MM's Top 25- The Not Quite Top 25

#30 OF Wuilmer Becerra (LR: #27)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 4" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: Trade from Toronto w/Noah Syndergaard and Travis d'Arnaud for R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, and Mike Nickeas

2013: (R) .243/.351/.295, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 5 SB (45%), 20 BB, 60 K
2012: (R) .250/.359/.375, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB (0%), 4 BB, 7 K 

Last year was our first true look at the wild card pick up in the R.A. Dickey trade. While the stat line isn't sexy, its not bad for 18 yr old with only 11 games of previous experience. As with most 18 yr old international prospects his K rate was very high 29.1%, but on the plus side, his BB rate was a decent 9.7%. Despite not showing much power last year, Becerra's height, quick wrists, and upright stance suggests that he could develop into a nice speed/power combo OF in the future.

Defensively, Becerra used to be a SS but was immediately moved to the OF because his arm strength was considered below average, however, he racked up 8 OF assists last season in 52 games played which is nice plus. There is hope that he could develop at least a league average RF arm but if not his bat will have to carry him if he makes the transition to LF.

Anticipated Assignment: (SS-A) Brooklyn Cyclones starting RF
Ceiling: Solidly above average LF.
Floor: Complete bust.

#29 1B/3B Aderlin Rodriguez (LR: #18)
Bats: R Throws: R

Height: 6' 3" Weight: 210 lb
Acquired: 2008 international signing, Dominican Republic

2013: (A+) .260/.295/.427, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 11 BB, 43 K
2012: (A/A+) .263/.321/.476, 24 HR, 83 RBI, 2 SB (100%), 37 BB, 101 K
2011: (A) .221/.265/.372, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 2 SB (66%), 29 BB, 109 K
2010: (R/A) .300/.350/.532, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 3 SB (75%), 21 BB, 53 K
2009: (R) .290/.389/.387, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 9 BB, 15 K

Another year, another inconsistent year for Ad-Rod. The Mets brass finally moved him off 3B, where he was downright terrible committing 117 in 360 games, in favor of learning how to play 1B full time. However that plan came crashing down when Rodriguez suffered a myraid of injuries this season including a sprain and deep bone bruise in his wrist, eye irritations, and an elbow injury. Couple that with practically zero improvement year over year in his pitch recognition and the loss of one of his plus tool (arm strength) due to the move to 1B and you have yourself plenty of reasons to fall off the Top 25 list.

Despite the poor season the same premium tool remains. Elite power abilities that could potentially produce 30+ HR seasons in the MLB. If he can figure out how to play 1B effectively and somehow some way maintain his OBP near .330 he'll get to the major leagues. However time is beginning to run for Ad-Rod, especially with Jayce Boyd and Dominic Smith quickly coming up on his heels

Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting 1B.
Ceiling: Low Avg, High power hitting 1B/DH (Adam Dunn)
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer

#28 RHSP Matthew Bowman ('13 Rank: #28)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 165 lb
Acquired: 2012 draft, 13th round, Princeton University

2013: (A/A+) 10-4, 3.05 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 1.150 WHIP

2012: (SS-A) 2-2, 2.45 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 0.6 BB/9, 0.955 WHIP

The team's newest Ivy League member built upon his successful 2012 with a solid performance last year at the significantly harder Florida State League. His unique delivery, which is very comparable to Tim Lincecum's, allows him to mix in some deception with his generally average stuff. His low 90's fastball can be cranked up to as high as 95 which mixes well with his hard slider, a curveball, and change-up. Thanks to the teachings of Frank Viola and Ron Romanick, he's also added a split finger fastball to his arsenal this season making him one of the few prospects in the system with a 5 pitch repertoire.

What makes Bowman such an intriguing prospect is the fact that while he does have a deep arsenal, unlike normal pitching prospect, he actually uses all of his pitches. In fact when Bowman was in Brooklyn he recalled the Cyclones coaches "nearly bit my head off every time I threw a first pitch curveball." Because of the fact that he got a significant amount of innings in Port St. Lucie, I would not be surprised to see the team give him the tougher assignment to AA this season.

Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting rotation.
Ceiling: Back End Rotation Starter
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer

#27 2B Daniel Muno ('13 Rank: #29)

Bats: S Throws: R
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 175 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 8th round, California State University- Fresno

2013: (AA) .249/.384/.379, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 15 SB (58%), 92 BB, 97 K

2012: (A+) .280/.387/.412, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 19 SB (86%), 50 BB, 53 K
2011: (SS-A) .355/.466/.514, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB (29%), 43 BB, 39 K 

Muno continues to hang around just outside the Top 25 for the 3rd consecutive year. The 24 year old continues to showcase the advanced tool of patience and pitch recognition. Even at the significantly tougher AA level he was able to maintain his premium 1:1 K to BB ratio. In addition he showed that he is more than comfortable at 2B after being moved off SS last year. In 2014 he committed only 10 errors in 115 games as compared to his 8 last year in only 55 games.


