Just Call Him Up Already
In case you missed it, Zack Wheeler had another great outing on Saturday night. Wheeler, the New York Mets’ top pitching prospect, threw 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball and struck out seven on Saturday for Triple-A Las Vegas. He gave up six hits and walked one.
According to ESPN, over his last three starts, Wheeler has thrown a combined 20 innings, surrendering just three earned runs . He’s struck out 19 in that span, allowing 14 hits. Most importantly, he has walked only three batters. Something has clicked.
It’s time to bring him up. I have run out of adjectives to describe the team’s play: terms like dismal, boring, depressing can only be used so many times before they lose their impact. This year’s team was given little chance to do anything before the season even began, but I don’t think anyone really realized just how bad things would get so quickly. Wheeler is certainly not the answer to all of the Mets’ woes, but together, perhaps he and Matt Harvey can provide somewhat of a firewall, the way Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman did for the team back in 1968. Zack isn’t doing the Mets any good in Las Vegas.
And yes, I disparaged him somewhat in my last post, but I think Wilmer Flores should get called up also.
In their place, I would send Ike Davis and Jordany Valdespin down. Let Ike hit his next 25 homeruns in the PCL so they can trade him next winter. I say this only as a distant observer, but I wonder if being the son of a major leaguer and now playing in the big leagues himself has gone to Ike’s head. I am nowhere near the clubhouse, but he seems somewhat sullen and I wonder if there isn’t an entitlement mentality at work here. Keith Hernandez did hint at that a few years ago. That was a terrible at bat he had in the eight inning of Sunday’s loss. Remember when the Pirates offered the Mets Sterling Marte for him?
Valdespin was hung out to dry this past weekend. He has a lot of talent and I hope that whoever is running the club next spring can reach him. Those long bus trips in the PCL may give him some time to ponder turning over a new leaf.
Set up a Daniel Murphy/Justin Turner platoon at first and let Flores take some reps at second. Since the Mets aren’t going to hit at all this year, I suggest going with defense in the outfield; that means Juan Lagares in center and Mike Baxter in right. I would put Murphy/Turner in the two hole, David Wright in the three spot, Lucas Duda cleanup. For the remainder, whoever is hot can lead off (imagine if that is John Buck!) with the rest of the lineup balanced right/left as best as possible. I don’t think this translates into winning baseball, but it might be watchable, which I would take at this point.
What do you think? Time to bring up Wheeler? Got any other (reasonable) moves in mind? Sound off below.
Flores is too raw to be brought up now. Let him play AAA and bring him up in September to see how he does.
Ike Davis stared at Wright in an annoyed manner while walking back to the dugout in the 8th inning. Possibly, Davis was distracted by Wright running? Hope not the case, because that would question the focus of Davis. He may need to go down. He’s a talented hitter that is frustrated in Queens.
Also agree on your thought for Valdespin. He can go to AAA to get a month of steady playing time and if they can get a manager that isn’t an a-hole, then bring him up in June.
Put Brown in right, Lagares in center and Baxter/Byrd in left. Put Duda at first. The defense needs to improve.
Last point, McHugh is doing well in AAA. Doesn’t he deserve a chance?
If my math is correct, the Mets next 5 series cover 17 games, and 3 of the opponents are first place teams. Given what we have seen, it is highly likely that they will be buried mathematically and mentally after this stretch. That will render the balance of the 2013 schedule as exhibition games. Minimally, Wheeler should be up ASAP, regardless of the super 2 nonsense. Let him adjust to the bigs this year. Same for McHugh. Last fall wasn’t a good opportunity as he was tired and not pitching on regular rest. Let’s see what he can do every 5 days for the balance of 2013. Your comments on Flores, Spin, and Ike are interesting. I might be inclined to give Spin the 2B job as it would help determine his ability to play every day, and if he played well and didn’t mature his trade value would increase. Despite failing miserable to assemble a good 2013 roster, there is still much our GM can do if he ever gets off his backside.
Ideal OF is duda, valdespin and Lagares
Wheeler needs to be up now. What do we have to lose?
What yall think?
Yes, there is a business approach given player control and cost, but I think Wheeler should be brought up when he is ready, and by all accounts he is just about ready. Keeping him down until the end of next April carries more risk in screwing up his career than it does benefitting the bottom line. Just because Harvey hit the MLB ground running doesn’t mean Wheeler will. To the extent that he may need to take some lumps at the big league level, just as soon let it happen in 2013, which Alderson has played into 2014 extended spring training.