Ernest Dove - Winter ball has been Hot and Cold for some Mets Minor Leaguers.

Rather then continue to obsess over who the Mets should, and shouldn't sign this offseason, I figured I would throw out a few winter league stats, and update everyone not in-the-know about what some of the Mets prospects have been doing the past few weeks.

Let's start with the good:

1B Allan Dykstra, who apparently has found himself somewhere in the Caribbean baseball league, has put up some impressive numbers early on, hitting .364, with a .500 OBP, and currently has 5 walks and 6 strikeouts, in 22 at bats.
CF Juan Lagares, playing in a Dominican League, seems to be out to start letting Mets management know early that a platoon may not be necessary. in 6 games/24 at-bats, Juan is hitting .375 However, he has NOT drawn a walk, and only 1 of his 9 hits have gone for extra bases.............Still, not bad.
SS Wilfredo Tovar, also playing in the Dominican, has been doing well, hitting .276 ........... What's most impressive is that, of his 8 hits, 4 of them have been for extra bases: 2 doubles, a triple, and even a home run.
RP Chasen Bradford has been dominating the Arizona Fall League. In 7 innings of work, he has NOT allowed a run, 3 hits, 1 walk, and 5 Ks.
SP Hansel Robles has 11 Ks in 12 innings, and a 1.17 WHIP.

In the not-exactly-good, but at least good to see category, Jeurys Familia is on a mound and piching. Sure, he's got 4 walks, and 4 wild pitches in 6 innings, and just gave up a solo homer in their version of a futures games last night, but at least he is out there pitching.

As for some others, well:

Cesar Puello, off suspension, started off hot in the Dominican League, but is now 6-30 overall, and has 8 Ks to go along with 0 walks.
There's been a Valdespin sighting............Ah, who cares. Mets don't seem to want him, and he is hitting .172 in 29 at bats.

In the 'HUH' category, Catcher Cam Maron, playing in the Arizona Fall league, has somehow managed to currently be hitting .182 .......... wait for it............ with a .372 OBP, thanks to his 10 walks.

There are some others, who, basically also either doing really well, or really terrible in their short appearances.

I guess, the main focus, at this point (looking into 2014), may be on Dykstra, lagares, Familia and Puello.

As well all know, Dykstra is no spring chicken (age 26) considering his highest level of competition faced in the minors is AA ball. so what is the plan here? The Mets don't need another Josh Satin, so Unless the Mets plan on letting Dykstra die of heat stroke out there in the desert for the Las Vegas 51's, he will either be a career minor leaguer, or a late bloomer for some other team. (unless the Mets go crazy and trade away both Duda and Davis this off-season).

Maybe its just me, but maybe, just maybe, somebody needs to give Juan Lagares some credit. He only managed to hit about .346 playing everyday out there for the Mets AAA team, before being called up, and immediately started throwing everybody out at home plate, and making ESPN highlight catchers in the outfield.
Despite the added experience, despite the gold glove caliber defense, and despite the ability to knock it out of the park on occasion, everyone immediately is looking towards a platoon with Matt den Dekkar..............Not so fast, says Lagares.

When it comes to Familia, I'm just happy to see the guy pitching. He still can't seem to help but walk people, and those wild pitches (if those stats on the website are accurate) seem pretty bad, but if he is out there, he must be health. And in early November, that's good enough for me.

The biggest question mark surrounds Puello. What will come of him in 2014. Is he the hitting version of Harvey/Wheeler, to come in to the league this summer, and take it over by storm. Or is he just another top prospect who flames out in the Bigs..........

Only time will tell............That's all folks.............It's almost Tuesday.............Almost time to let the trades and free agent signings begin.