The Morning Report 10.8.2015 | Mets SPs Just As Good as Dodgers SPs, Cuddyer Providing More than Just Production, Sandy Admits Whiffing on Turner, Clippard Leading the Bullpen

Peter Botte | NY Daily News- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly heaped praise on Mets young guns, “Those guys are really good. We’ve been looking at them for the last couple of days and even before that. These are some power arms with secondary pitches. They aren’t just guys going up there and chucking the fastball. Everybody in the league now throws 96-97-98. We see it all the time. So that’s not what makes them different. It’s the secondary stuff that makes them really good. They’ve got great arms and they’re in a good position, not only now but for the future, with those type of arms."

(Chris Soto: Yes....the Mets have themselves a very tall task of trying to get past Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grienke. However, lets not forget that the Mets have their own ridiculously good arms that the Dodgers will have to contend with. In addition, the Dodgers offense has not been very good during the 2nd half of the season. The Dodgers have been below the NL average in both batting average and OPS Post All-star break and they were in the bottom 3rd offensively during the month of September.)

Mike Vaccaro | New York Post- Today seems as good a time as any to report that Michael Cuddyer is still as upbeat a presence around the Mets. Which is to say: He’s just as happy as a platoon player as he was as a regular. “I’m not naïve,” Cuddyer says. “I have eyes. I saw what was going on here. I know people roll their eyes when they hear this sometimes, but winning is more important than money. And when I saw where this team was headed, seeing what was in the forecast, it reminded me of where we were in 2001 with Minnesota: a team building, not quite there yet, that was ready to move. Turns out I wasn’t far off.”

(Chris Soto: Fans sometimes focus to hard on stat lines in relation to player's salaries. Production is not the only thing that makes a ballplayer good, especially one that is deep in a career as Cuddyer is. The Mets didn't bring the 36 yr old in to be a centerpiece of an offensive machine. Cuddyer brings veteran leadership, a solid relationship with David Wright that enhances his leadership skills, and the effort and passion that comes with playing the game right. Ever watch him in a game? He runs out EVERY groundball....that kind of 100% effort rubs off on younger players, which is something the Mets have a lot of.)

Joe D. | New York Mets Report-  Essentially, the Mets front office decided to release Turner because he was due a raise in arbitration that would have paid him $750k. Monday, Mets GM Sandy Alderson spoke about that decision, “He was always sort of a marginal 40-man roster guy. We gave him more of an opportunity than he had elsewhere, and he did a nice job for us. But you’d have to say we missed on him.” Since leaving the Mets Turner has emerged as one of the Dodgers’ top hitters slashing at .314/.384/.492 with 47 doubles, 23 home runs to go with a 145 OPS+ and 8.4 fWAR over 675 at-bats. With runners in scoring position this season, Turner is batting .322/.404/.556.

(Chris Soto: Ya know...sometimes you win, sometimes you get burned....and Sandy is aware that he missed the boat on Justin Turner. However, in fairness, who would have expected this kind of production out of him? Before 2014, Turner had never posted an OPS above .711 despite getting some pretty ample playing time. Then again, ample and consistent are two different things. Consistent playing time can make a huge difference in a player's production and when the Dodgers finally gave Turner that opportunity, he paid them back 10-fold. Congrats to him.)

Andrew Harts | Just Mets- The acquisition of Tyler Clippard has arguably been as critical of an acquisition for the Mets as Cespedes was. Clippard has stepped up as the veteran in the pen to help aid and educate the younger and less experienced relievers in the bullpen, serving as a leader and a guide to help those less experienced than him. “A lot of the younger guys have looked to me for advice as far as what to expect in the postseason,” he explained. “To be over here in this dugout and do what we’ve done this year, I never would’ve predicted it or guessed it. But that’s the beauty of baseball, and I’m really happy to have the Mets uniform on at this point.”

(Chris Soto: The Clippard acquisition has been a god send for this team with the injuries to Blevins, the prolonged recovery of Parnell, and the Mejia suspension. There was so much inexperience in the Mets bullpen that I'm not sure I would have trusted taking a SP out until the 9th inning. The addition of him, and Addison Reed as well, has given the club a reliable trio that, while still not the best, can at least be depended on most nights to get the job done. )

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.

