2015 GIF’s and Stats: Upper Level Left-Handed Relievers

MLB front office exec's 'Love A Lefty' too!

This trio of 27-year old lefties and Josh Edgin (29) start the season atop the Mets lefty bullpen depth

       1)   Josh Smoker, 27

       2015 with Savannah: 6 G, 6.2 IP, 8.10 ERA/1.98 FIP, 11 H, 6 R, 8 K: 2 BB, .478 BABIP, 53.9 LOB%, 0 HR

       2015 with St. Lucie: 14 G, 21.1 IP, 1.69 ERA/2.18 FIP, 12 H, 5 R (4 ER), 26 K: 6 BB (31 K%: 7.1 BB%), .154 AVG, .216 BABIP, 78.3 LOB%, 0.42 HR/9

       2015 with Binghamton: 21 G, 21 IP, 3.00 ERA/2.36 FIP, 16 H, 8 R (7 ER), 26 K: 11 BB (29.2 K%: 12.4 BB%), .205 AVG, .308 BABIP, 70.4 LOB%, 0 HR

Josh Smoker’s return to affiliated ball in 2015 went great, and he’s poised to help the Mets should they desire a lefty when injury hits. Hitting upper 90’s (topped around 97 MPH last year) with his fastball from the left side is his specialty, but Smoker also throws a nice splitter, and an occasional slider. There’s no deception in his delivery, so he doesn’t have a huge platoon advantage, but his stuff plays against both sides. He’s ready for Las Vegas, but the Mets bullpen crunch could push him back to Binghamton. That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing though, as he just needs innings, and they may be harder to come by with the 51s early in the year. Even if it’s just a September callup, I think Smoker will finish the year in the Mets pen.

       Astromets Mind Coverage

2015 with Savannah
5/7 – 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 K, 3 GO: 1 FO
Swinging strike
Called strike
Swinging strike
Swinging strike

2015 with Binghamton
7/5 – 1 IP, 2 K, 1 FO
Mechanics

7/22 – 1 IP, K, 1 GO: 1 FO
Mechanics
Swinging strike – slo-mo

7/24 – 1.1 IP, H, BB, K, 2 GO, 1 IR – 0 S
Swinging strike

7/27 – 2 IP, H, R (0 ER), BB, 4 K, 2 GO
Ball
Swinging strike
Called strike

8/15 – 1.1 IP, H, 2 K, GO, 1 IR – 0 S
Swinging strike
Swinging strike
Swinging strike
Swinging strike
Swinging strike

9/2 – 1 IP, BB, GO
Called strike

       2)   Dario Alvarez, 27

       2015 with Binghamton: 32 G, 31 IP, 3.19 ERA/3.17 FIP, 21 H, 14 R (11 ER), 43 K: 16 BB (32.1 K%: 11.9 BB%), .183 AVG, .271 BABIP, 69.9 LOB%, 0.58 HR/9

       2015 with Las Vegas: 16 G, 11 IP, 2.45 ERA/2.33 FIP, 6 H, 3 R, 19 K: 5 BB (43.2 K%: 11.4 BB%), .167 AVG, .353 BABIP, 78.6 LOB%, 0 HR

Dario Alvarez emerged in the Mets system during the 2014 season, rising as high as the majors in September, but was sent back for more seasoning in AA and AAA last year. His fastball sits in the low-90’s, but his bread-and-butter is a sweeping slider that lefties find hard to hit, and even harder to resist swinging at. He’s a LOOGY with a nearly sidearm motion that aids in his deception of lefties. He’s below Smoker and a healthy Josh Edgin on the Mets lefty depth chart, but don’t sleep on Alvarez, because his LOOGY ways make him a potential replacement for Jerry Blevins or Antonio Bastardo, should bad performance or injury rear their ugly heads. When at his best, Alvarez lives at the bottom of the zone and works to set up his slider. The biggest hurdle for Alvarez is his control, as he’s never had a BB% in the single digits, and was even at 9.4% vs. LHB’s last year. If he wants a major league team to feel comfortable relying on him, Alvarez is going to have to show he can improve his walk rates.

       Astromets Mind Coverage

2014 coverage
2015 with Binghamton
5/15 – 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 K, HBP
Called strike
Swinging strike

5/20 – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K, HR
Swinging strike
Swinging strike
Swinging strike

7/21 – 1 IP, 3 K
Called strike – slo-mo
Swinging strike – slo-mo
Called strike – slo-mo

2015 with Las Vegas
8/6 – 1 IP, K, GO
Swinging strike

       3)   Chase Huchingson, 27 on 4/14

       2015 with Binghamton: 22 G, 26.2 IP, 5.06 ERA/4.06 FIP, 24 H, 16 R (15 ER), 29 K: 18 BB (23.6 K%: 14.6 BB%), .238 AVG, .324 BABIP, 67.3 LOB%, 0.34 HR/9

       2015 with Las Vegas: 29 G, 29.2 IP, 3.34 ERA/4.88 FIP, 28 H, 16 R (11 ER), 22 K: 22 BB (16.2 K%: 16.2 BB%), .248 AVG, .300 BABIP, 70.6 LOB%, 0.30 HR/9

Chase looked like a promising lefty reliever in the Mets system while posting a 1.69 ERA over 45 appearances from the Binghamton bullpen in 2013, but he hasn’t been the same pitcher since returning from a 2014 suspension for a ‘drug of abuse.’ Huchingson was basically Dario Alvarez-lite last year: similar side-arming motion, low-90’s heat, and big wipeout slider, just wilder and less effective. He has the tools to be an effective LOOGY, he just has to control the repertoire. There are a number of lefties in the system ahead of Chase, so I don’t expect him to make this team this year unless injuries get that bad.

       Astromets Mind Coverage

2014 GIFs
2015 with Las Vegas
6/21 – 1.2 IP, H, 2 K, HBP, 1 GO: 1 FO
Called strike
Called strike

7/17 – 0.2 IP, BB, K, GO
Swinging strike

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