Tonight's Minor Thoughts

1. Welcome to the next level… SP Yohan Almonte earned a bump up, from GCL to K-Port, and started his first game there Tuesday night… he was cruising along, but like most pitchers that bump up, had some trouble at the next level: 4.2-IP, 6-ER, 11.57 ERA

2. Pitching prospect Cole Abbott resurfaced, going on the 7-day DL. Abbott was a highly touted draftee a year ago that dropped due to most teams thinking he was unsignable. Well, the Mets signed him, but he’s been dinged since then and he hasn’t thrown a lick yet. He mentioned on his Facebook site today that's almost ready.

3. OF Ruben Martinez was cut.

4. From: http://www.baseballamerica.com/: Aderlin Rodriguez, 3b, Mets: Rodriguez was the Mets’ top international signing last summer, but he has yet to appear in a game. According to Mets vice president of player development Tony Bernazard, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch during an extended spring training game and was wearing a cast that was only recently removed. It’s not clear whether Rodriguez, a 17-year-old from the Dominican Republic, will see game action this season.

5. Next time someone trashes 3B Wilmer Flores for too many errors as a 17-yr. old, remind them that in 1993, some horrible youngter made 56 errors in one season in the minors… Derek Jeter.

6. Talked to Shaun Tabrett today down under. He’s entering his 5th week of rehab on a labrum tear and hoping start playing again by the end of the season. He wants everyone to know that he’s both physically and mentally strong and can’t wait to get back stateside with the Mets.

My protégé, Matt Himelfaub, wrote in 2007, when Tabrett was a pup:

“Shaun Tabrett, RHP: Although most Australians are quintessentially fit, that doesn’t alienate them from injuries. The 6-4 slender built righty experienced some tendinitis as a 16 year old, but that setback may have been somewhat of a blessing in disguise considering he didn’t even have to turn to surgery to resolve the problem. While rehabbing his sore arm which had caused him to miss a slew of tournaments he’d been selected to play in, including an Australian Schoolboys team to tour South Africa and an Australian U19 team to play in Taiwan. During this time he regained his velocity from a year ago. Fellow Mets farmhand Deolis Guerra who pitched the entire season in A Hagerstown last year proved that at that age it’s only normal for pitchers to gain about 5 mph on their fastball. Tabrett has a list of good qualities such as an able body, indispensable makeup, no reluctance to go after hitters and last but not least a maturity level evident by his rehab. He’s armed with a solid curveball, changeup, and a high 80’s fastball that won't be viewed by fans until 2008 when Tabrett is projected to play in the U.S.

This kid… and yes, he’s still a kid, is a fine asset to the Mets and watch for his name to return to a roster, latest spring 2010.

7. 3B Tyler Vaughn is off to a good start this season… batted .412 for K-Port in 17 at bats until being called to Brooklyn, where after today, he stands .368, in 19 at bats… all together : .389/.421/.583/1.004