8-4-10: - Holt got off to a decent start last night, but, in the end, this was just another bad outing in a series of many this season. 4.2-IP, 5-R, 4-ER, 2-BB, 2-HBP. He’s started 10 games for the B-Mets (1-5, 10.20) and now he’s 2-5, 5.85 for St. Lucie… add to that a 6.21 ERA last year for Binghamton, and one must now question whey he remains in the rotation. Everyone around him says that Holt’s velocity remains high, but this is a one pitch pitcher that tends to be dominate in the first two inning pitched. They call this… a reliever.
This year’s press on Holt:
5-30-10 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - Brad Holt RHP - A supplemental pick for the loss of Tom Glavine, Brad signed for a little over $1 million. Brad reminds me more of a closer type than a starting pitcher, but all his appearances have been starts. He has three decent pitches, with a decent fastball that hits 95, though is more comfortable between 88-92. He has a good, durable frame at 6′4″ that allow him to be an innings eater in the middle of a rotation. Brad struggled a bit last year when promoted to Binghamton, finishing with an ERA of 6.21 in 11 starts. He was a bit too prone to the walk and the homerun ball, a deadly combination for 3-run homers. This year he is back at Binghimton and his ERA is even worse at 9.90 in seven starts. Walks continue to be a problem, but this time he is being hit at a .357 clip, 80 points higher than he was hit last year. The Mets can only hope that he is starting to turn his season around after his last start. He went 5 innings for the first time this season and gave up only one hit, walking three without giving up a run.
5-29-10: - Brad Holt got one more shot at starting last night and he past the test. I remember talking to Rick Waits out on the back mounds about Holt in the spring of 2009 and he told me that the emphasis last year would be on creating secondary pitches for Holt. I left that day thinking his ERA would be up for 2009 (which it was) simply because you’re going to have to throw these new pitches during game time condiditons. Well, it hasn’t worked, and now Holt’s velocity on his fastball is in question. Listen, if you’re a one pitch pitcher, it better be a fastball… and if it’s a fastball, you’re a bullpen pitcher… and if you’re a one pitch fastball pitcher with lost velocity… well, you’re playing in the Central Park League.
9-15-09 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - 4. Brad Holt RHP - Brad was the Mets first round supplemental pick in 2007. After a dominating performance for the Cyclones in 2008 Brad continued his success with the St Lucie Mets, finishing at 4-1, 3.12 in nine starts. It wasn’t the 1.87 ERA that he had with the Cyclones but it earned him a promotion to AA Binghamton. There he found pitching a little more of a challenge, finishing with a 6.21 ERA in eleven starts. Opponents batting average against him have gone from .171 to .215 to .270. He needs to find a way to reverse that. Expect him to repeat AA. He does control a high velocity fastball, but his secondary pitches need a lot of improvement.
6-23-10: - Well, sending him back to St. Lucie doesn’t seem to be the answer to Holt’s woes. He pitched last night, giving up five runs, four earners, in 4.0-IP. That’s a 9.00 ERA, still up in the range of his 10.20 in Binghamton. Only two strikeouts and eight hits against him; yes, eight hits in four innings. Boy, if there was ever a pitcher that needs to be shut down…
6-30-10 from: - Holt had a rare good outing Tuesday night, though it was at the A+ level, at least one level below where he should be dominating at this stage in his professional career. Stats were: 5.0-IP, 1-ER, 2-H, 1-WP, 5-K, and still 5-BB. This is the best he’s been all year long and the last thing we should be applauding is five walks and one wild pitch in five innings, but in his case, we’ll take what we can right now. Holt’s A+ record now is 1-1, 5.00… combined A+/AA: 2-6, 9.00. Far from prospect material.
7-9 from http://www.baseballamerica.com/ : - Biggest Disappointment: "Brad Holt, no question," one club official said. Though no one seems quite sure how it happened. "His fastball is still there. The velocity is good. He just lost something. His command hasn't been there, and he doesn't seem to know how to get it back."
