Stuff – Carson, Lowe, Tampon, Wheeler, Holt

Lone Lefty In The Bullpen

The Mets DFA’d Garrett Olson Saturday to make room for SP Johan Santana. This created another scenario in which the Mets have only one lefty coming out of the pen (Josh Edgin). Is this really happening again? They did this to Jesus Feliciano, pitched his arm off, but got lucky when it became the Yankees problem. Then came Tim Byrdak this year, totally overpitched throughout the first half of the season and now looks to permanently be left on the shelf. There’s no reason to do this to one of the Mets future stars. All you have to do is release Ramon Ramirez (who cares about the money) and bring up Robert Carson to spell Edgin. Carson has the gonzongas to handle the promotion and just might develop into a viable option in 2013. The team is 138 games down in the loss column and nothing should be executing to screw up the immediate future of this team. Terry, please, talk to Sandy here. 

Derek Lowe

Speaking of gonzangas, only the Yankees have the balls to pull off a signing like this. Barry Zito told me once that ‘the only New York road to the World Series comes through the Bronx’ and he was right. These are the kind of moves that make champions and Lowe is smart as hell to become part of a team that has a good chance of going all the way, regardless of how choppy they are playing right now. I used to root for the Mets and, boy, do I miss a team that has money in their checking account. Can you imagine if the Mets signed, oh, let’s say, Michael Bourn, Mike Napoli, and Cliff Lee in the off-season. How much easier would it be to win games with this team? Can you imagine how many people would fill the stands if the Mets won 100 games in 2013.  Should I care what it cost the Wilpons to get there? It never bothered George and the Yankees have the flags to prove it. The Mets? Two flags in 50 years. 

Fred Wilpon

Fred Wilpon was asked by Dave Lennon about the David Wright situation and Tampon shot back “ask Sandy.” Here we go again. (this portion was written before yesterday's post) More jicky-jacky bullshit about the heart and soul of your team. I assume most of you that read this are Mets fans. Let me tell you something. You’ve got one more year to enjoy David before he takes his talents to a team he has a chance of winning something with. Jose Reyes did, Wright will, so will RA Dickey, and anyone else that has a brain in their head. And just how much longer do you think Sandy and Depo are going to stick around for this shit? No, they too will be gone, probably in the off-season. Nobody wants to play for this owner. I take that back. Jon Niese must want to. The bottom line is the team you root for is owned by someone that makes the train guy on ‘Hell On Wheels’ look like the Owner of the Year. He doesn’t care folks. The Mets are his personal little sand box and you are the idiots that support everything he does and doesn’t do by going to the games, buying all the shit they sell, and paying SNY a subscription fee. Me? I don’t give him anything. I write about this team and stopped rooting for it as soon as I found out things about the Wilpons I should never have known. There will be a day the league (or the Teamsters) steps in and removes this guy, but until then, you will have to get used to small market baseball in a big town. This isn’t even Moneyball.  

Zack Wheeler

Wheeler tossed five no-hit innings in his second AAA start on Saturday. It will be interesting to watch how Sandy Alderson, Terry Collins, and Freddy Freeloader calls this one. I’m sure he has a bad outing coming up before the season ends, maybe two, but the Mets will leave Buffalo (for the last time) knowing they have something special in Wheeler. I wouldn’t assign him to a winter assignment… I take that back… I’d assign him to two, maybe three starts in Arizona, and then I’d tell him to go play on Twitter until the January camp opens up. I’m get him the nicest condo in St. Lucie, where all the good lookin’ girls live, and tell him to hide out at the 4pm senior dinner buffets that line the main drags there. I’d ban him from Duffy’s and ask him to wear a hoodie if he wants to go to the movie theatre near the batting cage (no, don’t hit anything!). I have no problem with him going to the beach but stay the hell out of the riptides. Yeah, I’d make him feel special but I wouldn’t have him host an autograph party at some local sports equipment store (the one Teddy and all the guys used to pawn their old equipment at). Opening day? Too early to say, but probably Rochester.

Brad Holt

Do we give this guy another shot? And how far do we go with him. We never accredited his bust to his talent. This was always Mets coaches screwing with his mechanics, something they don’t do now with pitchers like Zack Wheeler. Does anyone really care if these guys need a chiropractor six years from now? I just want five great years for all of them. Holt has good stats in AA this season, except for walks, which has always been his problem (31-G, 39.1-IP, 2-1, 3.20, 1.63, 35-K, 27-BB, only 1-HR). We’re the ball thrown just off the zone? Did he get bad calls from the umps? I’ll tell what they were… there were four pitches that should have wound up somewhere else. Batters get the book on you pretty early at this leave and, if your sink is too sinky, they’ll wait it out and let you give them first base (emphasis on OBP in that level). Holt had a peek at AAA, but that didn’t last long or fair well: 10.13, 2.81, 5.1-IP, 3-K, 4-BB. Obviously, he has earned himself a return to, where, Rochester, but do you bring him to Big League camp with a shot of making the 25-man?

Mets: Brad Holt, Brandon Nimmo, Johan Santana, Phillip Evans

1-23-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/23/2693134/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects   #50) RHP Brad Holt - The '08 supplemental pick and former top prospect is now a shadow of the dominant pitcher who streaked through A-ball over three years ago. 2011 saw the 25-yr old continue to struggle in Double-A before making a full-time move into relief in mid-June. And his splits (Starting ERA: 5.04 | Relief ERA: 4.09) indicate that he didn't see a huge improvement. Now his peripherals do provide some hope -- his troublesome BB/9 dropped by over two full points in relief while his 5.8 K/9 skyrocketed to 9.5. And after allowing an opponent's average of .336 in 2010, he held Eastern League hitters to an anemic .197 as a reliever, though the .242 BABIP isn't a great sign. But what that means is that -- as many scouts insist -- his stuff is still decent. The problem is that he's still not throwing enough strikes to take advantage of it. If he can continue to improve in that aspect he may still have a chance as a middle reliever, but at this point -- in the midst of a serious long-term decline -- even that's a long shot

