Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Reader Participation

We did this exercise last year and it was fun. I invite all of you, especially the other Mets writers both on and off the site to join is and place these kids on next year’s opening day’s roster. We’ll do five at a time and then allow three days for comments, suggestions, etc. We’ll realign them through consensus of opinion and then move to the next five players.


I believe the only way you should set your rosters is talent first, thus, I will use “The Keepers” list in ranking order. I especially want the top 100 players in the organization in a position to play first string.


Okay…

1. SP Matt Harvey – I’d love to have Harvey start the season with AAA-Buffalo, but it just isn’t going to happen. Mike aced the FSL, but has struggled with Binghamton through his first nine starts there. The good news is the fact that the strikeouts are still there. No, slow the kid down and have him pitch opening day for the B-Mets.


ETA: September 2012

2. SP Zack Wheeler – Wheeler may only have throw three games this year for A+ St. Lucie, but he’s had 19 outings at that level for the season. Combined, he’s 8-7, 3.84, 112-K in 103.0-IP and most around him will tell you that there isn’t much more he can prove at this level. There seems to be no doubt that he will line up as the SP2 for Binghamton on opening day.


ETA: Opening Day 2013

3. SP Jeurys Familia – Familia might have had the best year of the “big three” pitching this year in the Mets system. He also might be the first one to reach Flushing. He blew through A+ early this season and looks to start around 16-17 games this year at the AA level. Combined for the season: 4-4, 2.97, 19-starts, 113K/35BB/103IP. A killer sick slider. There’s nothing left for him to do in Binghamton. He will pitch opening day in Buffalo.


ETA: September 2012

4. SP Jenrry Mejia – Jenrry has a way to go in his rehab program. Frankly, there is no rush for him to return and excel. As you can see by the first three players listed here, the Mets rotation is going to get pretty crowded by next September and there should be three new SPs in the Queens rotation by opening day 2013, regardless of Mejia’s return. Me? I start him out slowly around the time the short-season teams start. Rehab him with the GCL Mets, then Brooklyn. I’d then assign him first to the warm weather St. Lucie and slowly move him back up to finish the season with Binghamton.


ETA: September 2013

5. OF Brandon Nimmo – Sorry, he’s not playing Queens in 2012. This is a high school kid who didn’t even have a team in his high school. It’s good to see he’s going to get some licks in this season with the GCL team (will Savannah promote him for the playoffs?). I’ve got him starting the 2012 season in Brooklyn, with a projected Savannah finish.


ETA: Opening Day 2015


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (1) – SP: Jeurys Familia


Binghamton: (2) – SP: Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler


St. Lucie:


Savannah:


Brooklyn: (1) – OF: Brandon Nimmo



Okay, so here is the first five players and what rosters they have been placed on. Now, I need your input. I want to hear from Phlavio, David Rubin, Joe Specter, Matt Cerrone… and, of course, all you readers out there. Don’t worry Hobie… we’ll get to Angel Cuan eventually.


Let’s have some fun.