We’re less than two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting and the only thing we seem to all be reading about is the possibility of the Mets taking on a new minority owner.
I counted 147 posts on my twitter account yesterday about the Mets, and 101 were on the ownership topic.
As some of you know, I was a 20% minority owner in a company. I also was the President, until my “partners” wanted to expand on the company in the troublesome 1980’s and I voted against it due to our already large debt owned to the banks. They met without me (their right), voted me out as President, and told me to take a hike while still retaining a personal guarantee against the debt. A year later, they sold the company for seven figures less than we owed and I got stuck with my portion of the bill. Trust me, it ain’t that special.
Is ownership that important to you, the fan?
Ask yourself a few questions:
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Martinez convinced all the doubters in 2009, hitting .290/.337/.540/.877; however, it was after only 176 at bats. The real good news was the slugging percentage, which finally started to post at levels the Mets always said he could reach. 28 of his 51 hits were for extra bases. Yes, he was called up to the Mets, but the conditions of his advancement were not the best. Martinez seems surrounded by injuries. He’s either replacing guys that got hurt, or he’s getting dinged himself. The good news: they all are dings. The bad news: they won’t stop dinging.
Some history:- click here
As soon as Matt Purke made the decision to go to college, the expectations were great. There wasn’t to be much of a transition period. After all, this was a guy with first-round stuff. Purke, still a youngster, was expected to grow into one of the program’s key cogs in the few months between his first month in college and the 2010 season. Suddenly, the Horned Frogs, which reached the NCAA Super Regional round in ’09, were looking to a freshman to be the final piece to the puzzle with the return of pitchers Steven Maxwell and Kyle Winkler. - http://drafthype.com/mlbdraft/matt-purke-14th-pick-to-1st-overall
We conclude our countdown today with junior third baseman Anthony Rendon from Rice. He is from Houston TX and attended Lamar High School. His senior season saw him hit .570 with eight homers, 17 doubles, 56 RBI, 56 runs scored and 13 steals. He picked up several honors including First team 5A all-state shortstop, All-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle, and a starter in the Texas high school all-star game. He was also named all-state as a junior when he led the Houston area with 14 homers. Rendon stepped right into the Rice program starting all 61 games last season with a .388 average while hitting 20 homers and 72 RBI. He also picked up nine steals in 12 attempts. His .388 batting average, .702 slugging percentage, and 20 homers all lead Conference-USA last season. He was the first freshman in Conference USA to ever win Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year awards. He picked up several national awards including being named Second Team All-American by Baseball America and NCBWA, 2009 National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/28/anthony-rendon-rice-top-100-countdown/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter
We continue the list today at number 2 in our countdown with TCU sophomore LHP Matt Purke. The Spring, Texas native attended Klein High School where he had solid career. As a junior in high school, he went 12-1 with a 0.37 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings pitched. He was named the high school pitcher of the year after his junior season by Baseball America. They also rated him as the third best high prospect in the 2009 MLB Draft. The Texas Rangers ended up selecting him in the first round with the 14th overall pick but were not able to come to terms with him. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/27/matt-purke-tcu-top-100-countdown/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter
#3 - LHP Daniel Norris Science Hill HS, Johnson City Tenn 6'2 190 - quality lefty with arm strength and arm speed from upper 3/4 slot, also one of top HS QB's in state, tends to open early on occ causing elbow to get under pitches, fb velocity ranges from 88-94, most are 90-91, cb true 2/6 downward plane action and throws strikes but pitches up more than he needs to which could hurt him in pro ball. Pro instruction will be needed to help him repeat his delivery to be effective in pro ball. Stamina also a concern, but has shown 93-94 in 7th inning before on occ. His team has a matchup vs Nick Delmonico/Pfifer in May. Stay tuned http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
Kolten Wong – Hawaii - Wong earned WAC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American honors as Hawaii’s starting centerfielder in 2009, but a move to second base helped his team reach new heights in 2010. Wong batted .357 with seven home runs, 15 doubles, 40 RBIs, and team-highs of 57 runs and 19 stolen bases to help the Warriors reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. Wong was named the WAC Tournament MVP while helping his team to its first WAC Tourney title since 1992. The Hilo, HA native had more success over the summer, when he was named the Cape Cod League MVP after batting .341 for the Orleans Firebirds. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
Mack: – Hey girls and guys, today we’re talking with the Mets 15th round pick in the 2011 draft, Tillman Thomas Pugh. Hey Tillman, how was your trip back home?
Pugh: – At this moment in time, I’m actually still at the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida and my flight does not leave till 4:10 EST, so I will not be arriving back in California until 11:00PM tonight Pacific Time. I still however am very ecstatic about the idea of being able to lay in my own bed tonight so I am really looking forward to that.
Mack: Kewl. Hopefully, somebody cleaned the sheets. Tell us about draft day and how it felt for you?
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29. Josh Satin .
Satin was drafting in the 6th round of the 2008 draft by the New York Mets.
Baseball America in June 2008: - Phelps' closest comparison may be California senior Josh Satin, who after two difficult springs put it all together as a senior. Satin showed he can hit with wood in the Cape Cod League—he was the league's all-star MVP in 2006—and has above-average bat speed that produces excellent power. He has played mostly second base in college, though many scouts believe he's a better fit in the outfield as a pro due to fringy range and infield actions.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/: - "That was a huge wake-up call," he said. "That led to the revelation that I really had to improve my game. I had to force myself to become the player that I perceived myself to be."
So Satin gave himself a crash course on the art of hitting. He worked with Cal's coaching staff on his swing, stuck to a vigorous diet and exercise routine and watched countless videos of different hitters (Miguel Cabrera is his favorite).
