Am sure you know that because he is not pitching in the junior circuit that he has to practice on hitting and bunting just so he doesn’t become another Dean Chance – who hit a lifetime .066 in over 406 games including an .026 in 41 games in 1966. A right handed batter, Chance was so bad that one time against the Yankees he came up to the plate batting left-handed!

Remember what I said the other day? We don’t need a computer analyist, we need a computer hacker to get into the Braves hard drive!

“Familia needed to control his pitches and develop his secondary stuff to reach his potential….He hasn’t”.

That is also being said as to why Wheeler needs more time at triple-A – not that he won’t accomplish doing so, but rather than he still has to work to do on both those points.

In all seriousness though I guess they eventually have to take BP so I don’t see why not to do so in camp. The good thing is that it sounds like it’s a mild strain at least the intitial reports suggest that but more importantly that it’s not his arm.

@MartinoNYDN
Hearing that Zack Wheeler will be scratched from his start today because of an oblique injury that happened while hitting in cage….

https://twitter.com/MartinoNYDN/statuses/306804422976081920

I’m not a writer and my style is never anything comprehensive, but mostly just some quick thoughts I like to post throughout the day. You both bring up excellent points that I do not disagree with, and especially where you both mention the excellent control a few of our pitchers have shown thus far and at such early stages of their developments. I’m glad you brought that into the discussion. And Dave, I’ve been seeing you comment on other sites for many years and I just want to say I’m glad to see you around here, and that I hope our greater attention to the minor leagues and overall quality will have you sticking around.

I’m happy to say that a scout who surveys the landscape in the DR and here in the states, has joined out staff yesterday. And while I can’t disclose which team he works for due to his confidentiality agreement with that team, he will bring an added professional point of view we don’t get to see very often on any blogs, Mets or otherwise.

Familia has never had the command you´d want from a SP and in spite of over 550+ innings in the minors has failed to develop an even adequate off-speed pitch which in combination makes it seem impossible for him to get through a major league lineup multiple times on a manageable pitch count. He´s clearly destined for the bullpen. How well he´ll do there depends on his makeup and whether he is able to be at least somewhat consistent with his fastball and breaking pitch while scratching everything else and letting loose. The upside for a dominant reliever certainly is there. And for now, the odds to reach it are higher than with Mejia.

What seperates Harvey & Wheeler from Mejia & Familia besides more success at the upper levels is a more diverse repertoire and better command – even if that is still below the level you´d like it to be for them to realize the elite SP ceiling both have. Plus – knock on wood – no injury issues thus far.

The most exciting part of the plethora of A-ball pitching prospects currently in the pipeline – besides the sheer number of them – is the combination of generally above average fastballs and above average command of it and at least one secondary pitch relative to age, level of play and experience. While natural attrition will take some of them out of the running, they probably have a better chance of making it than some peers with lesser control. And if you have over a dozen tickets in the lottery, your odds to win increase vs. just having a handful like most teams or the Mets of past years.