The LTJ Editorial: “Cuba, baseball, and here is to the Mets bringing the next big sensation!”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-11-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Cuba, baseball, and here is to the Mets bringing the next big sensation!”

For decades, the country of Cuba has been known as a hidden gem for tropical sights, world class cigars, and some of the purest sugar the world has ever seen. They have also been known to treat baseball like a religion out there. Children at very young ages practice in the streets and yards dreaming about making it in the big leagues. Cubans love baseball, it's just beyond words to describe the thrills of what happens on the diamond. For a really long time though, Cuban baseball players were banned from defecting to America to play for MLB. Luckily, just a few weeks ago, the government of Cuba officially lifted the ban of players playing in professional leagues outside of the country. Now, instead of having to defect, players are free to leave to join foreign leagues across the world. However, we all know that the fame, the glory, and of course, the money, comes from the USA. Keep in mind the embargo is still in place between the USA and Cuba, meaning, no business transactions can occur between both countries, this lift is just for athletes. The fact that now Cubans can come play the sports they love in this country is huge, provided they meet some criteria. They have to apply for a license through the US Treasury Department and have a residence outside of Cuba. All players also are required to pay taxes on their earnings to the Cuban government.

For the past 20 years, over 200 athletes have left Cuba to pursue their sports dreams in the USA. This MLB season alone, 21 Cubans defected to MLB teams and have made a tremendous impact on the game of baseball. Some of the most famous ones in the past few years are of course guys like Outfielder Yasiel Puig, Starting Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, Shortstop Yunel Escobar, and Outfielder Raul Ibanez just to name a few. Before Cuba lifted the ban, all salaries earned went directly to the Cuban government. Now they can start to live the American dream and start showing the world all the amazing talent that has come out of the country. The next big superstar proclaimed by most has already been scouted by some of the best scouts in all of MLB. Three of which are scouts from the NY Mets, much to the excitement of Mets fans everywhere. This particular player earned two Triple Crowns in the Cuban National Series league, which is unheard of. We all saw the damage this player caused in the World Baseball Classic this past March where he hit three home runs, and while batting .360 had nine runs batted in. I'm talking about Cuban First Baseman Jose Abreu.

Towards the start of October, Abreu held private auditions for over 30 different team scouts in the Dominican Republic, where he resides. He has officially been declared as a free agent and will certainly have a ton of interest from pretty much half the teams in MLB. He has such a raw power when hitting, he will grow into quite the sensation to whichever team gets to acquire his services. He could easily get 25-35 home runs against the top pitchers MLB has to offer, that's how much of an impact Abreu is going to have once he makes his major league debut. His defense at First Base is pretty solid as he has a decent arm and knows how to be quick with decisions. He's not the fastest of guys when it comes to base running and probably won't steal many bases, but he will be a great middle of the batting order kind of player. His at-bat presence is one of patience and waiting for the right opportunity to hit which will make him great in clutch game-winning situations.

It's no secret the Mets will have money to play with this offseason to bring in some much needed talent to make 2014 one to hopefully remember. When I think of First Base, one immediately thinks of the inconsistency of Ike Davis. I highly doubt the Mets will play the same game again next year of “hoping” Davis doesn't start off on another bad slump. Josh Satin is serviceable at best and while he would be a reliable backup to have, he just doesn't scream starting material at this moment. I love what Justin Turner did at First Base, but it's not really his natural position. While he filled in when needed nicely, I don't see Turner as the long-term answer. Same goes for Satin, who needs more time in the minors to develop. Abreu could be that huge missing piece the Mets need to bring solid defense, a hot bat, and some international flare to the team. Reports indicate that Abreu is seeking a deal in the area of four-years/$40 million since there is no guarantee he will replicate the success he had in Cuba in MLB. Bidding could get really out of control between teams. Once all the offers are on his table, who knows where he plans to go. Some say teams can easily go up to $60 million, so it all depends on what these scouts see that we don't to have the teams spend top money to grab him.

