10.25.2015 Winter League Results: Carrillo Pulled Early, Jairo Perez Continues to Rake, Former Mets Spotted in DR

Arizona Fall League
No Games Scheduled.

Mexican Pacific League
- Tomateros de Culiacan 3 - 6 Venados de Mazatlan
- Naranjeros de Hermosillo 2 - 3 Mayos de Navojoa

- Naranjeros de Hermosillo 0 - 1 Mayos de Navojoa
- Yaquis de Obregon 3 - 4 Caneros de los Mochis
- Charros de Jalisco 7 - 9 Aguilas de Mexicali

• C Xorge Carrillo: 0 for 1

Side Note: Carrillo was pulled from the game after the 4th inning. Not 100% sure why but the Aguilas were up 8-1 at that point in the game. Carrillo may have been pulled simply for rest. I'll try to get a confirmation today.

Venezuelan Winter League

- Tiburones de La Guaira 6 - 3 Aguilas del Zulia

- Navegantes del Magallanes 3 - 4 Caribes de Anzoategui

• PH-RF Travis Taijeron: 0 for 1, K 

- Bravos de Margarita 4 - 7 Leones del Caracas

• RHP Jose Celas: 0.1 IP, 1 H, Hold(1)  

- Tigres de Aragua 3 - 2 Cardenales de Lara

• LF Jairo Perez: 1 for 4, RBI(13)

Dominican Winter League
- Aguilas Cibaenas 3 - 7 Leones del Escogido
- Tigres del Licey 5 - 0 Estrellas de Oriente
- Toros del Este 6 - 1 Gigantes del Cibao

Side Note: Two old friends were spotted in the Dominican Leagues. 1st is Mr. "I'm the Man" Jordany Valdespin, playing Winter Ball for the Tigres del Licey, went 1 for 4 and is hitting .348 so far this season. 2nd is Mr. "My Back is Too Hurt for the Minors" Cesar Puello, playing for the Tigres de Aragua, went 0 for 3 and even attempted to steal a base yesterday. His back must be feeling better.


Roberto Clemente Puerto Rican League
Side Note: Regular Season begins Thursday, October 30th.

The LTJ Report: Granderson, roster cuts, and why the Mets MUST get Stephen Drew too

The LTJ Report
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 12-4-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

- The New York Mets have had some intense talks with free agent Center Fielder Curtis Granderson and hopefully they pull the trigger and make a deal happen sooner than later. Rumor has it they offered a three, possibly four-year deal to bring him to the Mets. I have no idea how much money was put on the table but if the Mets expect to be taken seriously in 2014, they absolutely NEED to make some noise and offer a good amount of money to acquire Granderson. I predict they will indeed sign him and it'll be announced by Friday!

- The Mets recently released their non-tendered cuts list a few days ago. On it was Justin Turner, Jeremy Hefner, Scott Atchinson, Jordany Valdespin, and Omar Quintanilla. I'll definitely miss Turner since while he was a good utility player, he just didn't really meet the pro cut in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, he filled in when needed and was a fun guy to be around from what I can imagine in the clubhouse but the Mets need to start getting some serious on-the-field players, not just ones that players like. Hefner was decent but again, just didn't seem to cut it. Atchinson was pretty bad so that makes sense. I absolutely am happy that the Mets finally cut Valdespin after not only his poor performance, his Biogenesis suspension, but for his absolute horrible morale, ethics, and personality. He lashed out at Terry Collins in front of his players because he was demoted so I'm glad he's gone and never coming back. I have zero tolerance for players who cheat in one of the sports I love so I hope he ends up working at a supermarket. Quintanilla was a short term kind of player for the most part so we need to fill our Shortstop issues in free agency.

- Speaking of free agency, the Mets absolutely need to make a HUGE splash before 2013 is over. They can do so by easily signing Granderson which will show their backing up their words about spending some money in the offseason. I'd like to also see them sign one more. Everyone is loving the Boston Red Sox model of bringing in quality players who play for the team and not for the money. Teams are trying to learn from what worked in their miracle season by following the formula to a degree, even if it means taking some of their players away. From what I have gathered, Stephen Drew would be a solid fit for the Mets and a major upgrade for them at Shortstop. He's looking for a multi-year deal and if they can get Granderson for four-years and then offer Drew something similar, it'll prove the Mets want to contend next year not just to other teams but for their fanbase. Patience wears thin when you are in New York. Even David Wright is anxious to see the moves his team makes.

