SAVAGE VIEWS – Quarter of the Way

Hard to believe that a quarter of the season is in the books.  

As I write this, the Mets are a mediocre two games under .500.  Pre-season, I predicted we would be playoff bound and I’m not backing off – however, the bar is set very low.

There is reason for optimism as they have probably played a more difficult schedule than their competitors in the NL East.  Also, the calvary is about to arrive when the likes of Megill, Peterson and Senga rejoin the rotation.  Chistian Scott looks like a future ace.  These reinforcements plus the return of Alvarez and Drew Smith should make us a compelling team over the next four months.  

At some point, players such as Alonso, Marte, McNeil will start earning their paychecks, although there have been recent signs of life.  To sum up, an easier schedule, improved rotation and more productive at bats should carry the team to a wild-card berth.  Of course, once in the playoffs anything is possible.

If it was up to me, I would revamp the roster and move on from the chronic underachievers.  Take Starling Marte whose lackluster approach infuriates me.  I have nicknamed him “Toe Protector” Marte.  He swings at any pitch near his foot.  Too bad Gilbert is on the injured list, I would love to have him take over RF.  

I don’t remember the last time McNeil hit the ball hard. His unproductive at bats drags down the rest of the team.  He used to be difficult to strike out – no longer the case.  Hopefully, Rony Mauricio is able to rejoin the team before year’s end.

On one hand I want Alonso to be a Met for life; on the other hand, I’ve grown tired of his approach.  He is no longer a clutch hitter.  I’m conflicted as to whether he should be offered an extension.  At most, I would offer a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $140 million.  Anything beyond that would be foolish.  If he walks or gets traded Mark Vientos could be an adequate replacement.

The team’s greatest need is to sign a potent bat to power the lineup.   That would mean breaking the bank to sign Soto.  A tandem of Soto and Alonso would make for an interesting 2025.  Otherwise, let Alanso go and treat 2025 as a transition year while newcomers Gilbert, Acuna, Rameriz and Williams get incorporated into the lineup.

Recently JD Martinez hit Willson Contreas with his bat fracturing Contreras’ arm and he was awarded first base due to catcher’s interference. In my view, JD should have been called out due to batter’s interference.  JD’s right foot was outside the batter’s box making his positioning illegal.  It should be a judgment call rather than an automatic catcher’s interference.

Seems that the NY Post’s Phil Mushnick is a follower of Mack’s Mets. He’s taken up my banner of advocating for the first batter in extra innings to be walked setting up a potential double play or force out at third.

Next up are seven games against the Phillies and Marlins.  Should be an interesting week.

Ray

May 14, 2024

Tom Brennan: Mets Minors On Base Brilliance; FCL Mets Are SCORING

“HEY! THAT GUY IS ON BASE…AGAIN??  WOW!” 

Something is in the water in the Mets minors.  Something GOOD.

On Monday, I note 10 guys who were fanning way too much. 

But…

So many guys in the Mets minors are getting on base - a lot. Tanta mucho.

Here goes (stats thru Friday):

AAA

Ben Gamel - .444 OBP in 30 games.

Rylan Bannon - .390 OBP in 28 games.

Mark Vientos - .379 OBP, to go with his 30 RBIs in 29 AAA games.

Luke Ritter - .373 OBP in 29 games.

- his K rate is down to 27 in 29 G; he has really improved there.

AA

Wyatt Young - 2023 sucked, but he’s totally back.  .448 OBP in 23 games.

JT Schwartz - .415 OBP in 25 games.

Rhylan Thomas - .390 OBP in 18 games.

Matt Rudick - started ice cold but 18 hits and 8 walks in last 12 games, pushed him up to a .368 OBP in 25 games.

(And Jett Williams had a .360 OBP before his extended IL stint began).

HIGH A

Nick Morabito - mostly in St Lucie, a sizzling .516 OBP in 29 games.

Drake Osborn - just bumped to AA, .436 OBP in 18 games.

Chris Suero - mostly in St Lucie, .388 OBP with 17 RBIs in 29 games.

Ryan Clifford - .441 OBP in 29 games.

Nick Lorusso - .364 OBP, 15 RBIs in 23 games.

William Lugo - he’s just 10 for 82 (.112), but don’t write him off. 

- His 25 walks in 26 games and 2 HBP give him a .333 OBP.

FULL A

Ronald Hernandez a little slow start with the bat, but walks a ton. 

- .364 OBP in 27 games.

