11-8-12 – Jason Bay, Greg Burke, Yazmani Grandal, Hot Stove

The Bay release was basically just that… a release. He will receive this full deal, but a small portion will be deferred, either for the benefit of one or both of the parties. I find the whole transaction kind of perplexing. Your outfield is basically below par, two of your players (Jordany Valdespin and Lucas Duda) have injuries this week that could prevent them from being ready on opening day, so what do you do? Get rid of one of the only outfielders you have left. It’s obvious that there is more to come here. “Books wise”, the Mets will be able to spread this out over 3-5 years, thus, free up some money for acquisitions now.I assume that, since the Bay contract was “on the books” for 2013 that it will now be paid off before the end of the year so it is tax beneficial for both parties.

Here’s where Flushing, Las Vegas, and Binghamton breakout on paper right now:

          Mets – Andres Torres, Mike Baxter, Lucas Duda (broken wrist), Jordany Valdespin (foot injury)

          Las Vegas – Matt den Dekker, Kirk Nieuwenhuis (DL), Juan Lagares, Pedro Zapata

          Binghamton – Cory Vaughn, Darrell Ceciliani, Alonzo Harris, Cesar Puello

          Nieuwenhuis could be elevated to the opening day centerfielder, which would give Harris the opening to take his spot in Las Vegas.

Lost in the Jason Bay announcement was the fact that the Mets signed a pretty damn good minor league closer. Greg Burke was signed to a minor league contract and invited to camp. Burke was originally drafted by the Mets in 2000, but never signed and went to Duke University. He signed with San Diego in 2006 who he pitched for six years, rising to AAA in 2011 (2-2, 5.70). The Orioles signed him last season and he went lights out as their AA closer: 1-0, 1.53, 0.85, 23-G, 29.1-IP, 20-K, 4-BB, 14-SV… he finished the season with AAA-Norfolk – 2-1, 1.53, 1.02, 21-IP, 30-K. Burke would pitch 2-13 as a 30-year old.

C Yazmani Grandal was suspended for 50-games after testing positive for high testosterone level. I fuckin’ give up on these players that turn pro at  16-year olds with a grade school education. The whole fucking system sucks. Make them finish high school (or whatever they call it down there), draft them like the Puerto Rico kids get drafted, and start them off in organized ball then instead of being taken out of school at the age of 14 by some scumbag that calls himself a scout. I don’t give a shit how well they play shortstop. 99% of the drug busts are Latin kids trying to make up for the body God never gave them. How in God’s name can MLB justify this yet, if you tried to do this with a white boy in Georgia, you’d go to jail. Moron system.

Jon Heyman‏ - @JonHeymanCBS

Mets can’t really consider trade for Ike Davis now, not after Duda injures self moving furniture

There will be no change in the MLB drug policy because of new pot legalization in Colorado or Washington. A positive test, in any state, will remain a 50 game suspension


NL Cy Young finalists: R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw. Winner announced 11/14, 6 pm ET on @MLBNetwork.

It’s always good to see ex-Mets get paychecks. Pittsburgh re-signed 1B Stefan Welsh and 2B Anderson Hernandez.

                                                Hot Stove:

Trades:

San Diego trades OF Blake Tekotte to CWS for P Brandon Kloess


Claimed Off Waivers: 

         

          Seattle claimed OF Scott Cousins from Toronto.

NYY - Claimed pitcher David Herndon off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays

NYY - claimed pitcher Josh Spence off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

Washington – C Carlos Maldonado – resigned

Atlanta – P Al Yevoli – 1-2, 2.62, Washington/Frontier League

Detroit – P Shawn Hill – 1-0, 1-G for Detroit in 2012

Players opting for free agency:    

          1B Mike Jacobs ( Arizona) – suspended 50-games – AAA: .279, 333-AB, 18-HR, 60-RBI

          RHP Clay Hensley – (SF) – 4-5, 4.62, 1.58, 60-G, 50.2-IP, 42-K, 30-               BB- $750K –  ARB-3

         

Players Released:

          1B Henry Moreno (Kansas City) – A-.197  

    

Players Signed:  

          San Diego signed International free agent, OF Euri Minaya  - $700K bonus
        
          RHP Garrett Mock signed by Arizona

Captain Kirk Should Keep Jason at Bay

The Mets have had their fair share of injuries so far this season. None has been more of an impact to the team, the overall roster and the fanbase as when Jason Bay went down with a fractured rib. Why? It cleared the way for Kirk Nieuwenhuis (or Captain Kirk as I refer to him) to stay in Queens.


Capt Kirk was supposed to be groomed for the leadoff role and center field position in the minors this season after the team sent him back to AAA at the end of Spring Training. Instead, he was called back up when Andres Torres went down and impressed everyone.


He has a .310 AVG, two Home Runs and 12 RBI. More importantly, he has a .383 OBP. He just finds a way to get on and finds a way to extend innings for the team. He has 35 hits and 13 walks in 33 games. He has scored 18 runs.