Mack Ade – AM Report – 8-8-13 – Wilmer Flores, Jordany Valdespin, Outfielders

 



John Sickles on Wilmer Flores –

“In a perfect world, Flores will develop into a .300 hitter with at least moderate power and an adequate glove at second or third base. The world isn't perfect, of course, and it's possible he could be just a .260-.270 hitter with a below average OBP and not enough power to force his way into a permanent spot, especially if he has to move to first base. That said, I do think Flores made real progress over the last two seasons, he is still young enough to grow further, and it makes sense to let him play. The Pacific Coast League doesn't have much left to teach him.” http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/8/7/4595628/prospect-of-the-day-wilmer-flores-inf-new-york-mets

 

MetsBlog did a survey and asked their readers what position should Wilmer Flores play. The winner was first base, but I was surprised the survey was even taken. MetsBlog knows that the team officials aren’t going to run the team based on what the fans want. This isn’t an example of bad writing. It’s an example of all of us Mets writers being bored with another failed season and just trying to come up with something to fill the spaces.

 

There's a lesson here about Flores' 3-run double last night. You have to recognize a bat when you see it and if someone in you organization is leading the AAA in RBIs, and, at the same time you keep scoring two runs every game... it was 2-0 again before Flores' hit last night, right?  Great pitching wins games but you need more than two runs to get the job done also.

The important thing here is the kid isn't starting off his MLB career going 1-21 or something like that. Hitting below .100 would only put holes in the glove and I've watched first year players never come back from their first couple of games in the Bigs (Eddie Kunz and Alay Soler come to mind...).

Games are now being won by the young players... Juan Lagares... Flores... and with that, a pitching gem by Matt Harvey and another quality start by Jenrry Mejia.  75% of these names weren't even supposed to matter on opening day.

Things are definitely starting to look up.

 

Mike Puma –

                “A person in the organization who spoke to Valdespin after he was suspended on Monday said the flighty utilityman seemed oblivious to the fact he won’t be getting paid during his suspension.”

I love this portion of Puma’s story Wednesday morning. This kid’s ego is so big, he hasn’t even got to the money part yet. Amazing.

 

 

I’m going to highlight seven outfielders here that I feel have a chance to someday be a starter in the Mets outfield. I’ve left out a fair amount of household names… Kirk Nieuwenhuis,  Lucas Duda, Alonzo Harris, Darrell Ceciliani, and Travis Taijeron. Each has their own tales of woe but the botoom line is the fact that their total game has not panned out to make them successful at the major league level. Some have been there, while some may never. I may be wrong here (please let another Juan Lagares develop here), but I don’t think I am.

And one last thing on Lagares. There is a strong possibility that, in time, and with increased bravado and maturity mixed together in the proper amounts, Lagares may turn out to be an outstanding Mets centerfielder in the current Carlos Gomez mold. Wouldn’t it be something if we already developed one of the three outfielders we need?

That being said, let’s look at some of the guys that I do like:

 

Cesar Puello – Bobby Ojeda said on Tuesday evening that you have to throw out all the stats on Puello because of the suspension. I don’t agree. Whatever Puello did or didn’t do (remember, they never were tested) happened before the 2013 season in which he just left leading the league in runs batted in. I still rank Puello far more talented than Lagares and, IMO, he will be the full time Mets right fielder by July 2014. I see him as a 15-20HR/65-80RBI guy that can also provide a decent defensive game. The emergence of Lagares and projection here of Puello will allow Sandy Alderson to concentrate all his FA outfield efforts into the addition of one player in the off-season (feel free to get us a SS too, Sandy). Again, IMO, this is the real deal.

 

Matt den Dekker – all of us minor league weenies had a lot of promise for the 25-year old (turning 26 this month) DD. His back to back 2011 (17-HR, 68-RBI) and 2012 (17-HR, 76-RBI) seasons showed great pop promise and it seemed the only thing he needed to work on was his K-AB ratio (210 strikeouts over 1072 at-bats) which would probably increase his overall batting average (2011 - .265, 2012 - .274) as well. All this was a moot point in Met-land because of his stellar defense in center field. He impressed the hell out of the brass last season and it was decided early on that 2012 would be used to work on his plate patience which would hopefully lead to a September call up. Well, it wouldn’t happen after he broke his wrist and had to have surgery. Two things happened. First, the 2013 season has become basically a wash as he has now returned and begun to build up wrist strength (105-AB, .264, 3-HR, 24-RBI), but more important, he left the door open for Juan Lagares to take over center field in CitiField. Now, you’re just dealing with a 26-year old minor leaguer without a job.

 

Cory Vaughn – My favorite to write about. I’ve never questioned the 24-year old Vaughn’s talent. I do think he sometimes gets bored with the game which leads to his hot and cold spells. Lately, he has added a number of minor annoying injuries that have also set back his progress. He’s now finally returned to the AA-Binghamton team he’s supposed to be playing for this season and hitting .310 overall there in 76-AB (68 additional rehab at-bats for GCL (.172) and St. Lucie (.205). This was supposed to be a banner AA year after finishing 2012 second in the league in home runs (23). It just isn’t going to happen now, but you should still see him move on and play Las Vegas next season.

