The Bubble List - Prospects Struggling

"Prospects get you fired..."

Steve Phillips to Omar Minaya, when he hired him.

Guessing which prospect will make it is just that... guessing... until they complete the AAA level successfully.

Some falter at middle levels... others get injured... and a few, like Fernando Martinez, play their best minor league ball at the highest level.

Countless amounts of "can't miss" prospects never got it to the Bigs because they looked great at one level, than bombed at the next.

I was talking with one of the Mets in ST about this and he mentioned the prospect C Jesus Montero, who played for Charleston last year at the A level. "Try to imagine getting promoted to the next level where everbody was like pitching to Montero", he said. Yes, that's an exaggeration, but you get the picture.

Many of the so-called Mets propsects that were on everybody's list last year (including mine) are having a tough time this year at the next level. The critical ones are:

Nick Evans - 1B/OF -

Okay, he had a bad start this year at AAA (.093 in 75 at bats), but now he's hitting .167 at the AA level. No chance of him being part of a trade package now.

Jon Niese - SP -

Niese is having a rough time at the AAA level (8.06 in 6 starts), a level he must master if he's going to be the Mets SP5 in 2010.

Carlos Muniz - RP -

It looks like Muniz has topped off at AAA (0-3, 5.95, 1.83, in 12 appearances) level and thereis a good chance his days in Queens are over.

Eddie Kunz - CL/RP -

Last year's relief poster boy can't seem to get going this year at AAA (3-2, 4.00, 1.72, in 11 appearances) which could be due to his conversion to a long man from a closer.

Dylan Owen - SP -

One of last year's A+ gems, Owen is struggling at the AA level (0-4, 6.55, 1.76 in 9 starts).

Roy Merritt - CL

Merrit started out like a house on fire at AA, but has been erratic in May. For the season: 1-3, 4.29, 1.38 in 18 appearances, 15 finishes, and 10 saves... but only 18Ks in 21.0 IP with 11 walks...