When he gets on, he makes it count. Fans have embraced him and it is no coincidence that the team has done very well since his call up. When Bay went down, it was a no-brainer; he had to stay up with the Mets. Since Torres has returned, Capt Kirk has been getting comfortable in that number two spot in the order and making himself at home quite nicely in left field.


No one has missed Bay. The Mets are hopeful he will be ready to start a rehab assignment as early as next week. This brings up a tough question: should Bay ride the bench as the fourth outfielder when he comes back?


Bay is batting .240 with just 15 games played. He is in his third year of a four year contract that has been plagued with injury and nonproductive plate appearances. If anyone could use a change of scenery, it's him.


Trouble is that his contract is so big the Mets would not be able to move it. And to sit someone making all that money in place of a younger and better hitter, would be nearly insane.


A platoon may knock Capt Kirk out of rhythm and prevent Bay from getting his stride too. Therefore, it would be worse for both players. So we have arrived at a stalemate. What is more important; the value of a contract wasting away on the bench or the health of a young team?


It's easy to say the player with the big contract has to play. It's harder to have to guts to sit him. In this case, it very well may be better for all involved right now to sit him and let Capt Kirk start when Bay does return healthy.


While it may not be the best choice for their wallets, the Mets must realize it is the best option. Bay has not done well here and is not going to either. He has not shown any signs of turning it around to make that contract remotely justifiable.


Therefore, they have to just suck it up and come to the realization that they bought an over-priced lemon that will have to sit in the garage while they take the inexpensive newer model out for a spin. Such is the way of the Mets.


In the end, giving Capt Kirk that chance and showing him that support and faith, would be far more value to the team in the long run. It would boost his confidence and give him a chance to work on the facets of his game that need the most improvement at the major league level.


This could be more beneficial and pay off for the next decade as opposed to having him ride the pine or shattering his confidence by sending him back down to AAA for a player only expected to stay around another year after this one.


If the Mets wanted to make a statement and a commitment to their youth movement, their fans and the league that they are sticking with the younger players. they must choose Capt Kirk over Jason Bay when the time for decisions is upon is.


Hopefully, for all of our sake, they make the right decision.

What A Play!

I May Be Wrong, But… Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey, Jason Bay

• It sure looks like Big Pelf dodges a bullet Thursday night. Andy Martino reported that there actually was a discussion by Sandy and Company whether or not they should release him. According to Martine, everyone in that meeting that had a uniform on voted to keep him. All I’m hoping out of him is an innings eating SP5. I’d be thrilled with 200 innings and a 4.50 ERA, but only 2012 guys. Only 2012. 

 • It does look like the Mets are pressing forward to structure a multi-year deal for R.A. Dickey. As David Rubin reminded me, he’s a cost efficient clubhouse leader that could stabilize the rotation through the delicate 2013-2014 transition to the kiddies. It makes a lot of sense. 2013 would most probably be Johan Santana, Jon Niese, Dickey, Matt Harvey, and Jeurys Familia. 2014 would be Harvey, Niese, Familia, Zack Wheeler, and Dickey. Makes sense to me. 

 • Jason Bay has 0-RBIs in spring training? You got to be kidding me. This has become such an embarrassment. I guess there’s no other plan than to just play him this season and be done with another bad contract. I really liked this signing. I thought he would be a great addition both with a bat in his hand and in the clubhouse. Your ‘on paper’ 2014 outfield right now is Matt den Dekker, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Lucas Duda, with Brandon Nimmo and Gilbert Gomez in the wings. Not enough.

Mets: Akeel Morris, Daniel Murphy, Jason Bay, Ike Davis

2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   - #8.) Akeel Morris, RHP. Morris allowed more walks (38) than hits (30) in 51 1/3 innings in the Appalachian League last year. He’s a classic smallish young Latin American righthander with velocity and control problems. He does have some projectability left, and already throws consistently in the low 90′s with a curveball that makes him more effective to lefties than righties. Very possibly a reliever in the end, but possibly an impact one. Grade: C+ 

I talked about Daniel Murphy last week. When asked about his goals for 2012, he responded by saying he wants to win between 95 and 100 games. Murphy has the work ethic and winning attitude that breeds long-term success. What position? If he was going to start for this team, it appeared second base or bust, however the uncertain future of David Wright means any success he has at second could be short lived. Defensively, Murphy is best at one of the corner infield positions. Considering he has the potential to be a hitter that is consistently north of .300, it would make sense for him to get every opportunity to be somewhere on the field. http://nybaseballdigest.com/2012/02/23/young-mets-hitters-could-develop-into-solid-core/