 

Dustin Lawley – we covered Lawley under 3B, but, on this team, his future would be in LF. @013 has been a magical year for him, but, at 24, he’s got one year in Binghamton (2014) to prove he should be in Queens. I told someone on the phone yesterday that (like Josh Edgin) you only have to meet Lawley once to know that he’s mature enough to make the jump to the majors. He just needs to prove he can hit at one more level before he would get his shot. Me? I would love an eventual OF of Lagares, Puell, and Lawley and prove all the critics wrong who thought that this team could never home grow an outfield. Wait a minute… wasn’t I one of those critics?

One additional thing on Lawley... I went out of my way yesterday to discuss him with both people within the St. Lucie family and the scouting community that evaluate minor leaguers. These are the same people that first recognized a difference, quality wise, in the game that both Juan Lagares and Wilmer Flores were showing at that level. I basically ignored what they told me because I had first hand knowledge on both of them... but, we're talking apples and oranges here. I'm seeing children with baby fat come through Savannah. The maturity only begins in Florida.

EVERYBODY I talked to yesterday told me not to worry about Lawley's age. They said he has worked very hard after a dismal start (April: .204) and they see no reason for him to play Las Vegas. One said him playing 2015 in Vegas would be 'silly'. He runs good... he plays a decent outfield... he's a good third baseman... and defensively, he should never be compared to Lucas Duda.

Now, offensively, EVERYONE says he's for real. They all use the same word... he hits the ball HARD.

I asked flat out... can you see him being the Mets starting left fielder in 2015...  they all said "yes".

 

Brandon Nimmo – I was there when Nimmo started this season and it looked like it was going to be magical (April: .322). Part of this could have been the fact that he batted before Jayce Boyd and Kevin Plawecki, who were also on fire. Nimmo’s woes started on April 29^th when he hit the DL with a bruised left hand. Both Boyd and Plawecki moved on to St. Lucie and Nimmo’s season has never been the same. He’s hitting .258 overall, but it’s the 107-Ks in 306-Abs that has Mets officials shaking their heads. Still, he’s 20-years old and, frankly, I’d repeat him again next year in Savannah. He can’t help this team now and it would be nice that he worked out worth the pick in the draft.

 

Ivan Wilson – Wilson is a highly touted high school prospect ($624,900) out of Louisiana (Ruston) who the Mets drafted third this year. He’s currently hitting .229 for the GCL Mets which, frankly, is pretty damn good since he was playing high school summer ball less than two months ago. Wilson turned 18 in May and it’s impossible to project anything this early. Like most his age, he’s going through that K/AB ratio thing (45-K/105-AB)and getting used to the grind. We’ll check back at the end of the season and see how he is progressing. 

 

Wuilmer Becerra – This is the 18-year old throw-in in the R.A. Dickey deal, who is currently hitting .211 for the GCL Mets. He came out of the box strong in June (.346) but followed that with a dismal .176 July (.143 so far in August). No home runs and only 13 runs batted in to boot. Scouts still say he’s worth keeping a watch-see on so we will.

 

Overall, the Mets don’t have enough quality full time outfielders and it’s still very questionable whether or not the system has the players to solve this. My hopes is first, that Juan Lagares proves what is goig on right now is more than beginner’s luck. My guess is Cesar Puello fits in somewhere here. Past that, I’m not that confident of much more.

 

The LTJ Editorial: "The rage in Valdespin now makes much more sense"

 

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 8-6-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“The rage in Valdespin now makes much more sense”

Earlier this week Major League Baseball officially announced the twelve players who were caught using Performance Enhancing Drugs and their consequential suspensions of their involvement. Of course NY Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez was made the greatest example as he was suspended for the rest of this season and all of the 2014 season due to his involvement and bringing other players to the Biogenesis clinic that distributed the drugs. One name that surprised many in the baseball world, especially fans of the NY Mets, was to see the name of OF Jordany Valdespin on that list. Just like the others, he was hit with a 50-game suspension and brings some clarity to his recent altercations with the team.

A few weeks ago, I thought it was weird that the moment Valdespin heard he got demoted, he lashed out to Manager Terry Collins. He did that in front of other players as it was rumored that teammates had to physically restrain Valdespin due to the outlash. His behavior was uncalled for as he even used a profanity to describe Collins that hit all the newspapers in New York and of course social media, which showed just how embarrassing the entire ordeal was. Once I read about this incident, I knew that his time would soon come to an end with this team even though he was sent down to our minor system. You just don't call your Manager that kind of profanity and expect all to be forgiven, especially when you do that in front of the guys you play alongside with every game. What happened to being humble? He should be grateful to be playing for this organization, not also forgetting, he is playing on the professional level of Major League Baseball. You just don't do those things, especially when you're 25 years old. You are an adult for crying out loud, not a teenager playing baseball in the street.

