After just two games in Queens, the Mets hit the road to try to end June on a good note.
What’s up with the Pirates?
These Buccos fought the last time the Mets saw them, which was almost a month ago. Since losing two of three in New York and falling 23-29, but the Pirates have righted the ship (yar!) something. They have beaten up on some weak opponents lately to bring their record back to .500 at 39-39.
It has changed enough for the Pirates to be considered a competitor? Well, great prospect Gregory Polanco called him and has looked very good in his first 15 games. The reception is so fond of the girl who is already trying to negotiate a contract extension in the long term, and some scouts think Polanco has a potential superstar.
Now, with a talented and athletic fielder Polanco starring alongside Andrew McCutchen cadidate MVP and the fast-but-strikeout prone Starling Marte, the Pirates got rid of Jose Tabata from the list of 40 players. Still, the return of second baseman Neil Walker of the DL means that the manager Clint Hurdle should find ways to keep Josh Harrison in the lineup. The surprisingly productive Harrison can play second base as well as the gardens, but the colon is filled now with the return of Walker.
Would be nice if Harrison could play shortstop because Pittsburgh is getting little production from that position, and first baseman Ike Davis has slipped a bit since his hot start with the team. When that third baseman Pedro Alvarez just hitting enough home runs to offset their strkeouts, adds crime problems will get to meet a mediocre rotation and a bullpen that has seen Jason Grilli off a cliff.
Who are these guys?
Can you say I’m not too high on the Pirates? Probably started when I looked at the roster of the playoffs last season and thought, “You know, not that much more talented than the Mets.” That was intended to be by Amazins optimism, but now that both teams are bad, the pessimism of Pittsburgh.
A type that is difficult to generate pessimism is Polanco, showing the rare combination of athleticism and ability to control the strike zone. Last season at Double-A Altoona issued 36 walks and 36 strikeouts in 286 at-bats. Polanco did not hit for much average or power in 2013,
but it sure did this year at Triple-A Indianapolis. A line of .347/.405/.540 with 24 walks and 44 strikeouts in 274 plate appearances decided to call Polanco easy. The 22-year-old out of the Dominican Republic has the potential to become a similar player McCutchen can bring excitement to Pittsburgh in the coming years.
Russell Martin has a name that is familiar to baseball fans, but may not be as appreciated as it should be. After being a star player on offense and defense through his first three seasons with the Dodgers, Martin has fallen into the category of “good intangibles” of the backups can be used, but the statistics show that he is still a valuable lot on the plate and behind it.
Last season, a 0.222 BABIP did Martin A replacement level player on offense, but their defense ranked so high FanGraphs he was worth 4.1 FWAR. He is not as good on defense in 2014, but 0.327 BABIP and a rate of 14.9 percent career walk with him a surprisingly valuable bat in the lineup in Pittsburgh have.
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