10.12.09

Breakfast Links: Ike, Lindstrom, Bay, Redding... and Jerry Morales


Ike Davis:


Also on the All-Prospect Team was another AFL award winner, Los Angeles Dodgers first-base prospect Russ Mitchell, who was honored with the Dernell Stenson Award for character and leadership. Mitchell was one of two first basemen on the team after hitting .319 with 25 RBIs. Among the other six outfielders named to the squad was Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jose Tabata, who hit .392 with 21 RBIs and a league-leading 47 hits. Along with Tabata were Bryan Petersen (Marlins), Chris Heisey (Reds), Jordan Danks (White Sox) and Domonic Brown (Phillies). Highlighting the infielders on the squad was Cubs shortstop prospect Starlin Castro, who batted .376 and tied for third in the league with nine stolen bases. Other infielders on the team were third basemen Mike Moustakas (Royals) and Josh Vitters (Cubs), second basemen Jemile Weeks (A's) and Scott Sizemore (Tigers) and first baseman Ike Davis (Mets). -
mlb  


Matt Lindstrom:

The Houston Astros got hard-throwing reliever Matt Lindstrom from Florida on Wednesday, hoping he can help fill a late-inning hole in their bullpen. Houston sent two low-level minor leaguers and a player to be named to the Marlins. Lindstrom features a fastball that can reach 100 mph, though he sometimes has trouble harnessing all that power. The 29-year-old righty went 2-1 with 15 saves in 17 chances and a 5.89 ERA in 54 games for Florida last season. He was hurt by four bruising appearances, in which he allowed 18 earned runs in only 2 1/3 innings.




Jason Bay:

According to a major league source familiar with the negotiations, three teams besides the Red Sox are involved in talks with the free agent left fielder. The Angels and Mariners emerged at the winter meetings as Bay suitors, and there were indications in the third and final full day yesterday that the Mets could be entering the fray as well. Before the meetings, the last Sox offer believed to be made to Bay was for four years, $60 million. -
boston herald  





Tim Redding:

According to The New York Daily News, the New York Mets appear to be trying to trade SP Tim Redding before the non-tender deadline Saturday, Dec. 12, when they may cut him loose.
fantasysp



Jerry Morales:

I'm in love with the Jerry Morales story! The Jerry Morales story is Joel and I go to a game in 1980 and we agree our seats are so good that we can see everything except for a ball that's hit into the right field corner. Soon enough, a ball is hit into the right field corner, and the rightfielder — Jerry Morales — doesn't dig it out until about 1982. Forever more, the right field corner is known as Jerry Morales Territory.  - faithandfear

9.12.09

Mack's Rule V Draft Coverage Cancelled Today


As of 10:18pm Wednesday, I am no longer a contributing sports writer for Morris Communication, the owner of the local newspapers I have written for locally here.

I'm just not up to doing this today, guys.

My apologies.

Mack

Rule V Central: - Prospect - RP - Matt Daley




Matt Daley - Jun 23,1982 Queens, New York - 6-2 - 175 R/R


High School: Garden City (Garden City, New York)

College: Bucknell University



Contract: Signed 1-year, $400,000 contract with the Colorado Rockies on Apr 22,2009. Contract purchased from minors



Drafted: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Colorado Rockies in 2004



2004: rookie 2-1, 4.75, 1.19, 8 starts, 51.0-IP, 49-K, 10-BB

2005: A 8-2, 3.99, 1.34, 21 appearances, 30.1-IP, 30-K, 5-BB

2006: AA 4-3, 3.15, 1.31, 51 appearances, 68.2-IP, 79-K, 20-BB

2007: AA 2-6, 3.49, 1.10, 43 games, 10 starts, 95.1-IP, 84-K, 22-BB

2008: AAA 4-6, 3.75, 1.43, 60 appearances, 62.1-IP, 61-K, 33-BB

2009: MLB 1-1, 4.24, 1.20, 57 appearances, 51.0-IP, 55-K, 18-BB

Rule 5 Central: Prospect - SP - Aneury Rodriguez


Aneury Rodriguez – RHP Dec 13,1987 Higuey, Dominican Republic 6-3 180 Right/Right


Not drafted

2005: Rookie: 3-4, 7.55, 1.66, 15-starts, 62.0-IP, 47-K, 26-BB

2006: A- 4-4, 4.14, 1.42, 15-starts, 76.0-IP, 69-K, 30-BB

2007: A 9-9, 5.15, 1.51, 28-starts, 152.0-IP, 160-K, 48-BB

2008: A+ 9-10, 3.74, 1.20, 27-starts, 156.1-IP, 139-K, 40-BB

2009: AA 9-11, 4.50, 1.27, 27-starts, 142.0-IP, 111-K, 59-BB

Rule V Central: - 2008 Draft - Major League Phase


Pick Player Position Drafted By Drafted From 2008 Club


1 Terrell Young RHP Washington Cincinnati Sarasota

2 Reegie Corona INF Seattle New York (AL) Trenton

3 Everth Cabrera SS San Diego Colorado Asheville

4 Donald Veal LHP Pittsburgh Chicago (NL) Tennessee

5 Lou Palmisano C Baltimore* Milwaukee Brevard County

6 Luis Perdomo RHP San Francisco St. Louis Springfield

7 David Patton RHP Cincinnati** Colorado Modesto

8 Kyle Bloom LHP Detroit Pittsburgh Altoona

9 Jose Lugo LHP Kansas City*** Minnesota Ft. Myers

10 Benjamin Copeland CF Oakland San Francisco Fresno

11 James Skelton C Arizona Detroit Erie

12 Zachary Kroenke LHP Florida New York (AL) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

13 Gilbert De La Vara LHP Houston Kansas City Northwest Arkansas

14 Jason Jones RHP Minnesota New York (AL) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

15 Darren O'Day RHP New York (NL) Los Angeles (AL) Salt Lake

16 Eddie Morlan RHP Milwaukee Tampa Bay Montgomery

17 Robert Mosebach RHP Philadelphia Los Angeles (AL) Arkansas

18 Miguel Gonzalez RHP Boston Los Angeles (AL) DNP

19 Derek Rodriguez RHP Tampa Bay Chicago (AL) Charlotte

20 Ivan Nova RHP San Diego New York (AL) Tampa

21 Rocky Cherry RHP New York (NL) Baltimore Norfolk

Top 10 All-Time Rule V Picks


1. Johan Santana


Rule 5 selection: By Marlins from Astros, 1999. Traded to Twins with cash for Rule 5 selection Jared Camp on Draft day With the exception of perhaps only Clemente, Santana has to be considered the best all-time Rule 5 pick. He has two Cy Young Awards on his shelf and finished third in 2005 and 2008. For his career, the four-time All-Star is 122-60 with a 3.12 ERA and 1,733 strikeouts in 1,709 2/3 innings. Opponents have hit .225 against the southpaw and he's averaged 9.12 strikeouts per nine innings, placing him eighth all-time.



2. Dan Uggla

Rule 5 selection: By Marlins from Diamondbacks, 2005

The talk surrounding Uggla is often about the strikeouts and yes, he has carried the bat back to the dugout 611 times in his 617 Major League games. But he's also driven in 90 or more runs in three of four years, hit 30 or more homers in each of the past three seasons and increased his walk totals every year. The two-time All-Star has been durable, with a low of 146 games played in 2008. All of that earned him a push up to the No. 2 spot. He may find a new home in 2010, but the Marlins can't complain about the return they've gotten on their $50,000 investment.
3. Josh Hamilton

Rule 5 selection: By Cubs from Rays, 2006. Traded to Reds on Draft day

An injury-riddled 2009 season moved him down to No. 3 on this list. After hitting .292 and slugging .554 as a rookie with the Reds in 2007, his first year with the Rangers was other-worldly. He finished seventh in MVP voting that season and went to the All-Star Game in New York, ending with a .304 average, 32 homers and 130 RBIs. His "down year" in 2009 saw him hit just .268/.315/.426 in 336 at-bats, but his overall numbers as a big leaguer -- .292/.356/.508 -- are still pretty impressive. Look for a bounce-back year in 2010 as a nice encore for what's already worthy of a movie script.

4. Joakim Soria

Rule 5 selection: By Royals from Padres, 2006

In the first season following his selection, Soria had a 2.48 ERA and 17 saves in 62 games. He topped that by making the All-Star team in 2008 and finishing second in the American League with 42 saves in 45 opportunities. The 2009 season saw a trip to the disabled list with a rotator cuff problem, but he still put up very good numbers: 30 saves, 2.21 ERA, .219 batting average against, 69 K's in 53 inning. In his three-year Major League career, he's now got 89 saves in 99 tries to go along with a 2.09 ERA. He's struck out 210 and walked just 54 in 189 1/3 innings, while hitters have managed to hit just .190 against him.

5. Shane Victorino

Rule 5 selection: By Padres from Dodgers, 2002. Returned to Dodgers, May 2003; By Phillies from Dodgers, 2004

The two-time Rule 5 selection has moved up the list based on his recent performance. Obviously, the 2008 World Series ring lends credibility, as does his return appearance in the Fall Classic last year. He added an All-Star appearance to his resume in 2009 as well as his second straight Gold Glove award. He set career highs in hits, RBIs, walks and on-base percentage while scoring more than 100 runs for a second successive year. That gives him a career line of .284/.347/.428 with 109 steals to boot. Not bad for a guy twice passed over.

6. Fernando Vina

Rule 5 selection: By Mariners from Mets, 1992. Returned to Mets, June 1993

He moves down another slot largely because of inactivity (and Victorino's success). Clearly Seattle had the right idea when it drafted Vina from the Mets. But after 45 at-bats with the Mariners in 1993, Vina was given back to New York. He made the Majors for good in 1994 and went on to make an All-Star team and win a pair of Gold Gloves. Even though he was hurt for much of 2003 and 2004 before retiring, a .282 career average and more than 4,200 big league at-bats say he deserves to be on this list.

7. Willy Taveras

Rule 5 selection: By Astros from Indians, 2003

When the Astros selected Taveras, they realized they wanted to keep him, but in the Minors. So they made a trade so they could keep him and let him continue to develop. In two seasons with the Astros, he hit .284 with a .340 on-base percentage and 68 steals. He was then dealt to the Rockies and he proved to be a catalyst in their run to the 2007 World Series, hitting .320 with 33 steals over 97 games. He took off, literally, in 2008 with his 68 steals, leading the Major Leagues. He swiped just 25 in 2009, the first in the past five in which he didn't top the 30-steal plateau. Still, he's among baseball's leaders with 194 steals over the past five seasons.

8. Miguel Batista

Rule 5 selection: By Pirates from Expos, 1991. Returned to Expos, April 1992

The Pirates didn't keep the right-hander, sending him back to the Expos after pitching him in just one game, but clearly they saw something in him. And say what you will about his inconsistencies over the years, there aren't too many Rule 5 picks who have gone on to spend parts of 15 seasons (not counting '92) in the Majors. He's also shown the ability to fill a number of roles, closing in 2005 and saving 31 games and topping 200 innings as a starter for the first time in 2006. He moved on to Seattle for the 2007 season and proceeded to win 16 games, his career high. He forgot about a rough 2008 season with a solid 2009 campaign in relief and now has 1,761 career Major League innings on his resume.

9. Scott Podsednik

Rule 5 selection: By Rangers from Marlins in Minor League phase, 1997

Every time it appears that Podsednik's career is fading, he finds new life. After seeing greatly reduced roles in 2007 and 2008, he became an integral part of the 2009 White Sox, hitting .304 with 30 steals as their primary leadoff hitter. Even without the resurgence, he was a good choice to be Exhibit A for why everyone should also pay attention to the Minor League phases of the Rule 5 Draft. You never know when one of those guys is going to develop. It took Podsednik a while to get going, in 2003, when he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He was an All-Star two years later on the White Sox World Series-winning team. His 30 steals in 2009 marked the fifth time he'd hit that plateau (the other four were 40 or more) and he now has 266 career steals to go along with a .277/.340/.381 line.

10. Frank Catalanotto

Rule 5 selection: By A's from Tigers, 1996. Returned to Tigers, March 1997

Even though the Tigers left Catalanotto unprotected in 1996, they knew they had a good player on their hands. He moved from Double-A to Triple-A after the A's returned him to the Tigers, then made his Major League debut in the 1997 season. It took him a while to establish himself, but he went from being a super-sub with the Rangers to an everyday outfielder for the Blue Jays in 2003, when he hit .299 and set career highs in homers and RBIs. Even though he missed much of the 2004 season due to injury, he still hit .293, then improved that to .301 and tied a career high in RBIs in 2005. He hit .300 in 2006 to bring his career average to a nifty .297. He parlayed that into a three-year deal back with the Rangers in 2007, settling into a utility role in Texas and continuing that with the Brewers in 2009. From the humble beginnings of being a Rule 5 pick, Catalanotto has played in more than 1,200 big league games and collected more than 1,100 hits in 3,799 career at-bats.  -  mlb

Rule V Central - Draft Order Tomorrow



Pick No. Team


1 Nationals

2 Pirates

3 Orioles

4 Royals

5 Indians

6 D-backs

7 Mets

8 Astros

9 Padres

10 A's

11 Blue Jays

12 Reds

13 White Sox

14 Breweres

15 Cubs

16 Rays

17 Mariners

18 Tigers

19 Braves

20 Twins

21 Rangers

22 Marlins

23 Giants

24 Cardinals

25 Rockies

26 Phillies

27 Dodgers

28 Red Sox

29 Angels

30 Yankees

Rule V Central: - Prospect - Corey Wimberly


The Rule 5 Draft will take place at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday. During the Major League phase, eligible players left unprotected from their clubs' 40-man rosters may be selected for $50,000. A player selected must remain on his drafting team's active Major League roster during the following season or be back to the original club for $25,000. MLB.com will carry the audio live from Indianapolis with Jonathan Mayo and Mike Siano as co-hosts.

A year ago, (Corey) Wimberly was coming off of his fourth pro season in the Colorado Rockies organization and hoped to be added to the club's 40-man roster in his first year of Rule 5 eligibility.

He certainly had the resume that spoke on his behalf. The 5-foot-8 switch-hitter, who had led the NCAA in hitting with a .462 average at Alcorn State before being drafted in the sixth round in 2005, won the Pioneer League batting crown that same summer, hitting .381 in his pro debut at short-season Casper, stealing 36 bases in 67 games  -  milb.com

Top Shortstops Ranking in the MLB Draft



1. Christian Colon – Cal State Fullerton – excellent defense… only 11 errors as a sophomore… projects out as catcher… handles the bat well… could be best infielder in the draft… toolsy… led the 2008 US National team with 26 hits… hits to all fields… excellent defensive player with strong arm, great hands, and incredible range… excellent power for middle fielder… great bat speed… walked only 7.8% in 2009… drafted in the 10th round in 2007 by the Padres… freshman All-American… hit .352 as sophomore… projected as second baseman.



7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: Colon was very highly thought of out of high school, winning the MVP of the Aflac All-American game in 2007, but slid to the 10th round due to a mediocre spring and a strong commitment to the baseball factory in Fullerton. A full-time starter from the day he set foot on campus, Colon managed a .357/.442/.529 line in 2009 with 26 of his 91 hits going for extra bases. Colon shows great contact ability, only whiffing 8.0% of the time last year. Defensively he has a strong arm, solid range and outstanding instincts. Colon has always been seen as a very smart player who maximizes his abilities. While he doesn’t have the raw tools of a Grant Green or Brandon Crawford, Colon looks like a very solid bet to be an average big leaguer.





7/08: Colon became the new USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) record holder for stolen bases in a game after he tallied four.





7-09: Fr. Keith Law/ www.espn.com : His speed is suspect and that's usually a red flag for playing shortstop, but Law insists that he can play the position at the pro level.



7-13: As of July 13, hitting .400 with a pair of homers and 27 RBIs.





7-14: hit a three-run home run in the fourth to lead Team USA to an 8-4 victory over Japan in game three of the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championships. Also, hit a three-run HR.





7-20: homered in the first inning, scored on a wild pitch in the 8th, and doubled in the 9th, for Team USA win over Team Canada



7-21: 2010 MLB Mock Draft - 2nd Edition - July 21, 2009 by Scouting The Sports http://scoutingthesports.com/?p=3632 - 7. Pittsburgh Pirates - Christian Colon Shortstop Cal State Fullerton - -Even with a deeper class, Colon has all the tools to be the best infielder in 2010. Colon, who participated on the 2008 US National Team and led the team with 26 hits, has incredible bat control and great speed. He hits the ball to all fields and has shown some flashes of power that could develop once he begins to inch closer to the major league level. Colon is the best defender in this class, as he has incredible range, great hands, and a strong arm.



7-23: hit 2-run home run for Team USA in 10-2 win over Team Prince George Axemen



7-24: Colon broke both his tibia and fibula, on his left leg, during a game he played for Team USA against Team Canada. He is expected to be out from 2-3 months.



8-2: from 6-16 article www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com: Colon has special hands defensively and is one of the steadiest defenders in college baseball, making only 11 errors as a sophomore. Some scouts have expressed a desire to move him behind the plate as a pro because his range is fringy at the pro level, and he has a squat body and plenty of arm strength. But Colon has middle-infield actions that are increasingly hard to find at the college level, and handles the bat well, with enough power to demand respect.



8-24 fr. www.baseballamerica.com: - Amidst the kudos for Colon's intangibles and makeup, it's easy to overlook his talent, and his production. A second-team All-American as Cal State Fullerton's sophomore shortstop this spring, Colon ratcheted his game to another level this summer, hitting .362/.459/.617 and leading Team USA in slugging, home runs (five), RBIs (37), runs (31) and stolen bases (24 in 26 attempts). He also drew 11 walks and struck out a team-low six times despite registering a team-high 94 at-bats. For his impressive offensive production—and, yes, for his valuable leadership—Colon is Baseball America's Summer Player of the Year…



8-24 fr. www.baseballamerica.com: - But Colon's summer was cut short in Team USA's penultimate game against Canada. Colon was covering second base on a bunt to third, and he received the throw in plenty of time to get the out and fire a relay to first. But the runner slid hard and late, colliding with Colon's shin. Colon suffered breaks in his fibia and tibia, forcing him to miss the title game of the World Baseball Challenge two days later. Both breaks were clean, and Colon was already walking around 15 days after the surgery, albeit with a limp. He is expected to make a full recovery well before the start of the 2010 season, but he will likely miss all of fall ball.

9-16: From www.baseballamrica.com : - College Top 25 draft prospects: 6. Christian Colon, ss Cal State Fullerton



9-24: From: http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: Mock Draft Version 1 – #2 overall pick - Christian Colon, SS - Cal State Fullerton



9-28: From http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Mock Draft Version 2 - #3 pick overall - Christian Colon, SS - Cal State Fullerton - Baltimore seems to love Cal State Fullerton infielders. On top of this Baltimore is stacked with quality pitching, outfielders, and their catcher Matt Wieters. They lack some infield depth and this is great selection to nail down the middle of the Orioles infield in the future.



10-5 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com: 4. Kansas City Royals – Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton- (1st SS picked in draft) – Colon may have broken his leg at the end of Team USA’s season, but that was only after he had established himself as the best all-around position player in the 2010 college class. He’s a good fielder with good instincts, a good hitter, and there’s really nothing he’s bad at. People will whine about his lack of dazzling tools, but Colon’s got a solid toolset with a solid skillset with great makeup, and there’s no reason to think he can’t be an above-average Major League shortstop in relatively short order. Assuming he recovers fully from the broken leg, he’s a top ten pick with a good spring.