1-27-12: -  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6509  4 . OF Brandon Nimmo -Baseball-Reference Player Profile - The 6-3/185 left handed hitting Wyoming native certainly had all the physical tools and profile for being the 13th pick in the 2011 draft, where the Mets signed him to a $2.1M bonus. Nimmo was a star football wide receiver and state sprint champion in high school and should maintain his plus speed as a centerfielder even as he fills out and gets stronger. The big question for scouts all spring was about whether they could truly evaluate Nimmo’s bat potential considering his lack of repetitions and high level competition compared to most high school hitters around the country. Two veteran scouts made very telling comments to me late in the spring that convinced me that Nimmo was indeed going to be a very high pick. One said something to the effect of, “We are getting all excited and giving tons of money to young Latin players who have far less in the way of hitting background than this kid. Put Nimmo down in the Dominican Republic and see what scouts think. You’ll see his athleticism and you’ll see his projection and then you’ll really, really see his bat. Everything would stand out about him even down there where we think the kids are raw skilled.”  The other was a cynic at the start of the spring but told me in late May, “I saw him late in Arizona, I’ve seen him play in Wyoming, I’ve seen him play in South Dakota. I looked for every reason I could not to like his swing and his bat but I just couldn’t find it. He’s sold me, I’d take him with our first round pick without hesitation.”

The Mets begging workers got a major struck with the loss of their most complete basic Johan Santana, without acquiring him for almost all of the this season, will truly harm their chances of being a consider the Far east. With the loss of Santana the Mets will want massive conditions out of people like 3rd r.A. Dickey and Scott Pelfrey, who determine to enjoy spinning that is lacking in legend power. Pelfrey moved 15-9 by using a 3.66 ERA this past year, and Dickey moved 11-9 with a good 2.84 ERA, however, for both of these to generate a massive affect that they need the wrongdoing to get a lot better than it was last year. The the other 3 people while in the spinning could big surprise together with the little hands of Jonathon Niese and Dillon Wow, plus by adding Chelsea Capuano, who came back soon after losing most of 2009 and 2008 to look 4-4 by using a 3.59 ERA together with the Milwaukee. If these 3 hands are better than expected last year, Nyc will continue to have a spinning that could compete. http://www.watthai.net/?p=994

Earlier this week, I was fortunate enough to speak with New York Mets prospect Phillip Evans. Evans was drafted by the Mets in the 15th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California. The shortstop was ranked as high as No. 55 on Keith Law’s Top 100 list before the draft and was considered to be one of the top middle infielders available. Because of his strong commitment to San Diego State, the Mets were able to select Evans in round fifteen. He signed for $650,000, which became the highest bonus ever paid by the Mets to a player taken outside of the first two rounds. http://7traintoshea.com/?p=7320

Mets - Darin Gorski, Carlos Beltran, Scott Sauerbach, Brad Holt

1-3-12 - mets360  - 8. Darin Gorski, LHP, Hi-A, 11-3, 2.08 ERA, 140 Ks in 138.2 IP - Most of the major prospect hounds are taking a wait-and-see approach with Gorski. They want to see how he does at Double-A before getting on the bandwagon. Gorski came out of nowhere last year and dominated at St. Lucie, yet he did this as a 23 year old, adding to the doubts. But here’s what Gorski has going for him: He’s a lefty who throws strikes, scouting reports have him at around 90 (Keith Law said 87-91 while Kevin Goldstein said 90-93), he throws three pitches and has outstanding command.

Carlos Beltran, OF  STL –  After back to back seasons where Beltran’s knee problems prevented him from playing more than half a year, he bounced back last season and managed to appear in 142 games.  His power was back, his average was up and it looked like he was the Carlos of old.  However, he did miss some time in August after tweaking that same knee and was lost for about two weeks, so the health concerns emerged once again.  Was this little incident just a minor thing or is it a foreshadowing of more consistent problems as we move forward?  The Cardinals seem to feel like he’s ok and have him slated to play regularly in right field, but the market for the soon-to-be 35 year old was pretty thin this offseason, so perhaps, there are some that don’t fully  believe that his knees can continue to hold up.  He can certainly be a fantasy asset when healthy, but using anything more than a 15th round pick could cost you plenty in the long run. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/top-10-high-risk-veterans-part-1/

What was your draft experience like, and how did you first know the Mets were interested in drafting you?: My draft experience was pretty miserable actually. I thought I had a chance to be drafted after my junior year in college, and sat around the house for three days waiting for the phone to ring. It never did, obviously.  I had two great starts to start my senior year in college, and then broke the thumb on my throwing hand in start number three and missed pretty much the rest of the year. I took the splint off the last couple of weeks of the season and pitched, as I had to get out there on the mound for anyone to see that I was healthy enough to pitch- which meant be healthy enough to be drafted. If you have ever tried to pitch with a broken thumb, it’s not the smartest thing you can do, but I really didn’t have a choice. Usually after the first inning it would swell up enough to render it useless in every sense, and I think I would of actually been better not having a thumb at that point, as it was not in contact with the ball at all and was just getting in the way. http://seamheads.com/2012/01/05/scott-sauerbeck-discusses-his-career/

1-6-12: - metsmerized  - 31. Brad Holt (RHP) Holt was at one time ranked up near the top of this list, but after failing miserably as a starter upon arriving at AA, he regressed for several seasons before seemingly straightening things out towards the end of last year. He has therefore fallen pretty far in the rankings as he tries to re-invent himself as a relief pitcher. I wrote a pretty involved spiel on Holt back in September, in the “Buffalo 2012 Preview” piece, entitled ‘Help On The Way’. Here’s some of what I said:  “Holt’s 2011 season wasn’t eye-popping, but he is definitely making progress. His overall numbers this year are average, 8-8 with a 4.71 ERA, but most of the runs he gave up were in the first half when he was being utilized as a starter. Since being converted to a relief pitcher full-time, he has been quietly doing a superb job, going 6-2 with a 4.09 ERA, in one and two inning stints. In his last eleven games out of the pen Holt is: 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA, and opponents are hitting .203 off him. The biggest improvement Holt has made is in his increased command, which has resulted in fewer walks, and that was crucial for him. As a starter last year, his K/BB ratio was 39/42, that’s right, more walks than strikeouts. As a reliever, his K/BB was 35/15. If he can keep moving forward, and make the necessary adjustments to the higher caliber of play at AAA, he could emerge as a “relief ace” for Buffalo, a real lock down 8th inning guy, which is exactly what the Mets see him as in the bigs. Will he be a help to the Mets at sometime in 2012 as a bullpen option? Why the heck not? He’s got the talent, hopefully his mechanics will fall into line.”

