11/4/11

I May Be Wrong, But…

1. Wilmer Flores is now playing both second and third base in fall ball, in the Venezuelan Fall League, for Bravos de Margarita (48-AB, .167). We’ve already reported that Jenry Marte is off third and is now playing first base for another fall team. I believe this is the first time Flores has ever played second base. These are all good moves and means the current Mets brass are trying to figure out where to play these prospect bats.

2. I know that we are in Jose-overload, but everyone needs to understand what could happen if Reyes signs with another club. The Mets could wind up with three top 50 picks. You also know I do a lot of work on the draft each year, and right now, if this happened, the Mets could wind up with some talented guys. Let’s talk pitching…  how about LHP Max Fried, the top lefty in the draft, college vet LHP Lex Rutledge, and 99-mph preppie Duane Underwood? Add this to Akeel Morris, Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, Domingo Tapia, and Luis Mateo and this team’s rotation could be stocked for years.

3. Here’s my short tweet with R.A.Dickey about his upcoming climb:

R.A. Dickey - Thanks everyone for all the Kilimanjaro support. It is a great cause and a very innocuous endeavor. No worries. Hike starts January 3. I'll be blogging for the New York Times while I'm gone so everyone can keep up with the progress.

Mack Ade  - your journey has already begun, grasshopper

R.A. Dickey – Indeed

4. I guess I’m supposed to feel better now that Jose Reyes’ agent told the folks over at Gotham Magazine that their first choice has always been the Mets. Like I’m supposed to feel that they will sign with the Wilpons for around $30-40mil less than some other team is going to offer? I got to know a couple of Jose’s posse outside of the clubhouse and, let me tell you, it’s all about the ring here folks. Once you get a mil a month to play baseball, anything more just goes in the bank. No, Jose will go where he has the best chance to win and folks, that’s just not in Queens right now.

5. Today’s rumors include the possible addition of OF Rick Ankiel. Interesting. Right off the bat, you would have improved the outfield defense 100%. He can cover both gaps and has a rifle for an arm. In fact, his arm is so good, he should have been a pitcher.

Hmm…

3 comments:

Charles said...

I hope the top lefty in the draft is available when their pick comes. Also, I think there will be a lot of incorrect mock drafts floating around with this front office. I remember when Nimmo and Fulmer got picked...talk about coming outta left field, especially with Fulmer. Their picks in round 3 through 6 aswell. I was shuffling to find those players on Mack's top players by position as they were announced, and was really scratching my head. Now, knowing the players a little better, after they've spent some time in the minors, theres a lot to be excited about. Evans, Lethersich, Nimmo, Mazzoni all impressed with there limited starts. Nimmo speed some pop, but also some strikeouts, but I dont hold that against him. Just chalk it up to swinging really hard all the time, trying to make a strong impression as a much hyped first rounder.

Mack Ade said...

the funny thing is all the info I gather each year on the draft are from the top 20 draft sites on line... meaning, if I have nothing on someone, let's say Fulmer, that means no one wrote anything about him...

I think the writers are way behind on the prep kids and I already see a stronger effort to cover them this time around...

Charles said...

Fugured as much...it just shows the vast amount of reach these teams have. Being able to hear of, find, scout, evaluate, and then draft a player, without the "experts" zeroing in themselves. You'd think 96 mph velo, and a plus curve would have been enough, but Fulmer fell through the cracks on the draft sites. Luckily, there are no cracks on Paul De Podesta's glasses.