Is it a longshot that the Mets will bring in Abreu? Not really because bringing him in would give so many positives to the team. It's a fresh new soon to be superstar that will adjust very well with the Mets and of course in Citi Field. He would immediately fix our First Base situation and fans from across the world will come to see him play. The Mets would send a clear message to its fanbase that they want to contend in 2014 and for years to come. Acquiring Abreu and building around him would bring more credibility to that statement and have I mentioned, Abreu will bring us more wins. We haven't had a super productive and defensive First Baseman since the days of Carlos Delgado back in 2006.

Perhaps I'm getting too excited about all this. If the Mets had a press conference with the announcement of coming to terms with Abreu, can you imagine the headlines across the globe we'd see? Abreu can become the next big New York sensation and that will definitely pack the masses to get a first-hand look at any ballpark he plays in. Obviously the Mets aren't the only team in the hunt since most predict he will land in either Texas, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and yeah, even Pittsburgh. It's going to be a fun offseason like always in baseball, especially if you are a Mets fan. I just hope he does land with the Mets since that would not only surprise the baseball world, but it could the the first piece in building that championship caliber team we've been patiently waiting for.

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…

Mack Ade – Justin Turner – The Mets Future Leftfielder?

Mack Ade – Justin Turner – The Mets Future Leftfielder?

Terry Collins made a passing remark last month that just may reposition the Mets primary utility infielder into the outfield for 2013.

Justin Turner has been the perfect Met, especially in both the dugout and the clubhouse. If someone is doing something well on this team, hang around because turner will be there soon with a plate full of whipped cream. His production was down near the end of the season (August: .222, September: .214); however, he still finished the season with a respectful stat line: .269/.319/.392/.711.

Turner’s arrival in Queens had some bumps. He was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2005 (29^th round), but chose not to sign and returned to Cal State Fullerton as a senior. This was followed a year later with a 7^th round pick by Cincinnati plus a $50,000 bonus offer. He played three years in the Red chain but, in December 2008, was traded with UT Ryan Freel and IF Brandon Waring to Baltimore for catcher Ramon Hernandez

Turner had a wonderful year in 2009 playing second base for the Orioles  AAA affiliate, Norfolk (387AB, .300/.362/.388/.749), but he simply never got a real shot for the parent team (18-AB in 2009, 9-AB in 2010). He was release in 2010 and the Mets claimed him off waivers and assigned him to AAA-Buffalo.

Once again, he proved his ability at the AAA level, going:  .333/.390/.516/.906 in 312-AB. He was then named in 2011 as one of the utility infielder of the Mets; however, due to injuries to both David Wright (3B) and Daniel Murphy (2B) managed to carve out 435-AB, hitting .260/.334/.356/.690. Turner was named the NL Rookie of the Month for May 2011. He is the first Met to win the award since its creation in 2001.

 Turner is a right-handed hitter; however, his splits over the past three seasons (2010-2012) are only .230 against lefties but .271 vs. righties.  His role in 2012 was greatly diminished without any formal explanation by either Collins or Sandy Alderson. Most write it off to his returning to a primary utility role, while others have questioned the projected longevity of his future role.

Obviously, his .188/.241/.288/.529 stat line in winter ball isn’t doing him any good, but don’t count the biggest Mets fan out yet. I contacted him via Twitter and he responded back within an hour:

Mack Ade @JohnMackinAde     29 Dec - @redturn2 - writing a feature on you... turning you into the Mets LFer in 2013...

              Justin Turner @redturn2 - @JohnMackinAde i'll do anything to get in the lineup everyday

That’s the Justin Turner we all know and love and my money is on him come the spring.

Frank Gray - Daniel Murphy: A little faith can go a long way



Photo by Mack Ade

The New York Mets have searched for a second baseman for two years. That includes the final year of Luis Castillo's tenure in Queens. They have tried Justin Turner, Chin Lung Hu, Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy among others. Of these players, Tejada and Murphy stood out. Turner has becomes a fan favorite as well.

