Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

His statistics minus context would have guaranteed him election on the first ballot. A 143 OPS+, a career .308 batting average, six seasons with at least 100 RBIs, plus 427 home runs.

Impressive numbers made more so because of where he played on the field. The unofficial title of “Greatest Hitting Catcher” was deservedly given to Mike Piazza as his career concluded and as he approached Hall of Fame eligibility.

However, speculation of performance-enhancing drug use combined with the era in which he played kept him from being a sure-fire inductee. It took four years before he cleared the 75 percent threshold.

Piazza earned his spot in Cooperstown by garnering 83 percent of the electorate and would soon be announced as the second player to be inducted as a New York Met. Joining him was Ken Griffey Jr. — who interestingly surpassed the record for the highest voting percentage previously held by the other Hall of Famer who entered as a Met, Tom Seaver.

A 62nd round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, Piazza became the lowest-drafted player to get enshrinement. He was named the 1993 National League’s Rookie of the Year after hitting 35 home runs. Piazza would establish himself as one of the premier power hitters in baseball before a whirlwind sequence of trades over an eight-day span in May 1998 landed him with the Mets. It turned out to be one of the best deals the franchise has ever made.

The numbers he put up in Los Angeles are no doubt impressive, but his greatest achievements — and his greatest impact on an organization — came during his seven-and-a-half years in Queens: leading the Mets to consecutive postseason appearances including the 2000 National League pennant, six All-Star appearances, and the unforgettable home run in the first game in New York City following the events of September 11th. On his way to becoming the most prolific home run-hitting catcher in baseball history, Piazza compiled 220 of them with the Mets while also driving in 655 runs. He still holds the highest slugging percentage in team history, ranks second in OPS, and third in homers.

In his retirement statement, Piazza left no doubt about where his closest loyalties lie.

“One of the hardest moments of my career was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye,” he said. “My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career, and for that, I will always be grateful.”

The post OTD 2016: Mike Piazza Elected to the Hall of Fame appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

BIG LEAGUE STARTER 

Francisco Álvarez

Age: 22 (11/19/2001)
Contract: Pre-Arbitration Eligible
Roster Status: 40-man roster
MiLB Options: 3

2024 Preview: For the first time in a long time, the Mets appear to have a franchise cornerstone in Francisco Álvarez at the catcher position. Once a mainstay at the top of prospect rankings from nearly every major publication, Álvarez’s first full season at the big-league level in 2023 further fueled the hype surrounding his name. After opening the year in the minors and struggling out of the gate in the majors, Álvarez quickly rebounded and slashed .209/.284/.437 with 25 home runs and a 97 wRC+ to go with 2.7 fWAR in 123 games in his rookie campaign.

While Álvarez’s offensive production went through ebbs and flows, his development defensively helped him stay afloat throughout a long first season. There were plenty of pertinent questions surrounding Álvarez’s true ability behind the plate, especially early in his career, yet he proved to be rather polished on that side of the ball. While he struggled to control the running game, Álvarez quickly became a favorite among the elder statesmen of the Mets’ rotation due to his framing, poise and game-calling prowess that all made it clear he was wise beyond his years.

Álvarez is certain to run into some more hiccups as he continues to develop, but all the tools are there for him to eventually become one of the premier backstops in the league, making him a quintessential piece of both the present and the future for the Mets.

BIG LEAGUE DEPTH

Omar Narváez

Age: 31 (2/10/1992)
Contract: Two years, $15 million (expires after 2024 season)
Roster Status: 40-man roster

2024 Preview: Despite enduring a lackluster first season in New York defined by a calf strain that held him out of the action for two months, Omar Narváez remains a quality backup option for the Mets going into the 2024 season. The veteran backstop hit just .211/.283/.297 with two home runs and a 64 wRC+ in 49 games last year, though that level of output was more of an outlier rather than the norm for Narváez. Prior to 2023, he owned a career slash line of .258/.343/.386 and put up 9.0 fWAR over his first 600 games in addition to earning All-Star honors in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

David Stearns holds an obvious connection to Narváez after bringing him into the fold with the Brewers, and it was during his time there when his defense truly began to flourish. From 2020 to 2022 with Milwaukee, he recorded seven Defensive Runs Saved while posting elite framing numbers and holding his own in the run game. He showed flashes of that same brilliance in limited playing time last season, and it would appear that his strengths line up with the Mets’ heavy focus on run prevention. Though his name has been thrown around in trade rumors, Narváez could be of huge value this season if he stays healthy and turns it around with the bat while remaining steady behind the plate.

UPPER-LEVEL DEPTH

Tomás Nido

Age: 29 (4/12/1994)
Contract: Two years, $3.7 million (expires after 2024 season)
Roster Status: Not on 40-man roster; non-roster invitee to spring training
MiLB Options: 0

2024 Preview: After finishing 2022 as a Gold Glove finalist, little went right for Tomás Nido in an adversity-filled 2023 campaign. He’s never been one to impress offensively, but a .125/.153/.125 slash line in 61 plate appearances was enough for the Mets to cut bait and designate Nido for assignment in June despite signing him to a lower-scale extension the offseason prior. He went on to clear waivers and spent the rest of the year in the minors, where he hit .273/.323/.393 across 43 games with Triple-A Syracuse and Single-A St. Lucie.