Who do You Protect???

The pre-Rule 5 draft 40 man rosters are due to the MLB today and for the Mets their are some interesting names that may need protecting. The most important of the names are CF Kirk Nieuwenheis, SP Jeurys Familia, OF Juan Lagares, 2B Reese Havens, OF Cesar Puello, LHP Robert Carson, RHP Colin McHugh, 3B Jefry Marte, RHP Bradley Holt, SS Wilmer Flores, RHP Mark Cohoon, and others.

The Mets currently have 32 players on the 40 man roster so they are able to protect up to 8 of their eligible prospects minus any selections they may want to make. In my opinion i would think Alderson would like to keep at least 1 or 2 slots open to try to pluck some bullpen help from other teams AAA squads.

With that in mind I'd protect Captain Kirk, Familia, Lagares, Havens, Puello, Carson, and Flores. The reason i protect Puello and Flores is because we have already seen that some teams are willing to dig as deep as into the Single A teams to pluck good potential prospects (Washington Nationals selection of C Jesus Flores being the prime example).

The reason i leave Marte unprotected is because we have Aderlin Rodriguez right behind him and even if Marte has a break-out year he is still blocked by Wright at 3B and Davis at 1B. I also leave McHugh unprotected because he's basically the same pitcher as Schwinden and Gee. They are "dime a dozen" guys that can be found every year.

tpgMets provides a full listing of eligible Rule 5 guys here http://tpgmets.blogspot.com/p/rule-5.html

Mets Analysis – 2012 Full Season Relievers

Josh Edgin – It’s hard to think that someone could have a better year than Josh had in 2011. Savannah stats were: 24-G, 0.87, 0.77, 2.26-BABIP, 1.85-FIP. He followed this in St. Lucie with: 24-G, 1.57, 1.19, .307, 2.95. I expect him to start off in Binghamton, but this soon to be 25-year old could move quickly up the chain. Looks like a real find.

Brad Holt – First of all, this could be a moot point if the Mets don’t protect Holt in the Rule V… err, okay… FIVE Draft. I’m assuming here that they will. You’re not going to see great 2011 stats here. His relief ERA was 4.09, while he posted 5.04 as a starter. The good news was his K/BB ration as a reliever… 35-K/33.0-IP. My hope is thye protect him and let him try this again at the AA-level. There’s no rush for a reliever.

Nick Carr – Speaking of no rush for a reliever, all the Mets have to do is figure out a way to keep Carr healthy and they have a live one here. Carr has already been in the system for six years, but has only pitched in 120 games. A failed starter, he had outstanding numbers this year at three levels (30-appearances, 3-0, 2.27, 39.2-IP, 41-K, 20-BB). Carr still sits in the high 90s and will play 2012 as a 25-year old. Look for him to be in Binghamton.

Jeff Kaplan – Kaplan spent most of the season in St. Lucie (45-G, 3.45, 44-K, 24-BB, ,57-1-IP), but did appear in Binghamton as well (3-G). He had an incredible April in which he went 0.71, 1-ER, 12.2-IP, in 11 games. Things blew up in May (5.28) and June (9.39), but he finished up the season strong. All Kaplan has to do is be a ittle more consistent and cut down on the walks. Another Binghamton reliever in April.

Jack Leathersich – Leathersich signed late this year and only got into nine games for the Cyclones, but made one hell of an impression: 12.2-IP, 26-K, 0.71-ERA. Jack’s a college boy, so he should be ready for a full schedule team. I’m expecting to see him in Savannah this season.

Cutnpaste: Brad Holt, Chris Young, Tim Teufel, Harry Minor, Jason Isringhausen

9-17-11: - Brad Holt (Mets supplemental first-round pick in 2008): The right-hander from UNC-Wilmington rocketed through the minors for the first year of his pro career. But after reaching Binghamton in June 2009, his career has come to a dead stop. After back-to-back rough seasons in Double-A, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Mets take a chance and leave him unprotected. Read more: link  

Chris Young went to a little private college in New Jersey called Princeton. Maybe you’ve heard of it? He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates (how unfortunate) in the 2000 amateur draft, but refused to sign his rookie contract until he got assurances from the club that he would be able to complete his studies. So he didn’t end up becoming a full-time pro ballplayers until after he graduated with a degree in politics in 2002. (They don’t call it “political science” at Princeton like they do everywhere else. They can get away with that because, well, they’re Princeton.) Today he’s a pretty respectable no. 4 or no. 5 starting pitcher. - http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/09/16/9-smartest-players-in-major-league-baseball

A Greenwich native, (Tim) Teufel spent four years working his way through the minor leagues in the early eighties and had so much fun he decided to do it all over again, this time as a manager. Teufel just completed his first year at the helm of the Buffalo Bisons, the Mets Triple-A affiliate after years working his way up the ranks, beginning in short-season A-ball with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the NY-Penn League with stops in St. Lucie, Savannah and in Double-A Binghamton for the 2010 season. Read more: http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Teufel-watches-his-players-move-up-to-majors-2175813.php#ixzz1YJOpPeJT 

It is all nearing an end for Harry Minor, a lifetime of baseball that began at Wilson High in the 1940s and coursed through a couple of decades in the minor leagues before a seamless odyssey with the New York Mets that has spanned almost a half century. He admits there is a sense of wistfulness hanging over him as the curtain is set to close on his ball diamond endeavors that have brought him near to so many storied figures of the game. "Yeah, it's almost over," he said, and there is a sadness in a voice that normally oozes with vibrancy. "What will I miss? Obviously, the ball games. I never get tired of watching baseball. - http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_18921592  

Mets manager Terry Collins said Jason Isringhausen (back) could be ready to pitch by the end of this week. Izzy has a slipped disk in his back and experienced leg numbness after receiving an epidural last week to help the back issue. He's likely to be used in a setup role when he returns, with Bobby Parnell and Manny Acosta continuing to handle the ninth inning. - http://www.rotoworld.com/sports/mlb/baseball?r=1  