With the departure of Jose Reyes, the Mets will be filling the void at short stop with Tejada. That leaves Turner and Murphy to pick up the slack at second base. Last season, Murphy impressed with his bat (.320 AVG, 6 HR and 49 RBI) but not his glove (10 errors). The exact opposite can be said for Turner (.260 AVG, 4 HR and 51 RBI). Both were counted on to fill in for multiple positions.

There have been reports that the Mets will be sticking with Murphy as the starter, there has been a collective cry of outage from the fanbase for the most part.  This begs an important question. Why? Did he make far too many errors and a few base-running blunders last season? Sure. Is he the first to do so while playing multiple positions? Absolutely not!

There have been examples of players that started off their careers on a bad note in the field and settled into their roles to become solid players. One example was written over the weekend by Mack's Mets friend and Mets360 blogger Brian Joura. He compares Murphy to Lou Piniella early in his playing career. It's astounding how similar the numbers are.

He committed seven errors in his first full season, while Murphy had 10. He had a .290 AVG with 22 HR and 302 hits in his first 300 games. When compared to Murphy during that same stretch, it's a difference of one hit, two points in the AVG and two home runs in 11 fewer at bats for Murphy. Piniella was a one time All-Star and a Rookie of the Year award winner that played 18 seasons and had a career .291 AVG. For me, however, Sweet Lou is a gauge of Murphy's minimum potential.

Another higher benchmark may be Ryan Sandberg. Believe it or not, Sandberg's numbers through his first 300 games are nearly identical to Daniel Murphy. Through Sandberg's first two full seasons, he played three different position and had 25 errors. That is not a typo.

He had just 15 HR, 102 RBI and a .265 AVG in 314 games combined between the two seasons. As everyone knows, the following year, he won the MVP award and went on to a Hall of Fame career. By comparison, Murphy has had 20 HR, 129 RBI and a .292 AVG in 313 games.

Am I saying Murphy is destined for this greatness? Not at all. But I am saying he is capable settling into his role as a second baseman and using his bat to outweigh his glove. Like Sandberg, Murphy's glove will come around. Will he win a Gold Glove nine times like Ryan Sandberg? Probably not, but the point is he could become a reliable fielder as well.

The Cubs and their fans gave Sandberg a chance. They showed faith in him and he made that faith pay off. The Mets and our fans need to do the same with Murphy. He is more than capable of taking the reigns of the second base position for the next decade if they show him faith now.

He may not develop into a Hall of Fame candidate like Ryan Sandberg, but he may be better than Lou Piniella in his playing days. Only time will tell, but the Mets need to show dedication to him in order to give him that chance to blossom into his potential. If they do, he may make that faith in him pay off ten fold for the organization.

Mets – Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Garrett Olson, Albert Cordero, Justin Turner

1-3-12 - mets360.  - 5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, Triple-A, .298/.403/.505 in 221 PA - The only thing that held back Nieuwenhuis last year was an injured shoulder. Otherwise, he would have made his major league debut and would be a front runner for a backup outfield position in the majors in 2012. Now, Nieuwenhuis will likely return to Triple-A to prove he is healthy. The strikeouts are a concern and he’ll obviously never post a .407 BABIP in a full season in the majors. But all he’s done in his professional career is produce. Several years ago I compared him to Nate McLouth and I still think that holds. A .250/.350/.450 line seems attainable and that’s pretty valuable for a CF. Of course, Nieuwenhuis is probably better suited for a corner, which makes the McLouth comparison even better. 

Garrett Olson:  Signed to a minor league contract on December 12th, Olson is a former first round pick of the Baltimore Orioles  in the 2005 entry drive.  He has some major league experience in each of the last five seasons, however his only "full" year of major league service was 2008, when he started 26 games for the Orioles, pitching 132.2 innings and pitching to a 9-10 record in the process.  Since that time, Olson has bounced back and forth between the majors and minors, acting prominently as a reliever whenever called up.  Originally thought to be a middle of the rotation caliber guy while in the Orioles organization, Olson no longer appears to be even a semi-long term fix at the major league level. http://www.metsfever.com/2012/01/what-options-do-mets-have-if-johan.html