It’s easy to take a “what have you done for me lately” approach with Nido, but the fact that he put up 1.8 fWAR in 156 games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons shows that he isn’t a lost cause for the Mets. After trading away Tyler Heineman and Cooper Hummel, two offseason waiver claims who were considered organizational depth at the position, Nido is within striking distance of playing himself into a role with the big-league squad once again this year. The Mets did recently sign veteran minor leaguer Austin Allen to a minor league deal. He hit 23 home runs in Triple-A last year.

He is what he is as a hitter, but Nido’s familiarity with several members of the pitching staff and his reputation as one of the league’s best defensive catchers make him a fit from a philosophical standpoint within the organization, and it never hurts to have a player in his mold as a fallback option.

COMING SOON

Kevin Parada

Age: 22 (8/03/2001)
Contract: Minor League
Roster Status: Not on 40-man roster; Rule 5 Draft Eligible December 2025; non-roster invitee to spring training
MiLB Options: 3

2024 Preview: Kevin Parada, who is almost unanimously viewed as the Mets’ top-catching prospect, is entering a pseudo-make-or-break year in 2024 despite it only being his second full season in affiliated ball. One of the team’s two first round picks in 2022 alongside Jett Williams, Parada has always been viewed as a bat-first talent whose defense is very much a work in progress. That evaluation has largely held true thus far, even though his offense took a step back in 2023 to the tune of a .248/.324/.428 slash line in 105 games spent primarily with High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.

Parada struggled mightily with stolen bases in 2023, though he did show some improvement framing. There’s still a ways to go before the Mets can feel comfortable with him as a realistic option there. Still, he appears likely to stick it out at the position for the time being, but it wouldn’t come as a total surprise if he were moved to a corner outfield spot at some point in the future due to his athleticism.

There are still plenty of reasons to uphold faith in Parada, as he still possesses the hit tool and raw power necessary to be an above-average hitter at the major league level. After underperforming expectations and struggling in the Arizona Fall League this year, however, his stock fell to the point that he was left off MLB Pipeline’s 2024 preseason Top 100 prospects list after ranking No. 36 on last year’s rendition. Parada may very well live up to his billing and become a valuable piece of the Mets’ future, but he has some work to do in order to get the disbelievers on his side.

Previous Position Outlook: First Base

The post Mets 2024 Positional Outlook: Catcher appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mets top prospect Kevin Parada is going on the injured list with a right ankle sprain. Parada was injured on Thursday night when going from first to third on a base hit. The 21-year-old catcher who is generally considered the Mets’ no. 1 prospect, has built up to a .797 OPS for High-A Brooklyn after a slow start to the year.

Kevin Parada. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

The Mets defeated the Nationals 5-1 on Friday night for their second win in a row. Max Scherzer struck out seven batters and allowed only one run in seven innings, while Pete Alonso provided all five runs behind two homers. After their win on Friday, the Mets sit at 49-54 on the season.

Scherzer expressed to reporters following Friday night’s game that he was upset with the Mets for trading away David Robertson and that he “needs to have a conversation with Mets brass” about the organization’s vision.

Ben Clemens of FanGraphs detailed why he believes the trade between the Mets and Marlins for Robertson was a win-win for both clubs. In the article, Clemens cited Miami’s need for a closer in 2023, while also stating the Mets got a great return, and that Marco Vargas was tearing up the Florida Complex League.

Mets got SS Marco Vargas & C Ronald Hernández for a rental reliever.

Vargas, 18, is a helium prospect (.899 OPS in FCL) that will be in conversations for top 100 MLB prospect lists this offseason.

Hernández, 19, is switch-hitter w/.916 OPS in FCL.

pic.twitter.com/6QWXNzYmKd

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) July 28, 2023

The Mets announced that Bartolo Colón will officially retire as a Met on September 17. The first 15,000 fans in attendance for the game that day will receive a “Big Sexy” long-sleeve shirt.

Will Sammon of The Athletic wrote about Tommy Pham and his outlook on the possibility of being traded.

The Mets recalled reliever Reed Garrett from Triple-A to take Robertson’s spot on the roster. In 29 1/3 innings across two Triple-A teams this season, Garrett has a 2.45 ERA

The Mets introduced a new mocktail menu with several new options around Citi Field.

Latest MLB News

The Dodgers acquired Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the White Sox. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the White Sox would be receiving Trayce Thompson and two Double-A pitchers in return.

Passan also reported that the White Sox traded reliever Kendall Graveman to the Astros. In return, Chicago received the Astros’ number five overall prospect, catcher Korey Lee.

The Yankees activated their captain Aaron Judge from the injured list after nearly two months on the shelf. In a corresponding move, they sent Oswald Peraza to Triple-A. The Yankees also reinstated outfielder Willie Calhoun from the 10-day injured list and designated him for assignment.

Miles Mikolas was suspended five games for intentionally throwing at Ian Happ on Thursday night after Happ’s backswing struck Willson Contreras over the head. Mikolas is appealing the suspension. Additionally, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol is receiving a one-game suspension.

Chris Flexen is slated to start for the Rockies today. Flexen had struggled with the Mariners earlier this year after being relegated to the bullpen, then was traded to the Mets and subsequently released.

The Reds announced that they signed manager David Bell to an extension through the 2026 season.

Shohei Ohtani left Friday night’s game against the Blue Jays with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning, leading to Michael Stefanic pinch-hitting in his place. Manager Phil Nevin told reporters after the game that Ohtani was dealing with leg cramps, marking the second game in a row that Ohtani left early due to cramping.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post was told by executives that the Mariners may be open to trading closer Paul Sewald, believing they could get a strong return for him.