John Manuel: "How did Josh Satin last until the sixth round? That’s a surprise, but he’s a college value pick with legit power and a small chance to stay at second base as a pro. The California senior has enough ability to be a useful outfielder and has the raw power to at least have a chance to reach the big leagues. He could be a utility player if he retains his athleticism and can play second or third base. Satin was the Cape Cod League all-star game MVP in 2007."
Satin was drafted at 23 years old, so he’s moving as fast as he can. After signing in 2008, he played for Kingsport (.583/.615/1.000/1.615… okay, it was only 12 at bats) and Brooklyn (.280/.350/.462/.812).
2009 brought Savannah (.284/.385/.418/.803 in 440 at bats, 7-HR, 60-RBI) and a taste of St. Lucie (.364/.464/.591/1.055).
His 2-year professional totals are: .292/.384/.446/.830
Forecast:
It’s obvious that Satin was a good draft pick and the kid can definitely get on base. We should see a little more power this year, but his biggest problem is the fact that Reese Havens is currently being converted to a second baseman in the Winter Leagues. Havens looks timed perfectly for the end of the Luis Castillo contract, which leaves Satin where?
I wrote on Feb 10: - Josh Satin – I didn’t spend much time with Josh last year in Savannah (hell, I didn’t spend much time with anyone there…). There’s no rush for Satin, who will settle into various minor league levels for a couple more years. He was tagged early on as a poor defensive infielder which just isn’t true.
6-21-10 from: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/ - One player who does not have age on his side is New York Mets farmhand Josh Satin, already 25 years old. Scouts discount the UC-Berkeley (sixth round, 2008) product due to so-so tools and his age, but he's hit at every level of pro ball to which he's been exposed, including a .316/.406/.459 mark in the Florida State League this year. He moved up to Double-A last week and is 8-for-25 (.320) so far, albeit with a weak BB/K ratio of 1/7, granted sample size issues. Primarily a second baseman (although he has some experience at third and first), his range is limited but he's reliable on the routine play, not making many errors. A career .298/.388/.450 hitter so far, he's rated mostly as an organizational player, but strikes me as the type of guy who could end up being a surprise contributor in the majors in his late 20s.
7-13 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/13/1565273/mid-term-farm-system-review-part - Another impressive Pac-10 product (Cal), Satin has continued to hit his way through the Mets system, one level at a time. Without the raw tools of fellow '08 draftees Havens or Nieuwenhuis, Satin has had to prove himself at each stop and hasn't disappointed. For the second straight year, Satin started the season on fire posting a .343 AVG for the month of May with four home runs (.362 April in '09). Not only did he make the FSL All-Star Game, he won the game MVP. Soon after he was promoted to Binghamton and he's continued to do more of the same, hitting for good average with solid plate discipline and decent pop. His numbers haven't jumped up like Havens but the fact that he's maintained them at Double-A is the key factor here. Satin doesn't have any one skill that jumps out at you but he does everything well, with the exception of speed. Different story on the defensive side where he isn't as strong and probably doesn't profile as an everyday major league second baseman. However, it's his bat that will need to continue carrying him, possibly into a long-term role as a solid offensive-minded utility man.
8-17-10: - from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436319-unsung-new-york-mets-minor-leaguer-joshua-satin - A California native, Satin was selected by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft. He's logged some great hitting numbers in the Mets farm system, as he is a career .303 hitter and has shown good discipline. The right-handed hitting Satin began the year at Class A St. Lucie, and has since earned a promotion to AA Binghamton, where he has spent half the year. It is almost difficult to think of Satin as a prospect at this point. The 25-year-old is getting to the point where he is just another minor league player. But this burst of solid hitting should start getting him some attention. To say that Satin has hit regularly doesn't really sum his game up enough. He hit .316 with a .406 OBP in 58 games at St. Lucie. Since his promotion, the hits have kept coming. In 56 games with Binghamton, Satin has posted an even higher batting average of .325 and a .417 OBP.
Sept 2010 from: - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/userblurb.php?item=2026 - The guy just hits and hits wherever he goes. He has turned many skeptics into believers that he can eventually play at the mlb level as a possible utility player. He doesn’t look to be defensively equipped to be a starting 2nd basemen as he spent most of his time this year at 1st base. He doesn’t hit for enough power to play 1st but if he can increase his versatility he can be a valuable player off the bench.
11-15-10 from: - http://networkedblogs.com/ayM5h - Satin reminds me a lot of a right-handed version of Dan Murphy. He can clearly hit, for average and gap-power with the occasional pull-side homer, and what's more he'll take some walks. Unfortunately he just doesn't have the kind of defensive skill set or even that one plus offensive tool to profile as an every day player. On the bright side, like Murphy, Satin too has been able to get comfortable all over the field which in and of itself creates some of that defensive value that he is otherwise lacking. Satin profiles well as an offensive-minded major league utility man; though with guys like Murphy, Evans & Justin Turner in the fold, there may be a bit of a logjam in that role with the big club.
