Wheeler has lived up to his billing this year
I try not to get too excited about prospects, especially those playing below AAA, but I’m having trouble suppressing my giddiness over Zack Wheeler.
Wheeler reeled off 7 innings of 3-hit ball last night against Reading, walking none and striking out 8. He threw an efficient 90 pitches, 68 of them for strikes.
This season for the AA Binghamton Mets, he now has a 1.88 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, a 2.86 K/BB ratio, and is averaging 10.3 Ks per 9 innings. In his 9 starts this season, he’s given up no more than 2 earned runs in each outing. He’s been positively Strasburgian.
He has a 94-97 MPH fastball, a big, sharp-breaking curve, and mixes in a slider and changeup.
“My slider was struggling a little bit, but I was using my curveball, changeup and fastball and getting ahead of people,” Wheeler said of last night’s performance. Considering he retired 19 of the first 20 batters he faced, yeah, I’d say that was a good strategy.
GM Sandy Alderson is in no hurry to rush him through the system, as his predecessor was wont to do (see: Pelfrey, Mike and Mejia, Jenrry). Alderson knows the trade for Wheeler, and his development, is not about 2012. It’s about 2013, 2014, and many years to come.
Tonight, Carlos Beltran returns to Queens in a Cardinals uniform. Beltran’s been tearing up the Gateway City, and making Missourians forget about Albert Pujols. Beltran’s 15 home runs sure would look good in a Mets lineup, especially batting cleanup behind David Wright and Daniel Murphy, who always seem to be on base. But the trade of Carlos to the Giants for Wheeler was a no-brainer.
Beltran is still struggling with knee problems. He hasn’t missed much time yet this year, but the season is young. More than that, however, the Mets dire financial situation at the time (it’s slightly less dire now), dictated the dump of the rest of Beltran’s salary.
As great as Beltran was for the Mets in the past, I’m more excited about the future of Wheeler.
And again, the Mets focus should be on the future, despite the fact that the Mets are still in it here on June 1. Their flaws remain glaring. But thanks to prospects like Wheeler, their future is beginning to look bright.
20 comments
oleosmirf
6/1/2012-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Hopefully we’ll see him in Queens around this time next season…
Stick
6/1/2012-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
he is going to be fighting for a job out of ST at this pace.
oleosmirf
6/1/2012-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
teams usually try to save a year of free agency by calling them up mid may.
Stick
6/1/2012-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
that is fine if there is some other reasonable option, but if he is clearly the dominant guy, bite the bullet.
But, if it takes until 6 weeks in before he comes up for good, NTS (Not Too Shabby. Sorry, I just saw Cedar Rapids again last night)
Ceetar
6/1/2012-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
a year of free agency can be a big deal if he gets that far, particularly if he’s good.
Decent way to limit his pitch count, extended Spring Training and pitching once a week for April-May, which I assume they will even though it’s probably unnecessary.
oleosmirf
6/1/2012-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
well I love Santana so I’m hoping he’s not traded (even if it is best for the organization)
I would assume the rotation for next year is the same as it is now just Harvey as the #5 although it’s possible Mejia is still a SP also
Stick
6/1/2012-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
I would not assume that.
Figure santana is back (pending staying healthy) and Neise and Dickey. But I am not booking anyone else for the rotation.
And I am not betting on harvey, and just based on how they are looking, Wheeler could beat him.
I think now that the 3 I mentioned will come in with spots assigned, and beyond that they may bring in a vet to compete, and the last 2 spots will be up for grabs. Wheeler, harvey, gee, and probably a few other will be fighting it out.
given the arms coming up, I am not even thinking they are going to bring in a “real” SP to guarantee another spot, but it could happen in the right deal.
Bryan
6/1/2012-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
My guess right now is that next year’s all-star break is a good target date, unless he goes to AAA for a month or so to end this season and dominates there the way he’d dominated AA lately, then he could be a legit candidate next ST.
NJstuckinTX
6/1/2012-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
When was the last time there was a pitching prospect this highly touted? Kazmir?
Stick
6/1/2012-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, it would have been Pelfrey. He was Harvey back then.