While his batting average does not look very its worth noting that it was dragged down by an awful May when he hit only .179 for the month. He followed that month up with .291 and .329 averages in June and July. In addition, despite being a switch his L/R splits are significant as well. When facing lefties he slugged only .261 which is paltry especially when comparing it to his .417 SLG against righties. However his OBP is identical against both (.377 vs .386). For his career he is a significantly better left handed batter which could possible net him at least a platoon job in the future.

Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas starting 2B.
Ceiling: 2B Platoon Starter
Floor: Solid Bench Player, valuable late inning pinch hitter

#26 RHSP Cory Mazzoni ('13 Rank: #23)

Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 2nd round, North Carolina State University

2013: (AA) 5-3, 4.36 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.348 WHIP

2012: (A+/AA) 10-6, 3.93 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.316 WHIP
2011: (SS-A/A+) 2-1, 1.38 ERA, 12.5 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.154 WHIP

Mazzoni falls out of the Top 25 for the first time this pre-season due to two primary reasons. A) He couldn't stay healthy this season. The "Maz" only made 13 starts this season for Binghamton due to an elbow injury in the beginning of the year and then a hamstring injury in mid July. B) There have been significant talk this off-season to move him to the bullpen full time. If such a move is made this reduces his ceiling from a #4 starter to a late inning reliever and his floor from middle reliever to AAAA pitcher.

That said, Mazzoni does have the makings of an solid late inning reliever. His mid 90's fastball has good movement and he controls it well and his slider should grade out to be at least league average quality. Although his ERA was high last year it was primarily driven by a high BABIP against him of .361. His K rate returning back to above 10 while keeping his BB rate near 2.5 bodes well for future success at the next level. He'll get a legitimate to be a part of the Mets bullpen in 2014 but my bet is that he'll start in the minors and be one of the first call-ups in case of injuries.

Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas late inning reliever.
Ceiling: Late inning reliever
Floor: Taxi squad AAAA pitcher

Open Email - Lucas Duda, Ike Davis, Adam Rubin, Robert Carson, Aderlin Rodriguez, Wilmer Flores

Hi Mack,

I'm glad that you continue to write. I have a couple questions for you. I know you have been focusing mainly on the minors, but I am curious about your opinion.

1. I understand that Ike Davis is more valuable in a trade than Lucas Duda, but Ike's first half crushed his stat line and I think he would not be as valuable as he could be to trade this winter. That said, rumors are popping up that Duda will be the first basemen and Davis could get traded this winter. For the first time, the other rumors are Davis is not listening to coaches and he stays out too late. Usually if a player is a problem child, you hear about it, especially with Mets players, as they come up through the minor leagues. This is the first time I have heard that about Davis. What is the real story here behind the scenes? Did he snub Adam Rubin and now Adam is trying to run him out of town? I think Davis is a piece to keep - good defense, turned his offensive season around. I think missing most of last year and whatever virus he had in the spring affected him more than was let on by the him or the organization.

2. Who is running the ship in the minor leagues? It seems like no one can decide what a player's future role will be and stick with it. I get that players like Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia "project" as relievers, but at such young ages, why jerk them around? I'd like to see Familia get a couple starts and if he gets pummeled, he gets pummeled. Robert Carson looks good out of the bullpen, after he failed as a starter. I say let Mejia and Familia fail as starters before converting them rather than shuffle them back and forth. The same goes for the position players. The organization refused to move Wilmer Flores off shortstop forever, and then they shuffled him all over the infield.

Any insight you have would be appreciated.

Thanks!

bt

Okay... off the record (lol) ... and just my opinion...
 

1. snubbing Adam Rubin would make him the Captain of both the team and the press pool. NO ONE likes Adam Rubin. The team hates him, the players hate him, and the other beat writers hate him. And, IMO, it is earned.
 

2. Is Adam Rubin a decent reporter? Yes, he is... in fact, he is the best because he's such a pain in the ass. You have to follow him on Twitter (as a fan ) if you want every ounce of Mets info out there every day... he sleeps 3-hrs a day and does this 21-7
 

3. Personally, IMO, he's an absolute creep... but, that's just me.
 

4. There is nothing wrong with Ike Davis. He started the season with a fever that robbed him of his strength. (I have a pretty extensive garden... so far this year, I have been stung twice by hornets bitten once by a brown recluse spider... I spent 3 trips to the hospital and was sapped of my strength for weeks). Now, he's on pace to hit 30/100...
 

5. IMO, Lucas Duda has no trade value whatsoever. This is the best you get... don't read anything into him playing first base right now. It's just showcasing for a possible off-season package deal. Remember, first base IS Duda's natural position.
 

(the real decision the Mets need to make is what to do with their two potential "future first basemen", Aderlin Rodriguez, and Wilmer Flores. Both of these project as 30/90 MLB hitters but are currently without a position)
 

6. Paul DePodesa runs the minors, but TC decides who gets called up. Alderson looks over everything, but let's his VPs make their moves. It takes Collins to promote someone like Carson (btw, I am wrong about this guy... he looks like he has the stuff to make it big as a MLB reliever), and then TC can use him however he wants, but he has to be sent back down before DePo gets his hands on him and sends him wherever. Then, the manager of that minor league team choices the role for the player.
 