COMPLEX LEAGUE

Just 4 games in, but Jeremy Rodriguez has a .500 OBP, and 3 others (Yonatan Henriquez Jake Zitella, and Julio Zayas) are in the .400s.

Simon Juan hasn’t walked yet but was hitting .389 with 7 HRs in 4 games.

That’s 21 hitters getting on base a whole lot. Those numbers sure are collectively impressive.

And the 5 teams are winning a lot, except for St Lucie. 

Nonetheless, St Lucie pitchers lead the Florida State League with a stunning 360 Ks in 270 IP (12 per 9 IP).

JORGE DE LEON AND OTHER FCL UPDATES

A new name for me, the 6’5”, 21 year old righty Jorge De Leon pitched 3 perfect innings for the FCL Mets yesterday, fanning 5.  In his 2 outings this year, 1 hit, 2 walks, 11 Ks in 5 innings. The Brennan radar system has picked him up.

And Simon Juan, struggling for 2 years, is 9 for 23 this year in the FCL with a HR and 7 RBIs. Still 18 years old.

After 6 games, the team is hitting .288 and has scored 45 runs in just 198 at bats. 

Wonderful.

Of course, the Yankees somehow have 3 FCL guys who combined are 22 for 51 with 17 walks, 6 HRs, and 24 RBIs. 

Sick.

How the heck do they have guys like that seemingly every year? The Mets’ entire team has 6 HRs, although the Braves team has just 1 HR and .176, so I feel better.

EDWIN HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO KRYPTONITE

He still is tough. He is no longer super-human. 

He coughed up a 4-2 lead in the 9th. Seems the fastball is down 2 MPH. 2 MPH is the different between being immortal and mortal. 

The Mets NEED him to be super-human because they are playing like the helpless damsel in distress.

A brutal, impotent 5-4 loss in extras. Shake this crap up. McNeil .230 with one HR, 7 RBIs in 39 games? Demote him. Apparently, no options are available. Trade him, then.

OK, not realistic? Then dump Wendle and Narvaez, who a) hits like crap and b) has thrown out no base stealers in 30 attempts after nailing just 6 of 52 last year. 6 of 82 as a Met? Resign in shame.

Quintana 10 wins and 21 losses since Labor Day 2019?  Absurd.  

- Who signed this guy? Trade him. Now.

Houser? Call up Joey Lucchesi or Joander Suarez and cut or trade Adrian.

It isn’t working with this inept bunch.

I really thought when they won 12 of 15 after losing their first 5, they had stabilized, the weather was normal finally, and they’d be competitive.

But they flop and fizzle. 7-13 in last 20?  Inexcusable.

Sorry, except for 2022, this is the Mets’ soft reality for every season since 2016. Soft, soft, soft.

Tom Brennan: The K-5 Band (Times 2); Baty, Stewart, Nimmo, Megill

A 1984 Chevy K-10 4X4

The “K Five”?

Sounds like the name of a Motown band, but there are more than 5 Mets minors guys who K (whiff) a lot. 

In fact, not just one K-5. I came up with two K-5s.  

Or, a K-10 on the Richter Scale.

Let’s break down the Mets minors’ ten top K artists, of the bat kind:

1) Kevin Parada: 

He has 2 HRs and 3 other hits and 7 RBIs in his last 3 AA games. Signs of life, thankfully, but…

He’s also fanned 14 times in his last 7 games.

And 38 total times in 118 PAs this year. That’s a lot.

2) Jaylen Palmer: 

17 Ks in 27 official at bats this year, and 200 in 415 official ABs in 2023 and 2024, which is very high.  He also has 3 hits and 5 walks in his last 4 games, so there are recent signs of improvement.

3) Colin Houck: 

The 1st rounder? Hitting .161 with 49 Ks in 29 Low A games this season.

4) Joe Suozzi: 

He had a nice spring, but he's now 4 for 32, with 7 walks and 17 Ks.

5) Ryan Clifford: 

He has been on base quite a lot in recent weeks, especially via an amazing 32 walks in 31 games, but has also fanned 43 times in 31 games. After he was acquired from Houston last year, in 2023 and 2024, he has 94 Ks in 63 games as a Mets farmhand.

6) Nolan McLean:

He has arguably the most power in the Mets minors, and one of the best arms, but has fanned 31 times in 61 PAs.

7) Stanley Consuegra:

After a power-filled 2023 in Brooklyn, and hopes to build upon that, Consuegra with the Cyclones in 2024 has regressed, with a rough 43 Ks in 27 games with just one HR and a .184 average.