The 2011 season was, by most statistical measurements, the worst of Jason Bay’s nine-year career. He finished with career-lows in batting average (.245) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.703). In 212 games with the Mets, Bay’s slugging percentage is .386. In 200 games with Boston, he slugged .534. ... Last August, hitting coach Dave Hudgens played dueling sets of video for Bay, a split-screen view of the 45 homers he hit with Boston and the 15 he had hit to that point with the Mets. Hudgens then ... forced the outfielder to relearn his old approach. So Bay did. He geared his entire approach to pull baseballs to left field. He straightened his back. He opened his stance. His hands rotated as a timing gesture before each pitch. The results were eye-opening. From April to August, Bay floundered along with a .660 OPS. After reverting to his old form, he scorched through the final month with a .954 OPS. http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/38567/mets-morning-briefing-2-24-12  

Ike Davis, Mets: Davis was carrying a .926 OPS through 129 at-bats before being lost for the year with an ankle injury, but he apparently is fully healthy and could be in line for a strong season. The team around him is mediocre, so that could limit his counting stats (runs, R.B.I.), but he has more power potential than Freeman, though he comes with a bit more risk because of the injury. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/

Mets: Cory Vaughn, Ruben Tejada, Jason Bay, Mike Nickeas

2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   - #7.) Cory Vaughn, OF. A gigantic right fielder, Vaughn has a classic high-walk, high-strikeout profile, but his power stroke hasn’t quite come around yet, as he homered just once every ten games in 2011. He’ll be 23 on May 1, so while the tools to be a starting right fielder are here, he needs to quickly improve at getting everything working at the same time. Grade; C+

Ruben Tejada might have the most thankless job of the group by replacing a popular homegrown All Star. His .360 OBP at the age of 21 was similar to Rafael Furcal and Alex Rodriguez at similar ages. Nobody is suggesting he is A-Rod, but Furcal without the power numbers might be reasonable. Another comparison, made by NYBD contributor Joe Delgrippo on my show last night, is Elvis Andrus. Last year, Andrus hit .279 with 5 HRs and 60 RBI. That seems to be a reasonable offensive ceiling for Tejada. His defense may not be on par with Andrus or Reyes, but he certainly appears to be a solid shortstop on both sides of the ball for a winning team. http://nybaseballdigest.com/2012/02/23/young-mets-hitters-could-develop-into-solid-core/

A tweak here, an adjustment, another tweak. Another. As Jason Bay sifted through the muck of last season and looked back on his lost months of tweaks and adjustments, he realized that all that tinkering had whisked him so far away from his old productive self. He was no longer Jason Bay, power hitter. In his mind, he was no longer even Jason Bay.  "I didn't really know who I was there for a bit," Bay said Thursday, appearing relaxed in a backwards cap and flip-flops after arriving two days early at Mets camp. "That is the tough part, is just trying not to be your own worst enemy." http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120223&content_id=26815538&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym

Mike Nickeas spent the winter working out at Georgia Tech and e-mailing video of his swing to Dave Hudgens, the Mets' hitting coach. The two also had a continuing dialogue over the phone, with the aim of revamping Nickeas’s swing and plate approach in time for spring training. "I'm removing all the inefficiencies from my swing, so I have more time to recognize pitches and see the ball,” Nickeas said. "My goal is to be an extremely tough out. I don’t want to be the guy they get to, put a couple of pitches in, and be done." http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/sports/baseball/a-mets-catcher-knows-his-bat-holds-the-key-to-his-future.html?_r=2&ref=baseball

Mets: Jason Bay, Chase Huchingson, Joe Smith, Health

2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   - Relief Pitcher #1: Chase Huchingson. A big lefthander, Huchingson spent most of the year in the bullpen, but also made eight starts, and overall he put up a sparkling 1.82 ERA and 2.30 FIP in Low-A, not bad for a guy who posted an 8.36 ERA in his final college season in 2010 and was signed as a free agent. A deception guy with a low three-quarters release that imparts good sink on his fastball, he’ll have to prove himself at every level, but he’s already exceeded expectations and is a solid bet to at least have a middle relief career. Grade: C+

3rd Round (94th overall): Joe Smith, RHP – Wright State - It is unusual for a small college reliever who was forced to walk on the team to get drafted this high, but Smith is an unusual pitcher. He adopted his sidearm delivery while in college and took to it immediately, seeing gains on his fastball velocity as well as added movement on his fastball and slider. His new tools allowed him to post a 0.75 ERA in college and the Mets were hoping he could move through the system quickly and help a team that was close to contention. http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/02/grading-the-omar-regime-the-2006-draft.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grading-the-omar-regime-the-2006-draft

It has been three straight three straight years of misery for the Mets trying to keep their best players healthy. Last year’s casualties included Johan Santana, who never returned from shoulder surgery the previous September, and David Wright, Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy who were out for extended periods. Never mind that Jose Reyes also hit the disabled list twice. All teams deal with injuries, but few recently have been hit as hard as the Mets, in terms of the caliber of players lost for extended stretches. If the Mets hope to have any chance, Santana’s return is crucial, even if that means pitching like a No. 2 or 3 in the rotation.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_enter_camp_hanging_hopes_on_f7NkKCKioXASvab3SHTu2J#ixzz1mpklrLSv

