Mack Ade – AM Report – 9-18-13 – Matt Harvey, Top 25 2014 Pitchers, Jeurys Famiia, Top 10 Pick, Andy Martino

Everyone needs to read between the lines regarding the decision Matt Harvey made in holding off surgery. All this is right now is holding off a month or two before testing the ligament with a series of throwing programs. If things don’t go well, we’re back to square one and I’m sure the surgery will then be done. This looks like a classic case of a player dictating the situation here. You don’t hear Dr. James Andrews standing up and saying everything is peachy keen here.

 

As of 12:14, 9-17-13,here’s my current ranking of Mets prospect pitching:

1. 1.       Noah Syndergaard, 2. Rafael Montero, 3. Jeff Walters, 4. Chris Flexen, 5. Gabriel Knoa, 6. Michaek Fumer, 7, Steven Matz, 8. Robert Whalen, 9. Akeel Morris, 10. John Gant, 11. Adam Kolarek, 12. Robert Gsellman, 13. Miller Diaz, 14. Cory Mazzoni, 15. Matt Bowman, 16. Rainy Lara, 17. Chason Bradford, 18. Hamilton Bennett, 19. Ricardo Jacquez, 20. Luis Cessa, 21. John Magliozzi, 22. Corey Oswalt, 23. Luis Mateo, 24. Hanzel Robles, 25. Luis Silver

 

Jason Mast - 2013 Top 115 Prospect Recap; 111-115 -

                        111 – Jeurys Familia, right-handed pitcher, New York Mets - Height/Weight: 6’4”, 230 - Born: October 10, 1989 (age 23) - 2013 Stats (at Triple-A Las Vegas): 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 K, 1.2 WHIP - 2013 Major League Stats (with Mets): 3.48 ERA in 10.1 IP, 7 K, 7 BB, 1.645 WHIP - Heading into 2013… Familia briefly made his MLB Debut this past season, but it seems evident that the organization’s plans for him remain up in the air. Used primarily out of the bullpen in September, the team should be heading into Spring Training with Familia in the mix for the final spot in the starting rotation. Should be fail to win that battle he’ll likely head down to Triple-A, however his fate will become even more uncertain. Familia’s name has frequently come up in trade discussions (or at least in speculation) and he is one of those rare prospects that appears more likely to be dealt than shown patience. Now that the 2013 season is (almost) over… Familia was viewed by some in the Mets organization as a frontline starter, however those perceptions have all but evaporated. Used exclusively out of the bullpen this year, Familia showed slight progress in command from his stint last year, but was sidelined bone chips in his pitching elbow and underwent surgery to remove them in May. Having recently been reactivated from the DL, it seems Familia is destined to be a middle-reliever, with a slim chance of developing into a closer candidate seeing as the Mets current closer, Bobby Parnell, is out indefinitely with a herniated disk in his neck. Looking ahead… Familia realistically has zero chance at becoming an elite closer, much less a formidable one. The best thing Mets fans can hope for him is a solid late-inning option, but he’ll have to avoid the injury bug.

It's interesting that there are some people out there that still rank Familia as a prospect. I agree with the write that his time has passed as a potential starter. Sad.

 

Ken Davidoff on Top 10 Pick –

The Mets have taken a different path to desperation. It’s partly because of their five straight losing seasons. It’s also very much because of the trust deficit their ownership has with the team’s fan base.

 

Howard Megdal on Andy Martino –

Previously, SNY has used Eamon McAnaney to fill in for Burkhardt; McAnaney also does anchor and other work for the network, along with broadcasting for ESPN. But each of the past two weekends, a different substitute has appeared: Daily News sports reporter Andy Martino, who in his regular newspaper gig reports on, among other teams, the New York Mets. So SNY has brought on an experienced, well-sourced reporter (good) to offer analysis of the organization that is now providing him a ticket to more important TV work in the future, while he continues to write about that organization for his newspaper (not so good). When I reached out to Martino about this, he referred me to Teri Thompson, the Daily News' managing editor for sports. Thompson emailed this response on Monday afternoon, responding to several questions with this statement: "Any outside work by our reporters is reviewed by Daily News editors and either approved or not approved." Desperation can lead to overspending. If the Mets get accused of overspending this winter -– be it on Shin-Soo Choo, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza or someone else — well, at least that’ll be an accusation they haven’t heard in a while. First, though, comes the run for the top-10 pick. With beatable opponents such as the Giants (starting Tuesday night), Phillies and Brewers remaining on the schedule, it won’t be easy. Imagine if the Mets let down their fans yet again, by winning games? http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/sports/2013/09/8533822/when-bullish-ownership-mets-news-comes-asterisk

I've never met Martino but I have done the research and he's been pretty much hated by the fan base in whatever city he has worked for. He now seems to have become the Mets mouthpiece which is simply opposite of what he seemed to start out as when he returned to this city. Matt Cerrone and I had a fight over this a few years ago. I don't like the fact that most of these beat reporters average around 5-6 and never played an inning of this game. Their arrogant and, if I was a player, I wouldn't talk to them either. I've stood in the clubhouse, watched them charm their way up to a player, ask them what seems to be harmless questions, and then proudly display their articles in the newsroom the next day that slammed the same guy they talked to the day before (that was when newspapers were allowed to be displayed in the newsroom). The worst of them in those days was Adam Rubin who seems tame now compared to guys like Martino (The exceptions are pros like Kevin Kernan and Kevin Burkhardt).

Neither Cerrone or Rubin talk to me anymore over my thoughts like this. Rubin even has banned me from his Twitter feed.  I've tried in both cased to get a second (or is it third?) chance with them, but they won't return my tweets or emails.

 

Lastly, thank you and God Bless to the two unnamed gentlemen that donated a total of $70 yesterday. That leaves me $430 short of my end of the season holiday's goal. The Paypal email address is: macksmets@gmail.com.