Cutnpaste: Brad Holt, Jason Bay, DePodesta on Moneyball, Wright on Losing, Pedro Feliciano

9-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/09/prospect-pulse-buffalo-2012-help-on-the-way.html  - - RP: Brad Holt - The enigmatic 6’4″ right-hander with the “perfect pitchers body” and the power fastball, has been a real head-scratcher so far. After breaking out of the box like a runaway train for Brooklyn, as a starter, making his professional debut in 2008, Holt ran into a brick wall the following season. For 9 games in 2009 he did fine for St Lucie, but then when called up to Bingo, all-hell-broke-loose. He suddenly couldn’t get anybody out. The remainder of ’09 he pitched to a record of 3-6 with a 6.21 ERA. In 2010, after starting out in AA going 1-5 with an alarming 10.20 ERA, he was demoted to St Lucie where he didn’t do much better, going 2-9, 7.48 ERA. 2011 hasn’t been eye-popping, but he is definitely making progress. His overall numbers this year are average, 8-7 with a 4.67 ERA, but most of the runs he gave up were in the first half when he was being utilized as a starter. Since being converted to a relief pitcher full-time, he has been quietly doing a superb job in one and two inning stints. In his last ten games out of the pen Holt is: 4-0 with a 3.07 ERA, and opponents are hitting .179 off him. The biggest improvement Holt has made is in his increased command, which has resulted in fewer walks, and that was crucial for him. If he can keep moving forward, and make the necessary adjustments to the higher caliber of play at AAA, he could emerge as a “relief ace” for Buffalo, a real lock down, 8th inning guy, which is exactly what the Mets see him as in the bigs. Will he be a help to the Mets at sometime in 2012 as a bullpen option? Why the heck not? He’s got the talent, hopefully his mechanics will fall into line.

(Jason) Bay's recent revival could be the worst thing that could happen to the Mets, because it might actually give the front office enough reason to talk itself into keeping Bay around for the life of the contract. Why is this a bad thing? Because as good as his past 140 plate appearances have been -- and let's be honest, they're still not that good -- we have another 700 PAs as a Met that suggest he is toast. Not to mention the fact much of the recent damage he is doing is against pitchers who were called up when rosters expanded on Sept. 1, and are of Triple-A caliber. Having lived through the Roberto Alomar experience, Mets fans are quite familiar with the idea that good players can suddenly lose it in their early 30s, which is what appears to have happened with Bay. And even if he somehow can manage an .800 OPS in 2012, the Mets are still better off without him. - http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story?id=6968872&_slug_=new-york-mets-release-jason-bay&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fstory%3fid%3d6968872%26_slug_%3dnew-york-mets-release-jason-bay  

“I figured this might get asked at some point [laughing]. I imagine I’ll see it at some point. To be honest, it’s a little surreal and a little awkward. As you noted, Jonah’s not actually playing me, he’s playing a fictionalized character. It’s loosely based on the idea of me, or the idea of a dozen different younger executives with particular backgrounds. Hopefully it’ll be fun and an enjoyable movie. The last time I spoke with Jonah, right before they started filming, the last thing I said to Jonah was to have a lot of fun. We had an awful lot of fun when we were in Oakland. Hopefully that comes through in the movie and nobody takes it too seriously.” - http://www.ontheblack.com/2011/09/15/paul-depodesta-thoughts-on-moneyball

"It's obviously disappointing," David Wright said. "It's another year we're not going to the playoffs. You would've thought with the resources we have and the players we've had that we would've had the opportunity to go to the playoffs more than once (in 2006) and that hasn't happened. But there's only one thing to do and that's play better. We have to try to finish strong and next year figure out a way to get it done. - http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2011/09/14/2011-09-14_new_york_mets_officially_eliminated_from_playoff_contention_then_fall_to_washing.html#ixzz1Y1fiWEUd  

Pedro Feliciano may not throw a single pitch for the New York Yankees, yet still be paid $8 million over his two-year stay with the franchise. In 2010, Pedro Feliciano became just the fifth pitcher in major league history to make 90 or more appearances in a season. The left-handed reliever, who signed a two-year contract with the Yankees over the winter, missed the entire 2011 season trying to recover from a shoulder injury. On Sept. 8, he had left rotator cuff surgery which will threaten his 2012 season, if not his career. - http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/09/new-york-yankees-reliever-pedro-feliciano-surgery-career/1  

Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 36-40

Okay, we need to stop at this point and add a few names of ex-prospects that have stumbled but still should be given some kind a chance next year, or almost prospects that are great insurance policies in case someone goes down in Queens.

#36 – OF Fernando Martinez - I’m not going to spend a lot of time here. I truly believe that Martinez had the talent to excel in this business, but his body simply didn’t back up the tools. He has spent more time trying to heal than trying to improve and his only future in baseball now is as a utility bat off the bench. His arthritis has robbed him of his speed and he’s no longer an option in CitiField’s difficult right field. This is sad, but it is also true. The Mets will most probably play him one more year in Buffalo and then, all bets are off. - ETA: out of system in 2013

#37 – RP Brad Holt – let’s not talk anymore here about spilled milk. Holt is now a relief pitcher and is showing some signs that he may someday be successful in this role. He has been erratic, but we’ll give him that for the rest of the season. You will see him in the Binghamton pen next season and, if thigs go well, he’ll finish the season with Buffalo. – ETA: TBD

#38 – RP Robert Carson – Sadly, this is another ex-prospect that has gone in the wrong direction. 2011 has been a miserable year for Carson. He’s given up 82 runs in 119 innings and only has 83 strikeouts. You’re suppose to strikeout more batters than you allow to cross the plate. He also doesn’t have the velo to make it in the Mets pen. No control plus no velo equals no mas. I have him in the Buffalo pen next season, which, IMO, will be his last as a Met. – ETA: out of system in 2013