Jason Bay is heading into his third season of a four-year, $66-million contract that is looking like one of the Mets' worst investments in recent memory. After a 36-homer, 119-RBI walk year in Boston, Bay has a total of 18 home runs and 104 RBIs in two seasons for the Mets and has struck out once every 4.55 plate appearances. If Bay can't capitalize on the hitter-friendly alterations made to Citi Field, it will raise serious questions about whether his days as a power threat are over - if they aren't already behind him. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/three-mets-with-something-to-prove-1.3541005

Mets: Jason Bay ,Brandon Nimmo, Dillon Gee, Lucas Duda

Jason Bay, Mets: The best example in the last decade of a righthanded-hitting, righthanded-throwing college corner bat, Bay has struggled with the Mets due in part to concussion issues. The Canadian ran better early in his career than most members of this species and even has played some center field in the majors. He also was completely undervalued earlier in his career—a 22nd-round pick as a college senior at Gonzaga, the Expos (for Lou Collier) and Mets (for Steve Reed) were among the teams that just gave Bay away before he hit it big. It's logical to assume the right-right profile contributed to his being undervalued. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/column/2012/2612970.html

 2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   -  Outfielder #1: Brandon Nimmo. The 13th overall pick in 2011, Nimmo is a toolsy high school outfielder from Wyoming. Currently a center fielder, he’ll probably end up being a quality defender in right, and he has power potential in his athletic frame. Some consider him a bit of an overdraft, and obviously he’s got a lot to prove, but he has considerable upside. Grade: B

Dillon Gee had a 5.91 ERA in the final two months of last season and admitted that fatigue played a role in his limp to the finish line. But after taking October off, Gee was back on a mound again. This time, though, it was in Taiwan as part of the starting rotation for Major League Baseball's international barnstorming team. "Even though I wasn't in pitching shape, I wanted to win just as bad as anyone else," Gee said last week. Gee allowed one run in five innings in his only appearance against Taiwan, then shut himself down for the rest of the offseason. The trick now, with Gee already in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is to get himself strong enough to avoid the late-season meltdown he suffered a year ago. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/dillon-gee-learns-to-deal-with-fatigue-1.3527422

Lucas Duda - On a recent podcast, I listed Duda has my favorite fantasy sleeper of the year. Perhaps the Dude's biggest failing -- defense -- doesn't score in fantasy leagues. The Ox may or may not have Ox-like power, but he surely has the contact ability and plate discipline to hit .280+ with a good OBP. If he doesn't take another step forward -- after all the power has not always been there -- then that will come with 20 home runs and a partial platoon problem. Still, his price (ADP ~228, ranked 260 on MDC), makes him an excellent bench bat with the upside of a starting outfielder in leagues of any size. Oh, and he'll get plenty of leash, given the paucity of other options at his position. The team desperately needs his bat, either for offensive or trade value purposes. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/14/2795663/fantasy-mets

Mets: 2012, Jordany Valdespin, Jason Bay, Rich Donnelly

The Mets’ payroll should be around $90 million this year. Alderson pointed out that there are some “misconceptions” about how far that figure has dropped in recent months; he said the on-field payroll is close to what it was at the end of the 2011 season — after Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez, Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez were gone. However one adds up the salaries, the Mets face a daunting task. They must contend with a division that Alderson said “rivals the American League East” in its competitive depth. The Mets’ best hope for a .500 season involves Santana, Wright and Jason Bay reviving their careers in the same year. If that doesn’t come to pass, they could finish last for the first time since Steve Trachsel was their No. 1 starter. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-teams-that-got-worse-over-offseason-Oakland-As-New-York-Mets-Chicago-White-Sox-Seattle-Mariners-Houston-Astros-021212  

2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   - Shortstop: Jordany Valdespin. Valdespin hit .294/.333/.468 between Double-A and Triple-A, but at 24, he remains raw. He has solid-average contact ability and very good power for a middle infielder, but doesn’t walk much and gets caught once in every three steal attempts. He also fielded just .925 at shortstop this past season and may have to be more of a 2B/3B in the majors. He has skills and is near the big leagues, but there’s an eerie resemblance to Ian Desmond in his skillset. Grade: B-

But in my opinion, one of the more interesting questions has flown under the radar: Will Jason Bay return to the form he exhibited before signing with the New York Mets? I don’t know a single Mets fan that criticized the Bay signing prior to the 2010 season. But I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who likes it now. The reality is that the Mets have no choice but to put him out in left field every day. His contract is not movable and quite frankly, they have no other options. The positive part? He is an athlete with a lot to prove in this town — and he is determined to do it. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/14/coutinho-will-jason-bay-ever-be-a-core-bat-for-mets/

Twenty-six-year-old Rich Donnelly was ready to give up on baseball when he learned he was destined for a third season as catcher at Class AAA Denver in 1972. “I was upset I wasn’t going to be the first-string catcher, so I actually walked back from the spring training complex to the hotel in Plant City. I was going to quit.”  If he had, he would have missed out on one of the most bizarre, yet memorable, seasons in baseball history. And who knows if his career would have taken him to what became a 38-year career as professsional baseball coach, including a stint in 2011 with the Brooklyn Cyclones http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/news/topstories/index.html?article_id=1284

