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Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

metirish Jul 29 2011 11:48 AM

So far he's a chilled guy....and blessed.....and active on Twitter.

TransMonk Jul 29 2011 12:32 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

I would've adopted him had he been a little less chilled.

TransMonk Jul 29 2011 03:16 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Per Metsblog's coverage of the introductory conference call: He grew up close to Turner Field – his favorite player was Chipper Jones growing up. Hmmm...

metirish Jul 29 2011 09:13 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Presser as mentioned above , Depodesta in here too......no surprise he saw Wheeler back in highschool By Adam Rubin Right-hander Zack Wheeler, the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants for Carlos Beltran, spoke with reporters by phone an hour after arriving in Port St. Lucie. Wheeler, 21, grew up a Braves fan an hour outside of Atlanta. He expects to make his Mets debut Monday with Class A St. Lucie in the Florida State League. VP Paul DePodesta also weighed in on the trade. Here's a transcript ... What are your emotions joining a new organization? ZW: "It's good. I'm looking forward to some new opportunities, and looking forward to seeing what this organization has to offer. And I think it's going to be good." I presume there were a lot of rumors leading to trade. Were you tracking it? ZW: "There's always been that rumor out there for a while now. It sort of died off, because I thought that I would possibly get traded for (Jose) Reyes. But that died off. And it just got brought back up. I woke up I think it was Wednesday morning and I thought my buddy, Gary Brown, our center fielder, I thought he did get traded. So I texted him. He was like, 'No. Not yet.' And so I went downstairs and started watching ESPN. And like 15 minutes later, they're like, 'Zack Wheeler is probably about to get traded.' So I was like, 'Oh, man. That's a shock.'" Courtesy of Tom Medina/San Francisco Giants Zach Wheeler with Class A San Jose Mechanically you recently made some changes because of a high walk total (47 in 88 innings this season with Class A San Jose)? ZW: "When I first got drafted, I went to my first instructs (instructional league) and they tried to settle my motion down a little bit to make it more easier. I think I just had to think a little too much, because I was going too slow. I didn't have any rhythm really. When I broke my hands, I had to think about getting the ball up and stuff. So it was a little too much. Probably like two outings ago we went back to what I was doing in high school. And that's just a high leg kick and bringing my hands up sort of next to my head. It's all one, fluid motion, so it works out good. I just feel comfortable again. My command is there. I've only walked two guys (in 11 1/3 innings) my past two outings. I think it's working." When will you pitch for St. Lucie, and what has the transition been like the past few days? ZW: "I think I'll be pitching Monday down here in St. Lucie. It's been sort of like a little drag, I guess you could say, these past couple of days, just traveling and the airport and flights getting delayed and all that kind of stuff. But I got to go home (to Georgia) last night and stayed a night at my own house and see my mom and dad and my brothers. So that was nice." What were the pressures going up in a baseball hotbed in Georgia? ZW: "My whole family was athletic. They loved sports. I just grew up playing baseball ever since I could stand. It was really in my blood. My brothers, I was always at their practices throwing the ball around and stuff. But when it really came down to it, I just worked hard and always tried to get better." Did you ever make it up to New York when your brother Adam pitched professionally with the Staten Island Yankees? ZW: "I went up to Staten Island to watch him pitch. I also went to a Brooklyn Cyclones game when they played them. It was a pretty cool atmosphere up there. It was nice." Not the Staten Island-Brooklyn game when your brother was involved in a bench-clearing brawl with the Cyclones? ZW: "No. I didn't get to see that one. I wish." How much do you lean on your brother, since he was a professional in Class A with the Yankees from 2001-04? ZW: "He played four years and got some good coaching and got to talk to a few big league guys and stuff. So when I was going into high school, he was telling me all of this. And most guys in high school don't get to hear all of that stuff. So I think it sort of made me one step closer just knowing what to expect and just changing my demeanor out there on the mound. Being confident out there and not showing your emotions, that was the biggest thing he preached to me." Paul, did you see Zack firsthand before the trade or in high school? And what were your observations? PD: "I saw him in high school. At the time I was with San Diego. We had the No. 3 pick in the country (and took Georgia high school outfielder Donavan Tate). So I was down there in Georgia and did get to see him pitch toward the end of his senior year. In short, it was pretty electric. That night he touched 99 (mph). He came out in the first inning throwing 97, 98, and had one of those breaking balls that elicited an audible sound from the scouts the first time he snapped one off. It was a pretty good combination and certainly an exciting guy. He was right near the top of our board in San Diego, and I think was the top high school pitcher on our board. I may have gone to great lengths here to finally acquire him, leaving the organization and everything else. We're certainly glad we have him here in New York." Paul, with his innings count (88), could he pitch in the Arizona Fall League? Or is it a pretty quick shutdown for this year? PD: "We think there's probably another 30 (innings) to go. St. Lucie is going to be in the playoffs, so he might get another start in there. We'll see as we get closer, down the line. We think it will be already a pretty good, full year." Zack, I presume you grew up a Braves fan. How far were you from Turner Field? And who were your favorite players? ZW: "I was probably about an hour away from the stadium. Everybody grew up liking Chipper Jones. So that was probably my favorite player -- watching Chipper, and Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. A pretty good team growing up. I didn't go to a lot, but I went to a few." Paul, your thoughts on the reverting back to his old delivery? PD: "Even like you do with a draft pick, when we bring a new player to the organization, we're really going to sit back and just watch for a while. I don't think it's our job to go in there and immediately start changing things. We're going to get to know him, get to know his delivery, understand from him what feels comfortable to him and what doesn't. And then we'll see as we continue to move forward. I suspect we'll let him do what feels comfortable here for a while and we'll just sit back and evaluate and see if there's anything we can do to maybe help. I don't think there are going to be major changes." What was it like finding out about the trade basically on ESPN? ZW: "I was kind of shocked at first, of course. Once I started thinking about it, the Giants are pretty stacked up there. I mean they could have used me in a couple of years probably. It was fun just thinking about what I could be doing with the Mets. It's something new and they're developing a lot of young guys and they're looking toward the future. I was pretty happy about it."