#39 – 1B Alan Dykstra – I really liked this signing. Dykstra hasn’t panned out to be the stud he was projected to be coming out of school, but he’s a damn good third option at first base in case both Ike Davis and Lucas Duda go down at the same time. He’s had a very decent year in Binghamton: .255/.382/.454/.836, 17-HR, 69-RBI. That translates as 12th in the league in homers and 8th in ribbys. He will settle in nicely in Buffalo next spring and may play there for a number of years. Yeah, good sign. – ETA: AAAA

#40 – OF Mike Baxter – Like Dykstra, this was a great sign. Baxter is another potential AAAA player that could be in the system for 3-5 years. Right now, he’s holding his own on the Mets bench. I’ve got him playing full time in Buffalo next season, but I might be wrong here. It looks like the 2012 Mets outfield will be Lucas Duda, Angel Pagan, and Jason Bay. Probably Scott Hairston and Willie Harris are gone and there is a good chance that both Baxter and Nick Evans could do utility work in Queens. We’ll have to wait and see if the man-love with Jason Pridie continues. ETA: 2012 – Buffalo


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (9) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, RP Robert Carson, IF Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter


Binghamton: (9) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, RP Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello


St. Lucie: (10) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, RP Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Chase Huchingson, IF Wilmer Flores, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez


Savannah: (3) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel,


Brooklyn: (4) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo


Kingsport: (2) – SP Luis Mateo, OF Vincente Lupo

The Keepers: - #39 - RP - Brad Holt

39. P Brad Holt



The Mets picked Holt in the supplemental portion of the 1st round in the 2008 draft. College stats: 3.18 ERA, 11-1, 93.1 IP, 78 H, 36 BB, 95 K, .225 BAA, 8 HR allowed


Holt pitched the day before the draft… threw 149 pitches and was clocked at 94 in the 9th inning.


In 2008, Holt was spot on for Brooklyn, going 5-3, 1.87 in 14 starts. He also struck out 96 batters in 72.1 IP. Holt won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the 2008 Brooklyn team.

5-29-10: - Brad Holt got one more shot at starting last night and he past the test. I remember talking to Rick Waits out on the back mounds about Holt in the spring of 2009 and he told me that the emphasis last year would be on creating secondary pitches for Holt. I left that day thinking his ERA would be up for 2009 (which it was) simply because you’re going to have to throw these new pitches during game time condiditons. Well, it hasn’t worked, and now Holt’s velocity on his fastball is in question. Listen, if you’re a one pitch pitcher, it better be a fastball… and if it’s a fastball, you’re a bullpen pitcher… and if you’re a one pitch fastball pitcher with lost velocity… well, you’re playing in the Central Park League.


6-23-10: - Well, sending him back to St. Lucie doesn’t seem to be the answer to Holt’s woes. He pitched last night, giving up five runs, four earners, in 4.0-IP. That’s a 9.00 ERA, still up in the range of his 10.20 in Binghamton. Only two strikeouts and eight hits against him; yes, eight hits in four innings. Boy, if there was ever a pitcher that needs to be shut down…


6-30-10 from: - Holt had a rare good outing Tuesday night, though it was at the A+ level, at least one level below where he should be dominating at this stage in his professional career. Stats were: 5.0-IP, 1-ER, 2-H, 1-WP, 5-K, and still 5-BB. This is the best he’s been all year long and the last thing we should be applauding is five walks and one wild pitch in five innings, but in his case, we’ll take what we can right now. Holt’s A+ record now is 1-1, 5.00… combined A+/AA: 2-6, 9.00. Far from prospect material.


7-17-10: - look, it’s not every day that you get a chance to write something good about a Brad Holt outing. The young man did good last night, going: 5.0-IP. 1-ER, 7-K, 3-BB… forget the yearly stats; we’ll take one good outing and take it from there. BTW… the word from the Mets pitching coaches is there really isn’t anything wrong with the kid’s velocity, or mechanics. He simply is pitching like shit this year. Regarding last night, we’ll take it.


8-4-10: - Holt got off to a decent start last night, but, in the end, this was just another bad outing in a series of many this season. 4.2-IP, 5-R, 4-ER, 2-BB, 2-HBP. He’s started 10 games for the B-Mets (1-5, 10.20) and now he’s 2-5, 5.85 for St. Lucie… add to that a 6.21 ERA last year for Binghamton, and one must now question whey he remains in the rotation. Everyone around him says that Holt’s velocity remains high, but this is a one pitch pitcher that tends to be dominate in the first two inning pitched. They call this… a reliever.


8-21-10: - Stock Down: - SP Brad Holt pitched again Friday night for St. Lucie and didn’t fair well: 5.1-IP, 5-H, 3-ER, 6-K, 5-BB, 3-WP. Holt’s A+ stats this year are 2-7, 6.26, 1.79. These look great compared to his AA stats ( 1-5, 10.20). It’s late in the season and there shouldn’t be much movement in players anymore, so it’s safe to assume that Holt will finish this season as a rotational pitcher for Lucy. The ex-suppliment 1st rounder has been around long enough now to have developed something other than his fastball, which is obviously being sat on. The three wild pitches are simply embarrassing at this point. Mets minor league pitching coach guru has said numerous times that there is nothing mechanically wrong with Holt’s delivery, so one tends to start realizing that this looks to be another wasted high round pick. I’m sure the Mets will move him to the pen next year, especially since he’s not ready for AA, and there are plenty of more successful starters in Savannah and Brooklyn that deserve their shot. Shame. I thought this was a live one.


1-7-11: - -word seems to be that Brad Holt is going to be given another shot at an SP slot in 2001, probably at the AA level, The problem is, there already is five guys slotted there, with five more backed up at St. Lucie. Details at 11. Still, Holt easily has the God given talent to be more successful than most of the guys in the AAA/AA rotations. You can’t teach tools and Holt has them. He has pro-like velo and movement to boot. Let’s keep a candle lit.


4-9-11: - In Binghamton, Brad Holt got the nod as the starter. Frankly, we weren’t sure he would get another chance in a Mets rotation. I spent a lot of time watching this guy pitch and, I’m telling you, there is nothing wrong with his ability. I stand by my opinion that the Mets just kept screwing with his mechanics to a point that Brad lost confidence on the mound. Well, Holt past the test. He pitched 5.0 innings, did not give up a run, struck out three, but did walk two. He also only gave up three hits. This, like Jeurys Familia the night before, is great news from a starter that has had control problems


4-21-11: - You know what I think about this roster. That saying, Brad Holt is an important part of the Mets future and it’s vitally important (to his head) that he keeps pitching well this season. He kept it up tonight posting: 6.0-IP, 2-H, 1-ER, 6-K, 2-BB. ERA “soars” to 0.50. Only three stats, but could he be back?