10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – #35 – Christian Colon – 2nd SS on list



10-6 from: http://baseballdraftreport.com: - SS Christian Colon - I guess my lack of love for his game comes from me severely underrating the value of a league average big league shortstop (a rookie mistake on my part, I admit) and also being less than impressed when seemingly every scouting report about Colon begins and ends with talk about his personality, leadership, and the way he makes the most of his average at best tools. No doubt Colon’s makeup is totally off the charts and his defensive chops make him a slam dunk to stick at short professionally, but I tend to focus more on the “average at best tools” part of that discussion than the “personality” and “leadership.” I’m both ready and willing to convinced I’m totally wrong on Colon, but that’s where things stand now. For what it’s worth, I’ve only seen Colon play once since watching him in person in high school, so maybe I’m judging him unfairly based on my limited and outdated memory of his skills. Also, for what it’s worth, I have a scouting buddy who has seen Colon play a ton from his junior year of high school until this past summer and he absolutely loves everything about Colon’s game.



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com - Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton - A broken leg won’t keep Colon down, and I think he’ll come back quite effectively for the spring season. He doesn’t really have any plus-plus tools, but he’s a great all-around player and the best middle infield prospect available in the 2010 class. Projected draft slot: Early-first to mid-first round.



10-13 from www.mymlbdraft.com: 2010 MLB Mock Draft - #8 – (1st SS picked) - Christian Colon



11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 6- SS Christian Colon (1st SS on list)



11-3 from www.mlbresource.com: 3rd Mock draft – #6 - Christian Colon, SS - Cal State Fullerton - Arizona will jump all over Colon at this spot. With Stephen Drew eligible for free agency in a few years, Colon will be the perfect replacement. (1st SS on list)



11-7-9 from www.mlbresource.com: - Christian Colon, SS Cal State Fullerton - Colon is a spark plug that has a plus bat and outstanding baseball instincts. He is a spark plug type player.



11-18 from www.macksmets.blogspot.com: - SS Christian Colon – yes, he did break his leg a few months ago, but no every day player has the kind of ceiling Colon has and he’s a shortstop to boot. (1st SS on list)



11-20 from www.draftamerica.com: - 3. Baltimore -- Christian Colon, SS, Cal St. Fullerton. BAL has gone with arms the past two years with their first pick, but Colon (provided healthy) could be a slot signing that addresses a glaring organizational weakness while providing security by way of excellent plate discipline and defense.



11-23 from www.deepleagues.com: - #3 - Baltimore Orioles Cristian Colon (SS, Cal St. Fullerton) (1st SS on list)











2. Yorby Cabrera – Lakeland HS (FL) – 6-3, 195 – verbally committed to Miami… father Tigers’ minor league coach… also a pitcher but projected as a third baseman… FB 94 range… pro arm in the field…



From: www.baseballfactory.com - Cabrera is a physically mature young man with two-way talent. In the infield he shows a quick first step, sure hands and a plus arm. At the plate, he uses strong wrists and hands to generate plus bat speed with pull side power. Although he is more appealing as a position player prospect at this time, Cabrera also throws a low 90s fastball on the mound. He attended a Team One Preview in Floria and played in the Under Armour Fall Tournament as a member of the All-American Prospects – a UA Franchise Team. He has verbally committed to the University of Miami.



8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: looks great in a uniform as well, ball off the wood jumps when he makes solid contact, pulls off the ball some, runs well underway, solid ave at the worst, also showed ML arm strength.





8-6: From www.baseballamerica.com: - Cabrera has a pro body and all the tools you look for in a young player. At the plate, he has strong wrists and forearms that generate good bat speed and produce hard line drives. The Miami recruit runs a 6.6-second 60-yard dash with fluid actions and above-average arm strength in the field and on the mound, where he touches 92 mph.



8-17 from www.baseballamerica.com re: AFLAC games - The home run derby was won by Yordy Cabrera (Lakeland, Fla., HS). Cabrera is an older, more mature high schooler whose uppercut, pull-oriented swing enables him to drive the ball deep to left center. He'll be 20 years old a few months after his graduation in 2010.



8-19: Jeff Sullivan from the AFLAC Games: - A physically imposing high schooler, Cabrera is listed at 6’4, 190 pounds. His body looks pro ready already, although he is much older than the other players at the event. Cabrera showed off his power all week long, including hitting eight homers during the first round of the home run derby at the University of San Diego, then hitting five out at PETCO. He hit some monster shots at USD and he makes it look easy. He was dead pull all week and it will be interesting to see how he handles the outside pitch, and if he is able to go the other way with it. He has good bloodlines, as his father is a coach in the Detroit Tigers system.



9-7: From www.perfectgame.com on the AFLAC games: what can you say about this young man? He's much older than the competition he's played against, he should dominate them and the best position for him is probably the outfield corner. Butchered many ground balls in the attempts I saw. On the hill he's just ok, he doesn't repeat velocity/delivery extension consistent enough. Upper cut stroke will get eaten up in pro ball and expose him. Lots of room to get better, but basically, what you see now is what you will get later, in my opinion.



9-5: from Jonathan Mayo’s 8-26 article on www.minors.mlbblogs.com: - Yordy Cabrera showed good power and a nice swing -- it reminded some of Andruw Jones's finish -- though since he's a little older (he'll be 19 1/2 come next year's Draft), he's tougher to evaluate.





9-16: From www.baseballamerica.com : - High School Top 25 draft prospects: 12. Yordy Cabrera, ss/rhp Lakeland (Fla.) HS



9-24: From: http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: Mock Draft Version 1 – #6 overall pick - Yordy Cabrera, SS - Lakeland HS (FL)



9-28: From http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Mock Draft Version 2 - #6 pick overall - Yordy Cabrera, SS - Lakeland HS (FL) - The Mets have a ton of needs for their farm system at the moment. Fernando Martinez is the crown jewel and 2010 will be his season. I would love to see the Mets go into a full rebuild mode (not sure how that would go over in New York but I think it is needed). The Mets do have a strong core of players in David Wright, Johan Santana, and Carlos Beltran. However, their is not much to surround them unless Jose Reyes goes back to form and Martinez ends up being the real deal. The Mets to me should pattern their plan after Boston's. Build a farm system starting with trades for multiple prospects for guys like Santana or even Wright and then draft good young talent. The Mets then have the financial resources to surround these players with some big money free agents. Right now I think the Mets need to take one step back to move two steps forward. Yordy Cabrera would be a perfect fit as he brings a young athletic infielder who can play all over. He hits for power and would be a great start to a new farm system. He has committed to play college ball at the University of Miami.



10-5 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com: 25. St. Louis Cardinals – Yordy Cabrera, SS, Lakeland HS (FL) – (4th SS picked in draft) - Remember what I said about Machado being big? Cabrera’s bigger. That’s why many scouts think Cabrera’s eventually going to outgrow shortstop, where he shows consistently good actions and range. He’s a bit of a hacker at the plate, but he’s got plus tools there, too. He’s fast, too, with a plus arm, so he’s what you might consider a true five-tool player in a relatively weak class for tools. If Cabrera turns out a great senior year, he could be compared favorably to Jio Mier of the Astros, and I see him being a solid first-round pick.



10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – 11th on list – IF/OF Yorby Cabrera



10-6 from: http://baseballdraftreport.com: - INF/OF/RHP Yordy Cabrera - Something about those draft eligible sophomores always intrigues me. I haven’t talked to many people who think Cabrera will stick at shortstop professionally, but he’s so darn talented across the board that I’d be willing to gamble on him being productive wherever he winds up on the diamond.



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com – Yordy Cabrera, Lakeland HS (FL) Florida always seems to be brimming with prep shortstops, and this year is no different. Some scouts prefer Cabrera to Machado, though Cabrera’s bigger and might be a long-term third baseman. He needs to work on his plate discipline and pitch recognition skills, as he might become the next Miguel Tejada in those areas at the plate without major work. Projected draft position: Late-first to mid-second round.



10-13 from www.mymlbdraft.com: 2010 MLB Mock Draft - #27 – (4th SS picked) - Yordy Cabrera



11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 20- SS Yordy Cabrera (3rd SS on list)



11-3 from www.mlbresource.com: 3rd Mock draft – #21 - Yordy Cabrera, SS - Lakeland (FL) - I see Minnesota taking one of three players in this selection with the others being Manny Machado and Derek Dietrich. Cabrera to me right now has more upside and a chance to be a power hitting shortstop or third basemen in the big leagues. (4th SS on list)



11-9-9 from www.examiner.com: - Top 15 High School Draft Prospects - 12. Yordy Cabrera, ss/rhp
Lakeland (Fla.) HS
College Commitment: Miami - A strong and athletic 6-foot-4, 190-pounder, Cabrera offers power potential, good arm strength and sound defensive actions. (3rd SS on list)



11-17 from www.mlbdraft.blogspot.com: - 3. Baltimore Orioles- Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton - Colon is the best position player in the draft. The Orioles are pitching heavy, and Colon would be a nice fit in the system. He does everything well, and the Orioles are in need of an impact position player in the system. (1st SS picked)



11-17 from www.mlbdraft.blogspot.com: - 27.Philadelphia Phillies- Yordy Cabrera, SS, Lakeland HS(FL) - One of the best power displays I've seen from a HS player. During the week of the AFLAC game Cabrera put on a show in the first round at the University of San Diego. He is big, so he might outgrow SS, but either way, his bat is special. (3rd SS picked)



11-18 from www.macksmets.blogspot.com: - 25. SS Yorby Cabrera – many of us had him much higher six months ago, but he’s still a first rounder in a weak draft. (4th SS on list)



11-20 from www.draftamerica.com: - 17. Tampa Bay -- Yordy Cabrera, SS/RHP, Lakeland HS (FL). Cabrera has soft hands and the footwork to play up the middle, though he may grow out of the six-spot and into the hot corner -- his bat should play, regardless.



11-23 from www.deepleagues.com: - #12 - Cincinnati Reds Yordy Cabrera (3B, Lakeland, FL) (1st 3B on list)





3. Manny Machado - Brito HS (FL)



9-16: From www.baseballamerica.com : - High School Top 25 draft prospects: 4. Manny Machado, ss Brito HS, Miami



9-27 from: http://web.usabaseball.com: The USA Baseball 18U National Team logged a seven-run inning for a third consecutive day in a 14-0 run-rule shutout Sunday against Panama in the third day of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium. Tony Wolters and Manny Machado notched three hits apiece.



9/27 from: http://web.usabaseball.com: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado each drove in two runs in a seven-run third inning to lead the USA Baseball 18U National Team to a 14-0 run-rule shutout against Argentina Saturday in Day 2 of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium.



9-28: From http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Mock Draft Version 2 - #18 pick overall - Manny Machado, SS - Brito Miami Private HS (FL) - It has been a long time since the Twins have taken an infielder this high in the draft but this could be the year. It almost seems like a yearly need for the Twins to have a main stay at SS and hopefully Machado can be this guy. If Colon gets here, which is unlikely the Twins could not pass on him.



9-29: From: http://www.baseballrumormill.com – Manny Machado's performance from the 18-and-under trials had a few scouts worried about how his defense would project professionally. While the defensive questions may not have been answered, Machado hit extremely well in the USA's first three games, at least temporarily making scouts forget about possible defensive deficiencies. Against Aruba in the opener, Machado was 3 for 4 with a HR, 2RBI and three runs scored in Team USA's 13-3 win. He followed up that performance with 3 RBI in the USA's 14-0 blanking of Argentina.



9-30: From: http://web.usabaseball.com: - Karsten Whitson, Connor Mason and Kevin Gausman combined on a three-hitter, and an opportunistic offense took advantage of five errors as the USA Baseball 18U National Team remained unbeaten with a 19-0 run-rule shutout of Colombia Monday on Day 4 of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium. Garin Cecchini made it a 3-0 game with an RBI double. The team then added four more runs in the second on Tony Wolters' two-run double and a two-run home run by Bryce Harper, a towering blast to right field. Team USA erupted for five runs in the fifth on two hits and two Columbia errors, with Brian Ragira's two-run double the big hit in the at bat. Wolters ended up with three RBIs. Harper, Cecchini, Ragira and Kavin Keyes had two apiece. Keyes also had three hits. Harper, Cecchini and Manny Machado each scored three runs.

10-3 from www.baseballrumormill.com: - Manny Machado Dominates 18-And-Under Tournament - The 18-and-under Team USA squad dominated pool play this week at the 2009 COPABE Pan Am "AAA" Championships. After going 3-0 in their first three games this past weekend, Team USA followed those games up with three more wins this week. On Monday Team USA defeated Columbia 19-0, beat Cuba 9-5 on Wednesday and finished up pool play with a 6-3 win over Venezuela on Thursday. While AJ Vanegas and Jameson Taillon led the way with solid pitching performances, it was Manny Machado who stole the show for Team USA. Machado performed well in Team USA's opening games this weekend and finished pool play with an impressive stat line: 435/536/739 with two home runs, nine RBI and nine runs scored in six games. If there are still concerns about Machado's defense, scouts are less likely to care as his bat continues to impress.



10-5 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com: 21. Minnesota Twins – Manny Machado, SS, Brito Private HS (FL) – (2nd SS picked in draft) - Machado’s a polarizing player in the scouting ranks, as there’s an argument raging over whether Machado’s a true shortstop or not. It’s not hard to follow either side’s argument. On the plus side, Machado can turn in some plays that look truly middle infielder-esque numerous times over the course of the game. On the minus side, he can sometimes look stiff and show minus hands. In addition, the first thing you notice about him when you watch him is how big he looks for the shortstop position. Not everyone can be Cal Ripken and handle shortstop in the bigs at that size. I’m not putting down his athleticism. It’s solid. So is the arm. But with a Yunel Escobar-like bat wrap and overall questions about his bat, the defense is what’s going to determine his draft slot.



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com - Manny Machado, Brito Private HS (FL) - Machado’s a big kid for a shortstop, but he’s athletic and shows flashes of being a good defender. He has a bat wrap, but he’s actually hit the ball really well, especially with Team USA, where he was the best hitter on the 18U team. Projected draft position: Mid-first to early-second round.



10-13 from www.mymlbdraft.com: 2010 MLB Mock Draft - #12 – (2nd SS picked) – Manny Machado



10-24 from www.baseballrumormll.com: - top 10 prospects: - 8. Manny Machado, SS (only SS on list), Brito Miami Private HS, FL: Before his play with Team USA at the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Championships, some scouts were concerned about Machado's defense. While Machado's defense was unremarkable during play, this bat was spectacular. In pool play, Machado hit 435/536/739 with two home runs, nine RBI and nine runs scored in six games.



11-2 from www.thehardballtimes.com: - Manny Machado, SS, 2010, Hialeah, Fla., Royals Baseball Club - I bet he doesn’t get past the first round come June. Machado has a big (6-foot-3), athletic frame with plenty of filling out left. His actions at shortstop were graceful and smooth, and he seemed to have plenty of arm. The exciting thing about Machado is his power potential. His swing was a little long, and he did hack a bit. But he was right on 90-plus mph fastballs, and generates a lot of loft with his long arms and aggressive cuts. If there’s one thing that will get teams excited, it’s a combination of power potential and athleticism at a key position. Check all three boxes for Machado. I am a little concerned, however, about his ability to hit for average. He seems to be a fastball-only hitter right now (a great fastball hitter, but still…), and while his long arms generate power, they also generate a long swing.



11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 16- SS Manny Machado (2nd SS on list)



11-3 from www.mlbresource.com: 3rd Mock draft – #22 - - Manny Machado, SS - Brito Private (FL) - Machado provides a nice young infielder to an organization that just put their best infielder in the big leagues with Elvis Andrus. Machado can play both middle positions and gives the Rangers options in case Andrus becomes too pricey. (5th SS on list)



11-9-9 from www.examiner.com: - Top 15 High School Draft Prospects - 4. Manny Machado, ss
Brito HS, Miami
College Commitment: Florida International - A 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop with true major-league actions in the field, Machado makes consistent contact at the plate and should develop above-average power. (1st SS on list)



11-17 from www.mlbdraft.blogspot.com: - 21. Minnesota Twins- Manny Machado, INF, Brito Private HS(FL) - Machado has some questions on his bat, and if he can stay at shortstop. In both cases, I trust that he can stay at shortstop even if he is already 6'2. He takes good routes to the ball and is relatively smooth. He hits the ball hard, and can handle fastballs well. (2nd SS picked)



11-18 from www.macksmets.blogspot.com: - 7. SS Manny Machado – another of those stock rising guys, Machado will easily go in the first 15 picks. (2nd SS on list)



11-20 from www.draftamerica.com: - 27. Philadelphia -- Manny Machado, SS, Brito Private HS (FL). Philly leans towards projectable and toolsy, and Machado gets a check in both boxes. He could be off the board well before here if he continues to progress through the spring.



11-23 from www.deepleagues.com: - #18 - Seattle Mariners - Manny Machado (SS, Miami FLA) (2nd SS on list)




4. Rick Hague – Rice – junior… 6-2, 190, R/R… excellent fielder and capable hitter… great attitude and team player… from the Rice web site: Wayne Graham said -- "We view Ricky Hague as one of the top shortstops in college baseball and expect him to be one of the better hitters around. We expect big things both in the field and with the bat."





7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: SS’s Derek Dietrich of Georgia Tech and Rice’s Rick Hague have big time problems making contact, Hague is the only sure bet to stick at short, where he is very, VERY good….



7-23: went 3-4 for Team USA (HR) in 10-2 win against Prince George Axemen



8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: smooth fielders, 60 arm, 60 hitter with 50 power, runs ok, 4.28 to 1b, better on the way runner, could be first IF taken in 2010 draft. Playing for team USA also this summer.



9-16: From www.baseballamrica.com : - College Top 25 draft prospects: 10. Rick Hague, ss Rice



9-28: From http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Mock Draft Version 2 - #30 pick overall - Rick Hague, SS – Rice - It never seems like the Dodgers draft in the first round because they usually sign a big free agent but as of right now I think they take the SS out of Rice. Tall and lanky kid built in the Troy Tulowitzki/Bobby Crosby mold.



10-5 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com: - 22. Texas Rangers – Rick Hague, SS, Rice – (3rd SS picked in draft) - Once again, the Rangers might go with a Texas product in Hague. This pick is protected against a player not signing, so maybe they pick a riskier player here. While I list Hague as a shortstop here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone take him as a third baseman after his plus-plus fielding run there with Team USA this summer. He’d be a solid-average, perhaps a bit better, defensive shortstop, though he might slow down a bit too much for the position quickly as a result of his great work ethic in gaining strength. His hitting should be solid, and while he doesn’t have above-average power and pitch recognition, he’s coachable and should improve continually in pro ball. He’s a late first-rounder in most scenarios at this point.



10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – #34 – Rick Hague – 1st SS on list



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com - Rick Hague, Rice - Hague played third base for Team USA this summer, but he’s probably going to stick at shortstop in pro ball with some improvement. He’s a solid hitter with some work to do with his approach, but he’s got the natural talent to be an above-average hitter from the shortstop position. He might eventually have to move to third base, but he proved he’s an excellent fielder there this summer, so that’s not necessarily a horrible thing. Projected draft slot: Mid-first to early-second round.



10-13 from www.mymlbdraft.com: 2010 MLB Mock Draft - #20 – (3rd SS picked) – Rick Hague



10-21 from www.mlbresource.com: - Blake's Scouting Report - Hague has smooth hands at short for a big guy with outstanding range and a strong enough arm where I can see him staying at SS. I project him to be a plus defender with a chance to be ever better. He has the potential with some added strength to be 20-30 HR hitter in the big leagues but right now I see him as more of a gap-to-gap hitter with 10-15 a year. I could definitely see someone taking Hague earlier than Colon as some may project him more with his body size and power potential. Look for Hague to have his name called early on Day 1 of the draft.



11-3 from www.mlbresource.com: 3rd Mock draft – #20 - Rick Hague, SS - Rice - This draft has a ton of guys at the top that could have people wondering why they weren't drafted higher. Hague could very well be one of them. He is a big shortstop in the Troy Tulowitzki mold but hits left handed. Solid pick for Atlanta. (3rd SS on list)



11-20 from www.draftamerica.com: - 25. St. Louis -- Rick Hague, SS, Rice. The Cardinals get back to their comfort zone -- college kids in the first round -- and grab the talented Rice defender with good pop for the position.