As if things couldn't get even more embarrassing, Valdespin was the main catalyst in a bench-clearing brawl in AAA-Vegas. Even in our minor league system, he just couldn't stay out of trouble or out of the media. AAA-Vegas is about progressing, perfecting, and adjusting your game. Not to get into fights with future prospects of professional baseball. What are you teaching the young guys down there? When things get bad, just start fighting? What does that truly accomplish? If you are demoted from the majors to the minors, be humble, take your shots like a man, and mentor those around you as you improve. At the end of the day, you are still a member of the NY Mets and should act professional at all times, especially in that situation in the minors. When 1B Ike Davis was sent down the the minors, you didn't hear any of this nonsense. Not a peep. He did his time to improve what he needed to fix and was called up when he was ready. No bench-clearing brawls, no immature antics, just all about baseball and getting back to the majors. I respect guys like Davis who did it the right way, the real way.

I'm pretty sure we have seen the last of Valdespin on the NY Mets. There is no reason to keep him since we have other prospects that are getting ready for the once in a lifetime opportunity to play professional baseball with this team. They just called up 3B Wilmer Flores who will debut tonight and we have a nice core of young guys who will bring more talent to us than Valdespin ever would have brought to us anyway. I'm glad he got caught because cheating should never be used as a way to get an advantage over those who naturally work hard to play at their best level. Plenty of legends did it the right way and are all going to be remembered for their ethics, athletics, and clutch performances not for using PEDs. Valdespin is nowhere near a legend obviously, even before he was caught cheating he wasn't anything special to be honest. Now with this suspension, it's even more clear he is a disgrace to this team, to Major League Baseball, and of course, to himself.

At the end of the day, he will serve his suspension and always be tagged with being associated with being a cheater. Everything now makes sense, the outburst against Collins, the bench-clearing brawl, and how most reports say most of his teammates didn't like him either. They said he was very immature and didn't focus on what matters most – baseball.

Mack Ade – AM Report – 8-6-13 – Third Base, Jordany Valdespin, Cesar Puello, Noah Syndergaard

 

3B-1B-2B Wilmer Flores will join the New York Mets today. It's his 22nd birthday.

 

OF Cory Vaughn has completed his rehab and replaces Cesar Puello in the Binghamton outfield.

 

Relief pitcher alert... we talked about John Church earlier this week. He's keeping up the dominance in the AAA league, going: 0.2-IP,  1-H, 0-R, 1-K, 1.23. I can't think of a better September call-up right now.

 

We’re moving along in our series, taking a look at the system via position. Today, we look at the future of third base.

The future of third base? I thought David Wright signed a 100-year contract and we didn’t have to worry about this position anymore? Well, sorry fans, but even Wright is human and, as we’re learning right now, the Mets need to have a plan for this position in case something happens that could lead to an even more debilitating injury.

There are guys on the current 2014 team that can play third base… Josh Satin and Daniel Murphy are two of them… but let’s go into the system and see what’s there:

Wilmer Flores – AAA: - Flores, a natural third baseman, currently leads the league in RBIs (86), is tied for 11^th in home runs (15) and 8^th in batting average (.322). He’s done all this during a year in which he was 21-years old (turns 22 today) and, though the Mets have long since moved him to second base, he retuned there after the Wright injury to work out there in case he’s called up. My vote goes here just to get the major league jitters out of his system for the next 3-4 weeks and we can call get a look-see at the final product. I remember him well form his baby-fat days in Savannah, but that seems like decades ago. Bring the kid up so we can get a look at him. (update... he was promoted last night)

Dustin Lawley – A+ - Lawley is the ‘other’ 80+ RBI player in the system (I can’t remember the last time the Mets had two at the same time… had to be the Strawberry era). Lawley leads the FSL in home runs (23… 5 more than who is in 2^nd place), runs batted in (83), and slugging percentage (.536). Yes, he has struck out 84 times in 403-AB, but, at this point, we have to raise Lawley to the potential major league slugger status. The real good news here is he also plays corner outfield and we all know we could use at least one of them. Lawley is 24 and will play Binghamton on opening day in 2014. If he keeps this up he could easily end the season in the silly PCL and be ready for a Queens opening day in 2015. I really like what I have watched develop here this year. He was excellent in 2012 at Savannah (.333, 14-HR, 66-RBI) but he’s playing 2013 levels we just don’t normally see in this system. He’s got my vote for 2015. Remember… he plays half his games in a stadium with the exact dimensions of CitiField.