metirish Aug 02 2011 06:40 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Per Rotoworld via the internet Zack Wheeler, who the Mets acquired in the Carlos Beltran trade, allowed four runs on seven hits over four innings Monday in his first start with High-A St. Lucie. Wheeler allowed three of the four runs in a 40-pitch first inning, but settled down from there. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out four and walked one. The 2009 first-round pick has already thrown 92 innings this season, so it might not be long before the Mets shut him down for the year.

metirish Aug 02 2011 01:54 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Bondy in the Snooze today mentioned a site called Project Prospect as saying Wheeler is a major arm injury over the next five years. http://projectprospect.com/article/2011 ... ing-report Mechanics/Misc. Wheeler throws from a 3/4 arm slot. He has a good, aggressive tempo. He's not a max effort pitcher. He stays balanced through his delivery and repeats it well. He has big feet and broad shoulders. There's a good chance that his body isn't done filling out. Added muscle could lead to better body control, better command and more velocity. That said, Wheeler has a big red flag in his mechanics, a timing problem. He doesn't begin to turn his forearm over and get the ball into the driveline until after he plants his front foot, despite his long stride. This leads to halted lower body momentum and a lot of stress on his throwing arm. Ideally, a pitcher will generate energy with his core then bring his arm along for the ride. Though Wheeler looks balanced and his velocity appears easy, he doesn't create an efficient chain of kinetic energy in his delivery. His arm is left to do a lot of the work.

Edgy MD Aug 02 2011 02:01 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

The majority of pitchers should expect a major arm injury over the next five years, no? And if Wheeler somehow escapes that, who will remember a prediction made five years previous?

metirish Aug 02 2011 02:05 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Edgy DC wrote: The majority of pitchers should expect a major arm injury over the next five years, no? And if Wheeler somehow escapes that, who will remember a prediction made five years previous? Yeah I know, it's ridicules , Bondy is ridicules . I'm timing this , and if he gets through the five years without the above mentioend I'm going to email Bondy. So I guess I'll remember , he's my boy after all.