BTW... nothing gets done at the minor league level... lineups, demotions, assignments... nothing,,, without the permission of Flushing.
 

 

Mack

 

(boy, glad this shit is off-the-record...)

The Keepers - #24 - 3B - Aderlin Rodriguez

24. 3B  Aderlin Rodriquez

In July 2007, The Mets signed 16-year old Dominican 3B Aderlin Rodriguez, which included a bonus of $500,000+. 

As most fans already know, the Mets don’t spend much time promoting their International signings, so, when you do read something about one, you tend to think of that prospect as being something special. 

This one looks for real. 

A-Rod finally surfaced during the season and played the remainder of the 2009 season for the GCL Mets. As a 17-year old: .290/.389/.387/776, in 62 at bats.  

6-23-10: - Maybe prospect 3B Aderlin Rodriquez wanted to serve notice on opening night that it’s going to be one hell of a year. Or, maybe he just had a good game. The 18-year old belted two home runs, went 3-4, and put up “yearly” stats (I love when you can quote one game yearly stats) of: .750/.750/2.250/3.000. We can feel safe that these will come down but this is exciting news coming out of Kingsport. 

6-26-10: - Rodriquez hit his third home run of the young season last night and has now raised his stats to: .353/.421/.941/1.392. He has 16 total bases in 17 at bats and has struck out only two times. 

7-4-10: - A-Rod is one of a handful of young internaltional toosy prospects the Mets own. He doesn’t turn 19 until November and is already showing the kind of power the Mets had hoped for when they signed him. The good news is, he hit his fourth home run last night in only 48 at bats. The bad news… he only has six other total hits. The stats tell two stories… .208/.269/.500/.769. Hopefully, we’ll write more about him this season.

Mets: $3mil Price Tag, Corey Wimberly, Aderlin Rodriguez, Lucas Duda, Matt Lindstrom, Daniel Murphy

• Dec 30: OF/IF Corey Wimberly - Capping a busy December, the Mets signed the 28-yr old former Rockies prospect who put his name on the map by batting .381 in his pro debut back in '05. Sickels rated him in the Rockies top 20 in subsequent years based on his bat and excellent speed and in six minor league seasons he batted .297/.367/.359. Problem is he just doesn't have enough power to be a major league starter but he has shown excellent defensive flexibility and will likely battle for the last spot on the bench as a cheap, multi-faceted utility man in the mold of a Jerry Hairston, with a little less power. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/31/2753903/taking-inventory-of-the-mets-minor-league-free-agents

2-3-12: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/3/2760606/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-20-16 3B Aderlin Rodriguez - One of the bigger disappointments in the Mets farm system in 2011, ARod just didn't deliver on the promise he showed as an 18-yr old crushing Appy League pitchers in 2010. His already lacking plate discipline got even worse as he whiffed in nearly 20% of his at bats and while he maintained his so-so 5% walk rate, that kind of swing-and-miss against more advanced pitching cut into his power. Average-wise, he was barely able to stay above the Mendoza Line against lefties and even worse, his numbers only decreased following the ASB. Now some qualifiers: His power is still a plus-plus skill, as he continued to showcase massive raw strength while posting a good .153 ISO even in a bad year. Though it may tie to his messy approach at the plate, his .247 BABIP is due for some regression. Finally, he was nearly two years younger than the Sally League in 2011. Now I've said before that there aren't many players in the system with a plus-plus major league tool right now and Rodriguez is one of them, even before his 21st birthday. And as such, it's still too early to drop him out of the top 20; there's still just too much raw potential there. However, he's a complete mess at the plate which will continue to cut into his power until he figures that out. And as those 44 errors attest, Rodriguez is almost definitely a first baseman long-term so there's little margin for error with the bat. He still definitely has a chance to be an impact hitter in the majors but suddenly he's looking a little too much like Wily Mo Pena.

“The Mets,” the insider said, “are probably the biggest beneficiaries of all in this Dodger sale.” Who’d have thought it? Certainly not Fred Wilpon. But Frank McCourt is about to be his salvation. For if the Dodgers wind up selling for $2 billion or more, the value of the Mets, a signature franchise in their own right, in the country’s largest media market with their own network and new stadium, despite their present hard times, have to be worth close to $3 billion. “What that means,” said the insider, “is that the Wilpons can now go back to their banks, point to the value of the team, and say: ‘Lend us more money.’” Yes, thanks to Frank McCourt’s multi-million dollar divorce, which set in motion this ironic sequence of events, Wilpon is about to have more collateral than he ever dreamed of. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/frank-mccourt-a-dodgers-2-billion-fred-wilpon-ny-mets-worth-article-1.1017187?localLinksEnabled=false

Lucas Duda - After the Mets traded Carlos Beltran to the Giants (for Zach Wheeler, without giving up any draft pick compensation...kill me now), Duda became the everyday right fielder for Gotham's National League franchise and absolutely tore the crap out of the ball. Duda's second half OPS was .957 and he could easily have been mistaken for a star. Seriously. He exhibited good contact skills to go along with a good batting eye and power, and only the best hitters are able to combine those talents.  With Beltran long gone, Duda is the Mets' right fielder to start 2012. There are some questions about his defense, but the Mets will hold their noses and hope he isn't a train wreck out there. If he's even average, his bat should make him an asset. Given his minor league mashing record and the awesomeness he showed last year, he should continue to pound NL pitching all the Duda day http://www.faketeams.com/2012/2/2/2765698/five-under-the-radar-hitters-for-2012