Pedro Perez – Perez is playing his third year in the Mets organization after signing as a 16-year old International prospect. This year, he’s hitting .276 for Kingsport (turns 19 at the end of the month) and has only nine errors, which is low for a young Latin infielder. These are excellent numbers for someone his age and with his limited stateside experience.

Jhoan Urena – Urena is another international bonus baby. The 19 year old is playing for the GCL Mets and is hitting .272. He has a few more errors than Perez (12) but again, higher levels of infield errors are normal for young Latin American players that are used to playing on inferior infields as children. 

Overall, having only Wright and a bunch of utility players is good enough, but also having guys like Flores and Lawley in the system give the Mets remarkable depth at third base (as well as outfield, second base and possibly, first base).

 

I can talk a little more about Jordany Valdespin now. A bunch of you have asked me recently when the Mets would be calling him back up to Queens and I told you that you will never see him in a New York Mets uniform again. Sometimes I’m privy to information that I can’t share to others. I don’t want to spend much time on this creep. He will be DFA’d and the next time you read about him will probably be about something non-baseball related. I knew this was a bad guy when I saw that the Latin players in Savannah didn’t even want to ride in the same car with him, no less sit next to his locker. Yes, he had more natural baseball talent than the players around him, but he was never a “professional”  

 

Jim Callis on Cesar Puello –

Of the 13 players getting Biogenesis-related discipline today, only one still qualifies as a prospect: Mets outfielder Cesar Puello. He ranked No. 77 on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect list entering 2011 before leveling off the next two seasons. He has rebounded in 2013, putting up .328/.405/.550 slash stats with 16 homers and 24 steals in Double-A at age 22. Puello, who now must serve a 50-game suspension, is one of the top position prospects in a Mets system that’s light in that regard. He has impressive tools, including above-average speed, raw power and arm strength, though he still must make more consistent contact. I’d guess that New York will welcome him back after his suspension, because it needs outfielders and he could crack the big league lineup by the end of 2014. I also wouldn’t attribute his strong season solely to performance-enhancing drugs, because his name surfaced in connection to Biogenesis in March and I’d assume he made certain to stay clean afterward. http://ht.ly/nEhSu

According to my sources, Puello has played the entire 2013 season ‘clean’ which is quite impressive. It makes one wonder why you would even think about using something to enhance a talent that is already there. This is not thought of in the Mets offices as anything more than something stupid. He will be able to work off the 50-games this season as part of the 40-man squad and all September Mets games will count also. Look for him to open the 2014 season in Las Vegas.

I want this guy in the 2014 outfield, but I'm willing to wait another six months to get him there. What you can do is pencil in RF for him come around July 1st.

I have no idea what Sandy Alderson is going to do in the off-season to address the outfield. Marlon Byrd, Eric Young Jr. and Juan Lagares has been fun to watch but it's not two Uptons and a Heywood. I do feel a little better about the long term future when I see what Puello and Dustin Lawley (ETA opening day 2015) have done. These are two legitimate home grown outfield prospects that just may solve (along with Wilmer Flores and Travis d'Arnaud) our power problems some day.

 

Jim Callis on Noah Syndergaard –

Syndergaard’s Double-A performance is in line with how he has performed since the Blue Jays took him with the 38th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He now has gone 21-11, 2.47 as a pro, with a 309-78 K-BB ratio in 281 innings. Toronto may rue the R.A. Dickey trade that cost it Syndergaard and the game’s best catching prospect (Travis d’Arnaud) more than the Giants regret the Carlos Beltran deal that sacrificed Wheeler. I was going to write that Syndergaard never generated quite the buzz that Wheeler did at the same stage of his career . . . but that’s not true. Wheeler was 19 when he signed as the No. 6 overall choice in 2009, and he ranked No. 49 on BA’s Top 100 Prospects list the next spring. Snydergaard was just 17 when he was drafted, and after his age-19 season in 2012 he ranked 54th on the Top 100. So at a similar age, Syndergaard and Wheeler were equally well regarded. Wheeler dropped to No. 55 after his abbreviated pro debut as a 20-year-old, while at the same point Syndergaard jumped to 23rd on our Midseason Top 50. His performance shows no sign of slacking off, so I’d expect that Syndergaard will rank somewhere in the same range in our next Top 100—considerably higher than Wheeler was at the same stage. Syndergaard’s stuff seemingly continues to get better while he maintains his advanced feel for pitching. He has pitched more regularly in the mid-90s this year, and he also has added power and consistency with his breaking ball. His future looks just as bright as Wheeler’s, and his superior pitchability makes him a better bet to succeed. I’d enhance Syndergaard’s BA Grade to 65/Medium. http://ht.ly/nEhSu

                                                Everybody is jumping on the Thor-train.

