Mets: Jason Bay, Chase Huchingson, Joe Smith, Health

2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   - Relief Pitcher #1: Chase Huchingson. A big lefthander, Huchingson spent most of the year in the bullpen, but also made eight starts, and overall he put up a sparkling 1.82 ERA and 2.30 FIP in Low-A, not bad for a guy who posted an 8.36 ERA in his final college season in 2010 and was signed as a free agent. A deception guy with a low three-quarters release that imparts good sink on his fastball, he’ll have to prove himself at every level, but he’s already exceeded expectations and is a solid bet to at least have a middle relief career. Grade: C+

3rd Round (94th overall): Joe Smith, RHP – Wright State - It is unusual for a small college reliever who was forced to walk on the team to get drafted this high, but Smith is an unusual pitcher. He adopted his sidearm delivery while in college and took to it immediately, seeing gains on his fastball velocity as well as added movement on his fastball and slider. His new tools allowed him to post a 0.75 ERA in college and the Mets were hoping he could move through the system quickly and help a team that was close to contention. http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/02/grading-the-omar-regime-the-2006-draft.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grading-the-omar-regime-the-2006-draft

It has been three straight three straight years of misery for the Mets trying to keep their best players healthy. Last year’s casualties included Johan Santana, who never returned from shoulder surgery the previous September, and David Wright, Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy who were out for extended periods. Never mind that Jose Reyes also hit the disabled list twice. All teams deal with injuries, but few recently have been hit as hard as the Mets, in terms of the caliber of players lost for extended stretches. If the Mets hope to have any chance, Santana’s return is crucial, even if that means pitching like a No. 2 or 3 in the rotation.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_enter_camp_hanging_hopes_on_f7NkKCKioXASvab3SHTu2J#ixzz1mpklrLSv

Jason Bay is heading into his third season of a four-year, $66-million contract that is looking like one of the Mets' worst investments in recent memory. After a 36-homer, 119-RBI walk year in Boston, Bay has a total of 18 home runs and 104 RBIs in two seasons for the Mets and has struck out once every 4.55 plate appearances. If Bay can't capitalize on the hitter-friendly alterations made to Citi Field, it will raise serious questions about whether his days as a power threat are over - if they aren't already behind him. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/three-mets-with-something-to-prove-1.3541005