Matt Lindstrom, 31, posted a 3.00 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 0.50 HR/9, and 47.3% groundball rate in 54 innings last year for the Rockies.  His strikeout rates have always seemed low for someone averaging a 96 mile-per-hour fastball.  Lindstrom, who was acquired in December 2010 from the Astros, is owed $3.6MM for 2012 and has a $4MM club option for '13.  Interestingly, Guthrie and Lindstrom both put their baseball careers on hold for two-year Mormon missions in their lives http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Disappointment: Daniel Murphy, 2B - It's hard to not be impressed by anyone that hits .320, especially at second base, but I'm not sure how much longer Murphy can keep that up. He hit .320/.362/.448 over 423 PAs in 2011 and was aided by a .345 BABIP. Murphy is a nice complementary player on any major league roster, but he should be a backup in fantasy even if he is hitting at the top of the lineup. He never draws a walk, so it's likely that he won't help in run scoring and he has no speed so there's no hope of stolen bases. His best attribute is making contact, but not for power, so there's not much to see here. http://www.faketeams.com/2012/2/6/2775041/fantasy-baseball-spotlight-new-york-mets

Mets: Aderlin Rodriguez, Johan Santana, NL East, Pedro Martinez, Fernando Martinez

1-11-12 -  metsmerizedonline  41.  Aderlin Rodriguez (3B) I have listed Rodriguez as a third baseman, because he has played only that position thus far in his career. It is widely speculated however, that the Mets are going to move him to another position as soon as this coming season, with the obvious choice: first base. His foot speed is not so great and his range is not real good, so the corner outfield isn’t really in the cards. Hopefully Rodriguez can play 1B without committing as many errors as he did across the diamond. Last season in 361 chances at 3B, Rodriguez made a whopping 44 errors, for an abysmal Fld% of .878. Yuck! That’s one problem. The other is he batted only .221 last season at Savannah, in 516 AB’s. He also struck out 106 times while walking 29 times. Rodriguez needs to eliminate the holes in his swing and must be more selective at the plate, if he intends to keep moving up the organizational ladder. The good news is his power potential and that he is still young, he was only 19 years-old last year while playing in the SAL, and he managed to hit 17 HR’s and totaled 78 RBI’s. So there are some promising signs. Next year the cautious move would be for him to start the season at Savannah again, this time as their first-baseman, but he must show some significant development with the bat in order to stay on this list.

A $55 million investment requires the utmost upkeep. So about two weeks ago, Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen placed a call to the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala. Together with the scientists of the acclaimed bio-mechanics laboratory, Warthen discussed a topic on the minds of the team’s fans, coaches and executives: Johan Santana’s surgically repaired left shoulder, the joint upon which the Mets’ hopes of playoff contention in 2012 rest. http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2012/01/johan_santana_faces_longs_odds.html

As one of my coworkers put the Mets chances in the National League East, “The Phillies and the Braves haven’t gotten worse, while the Marlins and Nationals have gotten better.”  So where does that leave the Mets? If they want to make any noise this year, a lot of things are going to have to go right.  But it will take more than that for the Amazins to have any chance at a playoff berth-they are going to need things to go wrong for other teams in the NL East.  While it may seem like the Mets might be destined to finish in the division cellar, each team does have a flaw or two that could come back to bite them.  I am not wishing injury upon any team or player (nor would I ever), but if the Mets are going to be competitive, here is what might have to go wrong with their division rivals: http://risingapple.com/2012/01/11/the-nl-east-what-needs-to-go-wrong-for-the-mets-to-contend/

Former Red Sox great Pedro Martinez joined The Big Show on Tuesday to discuss his career in Boston, which featured what some consider to be the most dominant stretch by a pitcher in major league history. In seven years with the Sox, Martinez was 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings, averaging a shade under 200 innings a year. Martinez won two Cy Young awards while a member of the Red Sox (in 1999 and 2000). Still, the fact that Tigers ace Justin Verlander was named the AL MVP re-opened an apparent wound for Martinez about his distress in being snubbed in the 1999 MVP voting, a year when Martinez went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts but was left off the ballots of two writers (George King of the New York Post and LaVelle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune), resulting in Martinez finishing second to Ivan Rodriguez in the race. Martinez also rankled at the memory of finishing second to Barry Zito in the 2002 AL Cy Young race  http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2012/01/10/pedro-martinez-on-the-big-show-of-mvp-and-cy-young-snubs-the-steroid-era-and-bostons-everlasting-place-in-his-heart/

