5-9-12 - Daily Mets Minors Report

Date: 5-9-12

 I am sure that the catching alignment throughout the system will be dealt with before this post is posted. That being said, let’s review what we have here and what may happen.

First, a general statement: nobody has a bunch of prospect catchers. They barely exist in today’s game anymore. High school coaches throughout the country align their best freshman at different positions regardless of what their father made them play. If you’re over 6-2, you’re a pitcher. If you’re a 6-4 lefty, you get an advisor. If you can field, you play middle field. If you can field and hit, it’s third base. If you hit for power it’s the outfield but if you can run like hell, it’s center. And, if you can hit but run like a rock, first base is yours. What’s left? Catchers.

Lucas May will get the lion share of Bisons games with journeyman Jean Luc Blaquiere backing him up. You don’t come close to a prospect until you get to Binghamton where Juan Centeno splits time with Kai Gronauer. I would love to see Centeno sent to Buffalo, but don’t expect it yet. That’s his job in 2013.

It seems to me that Blake Forsythe is beginning to hit a little better and is considered the number one catcher in St. Lucie with Frankie Pena and Juan Torres behind him. Forsythe has been a disappointing early draft pick so far.

Albert Cordero remains imprisoned in Savannah with the always outgoing Cam Maron.

Summation: I just don’t see anyone talented enough to take away Josh Thole’s job in the next five years. Josh is also the player rep, so couldn’t he, like, vote them off the island anyway?

Mike Silva:

“Is it time to shut down Ralph Kiner?”

                                                Creep…

John Sickles:

35) New York Mets (John): The Mets could use a catching prospect, and there's an intriguing home-state talent available here with University of Buffalo backstop Tom Murphy. He has considerable power, a good measure of athleticism, and has made progress with his defense this year. Tom Murphy, C, University of Buffalo

Jeff Keppinger was placed on the restricted list due to a personal matter following last night’s game.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis leads MLB rookies with a .310 BA and .381 OBP

AAA-Buffalo:

Players of of the Month for April for Buffalo: Pitcher- Jeremy Hefner, Hitter- Bobby Scales, Defense- Omar Quintanilla

Sickles on Harvey:

New York Mets prospect Matt Harvey posted a victory yesterday for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, throwing six shutout innings against Gwinnett, allowing five hits and three walks, fanning five. On the season, he is 3-1, 4.00 ERA with a 32/16 K/BB in 36 innings with 36 hits and a 1.15 GO/AO. Harvey has been inconsistent from start to start, mixing strong outings (such as seven shutout innings on April 25th and a 10-strikeout game on April 20th) with weaker games where his command wobbled. He's holding his own overall, working to refine his command and improve the changeup to complement his low-to-mid-90s fastball, slider, and curve. Harvey needs more time, and I don't think he is a candidate for rapid promotion barring disasters on the major league staff.

AA-Binghamton:   

Players of of the Month for April for Binghamton: Pitcher- Collin McHugh, Hitter- Jefry Marte, Defense- Juan Lagares

Collin McHugh (2.40) proved again tonight that he should be pitching in AAA, but there just isn’t a slot right now. He was followed by a guy that just simply has had a miserable year after the Mets went all in during the fall league with him. Eric Turgeon (8.10) is going to have a hard time keeping his locker if he doesn’t turn this around post haste. 

A+ - St. Lucie: -   

Players of of the Month for April for St. Lucie: Pitcher- Gonzalez Germen, Hitter- Wilfredo Tovar, Defense- Wilfredo Tovar 

I know I’m starting to repeat myself, but 3B Wilmer Flores have proven that he has masters the current level of pitching in the A+ level. I know he is blocked by Jefry Marte in Binghamton, who is blocked by Zach Lutz in Buffalo; however, these are good problems that still need to be addressed by the all-star break.  It’s no big secret anymore whether or not the Mets are going to resign David Wright. The least they will do is pick up his option for 2013. Lutz is a capable emergency replacement who could enjoy countless productive years (if he wanted to) at Buffalo, but frankly, that’s about it. In my book, both Marte and Flores are trade bait. They’re both 20-years old hitting .300+ with good defense and that’s exactly how the Mets position them if no movement comes my early June (the logic being leave them at levels they are dominating so they project better in a deal).

Bloggers have already begun to project P Jenrry Mejia into the current Mets rotation. I can’t even project him into the current Mets clubhouse yet! Yes, the Mets need an SP5 desperately, but it won’t be someone coming off this kind of surgery who has never been a starter before. Both Mejia and Chris Young are going to need some time to build up stamina. Then, they have to work on command and velocity. Yes, it is encouraging that they will begin their rehab at up to 75 pitches, but that’s only because they have already pitched a number of simulated games in extended camp. I think Young has a chance to slot in around the end of June, but I would leave Mejia in the minors this season to mature. But, that’s just me.

First outing today:  4IP, 4H, 2R, 2BB, 1K… it is what it is… a first outing.

Important – this was NOT a rehab start for Mejia. He has been placed in the St. Lucie “very crowded” rotation.

The difference in today’s game was the leadoff double in the 8^th inning by Wilfredo Tovar. We got a little excited about him last year because, IMO, there simply is not a better fielding middle fielder in the system.  Well, with that hit, he has raised his seasonal BA to .296, so maybe we should keep an eye on him.

Another 20-year old. 

Adrian Rosario kicked in his 9^th save… 1.06

A – Savannah:

Players of the Month for April for Savannah: Pitcher- Marcos Camarena, Hitter- TJ Rivera, Defense- Luis Nieves