Mack Ade – PM Report – 6-27-13 – Ruben Tejada, Jordany Valdespin, Jon Niese, Rafael Montero, Matt Krook

 

Ruben Tejada (quad) will begin a rehab assignment later this week for the Gulf Coast League Mets.

This is good news, even if you aren’t a fan of Tejada. Right now, this team needs as many healthy bodies as you can find and in my world, the sooner they get back someone who can play SS and 2B, the quicker they can get Jordany Valdespin off this team for good.

The future here is all about replacing the old with someone better. If I hear one more person tell me that Valdespin is a great pinch hitter, blood will come out of my eyes. And, I never want to see his slap at a ball thrown to him from the catcher at second base. I’ve told you for years that he has refused to let a routine play remain that and it repeatedly got him suspended in the Mets chain.

I’m not sure if Ruben Tejada is a long term answer at shortstop, but what I do know is Omar Quintanilla was a step up to Tejada when needed, and Tejada will be a step up to Valdespin as a utility infielder. 

                                                                        Courtney Hawkins hit his 14th Home Run at High-A Winston Salem

 

Terry Collins told WFAN that Jon Niese will not need shoulder surgery on his torn rotator cuff.

                I would have been a lot happier if one of the Mets doctor went on WFAN and said this.

In my book, any return of a guy that has a partial tear of his rotator cuff in June, is a long shot. You can’t play with injures like this. Look at Michael Fulmer’s ‘torn miniscus’ that was going to put him down for 3-4 weeks. No sweat, right?

Do yourself a favor. Drop Niese from your Mets-mind and let this season play out without him. Let the bonus be if he comes back. The team is going to have to play the rest of June and, at least, all of July, without a left handed starter. So be it. Nobody is gong to trade to the Mets a solution to this problem.

Stay concentrated on what this team needs long term and let this injury play out.

 

Who has better future, Montero or @Noahsyndergaard… Jonathan Mayo ‏@JonathanMayoB3 - I'd give slight edge to Syndergaard, like both. 

 

Rafael Montero and Noah Syndergaard to Represent Mets in 2014 Futures Game.

                Any press is good press.

In a perfect world, both these guys go to Queens, but it seems to me that if anyone is being marketed here, it would be Montero. He’s already been showcased during last year’s spring training, and he’s going to major league ready one year earlier than Syndergaard. Yes, the Mets need him too, but they can live without him if Thor turned out to be another 96-99 mph power pitcher like Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler. The rotation would actually set up better with the lefty Niese and a finesse picher like Dillon Gee or Logan Verrett.

My guess… you’re going to get a major piece of the puzzle right after the Future’s game for a package headed up with Montero.

 

Matt Krook passes on Marlins, will attend Oregon

Krook was the 35^th pick overall out of St. Ignatius (CA) Prep and some projected him as the top left handed high school pitcher in the draft. You have to read into this the choice this kid… attend a great baseball school like Oregon or go play baseball for a fucked up owner inn a town with no fans. Miami should have known better here and drafted a college junior. There’s no way in hell a kid with this much talent wants to die in South Beach (yeah, I know, they don’t play in South Beach… or, was that the Heat?).

2-25-13 – Jordany Valdespin, Jon Niese, Matt den Dekker, Mets-Michigan Highlights

Matt Harvey - 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 39 pitches (25 strikes)

Rafael Montero – 2.0-IP, 20-pitchers, 16-strikes, 92-93, 94

Mike Kerwick‏ - @mikekerwick

An NL talent evaluator who saw Wheeler yesterday and Harvey today said Harvey is better right now. "[But] not much. They're pretty close."

Hi Mack, Well I'm just off finally getting my "fix" of Mets baseball...damn, it was a LONG off season and a few points if I may. First can they PLEASE stop talking about Wheeler and D'Arnaud making the club out of spring training. Like were gonna lose a year of team control for a month in Vegas. Look, I know their chopping at the bit for these kids and I get it but let’s be real here. Second, I find it curious that both Niese and Spin got no love coming into the spring and I don't get it. Spin according to scouts had a good winter report and Niese had a breakthrough season last year and could be our opening day pitcher  I have NO expectations about Johan this year except dumping the salary whenever we can and that was before the no velocity thing). When you think about a Wheeler, Harvey, Niese top 3 it really gets you excited. Why Spin and Den Decker aren't talked about more maybe you could comment on. With Duda in left we HAVE to have a centerfielder who can cover the ground and he's our best defensive OF prospect and has speed and power, does he K a lot...who doesn't these days, but now is the time to try him out. Spin has by far the most overall talent and should be given every opportunity at second while Murph recovers and then try him in right. I like Byrd as a 4th or 5th but the kids should play. Thanks, Gary Seagren

                        Regarding Jordany Valdespin, it’s no big secret that no other Met wants to have a locker next to this guy. He sits there after every game intragraming, Facebooking, and Twittering pictures of himself. This is one seriously distorted guy who also has a problem with authority. There have been multiple suspensions in the minors plus multiple times that players in the major league clubhouse have had to pull him aside and read him the rules of the team decorum. He’s not going to change, but, as long as he can produce better than the other utility players around him, he’ll stay on the team. It’s really kind of sad because we will never know how talented he could have been if he allowed himself to be coached.