Jim Dolan:
With some experts predicting the Madoff lawsuit will lead to the sale of the Mets, who could possibly be an option to purchase the team? According to Forbes, the Mets are valued at $858 million dollars. Such a significant price shrinks the pool of likely candidates. The first name that comes to mind is Jim Dolan and Cablevision. There were rumors about a decade ago the Dolan’s were interested in buying the team. This was before SNY, so I am not sure how the owners of Cablevision and MSG could purchase a product the airs on SNY, which has Time Warner and Comcast as stakeholders. Another possibility is Mark Cuban, who bid on the Texas Rangers during their bankruptcy. - http://xscn6.th8.us/
Darryl Strawberry:
On the other hand, at least he’s around to break stuff. Writing this, I find I’ve changed my mind somewhat. Yes, Darryl Strawberry is being a distraction. But hey, he’s still around, wearing an orange and blue cap, and periodically saying things that make you sigh or roll your eyes or want to shake him. That’s familiar. It’s aggravating and amusing and, in the end, gratifying.-
http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2011/01/27/stra
John Stearns:
Stearns saw his first season as a Met ( 1975) as the backup catcher behind veteran Jerry Grote. There Stearns learned from veteran Grote, who had been the Mets’ regular catcher since 1966. As Grote’s backup, Stearns didn’t see much playing time and posted a batting average of just .189 . 1976 was not a good season for Stearns. In limited time he once again hit poorly and was sent down and replaced by Ron Hodges. Stearns fixed his flaws while at the Mets AAA affiliate in Tidewater, and was brought back to the majors as a September call up. He had 18 hits in his first 13 games from being recalled from the minors. He even had seven hits in two games, Stearns was made the everyday catcher for the rest of the season, usurping Grote. -
http://realdirtymets.com/2011/01/28/this-day-in-mets-infamy-with-rusty-the-top-50-mets-of-all-time-countdown-40-edition-01-28-11
Matt Harvey
Though he's yet to throw a pitch as a professional, Harvey almost definitely deserves to top this list with his impressive array of potential plus offerings. Harvey's bread and butter is his four-seamer, a mid-90's fastball which he can dial up to 98 mph, generating lots of swings and misses. However, thanks to a lack of movement he complements it with another fastball, a two-seamer with heavy sink and late life that works in the 91-93 mph range and produces weak contact and lots of ground balls. Harvey also possesses two major league quality off-speed pitches: A tight, low 80's slider and a slower, hammer curve both of which flash plus potential right now. Despite limited use during college, the Mets are encouraging Harvey to focus mainly on the curve. His change-up lags behind thanks to lack of use as an amateur but he shows decent feel for the pitch. Harvey's impressive overall mix of pitches paired with a perfect pitcher's build (6'4", 225 lbs) gives him the ceiling as a top of the rotation, workhorse starter. -
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/1/28/1955488/mets-farm-system-top-5-electric-arms
1. Some posters may grow older, but never wiser. I paid a visit to one of my old stomping grounds, NYFS, and found a particular post interesting. It was about Matt Cerrone, of www.metsblog.com and I couldn’t believe how many of the many loyal posters there think Matt doesn’t know what he is doing. I’ve always had trouble with haters online, but knock Matt Cerrone? Isn’t he the guy that gives most of you morning cup of Mets stuff?
2. Jeff Wilpon seems to be getting a little soft on the loss of Omar. He’s been quoted as saying he misses him and would welcome him back in some capacity. Listen, firing someone can bring you a lot of guilt. I fired people who thought they were my friend. One eventually hung himself in his mother’s bedroom. I haven’t held a job in the radio industry for over ten years and I still have a minimum of three nightmares a week about that subject. Change is sometimes inevitable and people need to move on without each other. Stay away, Omar.
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My next Top Performer From the 2010 Summer Season is Bryson Myles of the Mckinney Marshals. Bryson is currently a junior outfielder from Stephen F. Austin University. He is 6-0/225 pounds and he hails from Grand Prairie, TX. He attended and stared in both baseball and football at Arlington Grace Prep. He was originally a TCU football recruit, but he spent the last two seasons at Weatherford Junior College. He hit .371 with 5 home runs in 181 at-bats last year. - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/01/top-performers-from-2010-bryson-myles.html
We continue the list today at number 3 in our countdown with UConn junior centerfielder George Springer. The New Britain, Connecticut, native attended Avon Old Farms all four years of high school. He had an outstanding career being named All-New England in 2007 and 2008 while participating in the Cape Cod High School Classic in 2007. The Minnesota Twins selected him in the 2008 MLB Draft but were unable to sign him. Springer stepped right into the UConn Huskies lineup as a freshman appearing in 56 games (54 starts) as he hit .358 with 16 homers and driving in 57 runs. He was solid on the basepaths also swiping 12 bases in 15 attempts. The Big East Conference named him the Rookie of the Year as he was the first UConn player ever to receive the award. He was also named a Freshman All-American by Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA and a Louisville Slugger. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/26/george-springer-uconn-2011-top-players/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter
Ryan Wright – Louisville - After earning Freshman All-American honors in 2009, Wright stepped-up his game for the Cardinals in 2010. He hit .366 with 16 home runs, 17 doubles and a team-best 80 RBIs for a Louisville team that was ranked from start to finish last season. The Ft. Wayne, IN native also scored 61 runs with 19 stolen bases and a 1.051 OPS. He committed just three errors for a stellar .989 fielding percentage. Wright’s torrid pace didn’t end when Louisville’s season did. He continued his hot hitting by batting a team-high .381 for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer. He scored 18 runs with 12 RBIs while starting in 17 of 19 games. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
#1 - LHP Matt Purke TCU 6'4 190 - smooth lefty who has progressed each year that I've had the pleasure to see since 2008 at the TOS in Cary, NC when he was 16 yrs old. He's gone from throwing 86-89 mph as a soph in HS to presently up to 95-96 tops, mostly 91-93 with run and sink down in the zone and he's aggressive. Matt has good depth to a vastly improved cb that he throws confidently for strikes and gets hitters out in front with a straight change as well. Year to year his progression is one that warrants first player drafted type scenarios as he'll be a solid fixture in any ML rotation. He's yet to physically mature which is scary considering he's improved each year. - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
#2 - RHP Gerrit Cole UCLA 6'3 1/2 220 - power armed rhp with solid above ave fb that will reach 97-98 on occ, pitches at 92-94 consistently with run and sink on his fb, best when down in zone using the L on a hitter, hard slider 81-85 breaks properly sometimes too big, must stay within himself and not rush which can cause him to get his elbow down in position from his 3/4 arm slot. Could be in the ML quickly either as a closer or as a 2-3 man in the rotation. Still some roughness to iron out, but plenty of upside left in the tank with pro instruction. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
We’ve just watched a major revolution start on Facebook.