A defamation suit filed by a fired employee of the Angels for the use of sticky stuff in baseball is set to go to trial next week. The employee, who was fired in 2020, is alleging that he was made a “public scapegoat” after being with the Angels for over four decades.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer wrote about the report that the Rangers are likely the frontrunners for Justin Verlander if he gets traded.

Patrick Glynn looked at what might be next for the Mets in the wake of the Robertson made.

John Sheridan outlined Billy Eppler’s thoughts on the prospects the Mets received from the Marlins.

Michael Mayer wrote about the trade interest in Pham and Mark Canha.

Michael Famulari wrote about Kodai Senga and his continued success on the mound.

In the latest Mets Minors Recap, Michael Mayer highlighted Luke Voit and his five-game home run streak in Triple-A.

On the latest MMO Weekly, Michael Mayer and Sal Manzo spoke to the Mets’ 2023 first-round pick Colin Houck.

On This Date in Mets History

2004: Eric Valent became the eighth Met to hit for the cycle, doing so in a 10-1 victory over the Expos.

Birthdays: Félix Mantilla (89)

The post Morning Briefing: Top Prospect Kevin Parada Lands on Injured List appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After the New York Mets squared off against the New York Yankees for five games in the 2000 World Series, it would be six years until they made it back to the postseason.

From 2001 through the 2005 season, the Mets finished no higher than third in the National League East, while placing dead last in back-to-back seasons in 2002 and 2003.

The early-to-mid 2000 teams featured a heavy dose of veteran talent – some on the backside of their careers – with some young talent on the horizon in José Reyes and David Wright.

Those clubs also featured a bevy of role players and guys who were fun to root for, whether it was Joe McEwing, Todd Zeile, or Dae-Sung Koo. Another player who brought his own personality to a lackluster period of Mets baseball was catcher and first baseman, Jason Phillips.

Phillips, 46, was a 24th-round pick out of San Diego State University in the 1997 Draft and only had a few years of catching experience prior to signing with the Mets. As a kid, Phillips had aspirations of playing shortstop; however, his slow-footedness – which he was dubbed one of the slowest players in baseball – prevented Phillips from continuing to play up the middle.

He was signed as an organizational filler, a guy who could catch and log innings behind the dish. Phillips had two early tastes of the majors as a September call-up in both 2001 and 2002, playing in a combined 17 games and collecting eight hits in 26 at-bats (.308 batting average).

In 2003, Phillips made his first Opening Day roster and went back and forth between Queens and Triple-A Norfolk early on in the season before returning for good in mid-May.

Splitting time between catcher and first base, the right-handed hitter appeared in 119 games in ’03, posting an OPS of .815 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI. His 117 wRC+ was the fourth-highest mark on the team that season (min. 250 plate appearances), while boasting the highest OBP with runners in scoring position with a .420 mark (min. 50 plate appearances).

Aside from his inspired play in ’03, a notable feature Phillips was known for was his style selection: wearing black goggles on the field due to an astigmatism. The eyewear added to Phillips’ persona and made him a recognizable figure during those seasons.

Phillips last played in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007, appearing in 55 games as primarily a catcher. Post-playing career, Phillips has kept involved in the game in a variety of ways. He’s worked as a major league bullpen catcher for both the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, a bullpen coach for the New York Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, and now works as a national scouting coordinator for Perfect Game USA, an organization devoted to promoting amateur players through showcases and tournaments.

Phillips actively keeps up with the Mets – his wife grew up a Mets fan in Buffalo, New York, – and has aspirations of getting back in their organization in some capacity. Though Phillips’ ultimate dream is to manage in the majors, a lofty goal but one in which Phillips feels he can excel in.

“I’m a baseball lifer,” said Phillips. “This is what I live for.”

I had the privilege of speaking to Phillips, where he discussed balancing catching and first base in the majors, eyewear choices and his work at Perfect Game.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Phillips: Darryl Strawberry was one. I always loved his play, and I wondered what it was like to be in New York at that time. To then be drafted by the Mets and come up with them was a dream come true [for me]. Coming from San Diego, I knew more Mets players than I did Padres, just because there were no local televised games.

And more than that, I knew the Braves just because of TBS and all the games that were on. My favorite player as a young kid was Dale Murphy because I saw him all the time.

The Mets are always going to be my team; they gave me my first chance. I’ve been trying to get back with them for years on the coaching side, I just can’t get a break and get back in.

My wife is from Buffalo, New York, she grew up a Mets fan. And not saying we didn’t like the Yankees, but it was always like the Evil Empire. When you get drafted by the Mets, and come up through their system, it’s just ingrained in me that we might not be that good this year at whatever level, but we can’t lose to the Yankees. [Laughs.]

MMO: You came up through the Mets’ system as a catcher, and transitioned to first base while in the majors. What was that adjustment like for you? How would you stay physically and mentally prepared for both?

Phillips: One thing I tell kids when I used to work camps is I wanted to be a shortstop. My dad would hit me ground balls in the street with a Nerf baseball that had the extra hop every night. That was our father-son time. If you remember my playing days, I think I was voted the slowest player in the big leagues three years in a row. [Laughs.] Shortstop was definitely not my future.

I tried third base, but I wasn’t physically strong. I went to college at six-foot-one, one-hundred seventy [pounds]; I didn’t mature until later in life. You look at any big leaguer, and they’re strong. If you can’t hit a ball, even pitchers, throwing BP to pitchers, everybody on a big league team can hit a ball out of the park to the pull-side. You have to be physically strong to compete.