5. Derek Dietrich – Georgia Tech – 6-1, 200, L/R -



8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: solid hitter with plus power potential, solid arm strength at least a 60 with good glove, range for SS however still a question, appears more like a power hitting 3b or 2b in pro ball, however he'll have to play his way out of being a SS early in pro ball.



9-24: From: http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: Mock Draft Version 1 – #23 overall pick - Derek Dietrich, SS - Georgia Tech



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com - Derek Dietrich, Georgia Tech - Dietrich is another guy that might be a third baseman, but his position for now is shortstop. He really struggled this summer on the Cape, and there’s a lot of doubt about both his bat and glove. He’s got an average hit tool with average raw power, but he strikes out a lot. He does run the count up, but he ends up striking out just too much. His glove isn’t that good, either, and in all likelihood he’s a third baseman. Projected draft position: Supplemental-first to late-second round.



11-3 from www.mlbresource.com: 3rd Mock draft – #27 - Derek Dietrich, SS - Georgia Tech - Dietrich provides Philadelphia with a quality middle infielder and I think Philly has to take Dietrich or one of the previous shortstops taken if they are available at this spot. This will add nice infield depth. (6th SS on list)



11-27 from www.collegebaseballblog.com: - named the 54th top college player for the 2010 season.



6. Zach Alvord – (up from 8th) - South Forsyth HS (GA) – 6-0, 180 –

7-29: From www.baseballfactory.com: - Zach is a two way player at SS and on the mound with a tall, thin frame that does show projection as it continues to physically mature. He does project best at SS where he has a ton of athletic ability. Foot speed is outstanding as indicated by his 6.91 60 time and he utilizes his quick, athletic feet well in coming to get and playing through, displaying plus foot work. At the plate, hitting abilities are superior with outstanding power. Hands are quick and direct, generating bat speeds with a solid feel for the barrel. On the mound, Alvord has abilities. Fastball shows solid arm side run with 2 solid average off speed pitches. He throws strikes and attacks hitters working ahead. Zach has a big upside and future in the game of baseball and will get a lot of attention from the college coach and scouts.

8-6: From www.baseballamerica.com: - Alvord had a great junior year. He hit .336 and, of his 41 hits, 32 of them went for extra bases—16 doubles and 16 home runs. He didn't hit his first single until 12 games into the season. Alvord is athletic with good power for his size.

8-19: Jeff Sullivan from the AFLAC Games: - Alvord is a great shortstop prospect who can really hit the ball. During the week he put on some of the best BP sessions in San Diego. Alvord has a lot of pop in his bat and is one of the best power hitters in the country. He is also a smooth defensive shortstop and it was great to see him taking tips from Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith during the week. Alvord went 0-2 with a walk, but hit the ball hard and far in his second at bat against Peter Tago

9-5: from Jonathan Mayo’s 8-26 article on www.minors.mlbblogs.com: - He played second in this game, but he's got the tools to play short for sure. He can really play defense. He has the chance to be a middle infielder who moves up quickly on draft boards next spring, kind of like Jio Mier did this year.

9-7: From www.perfectgame.com on the AFLAC games: - solid fielder, range is good, runs better on the way, good instincts and puts the ball on the bat. Steady player with an Auburn early verbal, I doubt that comes into to play too much if this young man keeps getting stronger as he has the last 3 years.



10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – #46 - Zach Alford - 5th SSW on list



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com – Zach Alvord, South Forsyth HS (GA) Alvord is a skilled player from Georgia that profiles as a decent shortstop or plus second baseman. He is a very skilled hitter with a plus hit tool and possible plus power, and much of his value is wrapped up in his bat. He has a great chance to rise a lot between now and June, but he needs to keep hitting to attract scouting attention, as he’s not an extremely good athlete. Projected draft position: Early-second to mid-third round.



11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 41- SS Zach Alvord (5th SS on list)



7. Garin Cecchini – (up from 9th) - Barbe HS (LA) – 6-3, 190 –



7-29: from www.baseballfactory.com: - Cecchini is athletic at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He has good power from the left side of the plate. In the field, he’s fundamentally sound with a good arm, above-average speed and he plays the game hard.



8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: looks great in a uniform, live body, should get bigger and stronger with natural maturity, solid HR power to RF, runs well, better underway, ML arm strength and good hands to stay at SS.



8-15: from XMLBScout on www.perfectgame.com: Garin Cecchini, what can you say? Played all out and didn't allow being hit by pitches to slow him down. Can you say "DEDICATION"?!!! Nice projection to play the hot corner eventually in the bigs! Gamer!



9-30: From: http://web.usabaseball.com: - Karsten Whitson, Connor Mason and Kevin Gausman combined on a three-hitter, and an opportunistic offense took advantage of five errors as the USA Baseball 18U National Team remained unbeaten with a 19-0 run-rule shutout of Colombia Monday on Day 4 of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium. Garin Cecchini made it a 3-0 game with an RBI double. The team then added four more runs in the second on Tony Wolters' two-run double and a two-run home run by Bryce Harper, a towering blast to right field. Team USA erupted for five runs in the fifth on two hits and two Columbia errors, with Brian Ragira's two-run double the big hit in the at bat. Wolters ended up with three RBIs. Harper, Cecchini, Ragira and Kavin Keyes had two apiece. Keyes also had three hits. Harper, Cecchini and Manny Machado each scored three runs.



11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 32 -SS Garin Cecchini – (4th SS on list)



11-9-9 from www.examiner.com: - Top 15 High School Draft Prospects - 13. Garin Cecchini, ss
Barbe HS, Lake Charles, La.
College Commitment: Louisiana State - Cecchini has an athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pound build with a smooth lefthanded swing and the defensive tools that profile well at third base. (3rd SS on list)



11-17 from www.mlbdraft.blogspot.com: - 32. New York Yankees- Garin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS(LA) - Cecchini has been flying up the boards. The Yankees have to start thinking of a long term replacement for Derek Jeter. Cecchini will need time to develop in the minors, and by the time he's ready, Jeter might be done. (4th SS picked)



11-18 from www.macksmets.blogspot.com: - 30. SS Garin Cecchini – one of my wild cards, I project him out as a late first rounder. I also like his name. (5th SS on list)



8. Marcus Littlewood –- Pineview HS, St. George, Utah –



9-24: From: http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: Mock Draft Version 1 – #27 overall pick - Marcus Littlewood, SS - Pineview HS (UT)



9-28: From http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Mock Draft Version 2 - #28 pick overall - Marcus Littlewood, SS - Pineview HS (UT) - Utah does not usually feature very good high school talent but Littlewood has slipped through the cracks and could go in the first round. He is a switch hitting middle infielder with smooth hands and a great feel for the game. He as well is committed to go to the University of San Diego.


9. Tony Wolters – Ranco Buena Vista HS (CA) –


8-17 from www.baseballamerica.com re: AFLAC games - Middle infielder Tony Wolters, who was named MVP of the game, is noticeably unimpressive in build and tools, but inevitably impressive in results. Wolters (Rancho Buena Vista HS, Vista, Calif.) looks more like the neighborhood paper boy than a top prospect. Charitably listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, Wolters has a squat build and possesses no standout tools. As an example, he ran a pedestrian 7.15 60-yard dash in the SPARQ testing at the Area Code Games. Wolters' strengths are subtle. He won't hit 500-foot homers, get down the line in 3.9 seconds, or throw a 95 mph heater. As Leo Durocher once said of Eddie Stanky, "All the little (guy) can do is win." A lefthanded-hitting middle infielder who profiles as a second baseman in pro ball, Wolters is an intelligent hitter with an advanced approach. He ripped an outside 92 mph fastball to left for a hit early in the game. In the ninth, Wolters smartly dropped the bat head down to catch up to a low inside pitch, driving it down the right-field line for a triple which tied the score. Defensively, Wolters reads the ball coming off the bat unusually well, permitting him to add crucial steps to his lateral range. He exhibits quality fielding actions, an accurate arm and the ability to make difficult and routine plays efficiently and without flash.



8-19: Jeff Sullivan from the AFLAC Games: - Wolters was the game’s Most Valuable Player, going 2-4 with an RBI triple to tie the game late. He is a fun player to watch because he is very undersized at 5-10, 165. He does all the small things well, and he has a cannon for an arm across the diamond. Very solid defensive player and can handle the fastball well at the plate. It will be very interesting to see where he ends up in the draft, or if he heads to college next season. He is going to be a special player.



9-5: from Jonathan Mayo’s 8-26 article on www.minors.mlbblogs.com: - He really knows how to play the game. He's got good hands and a strong arm. The only thing that might keep him from being **** down the road is below-average speed, but he could be the type who sticks because of instincts and positioning. At the plate, he should hit for plenty of average, but not a lot of power.



9-7: From www.perfectgame.com on the AFLAC games: - can play either middle inf positions, just works at it, ave at best runner, better quickness, puts the bat on the ball, good eye reads as a hitter, playable arm and 50 fielder. Top 50 HS for sure. Projection 4-7 rounds if he doesn't lean to college next year.



9-26 from: http://www.baseballrumormill.com: - While Bryce Harper and Jameson Taillon dominated the reports from the USA Baseball 18-and-under team trials, a number of lesser-known players also had good performances which landed them on the roster. At 5'10" and only 165 lbs, Tony Wolters is not the ideal size for a major league prospect. However, Wolters showed a solid bat at the trials along with above-average speed. His defense is good enough to allow him to play second base and maybe even shortstop.



9-27 from: http://web.usabaseball.com: The USA Baseball 18U National Team logged a seven-run inning for a third consecutive day in a 14-0 run-rule shutout Sunday against Panama in the third day of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium. Tony Wolters and Manny Machado notched three hits apiece.



9-30: From: http://web.usabaseball.com: - Karsten Whitson, Connor Mason and Kevin Gausman combined on a three-hitter, and an opportunistic offense took advantage of five errors as the USA Baseball 18U National Team remained unbeaten with a 19-0 run-rule shutout of Colombia Monday on Day 4 of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium. Garin Cecchini made it a 3-0 game with an RBI double. The team then added four more runs in the second on Tony Wolters' two-run double and a two-run home run by Bryce Harper, a towering blast to right field. Team USA erupted for five runs in the fifth on two hits and two Columbia errors, with Brian Ragira's two-run double the big hit in the at bat. Wolters ended up with three RBIs. Harper, Cecchini, Ragira and Kavin Keyes had two apiece. Keyes also had three hits. Harper, Cecchini and Manny Machado each scored three runs.



10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – 21st on list – MIF Anthony Wolters



10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com – Anthony Wolters, Rancho Buena Vista HS (CA) - Wolters is the only major prep prospect in this class that might turn out to be a second baseman in the long-term. He’s got a plus hit tool and is a heady player, and while he isn’t blessed with all the tools of the players listed above, he’s one of the better on-field performers in this class. Projected draft position: Early-second to early-third round.



10. Sean O’Brien – Clearwater HS (FL) –


8-6: From www.baseballamerica.com: - at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, O'Brien has a pro body and the makings of five good tools. He has a quiet approach in the batter's box with good balance. He consistently gets the barrel on the ball and hits hard line drives. In the field he is fluid with a strong arm.



10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – #42 – Sean O’Brien – 3rd SS on list



10-6 from: http://baseballdraftreport.com: - SS Sean O’Brien - I realize I have O’Brien lower than Colon on this list, but I’m not quite sure why. I’m a man who loves upside, and O’Brien’s ceiling is higher than just about any other shortstop in this year’s class. Of course, I’m also a realistic enough fellow who can readily admit that Colon is a much more certain bet to reach his upside than O’Brien.






11. Taijauna Walker



10-3 from www.baseballrumormill.com: - 2010 MLB Draft Name To Watch: Taijuan Walker - A multi-sport star at California's Yucaipa HS, Taijuan Walker, is flying up the rankings for available prospects in the 2010 MLB draft. At 6'5" and 200 lbs, Walker, a right handed pitcher and shortstop, has a great body for a prospect, especially as a high schooler. As a pitcher, Walker provides everything a scout is looking for in a young prospect: good size, speed and movement in his pitches and a projectable arm slot. Though Walker has only recently been "discovered" as a pitcher, he's been a familiar name to scouts because of his work at shortstop last season, playing alongside Matt Davidson.



12. Josh Rutledge – Alabama –



7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: the University of Alabama should have the most talented left side of infield in college next year as SS Josh Rutledge and 3B Ross Wilson both have solid tools with decent power potential.



7-17: went 2-3, 1-R, 1-RBI for Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod League



10-7 from: - www.mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Josh Rutledge---SS---The captain of the infield is one of the most players that just doesn't have a glaring weakness. He can run, hit, field, and is a leader. He as well as Wilson and perhaps Smith could be high picks in the draft. Last year he hit .305 and I am sure he will improve upon that in 2010.







13. Blake Kelso – (up from 18th) Houston – junior… R/R… junior… 2009: played in all 58 games: .335, 16-2B, 3-3B, 2-HR, 23-RBI, 12-SB… played Cape Cod 2009 ball: .260





7-23: stats thru 7-15 in Cape Cod League: .286, 11-RBI, 14-SB… starting in Cape Cod All-Star game



10-17: from www.collegebaseballblog.com: - voted the 95th top player in college baseball in 2010





14. Ross Wilson – Alabama – 5-11, 175, R/R –



8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: gamer, tools are there to be solid ML, winner mentality, 50 runner at the least, better on the way. Gotten a lot of ink lately!













15. Brad Miller – Clemson – Sophomore… 6-0, 175… drafted in the 39th round by the Rangers in 2008… batted only .273 as freshman



16. Brandon Drury – Grants Pass HS ( OR) – 6-1, 180, R/R – excellent arm strength… good body control defensively… pure right hand swing…



17. James Harris – Etowah HS (GA) – 6-1, 190, L/R – very athletic… all-around toolsy talent…













18. Jacoby Jones – Richton HS (MS) –



8-6: From www.baseballamerica.com: - Jones is an extremely good athlete that is exciting to watch. With a strong arm and a wirey frame with quick-twitch muscles, Jones has the tools to play multiple positions, including shortstop, third base and center field. He's an above-average runner with a high ceiling and has a verbal commitment to Louisiana State.











19. Jacob May -



9-8: www.pgtracker.com lists as one of the top 10 high school players coming out of Ohio.







20. Kevin Haas – Akron –



10-7 from: - www.mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Kevin Haas---SS---Slick fielding Haas continues to play defensive and hit for a high average. The senior will once again be the leader of the infield and along with Plata and Kordal asked to carry the load that was left when power hitting Matt Roberts left after last season.



21. Ryan Hudson– UT-San Antonio – junior… 2009: .343, 17-HR, 43-RBI, .719 Slug%

10-15 from www.thecollegebaseballblog.com: - ranked as the 96th top college player for the 2010 season



22. Bryce Ortega – Arizona – junior…

10-24 from www.mlbresource.com: - Top Returning Players - Bryce Ortega---SS--- Ortega is a junior this year and returns as the starting shortstop. Hitting .324 with 16 SB shows that Arizona has a true leadoff hitter that will look to spark the Cats this season.





23. Chris Triplett –



11-2 from www.thehardballtimes.com: - Chris Triplett, Royals Baseball Club—Athletic, plus defensive 2010 SS with plus speed. Limited power for now.





24. Brandon Macias (new) – Kansas… junior…



11-9-9 from www.baseballdraftreport.com: JR SS Brandon Macias (2010), another Kansas infielder with plus arm strength. Macias has very good defensive tools that should play up with as he gains experience playing at the highest level of collegiate ball. He has enough pop in his bat to go along with above-average speed to make him an interesting five-tool player to watch this spring.

Advice To Tiger: Step Away From The Ball


Tiger, tiger, tiger...

What are you doing????

Here's we have the next best answer to how to protect one's image, even more that Michael, and we've got more waitresses trying to get a mil out of you than one can remember...

It's so bad at your house that blonde women are dropping like flies.

And snoring?  Without shoes?

Let me guess here.... you took an Ambien... hit the bed... was 3/4 zoned... and your cell rings.  Your wife picks it up and it's Trixie over at the Beltway Diner in Hokoken, New Jersey.  The swede goes ballistic, you jump out of bed, put on some pants, grab the keys, and off you go into a tree... zonked... without shoes.

Bad boy, bad boy... whatcha gonna do?  Joey Bottafucco handled this better.

Can you imagine if this was Michael Vick?  Or Wally Backman?  Teddy Kennedy and Bill Clinton have nothing on you, dude.

What do you do now?

Fire everyone around you, blame it on the bossa nova, and go play the Masters?

What's the commentary going to be when they say, on the first tee, "now up..."?

What about when you ask your caddy for a new ball?

Can you image the grin on the face of Phil?

And we thing the Mets need a recontruction?  Johnny Cochrane couldn't help the man...  there's no "if it doesn't fit... " defense here.  Some of these girls have seen some extra play time.

Don't you remember the expression about tying the log on?

What's swedish for "your fucked..."

Mack

The Keepers: #1-100 - 129 pages - 53,385 words -if you want copy...

Please send $9.00...  yes, just nine bucks... to my paypal account -  JMAde2@aol.com

And I will email it to you...

Viet Nam Vet - disabled... it all helps, guys and girls...

Mack

The Keepers - #1 - 1B - Ike Davis


1. Ike Davis – 1B – 22/yrs. old – AAA –


A little history:

Davis was drafted in the 1st round of the 2008 draft by the Mets. His stats at ASU were: .394/.468/.778, 198 AB, 62 R, 78 H, 26 doubles, 1 triple, 16 HR, 73 RBI, 30 BB-31 K, 3 errors in 49 games, .993 FPCT

MLB.com’s scouting report on draft day:

Hitting Ability: Davis tends to be a slow starter, but showed a smooth swing from the left side.

Power: Davis has some untapped raw power that could be developed as a pro.

Running Speed: He's a tick below Major League average in terms of speed.

Base running: Not a base-clogger by any means, he's a decent baserunner.

Arm Strength: Also a pitcher who throws about 87 mph, his arm plays fine from the outfield or first base.

Fielding: He's a solid corner outfielder and can handle himself well around first.

Range: He's got good instincts in the outfield and would have no trouble covering enough ground to stay there.

Physical Description: Davis has a good, projectable and athletic body.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: Smooth swing from the left side; good athleticism; good bloodlines -- former big league pitcher Ron Davis is his dad.

Weaknesses: He doesn't always repeat his swing, leading to incomplete at-bats at times. Sometimes he appears to be a little low energy.

Summary: On radars since high school, when he was a 19th-round pick of the Rays in 2005, the son of ex-big leaguer Ron Davis has a sweet left-handed swing that should generate more power in the future. He's not speedy, but he is a solid base runner and would be fine as a corner outfielder or first baseman at the next level.

In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Davis was ranked #2, with the comments: “hulking lefthanded slugger can handle the outfield and pitch, too.

Scoutingbook.com on Davis: Another slugger who went a little earlier than expected, and again it's to a team that could sorely use some power from the first base position. Ike is a legitimate threat to hit 40 homers in the big leagues, and his refined college approach to the strike zone means he should do it without Howardesque strikeout numbers. One of the draft's most polished picks, Davis could be ready as soon as 2009.




In mid-June 2008, Baseball America on Ike Davis: The son of former big league reliever Ron Davis, Ike was not a scouts' favorite coming into his junior season. A decorated high school career that included a star turn with Team USA's youth national squad and an MVP award at the 2004 Aflac Classic, and his pitching family pedigree, had most scouts regarding him as a pitcher out of high school. He decided to go to Arizona State rather than sign as a Rays 19th-round pick, and he started on the mound and batted cleanup in his first game as a Sun Devil. He struggled with wood in the Alaska League in 2006 and in the Cape in 2007, when he cut his summer short to have right wrist surgery. He returned to the mound as a closer in 2008 and played first base to keep his arm fresh. He also worked to incorporate his lower half more and was having a banner season, leading the Sun Devils in the triple crown categories as well as saves, before missing time with a ribcage injury. Davis has excellent raw power, comparing to former ASU star Jeff Larish, but he's a much better defender with a better swing and better pitch recognition. Davis is above-average at first base and should be able to play an outfield corner as well due to his plus arm; his below-average speed could limit him to left.

