6/7/09

The Stark Reality of The Mets Minor League System

The Stark Reality Of The Mets Minor League System

If you’re a Mets fan, you’re not going to like this.

As you know, I write a bunch of wonderful things about the kids on the farm, and, there are some great players down there that are showing great potential to make it to the Bigs.
But, the reality of it, is will they continue to improve, level upon level, and someday help the Mets become more than a .500 team (remember… from 9/12/07-6/6/09: 113 wins, 110 loses).

The promotion of OF Fernando Martinez to Queens is a tribute to good scouting, great patience, and timely promotions. Martinez will settle in to the Mets outfield as an every day player next year and hats off to the Mets brass that signed him.

But, once again, the reality of it, that’s about it for the rest of this year and 2010.

Let’s look at exactly what the near future looks like:

2010:

This was supposed to be SP Jonathan Niese’s year to join the Mets rotation. So far this season, at AAA-Buffalo, he has not pitched consistently, which is a nice word. I expect the Mets to slow him down a year or package him in an off-season deal, if he can rebound this year, but the blush seems off the rose when it comes to Niese.

Going up and down the roster, there really isn’t anyone else that looks to make it big time in Queens. RP’s Eddie Kunz and Carlos Muniz may get a September call-up, but that’s about it for next year.

Everyone had RP Roy Merritt on the fast track early on this year, but he to has stumbled and will probably be held up a year.

You can pretty much go to any of the prospect sites and you will not find a single Met AAA/AA player (other than Martinez) listed in the top 50 prospects in baseball. Oh, you see names like Wilmer Flores, and everyone is on the Jenry Mejia bandwagon this week, but the start reality is the Mets system is dry on top prospects ready to break through.

This presents two problems.

One, no one will come up and help.

Two, no one to trade for a potential free agent.

No, the Mets seem to be on their own here for at least another year and a half until some of the very talents kids in the lower levels come along.

Sorry.

That’s how I see it.

No comments: