Octavio Dotel, St. Louis Cardinals -- Speaking of ex-Mets closers, the Cardinals reliever has seen his share of success as one but never accrued a save as a Met. Dotel was still a starter back in 1999, but his mixed progress to that point left him vulnerable to be included in the trade by then-GM Steve Phillips that brought Mike Hampton to New York. He was a victim of Phillips's strategy to mortgage the future for a shot at the 2000 Subway Series, but that never gets mentioned much as Hampton's departure ultimately resulted in the Mets drafting David Wright. Dotel battled injuries that stole the shine from his prospect star, but that trade combination contributed more to the Mets than anything Cards third base coach Jose Oquendo ever provided in his short stint with the team back in 1983 and 1984. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs
10-3-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-the-full-season-catchers - Dusty Ryan, who turned 27 in September, spent the second half of the season with Binghamton, where he hit .265/.351/.496. Ryan appeared in a combined 27 games for the Tigers in the big leagues in 2008 and 2009 before getting stuck in AAA with the Padres affiliate in Portland for all of 201.
Mike Hampton (2000): Mike arrived two days before Christmas in 1999 for Octavio Dotel and Roger Cedeno. He helped anchor the rotation in for 2000 NL Champion Mets, going 15–10 with a 3.12 ERA and winning the MVP of the 2000 NLCS. Then he departed for Colorado, making the infamous “the schools in Colorado are better” remark. Injuries derailed Mike’s career and his 8 year, $121 million dollar contract is widely regarded as one of the worst free-agent signings in MLB history. As compensation, the Mets received Colorado’s pick in the draft and took an infielder you may have heard of: David Wright. - http://www.metstoday.com/7084/11-12-offseason/adios-jose-five-free-agents-who-left-the-mets
10-5-11: - www.baseballamerica.com – (Jeurys) Familia toned down his delivery from his phrenetic motion he showed prior to 2011, and that allowed him to throw more quality strikes with one of the EL’s most explosive fastballs. His loose, whippy arm helps him sit at 92-96 mph with hard life down in the zone. His curveball has improved, and while it has slurvy shape, it has late break at times and gives him another swing-and-miss pitch. His changeup is too firm but is a decent third pitch that plays up thanks to his premium fastball. His youth and inexperience show up most with his erratic defense and difficulties holding runners.
Octavio Dotel, St. Louis Cardinals -- Speaking of ex-Mets closers, the Cardinals reliever has seen his share of success as one but never accrued a save as a Met. Dotel was still a starter back in 1999, but his mixed progress to that point left him vulnerable to be included in the trade by then-GM Steve Phillips that brought Mike Hampton to New York. He was a victim of Phillips's strategy to mortgage the future for a shot at the 2000 Subway Series, but that never gets mentioned much as Hampton's departure ultimately resulted in the Mets drafting David Wright. Dotel battled injuries that stole the shine from his prospect star, but that trade combination contributed more to the Mets than anything Cards third base coach Jose Oquendo ever provided in his short stint with the team back in 1983 and 1984. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs
10-3-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-the-full-season-catchers - Dusty Ryan, who turned 27 in September, spent the second half of the season with Binghamton, where he hit .265/.351/.496. Ryan appeared in a combined 27 games for the Tigers in the big leagues in 2008 and 2009 before getting stuck in AAA with the Padres affiliate in Portland for all of 201.
Mike Hampton (2000): Mike arrived two days before Christmas in 1999 for Octavio Dotel and Roger Cedeno. He helped anchor the rotation in for 2000 NL Champion Mets, going 15–10 with a 3.12 ERA and winning the MVP of the 2000 NLCS. Then he departed for Colorado, making the infamous “the schools in Colorado are better” remark. Injuries derailed Mike’s career and his 8 year, $121 million dollar contract is widely regarded as one of the worst free-agent signings in MLB history. As compensation, the Mets received Colorado’s pick in the draft and took an infielder you may have heard of: David Wright. - http://www.metstoday.com/7084/11-12-offseason/adios-jose-five-free-agents-who-left-the-mets
10-5-11: - www.baseballamerica.com – (Jeurys) Familia toned down his delivery from his phrenetic motion he showed prior to 2011, and that allowed him to throw more quality strikes with one of the EL’s most explosive fastballs. His loose, whippy arm helps him sit at 92-96 mph with hard life down in the zone. His curveball has improved, and while it has slurvy shape, it has late break at times and gives him another swing-and-miss pitch. His changeup is too firm but is a decent third pitch that plays up thanks to his premium fastball. His youth and inexperience show up most with his erratic defense and difficulties holding runners.
