1-11-12 - MMO 48. Adam Kolarek (LHP) Kolarek was drafted out of the
University of Maryland in the 11th round of the 2010 draft. A 6’3″ lefty
Kolarek put together a fabulous year coming out of the pen for the Sand Gnats.
In 52.2 IP, he went 7-0 with a 2.22 ERA, and 5 saves, with an opponents batting
average of .214, and a WHIP of 1.14. Kolarek throws a 90-94 mph four-seamer, a
change-up, slider, and is working on a sinker, which he details in a recent
interview with MMO: “I mainly throw a 4-seam fastball but I am really working
on my 2-seam this offseason because I really believe that it will help me
moving forward. I would say my change-up is my second best pitch because I feel
comfortable throwing it in just about any count or any situation. When I throw
a real good one it will have some tailing movement into a lefty or away from a
righty. Finally, I feel like I made a lot of progress with my slider last year
and I want to continue to build off of that. I would mainly use it when I was
ahead in the count and was trying to get a strike out or ground ball, but I
really want to get to the point this year where I can use my slider when I’m
behind in the count in a typical fastball situation.” With lefties like
Kolarek, Josh Edgin, Jack Leathersich, Robert Carson, and Ham Bennett in the
pipe-line, there is some lefty relief help on the horizon with Carson most
likely being the first to arrive, his ETA 2012. Adam Kolarek video
Jon Niese has had both
physical and mental breakdowns in each of the last two years which have
unquestionably hindered his development, and hurt the team in the process.
While he’s still relatively young, I’ve found that pattern very concerning;
injuries aside, he’s been two totally different pitchers before and after the
All-Star break in his career. He has said this winter his focus is on getting
through an entire 162 game season and prove he has the stamina to give the team
more length, but he’s now 25, and like I said yesterday, the time is now for
him. In fact, Niese is the one I expect more out of in terms of growth,
maturity, and proving his problems are behind him simply because he’s the
youngest of the team’s starters and has shown at times he “can” be a
top-of-the-rotation starter http://www.metsblog.com/2012/01/15/jon-niese-his-physical-mental-breakdowns-2012/
Generally speaking, if a Major League hitter is in
his 30s and not using performance-enhancing drugs, his skills are unlikely to
drastically improve after they’ve drastically declined. Since Jason Bay turned 33 last September and PED use is
prohibited in Bud Selig’s baseball company, it’s hard for me to expect Jason
Bay to return to the form that earned him a 4-year, $66M contract. At the same
time, it’s hard for me to accept the idea that Bay is a sub-.250 hitter who
will be lucky to hit 15 homers over a full season of play. But, that’s my
emotions thinking; from his days in Pittsburgh, I’ve loved Bay’s approach to
the game and always enjoyed watching him play. I’ve had similar, irrational
feelings for other Mets in the twilight of their careers, such as the
aforementioned Ventura and Green, Mo Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz, and Willie
Montanez — as much as my eyes were telling me those players were finished, my
heart was hoping my eyes weren’t seeing clearly. http://www.metstoday.com/7377/11-12-offseason/2011-analysis-jason-bay/
The Kid rallied again Sunday night. Just as he has
done at the 25 previous events he has hosted, Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter
welcomed more than 150 friends with hugs and smiles at a kick-off dinner for
his 26th annual charity golf tournament. He made them laugh, too - with an
assist from his wife, Sandy. Carter was seven minutes into his welcoming
remarks at the Ironhorse Country Club when Sandy nudged him and whispered,
"Let's eat!" "That's my wife and she knows that I talk too much,
so that's it for me,' Carter said as the crowd broke into laughter. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/2104334.html
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