Mets: Met’s 1st ST, Wilpon’s Folly, Jason Bay, Jordany Valdespin

When the Mets reported for spring training at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, Florida they were a collection of washed up players and youngsters not ready for the majors. In order to spark interest in the team, Weiss had used the expansion draft to acquire former New York big leaguers whom the fans remembered. Among them were former Brooklyn Dodgers Gil Hodges, Don Zimmer, Charlie Neal and Roger Craig. The team also drafted Yankees Gene Woodling and Marv Throneberry who would come to be known as ‘Marvelous.’ Despite the makeup of the roster, Weiss went into spring training with a positive attitude and tried to get Stengel to do the same. In an interview with Sports Illustrated it was reported that he though the team had a chance to be competitive. ‘I told Casey and the coaches that they have to keep telling these fellows, both the old ones and the youngsters, that they’ve got a chance, that it doesn’t take too much to be a winner in this even-up league,’ he is quoted as saying. http://calltothepen.com/2012/02/12/casey-stengel-and-the-mets-first-spring-training/

So it is time to get into the electronic age if you haven’t already. Download an e-reader or two of your choice. Head over to Amazon.com and spend the $2.51 to buy the kindle edition of Wilpon’s Folly. You will understand the Mets better. You will understand baseball better and how team ownership really works. You will learn about the business and economics of the sport. I will guarantee you that this will be the best $2.51 you will ever spend. Remember: reading is important. Reading baseball is even better. But reading baseball and getting a business and legal education at the same time- now that is taking it to a whole new level. Congrats Howard Megdal. Thank you for giving the world Wilpon’s Folly. If only the Mets had 30,000 more of you in the stands- the baseball world could really become orange and electric blue. http://mlbreports.com/2012/02/12/review-wilpon/  

Twelve months ago, after his first year with the Mets brought six home runs (that’s after he hit 36 for Boston in 2009, earning the big free-agent deal from the Mets) and a season-ending concussion in July, Bay stood in front of his locker in Port St. Lucie and predicted he would hit 30 homers in 2011. He hit 12. Now, Bay is eating an egg-white omelet in the Westchestery town of Kirkland, at a restaurant down the hill from his house. This is after he sweated and panted through a morning session with his personal trainer in nearby Bellevue. In between bites, he does it again: “Can I hit 30 home runs?” he says, reminded of last year’s prognostication. “I 100% think it’s possible. No question.” http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/big-apple-struggles-ny-mets-slugger-jason-bay-sees-brighter-days-article-1.1020983#ixzz1m7aiU7ZT

2-9-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/9/2786300/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-10-6   - IF Jordany Valdespin - Much like Lagares, the 24-yr old Valdespin is a bit of a polarizing figure thanks to his hit-or-miss skill set. Specifically, his awesome raw ability was on display big time in 2011 as he finally put together all of the tools that he'd only flashed in the past. He set career highs in doubles, homers, stolen bases, slugging and OPS and most impressively did so between Double and Triple-A. Using his quick, buggy whip-style stroke from the left side -- think Brett Gardner -- he was able to shoot balls to all fields while creating more than enough bat speed to pull them over the wall. In short, he showcased the kind of all-around offensive skill set that you just don't often see from middle infielders, minors or majors. However, his dynamic style of play can tend to border on out-of-control and nowhere is that more clear than in the field. The highly athletic Valdespin possesses more than enough arm and foot speed to handle short but thus far he's had a very hard time limiting the errors there or even from second, where he's seen a lot more reps. Additionally, as has been his issue in the past his plate discipline was not good. He walked in just 3.5% of his plate appearances with Buffalo while striking out over 22%. However, he did show a very solid improvement in both categories in his time with Binghamton, though he remained susceptible to good breaking stuff. Ultimately, I think of Valdespin like the anti-Tejada: He's old, not disciplined -- in the field or at the plate -- and isn't known for great makeup. However, he features the kind of all-around athleticism, broad skill set and subsequent production in the high minors that Ruben can only dream of. While his flaws can obviously undermine him, his ceiling likely resembles the 2011 4.0 fWAR version of Erick Aybar.

Frank Gray - Mets Search Should be over for Lefty Bat

The New York Mets are reportedly searching for a left-handed bat for their outfield. They have Lucas Duda (lefty), Jason Bay (righty), Andres Torres (switch) and Scott Hairston (righty) already in the fold. Rumors have pointed toward names like Rick Ankiel and Raul Ibanez.

While Ankiel has recently signed with the Washington Nationals and Ibanez, among others, is still available, the obvious answer to this void is already in their system. His name is Matt Den Dekker. Between Port St Lucie and Binghamton, he hit 17 home runs last season.

He drove in 68 RBI and had 24 stolen bases. It's apparent that he has not hit in AAA yet, but he has improved his game from level to level. He will start in AAA to begin this year and eventually earn a spot in Queens at some point this season. They are looking for a dirt cheap veteran.

With that comes an injury prone player that may possibly end up getting hurt early and being replaced by a minor league player eventually anyway. Why not just skip this step. The Mets need to trust their farm system now. Give them a chance.

Perhaps they can make due with what they have until the All-Star break and then change things up a bit and call up Den Dekker. He would then add a fresh energy and enthusiasm to the roster. This is a player that has all the tools to be a success in the majors. The Mets need to let him.

Why waste the money on a bat that will only be around for a year or be utilized for half of the games in the season when they can simply promote one of their own who may most likely be ready for the show.

It makes more sense to save the funds for someone down the road when they need one player to boost their roster into a possible playoff push.

Matt Den Dekker can be that role player off the bench and backing up the starters with spot starts and late inning defense. The Mets merely have to give him the opportunity.

Mets: Adam Kolarek, Jon Niese, Jason Bay, Gary Carter

1-11-12 -  MMO  48.  Adam Kolarek (LHP) Kolarek was drafted out of the University of Maryland in the 11th round of the 2010 draft. A 6’3″ lefty Kolarek put together a fabulous year coming out of the pen for the Sand Gnats. In 52.2 IP, he went 7-0 with a 2.22 ERA, and 5 saves, with an opponents batting average of .214, and a WHIP of 1.14. Kolarek throws a 90-94 mph four-seamer, a change-up, slider, and is working on a sinker, which he details in a recent interview with MMO: “I mainly throw a 4-seam fastball but I am really working on my 2-seam this offseason because I really believe that it will help me moving forward. I would say my change-up is my second best pitch because I feel comfortable throwing it in just about any count or any situation. When I throw a real good one it will have some tailing movement into a lefty or away from a righty. Finally, I feel like I made a lot of progress with my slider last year and I want to continue to build off of that. I would mainly use it when I was ahead in the count and was trying to get a strike out or ground ball, but I really want to get to the point this year where I can use my slider when I’m behind in the count in a typical fastball situation.” With lefties like Kolarek, Josh Edgin, Jack Leathersich, Robert Carson, and Ham Bennett in the pipe-line, there is some lefty relief help on the horizon with Carson most likely being the first to arrive, his ETA 2012. Adam Kolarek video

Jon Niese has had both physical and mental breakdowns in each of the last two years which have unquestionably hindered his development, and hurt the team in the process. While he’s still relatively young, I’ve found that pattern very concerning; injuries aside, he’s been two totally different pitchers before and after the All-Star break in his career. He has said this winter his focus is on getting through an entire 162 game season and prove he has the stamina to give the team more length, but he’s now 25, and like I said yesterday, the time is now for him. In fact, Niese is the one I expect more out of in terms of growth, maturity, and proving his problems are behind him simply because he’s the youngest of the team’s starters and has shown at times he “can” be a top-of-the-rotation starter http://www.metsblog.com/2012/01/15/jon-niese-his-physical-mental-breakdowns-2012/

Generally speaking, if a Major League hitter is in his 30s and not using performance-enhancing drugs, his skills are unlikely to drastically improve after they’ve drastically declined. Since Jason Bay turned 33 last September and PED use is prohibited in Bud Selig’s baseball company, it’s hard for me to expect Jason Bay to return to the form that earned him a 4-year, $66M contract. At the same time, it’s hard for me to accept the idea that Bay is a sub-.250 hitter who will be lucky to hit 15 homers over a full season of play. But, that’s my emotions thinking; from his days in Pittsburgh, I’ve loved Bay’s approach to the game and always enjoyed watching him play. I’ve had similar, irrational feelings for other Mets in the twilight of their careers, such as the aforementioned Ventura and Green, Mo Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz, and Willie Montanez — as much as my eyes were telling me those players were finished, my heart was hoping my eyes weren’t seeing clearly. http://www.metstoday.com/7377/11-12-offseason/2011-analysis-jason-bay/

The Kid rallied again Sunday night. Just as he has done at the 25 previous events he has hosted, Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter welcomed more than 150 friends with hugs and smiles at a kick-off dinner for his 26th annual charity golf tournament. He made them laugh, too - with an assist from his wife, Sandy. Carter was seven minutes into his welcoming remarks at the Ironhorse Country Club when Sandy nudged him and whispered, "Let's eat!" "That's my wife and she knows that I talk too much, so that's it for me,' Carter said as the crowd broke into laughter. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/2104334.html

Frank Gray - Mets Must Avoid the Jose Reyes Syndrome with Wright

This past week David Wright went on Sirius XM as a guest of the Cliff Floyd/Mike Ferrin Show (I didn't even know they had one). During the show Wright was asked an obvious question: how he feels about the potential of being traded. His response?

"It's going to be a pain. I saw Jose Reyes everyday had to answer questions about trade rumors and what was going to happen to him. Frankly, it would be nice to not have to go through that but I'm going to do my best to answer those questions hopefully in spring training and not everyday have to answer to this rumor or that rumor. But I understand the business side of it. I understand what happens with players in my situation. I'm expecting it to, I guess, be some sort of issue."

This is a very telling quote. Wright knows from the experience of Jose Reyes how this team currently treats its' stars. The case of Reyes was a bit different, as he was clearly waiting for his payday (and who can blame him?), but Wright makes a valid point.

The fact is that the Mets caused Reyes to go through that barrage of questions every day. Wright is expecting them to do the same to him. And he's not looking forward to it. In fact, he is expecting it to get to him. Here's a guy that was so shaken by a new stadium that his power numbers dropped dramatically. Can you imagine how he will struggle this season amid trade rumors?

If the Mets love David Wright as much as they say they need to spare him this torture. It was just in May that Fred Wilpon said of Wright  he is "A really good kid, a very good player. Not a superstar." At face value that sounds like an insult, but it's not. Wilpon likes him. He says Wright is a good player and a really good kid. Does an owner that hates or is ripping his player normally say that?

If they like him, they may want to keep him. Mets GM Sandy Alderson twice has figuratively thrown him to the wolves already. Once in August when the Mets placed him on waivers and once last month when they put his name on the trading block.

Both times Alderson quickly retracted him. One can argue it was simply to gauge the interest in him from other teams. That is understandable, but how does that effect his psyche? Unlike Reyes, who was far too often injured, Wright is a player to build around.

Here is a player that has given his all for this team. He has played through pain, injury and bad years just to sacrifice for the greater good of the New York Mets. He loves this team. There is no doubt. He is a leader on and off the field. Both in the clubhouse and in the community. He is a rare breed that never gets in trouble and projects a good image of the team. What would the Mets gain by breaching that relationship?

The truth is they would alienate him like they did Reyes and Carlos Beltran. If the Mets do like him as much as they say, they need to show him their full support. They have to offer him the security that he needs and show a public interest in him.

There are three ways to do that. One, they have to stop putting his name out there and tell the league he is untouchable. Included in that would be the media. The Mets need to make a statement that he is not going anywhere. That would be such a tremendous boost to Wright that he may play inspired just based on that.

Two, they have to pick up his option. This helps the Mets because it keeps Wright around and shows him they want him, while allowing them time to negotiate a favorable long-term deal. It helps Wright by letting him know he is wanted here.

Three, they have to sign him to an extension next year. This secures his services for  many more years to come and allows him to be content and comfortable in his place in Queens. A comfortable Wright is a productive Wright. His stats speak to that.

The alternative to this is, of course, letting him squirm and become disgruntled. That makes for a unproductive player that will not get them the value they seek in the trade market. Then, they are stuck paying him millions of dollars for Jason Bay-like production and they end up letting him walk without getting anything in return for their decade-long investment.

Who wants that? The Mets know they have to do the right thing here. They know what the right thing is as well. They were not in a position to avoid that scenario with Jose Reyes. They will be able to avoid it with Wright. If they start now.

Mets – Brandon Nimmo, Darrell Ceciliani, Jason Bay, Mr. Met, Reese Havens

1-3-12 - mets360  - 4. Brandon Nimmo, OF, Rookie ball, .211/.318/.368 in 44 PA - I don’t like ranking players with little to no professional experience. But it’s silly to pretend that Nimmo isn’t one of the club’s top prospects. It would not surprise me if he ended up being the most valuable player currently in the farm system. The strikeouts are certainly a concern from his brief pro debut. But he also hit 2 HR in 29 ABs in the Gulf Coast League, giving some indication of the power he possesses. By now you know that his high school did not have a baseball program, but Nimmo ran track and played football as a prepster, giving hints to his all-around athleticism. There’s talk he will skip the short-season New York-Penn League and open 2012 in full-season ball. If so, this time next year we’ll have 400+ ABs with which to properly evaluate Nimmo.

mtsmerized  - 35. Darrell Ceciliani (CF) This speedy 21 year-old, lefty swinging center-fielder, who the Mets made their 4th round draft pick out of Columbia Basin Community College (Wash) in 2009, is still very raw, and if he does reach the majors, it won’t be before 2014. This past year he was the Savannah Sand Gnats everyday center-fielder. In three full seasons, (two short season, and this one) he has amassed 800 lifetime minor league AB’s, with a lifetime .283 BA. He has a .358 OBP, and a .403 SLG%, but his problem so far has also been too many K’s. His K/BB ratio reads: 173/78, and for a lead-off hitter those numbers need to improve. If he can become a better contact hitter, he has the speed and ability to stay in centerfield.

I want to believe in Jason Bay, and I want to believe he finally made an adjustment in September and can now be a valuable part of this lineup. However, because he was largely awful for the better part of two seasons, it’s so hard to put any faith in his abilities going forward. Don’t get me wrong – there were certainly a lot of positives to take away from his strong finish last year. For the first time since he joined the Mets, he had quick hands through the zone and appeared to attack pitches middle-in, which allowed him to pull balls down the line with consistentcy and authority. He also wasn’t waiving at the outside pitch; he either laid off those pitches or drove them up the middle. The question is: Was this a renaissance of sorts or an aberration? http://www.metsblog.com/2012/01/08/the-future-for-jason-bay/

Mr. Met, the red-stitched Übermensch born without a first name, has experienced so much as the giant head of the Mets: good years, but many bad ones, World Series celebrations and late-season collapses. Jose Reyes but Vince Coleman. Tom Seaver but Aaron Heilman. Gil Hodges but Art Howe. Imagine, then, Mr. Met as Sisyphus, muscling his head up the steep hill of tough Mets history. That’s his life and his plight. And in that, he is in 2012, perhaps more perfectly than ever, a symbol of the club. The Mets have stunk on the field. The club’s owners have been accused of benefiting unjustly from one of history’s great frauds. The franchise’s finances — with a world of debt, a slashed payroll, ever-shrinking attendance — are imperiled. Even its new $800 million stadium has been deemed a flawed structure that hurt the team it was built to showcase http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/sports/baseball/ever-the-optimist-mr-met-keeps-his-head-up.html

1-8-11: - http://nybaseballdigest.com/2012/01/07/most-intriguing-mets-prospects-in-2012/  - 1) Reese Havens (2B) – If not for constant injuries he would already be entrenched at second base. Average defender with a short and powerful stroke at the plate. Also possesses good strike zone knowledge. If healthy, he will be the second baseman in Queens by the time 2012 is over.

Cutnpaste: - Erik Turgeon, Cesar Puello, Taylor Buchholtz, Jason Bay, The 1998 Pittsfield Mets

 11-13-11: - http://www.metsblog.com/2011/11/13/afl-round-up-juan-lagares-has-been-stellar-this-fall  - •Lastly, LHP Erik Turgeon has put forth the strongest pitching performance of any Met prospect so far this fall, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in ten relief appearances for Peoria. Turgeon, who turns 25 in March, went a combined 5-4 with a 5.42 ERA in 52 relief appearances between Triple-A Buffalo and Double-A Binghamton in 2011.

10-25-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/10/25/2011-top-20-new-york-mets-prospects - 2011 Top 20 New York Mets Prospects - 7.Cesar Puello, OF (High Class A): Speaking of high upside with little results, the Dominican outfielder does have quite a bit of power and speed, but somewhat less formidable plate discipline. With a 3.7% walk rate and strikeouts coming 21.1 percent of the time at high A, plenty of work still needs to be done. His promotion to high A has seen a decrease in walks, a rise in strikeouts, and a lower rate of stolen base success, with only a solid improvement in power numbers to offset the developmental losses. Fortunately the tools are still there. For him it all hinges on better plate discipline and pitch recognition.

Buchholz is arbitration eligible, and what to do with the 30 year old right-hander is up for debate.  The team could easily non-tender him, but it makes some sense to offer him arbitration, assuming he is feeling well enough to pitch.  It is difficult to imagine Buchholz earning much more than he did last year, since he was only active for two months, so why not bring him back?  Buchholz showed the ability to strike batters out, command the strike zone, and effectively mix his fastball and curve.  He is not a make or break player, but Buchholz could once again serve as a cheap, reliable reliever, giving Alderson one less roster spot to worry about as he remakes the bullpen. http://risingapple.com/2011/11/14/2011-season-in-review-taylor-buchholz

What went wrong: After 2010′s power outage, the big question was not if Bay would rebound, but how much would he. Would you believe that his ISO actually dropped this season, to a career worst .128?! How he could have managed to post a measly sub-10% HR/FB ratio these past two seasons is beyond me. And don’t blame the ballpark; he was actually better in the power department at home than on the road the last two years. Why you should ask about Bay: Speaking of the ballpark, the Mets are moving the fences in. One of those cheers you heard after the announcement was certainly Bay’s. Maybe that will help jump start his power. If not, the good news is that he continues to be willing to swipe the occasional base, as he has now stolen double digits in six of his last seven seasons. His .245 average should rise as his BABIP rebounds closer to his career average, plus a hopefully higher HR/FB ratio will also add some additional hits to his line. You could probably acquire Bay for peanuts, or even as a throw-in, so I still think he is worth the gamble. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/more-studs-that-were-duds

The 1998 Pittsfield Mets did not produce a lot of future major leaguers, but one of them is still playing 14 years after his professional debut. Not that Ty Wigginton looked like a guy who was going to make it after his first pro season. In 70 games, he hit .239 with 8 home runs and 29 RBI while striking out 72 times in 272 at-bats. Though he never became a major league star, Wigginton has had a solid career with parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues. http://randombaseballstuff.com/2011/11/14/minor-league-mondays-a-look-at-the-1998-pittsfield-mets-baseball-cards