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Matt Reynolds

TheOldMole Aug 27 2014 11:11 AM

How close to ready?

Edgy MD Aug 27 2014 12:30 PM Re: Matt Reynolds

I'm no scout, so I can only but speculate about how ready --- but I glean from reports that he'd get a September callup, but they don't want to burn a roster spot on him, as he doesn't have to be added to the roster in the offseason, so they'd like to preserve any spots they are able to clear in order to protect (from the Rule V draft and minor league free agency) players they have to protect. The same narrative likely holds true for Plawecki. Syndergaard has a better chance to get called up, because they might figure that getting him a taste of a big league clubhouse and a handful of innings may be worth more than the roster spot it costs. Else, expect the Mets to be decorating their September lineup with a splash of Brown Satin. Don't be surprised by some delicate Tea staining and a contrasting tacky pair of Dice.

Frayed Knot Aug 27 2014 12:38 PM Re: Matt Reynolds

I think the short answer to 'How Ready' is: Very, or at least 'Nearly' He came out of a major college program (U-Arkansas), in a high draft position (2nd round), and now has over 1,000 ABs in the minors including 500+ in the upper levels of AA & AAA The tougher question is: How good? Does he profile as a full timer or more like a ML sub? His hitting in the minors suddenly shot up this year so is that a fluke (and LV/PCL-influenced) or a sign of things to come? And does he have true SS skills or will he be like [u:3slapq4z]most[/u:3slapq4z] amateur SSs who can hack that position in the lower levels but find themselves increasingly out-classed defensively as they move up? I haven't really heard a lot of answers to those questions yet.

seawolf17 Aug 27 2014 12:51 PM Re: Matt Reynolds

I saw Dice-K during the "walk from the dugout to the clubhouse" post-game shot last night, so you know he'll be back soon. I had to google Matt Reynolds because I'd literally never heard of him. Nice little season he had.

Frayed Knot Aug 27 2014 12:54 PM Re: Matt Reynolds

Perhaps this thread was inspired by yesterday's NY Times article which talked about adjustments made to his swing in the off-season by Rick Strickland, hitting instructor and part-time scout for the Mets. ... Strickland concluded that Reynolds was not moving his body in unison as he swung. Adjustments were made and the results were immediate. Reynolds hit .355 in 58 games with Class AA Binghamton this season and was promoted to Las Vegas, where he has continued to hit just as well. And the line drives are going to the opposite field again. Whether or not Reynolds makes a cameo appearance with the Mets in September, he is expected to play [and now has been named] in the highly regarded Arizona Fall League, where the Mets can get one more look at him this year and think some more about whether he can play shortstop on the major league level or might need to move to second or third. Wally Backman gives him the Wally stamp of approval by referring to him as "a grinder".

Frayed Knot Aug 27 2014 01:01 PM Re: Matt Reynolds

From a recent 'Ask BA' Q&A at Baseball America Q: If you were a betting man, would you wager that Reynolds is just another Brad Emaus Las Vegas illusion or something more? A by J.J. Cooper: Playing in Las Vegas does make it hard to judge stats. Reynolds’ .903 OPS actually ranks sixth among Las Vegas hitters with 100+ ABs. Potentially a utility infielder at the big league level, but until the Mets do something about their hole at shortstop, that makes him a starting candidate in New York.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 27 2014 01:23 PM Re: Matt Reynolds

My guess is that unless the Mets trade for someone like Castro, guys like Flores, Reynolds, and Tejada (if he's still around) will compete for the starting shortstop job next spring. And the competition may continue into the regular season, as with Davis/Duda this year. If Reynolds wins the job, he'd be seen as a short-term shortstop solution, but having the job gives him the opportunity to prove he can keep it. I suspect that if Reynolds is the 2015 shortstop, the position will still be on the Mets shopping list for 2016, but who knows? Maybe he'll surprise.

MFS62 Aug 28 2014 06:28 AM Re: Matt Reynolds

I think (hope) Reynolds can develop into a more than adequate major league shortstop who can hit. I picture him along the lines of Marco Scuttaro, who has played more than 10 years in the majors, mostly as a regular. Later

Frayed Knot Aug 28 2014 06:44 AM Re: Matt Reynolds

13 seasons and counting* actually, for Scutaro, ten of them where he played in 100+ games. The snag here is that he wasn't a full-timer until the age of 28 and played about as much 2B as he did SS (w/a bit of 3B, 1B & OF thrown in). Now that's a nice career and I'm sure Reynolds would take it (and its .277/.341/.388 slash line) if offered to him, but that's not the same as saying he's the answer to 2015's NYM starting SS question. * although this season's been pretty much an injury-filled waste (5 games/11 ABs) and he'll turn 39 just after the season ends so this may be it for him

Benjamin Grimm Aug 28 2014 06:46 AM Re: Matt Reynolds

Well, he may end up being the answer for 2015, but I doubt that he'd be anointed during the offseason. If anything, he'd get the job at the last minute after other plans fell through.