Only America continues to minimize the power of new media. And baseball is even behind that curve.
In particular, the Mets are in the dark ages. Everything, and I mean everything, is controlled by one man, Jay Horowitz. The entire media business acumen is dependent upon his definition of how things should be reported to the public.
I like Jay. It’s hard to tell if Jay likes me because he’s not that kind of person. He is very close to the players, and is shit loyal to his supervisors, but even the beat press seems to have a separation from him.
for the rest of the post... go to: http://www.mackade.wordpress.com/
31. SS Rylan Sandoval
3-2-10 from: - goldenbaseball. . The Mets signed shortstop Rylan Sandoval to a contract. Ryan hopes to take the path of Scott Richmond and Sergio Romo, who were also signed out of the Arizona Winter League and made their respective major league rosters. He had originally been drafted by the Mets in the 30th round in 2007 but chose to go to Long Beach State instead. While playing for Chabot College as a freshman he was voted the California Junior College player of the year.
7-5 from Pete Spiewak/Mack’s Mets: - Rylan Sandoval hit early and often Monday night, leading the Brooklyn Cyclones to a 4-2 victory over the Jamestown Jammers, with three hits and three RBI, including a tie-breaking RBI single in the top of the ninth. The shortstop’s heroics helped the Cyclones bounce back after they blew a 10-run lead to the Jammers yesterday. Sandoval led off the game with a home run, his second of the season, giving lefty Angel Cuan a 1-0 lead to work with before stepping onto the mound. But the Jammers would battle back in the bottom of the fourth, as Sequoyah Stonecipher had a RBI triple which was followed by a Wilfredo Gimenez RBI single, to give Jamestown the 2-1 lead. But Sandoval would strike again, driving home Will Cherry with a single in the fifth, tying the game. That would be the last run scored before Sandoval gave Brooklyn the lead in the ninth. The Cyclones added an insurance run when Kurt Steinhauer scored on a wild pitch later in the inning
8-7 from: - http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/news/topstories/index.html?article_id=929 - Sandoval ranks third in the league in home runs (9), hits (58), and total bases (97). He ranks fourth in slugging percentage (.551), and runs scored (34), fifth in extra-base hits (21), and seventh with a .330 average (58-for-176). Sandoval -- a 22-year-old native of Castroville, CA -- was signed as a non-drafted free agent in February of 2010, after working out for Wally Backman at a showcase in Yuma, Arizona.
Sept 2010 from: - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/userblurb.php?item=2026 - Was a 30th round pick in 2007 and came out of nowhere to have a huge year in Brooklyn, hitting .330/.404/.546. With him just turning 23 years old, skepticism and the scrutiny will be very high with him, but with the depth chart at 2nd base being pretty poor overall, he’s someone to at least keep an eye on for next season.
9-27-10 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/9/27/1704156/minor-league-season-in-review-brooklyn-cyclones - Quite a season for a 2009 non-drafted free agent. Sandoval was one of the top offensive players in the NYPL in the first half of the summer as the Cyclones shortstop and leadoff hitter. Unfortunately for Sandoval, he was hit with a pitch just before the ASG (and two days before his birthday) and missed the rest of the year with a broken wrist. Had he qualified, his numbers would have put him in the top three in average, slugging and OPS and even with the injury he finished fourth in homers and again, that's from a shortstop. Now there's a reason he went undrafted; his tools don't blow anyone away (he's 5'10" and not very fast) and defensively he needs some work (he made eight errors in under fifty games). More so than Vaughn, Sandoval may well be a case of an older player (turned 23 in August) taking advantage of greener competition so he won't find his way onto many prospect rankings, but his power is for real and there's no lack of effort in this kid.
I. like many people, was glued to CNN's coverage yesterday of the mess in Egypt. There was a young Arab being interviewed and he was asked what the role of the United States should be in this and he said that we are witnessing the development of a democratic state without a war.
He said his friend had an expression for this... "keep your change", or, as he put it "keep your bullets, we can get this done without you."
One of the great unwritten stories about the Mets in the past year was what would be the results of the Madoff mess when it falls on the Wilpons. I wrote a three-part series on the organizational structure of the Mets, but just talked in generalities. Many of us knew that the Wilpons would eventually be going down this road.