Martinez is still only 23, so in all likelihood there’s plenty of time for him in baseball and everything. Maybe he gets an opportunity in Houston and hits like Ted Williams, or at least like Carlos Lee, and enjoys a long, successful career in the Majors. Or maybe he doesn’t, but he’s smart and resourceful enough to find a gainful and satisfying way to occupy the rest of his years, inside or outside the game. And though I’d be hard-pressed to argue there are many better ways to spend your late teens and early 20s than playing baseball — or more accurately, in Martinez’s case, rehabbing for baseball and “resuming baseball activities” — even with all the long bus rides and crappy hotel rooms and cheap meals intrinsic to Minor League life, you’ll never convince me it can’t be strange and at least a little bit sad to wake up at 23 facing the real possibility that the goal you’ve been pursuing since 16 may be unobtainable due in part to physical factors largely beyond your control, and that all you’ve heard about your potential from the crowds gathering around your batting-practice sessions could very well amount to little more than 131 Major League at-bats and a hell of a lot of fuss http://www.tedquarters.net/2012/01/11/exit-the-fernanchise/

Mets – Lastings Milledge, Ruben Tejada, Financial Woes, Aderlin Rodriguez, R.A. Dickey

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have formally announced the signing of outfielder Lastings Milledge according to a Sanso report (passed on from Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker.) The deal is worth $750k with unknown performance bonuses included as well as a club option for 2013. Milledge last appeared in the Majors this past season (2 games) as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He spent most of the season in Triple-A where he posted a .295 avg in 505 plate appearances. Milledge was once a top prospect in the Mets system when he was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2003 draft. Since then, he has been unable to live up to the hype and has tried to latch on with the Nationals, Pirates and the White Sox since being traded from the Mets.  http://www.prorumors.com/2011/12/rumors/yakult-swallows-sign-lastings-milledge?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Defensively, Ruben Tejada looks above-average at second base, with good range, soft hands, strong arm, and good turn on the double-play. Offensively, I can’t get a handle on him; there is some discrepancy between what my eyes saw and what the numbers state. What I saw was a younger, less disciplined, slower afoot version of Luis Castillo — bloops and bleeders that were directed where “they ain’t”. Tejada did draw an impressive number of walks, but that total might have been skewed by batting in front of the pitcher the majority of the time. Granted, hitting eighth didn’t help Rey Ordonez, but anyone with a modicum of patience should be able to draw a decent number of walks in that lineup position. Tejada’s strikeout total was a little high for someone with minimal power: one K every 7.5 plate appearances, or, about 90-95 strikeouts over the course of a full season. I like that he hit .333 with two outs and a man on third, and he stayed near his average with RISP (.282). I don’t like how his swing gets a little long — in that way, he does remind me of Ordonez. Also like Ordonez, Tejada can’t bunt — though, that’s not much of an issue for someone hitting eighth. But, if he can field as well as he did at second base and clear the #8 spot in the order to bring the pitcher up, then Tejada is a valuable asset. http://www.metstoday.com/7324/11-12-offseason/2011-evaluation-ruben-tejada/

New York Times columnist Richard Sandomir penned a really nice piece on the New York Mets and their precarious financial situation. He talks about the large amount of debt the team carries as well as the debt load some of the other business entities related to the Mets, such as their sports network, SNY, also carry. I've always thought Mets' owner Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz have Frank McCourt to thank for them getting this long to sort out their financial mess. Wilpon and Katz are camp-Selig guys, and that helps, but things seem to be spiraling out of control and only a worse financial situation in Los Angeles has kept them out of the spotlight. At this point, the team seems to be holding it's hat on finding minority investors to raise $200 million. Still, this has been a long time coming, and it's funny that nothing has materialized yet.  http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bob-mets-financial-situation-unveiled/

I have a Community Research Participation Project for you. New York Mets prospects Cesar Puello and Aderlin Rodriguez got me thinking about the topic of plate discipline again. I did a study for myself about this several years ago, but I don't have time right now to revise the data. It occurred to me that this could be a prototype for a new feature I am considering for 2012, the "Community Research Project." Cesar Puello had a 18/103 BB/K ratio last year for High-A St. Lucie. He drew walks in 3.7% of his plate appearances and struck out 21.1% of the time. Aderlin Rodriguez had a 29/106 BB/K ratio for Low-A Savannah. He drew walks in 5.2% of his plate appearances and struck out 19% of the time. These are very poor numbers.

R.A. Dickey, a female knuckleball pitcher, climbs Mount Kilimanjaro. Fighting her way through surprise cells of Al Qaeda soldiers in the mountains, she finally reaches the top of the mountain to uncover a secret terrorist missile silo. She saves the Western Hemisphere from certain doom. Dickey returns home a national and international hero, retiring early from baseball to become an orator and a political activist for anti-secret terrorist missile silos. After several decades in the national spotlight, Dickey retires to her lonesome ranch in the Montana wilderness. One day, riding her black and white stallion slowly down a ravine on the western edge of her property, she hears the distinctive rhythm of a rattlesnake poised to strike, followed quickly by a scream of pain, echoing down the tall, red walls of the ravine. Spurring her horse into a sprint, she rounds the corner to find Dengchi. “Dengchi?” she says in shock, yanking the horse to a stop. “Help!” he says, pointing at the snake bite on his ankle. Knowing too well that Dengchi is dying, Dickey holds him, kissing his forehead. “I love you,” she says, “I always have. You were the greatest Sherpa a female knuckleballer could ever have.” Dengchi dies in her arms. Dickey then climbs Mount Kilimanjaro again, burying Dengchi in the old missile silo. But suddenly, it becomes apparent the silo was not built with human technology. Dengchi emerges from the silo, healthier and stronger than ever. Dickey stares at amazement as her own body becomes youthful and healthy again. Her sexy, zombie Sherpa falls in love with her http://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/r-a-dickey-the-movie/

Met’s Top 10 Prospects of Mack’s Mets

We polled the writers of Mack's Mets and tallied the responses. After a bit of quick math we came up with a cumulative top 10 Met Prospects. I took some time to write a little bit about each of the guys that we as a group think of as the TOP 10 Met Prospects right now.