In late July 2008, ProjectProspect.com updated their top 10 Mets prospect list and Davis was ranked 2nd.

Davis had a so-so 2008 season, though he did rally near the end. He played the entire season for Brooklyn, going .256/.326/.326 in 215 at bats. Davis had 0 HRs and only 17 RBIs in 58 games.



MWOB on: - 2008 Top Pick: - Ike Davis 1B - The Mets were rewarded with this pick when the Braves felt nostalgia was in order and signed Tom Glavine as a free agent. Ike signed for $1.575 million and is the son of Ron Davis. Like his dad, he was a closer for Arizona State as well as a slugging first baseman. The Mets drafted him and have him playing first base. In 215 at bats for the Brooklyn Cyclones Ike forgot to be that slugging firstbaseman, failing once to send a ball over the wall. He did hit 15 doubles, but most teams are looking for better than a .326 slugging average from their first baseman. The Mets are hoping to see a little more pop in 2009. His could move to the outfield, but his speed restricts him to left field, and that is also a power position.

February 2009: Mike Rodgers on Ike Davis: Ike Davis had (at the time of the draft) room to grow. Conversely from Raben, Davis' swing does lend itself to high contact, but not a ton of power, according to Alex Eisenberg of The Hardball Times. He feels that Davis' hands get too far out in front which fails to let the ball travel into his happy zone -- for the lack of a better term. However, the PG Crosschecker scouting report from earlier notes a very balanced, upper-cut swing which shows great power potential. Unfortunately he struggled in the Alaskan Summer League in 2006 and lost valuable time to prove what he could do with wood bats in the Cape Cod league due to his wrist surgery. However, he was sitting in the lower-90's when he took the mound for the Sun Devils as a left-handed closer, which means he does profile as a potential right fielder with his athletic frame and above-average to potentially 'plus' arm strength.

In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: Davis, the son of former major league pitcher Ron Davis, looked like the bust of the first round after failing to homer in 215 at-bats after the Mets made him the 18th overall pick last year. The team is hoping that it was a strained oblique that sapped his power. More than anything else, it was his 30-homer potential that made him an early pick. The 6-foot-5 Davis doesn't project as much of a hitter for average and he doesn't run very well. On the plus side, he likely will develop into an excellent defensive first baseman. Maybe he'll be the new Rico Brogna.

Project Prospect updated their top 200 prospect list in March 2009: #199 Ike Davis 1B 18th pick of '08 had a debut to forget (.071 isoP, .293 wOBA, 18.3% K, 9.8% BB, 235 PA) 21.9 NYM SS

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - What a year for this guy. The tall lefty was a first-round pick for the Mets out of Arizona State in last year's draft. He got off to a miserable pro start in Low-A Brooklyn in 2008, hitting just .256/.326/.326 in 239 plate appearances. But after leading the league in total bases in St. Lucie (with a .387 wOBA) to start the season, Davis, who just turned 22 years-old in March, went on an absolute tear for Double-A Binghamton, hitting .309/.386/.565 in fifty-five games. Primarily a first baseman, Davis spent the end of the season playing some right field, and has continued playing there for Team USA. It's scary to think that out of a first base class in the 2008 Draft that included the likes of Justin Smoak, Yonder Alonso, David Cooper, and Allan Dykstra, Davis has been the biggest performer to date. Davis's biggest hurdle in 2010 will be trying to garner more success against lefties. However, after hitting terribly against them in St. Lucie, he managed to post an .807 OPS against southpaws in Binghamton, so he could be on his way.

Forecast: Spring 2010: AAA… Fall 2010: Queens… 2011-2015: first base

Hessman Signing: - Salary Savings Now: $39,476,000.00


Mets 2009-2010 Off-Season:


End of season: Released: OF Wily Mo Pena ($400k), IF Ramon Martinez ($750k), and signed RP Jack Egbert ($400k)… savings: $750,000.00



10-7: Mets acquired first baseman Eddie Lora (minimum minor league contract) and outfielder Chris Carter ($400K) for Billy Wagner ($10.5mil) – savings: $10,100,000.00



10-11: Mets grant free agency to: RP Jon Switzer – savings: $475,000.00



10-11: Mets grant free agency to P Connor Robinson – savings: $450,000



10-19: The Mets release RP Ken Takahashi. Savings: Takahashi had an incentive based minor league contract that could earn him up ti 1.5mil a year. I assume he earned it in 2009, since he pitched so well: savings: $1,500,000.00



11-5: The Mets have told J.J. Putz that they do not intend to pick up his 2010 option and will buy him out instead for $1 million. Putz's option would have been for $9.1 million. Savings: $8,100,000.00



11-6: 1B Carlos Delgado filed for free agency. Savings: $12,000,000.00.



11-6: C Brian Schneider filed for free agency. Savings: $4,900,000.00



11-6: IF Alex Cora filed for free agency. Savings: $2,000,000.00



11-6: The Mets exercized their option on SP Mike Pelfry, for $500,000.00. Last year, due to his original contract, he earned $2,900,000.00. Savings: $2,400,000.00



11-9: OF Gary Sheffield filed for free agency. – Savings: $400,000.00



11-10: P Elmer Dessens released – savings: $600,000.00



11-16: Passing on resigning OF Fernando Tatis at option rate… savings: $1,700,000



11-16: 16 AAA/AA players file for free agency… 13 are minimal salaries that will be offset by additional minor leaguers at same rate… three had individual contracts: IF Wilson Valdez (381K), C Robinson Cano (408K), and P Carlos Muniz (402K) – savings: $1,191,000

11-30: Mets sign Alex Cora – spending: $2,000,000

12-3: Mets tender John Maine – approx: $2,900,000

12-3: Mets sign C Chris Coste – spending: $600,000

12-3: Mets sign C Henry Blanco – spending: $1,500,000

12-10: Mets sign OF/1B Mike Hessman – spending AAA salary: $90,000

Total savings so far: $39,476,000.00

Breakfast Links: - Hessman, Gammons, Mathews Jr., Pelf, Benji... and Junior Ortiz


Mike Hessman:


But I'm trying. For example, here's how low my standards have gotten: The Mets signed Mike Hessman today. If Mike Hessman came up to me and hit me in the head with a baseball bat, I wouldn't know who he was. Then again, if Mike Hessman came up to me and hit me in the head with a baseball bat, I'd be happy just because he made contact (he's a .229 career minor league hitter). And, he's 32 years old. For the Mets, that's a youth movement.  -  metstradamus


Peter Gammons:

New England Sports Network, New England’s most-watched sports network, is welcoming another Hall of Famer to its family. Baseball writer and longtime ESPN and Boston Globe baseball analyst/reporter Peter Gammons has agreed to a multiyear deal to join NESN as a regular studio analyst, reporter and online contributor. - NESN


Gary Mathews Jr.

According to sources, there is a possibility that the Angels could trade OF Gary Matthews Jr. to the Mets for Luis Castillo. Matthews Jr., 35, hit .250 with 4 HR and 50 RBI for the Angels last season and is scheduled to earn 11.4MM in ‘10 and $12.4MM in ‘11. He has shown he can play when given the chance like from 2005 to 2007 with the Rangers and Angels. He's been in the dark with the Angels Benji Molina:ever since Torii Hunter signed. - link




Mike Pelfrey:

The question is especially troubling because Mike Pelfrey took a major step backward last season, to the point where baseball people are whispering about him as a head case. All of which means the Mets are kidding themselves if they think they can contend in 2010 without someone to ride shotgun for Johan Santana at the top of the rotation, and the obvious choice should be free agent John Lackey. However, they don't seem willing to spend that kind of money this winter, though it remains hard to figure out why not, based on the higher revenues they have generated from their new stadium, including naming rights, and from their TV network.  -  networkedblogs



Benji Molina:

It’s possible that the Mets might swing a minor deal between now and Thursday afternoon, perhaps even grab catcher Bengie Molina or a mid-level starting pitcher off the free-agent pile. ... “Overall, I feel that some of the free agents that are out there,” Minaya said, “it’s going to take a little bit longer than in past Meetings.” As is custom at this point in the winter, the main snag between the Mets and some of their free-agent targets—Matt Holliday and John Lackey in an ideal world, Molina and Joel Pineiro in a more realistic one—is contract length. Many of the available mid-market starting pitchers are asking for contracts of more than two years, whereas the Mets are unwilling to commit long-term deals to most of them. - baseballthinkfactory


Junior Ortiz

He was going to be the long-term post-John Stearns answer when we got him at the trading deadline in 1983. The other trading deadline acquisition of note that season was a Gold Glove first baseman. Later another catcher supplanted Junior Ortiz in making us forget Stearns. Still, I just mentioned Junior Ortiz in snarky passing last Friday. This is what happens when I take a few days off from blogging. -
faithandfear

8.12.09

Midnight Breakfast Links: - Jerry, Oliver, Parnell, Luis, J.J., Church... and Charlie Puleo



Jerry Manuel:

Jerry Manuel knows he's on thin ice to start this season. So when asked about the importance of getting out of the gates fast in 2010 for his team's psyche, Manuel answered in typical self-deprecating fashion. "No, no. I think if they want to keep me around," Manuel said, laughing. "But we've got good players. We have some good players that have had a history of playing well... newsday

Ah, Jerry. He's always good for a fun line or two during an interview. But this afternoon, he showed just how far off the deep end he's gone. While on Sirius Radio's MLB Home Plate show earlier today Manuel said that people should consider Mike Pelfrey as the number 2 pitcher in the Mets rotation. Perhaps by process of elimination, but I would argue that Elmer Dessens might even give him a run for his money there. Are you kidding me? Is this a statement to make Mets management realize the plight of this team or has Manuel just lost his marbles.  -  metslifers


Darren Oliver:

Darren Oliver is drawing interest from multiple teams, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Along with the Mariners and his old team, the Angels, the Red Sox, Rays, Rangers and Mets are interested. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers are expected to meet with Oliver's agents sometime tonight. Oliver wasn't offered arbitration, so he won't cost a draft pick.  -  mlbtraderumor





Bobby Parnell:

Brian Costa, of The Star-Ledger, reports New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel said P Bobby Parnell will not be considered for a spot in the rotation next season.  -  fantasysp




Luis Castillo:

Why the Mets Want to Trade Luis Castillo - Ben Shpigel, in a report for the New York Times, says while the Mets feel they could do a lot worse than Luis Castillo at second base in 2010, they still are very eager to deal him.…i personally don’t think the Mets should prioritize dealing him considering the other big needs the club has, unless [...] - fantasysp  




J.J. Putz:

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox are close enough to landing J.J. Putz that White Sox reliever Matt Thornton placed a call to the right-hander. The "pitch" by a player only comes "when it's time to get serious," says Cowley. Putz would be a nice pickup by Chicago. He could serve as a bridge to Bobby Jenks and might be a potential replacement for the closer down the road. The 32-year-old had an injury-marred 2009 season with the Mets but is drawing interest from at least six teams who feel he can return to form. - rotoworld  


Ryan Church:

Outfielder Ryan Church was designated for assignment by the Braves on Tuesday. In all likelihood this is a move to make room for Rafael Soriano on the 40-man roster. Church was likely not going to be tendered a contract later this month anyway, this way they may get something in return for him as they have 10-days to trade him or release him. Church stands to make several million more than the minimum next year through arbitration, and that's several million more than the Braves probably want to pay him  -  talkingchop


Charlie Puleo:

Kind of a latter-day Mark Bomback in that in 1980 Bomback was unknown but more effective than anybody else on the staff for a while. Puleo's latter day vis-à-vis Bomback was 1982. He was 5-2 by Memorial Day. Also, he was traded for Bomback. Later he was traded for Seaver. By then Puleo was 9-9, Seaver was an injury-riddled 5-13 and Bomback was done.  - faithandfear


Randy Wolf:

Jon Heyman of SI.com reported via Twitter that the Mets attempts to try and sign free agent starter Randy Wolf appear to be “fruitless”. It now appears almost certain that he will sign with the Milwaukee Brewers for three years and approximately $9 million dollars per season. The Wolf to the Brewers rumors really intensified last night, but earlier today some had reported that the Mets still had a chance to cut in and make a move. However those efforts now appeared to have failed. The Mets seemingly ignored Randy Wolf a year ago choosing instead to sign Oliver Perez for three years at $12 million per year. Wolf wound up taking a one year deal with the Dodgers and had a solid season. It’s too bad because he was one of the better pitchers in “Group B” after John Lackey who was all alone in “Group A”.  -  metsmorized

New Met: - 1B/3B/OF - Mike Hessman


The Mets have made a minor move by signing minor league free agent Mike Hessman. As I've said before, this organization needs depth and I wouldn't complain about any of these type of deals being made.

Hessman played 14 minor league seasons at third base ( 1262 gms), 9 seasons at 1B ( 167 gms) and a few games in the OF. In the minors he has a .229 BA with a .459 Slg. pct.

He has made it to the majors in four different seasons in which he hit .208 with a .476 Slg. pct in 77 games.

Career minor-leaguer Mike Hessman has signed a minor-league deal. Hessman, 31, hit .217 with 23 homers and 77 RBI while striking out 171 times in 466 at-bats with Triple-A Toledo last season. He played in 70 major-league games from 2003-08 with the Braves and Tigers, appearing in the outfield as well as at first and third base. Hessman has a .208 average with 13 homers in 168 major-league at-bats.source Daily News

http://www.metsfever/

Rule V - 3 SPs - Randor Bierd, Mike Parisi, and Josh Wilkie


Randor Bierd - Boston

If Bierd is selected in the Rule 5 draft, it won't be the first time, as the Orioles plucked him from Detroit in 2007. He stuck it out for the year, giving this prospect some Major League exposure, but was traded to the Red Sox. A year later he finds him self out there once again. During his minor league trek, Beird's walk rates have increased, but he's been a strikeout pitcher all along (9.2 K/9 in his minor league career, 8.1 in 2009 at Triple-A). I found that surprising, given he's a soft-tossing sinker baller. Not so surprising is the failure of these numbers to translate in the Major Leagues—Baltimore got him into 29 games and he gave up 4.7 BB/9 while striking out 6.1. The team that takes a chance on Bierd will get a guy with an 88 mph two-seam fastball and a low groundball rate. He hasn't shown a particular ability to pound the strike zone (he threw 47.6 percent strikes in MLB, .48.9% in the AFL). Oddly, Bierd missed bats at a higher rate in his MLB stint (.22.6 percent) than his more recent AFL games (18.6 percent). His ground ball rate also dropped from a rather pedestrian 41% to 36%.



Mike Parisi - St. Louis

Parisi is another pitcher with big league experience. Pitching for the Cardinals in 2008, the righty from Long Island went down with an elbow injury, eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery. Now he's back, and he's got a cutter. Parisi's bread-and-butter is a two-seam fastball that generally tails more than it sinks. It seems to be well complemented by the new cutter and his curveball. He's also developed into a groundball pitcher. His 57 percent groundball rate was in the top 15 of the AFL, and is a big improvement from the 42 percent he had put up in the big leagues. Parisi just came back from his injury (he threw just 15.1 innings between Rookie ball and High-A in 2009) but worked enough this fall to show he was healthy. While his velocity was down a touch, he was working as a starter in the AFL, not a reliever, and he did get his four-seam fastball up to 95 mph when he used it—his 92 mph sinker and 79 mph curveball bracketed the 87 mph cutter.


Josh Wilkie - Washington

Speaking of groundball pitchers ... Wilkie tops Parisi with a 61 percent groundball rate that catches my eye (I'm a sucker for worm burners). Wilkie, another right-hander, Wilkie has no big league experience, but worked his way up to Triple-A in 2009. With one start in his career, he isn't exactly a closer (23 saves in 157 minor league games). Still, his walk rates have improved as he's aged and he strikes out plenty. Wilkie's two- and four-seam fastballs are nothing flashy, averaging around 88 mph, and his primary pitch is a low-80s change-up. In the AFL, he threw the change 56 times, the fastballs 23 each and his slider 19. AFL hitters couldn't lay-off the change (swing rate of 60.7 percent) or hit it often (whiff rate of 38.2 percent). But, when they did hit it, they nailed it. His change gave up a SLGCON (slugging percentage on contact) of 1.091. He didn't give up many fly balls or line drives off of it, but three of four air balls were line drives half of all the air balls were home runs. The good news is no one hit the fastballs or slider hard. Maybe he should throw them more. Then again, this sample is so small it's hard to be definitive. Despite this uncertainty, the 25-year-old from Tennessee could be an intriguing pick.  -  hardballtimes

A Reminder About Thursday...


The Hot Stove season takes a u-turn Thursday when the Rule V Draft takes place.

Rules are simple:

Players are eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft who are not on their major league organization's forty man roster and:

- were signed at age 19 or older and have been in the organization for four years; or

- were signed at age 18 or younger and have been in the organization for five years.

As in the amateur draft, the selection order of the teams is based on each team's win-loss record from the prior regular season, each round starting with the team with the worst record and proceeding in order to the team with the best record. Any player selected under Rule 5 is immediately added to his new team's 40-man roster; thus, teams who do not have an available roster spot may not participate in the Rule 5 draft. Players who are not currently on their team's 40-man roster are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft, but only after a standard exemption period has elapsed.


If chosen in the Rule 5 draft, a player must be kept on the selecting team's 25-man major league roster for the entire season after the draft—he may not be optioned or designated to the minors. The selecting team may, at any time, waive the Rule 5 draftee. If a Rule 5 draftee clears waivers by not signing with a new MLB team, he must be offered back to the original team, effectively canceling the Rule 5 draft choice. Once a Rule 5 draftee spends an entire season on his new team's 25-man roster, his status reverts to normal and he may be optioned or designated for assignment.

To prevent the abuse of the Rule 5 draft, the rule also states that the draftee must be active for at least 90 days. This keeps teams from drafting players, then placing them on the disabled list for the majority of the season. For example, if a Rule 5 draftee was only active for 67 days in his first season with his new club, he must be active for an additional 23 games in his second season to satisfy the Rule 5 requirements.

Any player chosen in the Rule 5 draft may be traded to any team while under the Rule 5 restrictions, but the restrictions transfer to the new team. If the new team does not want to keep the player on its 25-man roster for the season, he must be offered back to the team of which he was a member when chosen in the draft.

Brad Dodson leaves the Sand Gnats


Brad Dodson is pictured at last years Chile cook-off at Grayson Stadium. Since 2005, I have been a season ticket holder and Brad was the co-general manager for the Sand Gnats in 2005. He reportedly left the Sand Gnats at the end of this season and is residing in Nashville, Tn. Under his leadership, the Sand Gnats increased their attendance figures every year. We wish Brad the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Late Breakfast Links: Omar, Timo, Maine, Wilpon, Tobi, Rivera, F-Mart, and David Lennon


John Maine:


The Mets are talking to the Brewers about a swap of starter John Maine for left fielder Corey Hart, The Post has learned. A big motivating force behind the trade is new Brewers pitching coach Rick Peterson. Maine had his best season in 2007 (15-10, 3.91 ERA) with Peterson as his Mets pitching coach, and Peterson has told friends he believes he can keep the oft-injured Maine healthy and productive. The Mets want a left fielder with power, but Hart’s homers have dropped from 24 to 20 to 12 last year.