5-7-11: - Interesting outing by Brad Holt. He obviously had a control problem, giving up five walks in four innings. His pitch count was killed early, but the good news: 0-R and only 2-H. Season ERA: 2.59. They’re letting him pitch this year, but he has given up 9-BB in his last 6.1-IP... 17 walks/22 Ks. We don’t know what the coaches told him to throw so we have no idea how bad of any outing this was. Remember, in the minors, a pitcher could be told to pitch 25% of his pitching in a particular outing (just like Greg Peavey was told to do last Sunday for Savannah) using his weakest pitch. That’s how they learn.


5-14-11: - Those of us that do this for a living were quite excited when SP Brad Holt got off to a great start this year, but that might be coming to an end. He has now pitched seven games (34.2-IP) and has almost as many walks (20) as strikeouts (24). This includes 10 in his last two outings. I can’t see the Mets moving him out of the rotation yet, but, if this continues, he will be re-targeted to the pen and, hopefully, make Queens someday that way.


5-19-11: - You may remember how wonderful it was early this season to see SP Brad Holt eliminate the control problems he suffered from last year. No one has ever questioned his talent. It was just that fact that he couldn’t hit the barn that concerned a few of us. Well, last year’s Brad is an understatement compared to what we saw on Thursday in New Hampshire. Holt went into this game with 10 walks in the past two starts. No big deal. He had eight in 4.0-IP for this game. That’s 18-BB in 11.1-IP. I’m sure he’ll stay in the rotation because the Mets are determined not to rush any of the prospects kids below this level. Jeurys Familia has already arrived and Matt Harvey will stay where he is during the first half of the St. Lucie season.


5-24-11: - Mets Minor League Pitching Coordinator Rick Tomlin to Matt Eddy/BA on Holt: - “The stuff is there. The ability is there. With some guys, their mechanics need to be straightened out. …. And for some (like Holt), it’s all about how they handle the mental side of pitching.”


5-31-11: - In the past four starts RHP Brad Holt has posted: 18.2-IP, 13-H, 16-BB, 15-R. It’s not easy to find a pitcher that gives up more walks than hits. This is the same Brad Holt who’s first 18 innings this year yielded 9-H, 2-R, and 5-BB.


7-13-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/765098-new-york-mets-dillon-gee-and-the-mets-top-10-young-pitching-prospects#/articles/765098-new-york-mets-dillon-gee-and-the-mets-top-10-young-pitching-prospects/page/2  In his first season with the Brooklyn Cyclones, he broke the minor league team franchise record with 96 strikeouts (including 14 in one six-inning performance). His fastball now reaches 93-95 mph, and he has been clocked at 97 mph after reaching back. He has good command for the pitch, and has developed a deep endurance that ensures his fastball maintain the same velocity late in the game. Holt is described as having the ideal built for a pitching prospect, and has been compared to Randy Johnson. At this point, however, Holt is 24 years old and pitching for the Binghamton AA team. He hasn’t had a winning record since getting the call-up to AA ball in 2009, and his ERA has been very high. He has been unable to develop an efficient secondary pitcher, and many worry whether or not Bradley Holt only smells like success because he looks (and sounds) like a professional player.


7-17-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/769428-mlb-trade-rumors-ranking-each-teams-best-minor-league-trade-asset#/articles/769428-mlb-trade-rumors-ranking-each-teams-best-minor-league-trade-asset/page/19  - The Mets thought they were getting a pitcher who could get to the Majors pretty quickly when they tabbed Holt as their first-round pick (33rd-overall) back in 2008. He impressed greatly during his debut season, reaching Double-A just 24 starts into his career. Unfortunately, that's where his career has stalled. In fact, since his promotion in 2009, Holt hasn't posted an ERA under 5.00 at any level, including a demotion to High-A ball during last season. He finished 2010 with a 3-14 record, and an ERA of 8.34.


7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump  - RHP Brad Holt - STOCK DOWN - So those of us holding onto hope for Holt coming into 2011 look pretty stupid now huh? I will say that keeping him in my top 20 (#19) isn't as bad as BA listing him at #10 overall. 2011 has basically just become an extension of 2010 as he's continued to have serious issues throwing strikes. And finally the inevitable happened as he was shifted to the bullpen in what has pretty much become a salvage job. It's sad to say but if he has any impact on the major league club at this point it will be considered a success. I will say that there are some positives here. For one, he's FAR less hittable this year than last (2011 AVG: .219 2010 AVG: .336). Two, his stuff is definitely playing up in relief. Reports have him hitting 94mph with the heater much more consistently and he's struck out 20 guys over his 15.1 relief innings. And finally, a relief role seems to have had the desired effect on his control as he has not walked a man in his last six appearances. Nothing to write home about but there is still a glimmer of hope that maybe he can settle into a nice 7-8th inning role with the big club.


7-30-11: - Holt’s been trying to make the conversion from starter to pen and, frankly, he started out as inconsistent as a reliever as he’s been in the rotation. Last night; however, was his third plus outing, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings. That’s five scoreless innings in his past three outings. Boy, wouldn’t it be great if this worked out.

Stock: Josh Satin, Zach Lutz, Matt den Dekker, Brad Holt, Dale Thayer

8-17-11: - Stock Up – Josh Satin: Josh just keeps on hitting, going 3-4 last night for Buffalo and now hitting .352/.416/.462/.877 in 91 AAA at-bats. He’s .331 for the combined AA/AAA year and he’s played just about every position available to him. Combined 12-HR, 72-RBIs. Only 13 combined errors in 118-G.


8-17-11: - Stock Up – Zach Lutz – Zach has been making daily headlines since returning from his third injury this season. Now, after 48-G and 169-AB in AAA, he’s .314/.393/.515/.907, 8-HR. Lutz only has two problems beyond having the worse luck regarding fluky injuries. One, he only plyas one position and two, it’s the position that David Wright also plays.