#1) Full Name: Matthew Harvey




Born: 03/27/1989

Position: SP

Highest Level: AA


Why He’s #1: The Met’s top draft pick in 2010 wasted no time in 2011 establishing his place on the future major league franchise… or in the hearts of Met fans. Harvey came to the Mets with a healthy dose of concerns from scouts. Sometimes… scouts worry for no good reason. Harvey annihilated the Florida State League before moving on to Binghamton and the Eastern League. AA… was a reality check for some of the eager Harvey fans. However he did seem to find his footing in AA after his first couple starts. Matt seems destined for the front end of a major league rotation and if he can take the next step in AA he could be ready to fulfill his destiny as soon as 2012.

#2) Full Name: Zachary Harrison Wheeler

Born: 05/30/1990

Position: SP

Highest Level: A+


The Harvey vs. Wheeler debate rages on. Wheeler’s stuff is slightly better… Harvey already pitched well in AA… Wheeler is over a year younger… Harvey’s got less issues to overcome… Do you know why Harvey PROBABLY ranked higher on this list? It was made by fans… not scouts. Met fans love Harvey because he was ALWAYS ours. We have a special attachment to players our team drafted that go beyond things like an extra MPH or the fact he could fill out his frame more.

Back to Wheeler, he is a stud talent who could be a Cy Young candidate when he reaches his ceiling. He’s got absolutely filthy stuff that will translate into swings, misses and eventually wins. Now… when the Mets got Wheeler there were also a small mound of concerns about his control. His BB/K ratio on the San Francisco affiliate was basically 1 : 2. When he got to Port St. Lucie… apparently he decided he’d show a bit more control. In his 6 games with the Mets he managed a ratio of 1 : 6. Wheeler is likely to be held all year in the minors regardless of his progress in 2012, but he is sometimes projected to be a candidate for the 2013 rotation.

#3) Full Name: Jenrry Manuel Mejia

Born: 10/11/1989

Position: SP/RP

Highest Level: MLB


If not for an injury, Mejia would be part of the major league rotation and not on this list. Because of his set-back, he won’t even likely start the season on time. When Mejia returns from Tommy John surgery, the Mets will send him to AA or AAA and see how he does. There is plenty of talk about him switching into the bullpen and potentially closing in 2013 but we should all wait and see what he does when he returns in June (or so) of 2012. The Mets are likely to let him try to start when he does. If he takes off in the minors it won’t be a long stay for him (assuming there is room in the major league rotation).

#4) Full Name: Jeurys Familia

Born: 10/10/1989

Position: SP

Highest Level: AA


The pitcher who had the best season for the Mets in the minors is ranked fourth on the list. Familia was brilliant in 2011, exceeding the projections people had begun to form after a disappointing 2010. My favorite thing about Familia is that he was statistically solid across the board. He didn’t give out a ton of hits or walks, he had a K/9 over 9.0 and his BB/K ratio was better than 1 : 3. There is very little to complain about. Still… the general opinion on Familia is that he’s the weakest of the Big 4 (which isn’t exactly an insult) because his breaking pitches are less refined. Like Mejia he’s rumored to be bullpen bound eventually but as he’s the farthest developed player of the Big 4 who’s healthy he’s likely to get the first shot at the majors in 2012.

#5) Full Name: Brandon T. Nimmo

Born: 03/27/1993

Position: CF

Highest Level: R


Based on pure raw talent, the Mets selected Brandon Nimmo with their first round pick this season. Nimmo was an interesting choice as he didn’t get the chance to play High School baseball (I think buffalo outnumber people in Wyoming). Nimmo has speed and a big frame that projects to build power. He’s also got a sweet swing that won’t need too much fiddling with to get him to succeed. Beyond what scouts see in his body, it’s hard to judge him from his brief couple of games in the Gulf Coast League. You can bet he’ll be under a microscope in 2012.

#6) Full Name: David Reese Havens

Born: 10/20/1986

Position: 2B

Highest Level: AA


If Reese were not injured 50% of the time he’d be a major league second baseman by now. As it is… with a tremendous injury history he’s still on course to compete for the role by the middle of 2012. That assumes Reese is healthy… which we can NEVER assume. His glove has never been the story, but when you have a decent eye, are capable of hitting over 15 home runs a season and consistently post an OPS over .800… people can overlook your glove-work. That isn’t to say he’s bad in the field, it’s just not his greatest gift. Met fans will likely need to pray for health for him in 2012 if he’s ever going to make the Major League team.