But other than that, probably Kazmir.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2012-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
A lot of buzz today after Wheeler’s outing last night vs what apparently is a pretty good offense in Reading.
baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2012/2613487.html
cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-knobler/19226819/zack-wheeler-traded-for-beltran-wowing-scouts-in-double-a
gategem
6/1/2012-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
It’s finally over?????
From Newsday.com
“Suit over Mets’ Madoff profits is settled
The hard-fought legal battle between the owners of the New York Mets and the trustee in the Bernard Madoff case ended Thursday when a Manhattan federal judge signed off on a settlement that had been hammered out in March on the eve of trial.
Under the terms of the agreement approved by Judge Jed Rakoff, trustee Irving Picard agreed to drop his $303 million lawsuit against Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz and their partners in Sterling Equities in exchange for their paying back $162 million in profits received through Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.
Picard also agreed to accept claims by the Sterling partners for $177 million in losses in the scam.
Rakoff said the settlement was “reasonable and adequate and fair,” and in the best interests of Madoff victims who want money back through the bankruptcy proceeding.
The only regret, said Rakoff to laughter from the attorneys, was that the settlement prevented the appearance in court of former Dodgers pitcher and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, whom the Sterling investors planned to call as a witness.
Picard sued the Mets owners in late 2010 to recover up to $1 billion, alleging that the Wilpon family and its partners were willfully blind to Madoff’s fraud. The Sterling partners denied knowing about Madoff’s scheme and eventually got the lawsuit whittled down to $303 million.
Under the settlement, the Sterling partners will withdraw their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging Picard’s method of calculating losses. That is expected to be filed Monday, said David Sheehan, counsel to Picard.
The Sterling partners have to first repay $162 million in fictitious profits, but can submit claims, which Picard now accepts as legitimate, for $177 million in Madoff losses. As Picard continues to recover funds in other settlements, the Mets owners will be credited with their share, reducing the debt.
Once Picard is able to pay 92 cents on the dollar on all claims, the Sterling partners’ $162 million debt will be paid. But if there is any shortfall in repayments after three years, the partners have to pay the remainder over two years, with Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz guaranteeing up to $29 million.”
Prismo
6/1/2012-4:51pm at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
Mets fans seem to be more on “pins and needles” about promoting startings in the minors than any other fanbase.
Strasburg had like 10 minor league starts (or so) before he came up, heck Pelfrey had 33!
Wheeler already had 44 starts and people think he needs another FULL YEAR, or more!
If he’s ready, he’s ready! Send the man up to AAA, if he dominates the rest of this season, he deserves a legit shot at the rotation next year.
All this pu**yfooting makes me sick. Limit their innings, they need 5 years in the minors, 150 starts. Blah blah blah. I hate it!!
All the babying doesn’t help anyone, there are PLENTY of examples of pitchers who were babied and still flopped or had significant injuries.
NJstuckinTX
6/1/2012-5:20pm at 5:20 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not sure I’d promote him yet, but I could see both Him and Harvey battling for a SP position out of ST. Though the smart thing would be to call them up in May of next year. Just saying.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2012-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
Fixed it Prismo.
gategem
6/1/2012-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
Strasburg like Doc Gooden is a one in a generation type talent. Even at that Gooden had 38 starts in the minors. Perhaps they don’t believe Wheeler has the command or maturity to make the jump to the majors in a pressure environment that is New York at this particular time. Pitching against the Reading lineup is quite different from facing the New York Yankees lineup.
Stick
6/1/2012-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
I agree to an extent. It really should be based on the readiness checklist. If he is physically ready, and has mastered what he needed to (control/certain pitches/whatever) then yeah, if he is getting results bring him up.
I would like to see him in AAA this year at some point, and if it goes well, then yes, let him compete in ST.
Mr North Jersey
6/4/2012-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
I see NYMAG linked to this post Paul. Nice.
Paul Festa
6/4/2012-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
I know, how cool!
SaltyGary
6/4/2012-4:01pm at 4:01 pm (UTC -4)
It’s the NYM Bump!