Omar Minaya:

“It’s not that we have to do a total revamping,” Minaya said. “It’s not like we have to fill in a whole bunch of guys when we get our core guys back healthy. That being said, I’m of the belief that it’s 162 games. Whether you do things in the winter or do things in season, at the end of the day, we do have to improve our club. But if the players are not there in the free-agent market, you just can’t force it.” “This year it’s not as clear as it was last year,” Minaya said. “Last year we needed a closer and we ended up getting two closers. This year we have more pieces that we have to fill in. Are we going to be able to fill them all in? I don’t know that.  -  mets today




David Wright:

David Wright and Daniel Murphy each spent a week living at hitting coach Howard Johnson’s house and training at the Mets facility in Port St. Lucie. Jeff Francoeur was supposed to join them, but he isn’t fully healed from his surgery yet, according to Adam Rubin. Wright is focusing on increasing his power stroke for next year, according to the article.  -  theropolitans






David Lennon:

Plenty of smoke, but not much fire for the Mets on Day 1 of the winter meetings, with Omar Minaya holing up in his suite at the Marriott here and entertaining visits from GMs and agents. Despite arriving with a "wish list," Minaya seems to be all over the board in his plans to fix the Mets, with a preponderance of mid-level players and no real push for the big-ticket free agents,...  newsday


Jeff Wilpon:

There’s no shame in admitting you got fleeced in the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Plenty of honest, well-meaning people lost their life savings, so the Wilpons aren’t alone. The difference is that the Mets still are asking their fans to believe in them – to buy their tickets, pay for their Shake Shack Burgers, tune into SNY. In return, the fans are entitled to an honest accounting of where this team is headed. It was obvious in ’04, when Minaya flew to the Dominican Republic to wine and dine Pedro. It was just as plain in ’06, when Billy Wagner was given a goodwill tour of New York City. And in ’07, when Santana was willing to walk away from a $140 million contract over a mere $5 million, so Jeff Wilpon wisely caved in and decided to pay in full.  -  mets police


Timo Perez:

Licey Tigres (23-17) - Timo Perez is leading the league in hitting with a .352 average. He’s hitting .409 but hasn’t played in the last couple days.




Tobi Stoner:

Tobi Stoner got banged around his last start for seven runs in a little over four innings of work to raise his ERA to 3.10. It may be the last time you see Tobi in the Dominican this year. He’s had 9 starts and 52 innings after 154 innings of minor league work. That’s over 200 innings for the year.



Fernando Martinez:

Escogido Leones (25-15) - Prospects Fernando Martinez (.185) and Starlin Castro (.182) are struggling and losing playing time to veterans who can produce.


Juan Rivera:

More and more, the Mets believe they will not play for one of the big free-agent outfielders, Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. So they also are looking into trades for Washington’s Josh Willingham and the Angels’ Juan Rivera. Rivera has two years at $9.5 million left on his contract, and has long been an Omar Minaya favorite; Minaya obtained him from the Yanks when he was the Expos GM as part of a trade for Javier Vazquez. Willingham should about double his $2.95 million 2009 salary after hitting 24 homers last year. He is, however, a woeful left fielder and a free agent after the 2011 season.  -  nY Post

The Keepers - #2 - SP - Jenrry Mejia


2. Jenrry Mejia – SP


Mejia pitched for the 2007 DSL Mets, going 2-3, 2.47 in 14 games (7 starts). He also struck out 47 batters in 43.2 IP. Mejia's arsenal includes a 91-95 MPH fastball that when low in the zone has tons of movement, sometimes tail and sometimes sink. This sets up his 77-80 mph hook that drops off the table.

In 2008, Mejia pitched for both the GCL Mets, and Brooklyn, going a combined 5-2, 2.89, in 14 starts. He struck out 67 batters in 71.2 IP.

September 2008: Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios on: Jenrry Mejia: “To be here at 18 and playing so well at this level is really impressive. He sits on 94 miles per hour and can get up to 97. He doesn’t quite have the extension of a guy like Holt has, but considering how young he is, I think he has a lot of potential.”

The Cyclones web site said: The 18-year-old Mejia (6’0”, 182) was signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2007, out of the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo). Mejia began his professional career last season, for the Venezuelan Summer League Mets, going 2-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 14 games (seven starts). In 43.2 innings, he allowed 24 hits, 17 runs, 12 earned, and 27 walks, with 47 strikeouts.

In September, Patrick Hickey wrote on: Jenrry Mejia- Jekyll and Hyde. When this youngster is off, he leaves the ball up in the zone and lacks the poise needed to get professional hitters out on a consistent basis. However, when he’s on his game, he mixes in a more than solid 12-6 curve with a 95-97 MPH fastball and gets outs via the strikeout at a solid pace. Considering his age, Mejia is definitely worth keeping an eye on and with plenty of confidence and charisma on the mound already, should develop into a major league caliber pitcher if he learns to develop some sort of consistency. Final Grade- B

February 2009: From Toby Hyde: - #5 - RHP Jenry Mejia - Why Ranked Here: A very late comer to baseball, Mejia brings a special fastball. Virtually unknown entering 2008, the broad chested and big shouldered Mejia introduced himself with a 93-95 mph heater that easily allowed him to conquer the GCL and then New York Penn League. His second pitch is a hard changeup with a little sink at 87-88 mph, an offering with the same velocity as some of his teammates’ fastballs. It’s just enough off his fastball to catch hitters out in front and induce lots of groundballs. His curve is his third pitch. In the NYP, he struggled to find his release spot at times, but when found his release, he snapped off a short tight bender that showed plus potential. There’s some effort in his delivery, raising concerns about command down the road and a risk of injury. However, given his age (20 in October 2009) and experience (slight) his command is ahead of where one might expect it. The Mets’ staff raved about Mejia’s work ethic and intelligence. - 2008: Mejia made clear with three dominating starts in the GCL that the rookie league simply did not provide enough challenge for him. Promoted to Brooklyn in the first week of July, Mejia walked a season-high five batters in his first NYP League start and 11 batters in his first 18 innings (5.5 BB/9). In his final 38.2 IP in the league he walked just 12 batters (2.8 BB/9). That’s an impressive adjustment for a very young pitcher. When he reached the NYP, he tried to pitch with his curveball instead of his changeup as his second pitch. Once he returned to his change as his second offering, he threw more strikes and worked himself into better counts. Also, his curve improved over the course of the summer. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah rotation. St. Lucie is a possibility, but given Mejia’s age, and the number of older, other slightly more experienced arms fighting for time in the FSL, I see no reason to push Mejia to advanced-A yet.

February 2009: MYOB on: - Jenrry Mejia RHP - signed out of the Dominican Republic for only $16,500, showing you that there are good bargains out there if you have the scouts to find them. He has a mid-90s fastball now that projects to the upper 90s as he fills out. He needs to improve his command and work his secondary pitches more, becoming less reliant on the fastball. He limited opponents to a .199 average and finished with a combined 2.89 ERA at two levels. If he improves his secondary pitches he could develop into a top of the rotation starter, otherwise he will be closer material.

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - What's not to like about this kid? At 19 years-old, Mejia posted a 1.97 ERA in 50.1 High-A innings. Bumped up to Double-A Binghamton, his superficial numbers look weak (0-5, 4.47 ERA), but his peripherals are still solid. He's suffering from a .350 BABIP thanks in part to a mediocre defense; however, he has a 3.49 FIP and has struck out 47 batters in just 44.1 innings. His walks have increased a tick, but with his age and talent, Mejia could find his way into some Top 50 (or higher) prospect lists this year.

10-16-09 from www.projectprospect.com: Everyone's talking about Jenrry Mejia. He evoked a storm on twitter yesterday by touching 98.2 MPH with his fastball. Thanks to the Brooks Baseball AFL PitchFX tool, we have access to a detailed breakdown of Mejia's 39-pitch outing. His fastball sat in the 94-96 range and he threw it for strikes a little over half the time (54.2%). Ten of his 11 changeups were 86-87 MPH and two of them got swing-throughs -- 63.6% strikes. Of the four curveballs he threw, only one was a strike -- he ranged from 76-78 with the offering. He did not record swing-throughs with his fastball or curve, according to PitchFX. Here are a few notes that I got from a hitter who faced Mejia in the Eastern League this season: He was filthy. His fastball has hard cut and sits 94-98. His changeup was really good (good movement).

Forecast:


Everybody loves Jenrry Mejia. He was the talk of the winter leagues, both for his speed and the speed the ball went off opponent’s bats. He still has a long way to go and will start again at AA, but anyone who has spent any time observing him says he’s a can’t miss. Me? He’s a closet closer.

7.12.09

Early Breakfast Links: Jose, Phillips, Schneider, Lackey, Wolf, Cruz, and Steve Cohen


Jose Reyes:


Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Mets SS Jose Reyes began light running a few days ago, and the team is confident he will be 100 percent by Spring Training. …man, i can’t wait to see R

eyes out there, doing his thing, in St. Lucie… that, more than any one free-agent signing or trade will give me confidence for 2010…  metsblog.com





Steve Phillips:

Making for the door, however, I saw one last chance for a good story. Steve Phillips, still gainfully employed by ESPN, stood against a railing, looking into the stream. Realizing the potential hilarity of such a souvenir, I approached him and politely asked him to take a picture.

"Sure kid, one second." He then pretended to get a call about Johan Santana getting traded in his headset, ran toward Buster Olney, strategically positioned by a garden gnome, and pointed toward me and whispered. Then, like girls on a playground, they both quickly scampered away. Incredulous that my opinion of Steve Philips could get any lower, I just stood there.

"You're not going to let Steve Phillips get you down, are you?" Clay asked.

"No."

"Good, he's a dick."

amazinavenue


Brian Schneider:

I'll begin with a mildly depressing trivia question. According to Fangraphs the 2008 Mets leaders in WAR were, in descending order, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, and Carlos Delgado. Here's the question: do you know who their seventh most valuable player was (again, by Fangraphs WAR)? The seventh most valuable Met in 2008 was Brian Schneider (*gasp*), who contributed a WAR of 1.6. And therein lies the problem. When a team spends $137 million on its players and features Brian Schneider as its seventh-best player, something went very, very wrong. Brian Schneider can get on the 7 train and not even be the seventh-best baseball player on board. That Schneider somehow was the seventh best player on the New York Mets, a professional baseball team, illustrates the fundamental flaw in the recent rosters: a lack of mid-level talent. - amazinavenue



John Lackey:

Buzz from Indy surrounding the Mets is that they are more focused towards pitching in John Lackey, than hitting in Matt Holliday. According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com via Twitter, the Mets will meet with John Lackey's agent tonight. Speaking of meetings... tonight Minaya will also meet with representatives for Randy Wolf, Joel Pineiro, and Bengie Molina. - link


Randy Wolf:

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says the Brewers are making a strong push for Randy Wolf. Rosenthal says the Brewers are looking for a couple of starting pitchers to slot in with Yovani Gallardo. Last week, also on Fox Sports, Rosenthal said the Yankees will take a look at John Lackey, Rich Harden,... To read the rest of this post, as well as other news, notes and rumors, go to MetsBlog.com. - link

Can confirm reports that #Brewers on verge of 3-yr deal wtih Randy Wolf, a pitcher who also was on #Mets radar   -  Joel Sherman


Steve Cohen:

According to the Cyclones Twitter page, Steve Cohen -- the teams GM, has won the Mets' Sterling Minor League Executive of the Year award. Congrats to Steve. He served as my boss when I interned with the Cyclones this past summer. He was a real nice guy and even gave me great seats to a Mets game on one occasion.

link






Nelson Cruz:

According to a MLB source, the Mets have inquired about the availability of Rangers OF Nelson Cruz. Cruz, 29, hit .260 with 33 HR, 76 RBI, and 20 SB in 128 games for the Rangers last season. At a bargain basement price, Cruz made $400K last season and is under control until 2013. I’d love to see Minaya go after and trade for Cruz. He’s young, under contract, and it looks as if he’s coming into his own, after his 2009 breakout season. With the Mets more focused on pitching in John Lackey, rather than hitting, Cruz is a more viable option than Willingham or Rivera.  -  nybaseballdigest

A New Report That Burrell Is A Met


http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Luis_Castillo/682631


TEAM ANALYZER Burrell dealt to Mets in three-team trade

Source fanball.com


Pat Burrell has apparently been dealt from the Rays to the Mets in a three-way deal involving the Cubs, according to PhillyBurbs.com.

Our View: Assuming the deal went as had been discussed the past few days, Milton Bradley will end up in Tampa Bay, with Luis Castillo in Chicago. All three players are fantasy relevant and will likely get drafted toward the back end of drafts next season. You never know exactly how a new home will help or hurt a players' production, but in Burrell's case, a return to the National League could give him some renewed value, even in the Mets' pitcher-friendly park.

Lunch Links: Gee, more Burrell, Abreu, Humber, Pulsipher, Wily Mo, Lima, Castillo, and Evan MacLane


Dillon Gee:

Mack: Hey Dillon. It's Mack from Mack's Mets. First, congrats on the wedding. The pictures tell the story :). I'm getting a fair amount of chatter from fans asking how your injury is, how the rehab went, are you 100%. Whatzup?

Dillon: Hey Mack. Thanks for your comments about the wedding. We had a great time. The rehab went great and I just started throwing again last week and I feel great! Can't put into words how anxious I am to start the year!




Pat Burrell:

This morning, according to a tweet from Joel Sherman, we learn that if the Rays and Cubs can indeed work out a swap, the Mets would consider a Burrell-for-Luis Castillo swap. They're hesitant, however, because of Burrell's defensive issues. Does this three-team exchange of bad contracts make sense for all parties? That answer likely depends on how much of Bradley's salary the Cubs are willing to take on. While Burrell's down season in 2009 makes him a less-than-ideal option for the Mets in their search for a power-hitting outfielder, a return to the NL East could prove beneficial, while saving the Mets a few million dollars over the next two seasons - mlbtraderumors



Michel Abreu:

Arecibo Lobos (11-6) - Arecibo has opened up a 2-game lead and they are one of two teams playing over .500. Miguel Negron went 5 for 9 in his last two games and is one of three players with over 35 at bats that is hitting over .400 (.406). He scored three runs in his last game, a three hit assault. Michel Abreu bombed two homeruns his last game, his fifth and sixth and now leads the Mexican League in homeruns by two. He also has five more RBIs than his nearest pursuer.


Phillip Humber:

Ponce Leones(7-10) - Philipp Humber continues to lead the league in innings pitched with 28. He is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA


Bill Pulsipher:

Arecibo Lobos (11-6) - Bill Pulsipher is back for another season in Puerto Rico and lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Carolina, outdueled by Rick Vandenhurk. Bill worked seven innings and only gave up six hits and one run, but he took the loss… Bill was once considered one of the Mets top pitching prospects a number of years ago with Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen. It was the third quality start in a row for Rick in four starts to lower his ERA to 1.80. The big improvement is his command as he has only walked one hitter in 25 innings of work. -  - myob 


Wily Mo Pena:

Licey 5, Caguas 2 - Dodgers right-hander James McDonald tossed five shutout innings as the Tigres handed the Puerto Rican League's Criollos their fourth straight setback. Rays infielder Willy Aybar and Major League veteran Wily Mo Pena drove in two runs apiece for Licey, while Red Sox prospect Aaron Bates doubled twice and scored a run for Caguas


Jose Lima:

Escogido 12, Aguilas 5 - Catcher Danilo Sanchez singled twice and drove in four runs as first-place Escogido pounded host Aguilas on Sunday. Willis Otanez smacked a two-run homer off big league veteran Jose Lima in the fifth inning and Nationals farmhand Daryle Ward collected three hits and scored three runs for the Leones, who won their third straight and improved to a league-best 13-8 on the road.


Evan MacLane:

Gigantes 5, Estrellas 1

Jose Capellan (Astros) allowed one run on five hits over six frames and Wilson Betemit (Royals) had a pair of hits and an RBI as the Gigantes cruised to just their fifth victory in 21 road games. Capellan earned his fifth win of the season, tied with Evan MacLane (Cardinals) of the Estrellas for most in the league  -  mlb


Luis Castillo:

Castillo was unmovable last offseason, when he had three years and $18 million left on his ill-advised deal. Now, another year has been shaved off the contract, and Castillo has two years and $12 million remaining. The Mets desperately want to trade the second baseman to free space to sign free agent Orlando Hudson. Good luck. Castillo did stay reasonably healthy, aside from a fall down the dugout steps at Citi Field. And he did hit .302. But that average was somewhat inflated. After all, official scorers loved crediting Castillo with sacrifices when he bunted with runners on first base. Meanwhile, one caveat with Hudson: Dodgers skipper Joe Torre continually started Ronnie Belliard over him in October.  -  NYDN

The Keepers - #3 - SP - Jon Niese


3. Jonathan Niese – SP - MLB/AAA –

A little history:

Niese was voted Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year for two straight years. The Mets drafted him in the 7th round in 2005, and Niese got his feet wet at the GCL Mets, going 1-0 in 7 games, posting a 3.65 ERA and throwing 24 Ks in 24.2 IP.



Scouting report at the time: This then-19 year old lefty shows promise, but he's not a fastball pitcher and a portrait of a young Tom Glavine comes to mind. He has an excellent curve, and needs to work on the placement of his fastball and change before he can be declared a major league prospect. 2006 started strong at Low-A, where he posted a 3.93 ERA, but faded by the end of the year at St. Lucie (High-A), where his ERA went up to 4.50. Niese averaged more than a strikeout per inning thanks to his 88-91 mph fastball, which Mets officials feel will go higher as he matures. On the down side, his mechanics need refinement. He also consistently loses snap on his curveball.

OnDeck has Niese listed as the 18th Mets prospect. John Sickles pre-season rating of Niese was a C and was ranked the 19th Mets prospect. Possesses an 88-92 mph fastball that’s described as “sneaky fast.”

Gotham Baseball updated their Mets prospect list in August 2006 and Niese was ranked 6th. The Mets named Niese as co-MVP (along with Fernando Martinez) of the 2006 Hagerstown Suns (A) of the South Atlantic League. InsidePitch lists him as the 8th top Mets prospect.

In December 2006 Scout.com listed Niese as one of the top 10 Mets prospects going into 2007 the 133rd best pitching prospect in all of baseball. Baseball Prospectus updated their top Mets prospect list in December 2006 and listed Niese as #6, with the tag of “average prospect”. John Sickles has him as the 5th top 2007 Mets prospect, with a B- rating, and the comment: “projectable lefty is a personal favorite”.

In January 2007, Rotoworld ranked Niese as the 9th top Mets prospect in 2007, stating “he should be able to avoid a trip to the bullpen, but at least he does have a fallback after limiting left-handed hitters to a .317 slugging percentage last year. “



In February 2007, Scout.com ranked Niese as the 7th top Mets propect, his highest ranking to date.

In March 2007, ‘Met Heads” broke out their Top 6 Mets Pitching Prospects… Their #6 was: “Jon Niese rounds out the list at #6. Jon is another young pitcher in the Mets farm system. At age 19 Jon had a solid season in A ball. In 123 innings he had a 9.6 K/9, 4.5 BB/9, 3.93 ERA, 3.11 to mature and improve in the minor leagues.”

Niese played the entire 2007 season for St. Lucie and posted stats of 11-7, 4.29, 1.35 in 27 starts. He also had 110 Ks in 134.1 IP.

In September 2007, Baseball America ranked Niese the 21st best Florida State League pitcher in “strikeout percentage”, 24th in ‘groundout-to-flyout ratio, 5th in “top command”, and 5th in “big seasons”.



In November 2007, both BA and Scouts.com named Niese as the 8th top Mets prospect.

In December, Jonathan Mayo/MLB.com wrote: To be fair, he was probably on the radar after leading the organization in strikeouts in 2006, his first full season, but he jumped on it a little more firmly with in 2007. His overall numbers may not look all that exciting -- a 4.29 ERA and .285 opponents' batting average -- but it's how he responded to his struggles that was impressive. After a first half that saw the then-21-year-old post a 5.31 ERA, Niese improved to 3.52 in the second half -- and 2.62 in six August starts.

In late January 2007, Baseball America ranked Niese as the 8th overall Mets prospect.

In February 2008, Baseball Prospectus named Niese a 3-star prospect and the #2 Mets prospect overall.