#7) Full Name: Jordany V Valdespin

Born: 12/23/1987

Position: 2B/SS

Highest Level: AAA


Valdespin was a major surprise in 2011. Sure, a lot of us knew the name, but we didn’t all know all the great things he was capable of. Jordany is a physically gifted player. He has lots of speed, a good dose of power and a quick swing. In the field he shows good range and a reasonable arm. What he lacks… is patience and training. The Mets have pushed him all over the diamond from second to short, never knowing where he fit best. 2011 was again a year where he split positions. Right now, Jordany has a VERY real chance of making the pros to start the season if Reyes is no longer on the team. His low walk rate will simply hold him out of the leadoff spot.

#8) Full Name: Aderlin Rodriguez

Born: 11/18/1991

Position: 3B

Highest Level: A


The Mets don’t have many prospects like Aderlin Rodriguez. He’s a big guy with a big bat and a LOT of power. 17 HRs in Savannah is no small feat and if his power manages to take an up-tick in 2012 with a move to Port St. Lucie his stock will take an up-tick with it. The question with Aderlin is where he’ll play. He’s managing at 3rd base at present, but his range and glove work are definitely not among the best. That could mean a switch to 1st base which… based on his power numbers… would work out just fine. It will be interesting to see if his position gets switched now that he’ll be sharing the field with Wilmer Flores.

#9) Full Name: Wilmer Alejandro Flores

Born: 08/06/1991

Position: SS*

Highest Level: A+


Let us address the 800 pound gorilla in the room. NO, Wilmer Flores will never be a major league short stop. He doesn’t have the range for it. Let us also note that he DOES have a solid arm and good hands, so to say he could ONLY EVER PLAY FIRST… is a bit over-blown. With that out of the way let’s talk about a player who HAD been at the other end of this list a year ago. Was Wilmer’s year that bad? No. His year wasn’t that bad. A .269 Avg and 81 RBI isn’t BAD by any stretch. People simply expect more from Flores’ bat. It’s drawing ever closer to the point where he needs to show he’s developing power and can hack it at the major league level. Where Wilmer plays in 2012 is anyone’s guess. The Mets could throw him back out to play short stop, they could slide him to 3rd, push him into the corner outfield or even try him out behind the plate. Met fans still have faith in Wilmer and look for him to make strides in 2012.

#10) Full Name: Kirk Robert Nieuwenhuis

Born: 08/07/1987

Position: CF

Highest Level: AAA


Captain Kirk is a fan favorite before he ever gets announced in Flushing. The coaches review his work ethic and drive as second to none and his results have been really good. Still… he can’t shake the tag that he’s an over-achiever who may not cut it in CF long-term. The issue there is his numbers (which roughly translate to a .280 hitter who clubs 15 HRs and steals 15 bases) don’t measure up in the corner outfield spots. Nieuwenhuis is looming in the shadows behind Angel Pagan and Jason Bay and could be called upon as early as opening day if his spring goes well. He ended the year hurt so perhaps that’s a bit too much optimism, but Kirk should see Citi Field in 2012.

Cutnpaste: - Cesar Puello, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Aderlin Rodriguez, Commissioner Sandy,

Cesar Puello: Cesar’s season was not terrible, but it was not great either.  He surprised some people with his power display, which most of it game during a hot streak in middle of July.  He played an exceptional center field, and is already playing for Single-A St. Lucie as their lead off hitter at just 19 years of age.  However, with that has come with a lot of disappointments.  He has walked just 18 times all season in over 400 total at bats.  His batting average was a mediocre .260, and as a lead off hitter a .316 on-base percentage is just not going to cut it.  Another disappointment is the fact that the young speedster has just 19 steals on the season. Puello was also caught 9 times, so he may have been a little gun shy after getting caught almost 50 % of the time.  This is after he swiped 45 bags last season and looked like the next coming of Jose Reyes.  Scouts rave about Puello’s potential as a 4-tool player, but he showed some pop this season that may translate to bigger power number than originally thought.  If Cesar is going to continue his ascension through the Mets minor league system then he is going to need to progress and mature as a hitter and as a player.  He needs to learn more patience at the plate, and understand how to read pitchers better when attempting to steal.  All of those things will make him a much better player, and a much more dynamic lead off hitter. http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mets-top-position-player-prospects-were-disappointing-in-2011.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

Hey, did you hear that the Mets are moving in the fences at Citi Field?  Yeah, so did all the other people in your league.  The consensus seems to be that the development can free David Wright up to return to his pre-Citi production.  I buy a moderate improvement, but it's worth remembering that his last great season was 2008.  By all accounts, he changed his approach when New York switched stadiums to be more pull-happy.  Maybe the more modest distances will free his mind, but it's a lot harder to restart a good habit than it is to drop it (take it from a guy who used to be skinny).  Be prepared to pay for more than 2009-11, but not 2008.  I suspect there will be people in your league willing to do just that. http://www.faketeams.com/2011/11/15/2561327/fantasy-baseball-2012-early-third-base-rankings-profiles