metsmerized  - 34. Albert Cordero (C) The 21 year old right-handed hitter from Venezuela, was signed by the Mets as an IFA in 2008. At 5’11″ and 175 lbs., he was recognized as a good defensive catcher with advanced receiving skills, quick footwork, and an impressive throwing arm. Cordero made his stateside debut with Kingsport in 2010. It was there that he first began opening eyes by hitting .277 with 8 HR’s, 32 RBI’s, and a .466 SLG, in just over 200 AB’s, while at the same time throwing out 43% of would be base stealers (23 of 53). When 2011 started Cordero got off to a very slow start as the regular catcher at Savannah. At the end of May he was hitting only .208 with 1 HR, and his K/BB was 27/1. It was around that time that Cordero decided he had to shorten his swing and stay more in control, and to be more selective at the plate. In June, the first month where he employed his new approach, his OPS was .688. He then gained some solid momentum in July getting hotter as the month wore on and finished with an OPS of .777. By August he was literally on fire, with an OPS for this month of 1.343! In 103 August AB’s, Cordero had: 11 runs, 37 Hits, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR’s, 15 RBI’s, for a .359 average for the month. Keep in mind that he is still very far away from Flushing, the South Atlantic League being a far cry from the majors. But with the development and skills he has shown so far, he has already moved all the way to the head of the Mets minor league catching class.

With a healthy Ike Davis back at first base, and Daniel Murphy expected to get the bulk of playing time at second base, it would seem that last year’s fan favorite, Justin Turner, may not just be looking at a real shortage of playing time, but he may not even make the cut out of spring training. One thing going against Turner is that Murphy and Tejada are entrenched, Cedeno got a major league deal, and Turne has the not so good fortune of having a couple of options left on him. That means he could be sent to the minors without passing through waivers where the Mets could risk losing him http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/01/will-justin-turner-get-caught-in-a-numbers-game.html

Cutnpaste: - Angel Cuan, Monies Due, Alex Ochoa, Cyclones, Justin Turner

12-19-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/12/19/2622862/2011 -mets-minor-league-season-in-review-savannah-sand-gnatsLHP Angel Cuan - STOCK HOLDING - Another year, another solid performance from the little lefty who I'd say is not far from serious consideration as a future LOOGY candidate. You could make the case for a stock up here as he mastered another new level and I didn't only because his stuff is still fringy at best. However, he made the most of it posting a spectacular 1.16 BB/9, a very strong .73 HR/9 all with a BABIP right around .302 so luck was not a factor here, as you can see by his 3.14 FIP.

“The Wilpons have a situation in terms of medium-term debt that’s totally unsustainable,” Megdal says. “They owe $430 million in principal against their team, due back in 2014. They owe $450 million in principal due back to (TV network) SNY in June of 2015. And then they owe $25 million every six months against Citi Field. They need these minority investors right now in order to be paying short-term bills that are essentially structured as loans.” http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2011/12/bradley_mets_financial_trouble.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Bob McClure will be the pitching coach and Tim Bogar will serve as bench coach for the Boston Red Sox as manager Bobby Valentine cements his staff for the coming season. The team also announced Friday that Alex Ochoa will be the team's first base coach, while Jerry Royster will either wave runners home or put up the stop sign as third base coach. McClure is making a lateral move, as he served in the same position with the Kansas City Royals for the past six seasons. Bogar was the BoSox third base coach the last two seasons and is in his fourth year with the organization. Ochoa is being promoted from Boston's Class-A affiliate in Salem of the Carolina League, where he served as hitting coach. Royster, meanwhile, adds more managerial experience to the mix as he was skipper of the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization from 2008-10. Bogar and Ochoa played for Valentine when he managed the New York Mets, his last major league gig before getting the opportunity to take over in Boston. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sportsxchange-000511134_red-sox-manager-valentine-names-bogar-bench-coach