You’re going to break down throughout the year; you’re talking eight months out of a calendar year. At the end of the season, you need some downtime, and then you’re right back in it. It’s a daily grind, even for the superstars.

I only caught my senior year in high school and two years in college. I basically caught three years before I got to the Mets. When I got drafted as a 24th round pick [in 1997], I’m just a roster filler, an organizational guy. The thought process was he can catch and throw, and if he hits whatever, we’ll give him a few years in the minors and we’ll go get somebody else. I had nothing to lose.

When I got drafted, they said, “You are no longer an infielder. You don’t take any grounders, you won’t play in the field. You’re strictly a catcher.” In 2003, I was hitting good in Triple-A and Mo Vaughn went on the disabled list and Tony Clark was playing first base. They said, “Hey, can he (Phillips) play first?” I said, ‘Give me a glove.’

I literally had three games at first base in Triple-A. [Mike] Piazza had the injury, and I got called up. Matt Galante taught me how to play first base; we were out there every game.

I learned how to play first base in the big leagues, and that’s where I got the appreciation that it’s one of the more difficult positions on the field to play because every ball that’s hit you have to go somewhere. I don’t think a lot of people teach that. Every ball that’s hit you’re either covering first, making a cut, going here, going there. Even Robin Ventura was like, “Yeah, I like when the ball’s hit over there because I just stand here. You have to go somewhere every time!” I told him I was learning that real fast! [Laughs.]

When you’re playing behind a runner with first and second and there’s a ball hit to center, that’s a long run for me to get to that cut guy behind the mound. When you’re on defense, the third baseman is talking to the shortstop about if a ball’s hit here, where am I going with it? Roberto Alomar helped me out tremendously being at second. He was like, “If this guy push bunts here, I’m going for it. You just go to the bag.”

All that stuff is sped up now, so you really have to think two-to-three pitches ahead, and two-to-three hitters ahead. It’s a chess game that’s going on where nobody knows what the other guys are thinking and all nine guys have to be on the same page. Those are the teams that win.

MMO: Prior to the ’97 Draft, you got the chance to play in the Alaska Baseball League. What was your experience like in that collegiate summer league?

Phillips: Fortunately, the host family I was staying with was right near the stadium, so we just walked to and from the field. I could go over there any time to get extra work in. I lived in the basement, and the sun really doesn’t go down ever in the summer, so I had to put foil on the windows. [Laughs.]

I was playing for Fairbanks, which is the northernmost city that you play in. We had a Midnight Sun Game that started at 10 p.m., and they never turned on the lights. The game finished at 1:00 a.m., and you just played through it; it’s an annual thing. It gets dusk, and then by one the sun is rising from behind the hills, so it really never gets dark. People have some trouble sleeping and losing track of time.

The first place we went to was Kenai, and we were staying in a bingo hall right on the mouth of the Kenai River. And a moose came up right by the bingo hall. We’ve got ten to twelve guys out there with a moose and two calves twenty feet away! You’re like, ‘Okay, this is a little different.’

The wildlife and scenery are amazing. Playing in the Cape or any summer league, you’re going to play with guys from all over the country and get an appreciation for the talent.

MMO: You mentioned your 2003 season before, which was your best season in the majors. You hit .298 with 25 doubles, 11 home runs and an .815 OPS in 453 plate appearances. Was there anything in particular that you remember working well for you that season?

Phillips: I tried not to strike out. [Laughs.] I hit into a lot of double plays; I couldn’t run, so I just tried to shorten my swing and go out there and play hard.

Catchers in the minor leagues play, for the most part, if you’re the starting catcher, two, maybe three days in a row, and then you get an off day. Your off day is usually the day game. So you know every night game I’m going to play and every day game I’ll have off. When I got to the big leagues, I was playing every night game at first base and I was catching every day game. So the body physically flip flopped.

Catching is a more strenuous position, and it was during day games when I was used to having an off day body-wise for four or five years as I was coming up. I think I was hitting around .330 going into September, and in September you’re playing against division teams more. They’re going to know more of your strengths and weaknesses just because they have more data and scouting reports on you, and I got tired.

I don’t know how many at-bats I had in the minor leagues, but when you get to the big leagues, now you’re talking about 500 when you’re used to getting 350. It’s a big step.

I learned how to stay hydrated, have better nutrition, when to take some time off from extra work and how to lift without being sore.

MMO: What was it like working with and having Mike Piazza as a teammate?

Phillips: Coming up with Piazza, it was, ‘Hey, Mike, what do you need? What can I do for you because I’m just happy to be in the same clubhouse as you.’

In ’03, I believe it was just Ty Wigginton and I that had less than seven or eight years in the big leagues. You’re talking Al Leiter, Johnny Franco, [Mike] Piazza, [Steve] Trachsel, Roberto Alomar, [Robin] Ventura. You’re looking at the guys and thinking these guys are my idols, and now I have to try and do what I can to try and fit in. [Laughs.]

If you’re a rookie or have less than three years, you want to be one of the first to show up. Everyday it would be Jeromy Burnitz, Tony Clark,  Joe McEwing, myself and Wigginton, and the five of us would go down to the cage. And you’re just learning and talking. You’re letting them talk and trying to soak up everything they do, and it makes you feel part of something. That’s where team and the camaraderie between players is built.