                        Regarding Jon Niese, I agree with you that most fans take Niese for granted. He’s a workhorse that just goes out there and does his job. Wheeler and Harvey are going to get most of the press and Syndergaard, Montero, and Tapia will be featured in posts by the minor league weenies. I think he will become a premier pitcher when he can settle into the SP4 role once Syndergaard comes aboard and matures. I think he’s a fine SP3 but he’d be a dominant SP4.

                        Regarding Matt den Dekker, dD has only two obstacles to climb before heading the Queens. One, he needs to stop getting off to such a slow start every time he’s promoted to a new level. Secondly, 343 strike outs in 1194 professional at-bats is simply unacceptable at any level. He’s get his turn, but not until he solves these two problems in his game.

            Collin Cowgill might as well take the rest of spring off. He went 2-2 in his second ST game, which included a walk, and RBI, a steal, and beating out a grounder to the whole for his last hit. It’s called “a Cowgill”. 7Train is, I’m sure, making the t-shirt as we speak. He had made the team.

             On the other side, Lucas Duda is really struggling with his new batting stance. It’s not that he’s striking out all the time… it’s that he’s striking out all the time so badly. This is the last thing you want to see happen to someone that needs a shot of confidence every day.

Regarding the Mets - University of Michigan Game:

                   Mets won 5-2

                   Jon Niese, Dillon Gee, Rafael Montero, Hansel Robles, and Carlos Torres pitched ... total 9-K, 3-BB, 8-H

                   2B/3B Wilmer Flores hit a home run

                   3B/SS Brandon Hicks went 2-3, 2-R

                   OF Marlon Byrd continued his 1.000 batting average, going 1-1.

2-20-13 – Justin Turner, Jeremy Hefner, Jordany Valdespin, 2014 Outfield, Reese Havens

Steve Adams of MLBTR pointed out that ESPN’s Adam Rubin has speculated that the Mets will be shopping IF Jason Turner and RP Jeremy Hefner. Both have one more option left. I’m not exactly sure that the Turner rumors continue after Daniel Murphy was sent back to New York for rehab. Debt is not the Mets strong point, especially in the infield. The Murphy injury sound like a week to ten day kind of rest and recovery, but we’ve been here before with Mets infielders. For now, Turner will fill in with players like Brandon Hicks, and Jordany Valdespin (possibly Josh Satin, who isn’t on the 40-man roster).

In a perfect world, Reese Havens would have been ready to take over and we might never see Murphy again (not that I’m wishing that), but the Havens draft pick just hasn’t developed. I’m very curious what the Mets are going to do come April with second base. Havens could wind up back in Binghamton, but it really is Danny Muno’s (.280 at A+) turn to play there.Then there’s Wilmer Flores, who really needs to start a conversion to second at AAA. So, where does Havens go?

As for Hefner, why would the Mets think they could get a player for someone they don’t even want themselves? It must have drove him crazy watching the Mets throw minor league contracts out to all the guys they brought in. Yeah, let’s sign four or five guys and then keep Hefner around until all the other teams have already figured out who their 40-man rosters are going to be? Nice.

It seems to me that teams evolve and the days of both Turner and Hefney playing in Queens might have played out.

Hi Mack, After a very long winter I can’t wait until the games start. I live in Sarasota Fl. and catch the St. Lucie club when they come to Bradenton. First series is April 12-14 and it looks like we'll have a great staff so it won’t matter which games I go to. Two questions for you:

I know TC's talking about Jordany Valdespin at 2nd base but why not try him in right field? He played there in winter ball and has more upside than any other OFer we have. Byrd just takes up space.....really don't get this one.

With the scarcity of outfield help next winter and that's if all those predicted don't sign wouldn't it be more prudent on our part to look for solid AA outfield prospects in exchange for our pitching surplus or are you thinking that they'll go for a big trade for a major league OFer? Yours is my favorite blog by far, keep up the great work. Thanks, Gary Seagren

Hi, Gary.

Regarding Valdespin, it’s confusing to me also because the announcement came before the Daniel Murphy injury. At that point the Mets didn’t need another second baseman and you would think the best place for Valdespin to compete in the spring would be the outfield.