8) Omar De Los Santos:

The speedster has fanned 26 times in 96 PAs, which is a high, but slower, K rate than 2023, but he is still hitting just .184, albeit with a remarkable 21 of 23 in steals.

9) Yohairo Cuevas:

In St Lucie, he went 4 for 5 Sunday, a welcome relief after a really cold season start, to climb to .187, but has fanned 40 times in 120 PAs.

10) Jose Hernandez:

He is currently catching in Brooklyn, and is 7 for 66 with 5 walks and 35 Ks in 72 PAs.

Honorable Mention?

Jeremiah Jackson: 

.157 with 32 Ks in 27 AA games, vs. just 9 walks.

Ks galore for those above. 

I occasionally am the bearer of bad news.  OK, every time I write, but who's counting? 

The stark K-10 reality is this:

a) The NY Mets have fanned just 290 times in 38 games, or an average of 7.6 Ks per 9 IP, a 20% rate per plate appearance. 

b) As Mark Vientos can explain, I'm sure, it is HARD to be a hitter and get on, much less stay on, a major league roster.

c) The hitters above substantially exceed 20%, with 4 hovering around 50% in the K Dept.  See ball, hit ball.

BATY V. BATY:

Baty thru May 12, 2023:  .239 & .320 OBP

Baty thru May 12, 2024: .240 & .303 OBP

Note the vast improvement? I'm sorry, I don’t.

STEWART DOESN'T SUCK!

He has a .389 OBP, so no, folks, and a bunch of ribbies; he doesn’t suck.

NIMMO IS METS MVP:

Season-saving 2 run, come-from-behind walk-off HR in the 9th.

Prevents Braves from sweeping and Mets from being swept.

Mets MVP, hands-down.

BOTTOM OF LINE UP DOES SUCK

1 for 14, 0 RBIs from 6 thru 9. 

Meanwhile, 9 of the Mets’ 10 hits from came from 1 thru 5, and all 4 RBIs.

Hard to beat other teams when the bottom half of the line up is comatose.

BEFORE last night's game, I wrote this in response agreeing with Mack's Sunday column's proposal to break up the Mets and save many shekels:

"The Mets have had roughly 1300 at bats this season. Roughly a quarter of them from McNeil (130), Bader (106), Nido (39), Short (9), and Wendle (32). Combined they have a ridiculously low 16 RBIs. They should be embarrassed. Ashamed."

Then you get a 1 for 14 and no RBIs from them just hours later.

The sad saga goes on.  

In the battle for NYC's baseball hearts and minds, the Yankees of course are 27-15, 6.5 games ahead of the Mets.  "Ahead of the Mets" is a recurring saga, isn't it?

More on that on Thursday.

MEGILL GREAT

In 14 rehab innings, 23 Ks, 1 walk, 9 hits, 1 run. Brilliant. Ready.

5 days from now, he’s back, so tell me, who goes? 

Reese Kaplan -- Suppose the Team is Still at .500 in July...

The near no-hitter on Saturday was partially a tribute to Braves starting pitcher Max Fried who has immense talent but also partially responsible by facing the anemic offensive wannabes in the New York Mets lineup.  Give kudos to J.D. Martinez for breaking up both the no-hitter and shutout at the 11th hour, but 2 hits over a 9 inning opportunity is simply not acceptable.

The problem the Mets are facing is that there is not yet much on the farm to harvest to try to make the hitting improve.  We have seen flashes from Luisangel Acuna of late, but injuries and poor performance do not make any of the other young guns of the future loaded and ready to attack. 

So if you are David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza, what would you do to try to give a shot of adrenaline to the otherwise somnambulist members of the starting lineup?  Now with Brandon Nimmo on the shelf for however long it takes for an intercostal muscle strain to heal sufficiently to allow a return to normal professional athletic use, you are looking at a mix of Tyrone Taylor, Harrison Bader, Starling Marte, D.J. Stewart and Jeff McNeil in the outfield which could open up the second base slot to Joey Wendle.  It is not exactly a Murderer´s Row for the middle of the batting order. 

It would seem that the long term goal remains evaluation for the 2024 season while planning for October baseball in 2025 and beyond.  As a result, it is highly unlikely to see major trade acquisitions until the July deadline approaches.  At that time all bets are off as the Mets need to make a firm decision about roster construction now and for the future.

The obvious big fish on the board is Pete Alonso.  Based upon his 2023 and 2024 output, there are a great many folks who classify him more like Dave Kingman than say Carlos Delgado.  His power is undeniable, but the batting average is troubling and no matter how much people preach the gospel of RBIs and HRs the fact is that a .215 hitter does not strike the same fear into opponents that a .285 hitter would. 