for the rest... http://mackade.wordpress.com/
Texas freshman third baseman Alex Silver has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and will miss the first couple months of the season according to Austin-American Statesman writer Alan Trubow. Silver was expected to contribute in the Longhorns lineup this season as he was slated to start at either third base or second base. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/26/alex-silver-diagnosed-with-hodgkins-lymphoma
The First-Year Player Draft will be June 6-8 and, indeed, Seattle picks second behind Pittsburgh. That’ll be a big moment this year for the Mariners, with the chance to add one of the premier prospects in what is being billed as an excellent draft. Most everyone expects Pittsburgh will take Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, though I’m sure the Mariners would love to grab the young slugger if he slips to them. Rendon is just coming back from a fractured ankle, but he hit .394 with 26 home runs and 85 RBIs last season while being named College Player of the Year. There is also a strong group of pitchers available, with UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole and TCU lefty Matthew Purke generally mentioned atop the list. And the Mariners will likely look hard at UConn outfielder George Springer as well - http://benmaller.com/tag/mlb
Danny Muno – Fresno State - Muno is one of those guys who has been around forever. He was Fresno State’s starting shortstop as a freshman when the Bulldogs ran to the CWS National Championship in 2008. He earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors that season. Now a senior, he could end his career with more games than anyone who’s ever worn an FSU uniform. Muno batted .329 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and scored a team-best 68 runs in 2010. He earned first team All-WAC honors at second base in 2009, but settled for second team last year with Hawaii’s Kolten Wong taking top honors. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
Zack MacPhee – Arizona State - MacPhee had a good freshman season at ASU, but he was great as a sophomore in 2010. The switch-hitting second baseman was named the Pac 10 Player of the Year and also earned unanimous First Team All-American recognition after batting .389 with nine home runs, 64 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases to help the Sun Devils reach the College World Series under first-year head coach Tim Esmay. MacPhee also broke a nearly 40 year-old school record with 14 triples. His 1.150 OPS, helped by his .664 slugging percentage, were both team-highs. MacPhee combines with sophomore shortstop Deven Marrero to give ASU one of the youngest, fastest and best middle infield combos in the nation this season. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
#34 - OF Dwight Smith Jr. McIntosh HS, Peachtree City Ga 5'11 185 L/R - comps to his father when Dwight Sr played for the Cubs years back, Jr has a good solid stroke with bat speed and strength in his swing, running speed and throwing arm are just ok, not ML average but definitely playable, better quickness than speed, he has a chance to improve speed by a .10 or .20 with work and dedication, arm can get better too in time. There is no real rush on this kid and dad says he'd like Jr to get an education but knows that signing quickly out of HS will only aid him in getting to the show quicker. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
Nolan Fontana – Florida - Fontana was a vital cog in the Gators’ run to the College World Series as a freshman in 2010. He started all but one of Florida’s 64 game and sparkled at shortstop, committing just four errors in 279 chances. That alone made him the first player in program history to earn a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. His overall offensive numbers (.283, 3 HR, 23 RBIs) aren’t eye-popping, but his move to the top of the order in early April helped solidify the Gator line-up and the drive to Omaha. Fontana’s .437 OBP with 53 walks were team-highs, while his 29 strikeouts tied Preston Tucker for the fewest of any batter with at least 200 at-bats. He also played for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer. http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/21/top-11-college-baseball-ss-to-watch-in-2011
Keith Werman – Virginia - Werman is another classic two-hole batter. He ranked 31st in the nation with a .414 batting average and also dropped down a team-high 15 sacrifice bunts as a sophomore in 2010. His .414 average was the highest by a Virginia player since 1981 and is the fifth-best in school history. Werman scored 32 runs with 23 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, while sporting a respectable .500 slugging percentage. The momentum for his breakout sophomore campaign began during Virginia’s run to the 2009 College World Series, when the 5’7 freshman hit .442 over the course of UVA’s last 16 games. That included a .600 clip in Omaha. Werman committed just two errors in the field in 2010 for Virginia’s Super Regional team. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
The junior is Georgia 1B Chase Davidson. Davidson was made famous by a Jim Thome comp from his high school days, but, tell me if you’ve heard this before, hasn’t gotten it together at the college level. When locked in, Davidson looks like a potential big league regular, but, as the numbers bear out, he is locked out (opposite of locked in?) far more often. To tap into his big power, he’ll need to find a way to shrink the far too big holes in his swing - http://baseballdraftreport.com/
#35 - SS-2B Francisco Lindor Monteverde HS, Clermont FL 5'10 170 S/R - quickness afoot and with his bat, puts the bat on the ball, occ lift with foul line power to hit 8-10 type HR in in ML, solid ML arm with carry and quick release ala Ozzie Smith, runs 4.2 from left but better between the bases to steal 20-30 plus bases in ML. Don't let him get away if you need defensive with offensive potential to shine!! http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
K.C. Serna – Oregon- The junior has been in the line-up at shortstop for all but a handful of games in the two years since George Horton and Oregon brought baseball back to Eugene. From the lead-off spot in the order, Serna hit a team-high .348 last year. He also led the Ducks with 14 stolen bases and a .419 OBP, while helping the program to an NCAA Regional bid in just its second year of existence. He also belted five home runs with 13 doubles. The Ventura, CA native was the starting shortstop for the Western Division at the Cape Cod League All-Star Game as a member of the Falmouth Commordores last summer. http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/21/top-11-college-baseball-ss-to-watch-in-2011
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5164 - - The recently completed Perfect Game World Showcase in Fort Myers featured one of the most talented groups of players ever to play in this long running event, which dates back to 1997 and was the original Perfect Game showcase. Players are 2011 prospects: - 25. SS Mitchell Morales (Wellington, FL): Morales is a very fluid shortstop with nice quickness and a strong arm and should be able to stay at the position way up the baseball ladder.
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| photo by Mack Ade |
Tim Kinnie posted on your Wall.
Tim wrote:
"Mack, I'm a big fan of Dan Murphy and I think he brings a certain grittyness to the team along with being a clutch hitter. Do you feel he has a real shot at winning the second base job or is he destined to be our super utility guy and outstanding pinch hitter? If not Murph, who is your frontrunner?"