MMO: Your selection of eyewear on the field will always be something Mets fan attribute you with. I read you wore those goggles due to an astigmatism, is that right?

Phillips:  Yes, I had astigmatism. As a right-eyed dominant, right-handed hitter, I really had to make sure that I could see more from the backside. I had to have both eyes on the ball with glasses. And you’re always pressing them to try and get them as close to your face as you can.

In the minor leagues, the Mets had a contract with Rex Specs, the Chris Sabo big goggles with the band, and all of that. It was hard trying to get them not to fog.

When guys start struggling offensively, they think, how’s my swing? How’s my timing? It’s like, wait a minute, let’s check your eyesight first. Let’s do some things. How’s your peripheral? Are you seeing this over there? You don’t see the ball the last eight to ten feet because of velocity, so that’s where your hand-eye coordination comes in. If your eyesight is good, then okay, let’s get into the mechanics.

MMO: There’s a YouTube video of an interview you gave with Dr. Rolando Toyos, an ophthalmologist who worked with many sports organizations, on a DVD you two put together called “Vision & Baseball.” How did you first meet Dr. Toyos?

Phillips: I was too hesitant and scared when LASIK first came about in the early years. If I can’t see, my career is over. I was hesitant to go, even though it would help me. But I didn’t want something to go wrong.

I was hesitant until I got to Toronto. In ’07, I signed my only one-year guaranteed contract. I was like, ‘Okay, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to take a leap of faith and get the surgery.’ He (Dr. Toyos) corrected me to what a normal person who has a 9 to 5 job has, where you saw 20/20. I saw great! But in baseball, you need to see the ball even better. If I can put any sort of lens or glass in front of my eye to see better, correct me to that!

I had my first surgery before the start of the ’07 season. I went to spring training, and I wasn’t hitting the ball all that well. I was kind of losing the ball when I was hitting because I was more right-eyed dominant. So in ’07, I still wore glasses, but they were really not a very strong prescription.

At the end of ’07, I had another one (surgery) to go correct it a little bit more where I couldn’t put another frame in front of my eye and see better.

I always bring up Ted Williams. The guy was a WWII fighter pilot; his vision was off the charts! He saw every spin, every rotation, every seam. Besides him being the best hitter generationally, his eyesight was better than 99 percent of the human race.

MMO: Post playing career, you worked as a bullpen catcher for both the Mariners and Blue Jays. What are some of the responsibilities that you had?

Phillips: You’re kind of on call for anything. You have your pitchers who are going to throw their sides, but you’re also out there every day with the pitching staff, and that’s where you’re building rapport with guys. They’ll tell you things that they wouldn’t necessarily tell the coach, manager or trainer. So you have a reference, and you get some insider trading tips. And that’s what it is: it’s information.

Jack Wilson, when he was with Seattle, he’d come off the field after a game and go, “J.P., can we go down to the cage?” He’d want to hit right after the game if he wasn’t feeling good. So you’re just kind of on call, basically. Whatever I can do to help because I’m not playing anymore, I need you to play the best you can and feel the best you can.

MMO: Your Twitter profile states that you’re working for Perfect Game as a national scouting coordinator in Atlanta. Can you talk about how that came about?

Phillips: I was down in Tampa when Covid hit. I’m a Covid causality for three years now, out of the coaching ranks and coming to Perfect Game. I was living in Tampa with the Yankees there, and they (Perfect Game) asked me to move out to Atlanta because it’s the hotbed for high school baseball. All the big tournaments come through, and four of the top eighteen picks last year were within a 20-mile radius of Atlanta. The talent level is here, and the talent level from California, Texas, Florida, the Northeast and Midwest all come to Atlanta for our big events.

You get to see the amateur players that are going to be drafted high this year or go onto major college schools. We have to scout everybody, and we’re just trying to give exposure. When you have a guy like Max Clark or Walker Jenkins or Dylan Lesko from last year or Termarr Johnson, everybody knows who they are. You don’t even have to be a scout to watch a game and go, wow, that guy’s really good! It’s the other guys you’re projecting; this guy has a projectable frame, he throws strikes, he can put on a little size as he matures.

You try and give these guys some exposure so they can get scholarship money and play after high school. Not everybody that you’re watching here at Perfect Game is going to play in the big leagues; they’re not all going to play in Division I-level power schools. It’s a tough game. You try to tell them that only seven percent of high school kids go on at any level past high school. So what can we do to try and promote them so that they can hopefully get an opportunity to play at the next level and get some money?

MMO: Thanks so much for taking some time to speak with me today, Jason.

Phillips: No problem. Good to talk with you.

Follow Jason Phillips on Twitter, @JPrecspecs

The post MMO Exclusive: Former C/1B, Jason Phillips appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Francisco Álvarez is continuing to stay hot. With the Mets in a bit of a catcher’s overload, Álvarez is making a strong case to stay in the big leagues after hitting his sixth home run on Wednesday. The Mets lost to the Cubs though, 4-2, and will look to end the series on a strong note tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET.

Latest Mets News

Will Sammon of The Athletic spoke with Mets pitchers on rookie catcher Álvarez and his rookie year success. The consensus: “He’s growing up on us.”

The Amazin’ Mets Foundation shared the story of 12-year-old Liam, an Amazin’ Warrior battling Leukemia. Liam is expected to receive a bone marrow transplant, but before his surgery Brandon Nimmo and the Mets gave Liam the day of his life in a visit to Citi Field that included player meet-and-greets and a stadium tour.