7-14 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/14/1567569/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review - If you were wondering who has been the biggest disappointment of 2010 in the Mets farm system, you're looking at him. Exhibit A: Twelve combined walks in his last three starts. Holt's season has been an unmitigated disaster. Exhibit B: .336 BAA in Binghamton. And frankly, I wish there was more I could say about it but so far there isn't. He hasn't attributed his inconsistent velocity or his suddenly scattershot command to any sort of lingering ailments from his checkered injury history. Even on days when his velocity is back up near where it should be he's not looking like the guy who set the Cyclones single season strikeout record back in '08. The really scary part is that the fallback bullpen option which seemed so failsafe before is now suddenly just as questionable, as his one plus pitch is suddenly lacking any of the electricity it once had. In short, Holt seems to have gone all John Maine and lost the one skill that truly made him a top pitching prospect and without it, he's little more than Eddie Kunz. Every fifth day I keep hoping to hear that he corrected a minor mechanical flaw and is back to normal but if that doesn't happen soon, a move to the bullpen is imminent.
7-17-10: - look, it’s not every day that you get a chance to write something good about a Brad Holt outing. The young man did good last night, going: 5.0-IP. 1-ER, 7-K, 3-BB… forget the yearly stats; we’ll take one good outing and take it from there. BTW… the word from the Mets pitching coaches is there really isn’t anything wrong with the kid’s velocity, or mechanics. He simply is pitching like shit this year. Regarding last night, we’ll take it.
7-28 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/28/1592006/mets-farm-q-a-with-baseball - Holt wasn't good in Double-A last year, perhaps because he hurt his ankle after his first start, but that can't be the reason he has been awful for most of this year, necessitating a demotion to Double-A. He has one of the better arms in the system, but he's more thrower than pitcher and still needs to learn there's more about pitching than velocity. I wonder if he's going to be more than a reliever in the long run
8-4-10: - there’s been very little press this year on Puello, who’s doing a decent job for Savannah (.296/.369/.367/.736 in 368-AB) this year. The 19-year old hasn’t showed much pop but he has produced 27 doubles and walked 30 times. Let’s remember he’s still a teenager and I expect him to move on to St. Lucie for the 2011 season.
Old Puello stuff:
Puello signed as an international free agent in 2007. He passed on Latin ball and came straight to the GCL Mets in 2008: .305/.350/.364 in 151 at bats.
In September 2008, Baseball America listed the top 20 prospects coming out of the GCL league, and Puello was ranked 12th. In September, Toby Hyde wrote: RF Cesar Puello – .305/.350/.364 – 6 2B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 32 K, 13/18 SB – 151 AB, 40 G - I was a little surprised when I first saw Puello. He’s not built like the typical 17-year-old baseball player from the Domincan Republic. Nope, he’s got some strength and size in his chest and arms. He hasn’t turned that muscular frame into power yet, but he was just 17. Instead, he showed a really nice feel for the barrel of the bat which he was able to translate into line drives into both gaps. He didn’t use his lower half much for power, but when he integrates that into his swing, he will start driving the ball more.
February 2009: - Toby Hyde on his # 17 – OF Cesar Puello (#5 on Mack’s Mets Prospect List): Puello was impressive in his professional debut as a 17-year old in the GCL, showing a nice swing that produced line drives to the big part of the park. He’s strong across his upper body and has solid batspeed, but wasn’t yet driving the ball consistently in games in July. That will come as he learns to use his strength. He has the range and arm to handle right. 2008: Puello’s OPS increased in every month from .537 in June to .605 in July and .867 in August. In August, he hit .357/.410/.457, walking three times and getting plunked four times in 70 AB. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah
February 2009: MYOB on: - Cesar Puello OF - Only a $400,000 sign out of the DR. He likes to chase breaking pitches and doesn’t have one stellar tool, except his arm, which is a tick above average. Cesar hit .305 but stole 30 bases. His 5 to 32 walk to K ratio still needs some improvement.
In 2009, Puello played exclusively for Kingsport, a far lower level than originally projected. He hit .296/.373/.423/.796 in 196 at bats, hitting 5-HR and only 23-RBI. His BA and OBP were 15th in the league.
1-1-10 Forecast: - As much as the Brooklyn fans would love to see him, Puello is ready to jump to a full season team and will join the Savannah Sand Gnats in the spring of 2010. Hopefully, he will begin to develop more pop in his bat.
5-30-10 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - The Mets had a good haul from the Dominican crop in 2007, signing Wilmer Flores, Jefry Marte and Jeurys Familia. Cesar is just another name in that group, signing for $400,000. He showed a bit more power last year while not sacrificing in the average department. With his speed that could be a valuable combination. He is now playing in a full season league, striking out too much (43 K’s) and hitting just .234. He does have 19 steals in 21 attempts.
