Top Prospect Alert came out with its updated ranking of minor league systems and the Mets came in at 18th (Toronto was number one while the White Sox came in last. This is a considerable upgrading in an area the Mets have been ranked quite low in the past four years. Good sign that TPA and Mack’s Mets are on the same page.
I decided to check out the stats of James and found a couple of things that are interesting. I remember him as a so-so starter for the Braves a few years back and The Baseball Cube confirmed that he had trouble making the jump to the majors. Look at his ERA by level: A: 2.22, A+: 1.08, AA: 1.92, AAA: 2.89 (notice the rise…) and MLB: 4.53. Still, I can’t turn my head away from the 653-Ks in 594 minor league innings, mostly as a starter. Me? I would put him in the Buffalo rotation and pitch him every five outings as an emergency call-up option.
The Latos trade reminds me so much of the Johan Santana trade to New York. The baseball world was shocked at the prospect talent the Mets gave up for only one pitcher. I’ve said this a thousand times. You build a team around pitching. And, there are less than 30 people on earth that qualify as an SP1. Hopefully, both teams benefit from this, but you’re always in better shape with someone that’s already done it, than four or five guys that haven’t yet.
I have to keep rubbing this one in. Nelson Figueroa pitched eight more scoreless (0.00) innings in the DWL, after going 2.50 in the PRFL. Never let it be said that Nelson stopped being a Met because of lack of talent. It was all personal. I talked to Nelson on Sunday about this outstanding outing and asked him how he keeps doing the things he does:
"What I do is try to help my team win everyday. Whether I pitch or not. Ive always said i'll only be what you allow me to be. Stick me in AA and I'm a AA pitcher stick me in the big leagues and I'll be a big league pitcher. I've survived this game with below average "stuff" for going on 17years. It's because the boy from Brooklyn believes he can and he will. I always wanted to be a Met and am very grateful I had the chance to live the boyhood dream. Every year you hear about this guys ceiling and that guys stuff... End of the day strikes get outs, outs lead to wins, wins lead to championships. I have been blessed and hope to continue living the dream at a stadium near you..."
I have to keep rubbing this one in. Nelson Figueroa pitched eight more scoreless (0.00) innings in the DWL, after going 2.50 in the PRFL. Never let it be said that Nelson stopped being a Met because of lack of talent. It was all personal. I talked to Nelson on Sunday about this outstanding outing and asked him how he keeps doing the things he does:
"What I do is try to help my team win everyday. Whether I pitch or not. Ive always said i'll only be what you allow me to be. Stick me in AA and I'm a AA pitcher stick me in the big leagues and I'll be a big league pitcher. I've survived this game with below average "stuff" for going on 17years. It's because the boy from Brooklyn believes he can and he will. I always wanted to be a Met and am very grateful I had the chance to live the boyhood dream. Every year you hear about this guys ceiling and that guys stuff... End of the day strikes get outs, outs lead to wins, wins lead to championships. I have been blessed and hope to continue living the dream at a stadium near you..."
4 comments:
I'm sorry I just can't take TPA seriously. This is a guy who ranked the top 15 Mets minor leaguers and had Nimmo third, Fulmer fifth, and LOGAN VERRETT eighth with no mention at all of Reese Havens or Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Those two are can't miss top-ten guys for the Mets.
As for the 17th ranking, I think the Mets will be higher come other more reputable rankings come out...more like 11th-14th range. Schwartz's list has the Mets behind teams like the Cardinals, Twins, and Astros who I think have inferior systems to the Mets.
I am far happier with the ranking then the LAST ranking but I think with three (four) pitchers who look good for the front of the rotation and plenty other nice players, I'd rank the Met system higher.
I'd need to do detailed analysis of James' splits to see if he has LOOGY potential, but SP2 in AAA sounds fine to me.
Was Latos a GREAT talent? Sure. Was he also in a great pitcher's park? Yep. I think the Padres will come away with the win on this, but I think Alonso will now easily take 1B away from Rizzo. The Padres need to figure out how to get Grandal, Alonso, Blanks and Rizzo into the lineup at the same time.
I miss Figgy Pudding
I think the Padres easily win this deal...I also think Rizzo gets dealt for pitching, unless they truly think Alonso can play the OF (I doubt it).
The Padres have one of the most dominant systems in baseball now. We talk about a Mets 2014 potential team winning, check out this lineup in Southern California in a few years:
(I believe they will trade Rizzo for a future SP1 or a SS)
Rymer Liriano- RF
Spagenberg- 2b
Grandal- C
Alsono- 1B
Gyokro- SS? LF?
Headley- 3B
Maybin- CF
Which leaves Rizzo and Hedges expendable to trade for a SS, LF or another starter. If I'm the Padres I'm sittin pretty in a couple years. That's how you stack a farm system.
Rotation: Erlin, Weiland, Kelly, Volquez, Stauffer, Luenkin (Sampson, Ross, etc...choose five of them- all will be mlb starters).
Closer- Street (?) or Boxberger
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