The good news for the New York Mets: An average of 163,000 homes watched their games in 2011 on SNY. That ranked fourth in Major League Baseball, behind only the Yankees (319,000), Phillies (276,000) and Red Sox (192,000). The bad news, according to SportsBusiness Journal: The audience size was a 19.3 percent drop from 2010 levels. As a percentage of audience lost, the Mets did not rank in the bottom five. Those honors belonged to the Padres (-41.4 percent), Astros (-40.3.), Rays (-37.5), Dodgers (-30.1) and Twins (-28.3). But in raw numbers, the Mets lost the third-largest TV viewership in 2011 compared to the previous season, according to the study. In all, 39,000 fewer homes per game watched the Mets this past season. The biggest raw dropoff belonged to the Twins with a loss of 43,000 homes per game, followed by the Rays at 40,000. – www.espn.com
Cole Frenzel:
The Mets signed Frenzel today:
2008: The number 94 top high school baseball prospect of 2009 by Baseball America is Cole Frenzel of Dickinson, ND. I found this video on a blog thanks to Dickinson Sports Writer Dustin Monke. We all know ND is not much of a baseball state and to be regarded as a top 100 prospect in the nation is a big deal. Frenzel is a great all-around baseball player. I personally played against him in my 3 years of varsity baseball and 1 outta my 2 years of JV ball. He is the real deal as he launched HR after HR after triple against my team. He is currently being looked at by Nebraska, Kansas, Oregon St., and Virginia to name a few schools. http://thesportsflow.blogspot.com/2008/07/nd-baseball-prospect-cole-frenzel.html
2009: Cole Frenzel is a 2009 SS/3B with a 6'2'', 205 lb. frame from Dickinson, ND who attends Dickinson. Frenzel showed good hands in the infield and a strong arm. He has a strong LH bat and projects very well. He has good strength in his swing and shows good power potential. Interesting bat to watch as he continues to develop. He has signed with Arizona - http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=7960
Arizona 2010: - Missed more than half of freshman season with a broken hamate in right hand suffered after hitting a foul ball against Long Beach State on February 27 ... Appeared in 26 games, and made 21 starts ... Started the final 19 games of the year, including the final 17 at first base ... http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/frenzel_cole00.html
Jesse Orosco:
Jesse Orosco (1979-87): The other half of the closing tag-team with McDowell, Orosco was more of a strikeout pitcher than his right-handed counterpart. As a Met, the southpaw earned a 2.73 ERA and 1.209 WHIP to go along with a 7.6 K/9 and 107 saves, good for third on the all time Mets list. Like McDowell, Orosco excelled during the playoffs, particularly in the World Series. Against the Red Sox, Orosco pitched five and two-third scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six. The image of Orosco striking out the final batter of Game 7 and throwing his glove up in the air in celebration is one that will live on in the memories of Mets fans forever. - http://risingapple.com/2011/07/07/top-five-closers-in-mets-history
Carlos Beltran:
My buddy, Kevin Kiernan, of the NY Post is reporting that the Mets have begun to discuss with other teams the possibility of trading Carlos Beltran. Trust me, Kevin doesn’t print something like this unless it is true. It doesn’t hurt to pick up the phone and hear what’s being offered. Yes, the Mets are in a pennant race and it doesn’t seem they could get there with the loss of Carlos, but we’ve said the same thing about Ike Davis, David Wright, Johan Santana, and Jose Reyes. Beltran’s clause that prevents the Mets in receiving supplemental picks is difference here and, though I expect the Mets to eat part of Beltran’s 2012 salary still due to be paid, I look for Jesus Montero type prospect here.
Gilbert Gomez:
7-7-11: - Mets outfield prospect Gilbert Gomez is beginning to make his mark professionally. The 19-year old went 3-4, 1-double, 2-RBI in yesterday’s suspended GCL game and has now raided his 2011 BA to .308. He was signed in 2008 as a heralded 16-year old, out of the Dominican Republic, and has so far taken baby steps through the organization… 2009: DSL - .268, 2010: GCL - .229. Pop is still projected here, though he has five doubles this year and is sporting his highest (.422) slugging percentage in his career.
Dusty Ryan:
7-7-11: - Binghamton had a lot of fun yesterday, led by a three hit (double, home run, 2-RBI) performance by catcher Dusty Ryan. We hasn’t spoken much about Ryan in the past. He originally was drafted in the 48th round, by Detroit, in the 2003 draft and played six years in the Tigers’ chain. He made it to the dance in both 2008 (44-AB - .318) and 2009 (26-AB - .154), but was traded in the off-season to San Diego, where he had a miserable season in AAA (.199). Ryan was a Sandy signee this past November and got off to a slow start this season due to rehabbing from knee surgery. He did show some nice pop (15-HR, .476-Slg) in 2008 for AA-Erie. The 6-4 Ryan is 26-years old.