MFS62 Aug 02 2011 09:53 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

I've read about that prediction of an arm injury for Wheeler before. (subscription site) It stems from his motion, in which his pitching arm and his glove arm both have the elbow higher than the hands. It is called the "inverted W". I don't know why it isn't just called the M. Mark Prior is the latest example of pitchers using that motion experiencing serious arm injuries. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 02 2011 10:22 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

MFS62 wrote: I've read about that prediction of an arm injury for Wheeler before. (subscription site) It stems from his motion, in which his pitching arm and his glove arm both have the elbow higher than the hands. It is called the "inverted W". I don't know why it isn't just called the M. Mark Prior is the latest example of pitchers using that motion experiencing serious arm injuries. Later I prefer "scap-loading." It's got a word-jazz to it. I hate to agree with anything Bondy writes, even tangentially, but I can kinda see what the Prospect people mean; the arm following the front foot plant with that much lag DOES put a lot of strain on one's arm-- it's like swinging after you've shifted your weight forward, with all the power coming from arm/upper-body action. (BTW, excellent scouting report; the GIFs of each pitch are something I would love to see for every minor leaguer.)

metirish Aug 03 2011 07:21 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Yeah it was a great read.

Edgy MD Aug 03 2011 07:25 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

My point is merely that the five-year time frame isn't very meaningful.

metirish Aug 07 2011 05:33 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

"@stluciemets: Wheeler six shutout innings. He struck out seven, allowed four hits, no walks, 1 HBP. Still no score, top 7." He's legit?, too legit to quit ?

metirish Aug 21 2011 05:20 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

ZacK tweeted from Outback the other night asking what he should get, I was going to reply a life but then thought it's me that needs one. I told him to order a full rack of ribs, he tweeted that he got the cheese fries. I was beyond disapointed .

Frayed Knot Aug 21 2011 05:35 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

MFS62 wrote: Mark Prior is the latest example of pitchers using that motion experiencing serious arm injuries. Most of the world knew that Prior was a major arm injury waiting to happen ... and most of those who claimed to know in advance were only too happy to share their knowledge right after it occurred. Prior to that (no pun intended) he was the greatest pitching machine ever built.

Edgy MD Aug 21 2011 06:38 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

And as Prior first experienced arm problems in 2004 (actually almost every injury has been to the shoulder), he's not really the latest example of anything.

metirish Aug 22 2011 09:35 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

20 innings pitched for St. Lucie and 20 hits, not good but 23 SO and only 5 BB are http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... eele001zac

metirish Sep 07 2011 07:52 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

@BillWhiteheadFL Bill Whitehead Final line on Zack Wheeler. 3.2 IPs, 5 Hs, 4ERs, 6Ks, 2Ws, 1HBP. #Stluciemets #FSL #mets He'll not be best pleased with that.

metirish Nov 03 2011 01:19 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

wheelerpro45: I think I'm gonna be Carlos Beltran this weekend for Halloween. wheelerpro45: #thatawkwardmoment when ur on the phone with the Comcast guy waiting for something to reboot/happen and nobody is talking. Yeahhh haha 23 hours ago wheelerpro45: @DJPaulyD and @VINNYGUADAGNINO handshake is dope. #bromance

Frayed Knot Apr 21 2012 04:06 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Wheeler is #6 this week on Baseball America's 'Prospect Hot Sheet' (remember, this is not an overall prospect judgement, merely a weekly round-up of who's hot) Why He's Here: 0-1, 3.00, 2 GS, 12 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 HR, 17 SO, 2 BB, 3 HBP The Scoop: Wheeler notched nine strikeouts against Portland on Friday and eight more against New Hampshire on Wednesday to take over the Eastern League lead with 21 punchouts. The EL is a long way from the big leagues, granted, but one couldn't ask for much more from Wheeler than he's shown thus far. He's throwing strikes with two plus pitches and showing flashes with his third and fourth offerings. Monitor Wheeler's lefty-righty splits this season to check on the progress of the changeup and cutter, two weapons he needs to combat lefthanded batters.