I'm not advocating that Daniel Murphy stay with the team forever.  I understand that the effort hes shown over the years and willingness to play wherever he is needed has rightfully developed a strong following amongst fans.  Its just that, for the reasons described above, the benefits of keeping Murphy in town through this season seem to far outweigh the risks.  Murphy may never be an all-star, but he is the type of player that can do a lot of good on this team and this team may never need him more than they do now http://networkedblogs.com/qkAqI

Alderson was hand-picked by Bud Selig to cut payroll and right the Mets ship from a financial perspective. Fred Wilpon couldn’t object because he had just requested a $25 million dollar loan from MLB to help him cover payroll and other expenses. Alderson’s job here has little to do with building a winner, and almost everything to do with putting the Mets in a position to pay back all the money it owes MLB and everyone else. For all the talk of Sandy Alderson’s vision of the Mets in 2014, I do not believe he will even be here with the Mets to see it. I’m certain that he will instead be the top candidate to replace Bud Selig when he retires after the 2012 season, and that Sandy Alderson could become the next commissioner of baseball http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/where-theres-smoke.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

 Aderlin Rodriguez:  Aderlin had just an awful year in 2011, aside from one highlight stat which was the fact that he drove in 77 RBI.  In saying that the power hitting third baseman regressed in almost every facet of the game that matters.  He was abysmal in the field as he made 35 errors manning the hot corner.  The player with the greatest power potential in the system hit just 17 home runs in a full seasons of 510 at bats.  After batting .290 and .300 in his first two professional season, his average dipped to unsightly levels as he finished the season hitting .222. Not only did he not hit, he did not get on base in any way with just 29 walks and a .286 on-base percentage.  With all of the that said there is still reason for optimism going into 2012.  His first two seasons in the pros were much better than what we saw in 2011, and to me that just speaks to a bad season, it happens.  He has youth on his side as he will be just 20 years of age on opening day next season. http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mets-top-position-player-prospects-were-disappointing-in-2011.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

Wilmer Flores, Aderlin Rodriguez, Collin McHugh, Daniel Murphy, Spin

10-25-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/10/25/2011-top-20-new-york-mets-prospects - 2011 Top 20 New York Mets Prospects -  6.Wilmer Flores, SS/3rd (High Class A): Hmm. Flores has been one of the biggest prospect names in the lower levels for a while now. Unfortunately for the Mets, his power still hasn’t shown up like they thought it would. You still definitely have to keep faith though, as he just turned 20 in August, and the tools still show up in games. Wilmer’s walk rate did improve marginally and his K rate didn’t go any farther north, but his power numbers were stagnant once again. The rumors that he might eventually move to third only further exacerbate Flores’ need to show some power.

http://www.metstoday.com/7142/mets-minors/a-look-into-the-future-top-3b-prospects  - (Aderlin Rodriguez) - The one thing fans must love is the power. It’s been a long time since a lower level prospect in the Mets system has displayed this kind of pop in his bat. However, there’s a lot of room for improvement. A .221 average at low-A is frightening and it is something to think about going into next season. Not to mention, Rodriguez committed 44 errors at third. A position change could be in his future if he cannot solve his fielding troubles. With many Dominican prospects, it takes time to become comfortable and adjust to the role of a full-time baseball player. He’ll be in Savannah again next season to adjust to the pitching and cut down his swing to make him a complete player. He is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Mets system if he can get it all together soon.

11-13-11: - http://www.metsblog.com/2011/11/13/afl-round-up-juan-lagares-has-been-stellar-this-fall  -  •Continuing the theme of inconsistent pitching, RHP Collin McHugh has been disappointing this fall, going 1-3 with an 8.06 ERA in seven games and six starts for Peoria. He’s allowed 37 hits and nine walks in only 22 1/3 innings. He split his time between Double-A Binghamton and Single-A St. Lucie this past season, going a combined 9-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 27 games and 22 starts.

Plan A is still Jose Reyes, but the Mets already have formulated Plan B. If Reyes is not re-signed, the Mets may try to compensate for that loss of offense by attempting to make Daniel Murphy the full-time second baseman, according to an organizational source. Murphy, whose 2011 season ended with a strained MCL sustained while playing second base, would have a chance to team with shortstop Ruben Tejada as the Mets’ new double-play combination.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/secondary_mets_plan_1bomgdul8CXY0BHjKiLhiM#ixzz1dgTdYaOf

11-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-12-jordany-valdespin-inf.html#comment-202645  - A major problem for “Spin” is the mental side of the game. He tends to have concentration lapses in the field, at bat, and on the base-paths. As a fielder, he has terrific range, and a strong throwing arm, but his hands are not soft, and he appears to stab at the ball, his glove-work choppy. As a hitter, he can be dynamic and shows some potential “pop”, but he swings at everything, is completely undisciplined, and therefore is not effective at the top of the order. Last year in 511 AB’s he struck out 93 times and walked 25 times, for an OBP of only .333. As a base-runner, Spin is not a burner but has pretty good speed. He could someday develop into a stolen base threat, but right now he is impatient as a runner and takes a lot of foolish chances. He was caught trying to steal 18 times, that’s one-third of his total attempts last year.