Cutnpaste: Brian Valenzuela, Jordany Valdespin, Jorge Rivero, Josh Edgin, Ryan Fraser

8-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/kingsport-mets-team-report-stretch-run-edition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter  - Brian Valenzuela – This 5’10″ LHP was the Mets 10th round draft pick back in 2008, out of Vista Murrieta (Calif.) High School. Things were tough the last 3 seasons when he threw only 28 IP combined, and missed a season due to injury. This year he has tossed 32 IP, so far, with very poor results. He’s 2-4 with a 5.97 ERA in 6 starts, and the league is raking against him to the tune of a .318 BA. Valenzuela has to show some positive signs soon or the new regime may not keep around for another season.

8-22-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/814874-new-york-mets-who-the-mets-should-add-to-their-40-man-roster-on-september-1st  - Jordany Valdespin SS Buffalo Bisons: 119 games combined between Buffalo and Double-A Binghampton 16 HRs, 56 RBIs, .288 BA, 34 SBs Now if you're looking for a speedy shortstop with loads of power, Valdespin is your kind of player. Since signing with the Mets as a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2007, Valdespin has quickly risen through the ranks of the Mets farm system and has stolen bases and driven in runs at every step of the way. With the uncertainty of current Mets star shortstop Jose Reyes' contract beyond 2011 and the chronic injuries of star prospect shortstop Reese Havens, Valdespin enters the very top tier of potential Reyes replacement shortstops in the Mets minor league system. Valdespin deserves a long, hard look from Terry Collins and the rest of the Mets front office during September baseball for his future prospects at the position with the Mets.

8-23-11: - DSL 2011 End of Season Wrap-Up - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35808&sid=e8719b8eddffd9bc033d0ab708d8aff5  - - Jorge Rivero: 22 year old infielder who started out playing all 4 IF positions for the Mets 2 this spring. He put up a .292 AVG with a .823 OPS. A switch hitter, the 22 year old also went 10-13 swiping bags in the DSL. Since his promotion to the GCL Mets, hes gone 0-6. His new batting AVG in the states is .242 while playing mainly 2B and occasionally DH. Stateside, he has hit the only homer of his year, and also has 12 walks compared to 10 Ks. He is after all, a 22 year old in the GCL.




photo by Allan Greene

 8-24-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/32947/farm-repeat-mound-of-praise-for-edgin  - Mets VP Paul DePodesta said he hesitated to mention left-hander Josh Edgin’s name when the subject arose of minor leaguers who may have an impact with the Mets in 2012. But DePodesta went ahead and named the southpaw as a candidate, even though Edgin has not yet pitched above Class A St. Lucie. “He’s got major league stuff and he’s left-handed,” DePodesta recently said. “Again, you just never know how quickly those guys can come. He’s in Port St. Lucie right now, which is why I’m squeamish about talking about 2012."

8-24-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/131fc54efd5f8374  - RHP Ryan Fraser, who is ninth in the SAL in ERA (3.50) and seventh in innings pitched (131), is scheduled to make his 22st Savannah start today. Fraser has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two outings. In August, he’s pitched to a 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP) in four starts with nine walks and 14 strikeouts. At home, Fraser has a 3.14 ERA (23 ER/66 IP) compared to 3.88 (28 ER/65 IP) on the road. In part this is due to his home run rate which is 0.55 HR/9 IP (4 HR/66 IP) at home and 1.24 HR/9 IP (9 HR/65 IP) on the road. Last year with short-season Brooklyn, Fraser struck out 39 batters in 31.1 innings pitched, a rate of 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings. This year, he’s fanned 83 in 131 innings, a rate of 5.7 K/9. With the Cyclones last year, working exclusively out of the bullpen, he was 3-3 with a 1.44 ERA and 12 saves in 31.1 IP and allowed more walks (20) than hits (16). The Mets drafted Fraser in the 16th round of the 2010 draft out of Memphis where he led the Tigers with 93 strikeouts and 92 IP in 2010 on his way to three C-USA Pitcher of the Week honors and a Second Team All C-USA selection. In the classroom, he was a member of the C-USA All-Academic Team in 2010 and ran a 4.0 grade point average in high school. The Gnats are 9-12 when Fraser starts, and have supported him with 2.76 runs per game (58 runs/21 games), the lowest mark of any Savannah starter.

Jordany Valdespin, Phillip Evans, Brian Valenzuela, Mets vs Phillies, Jason Marquis Trade

Jordany Valdespin:


7-26-11: - .amazinavenue.  - IF Jordany Valdespin - STOCK UP - Talk about a pleasant surprise. I was higher than most on Valdespin this winter and I still only just barely had him in the top 30. All he's done is go out and confirm that he may have the most dynamic all-around package of tools in the entire system and what's more, he's beginning to capitalize on all of them. I don't know what's a bigger surprise, the fact that a guy with a career high of six homers has already reached 15 or the fact that he's already matched his sb total from the last two seasons combined. He's even batting .280 against lefties. And he's always been more about tools than skills but he's even improved his walk rate, from around 1.5% up to 5%, which isn't great but the percentage increase is excellent. He still has a lot of rawness to his game (see: 28 errors) but he's turning a lot of it into production and if this continues expect to hear his name as a serious contender for a future starting MI role.