I think you’re seeing Collins cave into veterans being added to the mix of many positions and this just may be his early downfall. Old guys usually play like old guys.

Regarding the 2014 outfield, all bets are off right now. You’re going down the right path and trades for guys like Johan Santana, John Buck, and Shaun Marcus could produce one or two AA/AAA prospect outfielders. In addition, members of the Binghamton and St. Lucie pitching staff will be ripe for picking by other clubs for the right exchange. I’m not exactly sure who on the current Mets team will survive this. Duda, due to his bat, probably has the best chance, and organizationally, den Dekker the best to rise.

Uh-oh… Reese Havens just stood around today and didn’t participate in batting practice. Here we go again…

2-19-13 – Game Pitchers, Jordany Valdespin, Daniel Murphy, Rafael Montero, Noah Syndergaard

Mets pitching:

      2-23 vs. Washington - Marcum, Wheeler, Mazzoni, Gorski, Familia, Parnell

      2-24 vs. Univ. of Michigan - Niese, Gee, Lyon, Robles, Montero, Torres

      2-24 vs. Houston - Harvey, Hefner, Laffey, Feliciano, Atchison, Edgin

      2-25 vs. Washington - McHugh, Germen, Ramirez, Burke, Hawkins, Carson, Rice
       

          Well, we sure should have something to write about after these game.

          I am particularly interested in seeing every pitch that comes out of Familia’s hand. He needs a strong start this spring if he has any chance of making the parent squad come April 1.

Jordany Valdespin

Valdespin possesses one of the best overall combinations of power, speed, and athleticism in the entire organization and though he's still got plenty of questions left to answer, increased patience would go a long way toward making him a viable building block for this club. While I may be on an island with this one, I fully expect Valdespin to open a lot of eyes in 2013 by eventually forcing himself into the lineup on a nearly regular basis -- regardless of where he's playing defensively -- and perhaps even getting a shot at the currently vacant leadoff spot.

I’m not going to go into my anti-Spin rant anymore. We all know what kind of dude this guy is, but, at the same time, he possesses talent that is needed, particularly after you read the next entry on this post.

Some of you might remember me talking him up four years ago. The talent has always been there.

Sandy Alderson announced that Daniel Murphy is experiencing pain in his right intercostal muscle and will head back to NY for evaluation.

          This was a sliding injury. Murphy hasn’t had complete success sliding in the past.

          There’s a ton of speculation on Twitter who the backup is. On paper it’s Turner; however, this would be a perfect time to slot Valdespin back into his natural position and see if he holds his own.

Word from camp (and from Jon Heyman) that the big hit of the camp is fire-baller Rafael Montero. There’s even talk of him being moved to the pen and possibly be used as a closer in some of the ST games. I can’t speak for how Montero could handle such a bump up. We all remember the Eddie Kunz fiasco a few years ago. A language barrier prevented him and I developing any kind of relationship when he pitched in Savannah, but it was a delight to watch him on the mound. The real bonus was the fact that he actually pitched better at the A+ level after his promotion. His SO9 ratio went from a first half Savannah season of 6.81 to 9.95 in St. Lucie. BABIP was .273 and FIP came in at 2.46.

Every camp has a star and I think we’re looking at this one.

This also is one of those ‘wild open’ camps that anything can happen ad anyone can make. I’m sure Montero will report to Binghamton, but it’s the brass, not the fans, that are bragging on this kid right now.

Lastly on Montero… I went back to the notes from an interview I did with Frank Viola last season just before the all-star break. Here was his comments on a “word association” game we had (and I threw in what he said about all the pitchers):

Montero – “incredible fastball and command”

Vasquez – “typically lefty from Mexico – pitches backwards and gets away with it”

Fulmer – “impressive, asks questions, a quick learn”

Tapia – “incredible stuff – needs tuning – a 97 sinker (!)”

deGrom – “love him, sits at 94,, had TJS”

Verritt – “too early to tell, questionable overall stuff, slider is devastating”

Chism – “bulldog,crafty, smart”

Camarena – “crafty, three quality pitches”

Bradford – “tough SOB, heavy sinker”

Pants – “an enigma”

Syndergaard vs. Sanchez

Both pitchers will be in the Florida State League (High-A) this season with an outside change at reaching the Eastern League (Double-A) before the season ends. A lot will happen in the two or three years before their debuts, but if each develops as I expect, Sanchez has a higher ceiling as an ace. Syndergaard, on the other hand, is realistically a second or a third starter. With that said, I am more confident that Syndergaard can complement his fastball and change up with a third offering than I am in Sanchez’s command profile. If I had to pick one of them to start a playoff game for me today, it would be Syndergaard. But talent like Sanchez’s is rare.

                   I don’t think there’s a second fiddle here.