Las Vegas 51s: 2017 Season In Review

Taking a closer look at how the 51s finished the season with the worst record in the PCL

What’s in this post:

       -       Season Summary
 -       Astro's Awards

       -       Coaches

       -       Team Stats

       -       51s on the PCL Leaderboards

       -       Promotions

       -       Links to Astromets GIF Recaps (56)

What Happened

            Last year was the 35^th season for Las Vegas baseball in the PCL and the 5^th season that the 51s were affiliated with the Mets. The Las Vegas Stars/51s have been affiliated with four Major League teams in their history, and even though this was a second straight losing season, the 51s still have a winning record overall with the Mets (365-353). In fact, the Mets are the only team with a winning record while affiliated with Las Vegas, as the previous tenants (Toronto) finished at 287-288.

            But the 2017 season was definitely a tough one for the Las Vegas 51s, as they eventually lost nearly all of their top players in promotions to the Mets, while getting almost no reinforcements sent from lower minor league affiliates. The season ended with a 56-86 record and several St. Lucie regulars filling out the lineup, because the Mets apparently did not want to mess with the Rumble Ponies playoff roster (which is fine). But even when the 51s had top prospects Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario going strong in the heart of the lineup, they were losing games more often than anyone in the PCL, so what happened?

51s Drop Game Two In Salt Lake After An Early Exit Pill

Las Vegas 51s @ Salt Lake Bees

July 1, 2017

Tyler Pill @ John Lamb

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1		3	6	0
Salt Lake	2	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	X		6	11	0

W: Lamb (1-0, 3.60 ERA); L: Pill (4-2, 2.76 ERA)

Boxscore

The Stats:

Pitchers

Tyler Pill (L, 4-2, 2.76 ERA) – 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 2B, 1 3B, 10 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (2 K/Sw), 5 GB: 4 FB: 1 LD, 54 Pitches (31 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 12 Called, 11.1% SwStr, 31.6% Whiff/Swing, 18 Pitches/IP, 15 BF

Beck Wheeler (7.46 ERA) – 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 5 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB: 4 FB: 1 LD: 2 PU, 50 Pitches (31 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 10 Called, 6% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 25 Pitches/IP, 12 BF

Alberto Baldonado (6.85 ERA) – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 1 BB, 1 K (0 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB: 2 LD, 24 Pitches (15 Strikes), 4 Called, 12 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Ben Rowen (5.70 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 GIDP, 2 GB, 10 Pitches (5 Strikes), 1 Called, 10 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Table 1 – Pill pitch stats by inning

	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
Total	19	22	13	54
Strikes	11	12	8	31
Swinging*	1	1	4	6

*11.1% Swinging strike rate; 31.6% Whiff/Swing rate

Batters

CF - Victor Cruzado - 1-3, 1 BB, 6.7% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

SS - Gavin Cecchini - 0-4, 1 GIDP, 20% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 2.5 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 0-3, 1 BB, 2.5 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 1-4, 1 K, 3.5 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 CS, 2.75 Pitches/PA

LF - Josh Rodriguez - 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 4 Pitches/PA

DH - Cody Decker - 1-4, 2 K, 30.8% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

2B - Phillip Evans - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 GIDP, 8.3% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

3B - Jio Mier - 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 GIDP, 4 Pitches/PA

Decker

Recapish

            After taking game one and with their top starter of 2017 on the mound, the Las Vegas had to feel pretty confident heading into game two of their series with the division leading Salt Lake Bees. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, Pill had to leave early with tightness in his biceps, and the 51s could never dig their way out of the early hole he left them in. A night after scoring ten runs on thirteen hits, the 51s were limited to just three runs on six hits against lefty John Lamb and the Bees pen.

51s Blow Huge Lead In Opener With Tacoma

Las Vegas 51s @ Tacoma Rainiers

June 26, 2017

Tyler Pill @ Chase De Jong

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	2	1	1	0	0	4	0	0	0		8	12	1
Tacoma	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	4	X		9	13	0

W: Hagadone (3-3, 3.62 ERA); L: Baldonado (0-2, 7.52 ERA); Save: Pagan (4)

Boxscore

The Stats:

Pitchers

Tyler Pill (2.29 ERA) – 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 2B, 2 HR, 16 TB, 7 K (7 K/Sw), 9 GB: 6 FB: 2 LD: 2 PU, 108 Pitches (70 Strikes), 11 Swinging, 19 Called, 10.2% SwStr, 21.6% Whiff/Swing, 18 Pitches/IP, 26 BF