Mack: Tim, I really do (btw... never call him Dan... he goes by Daniel). The important thing to remember...
for the rest... for free... http://www.mackade.wordpress.com/
32. Of Matt den Dekker
2-8-10 from http://www.pnrscouting.com/ : - mock drafted 171st
5-5-10 from: - link - Florida senior centerfielder Matt den Dekker (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) headlined the 11th installment of the CB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll. The veteran den Dekker continued to lead the young Gators squad during weekend action on April 30-May 2, as Florida (#7 at the time in the CB360 Composite National Rankings) posted its first series sweep of LSU (CNR #13) since the 1996 season. The 6-1, 210-pound lefthanded hitter swung a hot bat throughtout the series – going 8-for-13 (.615) over the course of the three games while totaling 5 RBI and 5 runs scored (plus a home run and 3-of-3 on stolen bases). Widely regarded as one of the nation’s elite centerfielders, the speedy den Dekker flashed those defensive skills to further help Florida double up LSU in total runs, 28-14, during the three-game series (7-3/8-5/13-6).
5-28 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/28/1491102/for-your-consideration-college#storyjump - OF, Florida: Speedy center fielder for the Gators. Has shown a consistent knowledge of the strike zone and getting on base. Struggles with breaking balls. Adequate power for position. Concerns with the bat is main concern.
6-8-10: - http://www.prospectjunkies.com/ - The Mets took one of the best draft eligible seniors in the draft in, Matt den Dekker of Florida. An unsigned 16th round pick from 2009 after a disappointing junior year, den Dekker will come cheap to the Mets and provide a nice return on their investment.
6-8 from: - http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft - 152. New York Mets - Matt DenDekker, OF, Florida - The senior doesn't hit for much power, but he plays a terrific center field and he took on the leadership role this year for the Gators. He makes good contact and can steal bases. He profiles as a fourth or fifth outfielder in the bigs.
6-8 fr. Mack: Round 5 - #152 overall – OF Matt den Dekker – First of all, this is one of the top defensive outfielders in the NCAA. His arm is okay but his overall play in the field is first team defensive. Secondly, den Dekker is a speedster on the base paths that projects out as a 20-25 steal per season guy. Had a real bad junior year which cost him being drafted anywhere decently last year. Bounced back this season by leading the Gators in hitting (.355). This season: 12th in the SEC in batting average, 10th in hits, and 6th in steals. You’re not going to find much pop here my guess he has excellent potential to become a major league utility outfielder. - Projection: First of all, this was an excellent 5th round pick. den Dekker was projected by most of the experts as going earlier, based on his talent, not whether or not he can be signed. Draft Rating: “A”
6-10 from: - http://www.prospectjunkies.com/ - The Mets took one of the best draft eligible seniors in the draft in, Matt den Dekker of Florida. An unsigned 16th round pick from 2009 after a disappointing junior year, den Dekker will come cheap to the Mets and provide a nice return on their investment.
6-14-10 from: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/6/13/1516247/new-york-mets-draft-review - 5) Matt dan Dekker, OF, University of Florida: Best attributes are defense and speed. Sometimes shows power, but hitting track record is inconsistent. Profiles as a fourth or fifth outfielder.
6-22-10: - The Mets selected Gator center fielder Matt den Dekker in the fifth round. A lefty with plus speed and some power potential, den Dekker has always intrigued scouts. But the production has always been a little short. As a senior, den Dekker should be one of the easiest players to sign in the draft who still has some upside
8-12-10: - Matt den Dekker is off to a good start in Savannah. The Sand Gnats don’t get too many early round draft picks. They’re usually sent directly to Brooklyn; however the Cyclones has a trio in the outfield that are leading their team to the playoffs and den Dekker’s late signing caused a change in plans. Mets fans got their first glimpse of Matt when he was showing off with circus catches in the CWS this year. He’s always been touted as a great defensive centerfielder, but his bat has been alive in Savannah as well. It’s early on, but his combined stats for the GCL Mets and Gnats are: .323/.400/.419/.819. You might remember my original analysis of his pick. Here’s what I wrote on June 8th: Round 5 - #152 overall – OF Matt den Dekker – First of all, this is one of the top defensive outfielders in the NCAA. His arm is okay but his overall play in the field is first team defensive. Secondly, den Dekker is a speedster on the base paths that projects out as a 20-25 steal per season guy. Had a real bad junior year which cost him being drafted anywhere decently last year. Bounced back this season by leading the Gators in hitting (.355). This season: 12th in the SEC in batting average, 10th in hits, and 6th in steals. You’re not going to find much pop here my guess he has excellent potential to become a major league utility outfielder. - Projection: First of all, this was an excellent 5th round pick. den Dekker was projected by most of the experts as going earlier, based on his talent, not whether or not he can be signed. Draft Rating: “A” The Mets have five interesting lower-level outfield prospects in there system… den Dekker, Cory Vaughn, Darrell Ceciliani, Pedro Zapata, and Cesar Puello. All represent limited pop, but lots of speed, gap hitting, and excellent defense. It will be interesting which one of these rises to the top in 2013.
