Logan Taylor, Zack Wheeler, Jeff Diehl, Pedro Feliciano, Scott Hairston

I don’t like much about the Mets 2012 draft, but I do like the the 11^th pick out of East Oklahoma State JUCO, sophomore eligible P Logan Taylor. Taylor is a 6-5 righty that BA had the player ranked as the 312^th overall, with a last year stat line of: 83-IP, 120-K, 43-BB. An old scouting report:

Logan Taylor is a 2010 RHP/1B/3B with a 6'5'', 205 lb. frame from Tulsa, OK who attends Jenks HS. Outstandng pitcher's frame, lean athletic look. Fast paced delivery, stays on line, fast arm, FB 88-90 mph, mostly straight, good downhill angle when down in zone, hard spin on CB, buries many but sharp when in zone, flashes change up. Should keep improving. Premium prospect who will get pro looks next spring. Good student.

BA followed this up with:

Taylor began his college career at Northeast Texas CC in 2011, transferred to Arkansas last fall and moved on to Eastern Oklahoma State when he didn't survive the Razorbacks' final cut. He helped the Mountaineers come within an extra-inning defeat of advancing to the Junior College World Series, taking the loss in a 10th-inning relief appearance against Jefferson (Mo.) CC. Taylor ended the regional playoffs ranked third among national juco players in strikeouts (114) and strikeouts per nine innings (13.5). Taylor sometimes battles his control and command, but when he's on, he's tough on hitters with a 90-94 mph and a 12-to-6 curveball. He did a better job of keeping his 6-foot-5, 242-pound frame in shape this year. If he doesn't turn pro, he'll transfer back to Arkansas

Of course, the bottom line for the Mets was how his debut went for Brooklyn in 2012: 13-G, 0-ST, 2-0, 0.93, 0.67, 19.1-IP, 19-K, 2-BB… what is this now… Bowman, Seward, and Taylor have 77.1P, with a combined 84-K and only 6-BB? WTF? Observation: another guaranteed trip to Savannah in 2013 (21-yrs. old), but possibly St. Lucie as well.

Zack Wheeler:

"I want to prove myself. I want to go out there, try to make the choice difficult for them, just compete. I mean, wherever they want to send me, that's fine. I want to go compete wherever that is. I'm going to try to get better wherever they send me. I don't care. I just laugh because I think I've got a chance. If I come out of spring training and I'm dealing . . . "

Regarding the future of the Mets outfield, the powers to be did make a small adjustment last year to the future career of C Jeff Diehl that might translate into something good down the line. The 6-4 Diehl was drafted in the 23^rd round of the 2011 draft by the Mets, straight out of Cranston H.S. (RI). It’s very seldom you see Perfect Game give a high school player a 2.00 Pop rating and the Mets wasted little time with him behind the plate. In fact, they never played him a game there. He was signed to a $130,000 bonus but sat out the remainder of the 2011 season due to annoying injuries. 2011 came and Diehl was an outfielder and his stats for 2012 were, well, better than some first rounders on this team: 171-AB, .251/.291/.404/.695, 2-HR, 21-RBI, 64-K, 9-BB. Yes, the strikeouts are a problem and he would swing at a hornet, but he was 18-years old and it will be interesting to see what he does in Brooklyn this year.

Michael Baron‏@michaelgbaron -

 Folks, new @mets beat reporter for the Wall Street Journal: @jareddiamond. Give him a follow.

Pedro Feliciano:

            "It's nice to come home. I think I can help out some of the younger guys in the bullpen. I'm 100% healthy. Some people made a big deal that I was mad at the Mets because they overused me. That's not true. I always asked for the ball. I was the one that wanted to pitch." 

Let's give OF Scott Hairston's agent all the credit that is due him. He got his client the two deal deal he promised him. There's going to be a couple of posts later today about signing Michael Bourn. Sandy and Company needs to step up... now. Fans were willing to wait out this whole patience process (which worked for the Dickey deal), but I think the only outfielder still out there is Sammy Sosa. Sign Bourn for three years. Put a position away and move on to other needs.