, and the players and owners can work on improving the game rules and issues with the current agreement without a labor stoppage.
San Diego is “The New Marlins”— Throwing money at Guys who Want a B ig Check, Nice Weather and a Boat….. Somewhere between Retirement and a Ultra Cushy White Collar Prison— Enjoy the Sunshine and the Losing!!!!!
Here’s the Free Agent Tracker–Frankly, I see a Bunch of “Replacement Level Guys”…they’re being Replaced with Lower Contract Players!
https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-mlb-free-agents/c-293292274
The Mets signed an interesting guy–Hechevarria can play SS full time on a Championship team….but He has little “Bench Value” with 4-5 man Benches. Iglesis is similar—better.
I see Logan Morrison—he’ll paly somewhere, with a good upside value…buty nobody needs to ID him as a Cog.
Marwyn is still out there…maybe has value. Is there a reason to sign Martin Maldonado or Matt Weiters to Big Deals just because they want them???? Josh Harrison???? Adam Jones?
Thyere are some Pitchers out there…guys with Recent History of Fading…some with long term Health History, like Bucholtz.
The rest of the Dozens are…..Replacement Players
yeah, its all about $ and setting payment records. I think unless tis heralds a major change in how SD runs its payroll, like you said, this is a while collar prison with extended privileges for good behavior. Kick your feet up, smoke a cigar, and watch the sunset!
Gents,
I’d hold off on comparing the Padres to the Marlins. The Jeter group has been a train wreck so far, gutting the team of its talent and still having a league bottom prospect pool. Their attendance last year was a complete embarrassment. Their “new” stadium is like a mausoleum.
The Pads just ponied up $300 million for a big fish free agent. San Diego has a beautiful ballpark, beautiful weather, and the Padres have the city all to themselves. They have a very healthy TV deal and well should be flush with cash. Unlike the MArlins, they have a top-rated farms system, which should both help keep payroll costs down as well as enticing other free agents. So, it’s been a long time since they were good, but they could get good in very short order. I do find it refereshing that at least they are trying to win. MLB can use more franchises that are trying to win in the near future, not eight years down the road, maybe.
TJ…. my “New Marlins” reference was directed at a time that The Marlins were attracting players with Dollars and Sunshine. Obvioiusly, Jeter is addressing long term viability of a Franchise that has been misplaced in so many ways.
Regarding Machado’s choice…he was certainly under great pressure to make the highest deal (from the Player Union Side)…. and He decided on Sunshine and Boats and Money. He could have been a very, very rich man with a stake in an annual World Series Chase. That’s the reality of the Cholice of a Baseball Player when He’s a Free Agent.