The question becomes what is a fair price to pay Alonso for his future services?  Right now he is at $20.5 million for an annual salary.  Matt Olson is also struggling and Freddie Freeman is a career .301 hitter.  Consequently a rational person would feel that at best Alonso is more of an Olson than a Freeman.  

Olson´s contract is for many years at a $22 million per season average annual rate.  Freeman earns $27 million per year.  Given the history with the Mets it would seem that $25 million annually should be the maximum offer on the table for Pete Alonso. 

The flip side is to trade Alonso for a passel of prospects to reinforce their offense and pitching for the future.  The question about covering 1st base could fall to Mark Vientos who has yet to receive a full time opportunity in the majors.  He has power, no doubt, but fans far too much.  Still, a mixture of Vientos plus the trade returns for Alonso and a $24 million savings in payroll might appeal to the long term mid-market specialist David Stearns.

Allowing him to remain with the club until year´s end and receiving a QO draft pick in return for his many years in the organization would seem to be a far less equitable return for losing a half season of Alonso´s offensive production.  Think what was received last year when Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were sent packing. 

It really comes down to where the Mets are in the standings by the 2nd week in July with 2 weeks left to engage other clubs in trades.  If they are at .500, then it would seem that trading makes a lot of sense.  If they are significantly better than that, then holding onto Alonso and working the pre-free agency contract would seem rational.  Doing nothing, however, is not a good answer either way. 

There are other pieces on the club that could be moved in July such as J.D. Martinez, Jeff McNeil, Starling Marte and (if anyone would take him) Omar Narvaez.  As recently discussed, some of the starting pitchers could be on the block as well.  Again, the standings in mid July would seem to dictate the best approach to take. 

MACK - FSS Plus - Mock Draft 4.0

 

                                                        FSS Plus - Mock Draft 4.0

 

https://futurestarsseries.com/mlb-draft-mock-draft-4-0/?s=03 

 

1. Cleveland Guardians

Nick Kurtz, 1B — Wake Forest

HOMETOWN: Lancaster, PA

HEIGHT: 6-6

WEIGHT: 230

BAT/THROW: L-L

 

2. Cincinnati Reds

Charlie Condon, OF — Georgia

HOMETOWN: Marietta, GA

HEIGHT: 6-6

WEIGHT: 218

BAT/THROW: R-R

 

3. Colorado Rockies

Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP — Florida

HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL

HEIGHT: 6-5

WEIGHT: 210

BAT/THROW: L-L

 

4. Oakland Athletics

Travis Bazzana, 2B — Oregon State

HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia

HEIGHT: 6-0

WEIGHT: 199

BAT/THROW: L-R

 

5. Chicago White Sox

Bryce Rainer, SS/RHP — Harvard-Westlake

HOMETOWN: Simi Valley, CA

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 199

BAT/THROW: L-R

 

 

6. Kansas City Royals

Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP — Texas A&M

HOMETOWN: Madison, MS

HEIGHT: 6-2

WEIGHT: 220

BAT/THROW: B-R

 

7. St. Louis Cardinals

Hagen Smith, LHP — Arkansas

HOMETOWN: King, NC

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 222

BAT/THROW: L-L

 

8. Los Angeles Angels

Chase Burns, RHP — Wake Forest

HOMETOWN: Gallatin, TN

HEIGHT: 6-4

WEIGHT: 215

BAT/THROW: R-R

 

 

9. Pittsburgh Pirates

JJ Wetherholt, 2B/3B — West Virginia

HOMETOWN: Mars, PA

HEIGHT: 5-11

WEIGHT: 190

BAT/THROW: L-R

 

10. Washington Nationals

Cam Smith, 3B — Florida State

HOMETOWN: Lake Worth, FL

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 222

BAT/THROW: R-R

 

11. Detroit Tigers

Konnor Griffin, SS/OF — Jackson Prep HS

HOMETOWN: Florence, MS

HEIGHT: 6-4

WEIGHT: 205

BAT/THROW: R-R

 

 

12. Boston Red Sox

Trey Yesavage, RHP — East Carolina

HOMETOWN: Boyertown, PA

HEIGHT: 6-4

WEIGHT: 230

BAT/THROW: R-R

 

 

13. San Francisco Giants

Cam Caminiti, LHP — Saguaro HS

HOMETOWN: Scottsdale, AZ

HEIGHT: 6-2

WEIGHT: 205

BAT/THROW: L-L

 