Brooklyn has notoriously been considered to be the Wyoming of talent -- there's usually nothing there. Whether the prospects competing for Brooklyn are old for Penn leaguers or simply bland as far as talent goes, year after year the Cyclones sell out their oceanside ballpark with a rather disappointing team on the field. Last week, the Mets made headlines after claiming they were going to eliminate their GCL team from the organization, basically getting rid of twenty-plus players from the organization in the process. This comes as a surprise considering just about every organization features a GCL or AZL team on their list of development locations. Also, when teams nix an affiliate, it's usually a short-season team in the Northwest, Pioneer, New York-Penn or Appy league team (depending on the affiliate) since they like having an affiliate at their Spring Training complex. On his famous Podcast last week,  Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein suggested Brooklyn would become a popular destination for talent considering it's one of their only two remaining short-season teams.  http://pennleaguereport.typepad.com/penn-league-report

It seems that the Mets brass would prefer to see Dan Murphy win the second base job, so once again Justin Turner goes into spring training as the backup plan. Personally, I think Turner is still, currently, the Mets’ best option at second – at least until Reese Havens remains healthy enough to get more seasoning and/or Jordany Valdespin grows up. Turner may or may not be good enough to be an everyday second baseman; I’d be curious to see him play another full year at the position, but further down in the lineup, to see what might happen. I believe his ceiling is somewhere between Mark Loretta and Mark DeRosa, which isn’t too awful. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, Turner reminds me a lot of Ty Wigginton‘s first year as a Met — a hard-nosed hustler full of piss and vinegar; though, Wiggy showed more power and less discipline at the plate.  Turner just turned 27, so he is moving into the prime of his career. If it were up to me, Turner would be penciled in as the Mets’ starting second baseman going into spring training; in other words, his job to lose http://www.metstoday.com/7318/11-12-offseason/2011-evaluation-justin-turner

Mack’s 25-man: UT Justin Turner

I go back to a guy named Rod Kanehl. They called him “Hot Rod”. He played 2B, LF, RF, CF, 1B, SS, and 3B for the 1962-1964 Mets. Justin Turner is this team’s Rod Kanehl.

He also has the intensity of “Hot Rod”. Turner seemed to have the uncanny ability to always do something good when a run was needed or a runner needed to be advanced.

No, he’s not good enough to be a starter in the major leagues, but there’s a reason the team has a 25-man squad, not a 9-man one. And, according to Cot, he cost the Mets only an additional $45K to play last year in the majors.

Turner will get his reps regardless of who plays shortstop next season. He’ll play at 27 and last here he posted a.097-ISOP, .290-BABIP, and a .307 wOBA.

This is a great rags-to-riches story. He was originally drafted by the Yankees, as a junior, in 29^th round of the 2005 draft. He didn’t sign, went back to Cal State Fullerton, and was drafted again in the 7^th round of the 2006 draft by Cincinnati.

He played well for two Red minor league teams, but was traded to Baltimore as part of deal for C Ramon Hernandez. He was called up for a couple of short stints and eventually the Mets stole him away (May 2010) when he was sent back down.

This is the personification of a team player and it’s an honor to have him on “my” team.

That’s 17 down, 8 to go.

The Second Base Race

While the main debate remains whether the Mets will re-sign Jose Reyes and/or trade David Wright, I want to talk about a position with options. The Mets have plenty of options for who will end up playing second base, let's look at some pros and cons.

Daniel Murphy:
Murphy can hit, he doesn't have a TON of power but he can hit. There is hardly a soul alive that doesn't think Murphy has a legit MLB bat. There are PLENTY of people who don't think he has an MLB position. The fact is he's played okay at first base, reasonably well at third, passably at second... and not so great in the outfield. Before the season I was one of the people who picked Murphy to beat out Castillo, Emaus and Turner for the starting job based on his bat. I was not at all surprised when he wound up there after a few weeks.

Pros - Murphy's bat is what makes us fans clamor for him getting into the starting lineup. He hits for average with some solid power and very good contact.

Cons - Murphy is not a natural fielder. He makes most of the plays but will not do so well and WILL lead to errors no matter where you play him.

Odds - 10:1 (Murphy's biggest issue isn't his glove, it's that he's not viewed as a starter. Some bloggers will talk about the need for defense up the middle, but ESPECIALLY if Reyes and Wright are going away, the Mets NEED to pump as much offense into the lineup as possible.)

