10/15/11

Cutnpaste: - Chemistry, Nelfi Zapata, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Joe Bonfe


I was inspired by a few things today that caused me to analyze this type of chemistry.  See, I thought about the 2011 Mets, and their take on chemistry.  Look at RA Dickey and Justin Turner, to name a few.  Dickey was officially and unofficially “the man” whether he was on the mound or hanging out in the clubhouse.  His teammates loved him, went to bat for him (though usually, just not in games when it mattered) and even when he joined Twitter, interacted with fans on a level that they all fell in love with his gigantic personality even more.  Turner inspired us to make a “Justin Turner Facts” page on Facebook, and caused the team to play with a common purpose.  It was evident what the Mets lacked this year to prohibit them from winning, and it certainly wasn’t chemistry…it was clear that these guys love each other.  Even Carlos Beltran, who was traded midseason to the San Francisco Giants, caused a few tears to be shed when he left.  A guy that a good percentage of fans were not all that warm about.  Clearly, chemistry wasn’t enough of an X-factor to propel the Mets to even a winning season, let alone make the playoffs.- http://galforallseasons.com/2011/10/12/chicken-n-beer

10-7-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-short-season-catchers  - At the beginning of the season, Nelfi Zapata split the catcher’s job with Amauris Valdez. He hit .269/.271/.403 while swinging at everything, as evidenced by his one walk and nine strikeouts. He showed a little pop, but missed nearly all of August with a sprained ankle. Zapata, the Mets’ 19th round pick in 2009, has moved one level a year beginning at the Gulf Coast League in 2009.

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f  - Top five Met prospects -  Sunday, October 9, 2011 - The Record - 5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF, 24 (.908 OPS in 53 games for Class AAA Buffalo): Likely would have gotten a good look in September, but a shoulder injury limited him to just 53 games and ended his season in June. Projections put him in a corner spot rather than center field.

10-12-11: - http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2011/10/12/2484736/5-questions-with-new-york-mets-expert-eric-simon  - On the other end, the continued stagnation of one-time phenom Fernando Martinez was probably the most disappointing storyline in the system this year. Not that anyone should have been surprised by his three separate DL stints, but the fact that he continues to post middling results even when he's on the field with Triple-A Buffalo is not a good portent for his future as an everyday major leaguer. And at this point, now that he is no longer young for his league, it's no longer even reasonable to expect him to become a big league regular, which shows just how far the stock has fallen for a kid who once garnered comparisons to Ted Williams

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f -  Joe Bonfe, who will turn 24 in December took over for Honeck, and played nearly everyday in the second half for the Gnats. A third baseman in Brooklyn in 2010, Bonfe hit .254/.318/.327 with surprising speed for a 6’4″ 220 pounder.

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