 

14. Chicago Cubs

Seaver King, SS/OF — Wake Forest

HOMETOWN: Athens, GA

HEIGHT: 6-0

WEIGHT: 190

BAT/THROW: R-R

DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video

 

 

15. Seattle Mariners

Theodore Gillen, INF/OF — Westlake HS

HOMETOWN: Austin, TX

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 200

BAT/THROW: L-R

 

 

16. Miami Marlins

Slade Caldwell, OF — Valley View HS

HOMETOWN: Jonesboro, AR

HEIGHT: 5-6

WEIGHT: 183

BAT/THROW: L-L

 

 

17. Milwaukee Brewers

Carson Benge, OF — Oklahoma State

HOMETOWN: Yukon, OK

HEIGHT: 6-2

WEIGHT: 185

BAT/THROW: L-R

 

18. Tampa Bay Rays

Malcolm Moore, C — Stanford

HOMETOWN: Sacramento, CA

HEIGHT: 6-1

WEIGHT: 205

BAT/THROW: L-R

 

 

19. New York Mets

Kash Mayfield, LHP — Elk City

HOMETOWN: Elk City, OK

HEIGHT: 6-4

WEIGHT: 200

BAT/THROW: L-L

 

The Mets like Kash Mayfield, but they’re also a pretty big wildcard for the 2024 Draft. The organization has undergone an enormous transformation in the scouting department in the last couple of years, now headed by former Houston Astros Scouting Director Kris Gross. He’ll oversee Drew Toussaint (as well as a huge pool of scouts) who took over as the organization’s scouting director for the 2023 season.

 

It’s difficult to get a feel for how Gross will attack this draft considering two of his drafts with the Astros — 2020 and 2021 — he didn’t have a first-round pick.

 

20. Toronto Blue Jays

Brody Brecht, RHP — Iowa

HOMETOWN: Ankeny, IA

HEIGHT: 6-4

WEIGHT: 205

BAT/THROW: R-R

MACK - Draft Notes

 

 (thru Friday’s results) 

 

MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline

 

Chase Burns fans 16 batters in seven innings and breaks the Wake Forest single-season K record.

         Tiger Commenter  @TigerCommenter

                 Chase Burns is this years Paul Skenes

(Burns stumbbled out of the gate this season, but he is back to being the first pitcher being picked in this draft)

 

 Vance Honeycutt goes deep for the 58th time in his career, becoming North Carolina's new home run king

 (Honeycutt will not be around when the Mets pick. I have him in the 1-9-1.14 range)

  

Jac Caglianone's 200th career hit is a HOMER

 (easily a top 5 pick)

  

Braden Montgomery goes oppo for his 24th jack of the season.

         Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB 

No. 24 on the year for Braden Montgomery. Let this one travel a bit and hit it 385 to the opposite field. Bat speed continues to stand out.

 (a definite top 10 pick)

 

 No. 22 on the year for Travis Bazzana sets the new single-season record at Oregon State! MLB's No. 2 Draft prospect sends his signature leadoff homer into the record books

 Bazzana is just piling them on now! The No. 2 Draft prospect clubs his third long ball of the game, 24th of the season:

                     Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

                         Please get Travis Bazzana out of the state of Washington. Two more dingos tonight against Gonzaga after three last night v. Washington State. Had four against Washington earlier in the year, plus one more v. Gonzaga. TEN dingos in the Evergreen State.

 Travis Bazzana has closed the gap in terms of average exit velocity in recent weeks

 (right now, a definite top 5 pick)

 

 Colson Montgomery -- MLB's No. 8 prospect -- launches his second homer in the past four games.

 (I have him going in the first 15 picks)

 

Charlie Condon goes yard for a 6th straight game! 

The No. 1 2024 Draft prospect is now up to 32 homers (D1 lead) on the season: 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB 

Goodness gracious, man. That's 6 games in a row with a homer forCharlie Condon. 32 on the year. 105 mph to the opposite field.

 

JJ Cooper @jjcoop36

 We are accepting nominations to rename our College Hot Sheet the Charlie Condon Hot Sheet.

 

Condon leads D-I in:

Batting Average by 20 points.

HRs by 7

SLG by 24 points

Total Bases by 31

 (He's 2nd in hits, 3rd in OBP, 5th in runs, 7th in RBIs)

 

Joe Doyle  @JoeDoyleMiLB

 Make it 34 for Charlie Condon! A new BBCOR record passing Jac Caglianone from a year ago.