Logan Taylor (3.58 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 HR, 5 TB, 2 BB, 3 K (1 K/Sw), 2 FB: 1 LD, 37 Pitches (22 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 7 Called, 8.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 27.7 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Alberto Baldonado (7.52 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 4 TB, 1 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD, 14 Pitches (9 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 1 Called, 7.1% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 21 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Table 1 – Pill pitch stats by inning

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	Total
Total	17	19	13	12	14	33	108
Strikes	11	12	10	7	9	21	70
Swinging*	2	2	3	2	1	1	11

*10.2% Swinging strike rate; 21.6% Whiff/Swing rate

Batters

LF - Victor Cruzado - 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K, 9.5% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA

CF - Matt Reynolds - 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K, 4.8% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 2 K, 12.5% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3.2 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 5.3% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 4.75 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 2-4, 1 R, 1 K, 2.5 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K, 18.2% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

DH - Jayce Boyd - 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 1 K, 15.4% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 4 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 2-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 CS, 21.4% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Las Vegas cruised to an 8-0 lead behind Tyler Pill Monday night, only to see the Rainiers charge back against the 51s pen and take the series opener 9-8. The 51s had a power outburst against Rainiers starter Chase De Jong, launching three doubles and three homers against him over his 5.1+ IP. Pill took a shutout into the 6^th, but then Tacoma hit a pair of homers against him before he left, and another homer against Logan Taylor in the 7^th. They completed the comeback with Alberto Baldonado on the mound, who has had trouble adjusting to Triple-A this year.

The Tyler Pill Call-up and The Mets Upper Level Starting Depth

Reviewing whether Pill was the best call-up option and who else is available at Las Vegas and Binghamton

            If you know nothing else about Tyler Pill, you’re probably pretty excited by the fact the Mets are calling up a 26-year old 4^th round pick from 2011 who is currently leading the offensively charged PCL with a 1.96 ERA. If you know his basic four-pitch repertoire is considered average, at best, across the board and his fastball tops out at 89, you’re probably keeping expectations tempered. If you know his career PCL ERA is at 5.58 even after this recent seven-start stretch, you’re probably scratching your head that this is the Mets best internal option for a start in mid-May, and wondering how the season ever got to this point. That second part would take a long post and some alcohol to answer, and it would probably just boil down to injuries. However, I’d like to quickly review the first part, and look to see whether the Mets had a better starting option in the upper minors, before previewing Tyler Pill.

51s Find Double The Fun In New Orleans

Las Vegas 51s @ New Orleans Baby Cakes

May 21, 2017

Tyler Pill @ Scott Copeland

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	0	4	3	0	0	0	0	0		7	11	0
New Orleans	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0		3	8	1

W: Pill (3-1, 1.96 ERA); L: Copeland (3-5, 5.72 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Tyler Pill (W, 3-1, 1.96 ERA) – 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 6 TB, 4 BB, 4 K (4 K/Sw), 9 GB: 2 FB: 5 LD: 3 PU, 103 Pitches (68 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 22 Called, 7.8% SwStr, 17.4% Whiff/Swing, 16.3 Pitches/IP, 27 BF

David Roseboom (8.47 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 HR, 5 TB, 1 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 FB: 2 LD, 31 Pitches (19 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 8 Called, 6.5% SwStr, 18.2% Whiff/Swing, 23.3 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Erik Goeddel (8.66 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 3 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 LD, 22 Pitches (15 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 6 Called, 18.2% SwStr, 44.4% Whiff/Swing, 16.5 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Batters

SS – Gavin Cecchini - 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 5 Pitches/PA

C - Travis d'Arnaud - 3-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1.6 Pitches/PA

3B - Amed Rosario - 2-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K, 2 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 1-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K, 21.1% SwStr, 36.4% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 1-4, 1 2B, 2 K, 17.4% SwStr, 44.4% Whiff/Swing, 5.75 Pitches/PA

CF - Desmond Jennings - 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 14.3% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

LF - Jayce Boyd - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 K, 31.2% SwStr, 55.6% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

2B - Phillip Evans - 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 Pitches/PA

SP – Tyler Pill - 0-2, 1 SAC, 1 K, 13.3% SwStr, 18.2% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA

RF (Double-Switch) – Victor Cruzado - 0-1, 16.7% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 6 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Las Vegas 51s connected for eight doubles Sunday afternoon, including a pair each from top-prospect Amed Rosario and rehabbing Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud, as well as one each from top prospects Gavin Cecchini and Dominic Smith. 51s ace Tyler Pill continued his strong 2017 with 6+ innings of one run ball, with a high walk total the only red mark on his final line. This opportunity to pitch to d’Arnaud may prove important for Pill’s season (career?), as d’Arnaud’s evaluation could tip the scales one way or the other as to whether the Mets give him some major league starts.