9/26/09

Minors Stuff




New Met:


The Mets claimed right-hander Jack Egbert off waivers from the White Sox, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. The 26-year-old only appeared in two games with the White Sox this year and the results weren't pretty. He allowed one run for every out he recorded, so he has a 27.00 ERA to show for his 2.2 innings pitched.


Egbert pitched better at Triple A Charlotte, where he allowed 132 hits and 33 walks in 108 innings. He struck out 78 and finishes his minor league season with a 5.05 ERA.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com



Clones:

The Brooklyn Cyclones had yet another successful season in 2009, winning the Wild Card with a 45-30 regular season record, while leading the league in attendance with an average of 7,138 fans per game.
On the field, Brooklyn’s staff propelled the Cyclones to a great start, jumping out to a 16-2 record in their first 18 contests, and continued to lead the team to a playoff appearance with a 45-30 record.
Mark Cohoon and Brandon Moore were the aces of the staff. Cohoon and Moore ranked sixth and fifth respectively in the league in ERA. Cohoon posted a 2.15 ERA over 92 innings, while Moore had a team-best 2.09 ERA. Cohoon’s nine wins was the best in the New York-Penn League, and tied the club record.
In August, Moore made Cyclones history by throwing the club’s first-ever no hitter, against Aberdeen.



Cesar Puello, of, Kingsport (Mets)

B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 195 Age: 18 Signed: Dominican Republic '07
With the caveat that there are questions about his makeup, Puello's potential for five major league average tools affords him the benefit of the doubt for now. Signed by the Mets for $400,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, he's a strong athlete with a solid 6-foot-2, 195-pound build and loose actions. He stole 15 bases in 20 attempts this season, and his plus speed rates as his best present tool.
Puello starts with an unconventional stance—one manager likened it to him sitting in a chair—but he has a pure, righthanded line-drive stroke. The ball comes off his bat well, and he already has natural power to left field. As he learns to use the opposite field, he'll be more effective at the plate.
An aggressive player by nature, Puello showed an undisciplined approach at the plate, and some league observers questioned his maturity. His mindset works well in right field, where Puello charges balls with abandon and likes to show off his plus arm.


David Wright passed Howard Johnson for the most games played by a Met at third base with No. 836. However, Wright was hitless in five at-bats, and is 4-for-27 (.148) since the start of the last home stand. Jerry Manuel plans to give Wright off for Sunday's series finale. Wright struck out four times Friday, lifting his season total to 135. The franchise record of 156 strikeouts, shared by Dave Kingman (1982) and Tommie Agee (1970), appears safe with eight games remaining.Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/#ixzz0SE1TrWKE

Now, it seems, they take the field as a collection of mercenaries, each trying to salvage something for themselves in the last nine games. "It's no fun when you're trying to play for moral victories," Wright said. "But it is what it is. We've put ourselves in this position, so we've got to finish it out as strongly as we can. Hopefully on a positive note and give us some momentum going into next spring training.'' After Wednesday's loss, Manuel described some of his players as mentally beaten down by the losing as well as the long year: Wright, Mike Pelfrey, even Jeff Francoeur, who is fighting to the finish with a torn ligament in his left thumb. "It's tough," Pelfrey said. "It's like going to work every day and having a bad day. It's not fun."


http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/no-fun-for-mets-as-they-play-out-the-string-1.1471913

Octavio Dotel said he approached the club about his immediate future and a contract extension last month and was told he wasn't in the plans. The reliever at least appreciated the White Sox being upfront with him. As he turns his attention to free agency, New York is atop his wish list. The Mets are his first choice and the Yankees second. -- Chicago Sun-Times



Mets prospect Ike Davis is hitting .333 with three homers and five RBIs in eight games at the IBAF World Cup.



Free Agents: -


Aroldis Chapman is finally a free agent. The agency for Chapman, a 21-year-old Cuban lefthander, sent out a release saying that Major League Baseball has declared Chapman a free agent. Chapman defected from Cuba at the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands in July and declared provisional residency in the small European country of Andorra earlier this month.



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.


Though his speed was mediocre at best, outfielder Brian Ragira impressed scouts with solid swing. Ragira is also intriguing because at 6'2" and only 175 lbs, there's plenty of room to fill out.

Taillon may throw harder than Karsten Whitson, but one scout felt Whitson's fastball was the best because of its movement. Whitson was still throwing 94, not shabby at all. His slider was also impressive, but Whitson did not demonstrate good command of the pitch.


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.


Nick Castellanos is currently playing third base, but will likely end up at first base as a professional. Nevertheless, Castellanos' hitting was very impressive, pulling the ball and going to opposite field with equal effectiveness.

No comments: