Mack On: Zach Lutz, Jon Niese, Fernando Martinez, Court Ruling

3-5-12 – Stock Down – I can’t believe it but Lutz actually had another cheezy bad luck ding in the second intra-squad game. Seems a wild Bobby Parnell put a heater off Zach’s wrist. Everybody said everythi was a-ok, but that’s what they said last year when Ike Davis tapped David Wright on that pop up in front of the catcher. We’’ll have to see how bad luck Lutz comes 0ut of this one.

David Regan of the NYT had nothing but love for Jon Niese Monday morning:

Niese is my pick to be the Mets’ best pitcher this year, and  it might be a runaway

I agree. Niese has a killer curve that is basically unhittable. And, for some reason, he seems to successfully stay below media scrutiny which always helps. It’s early, but my guess right now is he will line up as the SP2 behind R.A. Dickey.

F-Mart went 2-2, with a walk, in his first ST game with Houston. Look, let’s not wish the kid any bad karma. He’s not a Met any longer because he couldn’t keep healthy and other outfield prospects pushed him out the door. That’s how the minor leagues work. You keep him around and you can’t play Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Josh Satin, and Juan Lagares every day. His time was over as a Met and he was worth nothing in a trade. I wish him well.

Regarding the court ruling yesterday, don’t care. Not my problem. Go sell a building. I got my on problems.

Mets: Greg Peavey, Fernando Martinez, Willie Harris, Rusty Staub, John Thole

1-23-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/23/2693134/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospect  s#42) RHP Greg Peavey - The 2010 sixth rounder out of Oregon St. lived up to his reputation as a cerebral pitcher with good command of a solid four-pitch mix during his pro debut in 2011. In his initial assignment with Savannah, the 23-yr old righty proved -- with a 2.62 FIP and just 11 walks in 78 IP -- that he was too advanced for Sally leaguers. However, his less than dominant strikeout total was rather conspicuous. And that trend continued in his move to the FSL where good command of average stuff wasn't as effective, as his walks were up and worse he saw his K/9 drop down below 6. Peavey may be the rare case of a pitcher who throws too many strikes -- at least hittable ones. For someone with a definite lack of swing-and-miss stuff, it would behoove Peavey to work around the fringes of the zone more and perhaps accept an additional walk here and there. Either way, he seemed to show improvement down the stretch with St. Lucie and if he can continue to make adjustments, he has enough secondary stuff and pitching smarts to continue to profile as a strictly back of the rotation starter.

Effectively cutting Fernando Martinez was an extremely difficult decision for the Mets, who do not like giving up on premier prospects any more than fans do. Had the Mets believed at all that Martinez might still blossom into a productive Major Leaguer, they would have kept him. Certainly, they do not want to see him finally fulfill his potential with the Astros.  That said, the Mets have been scouting Martinez more closely than anyone for nearly a decade. They have watched him struggle through an endless string of injuries and determined that, like a startling number of "can't miss" prospects, Martinez has missed. At some point, the Mets became unwilling to sacrifice other players for the benefit of lost potential. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120123&content_id=26440472&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym

The Cincinnati Reds signed utility infielder Willie Harris today. It is hardly an earth shattering move. His job is to provide the Reds with some depth in their infield to allow them to develop Paul Janish and Zack Cozart. Harris was a utility player for the Mets last year and has the kind of career that fascinates me. He was a 24th round pick by the Orioles in 1999. Very few of the players drafted after him that year played a single game in the majors. Most of those who did had brief cameos (the Sean Henns and Darren Clarkes of the world.) Jason Frasor and Mike Jacobs were drafted after Harris, but no other big leaguer of note. http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2012/01/sully-baseball-salutes-willie-harris.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Rusty Staub wants you to open a bottle of wine and toast to a good cause. The Major League veteran, who played with the Mets in the early 1970s and once owned restaurants in New York, is once again lending his name and a few good bottles in support of the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival.  The festival and auction supports the Naples Children & Education Foundation which provides funds to some 23 organizations that serve underprivileged children in Collier County, Fla. The festival, now in its 12th year and to be held Jan. 27-29 in Naples, Fla., is one of the country's main charity wine auctions, widely attended by winemakers and connoisseurs alike. Last year the event raised $12 million http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203718504577179152163676524.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Josh Thole isn’t exactly better than the Marlins battery mates, but he’s a viable option if you are in need. He can be found at the bottom of the barrel on draft day; but in some drafts, he might be drafted mid-late rounds. In 114 games last year, he hit 17 doubles and collected 40 RBIs. He did hit .268 on the year and almost has a 1-to-1 walk/strikeout ratio. His strikeouts are low, in a full season will strike out less than 75 times. He doesn’t have any power at all, averaging two home runs a year in his three-year career, but he doesn’t hurt you either. He’s a great backup on a fantasy team. Backup/prospect/whatever is left: Let’s face it, they don’t really have much left. It’s Thole and that’s it. Nickeas is a career minor-leaguer and produces like Thole. He won’t be a factor on your fantasy team. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/fantasy-baseball-preview-national-league-catchers/16247/

Mets: Bret Mitchel, Fernando Martinez, Brandon Nimmo, Mike Piazza

1-11-12 -  http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/01/2012-mets-top-prospects-s-41-50.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29  46.  Bret Mitchell (RHP) The Mets made an excellent grab in the 12th round of the 2010 draft when they tabbed the 6’2″, Minnesota State right-hander Mitchell. Mitchell separated himself from the pack this season after starting out with eight non-descript starts in 2010 when he went 2-2 with a 5.94 ERA for Kingsport. Starting out in Kingsport again in 2011, was a different story altogether. He was awarded the 2011 Sterling Award by the Mets for being the Kingsport Pitcher of the Year, going 5-1 with a 2.95 ERA over seven starts. That earned him a promotion to Brooklyn on Aug 5th, but he was injured in a start against the Staten Island Yankees on August 7th, and went on the DL shortly after. Mitchell throws a fastball around 89-92, a 12-6 curve, and a change-up. He will be solidly in the mix for one of the five coveted spots in the Savannah rotation in ST.

Fernando Martinez, Astros -  Though no longer eligible to be a prospect based on the number at-bats accumulated during fits and starts over three different seasons, Martinez was the Mets’ top prospect for about 52 straight years. Then we found out the org that once gave the Dominican $1.6 mill (really, it was former GM Omar Minaya), decided he was no longer worthy of, you know, playing baseball for them in any capacity. As my colleague Mr. Cwik pointed out recently, F-Mart’s biggest problem is that he’s, well, injury-prone just doesn’t seem strong enough to cover it, does it? Injury-riddled! (An arthritic right knee will do that.) That, and the now-23-year-old Martinez was starting to run out of time, especially with all the lost development. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/danny-hultzen-fernando-martinez-andrew-brackman-prospect-chatter/

OF Brandon Nimmo–I took a conservative approach with ranking draftees this year, so Nimmo was left out. Like any high school player, he carries a significant amount of risk, and he’s not quite at the elite talent level of someone like Bubba Starling to outweigh that. Like the other 2011 draftees I left off, he could certainly earn his way on with a strong full-season debut. http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/01/14/top-100-prospect-snubs-nl-east/#more-3170

It is probably unfair, but to me this encapsulates the 8-year Mike Piazza Era in New York; a time marked by some spectacular play and wonderful moments but ultimately disappointment and failure.  The Mets in Piazza's first year, 1998, missed the playoffs by one game, then lost a brutal playoff to the Braves in 1999, when Kenny Rogers walked in the winning run, and, as noted above, lost to the Yankees in the 2000 World Series.  And that was it.  In Piazza's final five seasons the team was mediocre at best finishing third twice, fourth once and fifth twice. http://fairandunbalancedblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/mike-piazza-and-tools-of-ignorance.html

Mets: Ryan Fraser, Fernando Martinez, Pedro Martinez, David Wright

1-11-12 -  metsmerizedonline.  45.  Ryan Fraser (RHP) The 6’3″ right-hander has so far shown quite a bit of versatility in his two years since the Mets made him their 16th round pick in the 2010 draft. After hurling 92 innings as a starter for the University of Memphis the Mets decided to limit his innings by making him the Brooklyn Cyclones closer. He responded by pitching very well in the role, notching 12 saves to go with a 3-3 record and a 1.44 ERA. The 2011 season found Fraser in the Savannah Sand Gnats rotation, and he was one of their mainstays, leading the team in innings pitched with a 138.1, while going 7-9 with a 3.58 ERA. In a recent interview here on MMO, Ryan had this to say about his pitches: “I throw a fastball, curveball, and change-up. Some people question my curveball and think its a slider. I would like to call it a “power slurve” if there’s such a pitch. I don’t like to know the speed of them cause it doesn’t matter as long as you get the hitters out.” Despite the glut of starting pitching at the single A level, the Mets would be wise to keep Fraser in the rotation for the time being, as he could develop into a true “innings eater” down the road.

Martinez's career isn't just special to me on a personal level, but it also has clear metaphorical value to me as a Met's fan. His signing harkens back to a time of great optimism for the Mets. Yet, his fall from grace has seemingly echoed the similar path of the Mets. Small aliments became great obstacles, great obstacles became chronic ones and Martinez, like the Mets, has quickly become irrelevant. If only it was so easy for the fan base could cut bait so easily.   No, the Flushing Faithful, even the most jaded and cynical, will stand by and watch the death spiral the organization has embarked on. The final chapters are yet to be written but the end is coming. The pressures of baseball's largest market will soon engulf the Wilpons and organization will be sold. http://bullpenbanter.com/

As long as Pedro Martinez keeps getting asked the same question, he'll keep giving the same answer: He's not going to pitch in the major leagues again. "I wish everybody would stop thinking about that," he said with a chuckle before a charity event on Friday night. "I don't think I'm going to go." The 40-year-old Martinez has not pitched since 2009, a season in which he compiled a 3.63 ERA in nine starts for the Philadelphia Phillies -- plus three starts in the playoffs. He hasn't made more than 20 starts in a major-league season since 2006 http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/01/pedro-on-potential-comeback-i-wish-everybody-would-stop-thinking-about-that.html#.TxDmyPmLXAx

photo by Mack Ade

David Wright is optimistic about everything that will occur on the field at Citi Field this season. It's the off-the-field action that he's bracing for. "Obviously, I'm not looking forward to it," Wright said of the almost inevitable drama surrounding Mets ownership and the talk surrounding his contract and a potential trade. "I'm going to try to deal with it early, get it out of the way. It'd be one thing if I was a free agent, and it was up to me, but it's not my decision." Wright is entering the final year of his contract and the Mets hold an option for 2013. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/david-wright-not-looking-forward-to-talk-on-his-status-1.3451354

Mets: Matt den Dekker, Fernando Martinez, Dave Winfield, Tim Teufel

1-11-12 -  metsmerizedonline  42.  Matt den Dekker (CF) Den Dekker is an intriguing prospect. He is a very solid defender who could probably play CF in the big leagues right now. He has above average speed, is a hard-nosed player with a good solid throwing arm, but needs to work on his routes to the ball to avoid having to make last second adjustments. But the questions regarding den Dekker arise from his age, he’s already 24 years-old, and has only played a half-season above single A. Last year, he was having a good year at St. Lucie, hitting .296 in 267 AB’s, when he was promoted at mid-season to AA Bingo. Binghamton was a different story for den Dekker, he struggled to consistently put the bat on the ball, and managed to hit only.235 in 272 AA AB’s. The reason for the drop-off was a fifty percent increase in strikeouts. Den Dekker has a long swing before the bat reaches the hitting zone, which leaves him unable to catch up to pitches up and in. He did show an increase in HR’s when he got to AA, hitting 6 at St. Lucie, and adding 11 more after his promotion, but his SLG% went down from .494 to .426. His drop-off in contact didn’t hurt his HR output, but he hit significantly less 2B’s and 3B’s. So the question is will it be a positive profile for den Dekker? A speedy, versatile outfielder, who is a left-handed hitter with occasional HR power. Or the negative one, an older player who did well against lower competition, but once he reached AA opposing pitchers began exploiting a mechanical flaw in his swing which hurt his ability to consistently make contact? This season will answer that question.

I just find this whole little episode stunning. Giving up Fernando Martinez for nothing just seems odd. Surely Martinez was worth something, like a live arm or two, on the trade market. Moreover, there is still slack on the Mets 40-man roster. This feels a little bit like the Omar Minaya days when the Mets often seemed out of line with the way teams valued assets (hello, 4 years and $25 million for Luis Castillo).  The Astros, and as the rumor goes, at least five teams were interested in Martinez, and the Mets got nothing. Who was the top prospect like Martinez where a team just gave up at this point when the player still had an option remaining? I’m drawing a blank.  Anyone?  http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/the-official-end-of-the-fernando-martinez-era/

Dave Winfield got his first taste of the New York Mets over lunch. For the Mets front office team of Nelson Doubleday and Frank Cashen this was all new and, in hindsight, the 1980 Major League Baseball Reentry Draft, marked the organizations first major foray into free agency. For Winfield the visit to the Big Apple was business as usual. The pleasantries didn’t last very long, maybe not even past the appetizer, before Winfield and his agent cut to the chase. Winfield challenged the Mets to bear fruit: show me you’re serious about building a winning team he told Cashen. It was the same speech he gave Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner days earlier. http://blog.johnstrubel.com/2012/01/04/winfield-and-the-mets/#more-1597

photo by Mack Ade

“I think we are in great position to rebound from last year. I think with the acquisitions we made in the offseason with the bullpen getting fortified and getting guys like (utility player Daniel) Murphy and (first baseman Ike) Davis back healthy, the fence (at Citi Field) is being moved in, so I think there is going to be a lot of positive activity throughout spring training.”  http://www.metsblog.com/2012/01/12/teufel-we-are-great-position-to-rebound-from-last-year/

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 – Tillman Pugh, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Randy Niemann, Gary Carter

metsmerized  - 39. Tillman Pugh (CF) As the 22-year-old Pugh prepares for his third season as a minor leaguer in the Mets farm system. He is working hard with the realization of just how important this season will be for him. This year he will get the opportunity to open the season in a long season league. Although the competition for spots in the Savannah outfield will be fierce, he should be the starting centerfielder for the Sand Gnats. He will have the opportunity to test himself and challenge himself over the course of a season that lasts well over five months. It will be nice to see what kind of numbers he can put up if he gets 450 to 500 AB’s in one year. He should do quite well. At a solid 6’0″ 190 lbs., Pugh is very fast, and athletic enough to play centerfield. His game is speed and he represents something the Mets don’t have a lot of. A three-way threat, offense, defense, and on the base-paths.

1-8-11: - http://nybaseballdigest.com/2012/01/07/most-intriguing-mets-prospects-in-2012   3) Kirk Nieuwenhuis  (OF) Another guy that, if not for injury, would likely be penciled in to start in center field for the Mets to open 2012. Had shoulder surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. Average tools across the board. Could be a 15HR/15SB type talent. If healthy, should be in Queens around mid-season.

Due to his former prospect status — and his age — it’s highly likely that a team will claim Fernando Martinez. For the price of a waiver claim, it’s tough to argue with the move. At the same time, it’s tough to really expect anything of value from Martinez next season. He hasn’t been particularly impressive when he has played, and he hasn’t been healthy enough to improve his play. He’s a low-risk buy, but it’s really tough to argue that Martinez is capable of providing a high reward anymore. It’s always possible that Martinez is just a late-bloomer — which is why a team would take a shot on him — but age and performance are no longer on his side.  http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/is-fernando-martinez-worth-a-waiver-claim/

Anthony DiComo reports that longtime Mets coach Randy Niemann has accepted a job with the Red Sox, according to a person familiar with the situation, in what is believed to be an assistant pitching coach position. The new role ends Niemann’s nearly quarter-century run with the Mets. Niemann, who spent last season as New York’s rehabilitation pitching coordinator and helped oversee portions of Johan Santana’s rehab from left shoulder surgery, will reunite with former Mets manager Bobby Valentine on Boston’s staff. The two were also together from 1997-99 in New York http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/01/randy-niemann-quits-mets-takes-red-sox-job.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

A weakened Gary Carter will go for another MRI exam on Friday as he continues to battle brain cancer, his daughter Kimmy Bloemers wrote yesterday on a family website. “Dad will be getting two MRIs — one for his shoulder that still bothers him from his fall and the other for his brain to check on the tumors,’’ Bloemers wrote. “We are praying for two good reports! ‘‘Now that baseball has begun, his spirits have lifted a bit and I believe he is excited to see his team,’’ Kimmy wrote. “His weak body limits his physical involvement, but the fact he wants to go and still teach his players is beyond amazing. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/carter_continues_battle_vs_cancer_EU5Q9TE6Qv552Dsdh2LB6O?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Anticipated 2012 Buffalo Bisons Roster

So here is my first of a series of post listing which prospects I think will be playing for which teams. These lists are of course coming out far too early but i think it will give viewers better look at the talent that is making its way to Flushing within the next few years. First up is the 2012 Buffalo Bisons.

• Catcher- Mike Nickeas

I initially had Nickeas as my MLB back-up catcher until the club signed Vinny Rottino. Rottino's flexibilty and the pop he has in his bat will get him into Flushing though leaving Nickeas back in Buffalo. The Canadian product batted .214 with only 2 HR's in 168 AB's for the Bisons so there's not much to write home about for him. On the flip side he did throw out 39% of would be base stealers.

• Infielders- Val Pascucci, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz

There's a nice mix of power and contact hitters here. The return of Pascucci at 1B brings back a legitimate power threat to the Bisons line-up. With 21 HR's and 91 RBI's in 443 AB's all he needs is some guys in front of him to get on base.

At 2B, I have Reese Havens making the jump up from AA. Now i know the guy has only 2 incomplete AA stints to his name and some will start he will start in Binghamton again in 2012 but the stats speak for themselves. When Havens was healthy he was mashing AA pitchers with a .301 avg and a SLG of .505 over his 2 stints. The guy can hit so why not challenge him with AAA.

At SS, I have Valdespin getting a full season's work with Buffalo. In his brief 2011 stint, he batted .280 but struck out almost 25% of the time. Defense will be a major concern with "Spin" as his 32 errors at SS last year in AA/AAA makes us wonder if he should change positions but his bat and speed in the Bisons line-up should make up for it.

Lastly at 3B, I have Zach Lutz returning. Like Havens, he can definitely swing the bat but has had trouble staying healthy. In 220 AB's, Lutz hit .295 with 11 HR's but was extremely unlucky after landing on the DL with a hamstring strain, and then being on it even longer when he broke his finger after being struck by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout. He also suffered two concussions from HBP's.

• Outfielders- Raul Reyes, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez

In LF I have 24 yr old Raul Reyes being promoted from AA. Reyes hit an unimpressive .292 when compared to Lagares .370 however he does have 137 more career games at the level than Lagares does. He'll keep the seat warm till Lagares is done mashing AA pitching.

In CF i have Captain Kirk returning for his second stint. Kirk was on the 7 express train to Flushing going from St. Lucie to Buffalo in a short yr and a half. He would've probably been promoted before Duda had it not been for a season ending surgery. However if he can continue to hover around the .300 avg line and continue to play good defense in CF he'll be in Flushing sometime this season.

Lastly in RF, I have the one and only Fernando Martinez. I refuse to write anything else on him as i have officially given up on him and am willing to place Kirk, Lagares, and Puello above him in any OF prospect rankings.

• Starters- Mark Cohoon, Jeurys Familia, Chris Schwinden, Jenry Mejia, Dylan Owen

The rotation is going to be a pivotal point of interest this year for the Bisons. For now I only have 2 of the "Generation K 2.0" guys starting here. Once Mejia is back from his surgery he probably be placed in the bullpen to ease his way back but eventually i would think they put him back into the rotation for at least until September when they call him up for bullpen work. Now that Familia is on the 40 man his clock is ticking in terms of options. He's got 3 years to solidfy his spot as a MLB caliber pitcher or risk being claimed on waivers. Schwinden, Cohoon, and Owen are all returners from the 2011 team that posted a 4.36 ERA. Expect Harvey to join the group after 7 or so dominating starts in AA and for Wheeler to join after the AA All Star Break.

• Bullpen- Josh Stinson, Robert Carson, Jack Egbert, Erik Turgeon, Armando Rodriguez, Bradley Holt, Rhiner Cruz

I'm not going to lie, I dont spend too much time reading in relievers stock and potential. However Stinson is an interesting name who can possibly help out the Big League club from the right side. The same can be said abour Carson from the left side. It'll be interesting to see if Holt gets claimed via Rule 5 draft this year. If not it really shows how much his stock has fallen from his days of dominance in St. Lucie.

• Bench- Kai Gronauer, Luis Hernandez, Michael Fisher, Johnathan Malo, Russ Adams

No big names here. Just a couple of organizational guys.

All in all the 2012 Bisons season should have a lot of energy running through out the year. With Generation K 2.0 arriving and lots of impact positional young guys they should see a pretty successful 2012 season. Although i worry about the team defense and the bullpen, the rotation and line-up should be enough to at least propel the team to an above .500 record and put the talks of leaving the Mets organization to rest.

Cutnpaste: - Robert Carson, Fernando Martinez, Phillip Evans, Reese Havens, 2012 Bullpen

10-26-11: - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/26/colemans-corner-mets-position-players-shining-in-arizona-sun   - Then there’s left-hander Robert Carson. Or as he refers to himself on his Facebook page – Robert “I’mdestinedforgreatness” Carson. Whoa, big fella, dial that one back just a little bit. At Double AA Binghamton this season, Carson went 4-11 with a 5.05 ERA in 24 starts and one relief appearance. He gave up a whopping 154 hits in 128 innings, striking out 91 but walking 55. Not pretty. In Arizona, he’s still giving up too many hits – 10 in 9 1/3 innings – but the numbers are better – a 2.89 ERA in 5 relief appearances.

10-25-11: - http://www.newyorkmetsreport.com/2011/10/25/mets-have-precious-few-pieces-to-trade - Fernando Martinez: Had been sought after in previous years, but is a fragile, injury risk whose value has declined. Too bad they can’t turn back the clock two years. If the Mets can swing something with him, they should do it, but his real value to them would be to stay healthy and reach his potential, which is becoming less and less likely.

10-26-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/7132/mets-minors/a-look-into-the-future-top-shortstop-prospects   -  Phillip Evans   DOB: 9/10/1992  Birthplace: Carlsbad, CA  Height: 5’10”   Weight: 185  R/R  -  I’m not going to even talk about his stats because they are irrelevant since he only played 9 games. However, he did reach Brooklyn, something Brandon Nimmo did not do. When the Mets snagged him on the signing deadline day, I remember rejoicing that we did not let him go. He’s practically my age and I’m praising him. His frame is pretty much maxed out at this point. It’s impossible to predict growth spurts, but you never know. Evans reminds me of your classic shortstop, who has potential to hit a few homeruns while being a solid gap hitter. He represented the west coast in the 2010 AFLAC All-American game, where he snagged the MVP honors in front of his hometown fans. According to Replacement Level Baseball, they clocked Evans in high school at 4.1 from home to first, predicting that he can be an “admirable base stealer at the next level”. RLP also said that Evans’ arm could be projected at a 65, well above average on the scouting scale. He’s what you want a high school prospect to look like. It’s not going to take him much time to fit into the system because he has the tools to succeed.

10-26-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/what-do-the-mets-have-in-reese-havens  - Reese Havens’ health has been his biggest flaw as a player since being drafted by the Mets in the 1st round of the 2008 Draft (22nd overall) out of the University of South Carolina.  Skeptics might be concerned he will never stay healthy.  While he does strikeout at a high rate, I will give Havens the benefit of the doubt due to the lack of consistent at-bats. Overall, I like what I saw from Havens when he was on the field.  That potential is what draws the attention of scouts and the Mets front office staff.  Havens just turned 25, and the clock is ticking very quickly for him.  Should Havens stay healthy, the Mets look like they have their future everyday second-baseman.

The bullpen, which lacked the hard middle-inning throwers that other teams employed, desperately can use reinforcements. Mets relievers combined for a 4.33 ERA and .267 opponent batting average this past season, both ranked 15th in the National League. The Houston Astros were the only team to finish worse, with a 4.49 reliever ERA and .269 opponent batting average. "Of course the bullpen was a big disappointment -- overall and certainly the last two months of the season," Alderson said in the Mets' clubhouse at Citi Field the day after the regular-season finale. "So I think a lot of our success or failure next year is going to be a function of pitching, regardless of who's playing for us. Now that doesn't mean we're going to go spending all of our money on pitching and not try to sign Jose. But I think our fate lies more on the pitching side than anything else  http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7148914/new-york-mets-finding-capable-arms-bullpen-key-amazins

Cutnpaste: - Manny Acosta, Fernando Martinez, Juan Urbina, Darren Oliver, Politically Incorrect

Acosta began the season in the Buffalo Bisons bullpen but made it back to MLB in early June. His 2011 MLB season was very much like 2010 — uneven and marked by strings of strong outings that may or may not have outweighed the bad ones. His overall stats were a little worse in comparison to ’10, with his ERA jumping a half-run (2.95 to 3.45), a raised WHIP (1.21 to 1.38), and a lower strikeout rate (9.53 K/9 to 8.81). One thing he did improve was his walk rate, which was reduced from 4.1 BB/9 in 2010 to 2.9 BB/9 in 2011. But, opposing hitters took advantage of more pitches to hit, as batters hit for a higher average (.219 in ’10 to .269 in ’11), with more power (slugging percentage jumped over 100 points, from .328 to .430); batters increased their OPS against him from .636 in ’10 to .759 in ’11. Acosta allowed 9.6 hits per nine innings in 2011, compared to 6.8 in 2010. Finally, he allowed 7 of 17 inherited runners to score, or 41% — that’s bad (the league average is 30%).  http://www.metstoday.com/7120/11-12-offseason/2011-analysis-manny-acosta

10-24-11: - http://risingapple.com/2011/10/24/2011-season-in-review-fernando-martinez  - So what is next for F-Mart? In an ideal world, he would’ve spent most of the year at Buffalo, healthy and getting plate appearances, and then received consistent playing time with the Mets as their season drew to a close.  Since that wasn’t the case, it seems likely that Martinez will begin his fourth season in Buffalo at the age of 23 (although to be fair, none of those seasons have been full ones).  But what about long term?  Given his chronic leg problems, F-Mart isn’t a candidate to replace Angel Pagan in center.  With Jason Bay locked into left field and Lucas Duda seemingly next year’s starting right fielder, Martinez is going to have to either hit like crazy or serve as an injury replacement in order to see significant playing time next year. It seems like Martinez has been around forever, and yet he only has registered 145 Major League plate appearances.  At this point, it doesn’t seem like he will develop into the hitting stud which he was once projected, but that doesn’t mean he should be written off completely.  There is still time for F-Mart to home his raw talent and become a productive player at the Major League level.

10-24-11: - http://scoutingthesally.com/game-report-mets-prospect-juan-urbina - Fastball:  Urbina featured an above average fastball.  He worked primarily in the 87 to 91 MPH range, touching 93 more than once.  When working in the high 80′s, he showed some plus downward movement on his 2 seam fastball.  As the night went on, he had difficulty commanding this pitch.  His 4 seam fastball left something to be desired.  At times was flat, especially when he reached back for extra velocity.  A 93 MPH flat 4 seam fastball got driven for a home run, another was lined sharply for an out. He did not lose velocity despite getting tired, and he last fastball he threw was 93.  When right, he worked in and out with his fastball on right handed hitters, setting them up for his vaulted change up.  Change up:  Going into this game, any scouting report I found about Urbina talked about how good of a pitch his change up is, Those reports didn’t disappoint.  Clearly it’s his best pitch and the pitch that has the ceiling of a plus-plus offering.  His arm action on this pitch is tremendous, especially when you consider he is only 18.  He only slowed down his motion as he got tired and I don’t believe, even then, a good swing was made on the pitch.  It sat between 80-83, with good downward movement.  On more than one occasion, it just dropped off, resulting in an ugly swing and miss.  Breaking Ball:  Honestly, I didn’t see enough to really say anything about his breaking pitches.  I have heard he throws a Curveball and a Slider, but they weren’t on display that evening.

Now, Darren Oliver has his best chance at getting the one thing all players long for, a World Series ring. With the series tied at 1, Oliver and the Rangers head home for the next three games as the heavy favorite to win the Series. For Oliver, it would be the crowning achievement for a man who was out of the Major Leagues just seven years ago. If the Rangers can win the World Series it would be another defining moment in the professional life of Darren Oliver. It would make him a World Series champion and give him a World Series ring that so few players ever get a chance to wear. It is funny how a moment can change a life. One moment, he was almost out of baseball. Because he chose to sign with the Mets, he worked with Peterson and emerged as a quality reliever. Now, he’s in his second World Series. His resiliency and his openness to change under Peterson led him to this moment–back with his original team and trying to win the organization’s first World Series title. What a moment that would be.  http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/10/22/darren-olivers-second-act

Last week, I lamented the Mets' mediocrity, and — while I still rue every single member of that organization — my life is made infinitely more miserable by Yankee fans. Even though the Yankees had an early exit from this year's playoffs at the hands of some guy named Fister, I still hear it from my Yankee−fan friends because the Mets are constantly cast in the shadow of the most successful sports franchise in history. Our cross−town rivals outclass us in every way: legacy and championships, not to mention those fancy pinstriped jerseys. After each Yankees victory, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" (1977) can be heard booming from the PA system. It doesn't get classier than that. Do you know what they play after the Mets win? Me neither, 'cause I've never seen it actually happen, but I'm pretty sure it's in Spanish. http://www.tuftsdaily.com/sports/zach-drucker-the-loser-1.2657886

Cutnpaste: - Manny Acosta, Fernando Martinez, Juan Urbina, Darren Oliver, Politically Incorrect

Acosta began the season in the Buffalo Bisons bullpen but made it back to MLB in early June. His 2011 MLB season was very much like 2010 — uneven and marked by strings of strong outings that may or may not have outweighed the bad ones. His overall stats were a little worse in comparison to ’10, with his ERA jumping a half-run (2.95 to 3.45), a raised WHIP (1.21 to 1.38), and a lower strikeout rate (9.53 K/9 to 8.81). One thing he did improve was his walk rate, which was reduced from 4.1 BB/9 in 2010 to 2.9 BB/9 in 2011. But, opposing hitters took advantage of more pitches to hit, as batters hit for a higher average (.219 in ’10 to .269 in ’11), with more power (slugging percentage jumped over 100 points, from .328 to .430); batters increased their OPS against him from .636 in ’10 to .759 in ’11. Acosta allowed 9.6 hits per nine innings in 2011, compared to 6.8 in 2010. Finally, he allowed 7 of 17 inherited runners to score, or 41% — that’s bad (the league average is 30%).  http://www.metstoday.com/7120/11-12-offseason/2011-analysis-manny-acosta

10-24-11: - http://risingapple.com/2011/10/24/2011-season-in-review-fernando-martinez  - So what is next for F-Mart? In an ideal world, he would’ve spent most of the year at Buffalo, healthy and getting plate appearances, and then received consistent playing time with the Mets as their season drew to a close.  Since that wasn’t the case, it seems likely that Martinez will begin his fourth season in Buffalo at the age of 23 (although to be fair, none of those seasons have been full ones).  But what about long term?  Given his chronic leg problems, F-Mart isn’t a candidate to replace Angel Pagan in center.  With Jason Bay locked into left field and Lucas Duda seemingly next year’s starting right fielder, Martinez is going to have to either hit like crazy or serve as an injury replacement in order to see significant playing time next year. It seems like Martinez has been around forever, and yet he only has registered 145 Major League plate appearances.  At this point, it doesn’t seem like he will develop into the hitting stud which he was once projected, but that doesn’t mean he should be written off completely.  There is still time for F-Mart to home his raw talent and become a productive player at the Major League level.

10-24-11: - http://scoutingthesally.com/game-report-mets-prospect-juan-urbina - Fastball:  Urbina featured an above average fastball.  He worked primarily in the 87 to 91 MPH range, touching 93 more than once.  When working in the high 80′s, he showed some plus downward movement on his 2 seam fastball.  As the night went on, he had difficulty commanding this pitch.  His 4 seam fastball left something to be desired.  At times was flat, especially when he reached back for extra velocity.  A 93 MPH flat 4 seam fastball got driven for a home run, another was lined sharply for an out. He did not lose velocity despite getting tired, and he last fastball he threw was 93.  When right, he worked in and out with his fastball on right handed hitters, setting them up for his vaulted change up.  Change up:  Going into this game, any scouting report I found about Urbina talked about how good of a pitch his change up is, Those reports didn’t disappoint.  Clearly it’s his best pitch and the pitch that has the ceiling of a plus-plus offering.  His arm action on this pitch is tremendous, especially when you consider he is only 18.  He only slowed down his motion as he got tired and I don’t believe, even then, a good swing was made on the pitch.  It sat between 80-83, with good downward movement.  On more than one occasion, it just dropped off, resulting in an ugly swing and miss.  Breaking Ball:  Honestly, I didn’t see enough to really say anything about his breaking pitches.  I have heard he throws a Curveball and a Slider, but they weren’t on display that evening.

Now, Darren Oliver has his best chance at getting the one thing all players long for, a World Series ring. With the series tied at 1, Oliver and the Rangers head home for the next three games as the heavy favorite to win the Series. For Oliver, it would be the crowning achievement for a man who was out of the Major Leagues just seven years ago. If the Rangers can win the World Series it would be another defining moment in the professional life of Darren Oliver. It would make him a World Series champion and give him a World Series ring that so few players ever get a chance to wear. It is funny how a moment can change a life. One moment, he was almost out of baseball. Because he chose to sign with the Mets, he worked with Peterson and emerged as a quality reliever. Now, he’s in his second World Series. His resiliency and his openness to change under Peterson led him to this moment–back with his original team and trying to win the organization’s first World Series title. What a moment that would be.  http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/10/22/darren-olivers-second-act

Last week, I lamented the Mets' mediocrity, and — while I still rue every single member of that organization — my life is made infinitely more miserable by Yankee fans. Even though the Yankees had an early exit from this year's playoffs at the hands of some guy named Fister, I still hear it from my Yankee−fan friends because the Mets are constantly cast in the shadow of the most successful sports franchise in history. Our cross−town rivals outclass us in every way: legacy and championships, not to mention those fancy pinstriped jerseys. After each Yankees victory, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" (1977) can be heard booming from the PA system. It doesn't get classier than that. Do you know what they play after the Mets win? Me neither, 'cause I've never seen it actually happen, but I'm pretty sure it's in Spanish. http://www.tuftsdaily.com/sports/zach-drucker-the-loser-1.2657886