Also in February 2008, Rotoworld ranked Niese as the #5 Mets prospect, saying: Niese struggled initially in the Florida State League, but he finished up with a 3.52 ERA and a 66/16 K/BB ratio in 76 2/3 innings after the All-Star break. His command has already come a long way, and improved conditioning allowed him to maintain his stamina deep into the season. It's important that Niese keep hitting his spots with his 88-90 mph fastball, as his big curve isn't likely to result in as many strikeouts at higher levels. He also needs to perfect his changeup. A future as a No. 4 starter could be possible.

ProjectProspect also came out, in February 2008, with their revised Top 150 Prospect List, and Niese made his first national prospect list, coming in at #142, adding: “substantial BB% improvement from '06 to '07, though he couldn't sustain K%; No. 4-5?”.

In March 2008, BA wrote an article on the top 10 prospects to watch out for in 2008: Niese showed up to Spring Training a year ago about 30 pounds overweight and paid the price for much of the season in St. Lucie as he tried to get in shape and then readjust to his body. He took better care of himself as the season wore on and had the results to show for it (a 2.62 ERA in six August starts). Now taking conditioning and, more importantly, nutrition seriously, Niese was in tip-top shape this spring and has looked very sharp. He's got a very smooth delivery and repeats his mechanics well. That enables him to throw his fastball, changeup and his best pitch, a 12-to-6 curve, for strikes at any point in the count. With the lesson learned, Niese could step up and help fill the void left by the departures of Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. He'll begin the year in Binghamton's rotation.

In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Niese was ranked #4, with the comments: “4. Jon Niese, lhp Quietly having success in Double-A at age 21, he owns three solid pitches. “

In late July, Rotoworld’s came out with their mid-season adjusted Top 150 Prospect List and Niese was ranked 98th , with a June 2009 ETA.



In late July 2008, ProjectProspect.com updated their top 10 Mets prospect list and he was ranked #4

ScoutingBook updated their Top 200 2009 Prospect List in late July 2008: Up to #129 - Jon Niese - A wiry left-hander with a deadly curve, Jon Niese is a dark-horse pitching prospect who has a shot at the Mets rotation in 2009. A graduate of the same high school as Chad Billingsley, Niese will start 2008 at AA, but he has the maturity and guile to move up quickly. He has a nice fastball and a heavy sinker, but he needs another year or two to refine his other pitches. If he can do that, he might be a front-of-rotation starter, though he could help out in the bullpen or back-end long before that.

He was a late call-up by the Mets in 2008 after posting a combined 11-8,3.13 record in Binghamton and New Orleans.

Niese won the 2008 Sterling Award as the the top Met pitcher in the system.

In February 2009, Sporting News Top 50 baseball prospects: - #43. Jonathon Niese, SP, New York Mets. The Mets' rotation could have at least one open slot and Niese is the best internal candidate for the job. While he's not overpowering, Niese has three effective pitches and is learning how to mix his offerings and set up hitters.

Also in February 2009, from Fanhouse: Jon Niese, LHP: With the Mets' rotation seemingly set, Niese will most likely start the season at Triple-A Buffalo, but if Tim Redding struggles, or if John Maine's injury woes from last season continue, Niese will be the guy to fill in. His cup of coffee with the Mets last season should prove to be beneficial to pitcher and team alike. He had three starts in September of '08, which included two stinkers wrapped around an impressive eight inning gem in a 5-0 win against Atlanta. What you can expect from Niese is a guy who will rely on his curveball rather than his fastball, and a guy who has a competitive streak a mile long. His issue going forward will be keeping his pitch counts down. In his two starts which only lasted into the fourth inning, he approached the 80-pitch mark.

Toby Hyde wrote: An organizational favorite, Niese combines near-MLB readiness with the potential to be a rotation regular for a winning team. Niese’s best offering is a plus, big looping curveball. His fastball has average velocity from a lefty, in the 89-91 range, although it can straighten out at times. In the first inning, Niese will crank up the velocity a little more, but it dropped as he worked deeper into starts in 2008. Niese’s changeup is a distant third in his arsenal. Niese made three big league starts in 2008, in his first and final starts, he yielded five and six runs respectively in three innings each. In between, he shut out the Braves for eight innings on September 13th. In his one good start, Gameday counted Niese as throwing a mere four changeups among his 116 pitches. Three were balls and one resulted in a base hit. With the help of former AA pitching coach Ricky Bones, Niese claimed he added a cutter to his arsenal to attack righties. Niese deserves credit for getting serious about his conditioning recently, which allowed him to make 32 starts across three levels in 2008. 2008: Niese conquered AA on his way to AAA and then the big leagues when the Mets were searching for a few good starts in September. In his final ten starts at AA, Niese put together a 2.64 ERA over 64.2 innings with 60 strikeouts against just 21 walks. Promoted to AAA on July 30th, Niese allowed two runs or fewer in five of his seven starts. Niese’s three big league starts included two three-inning outings and a brilliant eight-inning blanking of the Braves. Projected 2009 Start: The Mets have brought lots of competition to Spring Training for the fifth starter’s job and it appears as though Jon Niese is headed to Buffalo for a little more seasoning to begin 2009. Given the up-and-down nature of his brief big league time in 2008, this is reasonable enough.

In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: Niese's ceiling seems higher than it did a year ago, as his curve has remained a strikeout pitch at higher levels and he's hitting 91-92 mph on the gun more often than before. His changeup still needs work, but he does pretty well against right-handed hitters anyway. It looked like the Mets were going to commit to him at the back of the rotation this season, but they brought in three veterans after Jan. 1, suggesting that he will return to the minors for a couple of months. He looks like a future No. 3.

Project Prospect updated their top 200 prospect list in March 2009: #74 Jon Niese LHP Good combo of GB% (52), K% (21.5), BB% (8.4) in AA; Ks declined 2.3% in AAA (4.42 FIP)

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - The lefty owns a low-90's fastball and big breaking curveball that give him the chance to be a successful major league pitcher, as he posted a tRA of 3.77 and a FIP of 3.24 in 25.2 MLB innings. Pitching in Triple-A for most of the year, Niese posted a 3.38 FIP for Buffalo and simply dominated minor league hitters before getting his call up to the majors. Niese's 2009 ended in a way typical of the Mets 2009 season, as he injured his hamstring while covering first base (then proceeded to tear it while throwing a warm up pitch and surrounded by the Mets' training staff). If he recovers successfully, he will most likely find his way as the Mets fourth or fifth starter next year.

2009 AAA: 0.667 O%, 20.5% K%, 6.5% BB%, 22.9 age, 400 TBF

Forecast:


Right now, before any trade of free agent signing, Niese is penciled in for the SP5

Reported: Pat Burrell Traded To Mets


Don't have much on this other than a report from Philly papers"


"Former Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell has reportedly been swapped twice this morning, eventually landing with Phils division rival the New York Mets. The Tampa Bay Rays traded the slugging left fielder to the Chicago Cubs then the Cubs dealt Burrell to the Mets. Names of other players involved in the deals were not immediately available. -  theropolitans

Breakfast Links: Johan, Omar, Castillo, Murph, Nick, Pedro, and Mike Cameron


Johan Santana:

2010 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher SP Rankings: - 1. Johan Santana, 2. Roy Halladay, 3. Tim Lincecum, 4. C.C. Sabathia, 5. Felix Hernandez, 6. Zack Greinke, 7. Josh Beckett, 8. Justin Verlander, 9. Cliff Lee, 10. Dan Haren, 56. John Maine, 97. Mike Pelfrey.

fantasybaseballexpress


Omar Minaya:

Omar has no meetings scheduled for tonight, suggested trade more likely than FA signing for Mets, said, "we've had better FA markets in past years" - twitter



Luis Castillo

It’s been reported that Omar Minaya’s main goal this week is to trade Luis Castillo and the final two years of his deal. Tonight, Steve Henson of Yahoo Sports reports that “three or four teams are interested in Juan Pierre, and that a three-team trade is being explored to bring a bad contract starter to the Dodgers in return.” This sounds an awful lot like Castillo. Although this isn’t a rumor, just speculation on my part, it wouldn’t be the first time there is discussion about a Castillo for Pierre swap as others in the media how broached the idea.

nybaseballdigest


Daniel Murphy:

Murphy’s .266 average is pretty pedestrian, but he was able to hold his own with the big club. He hit 12 homers and drove in 63 runs. He was also the victim of what many people in the Mets’ lineup were victims of. He had no protection. Murphy needs to learn how to make adjustments, and he could be a solid number six or seven hitter in this lineup… I want to put a feeler out right now. Why does everyone hate him? He just needs time to develop. Look at the free agent market. When the best guys out there are Nick Johnson and Adam LaRoche, being patient is probably the best course of action. -
dailystache


Nick Evans:

This is where we will see how the education of Minaya has progressed: The common theme is the Mets choked in 2007-08, and no one would laud their fortitude. But I think the Mets’ woeful lack of depth was the main culprit late in the season; let us remember the 2008 Mets played a must-win Game 162 with Nick Evans and Ramon Martinez as their Nos. 5-6 hitters. And though nothing could have saved the 2009 Mets from the injury tsunami, better depth would have made the fall less humiliating. Minaya has been in charge of that depth. - Nypost




Pedro Martinez:

(Robinson) Cano exchanged hellos with Pedro Martinez at the golf course Saturday and said he would even welcome the 38-year-old Martinez joining the defending champion Bombers as a free agent. "I say he's got some more in him. He'd be good (with the Yankees), especially with the kind of team we got," said Cano. "We score, most games, four or five runs. Guy like him, we only need him like five, six innings." Martinez reiterated to the Daily News his desire to pitch in 2010, and said he would welcome a return to the City of Brotherly Love, where he spent less than half a season but was an important part of the club's World Series run. - NYDN


J J Putz:

The Diamondbacks were in attendance at a recent throwing session featuring free agent J.J. Putz, according to FOXSports.com. The Phillies and Astros have also been linked to Putz this offseason. Teams are aware of his raw ability and are hoping he'll be open to a cheap contract, but with so much interest he may be able to step up his demands. The 32-year-old Putz had a 5.22 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 2009, but he's only two years removed from a lights-out season as closer of the Mariners. - rotoword  


Mike Cameron:

According to Will Carroll (Baseball Prospectus), the Chicago Cubs are close to a deal with free agent outfielder Mike Cameron, though the deal is contingent upon the Cubs moving Milton Bradley to the Rays (for payroll). If Cameron signs with the Cubs, then the Yankees would lose out on a great left field option to replace Johnny Damon. Therefore, the team would basically be stuck with trying to reacquire the 36-year old free agent, unless they’re willing to spend on Matt Holliday. Now, I hope Carroll’s report is false. Cameron must have known that the Yankees were interested in him — that seems like a commonsense assumption — which is why I’m surprised that he wanted to sign so quickly. However, if the Cubs were willing to offer him a 2-year deal (I’m unsure if this is what they did, but it is a possibility), I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the end, he ultimately took it. With the way the market is developing (slowly), a 2-year deal is great. Even if the Yankees were interested, with guaranteed money on the table, you have to accept it before it’s gone. - .i-yankees 


Benji Molina:

SI.com's Jon Heyman believes the Mets will "wait it out" with free agent catcher Bengie Molina because they feel they are the highest bidders. Few teams are in the market for a catcher, especially a 35-year-old seeking a lucrative multi-year deal. Molina hit just .265/.285/.442 this past season, though he did reach the 20 home run plateau for the first time in his career. The Royals and Rangers are also thought to have interest. -
rotoword

6.12.09

Lunch Links: Murph, Schneider, Willingham, AH, and Matt Lindstrom


Daniel Murphy:

There’s no one so optimistic as a Mets fan presented with a vaguely young player who’s given some sign that he might possibly be capable of playing well, so after seeing ZiPS projections for the 2010 Mets I thought it might be good to present three batting lines in the interest of perspective. The top two are projected lines for Jeff Francoeur and Daniel Murphy and the bottom is what the average National League team got from its shortstops in 2009. (The runs and runs batted in obviously don’t count for much but they’re pretty funny. Let me gently suggest two things: Even David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes can’t make up for this sort of thing, and even the Mets should be able to find a first baseman and right fielder who can hit better than the average shortstop. -
baseballthinkfactory


Brian Schneider:

How were the combination of Santos and Schneider responsible for Oliver Perez's horrible season? How about Mike Pelfrey freaking out every time the opposing team got a runner on base and he would balk that runner over? The problem is Dan Warthen who was a walk machine in his playing career. While Santos did not at times slow the game down for pitchers and did not baby some of the Met pitchers he did call a good game. Brian Schneider on the other hand called great games, knew when to give encouragement and knew when to go to the mound to slow down the pitcher at times. The pitchers missed the strike zone, allowing the 616 walks not the catchers. -
metsfansforeve 

Josh Willingham:

The Mets are interested in Josh Willingham, according to MLB.com's William Ladson on Twitter. The Mets are targeting the right player. The 30-year old cranked 24 home runs and posted a .260 batting average while being under team control via arbitration for two more years. Willingham would allow the Mets to avoid a massive outlay for Matt Holliday or Jason Bay while steering clear of the lesser candidates available. It's unknown if Washington has any interest in moving the left-fielder. - Rotoworld


Anderson Hernandez:

Gigantes 4, Licey 1 - Indians southpaw Rafael Perez allowed a run on four hits over six innings and fanned six without issuing a walk as the Gigantes shut down the Tigres. Wilson Betemit (Royals) had two hits and two RBIs for Cibao, while fellow Major League veteran Anderson Hernandez drove in the lone run for Licey

mlb 


Matt Lindstrom:

Matt Lindstrom is "virtually certain" to be traded at the winter meetings, if not before, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Of the six teams that have expressed interest in the soon-to-be 30-year-old, three have stepped to the forefront in recent days. Lindstrom, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time in his career, makes sense as a Marlins trade candidate. Earlier this week we heard that the righty was part of a trio of Florida relievers who could be dealt. The Idaho native had a down year in 2009, as he was slowed down by an elbow injury. In his third big league season, he posted an ERA of 5.89 and threw just 47.1 innings.  - mlbtraderumors

The Keepers - #4 - OF - Fernando Martinez


4. Fernando Martinez – OF - 21-yrs – MLB/AAA – Martinez convinced all the doubters in 2009, hitting .290/.337/.540/.877; however, it was after only 176 at bats. The real good news was the slugging percentage, which finally started to post at levels the Mets always said he could reach. 28 of his 51 hits were for extra bases. Yes, he was called up to the Mets, but the conditions of his advancement were not the best. Martinez seems surrounded by injuries. He’s either replacing guys that got hurt, or he’s getting dinged himself. The good news: they all are dings. The bad news: they won’t stop dinging.

Some history:-

In July 2005, the Mets signed Fernando Martinez as a free agent. His signing bonus was 1.4 million dollars. Most around that week said that he was highly influenced by the Mets signing of Carlos Beltran.

In 2006, Martinez was assigned to Hagerstown. He was leading the team in hitting when he went on the disabled list, first for a thumb injury, and later for injuring his knee sliding into second base.

OnDeck ranks him as the 4th top Mets prospect, RotoWorld has him #9 and BaseballAmerica puts him at #7. John Sickles’ pre-season rating was a C+ and ranked Martinez as the 8th Mets prospect. Rotoworld updated their prospect list in July 2006 and now have Martinez ranked #80. Scout.com also updated their rankings in 7/06 and put Martinez at #37 in baseball. Gotham Baseball updated their Mets prospect list in August 2006 and Martinez was ranked 4th. Martinez was named by the Mets as the co-MVP (with Jonathan Niese) for the 2006 Hagerstown team (A) of the South Atlantic League. The only thing that slowed him up in 2006 was his injuries.

A scouting report said: “Martinez keeps the bat in the hitting zone for a long time and stays inside the ball while driving it from gap to gap and his approach is advanced for his age. Scouts see power potential, though he presently has more of a line-drive swing. With a plus arm and speed, Martinez should be able to stay in center field. His overall performance was all the more impressive considering that he was making his pro debut after signing last summer for the biggest bonus on the international market in 2005.”

InsidePitch published their prospect list in November 2006 and had Martinez as 3rd on the list. From Rotoworld: “When Martinez was signed out of the Dominican Republic in July 2005, the word was that he wouldn't be allowed to play in the minors in 2006. Well, play he did, and he's already established himself as one of the game's best outfield prospects. A left-handed hitter capable of handling center field, Martinez is a premier talent on his way to showing 30-homer power. He didn't walk much as a 17-year-old, but he's less prone to low-and-away breaking balls than most hitters his age. It's likely that he'll end up as a right fielder, but he should be a very good one. He could be ready for the majors as soon as the second half of 2008 or 2009.” An added bonus is his defensive abilities, and is considered a sound CFer with a plus arm. On the down side, most of his power is still being projected, and a couple of scouts have commented negatively on his swing, which doesn’t seem to create enough loft.

In December 2006 Scout.com listed Martinez as one of the Mets Top 10 prospects and the 12th best outfield prospect in all of baseball. Fantasyinfocentral.com ranks him #1. Baseball Prospectus updated their top 10 Mets prospect listin December 2007 and listed Martinez as #1, with the label “excellent prospect”. The Mets are pleasantly surprised how quick his tools are translating on the field. John Sickles has Martinez as the #1 2007 Mets prospect, with an A- rating, and the comment: “(tools and youth, just needs refinement.”

In January 2007, SI.com listed Martinez as the 21st top prospect in baseball. Also in January, Rotoworld ranked Martinez as the 2nd top Mets prospect, and was quoted to say: “Martinez has plenty of time to develop and is about as good of a bet as anyone in the low minors to turn into a star.” Also in January, .ESPN‘s Keith Law presented the first annual Scouts Inc. top baseball prospects list, and coming in at #6 was Fernando Martinez, stating: “Martinez doesn't look or carry himself like a teenager, and had no trouble against Double-A and Triple-A pitchers in the Arizona Fall League. Plus glove in center as well.”

In Febraury 2007, Scout.com ranked Martinez as the 3rd top Mets prospect.

In March 2007, ProjectProspect.com listed their “Top OFer’s Under 25” and ranked him #14, stating: “Known as “ Pequeño ” in the Arizona Fall League, Martinez, 18, is the top teenage Dominican prospect in the minors. After signing to a $1.4 million contract in 2005, he tore up Low-A Hagerstown before being awarded a late-season promotion to High-A St. Lucie. His production slowed after the promotion, but he put up .279/.336/.457 combined vitals.” Baseball America ranked Martinez as the #22 top prospect in baseball, saying: Followed up an impressive debut as a 17-year-old by holding his own in the Arizona Fall League - Opening Day Age: 18. ETA: 2009

Also in March 2007, Rotoworld came out with their Top 150 Prospect List and Martinez was ranked 10th in all of baseball. Rotoworld said: “While he wasn't quite ready for the Florida State League or the AFL, Martinez was stellar as a 17-year-old in the South Atlantic League, amassing an 894 OPS in 192 at-bats. The native of the Dominican Republic is a phenomenal talent. He's on his way to showing 30-homer power and might go well beyond that. He can also handle center field, though he'll probably be in right by the time he reaches the majors. A left-handed hitter, he does have trouble handling southpaws at the moment. Also, while he rarely looks as bad as some teenagers on low-and-away breaking balls, he's not yet adept at waiting for his pitch. Martinez has plenty of time to develop and is about as good of a bet as anyone in the low minors to turn into a star. He should spend most of 2007 back at St. Lucie, but a midyear promotion to Double-A can't be ruled out.

In late March, Fox Sports ranked Martinez as the 8th top prospect in baseball, saying: “Martinez was tremendous in his full-season debut, but he scuttled a bit after a promotion to High-A St. Lucie. Still, his performance was thoroughly impressive for a 17-year-old. On the field, he's impressive on a number of levels. He's got speed, a quick and level bat through the zone, good range in center and a polished approach overall. The only question is whether he'll develop the power. Considering his success against much older competition and his natural hitting skills, the power will probably come.

