Cory Mazzoni no afterthought in Mets camp

[Sick Of It All]

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/met...t-in-mets-camp

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey own prime real estate in the Mets’ spring-training clubhouse, lockering side by side between Johan Santana and Shaun Marcum.

Right-hander Cory Mazzoni’s locker, meanwhile, is so far in a corner nook, he nearly resides in the training room. Yet Mazzoni is far from an afterthought in the organization’s plans.

A 2011 second-round pick from NC State, the 23-year-old Mazzoni has tossed a combined five scoreless Grapefruit League innings against the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins, allowing only one hit and no walks.

Sporting a 90-94 mph fastball as well as a slider and split-finger fastball, Mazzoni went 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA while splitting last season between Class A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton.

Mazzoni’s highlights included tossing a seven-inning complete game in his Double-A debut at Akron on June 20, then seven scoreless innings three starts later at Altoona, about a 90-minute drive from his Evans City, Pa., home just outside of Pittsburgh. (Mazzoni followed a family tradition and grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan, not the Pirates, though.)

Baseball America ranks Mazzoni as the No. 10 prospect in the organization.

He is likely to open the regular season with a solid Binghamton rotation.

“It was definitely a jump,” Mazzoni said, contrasting the Florida State and Eastern leagues. “Hitters up there are definitely more patient, more polished. There was definitely a learning curve. Once I was up there for a while, I thought I held my own.”

For now, Mazzoni is in demand as a bowler, too. After rolling a 216 during the opening session of the team’s weekly bowling competition, David Wright stole Mazzoni for the third baseman’s team.

Mazzoni bowled four times a week as a teenager and entered tournaments.

“At the time, I think I liked bowling more than I did baseball,” Mazzoni said. “My dad got mad at me a couple of times because I’d rather go to the lanes than go to the field. When I was young I was into it.”

There are clubhouse rumblings Wright actually had to give up compensation to acquire Mazzoni’s bowling services.

“I don’t know, but somehow he put me on his team,” Mazzoni said. “I don’t know what the details were.”

Mets need to keep Mazzoni as a starter which would allow him to keep good value.

[YoungStuna]

I wanted him to be a reliever, but that's probably jumping the gun. I really like what I've seen from him though, I'm shocked he hasn't struck out more batters. Hopefully he does that this year and has a better season.

If not, I think it should be time to make him a reliever in 2014.

[Sick Of It All]

That is why should just never go by stats you see in a page and conclude that because he does not K many guys that he is not that good to be a starter. There was a reason why this guy was considered and still is by many a pitcher that could be a #3 starter.

Many guys have a tough time the first go around at AA, then do much better the second go around, I think Mazzoni will be one of those guys

[YoungStuna]

That is why should just never go by stats you see in a page and conclude that because he does not K many guys that he is not that good to be a starter. There was a reason why this guy was considered and still is by many a pitcher that could be a #3 starter.

Many guys have a tough time the first go around at AA, then do much better the second go around, I think Mazzoni will be one of those guys

I kept hearing about the lack of downward plane on his fastball and that he lost velocity deep in games. Add the lack of strikeouts and lack of ground balls usually point to a pen role.

I think he will have a better season though, his secondaries should be improved, and hopefully he's better prepared for a full season.

[jomota]

I don't know if it's ST optimism or what, but it seems like we're going to have a lights out staff in a few years. Starters and pen.

[Sick Of It All]

The lack of K's is a bit over blow imo, I showed how he actually gets a good amount of K's by making guys swing and miss, so I think he could easily improve on that with a bit better command and yes that would mean pitching in the lower part of the plate more. Give batters different views and like that get more K's looking.

[YoungStuna]

The lack of K's is a bit over blow imo, I showed how he actually gets a good amount of K's by making guys swing and miss, so I think he could easily improve on that with a bit better command and yes that would mean pitching in the lower part of the plate more. Give batters different views and like that get more K's looking.

In that case, I and others vastly underrated him in our rankings. I hope he has a good season because he's got a quality arm.

His control is solid, but yeah like you said his command needs work. I don't think his command will ever be that good though because his mechanics seem to require some effort. That could be a reason why he tires late in games.

[Sick Of It All]

Clearly there are things that he still needs to improve on to reach that goal of a #3 starter, but if he does not, he is a guy that could be used in the pen with his current stuff and do well. He clearly has an MLB arm.

[YoungStuna]

Clearly there are things that he still needs to improve on to reach that goal of a #3 starter, but if he does not, he is a guy that could be used in the pen with his current stuff and do well. He clearly has an MLB arm.

Agreed.

[alexandre302]

Mazzoni has a 5 pitch repertoire: above ave FB, SL, ave splitter, CB, circle CU. At AA, the Mets had him use only 3: FB, SL, and Splitter. He struggled to keep the splitter down in the k-zone and AA hitters killed it. Had Mazzoni used his entire repertoire, he would have been much better. Sometimes, you have to understand what a player is doing to evaluate stats. This is how you prepare a SP to become a RP.

[YoungStuna]

Mazzoni himself recently said he only throws 3 pitches. The FB, SL, and FS.

[The-rock-man]

He's moving along, hope to see him in 2014!

[Sick Of It All]

or a team makes a starting pitcher a reliever and has him work out of the stretch more and concentrate on just a couple of pitches.

[MetsFanatic19]

I'd like to avoid converting him to a bullpen pitcher just because we already have so much pitching. I'd rather keep developing him as a starter and use him as trade bait, or just keep him just in case Harvey, Wheeler, etc... don't pan out.

If he shows signs of not being able to start and pitch for 5, 6, 7 innings on a weekly basis, then I'd convert him. The good thing is, I think he'd be fine either way, which is better for everyone.