10
2013
Mets Must Resist Temptation With Zack Wheeler
An article by 
Zack Wheeler (photo credit Daily News)
It’s no secret the Mets have concerns in their rotation, but that doesn’t mean they should rush Zack Wheeler, regardless of how good a spring training he has.
The Mets tooker a somewhat patient approach with Matt Harvey, waited to bring him up last summer and gave him ten starts in which he showed his potential. The Mets need to do the same with Wheeler.
I still maintain the Mets rushed former first-round pick Mike Pelfrey out of necessity when he clearly wasn’t emotionally or mentally ready. Pelfrey had the physical tools, but had trouble keeping his poise and concentration, struggled with pitch selection, and couldn’t put away hitters or innings.
Harvey doesn’t have those problems and is ahead of where Pelfrey was at a similar stage of his career. Pelfrey is trying to hook on with Minnesota, while Harvey has a place in the Mets’ rotation.
Wheeler is expected to open the season in the minor leagues and pitch with the Mets later in the season. How late, depends on the health of the rotation, but remember, the Mets had injury issues last year and utilized several options before turning to Harvey.
The Mets say they are building for the future with their young pitching, but when you look at the composition of the roster – notably the outfield and bullpen – it is obvious they won’t contend this season. So, the wise thing is to go slow with Wheeler until he’s ready.
The young arm I am most interested in seeing his Jenrry Mejia, but I probably said that last spring, too. Mejia is a prime example of force-feeding a prospect to the major leagues before he was ready. Blame Jerry Manuel for that one.
Entering his last year as Mets’ manager, Manuel knew his job was hanging thin, and with a weak bullpen lobbied hard with then GM Omar Minaya to put Mejia in the bullpen when he should have been in the minors as a starter.
Even worse than taking him out of his projected role, was the Mets didn’t know how to use him in the pen. After awhile, they used him in no-pressure situations. Then it was back to the minor leagues and in the rotation, where he subsequently injured his arm.
Previously, Manuel screwed up Bobby Parnell. He was supposed to get a string of starts at the end of the 2009 season. He was rocked in September, but with the Mets going nowhere, Manuel – presumably more concerned about getting a handful of wins then protecting Parnell emotionally – yanked him from the rotation.
Parnell hasn’t started a game for the Mets since, and it hasn’t been a smooth transition for him to the bullpen.
Pelfrey is gone, Parnell is still trying to make it in the pen, and Mejia’s role is still in question. The future is bright for Harvey. Hopefully, it will be for Wheeler, too. If he’s brought along the right way.
Thoughts from Joe D.
With Shaun Marcum now on board, Johan Santana telling everyone he feels great, and Dillon Gee 100% healthy, there’s no real reason to rush Zack Wheeler along in a season where the team is not expected to contend.
Unless Wheeler pushes the envelope in Las Vegas with a truly dominating performance, there’s no reason why he should be promoted before the All Star break.
That said, if the team gets off to a slow start and fans start bailing on the team by late May, I can see him being promoted with the hope he can excite the fans the way Matt Harvey did last season.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 22 | .476 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 23 | .410 | 6.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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where’s meja
What issue with the rotation? Looks pretty good to me. It’s only issue is injury which is perfect for guys like Wheeler and Mejia.
I think Johan Santana is a huge question, and we have no idea what to expect from Gee or Marcum? They certainly aren’t sure things. Now the book is out on Harvey. Only sure thing I believe we can rely on is that Jon Niese should be good for solid number three pitcher’s numbers and if things break right maybe number two..
Johan made it to late July last year, and if it wasn’t for the ankle injury who knows he might have gone all season. Regardless, Johan had no issues last year in April, May and June and now he is another year removed from his surgery so he will only be stronger. I don’t see how he has any impact on Wheeler first few months unless there is a freak injury.
I’m hearing Johan is feeling great and I wouldn’t be surprised if he came through and pulled a great season out of his bag of tricks.
Ah…ST, where every player is in the best shape of his life.