8-17-11: - Stock Up – Matt den Dekker – den Dekker don’t usually get off to a slow start, but he did when he was promoted to the AA-level. However, he’s hit .281 in his last 10 games and now has eight AA home runs in 197-AB.s His AA/A+ combines to: .274/.347/.474/.822, 14-HR, 59-RBI. Not bad for a lead-off guy.


8-17-11: - Stock Down – Brad Holt – Holt continues to stumble, now as a reliever. Last night, his first four batters had two hits, one walk and one hit-by-pitch. His seasonal ERA is a hefty 5.07 and it will be interesting if the new management chooses to invest any more time and money in this guy.


8-17-11: - Stock Up – Dale Thayer – It will be interesting to see if Thayer gets a September call-up. He’s done well (4-3, 3.02, 17-SV in 47-G) this year with Buffalo after pitching in four early games for the Mets. September promotions are either rewards or for the kids, and I’m not sure where this 31-yr. old falls category wise, if either.

Cutnpaste: Travis Taijeron, Ruben Tejada, Brad Holt, Mike Baxter, Nadir Crismatt

Travis Taijeron:


8-8-11: - http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/news/topstories/index.html?article_id=1204  - TRAVIS TAIJERON - The 18th round selection in the 2011 Draft out of Cal Poly Pomona has been one of the hottest players in the league over the last month. He currently ranks 10th in the NYPL in hitting (.302), third in RBI (33) and home runs (7), is tied for the league lead with 21 extra base hits, and leads the NYPL in slugging (.564). Taijeron has 23 RBI in his last 21 games and is hitting .354 (28-79) since July 17th.


Ruben Tejada:


8-11-11: - http://mets360.com/?p=7550&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mets360%2Ffeed+%28Mets360+Feed%29  - You have to love Tejada’s defense, passion and smarts for the game (excluding last night’s inexplicable baserunning blunder when Tejada did not slide into home on a sacrifice fly), but he’s too limited offensively to get excited about. He’s a good complementary player and not much more than that. In 396 at-bats with the Mets, Tejada has batted .232 to go along with a career OBP of .322. In that time, Tejada has only 19 extra-base hits (one home run) for an incredibly weak .607 OPS. It’s also not like Tejada offsets his lack of power for speed, as he has only three career stolen bases


Brad Holt:


8-11-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/baseball-americas-mets-top-10-list-prior-to-2011-where-are-they-now.html  - SP – Brad Holt: Lost his starting job because he could not find the strike zone. He was great in his first few starts, but then came the wildness. He totally lost command of the strike zone and never found it again. He was relegated to the bullpen where he has been much better. It doesn’t look like this former first round pick will ever be more than a reliever at this point. - Started 2011: Double-A Currently: Double-A


Mike Baxter:


8-11-11: - http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2011/08/11/2011-08-11_homecoming_king_baxter_makes_first_start.html  - Mike Baxter was born in 1984, so when he worked in the outfield before Wednesday night's game with Mookie Wilson, it wasn't quite the dream-affirming experience that it might have been had the newest Met been a few years older. Baxter grew up in Whitestone, Queens, and his favorite Met was John Olerud, in part because the first baseman took the same train to Shea that Baxter took to school at Archbishop Molloy. -


Nadir Crismatt


8-11-11: - http://www.dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=244:3-dpl-players-agree-to-terms-with-the-ny-mets&catid=1:latest-news  - RHP - Dec 25, 1994; 6'1, 190lb (Trainer - Miguel Delgado)- Miguel Delgado identified Crismatt in Colombia more than 2 years ago, shortly after Delgado took Nadir under his guardianship to the Dominican Republic. Crismatt showed signs of development after a few months of his arrival in DR. As his arm strength and off-speed pitches developed he was selected to play in the DPL. Presently Crismatt doesn’t light up the radar gun but he works with command and pitch ability at 86-89mph, he spins his Curveball well and his Change-up is effective.

Marcos Camarena, Greg Pron, Brad Holt, Matt den Dekker, Mike Nickeas

Marcos Camarena:


Camarena first turned our head in 2009 when he went 7-2, 1.74 for the DSL Mets. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pitch that well in that league? Anyway, he continued his success last year (3-3, 2.68) for the GCL Mets and we were looking for big things from him this season in Brooklyn. Last night, he was almost unhittable for the Cyclones, going: 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 1-BB, 7-K.


Greg Pron:


Normally, you don’t write much about 42nd round draft picks, but I keep noticing the Kingsport box and Pron’s stats keep screaming out. Last night, he hit his 6th home run of the season and raised his BA to .310. We’re going to keep an eye on this 6-6 rookie.


Brad Holt:


Holt’s been trying to make the conversion from starter to pen and, frankly, he started out as inconsistent as a reliever as he’s been in the rotation. Last night; however, was his third plus outing, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings. That’s five scoreless innings in his past three outings. Boy, wouldn’t it be great if this worked out.


Matt den Dekker:


7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump  - OF Matt den Dekker - STOCK HOLDING - Den Dekker showed many of the tools that make him such an easy bet to make the show. His glove in CF has lived up to all expectations. He has solid speed on the bases. He's even showing the kind of home run power that many thought would only translate to doubles in the pros. But for me to really feel good about his prospect status he's going to have to cut down on the strikeouts. At St. Lucie they were high but acceptable and as a four year college player he they should have been. In Bingo they're pushing 30% which will not cut it in the majors, let alone the high minors. The development of his plate discipline is the key. It is what will determine if he can maintain a passable OBP as he climbs the ladder. It is what will allow his surprising power to either continue to blossom or to fizzle. And it is ultimately what will determine whether he's Jordan Schafer or Drew Stubbs.


Mike Nickeas:


The Mets tried to quietly promote Mike Nickeas to Queens as the third catcher, but some of the online blogs have questioned why Nickeas and not a big bat. Well, you’re welcome to go to www.milb.com and check out the Bisons roster and look for that bat. To be honest, the Mets are quite concerned with the catching defense, which is a specialty of Nickeas. I may be wrong, but doesn’t Josh Thole lead the league in passed balls?