FanGraphs analyzes the Mets’ top 37 prospects.

The Brooklyn Cyclones announced on Wednesday that the Mets have assigned Omar Narváez to a rehab assignment with Brooklyn on Thursday.

Per Mike Mayer of Metsmerized, Mets pitching prospect Mike Vasil left his start with Double-A Binghamton early with a trainer on Wednesday.

Mike Mayer of Metsmerized also noted on Wednesday that Álvarez is now the third youngest catcher in Major League Baseball history to hit five home runs in an 11-game span.

Latest MLB News

According to Geoff Pontes of Baseball America, Atlanta Braves 2022 first-round supplemental draft pick JR Ritchie was expected to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday to fix a moderate grade two tear.

Per RotoBaller MLB, Carlos Correa was scratched from the Twins’ lineup on Wednesday with plantar fasciitis. MLB Trade Rumors elaborated and said Correa also has a muscle strain in his left foot.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported that Kumar Rocker’s Tommy John surgery was successful and went as planned on Monday.

Latest on MMO

David Crocco recaps the Mets’ minor league affiliate games from Tuesday, which included a game-winning home run from Matt Rudick, along with Ronny Mauricio staying hot in Triple-A.

Sam Neumann recaps Pete Alonso’s strong performance on Tuesday and discusses his “impressive” power surge.

John Sheridan analyzes and talks about Tommy Pham’s first-half struggles.

Shaun Huntley discusses Topps turning the clock back in 2023 to the heritage of 1974.

Ross Bentley takes a look at the Mets’ options to address their catcher “logjam.”

On This Date in Mets History 

1979: Heavy fog/ “thickening” mist forced umpires to suspend play between the Mets and Pirates due to fog. 

Birthdays: Neil Ramirez (34), Eric Young Jr. (38), Scott Hairston (43), Chris Young (44), Jim Marshall (92)

The post Morning Briefing: Francisco Álvarez Continuing to Shine With Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Francisco Álvarez. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Francisco Álvarez has always been highly regarded because of his power and potential at the plate. The one aspect of his game that not only kept the young Venezuelan from breaking into the big leagues sooner, but also caused several pundits and scouts to question his true ceiling overall has been his defense. Well, in just 22 games this season Álvarez’s defensive game has not only been serviceable, but borderline elite.

First off, his framing grade ranks in the league’s 90th percentile per Baseball Savant. Framing is an underrated attribute of any catcher’s game, especially one that deals with struggling starting pitching, is the ability to steal some extra strikes on pitches that may be out of the zone. The 21-year-old has demonstrated this ability on several occasions early this season resulting in the immensely impressive 90th percentile ranking.

As for the other pressing defensive duty of a catcher – managing the basepaths, on the surface, Álvarez has “struggled.” He has only caught three of 25 individuals that have attempted to swipe a bag against him this season. The 22 stolen bases Álvarez has allowed is the fourth-most in the National League. This all seems pretty bad right?

Well, what is encouraging is despite the subpar 12 percent caught-stealing rate, his pop time to second base ranks in the league’s 64th percentile. Basically, the rookie catcher is doing a good job of getting the ball down to second base, but, the runners are either getting too large of a jump/lead (poor job by Mets’ pitchers in holding runners on) and/or the effects of the new pickoff rules and the increased base sizes are really helping the opposition.

Both appear true in this scenario. This, in essence, explains the strong pop time but low caught-stealing rate.

To summarize the totality of Álvarez’s defensive performances this season you can look at the following all-encompassing defensive statistics: a defensive runs saved (DRS) of plus-5 (per Fangraphs), a defensive rating of 3.4 (per Fangraphs), and a defensive WAR of 0.4 (per ESPN). These figures rank the rookie eighth, second, and eighth in each category, respectively. Note, those rankings are of the 78 catchers who have appeared in a major-league game this season thus far and do the best job of valuing Álvarez’s defensive game as a whole.

For specific comparison’s sake, Álvarez tops Phillies’ catcher, and two-time Gold Glove award winner, J.T. Realmuto, in all of the following defensive categories: Fangraph’s DRS, Fangraph’s defensive rating, and Baseball Savant’s framing. They are tied in the ESPN’s defensive WAR statistic.

Bottom line: it is certainly not obscene to say Álvarez’s defensive game has been one of the strongest in the majors so far this season.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Álvarez is only 22 games into the 2023 season which means all of the above is based on a very small sample size. I am not arguing that Álvarez is going to capture a Gold Glove this season and go one to be a defensive superstar.

Simply, given all the preconceived notions about how weak Álvarez’s defensive game would be in the major leagues, it is a terrific early sign to see him performing so well. Especially given how there were certainly some who argued that Álvarez’s defensive game was going to be so bad that he may had to resort to being a designated hitter only given he would not be playable behind the dish.

We knew this hitting is going to be there, but if the defensive game reflects anywhere near the level it has through the first 22 games, there’s a real chance the Mets may just get one of the best all-around catchers in the majors for years and year to come when it is all said and done.

All statistics and rankings of the evening of May 13, 2023.

The post Francisco Álvarez Has Been Thriving Defensively Early On appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Omar Narváez. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

The New York Mets have had issues at the catcher position for over a decade. This offseason, the team decided to move on from James McCann and sign veteran Omar Narváez to platoon alongside Tomás Nido. Extremely early returns show that may have been a terrific move.