6-17-10: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405671-mets-prospect-watch-five-young-future-metropolitans - Puello is a young outfielder who can bring a ton of speed to the table. He won’t strike out much at all. He brings a plate presence similar to Luis Castillo to the game. But, he really, really needs to work on drawing more walks, even though it might not fit his style of play. In 89 games between 2008 and 2009, he drew a whopping total of 15 walks. He looks better this year, drawing 17 to this point. He will need to work on that though. His average is down this season, but he has shown signs of being a capable leadoff man. On a side note, he is becoming notorious for getting hit by pitches. The Mets may very well have their top-of-the-order base stealing threat in Puello, and he could be tried out in that role in 2014
7-16-10 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/16/1572497/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review - He's fallen off somewhat from a year ago—what little power he had fell off a cliff and his average dropped to .258—but he moved up a level and he's still young for the league. And most importantly the patience has held up: his isolated discipline is .088, up .011 from his mark in Kingsport last season. With his speed, if he can make more consistent contact in the second half, he'll really improve his chances at making it as a leadoff hitter. What bothers me the most, however, is that he's been playing right chiefly; Zapata's a good defender in center, but Puello carries far less value in right, where his utter lack of power is big negative. Put a gun to my head and ask me right now, and I'll say Puello probably needs to repeat Savannah, but a big second half could change my mind.
8-4-10: - Flagg continues to hit well in Brooklyn (.296/.360/.531/.891) after a horrendous start this season at Savannah (.162). More importantly, he is also showing some pop, with 5-HR and 32-RBI in 162-AB for the clones. Last night, he had two more hits and I expect him to finish the season “in da city” and the Mets are going to have to decide who plays first for Lucy next spring, Flagg or Travis Ozga.
Old Flagg-ettes:
Selected by New York Mets in 27th Round (824th overall) of 2008 amateur entry draft, out of Mississippi State University.
The pick was weird… Flagg played three seasons with Mississippi State and only had a total of 154 at bats over the three seasons. This included only 39 hits, so you do the math. He definitely, on the surface, didn’t deserve the pick.
From college website: CAREER: Enters his junior campaign with a .288 career batting average, 13 extra-base hits and a .490 slugging percentage • Continues MSU’s string of players from Jacksonville Bishop Kenny High School… this is a college career bio?
Flagg played the 2008 season for the GCL Mets, going .223/.331/.417 in 139 at bats (5 HRs, 25 RBIs).
Flagg played most of the 2009 season with Kingsport, putting up impressive numbers: .301/.365/.500/.865. This was a considerable higher OPS than anything he had done in college. He also LED THE League in runs batted in.
Flagg went on to get a cup of coffee at Savannah (.174 in 23 at bats).
1-1-10 Forecast: Basically, no one that writes about the Mets knew anything about Flagg before the beginning of this season, and he’s far from being tagged a prospect, but he definitely has earned himself a bump up for his 2009 season. I tried to find out the name of the scout that told someone in Queens that this kid was worth a draft pick. So far, he’s a genius.
First base wise, Ike Davis will hold down AAA, Stefan Welsh gets the nod at AA, and Flagg will most probably bypass Sam Honeck and get the Lucie nod, if for age alone, no less 2008 production.
Would love to know that scout’s name.
I wrote on 2-10-10: Jeff Flagg – Jeff had an outstanding year for rookie-Kingsport, going .301/.365/.500/.865, 10-HR, 59-RBI, in only 226-AB. He ended the season with the Sand Gnats which is exactly where he will start the 2010 season. Love the body… 6-6, 246.
5-30-10 from: - At 6′6″ Jeff is a big dude who can mash. He pulverized the ball for 10 bombs last year, also hitting .301. He did return to the bench after striking out 71 times after only 57 games last year. At Savannah he is still swinging and missing (40 K’s in 27 games), scuffling to find his stroke (.162) with only one homerun. He almost has as many walks (11) as hits (17).
7-6-10 from: - http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100705&content_id=11953216&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp - New York-Penn League Offensive Player of the Week - Jeff Flagg, Brooklyn - .440/.516/.840, 11-for-25, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 7 K, 2 SB - Jeff Flagg, who started the year with serious troubles at the dish in the Sally League (.162 batting average, one home run, six RBIs and 40 strikeouts in 105 trips to the plate), is rediscovering what makes him a pro in the New York-Penn League. The Mets prospect homered on Monday and Wednesday, doubled in his final two games of the week and also tripled in his last one. Apparently a real patriot, Flagg was flying high on the Fourth of July -- he went 3-for-3, missing the cycle by a home run, plating three runs and crossing the plate three times himself.
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