Ike Davis Update, Carlos Beltran, Zack Wheeler, Brad Holt, xFIP

Ike Davis:


Ike Davis (ankle) ran in 30-yard intervals earlier in the week and still hasn't given up hope that he can return this season. Davis is expected to make a decision within the next two weeks on whether or not to have season-ending microfracture surgery. The odds at this point are favoring a procedure, but Davis did make some strides earlier this month, so we can't totally rule out a return. - http://www.rotoworld.com/sports/mlb/baseball?r=1  


Carlos Beltran:


Playing in New York naturally brings high expectations, and, at least in the public eye, it seemed like Beltran failed to meet those expectations. Maybe those around the Mets just turned Beltran and his $119 million contract into a proxy for the team’s success, because Beltran’s performance warranted nothing but praise. His Mets only managed one playoff berth since his arrival in 2005 — his second season, when he posted a .275/.388/.594 line with 41 home runs, all while still playing one of the best defensive center fields in the majors. No, Beltran was hardly to blame for the failures of the franchise. Although he did miss time in both 2009 and 2010, Beltran accrued 31.5 Wins Above Replacement in his six-and-a-half seasons in Queens, sustaining an all-star level throughout his entire contract. - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/giants-prioritize-offense-with-beltran


Zack Wheeler:


7-29-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6079  - The PG scouting report filed after the National Showcase read: “(Wheeler) pitched 90-93 topping at 94 with a very lively fastball and little to no effort in the Metrodome. He gets good extension out front and has an excellent breaking ball with a sharp break in the upper 70s. He commands his pitches well and everything looks easy for him on the mound. Wheeler continues to project … and he is already one of the top 2009 RHP in the country.”


Brad Holt:


7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump  - RHP Brad Holt - STOCK DOWN - So those of us holding onto hope for Holt coming into 2011 look pretty stupid now huh? I will say that keeping him in my top 20 (#19) isn't as bad as BA listing him at #10 overall. 2011 has basically just become an extension of 2010 as he's continued to have serious issues throwing strikes. And finally the inevitable happened as he was shifted to the bullpen in what has pretty much become a salvage job. It's sad to say but if he has any impact on the major league club at this point it will be considered a success. I will say that there are some positives here. For one, he's FAR less hittable this year than last (2011 AVG: .219  2010 AVG: .336). Two, his stuff is definitely playing up in relief. Reports have him hitting 94mph with the heater much more consistently and he's struck out 20 guys over his 15.1 relief innings. And finally, a relief role seems to have had the desired effect on his control as he has not walked a man in his last six appearances. Nothing to write home about but there is still a glimmer of hope that maybe he can settle into a nice 7-8th inning role with the big club.


xFIP:

xFIP – “Expected Fielding Independent Pitching”. This is a version of FIP which ‘normalizes’ the home run component of the equation based upon league averages. Since home runs are basically related to fly balls allowed and home park differences, xFIP can be used to help determine a pitchers future ERA. This is particularly valuable to fantasy owners looking for an edge. - http://baseballreflections.com/2011/07/28/sabermetrics-101-gaining-the-fantasy-baseball-edge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sabermetrics-101-gaining-the-fantasy-baseball-edge  

Eudy Pena, Brad Holt, Brian Harrison, Richard Hidalgo, Ty Wiggington

Eudy Pena:


7-18-11: - 20-year old prospect, CF Eudy Pena, is a long way off from reaching his potential; however, he did hit his first stateside home run yesterday on his 89th at bat for the GCL Mets. His BA is slowing rising, now up to .231. I expect he’ll finish the season here and open up next season in Brooklyn.


Brad Holt:


7-17-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/769428-mlb-trade-rumors-ranking-each-teams-best-minor-league-trade-asset#/articles/769428-mlb-trade-rumors-ranking-each-teams-best-minor-league-trade-asset/page/19  - The Mets thought they were getting a pitcher who could get to the Majors pretty quickly when they tabbed Holt as their first-round pick (33rd-overall) back in 2008. He impressed greatly during his debut season, reaching Double-A just 24 starts into his career. Unfortunately, that's where his career has stalled. In fact, since his promotion in 2009, Holt hasn't posted an ERA under 5.00 at any level, including a demotion to High-A ball during last season. He finished 2010 with a 3-14 record, and an ERA of 8.34.

Brian Harrison:


7-14-11: - amazinavenue  - Pretty solid at 3rd, made a pair of nice plays. Got fooled badly on a heater his first at-bat. He showed pretty good power, pulling one left of the foul pole that would have been out by a bunch, and scorched one back up the middle later in the game. Looked to be among the more polished guys in the game.


Richard Hidalgo:


Richard Hidalgo, -.573876 WPA, May 27, 2000, Braves (6) versus Astros (5). Well, I think we’re getting at part of the reason the Astros missed their Pythagorean Expectation by 9 games in 2000… For those of you who don’t remember Richard Hidalgo, he had a couple of monster seasons scattered among a few mediocre ones with the Astros, and the Mets and the Rangers both took chances on him hoping to recapture the magic. I remember he was in very high demand at my fantasy league’s auction prior to the 2005 season: “put him in the Rangers’ park and he’ll hit 30 jacks.” Well, the first half came true, he did get the park, and put up .221/.289/.416 (.303 wOBA) in 88 games for the 2005 Rangers. He never played in the majors again. - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-three-worst-double-plays-ever  


Ty Wigginton:


Wigginton originally was called up in 2002. He was mostly around to replace injured players on a temporary basis. He played in just 46 games that year and batted .302 with six home runs and 18 RBI. He also had a .354 OBP and a .526 slugging percentage, all despite drawing just eight walks in 124 plate appearances. After the Mets declined to re-sign Edgardo Alfonzo, Wigginton became the everyday third baseman for the Mets in 2003. During his first full season, he batted .255 with 36 doubles, 11 home runs and 71 RBI. Once again, Wigginton was aggressive at the plate, as illustrated by drawing only 46 walks in 619 plate appearances. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/770405-new-york-mets-top-10-third-basemen-in-team-history#/articles/770405-new-york-mets-top-10-third-basemen-in-team-history/page/2