N.Y. Mets: Last Season in Vegas

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

CASHMAN FIELD

home of the

LAS VEGAS 51s

Triple-A Affiliate of the New York Mets

2013 - 2018

The Mets announced last year their purchase of the Syracuse Chiefs franchise, and thus have successfully consolidated three of their minor league affiliates within the state of New York.  The existing Player Development Contract in place between the Mets and Las Vegas 51s expires at the conclusion of this season.

• Mark Weiner of Syracuse.com reported at the time the New York Mets were purchasing the (AAA) Syracuse Chiefs.  According to Weiner, a tentative deal will allow the Mets to assume control of the Chiefs when the player development contract between Syracuse and the Washington Nationals expires after the 2018 season.  The timing also coincides with the expiration of the New York Mets development contract with the Las Vegas 51s.

However, I have every intention of keeping up with 51's baseball.  Being on the east coast, Las Vegas start times on most nights conveniently follow Mets games.  And with Syracuse in my time zone, I'll still be in search of Pacific Coast League or even California League action.  Therefore, nothing really changes.  Because of my now familiarity with Las Vegas 51s games I'll be sticking around for seasons to come.  I grew to enjoy immensely through the last five years Russ Langer's call and baseball banter.  I'm a creature of habit.  So truth be told, Russ Langer has effectively become my midnight lullaby.

Personally, the last five years have been largely highlighted by former manager Wally Backman and pitching coach Frank Viola.  Many Mets fans hoped for several years to see them both one day working for the big club.  But that never materialized.  Instead Wally and the Mets parted ways two years ago on rather acrimonious terms, while Frank Viola transferred to Binghamton.

The 51's have a new manager again.  Tony DeFrancesco takes over for Pedro Lopez, whom took over for one season after Backman's departure.  Although he is new to the Mets organization, let's just say there are few people more familiar with, and have achieved more success in the Pacific Coast League.  Tony's resume is lengthy, and includes four PCL championships.

Taking over for Frank Viola will be Glenn Abbott, who has been serving dutifully at Binghamton for the previous six seasons.  Viola and Abbott are essentially trading places.  And the former's first order of business as new pitching coach at Las Vegas requires straightening out Hansel Robles and Zack Wheeler.  The two joined forces on an 8.91 ERA after surrendering a combined 21 earned runs on 39 hits through 21.2 total innings of Grapefruit League action.

• Hansel Robles might be getting called up due to an injury to Anthony Swarzak.

Jamie Callahan is a member of the 40-man roster.  Selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, the 24-year old right-hander is a product of the Boston Red Sox system and subsequently acquired by the Mets in the Addison Reed deal.  He appeared in nine games for the Mets last year, allowing seven hits and striking out five through 6.2 innings pitched.  He owns a career 4.71 ERA over six minor league seasons and 384 innings pitched.

Infielders Gavin Cecchini and Luis Guillorme are both also on the Mets 40-man roster.  Amed Rosario is now the starting shortstop for the Mets.  If needed, Adrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, and even Wilmer Flores could always fill in.  Meaning Cecchini, the 12th overall selection of the 2012 amateur draft, is potentially facing his third full season at Las Vegas, and therefore will continue transitioning to second base in a bid to win the position in 2019.  Shortstop Luis Guillorme, 23, is coming off a full season at Binghamton, where he batted .283 with a .376 OBP.

Outfielder Travis Taijeron spent the last three full season at Las Vegas.  However, the Mets outfield is log jammed.  There was simply no room for him.  As a consequence, the organization had no choice last November but to grant Travis his free agency after serving seven years in the Mets system.  He was signed with haste by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Travis was a career .514 slugger through 2,644 minor league at-bats.  He achieved double-digit home runs six times, and twice hit 25 home runs in a season.  I'm sorry to see him go ...

Philip Evans, 25, opened the season with the big club based on his ability to play multiple positions.  However, he's likely the odd man out once Michael Conforto returns to the Mets line-up.  If the Mets were smart, though, they would let Conforto fulfill a rehab assignment first before shoehorning him back into active status.  Evans should otherwise look forward to his second full season at Las Vegas.  Like Travis Taijeron, he similarly finds himself stuck behind a logjam at Flushing, and is fast running out of time with the organization.

Same also goes for Jayce Boyd.  A familiar face among Mets minor league fans, but otherwise indistinguishable from the crowd.  As a first baseman/left fielder by trade, he simply lacks the slugging potential required of those positions.  In his first taste taste of AAA ball last season, he slugged above .500 for the first time in his six year minor league career.  But many chalk that up to playing in the desert conditions of Las Vegas.

Remember Wuilmer Becerra?  He was acquired along with Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard as part of the R.A. Dickey trade with Toronto.  He was barely eighteen years old at the time.  Becerra is 22-years old now, and presently listed on the 51's roster.  He's been playing at Port St. Lucie the last two seasons.  He's double-slashing .282/.341 through 1,577 total minor league at-bats.

Matt den Dekker marks his return to the organization after spending the last three seasons at Washington and Detroit.

Left handed pitchers will forever be in demand.  David Roseboon returns for a second season with the 51's.  He was doing just fine until his arrival in the Pacific Coast League.  With Binghamton, he posted 14 saves and a 1.87 ERA in 2016, with a 5.3 H/9 and 8.4 K/9 averages through 57.2 innings pitched.  But in 18 games and 17.1 innings for Las Vegas last season, he posted an unsightly 8.31 ERA and 1.788 WHiP.

Southpaw Kelly Secrest, 26, is entering his first full season with the 51's.  Last year with Binghamton, he posted a 4.03 ERA and 1.658 WHiP through 38 innings.  He averaged 10.9 K/9, but his 10.7 H/9 and 10.7 W/9 averages would appear quite troublesome.

OPENING DAY

El Paso Chihuahuas

vs.

Las Vegas 51's

THURSDAY