11-23-10: - OF Matt den Dekker – 23/yrs. old - I started out thinking that den Dekker would be higher up the chain than this, but the fact is he played 2010 way above his projected ability. This isn’t saying he’s overrated. It is; however correct to say that guys like Darrell Ceciliani, Cesar Puello, and Cory Vaughn, are, prospect wise, more qualified to be on this list first. Either way, D.D. will move on to Lucy to play in an all-star outfield which will eventually answer the question, who gets center, he or Darrell? 2011: St. Lucie 2012: Binghamton
Straw:
It goes back to being a Mets fan in the late 1970s to early 1980s — a dark, ugly time for the franchise (particularly after they traded The Franchise). The team was bad. The future looked bleak. The original owners sold the club to a book publisher and a real estate magnate, but it was hard to see how that was going to help. Despite the incessant commercials produced by the high-priced, well-intentioned ad agency, the “magic” most certainly was NOT back. The situation seemed hopeless — until June 1980, when the team made Darryl Strawberry the #1 pick in the amateur draft.-
link
Yanks Open At Shea:
Collapsed beam forces Yankees to play home game at Shea: On April 15, 1998, the Yankees played one home game against the Anaheim Angels at Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets. The team was forced out of their stadium because a beam collapsed at Yankee Stadium two days before, destroying several seats. The Mets had a home game that same night against the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees used the visitor’s locker room and dugout and the Angels used the home dugout and the old locker room of the New York Jets - .prorumors
Fred on 2011:
"When you look through all of it, our payroll is approaching $150 million, it's not at $48 million," said Wilpon, who may have overestimated the payroll by about $10 million. "It's a high payroll. It's true, some people have not produced in the past and we're still carrying it and maybe we won't carry it. Every time I do expectations, you guys kill me," Wilpon said to the press. "I think we have a good team. And I think we have a much better team than you all and the public give us credit for. It remains to be seen, though." - nypost.
Fred on Omar:
"Psychologically, emotionally, he's got a lot invested here [with] the position he had over all of those years," said Alderson. "Coming back and interacting with many of the same people in a different capacity is a change. I think anybody would need some time [to] adjust to that. I don't think you should read into anything that's happened so far. I think this is just what happens when there's a transition, and I think you've got to give people some space to figure out what they want to do." -
link
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| Photo: Michael G. Baron |
1. I see that the Mets were shut out in the MLB Top 50 prospect list that aired on TV opposite the State of the Union Address by President Obama (by the way, how come no one pays this guy the respect to put the word "President" in front of his last name?). I had predicted Mets fans only needed to turn on during the last 15 minutes figuring Jenrry Mejia (turns out he wasn't eligible...) would sneak in near the end. This makes one remember one important thing when we are discussing Mets prospects... other teams get to sign players also.
For more... http://mackade.wordpress.com/
30. Robbie Shields
Rob Shields – Bats/Throws: R/R Position: IF Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 200 Hometown: Dade City, FL Previous School: Pasco HS Eligibility: Jr. Major: Finance
AS A SOPHOMORE (2008): HONORS - SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll ... second-team All-SSC ... started all 50 games at shortstop ... led team in hits (69) ... third on team in batting average (.348) ... tied for third in home runs (9) ... fourth in RBI (36) ... second in doubles (15) ... led team in multi-hit games (22) ... third in multi-RBI games (10) ... had team's second-longest hitting streak of the season (14 games, 2/8 through 3/5) ... in three-game sweep of West Florida on 2/8-9, went 5-13 with 5 RBI, 4 runs, 2 doubles and a home run ... went 7-16 with 5 RBI, 3 runs, 2 doubles, a triple and a home run vs. Nova Southeastern on 2/22-24 ... went 7-12 with 5 RBI, 3 runs, 3 doubles and a home run vs. Rollins on 3/28-30 ... in three-game sweep of Eckerd on 4/11-12, went 10-16 with 5 RBI, 8 runs, 2 home runs and a double ... went 6-13 with 3 RBI, 4 runs and 2 doubles vs. Lynn on 4/25-26 ... had multi-hit games in 12 of the last 18 ... hit .442 (23-52) over last 12 games of season.
SS - Florida Southern… 6-0, 200, R/R… junior… 2008: led team in hits, .348, 9 HR, 36 RBIs… injured wrist in Cape Cod League this past summer… ability to hit high for average… great bat speed… limited defensively.
From: - http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=884&draftId=7 - Shields could ascend up draft boards next spring much like Gordon Beckham did during the spring of 2008 with a strong junior campaign. He, like Beckham the year before, enjoyed a fine summer on the Cape this past year, although his time was cut short when he injured his wrist sliding into a base. With very good bat speed and solid offensive tools across the board, Shields has the talent to be a game-changing infielder, with the ability to hit for a high average and power while also having good enough wheels to be a threat on the basepaths. His bat speed comes from very strong hands, wrists and forearms, and he knows how to loft balls to give him double-digit home run potential. Defensively he doesn't have ideal range at the shortstop position, as many feel he may have to move to either 2B or 3B down the road, but he has plenty of arm strength to play any infield position. He does run well and shows good overall baseball instincts. Shields has posted solid numbers since stepping onto campus, including his two summer stints (he was named one of the top prospects in the Clark-Griffith League after his freshman year), and has started at Florida Southern from day one. He is poised for a big junior year, as more and more people will become familiar with his name between now and next June.
From: - http://www.orkut.com/ - Robbie Shields, shortstop: Florida Southern - His draft stock has suffered a similar problem to that of D.J. LeMahieu, although far less severe. Scouts don't think Shields will stick at shortstop, and his bat has not lived up to expectations this spring, very similar to LeMahieu. This past summer, Shields grabbed teams' attention with a strong, albeit short, stint in the Cape Cod League, hitting .429 before injuring his wrist. This spring he has not hit for much power, but his solid approach at the plate, combined with a quick line drive swing still appeals to a number of teams. His future position could be second base as he possesses the hands and footwork, but he does stand the chance of growing out of it, forcing a move to third. It's possible that Shields' wrist injury hurt him at the plate this year, but the general opinion is that he won't be a big power guy anyway. He could go as early as the third.
