Cutnpaste: Brandon Moore, Reese Havens, Miquel Batista, Josh Thole, Terry Collins

9-16-11: - http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110916&content_id=24774440&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb  - (Brandon) Moore, 25, was a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2010 with Class A Savannah when he had a 3.49 ERA in 14 outings for the Sand Gnats. He pitched at three levels in 2010 before spending all of this season at Double-A, where he finished 10-8 with a 4.47 ERA in 26 outings (25 starts). The Crawfordsville, Ind., native was New York's 14th-round pick in the 2008 Draft out of Indiana Wesleyan University and has also pitched for Kingsport, Brooklyn and St. Lucie over the last three years.

9-17-11: - Reese Havens (Mets first-round pick in 2008): The second baseman, taken four picks after Ike Davis, has suffered through one injury after another practically since the day he was drafted after playing every single game of his career at South Carolina. But it would be a stunner if the Mets chose not to protect a player that could become their long-term answer at second base as soon as next season. Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/yankees_mets_must_make_key_decisions_5aKoxsOfZQzXf4dhd226oK#ixzz1YErc8tpG  

This 40-year-old Dominican pitcher doesn’t have any higher learning on his résumé. So how is it he finds himself on this list of the nine smartest players in baseball? By being a published author, that’s how. Batista has had a book of poetry entitled Sentimientos en Blanco y Negro (or Feelings in Black and White) published, as well as a thriller novel about a serial killer called The Avenger of Blood. I have no idea if these works are any good, but not just any old dummy can sit down and write a book. So for a baseball player, I’d say Miguel is of above average intelligence. Wouldn’t you? - http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/09/16/9-smartest-players-in-major-league-baseball  

Though (Josh)Thole has had the challenge of handling knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for most of the season, he said that is no excuse for his NL-leading 16 passed balls. That number has partly obscured Thole's throwing improvement and steady game-calling this year Offensively there have been fewer questions, even if Thole's .266 average with three homers and 36 RBIs in 312 at-bats haven't exactly evoked images of Mike Piazza. But the Mets will remain patient with the 24-year-old Thole, whose role could become more pronounced next season if veteran Ronny Paulino isn't re-signed -- the team could go with a tandem of Thole and Mike Nickeas behind the plate. - Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/getting_defensive_gx39RsY8mPcZg7oa8EpG4N#ixzz1YHrP4wxG  

It has nearly been a year since Terry Collins was introduced as the Mets manager and declared, "I’m not the evil devil that a lot of people have made me out to be." And his words have rung true as he has been a non-stop whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm, cherishing the days on the field after an 11-year absence from a spot on the bench. He has shed the reputation as a too-intense explosion waiting to happen. At least he had until Thursday when he blew up publicly, ripping his team for appearing to have folded up. But when he finally erupted, his team didn’t turn on him. There was no anonymous sniping and really little disagreement with his words. Even Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen took to Twitter to back up Collins. But there was really nothing to defend him from. - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/34978/mets-morning-briefing-9-18-11