Phillip Evans:


7-30-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6082  - Phillip Evans (2011 SS, San Diego Show)- The 23rd ranked player in the PG Class of 2011 player rankings slipped all the way to the 15th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Most of the time, players with the type of talent that Evans possesses slip this far due to large signing bonus demands. If that is in fact the case, Evans’ performance in Marietta will make it very difficult for the New York Mets to let Evans walk away and spend the next three years at San Diego State. Evans hit .409 with 7 RBIs and a pair of stolen bases for the Show. But more importantly, his defensive play at Shortstop was nothing short of spectacular as he led the Show to the 18u title, earning tournament MVP honors.


Brian Valenzuela:


7-30-11 via twitter: - bvlefty brian valenzuela - Broke a finger in My last outing on a line drive hit back at me. Out for a couple weeks at the least. Shitty luck if you ask me.


Mets vs. Phillies:


http://www.patrickfloodblog.com/2011/07/30/and-the-window-begins-to-open  - The 2013 season doesn’t start for 21 months, and a lot of things can happen between then and now. There’s a lot of crystal-ball gazing here, and the Phillies are certainly in good shape this season — selling plenty of tickets is a good method to ensure things continue to go your way. Also, the Braves look to be in good shape, especially with Heyward, Freeman, and all their young pitching. But the future is certainly starting to look better for the Mets, who, by the way, are on an 84 win pace this season with a bad pitching staff and a Reyes-Beltran-and-the-scrubs offense. The Hunter Pence trade helps the Phillies, who are running away with the division in 2011, right now. But 2012 and 2013 are still very much up for grabs, and things slowly seem to be tipping towards the Mets. They certainly have been this week.


Jason Marquis Trade:


Per twitter - JimBowden/ESPNxm JIM BOWDEN - by AdamRubinESPN - It is confirmed that Jason Marquis has been traded from the Washington Nationals to the Arizona Diamondbacks.for Zach Walters SS – great trade by Washington… they aren’t going anywhere and they especially aren’t going anywhere with Marquis. Walters is a prime IF prospect who fits in perfect with the team they are building for the future.

Jordany Valdespin, Ruben Tejada, Beck Wheeler, Tobi Stoner, Brian Valenzuela

Jordany Valdespin:

6-24-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/aa-thursday-valdespin-continues-torrid-june-in-b-mets-win  - Jordany Valdespin was 2-2 with a walk and two stolen bases, one of third. In 18 games in June, he’s hitting .362/.413/.667 to push his season line to a strong .288/.340/.473. He has 24 extra-base hits and is 21 of 25 stealing bases. His June surge has to be the most positive development on the position player side in the system.


Ruben Tejada:


6-24-11: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=3240  - There are a couple of other players who I believe should be on owners’ radars. They are not receiving a lot of hype but I think they could definitely help, this year and next. Ruben Tejada (2B/SS, NYM) – For some reason I have always liked this guy. His numbers won’t blow you away and I think he’ll help not hurt your roster. I think there is an argument to be made for picking him up if you have a hole to fill and if Reyes gets traded Tejada should get lots of playing time.


Beck Wheeler:


Can’t say I ever heard of this guy before the Mets signed him as an undrafted free agent. 6-3, 215 RHP out of UC Santa Barbara. http://www.ksby.com/news/two-gauchos-sign-contracts-with-mlb-teams said, in a 6-13-11 article: “Wheeler signed with the Mets as a pitcher, a role that he accepted this season after not having pitched in quite some time. However the righty appeared in four games, posted a 2.25 ERA and showed flashes of brilliance to go along with a fastball in the low 90s. Wheeler had also played third base and shortstop for the Gauchos and as a junior was one of the team's best hitters. "I had an opportunity to work out in front of one of their scouts and things went well," Wheeler said. "Pitching is still relatively new to me, but I think the Mets' organization felt that was a good thing because I can learn to pitch the way they would like me to. This is very exciting and I can't wait to get on the mound." Anyway, he pitched his second game today for the GCL Mets and he’s now 0.00 in 3.1-IP, woth 4-Ks. We’ll keep an eye on him.


Tobi Stoner:


Stoner had to really enjoy last night’s outing for the B-Mets. Let’s face it, he hasn’t pitched very well since 2009. Last night was vintage Stoner: 7.0-IP, 5-H, 0-R, 4-K, 1-BB, 0-HR. Tobi was the first guy promoted out of my first year covering the Sand Gnats (2007) and it sure looked like the world was his. I’m happy he’s happy tonight.


Brian Valenzuela:


No one was happier in June 2008 that RHP Brian Valenzuela. He just came off a successful high school career in California and was signed as a 10th round draft pick by the New York Mets. He only managerd to get in one game that year for the GCL Mets, but who cared, the world was his for the taking. 2009 started out choppy and he was eventually put up on the shelf an scheduled for Tommy John surgery. This cost him the entire 2010 season and most of us thought we’d seen the last of this promising prep prospect. Well, he got back on the horse last night for Kingsport, which started out with three killer innings. His game stats ended at 5.0-IP, 4-ER, 4-K, 7.20, but, most important, he got his first professional win. It’s too early to tell if the majic has returned but it’s great to have him back.