2/29/16

Mack’s Morning Report – 2-29-16 – Mike Piazza, ST Starting Pitchers, Backup Catcher Framing




Good morning.


It’s Sunday so it’s a light schedule in Port St. Lucie.


Training camp continues, but today is Mike Piazza day. Piazza spent the early portion of his stay walking around and getting familiar with Mets players, especially guys like Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson. All the catchers gathered around him for their pop up drill, something I’m sure Mike is glad he doesn’t have to do anymore (best pop up hitter – Tim Teufel). One fan yelled out ‘show em’ how it’s done, Mike’… ain’t gonna happen.

Pizaa to Cespedes - "I don't care what you drive as long as you drive in runs."
Piazza also wants to talk to Cespedes about taking your walks and not being overly anxious as he was in World Series                     

Then, catchers had to locate their mitt, find the ball in the air, and catch the ball.

Mack – can you imagine the rush of someone like Tomas Nido, Raywilly Gomez, or Nevin Ashley getting one on one advice from the future Hall of Famer. You can’t pay good money for this.



Wilmer Flores worked out at first base today.


Noah Syndergaard threw a bullpen session.


Ruben Tejada primarily worked out on third base today.



The Mets did announce pitching for some of the upcoming spring games –

3-1 Intrasquad Team Blue – Sean Gilmartin, Logan Verrett, Zack Thornton, Chase Bradford, and Akeel Morris

3-1 Intrasquad Team Orange – Robert Gsellman, Duane Below, Seth Lugo, Josh Smoker

March 3 – vs. Washington – Rafael Montero, Gabriel Ynoa, Jeff Walters

March 4 – vs. Miami – Logan Verrett, Buddy Carlyle, Zack Thornton




David Wright and Curtis Granderson led other Mets putting on a clinic for more than 100 Special Olympic athletes.



From Fangraphs... here's how they rank faming from backup catchers - 


BP Framing, 2015
NAMELevelFraming ChancesCSAA
Josh TholeAAA32610.023
Austin HedgesAAA12330.022
Kevin PlaweckiMLB39630.021
Austin HedgesMLB27120.021
Chris StewartMLB24700.019
Max StassiAAA61760.018
Tyler FlowersMLB63170.018
Jose LobatonMLB24920.014
SOURCE: Baseball Prospectus


4 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Exciting group of pitchers in those intrasquad games. Wish I were there.

Plawecki will frame well and hit well in 2016.

Driive in runs, less wild swinging on strike 2, and more swinging on fat zero strike counts, and Cespedes could be great.m

Hobie said...

So tha best framers get 2-3 Called Strikes Above Average per game (figuring 120 pitches). I guess that's significant, idk.

I wonder if there are CSAA stats for umpires? Anybody know?

Mack Ade said...

Hobie -

I don't know how important or accurate these kind of graphs that Fangraphs runs all the time but the important thing is it gives us (the fans) and the team addition information on their team.

eraff said...

Pitch Framing is a nice concept...The Stat is pure Bullshit