In July 2007, Rotoworld updated their top prospect list and ranked Martinez 8th in baseball, saying: “Martinez is currently on the DL with a hand injury, but he's hitting at least as well as should have been expected after the Mets got ridiculously aggressive and pushed him up to Double-A to begin the season. Martinez batted .333/.389/.505 in 192 AB in low-A and .193/.254/.387 in 119 AB in high-A as a 17-year-old last year. The power is sure to come in time, and he already has a pretty good feel for hitting, rarely embarrassing himself on outside breaking balls. Martinez is likely to end up in right field and should be well above average there. He may not arrive as quickly as the Mets hope, but he'll likely be a .300 hitter with 25- or 30-home run ability in time.”

2007 was a disappointing season for Martinez. He spent much of it on the IR, but did manage to play some for Binghamton (.271/.336/.377 in 236 at bats). In November 2007, ‘Project Prospect’ listed him as the 2nd top prospect in all of baseball, ‘BA’ had him as the 5th top Mets proepct (‘young Dominican signee looks like a bust, but still scouts favorite’), another ‘Scouts.com’ listing had him the 2nd rank Met, and another ‘BA’ ranking had him as the #1 Mets up-and-comer.

Also in November, MiLB.com listed Martinez aa the 17th overall prospect in baseball, saving: Despite playing less than half a Minor League season, Martinez is still highly regarded by scouts around baseball. The Mets sent him to the Arizona Fall League in 2006, where he became the youngest player ever to participate there, and continued to push him aggressively by making the 18-year-old the youngest player in the Double-A Eastern League in 2007. A hand injury hampered him for much of the year and eventually ended his season in July.When healthy, Martinez has tremendous potential with the bat. He should eventually hit for both average and power from a corner outfield spot. He has the ability to play decent defense and isn't a bad runner, but all his skills are still on the raw side. Assuming he's healthy in 2008, Martinez should be able to continue his quick ascent to New York. Starting the year back in Double-A might be the way to go, but even if he begins there, it's unlikely he'll finish the season at the same level.

In November 2007, ‘Project Prospect’ ranked Martinez the #1 Mets prospect: Entering the season with about as much momentum as any hitting prospect, Martinez stumbled upon a major roadblock in 2007. The Dominican native accomplished little at the plate while playing through what was initially thought to just be a bad bone bruise. In early August the injury was diagnosed as a broken hamate bone. The $1.4 M international signee had already amassed a feeble 9.0% line-drive rate to go along with a .106 isolated power and 0.39 walk-to-strikeout rate by that time. Martinez finished the season at No. 25 in our Top 25 prospect rankings. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound lefthanded hitter still has the potential to climb as high as the Top 3 on that list by the end of 2008. But the kind of injury he’s recovering from can take over a year to fully heal from, so temper your immediate expectations and prepare to be patient.

In December 2007, Jonathan Mayo/MLB.com wrote: Slipped a rung - Fernando Martinez, OF: Yes, he was by far the youngest player in the Double-A Eastern League. Yes, a hand injury hampered him for most of the year and ended his season in July. And yes, scouts still, for the most part, like his potential. That being said, an uber-prospect like Martinez is expected to do more than the .713 OPS he put up in 60 Double-A games. He's also only played 139 games over the past two years. He certainly has time to start turning potential into performance, and perhaps the Mets moved him too quickly, but the 2007 season certainly didn't help his prospect status.

In January 2007, John Sickles ranked Martinez in his “top 50 hitters” column: #17 - Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets - ‘Hit .271/.336/.377 in 60 games in Double-A. Plagued with injuries and was extremely young for the level. Still a great prospect but exact shape of his future is unclear’.

In January 2007, Keith Law/ESPN ranked Martinez #10 in his Top 100 Baseball Prospects, adding:

It's been fashionable this offseason for some writers to bash the Mets' top prospects, mostly vis-à-vis the Johan Santana trade talks, but this criticism has been way overblown. Martinez's 2007 performance doesn't impress on a quick look, but consider these facts: He played the entire season at age 18 in AA; and he was hitting .309/.372/.409 as late as May 25 before the effects of a contusion on his left hand ruined what remained of his season. He was shut down on June 23 and missed the rest of the year. Martinez shows huge raw power in BP that will make its way into his game performances, and he has a solid approach with good pitch recognition for someone so young. He has good range in center and a plus arm if he outgrows center field and has to move to right. To put his development in more perspective, if he'd played a full year at AA and hit .290/.360/.410 or so, he would have been on pace to debut in the big leagues at 19 or 20 and be a big league regular before he turned 21. He's going to be a star, but everyone has to bear in mind how young he is to keep his performance in perspective.

In late January 2007, Baseball America listed Martinez as the #1 Mets prospect in their system.

In February 2008, Baseball Prospectus listed Martinez as the only 4-star prospect in the Mets system, and the #1 overall Met prospect.

Also in February 2008, Rotoworld ranked Martinez as the #1 Mets prospect, saying: Sure, they needed a center fielder, but it's hard to believe the Twins sent Johan Santana to the Mets without getting the team's best prospect in return. That was Martinez, though the four players the Twins received would have occupied the next four spots on New York's list. Martinez, who received a $1.4 million bonus to sign at age 16, quickly established himself as a top prospect by hitting .333/.389/.505 in 192 at-bats at low-A Hagerstown in his pro debut in 2006. Moved up in August, he proceeded to bat .193/.254/.387 in 119 AB for high-A St. Lucie. Still, the Mets opted to get extremely aggressive and send him to Double-A for his age-18 season. He barely held his own in 60 games when he wasn't sidelined with hand injuries, but even that was rather impressive. Martinez is an enormous talent with 35-homer potential and the ability to hit for average. He should also prove to be an above average defender in right field with experience. He's at least one and probably two years away, but he's a star in the making.

Also in February 2008, ScoutingBook.com listed the 238 top prospects in 2008 baseball and they ranked Martinez as 28th, stating: When the Mets assigned Martinez to be the youngest prospect to attend the Arizona Fall League, many were left skeptical of the Mets' chances at maximizing their value with the phenom. After all, in his final 15 games in the Florida State League, Martinez had gone 9-for-57 with three extra-base hits and 13 strikeouts. However, injuries had kept Martinez inactive for much of his first full season, so the AFL presented an opportunity for consistent playing time. Martinez significantly responded, displaying huge power potential from the left side. It appears the Mets know how to handle the teenager, who could use some time in the weight room and some improvements against southpaws to take the next step in 2008. The idea of Martinez and crosstown phenom Tabata reaching New York at the same time almost seems too good to be true, but the Mets haven't been this excited about an outfielder in a very while.

ProjectProspect came out with their revised Top 150 Prospect List also in February 2008, and Martinez was ranked 20th in baseball, adding: “stayed more than afloat as teen in AA then broke hamate; expect modest improvement .”

Baseball America came out with their list on 2-27-08 and ranked Martinez #10 in baseball.

In March, BA wrote an article on the ten prospects to watch out for in 2008: In some ways, the key to the Johan Santana deal was the fact that New York did not have to give up its top prospect. Martinez is a natural hitter, the kind of talent the Mets feel comes around once in a generation. Martinez missed a lot of time in 2007 with a broken hamate bone, but he's completely healthy and he showed up to camp this spring with the goal of reaching the big leagues this season -- before he turns 20. He has the ability to hit for average and power and can run, though as he fills out, that might not be the best of his five tools. His makeup is off the charts -- he's worked tirelessly at improving his English and is willing to do what it takes to become great. He'll start the year at Binghamton and the Mets won't get in the way of his talent. If he stays healthy and produces the way he's capable, he could see New York before season's end.

In late March 2007, MiLB.com ranked their top 50 minor league prospects and placed Martinez as 17th, saying:

Despite playing less than half a Minor League season, Martinez is still highly regarded by scouts around baseball. The Mets sent him to the Arizona Fall League in 2006, where he became the youngest player ever to participate there, and continued to push him aggressively by making the 18-year-old the youngest player in the Double-A Eastern League in 2007. A hand injury hampered him for much of the year and eventually ended his season in July. When healthy, Martinez has tremendous potential with the bat. He should eventually hit for both average and power from a corner outfield spot. He has the ability to play decent defense and isn't a bad runner, but all his skills are still on the raw side. Assuming he's healthy in 2008, Martinez should be able to continue his quick ascent to New York. Starting the year back in Double-A might be the way to go, but even if he begins there, it's unlikely he'll finish the season at the same level.

In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Martinez was ranked #1, with the comments: “still young and talented, but his lack of production may mean he's overhyped

In late July, Rotoworld’s came out with their mid-season adjusted Top 150 Prospect List: 11. Fernando Martinez - With a .328 average in 119 at-bats since the beginning of May, it seems like Martinez is starting to get a handle on Double-A pitching. He got off to another slow start in April, and 32 of his 53 strikeouts came in the first month of the season. He's made adjustments versus breaking balls since, and he's collecting a lot of singles as a result. His power stroke isn't there yet at age 19, and it's likely similar adjustment periods are in store when he's promoted to Triple-A and later the majors. However, he remains an elite prospect with All-Star upside. He should possess the power to his 30 homers per year, and he projects as an above average defender in right field.

In late July 2008, ProjectProspect.com updated their top 10 Mets prospect list and Martinez was ranked #1

Martinez spent the 2008 season with Binghamton. He was dinged up twice, but finished with impressive numbers: .287/.340/.432, 8 HR, only 43 RBIs

In February 2009, Sporting News Top 50 baseball prospects: - #40. Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets. Martinez is a top talent but his impact in 2009 is hard to gauge. Despite plus bat speed and great hands, he has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. If Martinez can stay healthy, he could realize his potential and eventually win a big-league job.

Also in February 2009: From Fanhouse: You may remember Martinez as the guy who the Mets wouldn't place in the Johan Santana deal. That's how much the Mets thought and still think of him. Statistically, he doesn't jump out at you. But the Mets rarely let prospects dominate the minor leagues before promoting him, and they've done no different with Martinez. In fact, it's been injuries more than stats that have been Martinez's downfall during his minor league career. He was impressing people during his stint in the Caribbean World Series before going down with an injury and was sent back to New York largely as a precaution. The lefty power hitter is also due to start at Triple-A Buffalo, but a combination of a big start to the season by Martinez and the Mets' platoon of Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy becoming a bust could lead to Martinez reaching the majors this year at the ripe old age of 20.

Toby Hyde on: #1 - OF Fernando Martinez - Why Ranked Here: Martinez maintains the top spot on this list by combining just about the best upside in the system with a close proximity to the Major Leagues. I became a believer watching Martinez take BP in the summer of 2008. The ball just exploded off his bat thanks to plus batspeed which generated above average power from left-center on over to rightfield. It was easy for him. Martinez has held his own in centerfield for the last two years in Binghamton, but with Carlos Beltran patrolling center for the Mets, if Martinez is going to make an impact at Citi Field in 2009, it will be on the corners. At this point, Martinez will grow up into a big leaguer, although scouts differ on whether he will be a solid regular or something much better. 2008: Martinez doubled his homerun production from 2007 in Binghamton, moving from four to eight, but he once again battled injuries, missing over a month in May and June. It all seemed to click for Martinez playing winter ball for Escogido in the Dominican Republic. Tellingly, he had the highest walk rate of his career and the best power numbers, homerun rates of his career. It would appear that he took the crucial step of becoming more selective, learning which pitches he can drive. Projected 2009 Start: AAA Buffalo Bisons

In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: Three seasons into his pro career, Martinez has just 22 homers and a pedestrian .281/.338/.429 batting line to his credit. Still, he didn't turn 20 until after 2008 and the Mets had to be excited to see him hit .318 with seven homers in 154 at-bats over the winter, even if he did go down with a strained elbow in the Caribbean World Series. Martinez no longer has much chance of developing into a superstar, but he'll be a 25-homer guy in time and he'll likely hit for solid averages. A center fielder in the minors, he'd be as a corner outfielder in the majors even if he didn't have Carlos Beltran in front of him. After spending the last two seasons in Double-A, he's due to move up to Triple-A this season. It's possible that he'll need two years at the level, but since the Mets aren't committed to their current options in the corners beyond this season -- even if Daniel Murphy does prove to be real, he might be more valuable as Carlos Delgado's replacement at first base -- it's possible that he'll be a regular in 2010.

Project Prospect updated their top 200 prospect list in March 2009: #33 Fernando Martinez CF Wasn't overmatched as youngest AA player (.332 wOBA); IsoP up from .106 ('07) to .145 ('08)

My World Of Baseball: No one questions Fernando’s bat. It is his ability to stay healthy that is the big impediment for him to have success in the major leagues. He’s had three seasons in the minor leagues and he has yet to play over 90 games. This winter he was having a lot of success, but he had to put an end to it because of a strained right elbow. This limited him to DH duties this spring and did not give him an opportunity to compete for the left field job. His other injuries included a bone bruise to his hand and a knee sprain in 2006; a broken hammate bone to his hand in 2007; and problems with his hamstring in 2008. He is still only 20 years old so playing in AA or AAA is not an insult. The Mets have him playing centerfield, but he is better suited for left field. He doesn’t have nearly enough range to match Carlos Beltran and when playing winter ball there are always better outfielders than him that forces him to play left field. He just doesn’t have the speed to cover the ground necessary for centerfield, but his bat should allow him to survive the corners.
Considering his minor league career may be over, no lifetime .281 hitting ever had more hype than Martinez. His total stats were .281/.337/.445/.782, which you and I would be proud of, but the Mets need to have a long, sit down meeting regarding whether or not Martinez is ready for the 450+ at bat season any major league starter s expected to produce. He has hit only 30 home runs in 1105 minor league at bats, has walked only 80 times and has struck out 228 times.

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - He didn't fair all too well in the majors, but not many 20 year-olds do. His AAA numbers were solid, as he displayed his power with a .250 ISO. His centerfield defense was shaky, although he was solid in left field (sample size warning). He'll probably start 2010 in Triple-A as he recovers from knee surgery, but could be a breakout player by 2011.

2010: Look, if 2009 was a normal year, this would be an easy call. Why would you call up a kid who hasn’t played an entire professional season without a DL injury, when you have a .280 hitter named Gary Sheffield you can sign to a one-year contract? I’m sure the Mets will call him up which could a huge mistake. I’m talking Alex Escobar-type mistake.

Brunch Links: Santos, Benji, Marquis, Cameron... and Rod Barajas


Omir Santos:


Really? Who's next, Charles Johnson? Look, Blanco's defensive skills may still be intact (he threw out 40 percent of base-stealers last year), and he may have also been a mentor to Geovany Soto during his breakout 2008 season. But there is just no rational explanation for doubling Blanco's salary after a season where he appeared in just 67 games and batted .232/.320/.382. If the Mets are going to give $1.5 million to the likes of Henry Blanco, then I don't want to hear another word about the Wilpons having financial concerns. (Actually, this move signals everything I hate about the Mets right now - this organiation would rather give $1.5 million to a 37-year-old backup catcher then to pay over-slot for a first-round draft pick. It is the very definition of penny-wise and pound-foolish.) This would seemingly signal the end of Omir Santos's career in New York - a move that I am hardly lamenting. Mets fans have a bad habit of thinking that a good three-week stretch from a player is an indicator of All-Star potential. Too many people drank the Kool-Aid with Santos, a career minor leaguer who would be lucky to bat over .200 if he gets 100 major league at-bats next season - Productive Outs


Rod Barajas

The Mets are interested in Rod Barajas, reports Brian Costa of the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Barajas would represent a low-cost alternative to Bengie Molina, although it would come as a surprise if the Mets' priority wasn't Molina. The former Toronto backstop hit .226/.258/.403 with 19 home runs in 429 at-bats in 2009. - Rotoworld



Benji Molina:

I've been a big advocate of the Mets obtaining Bengie Molina, I'm even willing to go two years at 6MM with incentives for his desired 8MM but there's no way I'm giving Molina three years. If there's a team out there willing to give him 24MM over three years, then I'll wish him and that club good luck. There are still several decent catchers available, if Molina is serious about his price then Omar needs to move on in a hurry before the catchers market dwindles any further and he stuck meeting Molina's demands. Jon Heyman speculates this morning on twitter that the reason a deal might not be done already is because of Bengie wants three years.... Mets Fever 


Jason Marquis:

Marquis counted the Mets as among teams on his wish list, and they have reciprocated his interest, eager to find a sturdy starter from a group that also includes Joel Pineiro and Randy Wolf. Over the last six seasons, Marquis has won at least 11 games every year and has topped the 190-inning mark five times, despite showing signs of wear after the All-Star break. A dangerous hitter, Marquis won a Silver Slugger award in 2005 and has hit five career homers, including a grand slam at Shea Stadium during the final week of the 2008 season that helped knock the Mets out of playoff contention. And then there is that playoff streak. “I’d like to think I’m a reason for that,” said Marquis, who is 94-83 with a 4.48 career earned run average. “Am I the only reason? Not at all, but I’d like to feel like I’ve brought something to the table to help get those teams to where they went. I don’t want to say it’s a coincidence, but there’s something to be said for consistency.” - N Y Times 

Did somebody say the Mets? They won't spend the money for Holliday, Bay or Lackey and apparently, they're only interested in signing low-budget Latin players, having shown little or no interest in Byrd, Figgins, DeRosa, Wolf or even Staten Island's Jason Marquis, while waiting for their markets to come to them. At the same time, the Phillies and Braves wasted no time in addressing their needs. Sad. -
Read more: Daily News


Mike Cameron:

Center fielder Mike Cameron could take center stage for the Cubs by the time the winter meetings begin Monday in Indianapolis, depending on how quickly they can slam the door on Milton Bradley's tail and how much room is left in the payroll. What's clear is the Cubs' interest and the strength of manager Lou Piniella's relationship with Cameron, who spent the past two seasons with Milwaukee. - SunTimes

5.12.09

F-Mart's Got Blisters; Mets Sign C Choo Choo Coleman


Fernando Martinez, the Mets' highly regarded but oft-injured outfield prospect, returned from summer knee surgery two weeks ago in the Dominican Winter League - only to have another problem.

Martinez, who was hitting .167 with two RBI in six games with Escogido, has been sidelined since last Saturday with blisters. Martinez believes the trouble surfaced during an aggressive batting practice session. He officially is day-to-day, but the blisters reportedly haven't substantially improved. -  Read more: NYDN






Regarding Choo Choo... sorry, I couldn't help myself. Covered four local JV/Varsity basketball games last night, two head coaches started a fist fight in the third period, got home around 1am, and got 4 more today starting at 4pm...

Is Choo Choo still alive?

Mack

The Keepers - #5 - C - Josh Thole


5. Josh Thole – C –


Thole was drafted straight out of High School in the 13th round of the 2005 draft by the Mets. He was scouted and signed by Quincy Boyd, the Midwest Scouting Director for the Mets. As a senior at Mater Dei High School, in Illinois, Thole batted .545 (36 hits in 66 at-bats) with eight doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 40 RBIs and 30 runs scored. He walked 28 times, many intentionally, and struck out just once in 95 plate appearances. His on-base percentage was .681 and his slugging percentage was 1.273. He was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (local newspaper) player of the year. Originally a first baseman, Thole was converted to a catcher last year at short-season Kingsport; however, he has returned to 1B in Savannah, where he had an outstanding 2007 season (.267/.372/.311 in 389 at bats).

The Mets have always seem to have a bunch of young, talented, 1st base prospects who can swing a bat, but for whatever reason, none ever are taken serious by the home office to play full time at Shea. Mike Jacobs had 100 at bats a couple of years ago and put up a .600 slugging percentage; however, all that got him was being traded to Florida.

Thole is currently behind a long talented pecking line, with names like Mike Carp, Brett Harper, and Nick Evans first in line for their shot. It’s far too early to project him, but being able to be a 3rd string emergency catcher can only help his quest for the majors.