To be fair, the bar was set extremely low. Last season, McCann posted a -0.1 WAR and an OPS+ of 55. Nido, on the other hand, was solid, but it was clear the Mets needed to upgrade the position. Through two starts, Narváez, the former Brewers’ backstop, is 3-for-7 with two RBIs and a walk. He also caught both of the Mets’ victories, and, in each game, he flashed his superb ability to frame pitches. Interestingly enough, through three days of the season, he ranks in the league’s 100th percentile in framing, per Baseball Savant.

On Saturday, Narváez’s sacrifice fly in the second inning started the scoring and left the bat at nearly 100 mph (98.3 to be exact). Later in the game, he hit a single that came off the bat at 103.1 mph. Narváez was also very close to picking up a third RBI, but Starling Marte was forced out at third base in an extremely close play. So, thus far, he is putting the ball in play, and has hit it pretty hard. Which is a great early sign for someone who struggled offensively last season (.597 OPS).

The 31-year-old is only two years removed from an All-Star 2021 campaign where he hit .266. He also had a season where he slugged 22 home runs with Seattle in 2019. Further, his defensive acumen is well documented, mainly his ability to frame the ball, as since 2020 he has ranked in the league’s 100th, 70th, and 89th percentile. So, the history of success is there, even offensively.

Again, it is extremely, extremely early in the season, so it would be dangerous to make the assumption that the catcher woes have been fixed. But, the first two games Narváez has played have both went very well. If he can post some type of average production at the plate, as we know the defensive framing ability will be elite, the Mets may have very well found themselves a catching duo that can be more than formidable for this season.

The post Extremely Early Returns From Omar Narváez Have Been Strong appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

No. 1 Francisco Álvarez, C

B/T: R/R     Age: November 19, 2001 (21)
Ht: 5’10″       Wt: 233 lb.
ETA: 2023 Previous Rank: 1
Acquired: Signed during the 2018 International Free Agency Period
2022 Stats (AA/AAA): 112 games, 495 PAs, 22 2B, 27 HR, 78 RBIs, 70 BB, 123 K, .260/.374/.511/.885

Probably to no one’s surprise, Francisco Álvarez is the Mets top prospect for the third consecutive season. Signed during the 2018 International Free Agency Period, Álvarez has skyrocketed in the prospect rankings. The rise started when it became clear that he would be an impact bat at a premium position.

Last season, Álvarez began the season at Double-A and slashed .277/.368/.553 for roughly the first three months of the season. The Mets then moved him to Triple-A in early July and there were some early struggles for Álvarez. He hit .186/.314/.339 in August but he rebounded to hit .362/.486/.596 in September.

The Mets called him up for their big series against the Braves in late September when it became abundantly clear that he was their best option to DH vs lefties. He got 14 plate appearances between that series and the last series against the Nationals. He also managed to land on the postseason roster but did not get the start at DH against Blake Snell. Álvarez underwent ankle surgery in the offseason after missing some time with an ankle injury last season.

Here are some of the good things about Álvarez from his write-up blurbs from Keith Law and MLB Pipeline:

“Álvarez knows the zone well and will take his walks — also like many young hitters, he’s still working overall on swing decisions. The combination of loud contact and ever-improving approach could make him an above-average hitter in the end.” – MLB Pipeline

“He has a tremendous swing for generating that hard contact, with great balance throughout, excellent hand acceleration, and good use of his lower half to drive the ball.” – Keith Law

FanGraphs expressed some amount of caution against Álvarez’s bat, saying:

“Álvarez only ran a 75% Z-contact and 66% overall contact rate in the minors, which is near the bottom of the big league catching continuum, and almost identical to Joey Bart and Jorge Alfaro.”

FanGraphs did remind everyone that Álvarez has a way better approach than Alfaro and way more power than Bart so do not be too alarmed by those invocations. The skinny on Álvarez’s offense is that he will hit for a lot of power and his swing decisions will decide whether or not he can be one of the best offensive catchers in baseball or an above average one. I know that can be said about most prospects but it does speak to the expected power output (and the lack of offense at catcher) for Álvarez that his offense can be carried by that almost by itself.

Just to get an idea of Álvarez’s bat, in 2022 MLB catchers hit .222/.295/.367 with a .293 wOBA and 89 wRC+. ZiPS. FanGraph’s projections has a 21 year old Álvarez hitting .220/.318/.411 with 21 homers and a .319 wOBA. Some fans may not be overly impressed by that overall slash but remember, ZiPS is a projection system so it is meant to weigh the good and the bad. It is also accounting for a 21 year old with roughly 200 plate appearances at AAA, where he did not exactly tear it up, to step into the majors tomorrow. Despite that, it still projects Álvarez to be an above average offensive catcher on day one in the major leagues.

Francisco Álvarez makes his Grapefruit League catching debut. 👀 pic.twitter.com/GawYUeg8mF

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) March 3, 2023

Now regarding his defense, the Mets did not let Álvarez catch any starts from Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Chris Bassitt. While Álvarez is a big body catcher and not as athletic as say, J.T. Realmuto, he has taken strides with his defense. Despite that, the general consensus with Álvarez is that his defense will likely be average to below-average.

Keith Law of The Athletic had this to say about his defense: “Scouts were more bearish on his defense when he moved to Triple A and had to catch better stuff, although the consensus is still that he can stay there, even just as a bat-first catcher who could stand to clean up some of his blocking and receiving.”