Frayed Knot May 24 2012 06:08 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Full-on profile of Wheeler from John Sickels: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/5/2 ... #storyjump [video attached for any mechanics freaks out there] One of the most dominant pitchers in the minors this year is right-hander Zack Wheeler of the New York Mets, currently pitching for Double-A Binghamton in the Eastern League. Acquired for Carlos Beltran last summer, he's been everything the Mets could have possibly hoped this spring, solidifying his status as one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in the game. Wheeler was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round in 2009, from high school in Dallas, Georgia. The sixth-overall pick in the draft, he accepted a $3,300,000 bonus, passing up college baseball at Kennesaw State. He signed late and didn't make his pro debut until 2010. Pitch counts and a cracked fingernail that wouldn't heal quickly limited him to just 59 innings for Low-A Augusta in '10. He had serious command issues and walked 38 men, but he was also overpowering, fanning 70 and allowing just 47 hits (.218 average against) for a 3.99 ERA. Moved up to San Jose in the High-A California League for 2011, Wheeler continued to have command issues and walked 47 in 88 innings, while maintaining excellent K/IP and H/IP rates (98 whiffs, 74 hits, .224 average against). Traded to the Mets in late July, he was assigned to High-A St. Lucie in the Florida State League and pitched brilliantly, posting a 2.00 ERA in six starts with a 31/5 K/BB ratio in 27 innings. Thus far in 2012, he's 4-2, 1.97 in eight starts in Double-A, with a 51/21 K/BB in 46 innings, 27 hits allowed, and a .175 average against. Wheeler is a 6-4, 185 pound right-handed hitter and thrower, born May 30, 1990. His key pitch is a 93-97 MPH fastball, a plus pitch with both velocity and impressive movement. He utilizes a slider/cutter, a power curve, and a changeup. The curveball is his best secondary pitch but all of them have strong potential. Statistically, his excellent dominance ratios provide objective confirmation of the quality of his stuff. His biggest issue has been simple command. He threw strikes much more efficiently after going back to his high school mechanics last summer, but his walk rate has spiked upward again this spring, granted the rest of his numbers remain excellent. Wheeler projects as a number two starter and we should see him in New York sometime next year. The Mets don't rush prospects like they used to, and I anticipate they will be patient with him while he polishes his command.

Edgy MD May 24 2012 09:05 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

And he's about 16.25% of the way through Bondy's five-year prediction.

Frayed Knot Jun 01 2012 07:22 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

May 31 vs Reading: 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K

Benjamin Grimm Jun 01 2012 07:23 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

It will be interesting to see what the Mets 2013 rotation will look like.

MFS62 Jun 08 2012 09:37 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

It's getting silly. In his last 60 IP, he's given up 32 hits, has 67Ks and has a .166 ERA. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jun 08 2012 09:51 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

MFS62 wrote: It's getting silly. In his last 60 IP, he's given up 32 hits, has 67Ks and has a .166 ERA. Later That decimal point can't be properly placed.

MFS62 Jun 08 2012 09:52 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's getting silly. In his last 60 IP, he's given up 32 hits, has 67Ks and has a .166 ERA. Later That decimal point can't be properly placed. It made me look twice when I saw it on a protected site. EDIT: You're right, checked it on MiLB. Its 1.66. Still nifty. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 15 2012 07:07 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/ama ... 9yfrxBi0xL

MFS62 Jun 15 2012 07:22 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

There shouldn't be an apostrophe s in the headline. Everything else was good to read. Later

Frayed Knot Jul 02 2012 09:09 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Wheeler's impressive 1st half nets a jump in John Sickels' mid-season re-rank from his pre-season slot at #36 up to #13 Some of that move is caused by top of the list guys like Harper & Trout graduating themselves out of prospect land but he's leaped some others as well.

Edgy MD Jul 06 2012 10:31 AM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Zach last night against the Richmond Flying Squirrels: 7 1/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO. Sitting at 8-4, 2.62 on the year.

Edgy MD Aug 01 2012 02:50 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Officially promoted to Buffalo.

Ceetar Aug 01 2012 06:30 PM Re: Adopted - ZacK Wheeler

Caught the Terry Collins interview on WFAN. They asked if he wants to see Wheeler get a shot this season in September and he said he doesn't expect that to happen, and he's already thrown a lot of innings.