STUFF: - Luis Ayala, 2B Prospects, Ambiorix Burgos, Fall Leaders, Jose

1. The Mets, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, Angels and Red Sox are pursuing RHP Luis Ayala, tweets Jim Bowden of SiriusXM radio. - http://www.metsblog.com/2011/12/04/mets-among-six-teams-pursuing-luis-ayala

This has nothing to do with the last time he was a Mets. This is solely based on the fact that he had a great year last season for the Yankees and the Mets are in desperate need for good, cheap, relief pitchers. That’s all. This is NOT closer material.

2.  http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=3741  just ranked their top 25 second base prospects. There were two Mets on the list… 5. Reese Havens—Mets and 9. Jordany Valdespin—Mets

There’s a couple of “good news” things here. Obviously, it’s nice to see two Mets on any list these days, but the real good news is how high they were ranked. Deep Leagues is saying that the Mets have the 5^th and 9^th top second base prospect… in baseball! Here’s the problem. If Deep Leagues did their research, they would know that Valdespin is a shortstop, and, when he does play second, has some of the worse defensive stats in the history of the position. I played excellent defense on third base for over 30 years but couldn’t turn the double play or throw accurately to fist from second. Spin’s future as a Met is at short if Ruben Tejada stumbles.

3. The Tigres de Aragua team in Venezuela has signed ex-Met pitcher Ambiorix Burgos. Some players continually get injured while others, well, let’s see: On September 9, 2008, Burgos was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. Prosecutors say he repeatedly punched her on the back, bit her and slapped her.  On March 12, 2009, a jury convicted Burgos for the assault.  On October 1, 2008, Burgos was indicted on charges of hit and run in his native Dominican Republic. Sources say that Burgos struck two women in his SUV and drove off. The women later died of their injuries. And, on August 27, 2010, Burgos was accused of kidnapping and poisoning his ex-wife. Police in the Dominican Republic charged Burgos with kidnapping and attempted murder. Do you mind telling me who’s going to room with this dude on away games?

4. Fall League Leaders:

1B Jefry Marte - .333/.436/.538/.975

2B Wilfredo Tovar - .281/.310/.448/.758

OF Pedro Zapata - .287/.316/.340/.657

OF Rene Reyes - .279/.361/.364/.736

OF Vinnie Rottino - .268/.361/.352/.714

SP Dylan Owen – 2-3, 1.73, 1.03

SP Collin McHugh – 2-3, 6.91, 1.94

RP Robert Carson – 0-0, 4.15, 1.90

RP Taylor Whitenton – 1-2, 4.76, 1.53

5. $110mil for Jose Reyes and a $5mil buyout on a 7^th year? What you talking about, Willis? Even Reyes couldn’t turn this down and offer the Mets, what, a $25mil home team shave? And this is before the Brewers offer. No, thank God we’ve way ahead on this one and all our research has moved on to Ruben Tejada. What will be interesting is that the Mets executives are now done with thisissue by Monday morning. The entire meetings can be used to move ahead.