In September 2008, Thole was assigned to the Peoria Saguaros team in the Arizona Winter League.

In 2008, Thole had an all-star year for St. Lucie, hitting .300/.382/.427 in 347 at bats. He also became the top Mets catcher prospect by the end of the year.

February 2008: - Baseball America wrote: Josh Thole, c, Mets: A 13th-round pick in 2005 out of Mater Dei High in Breese, Ill., Thole was a light-hitting first baseman in low Class A in 2007, when he batted .267/.311/.372 in 117 games for Savannah. Last year, Thole had a mini-breakout as he hit .300/.382/.427 in 111 games for high Class A St. Lucie in the FSL. Thole has always controlled the strike zone (he has 133 walks and 131 strikeouts in his minor league career). He has excellent bat-to-ball skills, as the 21-year-old lefthanded hitter struck out last year only 38 times (nine percent of his 402 plate appearances). Thole also became a full-time catcher, the position he played in high school and dabbled in sparingly in his previous three pro seasons. Scouts have concerns about Thole’s defense and his below-average power. Thole hit only hit five home runs in 2008, but that’s an improvement from the goose egg he posted in that category in ‘07. He’ll likely start this season in Double-A and play all year at age 22 as a relatively under-the-radar prospect

In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: Showing a hint of power for the first time, Thole, who wasn't far away from being turned into a minor league reserve, took a big step forward last season. The 2005 13th-round pick finished at .267/.372/.311 in low-A ball in 2007 and had just two professional homers before coming up with five in the big ballparks of the FSL. Plate discipline has long been his strength, as he's walked two more times than he's struck out over the course of his career. He's still not much of a catcher, as he spent most of the previous three seasons as a first baseman, but he has the raw tools to turn into an acceptable backstop. That teams are always looking for left-handed-hitting catchers will give him a great shot at a career if he can last at the position.

2009 was Thole’s year to blossom. He adjusted his batting stance and took off after AA pitching, finishing the season .328/.395/.422/.816 in 384-AB. As important, he improved his throwing out runners to second to over 30%. His BA ranked him third in the league and he was the first Met called to Queens on September 1.

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - Thole, a converted first baseman, is an extremely interesting player. After moving to catcher in St. Lucie last year, he put up a line of .300/.382/.427. In Double-A Binghamton as a 22 year-old this year, he took off, batting .328/.395/.422, and has been brought up to the major leagues where he has gotten off to a nice start. Thole has little raw power (ISO of just .094 in Binghamton), but is an extreme contact hitter (BB:K of 1.24) who sprays the ball to all fields. My favorite comp: Paul LoDuca; contact hitter who hits line drives and derives his power from his doubles.

Forecast: Thole needs another year at AAA, to work on his fundementals. Remember, this was a afirst baseman first and it takes some time to get catching mechanics down. There’s no question he can .350+ OBP… look for him to start opening day, in Queens, in 2011.

Breakfast Links: Pelfrey, Pedro, Cassanova, Carrera, Shhets and Eric Bedard


Mike Pelfrey:


The deeper mysteries, however, center on David Wright’s lack of power and Mike Pelfrey’s regression from a promising 2008 season. After posting a dismal 5.03 ERA last season, the only dividend Pelfrey can offer is that he now comes cheap. The Mets picked up Pelfrey’s $500,000 option for next season, which means he’ll take a $2.4 million pay cut.

It’s hardly the trend line the Mets envisioned for Pelfrey when they made him a first-round draft pick in 2005. Back then he had a DNA to die for, including a moving 94-mph fastball that’s programmed to destroy right-handed hitters. You can’t teach that kind of late, heavy sink, which is why the Mets awarded Pelfrey a contract worth nearly $10 million before he’d ever thrown a pitch in the big leagues. - north jersey 



Pedro Martinez:

According to Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald, free agent right-hander Pedro Martinez wants to pitch a full season in 2010.

According to Silverman, Martinez will "not voluntarily" repeat a short season similar to 2009. This echoes what Martinez's agent Fern Cuza told FOXSports.com last month. Martinez, 38, joined the Phillies in late July, compiling a 5-1 record, 3.63 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in nine starts. He also tossed three starts in the postseason, including two during the World Series. Martinez is sure to drum up some interest this winter, but due to concerns about his durability, he'll likely have to accept another incentive-laden contract

Raul Cassanova:

Ponce 8, Caguas 1 - Big league veteran Raul Casanova went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs as the Leones handed the Criollos their second straight loss. Orioles prospect Miguel Abreu added a two-run double and former Major Leaguer Juan Padilla allowed two hits over six innings of scoreless relief to improve to 3-0. Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook gave up one run on four hits over the first three frames in his second outing for Ponce

Ezequiel Carrera:

Ezequiel was acquired from the Mets in the big 12 player trade that also included J.J. Putz. Putz impersonated his name but Ezequiel won the Southern League batting crown hitting .337. He stole 27 bases but he was also caught stealing 13 times. His 59/62 walk to K ratio gave him excellent lead off hitter prospects. He tends to be more a slap hitter with only 18 of his 111 hits going for more than one base. He’s playing for Magallanes in the Venezuelan League and is hitting .272. - MWOB 

Ben Sheets

When healthy, he is one of the top starters in MLB — an absolute ace. In addition to his lively 95+ MPH fastball and nearly unhittable, hard-breaking curve, Sheets is a bulldog, an intense competitor whose demeanor reminds one of Roger Clemens. Health, of course, is the major issue, as his career is pockmarked with elbow, shoulder, hamstring, and back injuries. If his elbow was the only problem, then signing him would be a no-brainer, since the surgery on his elbow flexor tendon was a success. But there’s still the back and the shoulder, which likely in turn caused the hamstring injury … and he’ll be 32 by the All-Star break.

Erik Bedard

Bedard is in the same class as Sheets and Harden when it comes to ace-like stuff, and he’s been the lead man on many staffs. But his issue is with his shoulder, and that’s a problem because unlike the elbow, the full recovery from shoulder surgery is an anomaly rather than a rule. Bedard has had two shoulder surgeries since the summer of 2008 (the first was to remove a cyst — not unlike John Maine’s). And he shares another similarity with Sheets and Harden in that he’s already had a major elbow injury — he had Tommy John surgery in 2002. So, like Harden, you have to suspect there is something inherently wrong with Bedard’s mechanics. The mechanical flaw plus the fact he’s coming off shoulder surgery makes him an extremely risky signing.

Justin Duchscherer

OK, he may not have ace-like stuff, but he’s shown enough to suggest he could be a borderline #2 — along the lines of a Derek Lowe. Duchscherer missed all of 2009 after elbow surgery, but is now healthy — physically, anyway. In addition to the arm problem, Duchscherer also had a bout with depression. Still, the soft-tossing righty was a two-time All-Star and went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA and 0.995 WHIP through 22 starts in 2008. Considering that most pitchers make full, successful recoveries from Tommy John surgery, and that Duchscherer never relied on velocity to succeed, there is every reason to believe he can return to his All-Star form. - link

4.12.09

The Keepers - #6 - SP - Brad Holt



6. Brad Holt – SP –

The Mets picked Holt in the supplemental portion of the 1st round in the 2008 draft. College stats: 3.18 ERA, 11-1, 93.1 IP, 78 H, 36 BB, 95 K, .225 BAA, 8 HR allowed

Comments by Baseball America before draft day: With an impressive performance, Holt could vault himself into position to be a back of the first-round or early supplemental selection. A team such as the Mets with multiple picks in the first 50 could be especially interested in a guy like Holt. Mets scouting director Rudy Terrasas is known for liking pitchers with pure arm strength such as Holt, and with picks at 18, 22 and 33, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Mets take the Seahawks righthander. This weekend will not be the first time that Terrasas and his staff have seen Holt—as the scouting director, along with multiple other members of his staff, was in attendance to witness Holt pitch eight innings against Old Dominion. Holt struck out 11 and only allowed one earned run in the outing. The Brewers are another team with three selections in the first 35 picks that could be especially interested in Holt.

Also from Baseball America: His fastball has improved since arriving in Wilmington and now sits between 92-94 mph, touching 96… He is able to maintain his velocity deep into games. [He has] vastly improved command. Holt at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, has a perfect pro body with a clean delivery and a first-round arm… The only thing holding him back is the lack of a usable secondary pitch…. Even though his secondary stuff is in need of refinement, teams will not walk away from the pro body, strong arm and life on the fastball.

From Keith Law: Ultimate Role: Setup man Summary: Holt shows consistent arm strength and holds it through his starts as well as any starter in this draft, sitting 93-96 mph every week from his first inning to his last. The velocity is easy; the ball comes out of his arm well and has good downhill plane and some life to it. He pitches almost exclusively off his fastball, throwing offspeed stuff less than 25 percent of the time. His curveball, which has a short downward break and moderately tight rotation, is his best secondary pitch; it could become an average offering, but it's a one-plane pitch. He has a changeup, but he guides this mediocre offering to the plate. He takes a long stride forward off the mound, holding his velocity even from the stretch when he doesn't stay over the rubber at all, and has just a little bit of violence at the end when his head snaps slightly. If he had a better changeup or could handle a splitter -- his arm slot might be too low for it -- he'd have a chance to be a back-end starter. But as a one-and-a-half-pitch pitcher, he's more likely to work in the bullpen when he reaches the majors.

Holt pitched the day before the draft… threw 149 pitches and was clocked at 94 in the 9th inning.

In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Holt was ranked #8, with the comments: “8. Brad Holt, rhp - 2008 supplemental first-rounder can touch 96 mph, needs a reliable second pitch.”

In July 2008, From The Hardball Times: Brad Holt – RHP - Holt does a really good job loading his arm horizontally toward first base. By loading his arm this way, Holt is "scap loading." I've talked about scap loading before, but if you haven't heard the term, here is a semi-detailed definition: Scap loading is the horizontal loading of the arm. By loading the arm horizontally, the pitcher almost seems as if he is trying to touch his throwing elbow to the mid-point of his back. By carrying out this action, the pitcher creates tension in all the elastic muscles and tendons of the shoulder, and if done efficiently, the shoulder unloads aggressively toward home plate due to these elastic muscles being stretched and then released like a rubber band you let go after stretching.

The end product is a high-velocity fastball, which is exactly what Holt possesses. Holt's fastball is very lively, reaching up to 95, and it gets on the batter quick. It seems to pick up an extra gear just before it reaches home plate. My opinion is that he even has some velocity left in the tank, which could be tapped either through mechanics (like getting his hips moving a little earlier toward home plate) or by filling out his projectable frame.

In 2008, Holt was spot on for Brooklyn, going 5-3, 1.87 in 14 starts. He also struck out 96 batters in 72.1 IP. Holt won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the 2008 Brooklyn team.

September 2008: Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios on: Brad Holt: “Holt has a power arm. He hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun in Aberdeen and it was the first time I saw it live. That was impressive. We had a report on him that he threw 147 fastballs out of 152 pitches in a start in college. In the beginning, he told me, ‘I don’t even know what I throw.’ I told him, just throw whatever you have and we’ll take it from there. It turns out he has a power curve, 79-81 miles per hour with a big break. He also started to incorporate his change up. He’s very athletic and he’s constantly learning. He’s got a world of talent and with that type of power, especially considering how far he’s come with his secondary pitches in such a short amount of time, the sky is the limit. I think in two or three years, he’ll be a guy on the front end of the Mets rotation.”

In September, Patrick Hickey wrote on: Brad Holt- His secondary pitches came such a long way during the season and he proved he’s much more than a fastball pitcher. His curve ball has the potential to be a devastating pitch as well and his changeup needs some work, but is progressing steadily. As far as his potential goes, I see him as someone who could round out the last two spots of a starting rotation or be an excellent setup man or reliever, kind of like an old New York favorite, Dave Righetti. His fun-loving, yet professional attitude with the media and in the clubhouse could also make him a fan-favorite in a jiffy once he gets to Brooklyn. Final grade- A+

In February 2009, MYOB write: Brad Holt RHP - Brad signed for a little over $1 million and is a supplemental first rounder for the Braves signing Tom Glavine. He throws in the mid-90s and has good command of his fastball. Brad led the NY Penn league in ERA at 1.87 in 14 starts, striking out 96 hitters in just over 72 innings pitched. He only gave up 43 hits, translating to an opponent average of .171. All this success without a secondary pitch. If he is going to have success as he advances Brad will need to find a second and third offering, otherwise he can replace K-Rod as the closer. He’s working on a slider and change.

In February 2009, Toby Hyde wrote: Holt has both the highest ceiling, and the best downside projection among Mets pitching prospects. He has the best fastball in the system with a great pitcher’s build and clean, easy mechanics. In college, he moved from the third-base side of the rubber to the first, which allowed him to land more online to home plate, rather than closed and snap his hips through the pitch more effectively. The result of the change by 2008, was a legitimate mid-90s fastball that he threw 93-95 mph that exploded on hitters out of Holt’s hand. Moreover, the plus, or perhaps plus-plus heater played up thanks to fine command. A detractor might complain about Holt that he has only one plus pitch. That detractor’s criticism would be entirely justified. On the other hand, Holt has made terrific progress with his breaking ball, tightening up a slurvy offering from college into a tight, hard curveball, that at times, flashes plus potential. A scout who had seen him as an amateur, and then repeatedly in the New York Penn League, was left shaking his head, noting that every time he saw Holt as a professional, he made strides with his breaking ball. Holt rarely threw his below average changeup in the NYP League. He did not need it against less advanced hitters, although he has expressed a desire to improve the pitch. Holt’s progress with his breaking stuff will dictate whether he becomes a frontline starter. Even if he struggles with his changeup, his fastball will take him to some kind of big league bullpen role, where he could excel. 2008: Holt had a monster debut in Brooklyn, easily outshining the two gentlemen, Ike Davis and Reese Havens, the Mets picked ahead of him in the 2008 draft. Holt led the circuit in ERA and strikeouts while landing second in WHIP (1.05) behind teammate Chris Schwinden. Holt reached double figures in strikeouts four times, including a 14 punch-out performance on July 24th, that tied a Cyclones single-game record. Holt worked deep into games, throwing five innings or more in five of his last six contests. Projected 2009 Start: St. Lucie rotation

In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: Holt, the 33rd overall selection in the 2008 draft, overmatched New York-Penn League hitters in his debut. Of course, that's exactly what should have happened. The UNC Wilimington product throws in the mid-90s with regularity. The rest of his arsenal, though, needs serious work. He's inconsistent with a slurvy slider and incapable of fooling hitters with his changeup. The Mets will work with him to refine his secondary pitches this year. If he doesn't make as much progress as hoped, he could find himself on the verge of a switch to the pen at this time next year.

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - Taken in the first supplemental round in the 2008 draft, Holt, a 6'4 righty out of UNC-Wilimgton, quickly impressed in his pro debut. After posting a 2.62 FIP for Brooklyn last year, Holt struck out 54 batters in 43.1 innings for St.Lucie in 2009 before being called up to Binghamton. However, his run of great pitching ended there. He only struck out 45 in 58 innings and walked 23 while giving up nine homers, leading to a 5.01 FIP. Holt is a power pitcher who has to rely on his plus fastball, so when he's not striking out guys at a good enough rate it could lead to problems. However, he was hampered by an ankle injury, so we'll see if he can bounce back in Binghamton in 2010.

Forecast:

Holt did not have a great year for a top prospect, but I'm reminded of a conversation I had with pitching instructor Rick Waits last year during spring training. 2009 was a year where Holt was asked to develop new pitches that would compliment what he already threw, and, in many cases, the only way of doing that is to use those new pitches in a game. There are very few mior leaguers that master a new pitch right out of the box, so I look for Holt to start off once again at AA, and dominate this time.

Brooklyn Cyclones Ticket Renewal Program



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Breakfast Links: Angel, Rivera, Wily Mo, Dustin, Harden, Farm, and 2010 ZiPS


Angel Pagan:

A number of clubs have shown interest in Mets outfielder Angel Pagan, major league sources said Wednesday, but it doesn't appear that he's close to being dealt. The Royals have inquired about Pagan, 28, but one source insisted that the Mets don't have interest in Kansas City outfielder Jose Guillen. Pagan, who is arbitration-eligible, probably has greater value to teams searching for an everyday center fielder than he would in New York. He batted .306 in a career-high 88 games this year, but he wouldn't see as much playing time with the Mets in 2010 if Carlos Beltran stays healthy. Pagan should earn a reasonable salary next year, so the Mets aren't obligated to move him.- fox sports


Rene Rivera:

Arecibo 3, Ponce 2 - Mets farmhand Rene Rivera hit a two-run homer to help the first-place Lobos edge the last-place Leones. Former Major Leaguer Hansel Izquierdo struck out five over 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for Arecibo, while Orioles prospect Miguel Abreu had two hits, including a triple, and an RBI for Ponce


Wily Mo Pena:

Licey 4, Gigantes 3 - Major League veteran Wily Mo Pena homered and drove in three runs as the Tigres edged the Gigantes. Marlins infielder Emilio Bonifacio scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error in the eighth inning, while Reds infielder Juan Francisco went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Gigantes


Dustin Martin:

Zulia 7, Aragua 2 - Diamondbacks outfielder Gerardo Parra collected three singles and two RBIs and scored a run as the Aguilas cruised past the Tigres. Braves farmhand Ernesto Mejia clubbed a pair of homers for Zulia and Dustin Martin (Twins) singled twice and scored a run
mlb  




Rich Harden

Like Sheets, Harden is an ace — when healthy. After starting only 16 games in 2006 and 2007, Harden managed to make 25 starts each in 2008 and 2009. Despite that improvement, Harden is far from durable. In each of the last two years, he’s spent time on the DL for problems with his back and shoulder. Previously, he had elbow problems — including an injury that kept him out for nearly all of 2006.

Unlike Sheets, Harden has yet to throw more than 189 innings in a season (in fact, he’s only topped 150 IP once in 7 years). Also unlike Sheets, he’s never been on an operating table. His age is also an apparent plus — he’s only 28. But you know what? His mechanics are downright awful, and will continue to cause him multiple arm injuries. He has a similar arm action to John Maine, in that he over-rotates during the leg lift and his right arm extends behind his back after the hand break — which puts extreme pressure on the shoulder. That over-rotation also leads to premature opening of the front side, which is exacerbated by a lazy glove that stays low and pulls the upper body toward first base — putting more pressure on the shoulder and additional strain on the elbow. In my opinion, Harden will never start more than 25 games in a season — and may be lucky to start that many. Some may argue that 25 Harden starts are better than 25 by most others, but in 2009, he had a .500 record and a 4.09 ERA — not exactly dominating. His back and shoulder issues will only get worse as he ages, and they can’t be helped by surgery. - link 

Farm System:

Worst of the rest (16-25 range)

Mets: Solid top 10, but the Mets don't have anyone likely to help in New York in 2010.

Read more: SI




2010 ZiPS Projections

Well, that didn't go according to plan. I think. If it did go according to plan, I seriously question the planning abilities of the New York Mets. A few things did go right for the team. Francoeur flailed enough hits to actually contribute while with the Mets, though I don't expect that to last given his history of having plate discipline so poor that Brad Pennington couldn't walk him. Pagan played legitimately well.

Not many teams can absorb losing Delgado and Reyes for most of the season, Beltran for half a season, and Wright's loss of power. The hypothetical team that could would have to have a pretty strong pitching rotation and a great deal of organizational depth. If the 70-92 record didn't do it, having a team that was very happy that Nelson Figueroa was hanging around should disabuse any holdouts that think the Mets could have been that team.

So, what do the Mets do? Delgado's gone, but it's hard to resist the urge to go for it when you have Beltran, Wright, Reyes, and Santana on your team. The team desperately needs a fill-in at 1B better than Murphy and they need someone to catch for a year. Getting an actual innings-eater is a must and it would be useful if someone would inform Omar Minaya that an innings-eater doesn't necessarily have to be a pitcher as bad as Livan Hernandez or Tim Redding.