That seems to be the sentiment based on his other prospect blurbs from FanGraphs, MLB Pipeline and well, the Mets actions this off-season. By signing Omar Narváez and giving Tomás Nido an extension, both of whom are rated as good defenders, they have pretty much decided that Álvarez will not be in the Majors until they feel that he is ready to handle the big league pitching staff.

On the one hand, the Syracuse pitching staff should have plenty of MLB caliber arms so that should help Álvarez improve his receiving and framing. On the other hand, Narváez is not going to be easily displaced, judging by his contract. The Mets have some veteran pitchers on their staff and teams have historically given their star pitchers preference to personal catchers. It should not be a surprise to anyone if Scherzer and Justin Verlander strongly prefer working with Narváez and Nido, which in turn could cause Álvarez to be in AAA longer than he needs to be.

If Álvarez’s bat is too good to keep in the minors and he’s ready to handle the MLB staff, I would bet they go with three catchers and essentially have Álvarez replace Darin Ruf as the DH against lefties while catching regularly when he is not a DH.

Álvarez is close to being a regular in the Majors but it won’t be on Opening Day (barring an injury). I think he will force his way up by June at some point though and, hopefully, he will run away with the job.

The post MMO Top 30 Prospects: No. 1 Francisco Álvarez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Francisco Álvarez got his first taste of the big leagues last season, and now he’s ready for more. MLB’s top prospect told journalist César Sequera Ramos that he was “100% sure” he would be on the Mets Opening Day roster in 2023.

Álvarez went 2-12 in five games for the Mets at the end of the season, with one of those two hits being his first-career major-league home run. If Álvarez is to make the Opening Day roster, he could see time a right-handed DH option opposite Daniel Vogelbach, but he believes he’s prepared to be a big-league catcher.

Álvarez told Ramos that he feels his defense is ready for the big leagues, but that the team asked him to improve his English to be could better communicate with pitchers.

Mets top prospect Francisco Álvarez is working on his defense. pic.twitter.com/opfGcVI1pS

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) January 11, 2023

While Álvarez’s biggest asset will be his offensive prowess, he knows he will need to improve defensively to reach his full potential. To do so, Álvarez revealed he’s been getting advice from long-time catchers Robinson Chirinos and Yadier Molina, and also soon plans on speaking with José Molina.

If the Mets do decide to carry Álvarez on their Opening Day roster, they will have an interesting decision to make. While it may make some sense to use him as a right-handed DH and pinch-hitting option with the occasional catching start mixed in, that would limit his ability to get important reps behind the plate. Meanwhile, if he becomes the team’s primary catcher, that could mean the Mets having to depart with Tomás Nido since they just signed Omar Narváez to a two-year $15 million deal this offseason.

Regardless, Álvarez’s development on both sides will be one of the most fascinating things to watch for the Mets this season. His presence in the lineup undoubtedly gives the offense a power bat outside of Pete Alonso, which the team desperately needs.

If his defense is where he claims it to be, Álvarez’s run as the team’s everyday catcher could be starting sooner rather than later.

The post Álvarez Says He Expects To Be on Opening Day Roster appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

TODAY Sports

This offseason, we’ve been looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. Starting out the bad contract list were two players whose second turn with the Mets was unlike their first: Roger Cedeño and Jeurys Familia. Next is a former All-Star catcher who up until last year was the bane of Mets fans’ existence. 

There’s no recency bias here. The decision to sign James McCann and bypass other free-agent catching options in the winter of 2020, particularly J.T. Realmuto, was quickly regrettable.

The Mets acknowledged their mistake when they traded McCann to the Baltimore Orioles last December with two years and $24 million remaining on his contract (for which they will pay all but $5 million). The front office clearly felt they were better served with Tomás Nido, 20-year-old Francisco Álvarez, and newcomer Omar Narváez.

At four years and $40.6 million, McCann’s value to the Mets was that he could replicate his All-Star performance of 2019 with the Chicago White Sox — when as a 29-year-old he produced18 homers and a .789 OPS in 476 plate appearances. His shortened 2020 season was pretty respectable as well: a 143 OPS+ in 31 games despite the small sample size.

Met management chose to take McCann and not overpay for the superior two-time All-Star J.T. Realmuto. As it turned out, $40-plus million was a gross overpay for who they wound up getting. In two seasons, McCann’s 70 OPS+ was even below what he had early in his career with the Detroit Tigers. His 13 total homers matched his total in 2017 alone and his 161 strikeouts were more than his two-year output in Chicago. A .232/.294/.349 slash line over 112 games in 2021 was actually the high-water mark in Queens. The following year, he declined with a .195/.257/.282 performance.

In 2022, the Mets had the NL’s worst offensive output from the catching position. McCann’s presence in the lineup was limited because Nido’s production was relatively better (both at and behind the plate) plus he had trouble staying healthy. An injury to the hamate bone in his left wrist made his poor hitting worse and it hindered his usually adequate throwing ability. A left oblique strain sat him out for additional time. In total, McCann played just 61 games with a slash line of .195/.257/.282, three homers, and 18 RBIs.

Even his pitch-calling, a relative strength, came into question by a Mets’ ace. After the 2022 season, the acquisition of Narváez and the promotion of Álvarez was making McCann more expendable — even if it meant eating that remaining salary.

By getting a player to be named later in return from the Orioles, saving $5 million, and giving McCann the opportunity to mentor a young catching phenom in Baltimore, the Mets found the best solution to what can amount to an otherwise wasted contract and a failed experiment.

The post Mets Worst Free-Agent Signing No. 8: James McCann appeared first on Metsmerized Online.