9.6.09 - http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=862955&ssf=1& ; - Robbie Shields: Shields emerged as a candidate for the first or supplemental first round of the draft with a strong showing at the Cape Cod League last summer, where he flashed good speed and power before injuring his wrist on a slide. He hasn’t showed any ill-affects from that summer injury. In 49 games thus far this season for Florida Southern, Shields is batting .351 with five homers, 34 RBIs and a .459 OBP. Shields has a similar build to A’s 2008 draft pick Dusty Coleman and a similar skill-set. Shields has above-average power for a shortstop, good plate coverage and decent speed. He may have to move off of shortstop to second or third base in the pros, but he has the bat to play at either of those positions. Shields may be hurt by the fact that he doesn’t play in a big Division I conference, but he did show he could hang with the big boys in the Cape this summer, which may alleviate some of those concerns. - Comparison- Aaron Hil
6-28-10: - Shields hit his first home run on Sunday and continues to fight back from last year’s TJS He was a big time prospect, as you will read below, but is way behind in his development. He’s playing DH right now and is playing GCL ball at 22-years old.
7-13-10: - Shields was a hot-shot prospect before he had to go under the knight for TJS… he quietly has returned this year, starting out with the GCL Mets and, frankly, he’s really heating up, batting leadoff and playing shortstop. On Monday, Shields went 3-4, scored one run, and knocked in three runs. He finished the day with a seasonal .293 BA… this includes going 7-12 in the last three games.
7-25-10: - Shields was transferred from being a rehabbing SS for GCL, to a part time SS for Lucy and now a full time SS for the Sand Gnats. The ex-prospect needs to play every day to get back his strength and he’ll get that opportunity in Savannah. In the pecking order, he’s currently behind Wilmer Flores. Wilfredo Tovar, and Jordany Valedespin in development.
Sept 2010 from: - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/userblurb.php?item=2026 - He doesn’t quite have the offensive upside of Reese Havens but he possesses many of the same positive attributes. In college, Robbie, was a solid defensive shortstop with a strong throwing arm but due to his slightly limited range, he might be a better fit at 2nd base. He also has the type of sound fundamentals and arm strength to handle third base which could make him valuable as a possible utility player down the road. Offensively, he has a good chance to be an average to slightly above average hitting 2nd basemen. He displays solid offensive tools across the board with potential 12-15 hr pop and 10-12 sb potential. He has the potential to hit for a good average with his solid bat speed and line drive hitting stroke but might need to learn to be more selective at the plate. He is someone who has been praised for being a smart kid with good leadership qualities. This season he has come back from successful TJ Surgery and has displayed some of his upside potential in Savannah by coming on strong at the end of the year. He has the potential to have a very strong break out year next season.
10-7-10 - 2011 Forecast: - Hopefully, we won't have another Shawn Bowman on our hands here. Shields is a bonefide prospect who has fell down the pecking order due to a serson ending injury. No sweat. He got right back on the horse last season for Savannah, and a good year in 2011 at Lucy will get the writers writing about him again.
10-13-10 from: - http://scoutingthesally.com/2010/10/stss-best-the-second-basemen-v-2010 - Robbie Shields, New York Mets - After starting slowly, Robbie Shields put the injuries which stole about a year of his development time behind him and showed he was ready for a promotion to Port St. Lucie. At 22, the former 3rd round pick was old for the “Sally” making it difficult to gauge the legitimacy of his .290/.331/.457 line. One thing is for certain though, a move off of shortstop will happen at some point leaving Shields an offense-minded second base prospect who will have to prove his pop at every level.
10-27-10 from: - http://scoutingthesally.com/2010/10/sts ... en-v-2010 - Robbie Shields, New York Mets - After starting slowly, Robbie Shields put the injuries which stole about a year of his development time behind him and showed he was ready for a promotion to Port St. Lucie. At 22, the former 3rd round pick was old for the “Sally” making it difficult to gauge the legitimacy of his .290/.331/.457 line. One thing is for certain though, a move off of shortstop will happen at some point leaving Shields an offense-minded second base prospect who will have to prove his pop at every level.
1-17-11 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/1/17/1939161/mets-farm-system-top-5-sleepers - The Mets third round selection in '09, Shields has kind of dropped off Mets prospect rankings after a pretty underwhelming debut including Tommy John surgery last season. However, after getting back on the field mid-way through 2010, Shields is starting to show the kind of offensive potential that made him a top pick. After some struggles early, Shields batted .311 with four homers in his final month+ of the season and looked ready to get back to the level that had people reminded of Reese Havens when he was drafted.
1-Jenrry Mejia, RHP
2-Wilmer Flores, SS
3-Cesar Puello, OF
4-Matt Harvey, RHP
5-Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF
6-Reese Havens, 2B
7-Lucas Duda, OF/1B
8-Fernando Martinez, OF
9-Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B
10-Brad Holt, RHP
11-Juan Urbina, LHP
12-Robert Carson, LHP
13-Jeurys Familia, RHP
14-Darrell Ceciliani, OF
15-Cory Vaughn, OF
16-Dillon Gee, RHP
17-Erik Goeddel, RHP
18-Steve Matz-LHP
19-Zach Lutz, 3B
20-Robbie Shields, SS
21-Brad Emaus, 2B/3B
22-Mark Cohoon, LHP
23-Matt den Dekker, OF
24-Armando Rodriguez, RHP
25-Jordany Valdespin, 2B/SS
26-Jefry Marte, 3B
27-Kyle Allen, RHP
28-Manny Alvarez, RHP
29-Blake Forsythe, C
30-Pedro Beato, RHP
31-Jim Fuller, LHP
http://www.baseballamerica.com/