 34 in 48 games is just dumb.

             (I have him a solid 1.1 pick)

 

 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  

Independence (Tx.) SS Wyatt Sanford has steadily climbed up draft boards this spring, now a potential option for teams picking in the middle of round one. An explosive hitter with a strong glove, he figures to be a steal this July.

 (right now I have him as a pick in the suppliment first round)

  

Stanford RHP Toran O'Harran is probably my favorite under the radar pitcher on the West Coast. Draft-eligible soph. Traditional "looks the part" guy. Loose. Athletic. Ball jumps out of the hand. Easy. Up to 96 w/more coming. CH flashes. Good clay.

 (right now, I don’t have him projected in my first 10 rounds)

  

Iowa RHP Brody Brecht has really turned it on of late and is surging as the season reaches the back-third. His late three starts:

 22.2 IP

2 ER

36 K

8 BB

0.79 ERA

 ERA down to 3.43 on the season. He's also doing things like this…

                 ( I have him being picked in the 1.15-1.25 range)

  

Shooter Hunt @ShooterHunt 

Bryce Meccage 

The 6’3” 210 workhorse has seen movement thanks to rapid secondary advancements including 3000+rpm SL to go w/ mid90s  & AA change. Starter profile w/ ease of operation driving strong Top 50 pick potential. 

(right now, at best, I have him as a late third day pk)

 

 

Kendall Rogers  @KendallRogers

 

Nolan Schubart ties this game up on an absolute missile of an RBI double that almost left for a two-run home run. That was 111 mph off the bat. It's 2-2 here in Austin. Schubart has a pair of doubles today for OSU Baseball.

(could be a steal on Day 2)

Jurrangelo Cijntje was terrific yet again with just one run allowed in seven innings, along with eight strikeouts as Hail State BB clinched a series win over Alabama with an 8-1 victory.

(sort of a freak show, I onlt have him going in the 5^th round)

 

Brian Recca @brian_recca 

                                Mike Sirota 

4/27: 2nd look at Sirota this spring. He delivered w/ a well struck ground-rule double. Sirota hasn't had the year many expected but the size, athleticism, and tools all remain intact. Curious to see what happens w/ him on draft day

 (Sirota started this mock season as a top 15 pick. Not anymore. I have him now as a late first rounder) 

 

Ian Cooke '24 U Conn 

Cooke nearly went the distance Saturday. 8.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Burly righty was 92-94 early and held 91-93 for 8+. Deception to delivery/arm from high release. Quality cut/ride FB with high IVB. Sharp SL is best pitch, whiff% over 55% in '24 

Last 5 starts for Cooke:

32.2 IP; 6+ IP/GS

21 H; 5.8 H/9

0 HR

9 BB; 2.5 BB/9

45 K; 12.4 K/9

1.93 ERA

5.0 K/BB

 (still, as of 5-6, a seasonal 4.49-ERA. I currently have him going Day 3)

 

Ian Smith @IanSmittyGA 

This is what PLUS bat speed looks like. 

2024 3B Tate Sirmans showing electricity in the hands while matching plane on the low-90s FB. Big-time tools in the 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame for the Ole Miss commit. Just 17 on draft day.

 (got him as a 3rd day pick)

  

Baseball Georgia @PrepBaseballGA 

Dominant playoff performance from 2024 RHP Ryan Johnson. The UGA commit ran it up to 94 early, while living a heavy 89-92. CH at 76-78 with good fade and diving action, Two distinct breaking balls with the SL 77-79 and low-70s CB. 

Flashed a CT to LHH as well 

                                                    Ian Smith @IanSmittyGA 

This may have been the best that I’ve ever seen Johnson, and after not starting for the last month, made it even more impressive. Whole pitch mix was dialed, 74% strikes, 18 whiffs, 48% CSW.

 (I have him as an intriguing 2^nd round pick, but a projected back end starter at best)

 

 D1Baseball @d1baseball

 

D1Baseball Top 100 Outfielders: Week 12

 

1. Braden Montgomery

2. Jace LaViolette

3. James Tibbs

4. Vance Honeycutt

5. Drew Burress

 

 Clemson Baseball @ClemsonBaseball

 For the 2nd time this year, Blake Wright is the ACC Baseball Player-of-the-Week. In only three games...

 6-for-11

 3 HR

 1 double

 11 RBI (9 with 2 outs)

 .600 OB% 

(interesting guy… having a first round one season, but because he is a senior, I push him back to an early third rounder)