That being said, Johan is reported to be feeling great enough to want to pitch in the WBC. That can only be a good sign for him, to start this season. I’m hoping they don’t cough up the insurance though so he doesn’t go.
I wonder if he can reinvent himself ala Pedro.
might be a stretch, since Pedro always had a much bigger arsenal to dazzle you with. Maybe Johan dusts off a couple of other pitches (and if anyone can pick them up quick, he seems like the guy to do it!).
I see no reason they would need to call up Wheeler before he’s ready.
If we have an injury or two, we do have other short term options. Ones better than Batista, who they put in the rotation once Gee went down last year, instead of calling up Harvey too early. In hindsight with that though, they should have just called Harvey up. Even if not quite ready, he could not have possibly been worse than Batista in the rotation.
As much as well all sit anxiously awaiting the arrival of Wheeler, I think the depth of this rotation is very weak and vulnerable. Ever season going back to 2008 we’ve had 80% of the rotation go down with injuries or ineffectiveness. Take Johan, Niese, Harvey out of the equation for argument sake, that’s just 60%, is anyone really comfortable with a rotation of Wheeler, Marcum, Familia, Hefner and Gee/Laffey?
Take the top three out of any rotation and they will stink.
Plefrey:
A+ ball, 4 games started 22 innings (not going to count the one game he came back for in 2007)
AA ball, 12 games started 66.1 innings
AAA ball, 16 games started 82 innings
Total: 32 games, 170.1 innings
Wheeler:
A+ ball, 22 games started 115 innings
AA ball, 19 games started 116 innings
AAA ball, 6 games started 33 innings
so far 47 games started 264 innings.
i’ve never believed in the whole calling up the pitcher too fast myth, and here is why, either a guy like Pelfrey hasn’t or he doesn’t, Pelfrey didn’t have it. Just take a look:
Clayton Kershaw:
A+ ball, 0 games started
AA ball, 16 games started 86 innings
AAA ball, 0 games started
called up at age 20.
Tim Lincecum.
A+ ball, 6 games started 27.2 innings
AA ball, 0 games started
AAA ball, 5 games started 31 innings
called up age 22. same draft class as Kershaw
Felix Hernandez:
A+ ball, 15 games started 92 innings
AA ball, 10 games 57.1 innings
AAA ball, 14 games started 88 innings
Full time starter at age 20.
Chris Sale: Same draft class as Harvey.
Between A+ and AAA played in 11 games none of those games starts, pitched a total of 10.1 innings.
called up at age 21.
This list can go on and on and on. There is no such thing as getting called up too early, either the kid is going to be great or good or he isn’t, simply up to player development which continues on the MLB level as well.
That being said there is almost zero chance of Wheeler being called up. first the mets want to buy themselves an extra year of MLB service on the cheap and 2nd look at the depth for starting pitching.
Level 1: Santana, Niese, Marcum, Harvey, Gee, Mejia
Level 2: Collin Mchugh, Hefner
Agreed. The Mets should not start the pay clock. Would they Wheeler wait until May of 2014?
Unbelievable. 2014.
Wheeler may come North with the big club THIS YEAR! And you’re talking about 2014 no ifs, ands, or buts. Incredible.
Comparing Pelfrey to Lincecum is the most ridiculous false comparison I’ve ever seen. According to your logic either a guy proves he is a 1A tier starter in a few starts (like Lincecum) or he just doesn’t have it (like Pelfrey). Can it be possible that there is a respectable middle ground between the two extremes you present?
Lincecum was not the only name I listed there, and you can find plenty more. Also in regards to prospect status, Pelfrey was almost as highly rated as Lincecum was, it’s easy to see after the fact that Lincecum is better but while they were prospects they were regarded almost in the same class.
If you look around the league there are FO’s that are consistently aggressive calling up players from the minors early, and then there are FO’s like the one SA is running here that will always try to keep prospects in the minors as long as they can.
