The Mack Report – DePodesta, Winter Batters, Cesar Puello

I wrote yesterday on a separate post:


“Well… you have to admit one thing .If you go to war, you can’t have enough Generals. The hiring of Paul DePodesta to basically fill the spot vacated by Tony B. is a positive move. There are now four suits below Jeff Wilpon, but more importantly, there are three votes against the two Jeff and Ricco would have in a voting situation. Is this going to work? Do any of you actually think people like Wade Phillips or Joe Torre mean anything to people like Jerry Jones and the Brenner-brats? Bottom line… everything is cool if the Mets win something by the end of 2012. If not… steak knives.”



David and I have been discussing the front office changes and we both agree that all of us are watching brain surgery being performed here.



And trust me, the only thing operation team number two can do while they are waiting for the new brain to land on the roof, is take the old one out and clean the knives.



You’re watching operation team number one right now. That process ends with the hiring of a new manager, which is probably a necessity around January 30th. Before that, you’re just taking the good heart out of the bad body.



DePodesta will move on and rebuild the scouting system… and, he’ll probably sit in during the interviewing of people like Tim Teufel (did you know that spell-chek says to change the word “Teufel” to “defuel”?), to get a whiff of what one of his minor league skippers is like.



The Mets coaches, minor league managers, and minor league coaches will follow the naming of the Mets manager… both out of respect for that person… and due to the fact that’s how things are professionally done.



Oh… have you noticed… this is a major domo management team.



And what, may I ask, is Jeff thinking these days… not even going there.



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Winter:



Josh Satin - .476/.560/.714/1.274



As of Sunday night, Satin was leading the team in winter batting average. Guess what? He will be leading it when the winter league is done also. I’ve said this a ton of times. Satin hits.



Jordany Valdespin - .365/.397/.473/.870



This is impressive and I would think you’re going to see Jordy’s name added to the 40-man squad. Or, this is quickly becoming major trade bait. Very impressed with the .870.



Omir Santos - .292/.280/.417/.697



I know what you’re going to say… how come the guys the team releases hit better than they guys they keep? Well, first, this is winter ball, which means it means very little. Secondly, guys like Santos have a little more adrenaline than the one’s under contract. He’s trying to impress someone.



Jesus Feliciano - .290/.466/.323/.788



Feliciano is going to have a hard time finding a starting gig in 2011. I assume that Fernando Martinez, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and either Sean Ratliff or Brahiam Maldonado will be the Bisons starters. Do you bench the best hitter you’ve had at AAA for the past two years? Do you bench… Jesus? Lord, oh mighty…



Henry Blanco - .281/.324/.500/.824



Like Santos, Blanco is technically a free agent and could wind up with another team. My guess is he will return to the Mets for one more year.



Kirk Nieuwenhuis - .281/.359/.404/.763



Captain Kirk is picking up the pace and has got his batting average close to the .300 level. Frankly, I’m surprised he’s not taking the winter off.



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The Next Mets prospect on John Sickles’ list is: 11) Cesar Puello, OF, Grade C+: Others may rank him higher due to speed and tools. Very young, fast, lack of power is a concern, many similar players have failed and something is making me cautious here.


I have him a little further down the list at 20th, mainly due to my own prejudice against outfielders with no pop.


Some of my past notes on Cesar:


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 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.


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.


9-1-10: - 2011 Forecast: Let's first remember that Puello played the 2010 season as a 19-year old. There is so much ceiling here... 404-AB, .292/.375/.359/.734, 22-doubles, 45-steals... he batted .305 for GCL in 2008... .296 for Kingsport in 2009... and .292 for Savannah in 2010... and... he's only 19. Yes, this is another Mets prospect with little pop, but isn't that There's no doubt that Puello will move on in 2011. My educated guess is St. Lucie to play in a possible all-star outfield with Darrell Ceciliani and Cory Vaughn.