Let me make correct my statement. I meant to say there is almost zero chance Wheeler makes the club out of Spring training. I do believe he will be up in June/July which buys the mets an extra year of service. That’s Anderson’s MO.
i think we have a pretty good rotation and even some depth, without Wheeler, in Hefner, Mejia, even McHugh. No need to rush Wheeler.
Also, if we get Bourn, this team is a lot better than conventional wisdom thinks, with the OF defense (with platoons / late inning replacements) maybe a tick above average. i could see Mets with 85 – 90 wins.
If Zack is better then most of the mets pitchers right now, then it’s stupidity to hold him in Vegas.
If he’s lights out this spring, he’s my 5th starter and I look to trade someone to solidify my outfield. Marcum, Gee, or Santana..bye bye.
Holding him back to save money in arbitration years is a small market mind set where dollars mean more then winning. I’m all for Sandy’s plan, but not at the expense of this years record by not utilizing the best players available.
I wish the author had resisted the temptation of writing this post…I kid, I kid.
Agreed. Rushing Wheeler is a bad idea. Let him develop in AAA, gain some more experience and bring him up later in the season if he’s ready. By the way… “Manuel – presumably more concerned about getting a handful of wins then protecting Parnell emotionally…: Dude, its than not then. Than is a comparison, while then is a time frame. Blog away…
He might show he’s ready in spring training, jesus christ. Can we at least afford him that? Just let it play out, if he’s ready he comes North. If shows he still needs seasoning he’ll stay behind.
I am getting tired of all you arm-chair GM’s. Lets just get the season started. The Mets want to win, more than save money, i can assure you of this fact. The best five will start the rotation, and don’t forget about the second piece to the RA trade, the pitcher, forgot his name.
Lets Go Mets
actually don’t forget about the other pitcher who’s only pitched a few major league innings. Matt Harvey. He’s already here and it’s important for him to get off to a good start first.
We’ll see that first long before anybody comes up from the minors so let’s focus on Matt Harvey first.
Do not let Spring Training fool you. Wheeler will start in AAA no matter how dominant he looks. Hitters take longer to catch up to pitchers and most of the games are against patchwork lineups that have as many minor leaguers as guys from the majors.
Wheeler, though good in AAA last season, did not dominate that level. Its better to see him smooth out his rougher edges there and let him improve control there before he is thrust into the Majors.
[...] John Delcos, MetsMerized Online Source: MetsBlog [...]
I think the real question people should be asking is will his time in that Pitcher killer Vegas actually help him or hurt him?
And if it’s the latter then maybe it’s better to keep him in AA until he dominates and skip AAA altogether.
AT least he will take the confidence of over matching batters in AA with him to the Big Leagues.
Wow what a weird article. First of all…you need to spell check your posts before putting them live.
Parnell still trying to make it in the bullpen?!? He is still young and despite some makeup issues as a closer, he posted a 2.50 era for 2012!!
Our bullpen is revamped from last year….bullpens are always a crapshoot. With the new additions, it is different. It is hard for the bullpen to be worse than it was the first half of 2012.
Pitching is NOT the mets problem…do you even watch the mets? Our problem right now is 3 outfield positions that are wide open.
Not sure I agree at all regarding Pelfrey or Mejia. Pelfrey to begin with signed a major league contract when drafted, he was going to be fast tracked no matter what . Mental game aside, he could not miss bats, that is a physical tool. He missed them in the minors, especially at A+ and AA, but he had a sharp regression in AAA. One could try to make the argument it was rushing, but just as easily it could be said that more patient, mature and selective hitters laid off his fastball. His walk rate at AAA speaks to the latter.
That basically mirrored itself throughout the entire portion of his MLB career with the Mets. That speaks to a lack of physical vs. mental obstacles. I think it often appeared to be mental, because here you had a guy who in college was a dominating pitcher, his early transition seemed smooth and then he had a wake up call.
Mejia, nothing in his timeline speaks to the Jerry Manuel needing a relief pitcher as much as the Mets just not allowing the guy to pitch enough in the minors before making that decision. He had too few innings under his belt for anything.
Wheeler will be in Vegas even if he man handles in spring training.