Ruben Tejada:
It's no secret that I'm not a huge Tejada fan. Ruben's bat does nothing to excite me and he's always struck me as a solid backup IF. He does show flashes of contact at the plate, but doesn't provide power or speed in such a way that I groan when I think of him as a starting everyday player. Ruben gets his support based on his outstanding glove work which gets rave reviews at SS and 2B. A big thing to consider is that if Reyes leaves town he has NO chance of starting at second as he's almost guaranteed to start at SS.

Pros - The biggest pro is his glove but I guess you could also love his age as it might allow him growth. Any way I cut it, I can't see that meaning power or speed... which translates into minimal production.

Cons - Tejada may occasionally hit for contact which keeps his BA above .260, but his power is non-existent and his speed is minimal.

Odds - 4:1 (Tejada has a good shot to win the starting 2B job IF Reyes is back with the team. If Reyes is not I would say he has NO shot... as he'll be the starting SS.)

Justin Turner:
Big Red was a big, pleasant surprise for the Mets in 2011. He doesn't have a ton of speed or power... like Tejada but he's got double power and seemed to get a ton of clutch hits. In the field he's not exactly a dynamo with the glove and leaves something to be desired, but he CAN handle 3rd, 2nd and 1st. The fact remains that Turner strikes almost everyone as a backup IF. He DOES do more with the bat than Tejada and he DOES have more fielding chops than Murphy but does any of that make him a SOLID starter?

Pros - Jeterlike intangibles? How else can you quantify that he simply seemed to collect BIG hits.

Cons - Completely average. He doesn't do anything that is THAT impressive.

Odds - 6:1 (If Reyes is gone, he has a VERY good chance of at least starting the year on second. His biggest competition would be Jordany Valdespin and my bet would be that Terry would prefer to avoid the immaturity issues that Jordany brings to the table.)

Josh Satin:
Most bloggers love Josh. He's not supposed to be anything special but the guy keeps hitting. I don't think he's a great option to start at 2nd, he's like Justin Turner with less MLB experience. For that reason he's really an after-thought in the race for the position. At the same time he will be a part of the bench and from what I've seen him do in the minors, I expect he'll be useful in whatever his role ends up. BECAUSE of that I think he could work his way into Terry's good graces for a time-share at second by the half-way point of 2012.

Pros - Josh Satin has a GREAT eye. I don't know if it will mean a ton of walks in the majors as pitchers will not be trying to pitch around him, but we can expect he'll not swing at bad pitches.

Cons - Defense is not his strongest suit and though I don't think he'd hurt us, I can already hear the people calling in and saying defense is the most important thing up the middle.

Odds - 15:1 (The odds are not good that he gets ANY starting position, but he SHOULD make the roster.

Jordany Valdespin:
I like Valdespin a lot, but I'm not a manager and I don't have to deal with discipline. Of all the candidates his glove is among the best, his power is among the best and he has the most speed. Should Reyes leave... Jordany WILL be with the Mets as they need the legs in the lineup. He's not the smartest base runner, but that will come with time. The knock against Jordany is his work ethic. Terry loves gritty guys who will kill themselves for their team. Jordany has been disciplined by minor league teams multiple times and that is a bad sign.

Pros - Raw talent is all in the kid's favor. He's got a glove nearly as good as Tejada's, power similar to Murphy and more speed than anyone else on the depth chart for second.

Cons - He's a bit of a problem in terms of discipline.

Odds - 13:1 (He's a bit of a long-shot to make the team unless Reyes leaves town. Then he's a longshot to NOT be the starting 2B.)

Reese Havens:
Reese is the wild card. He's still the 2B of the future and he's got the skills to blow most of the other players away. The issue with Reese is the same issue he's had for years. He cannot stay healthy. I love that he did not go to the AFL and instead is focusing on conditioning and weight training to get him healthy for 2012-13. It makes him a longer shot to win the job this spring, but if Wright and Reyes are gone it's going to be hard to keep him out of Queens. We could have a redux of the 2010 Ike Davis situation very quickly.

Pros - GREAT bat. The guy commands the plate, has a good and powerful line drive swing and plays reasonably good defense.

Cons - HEALTH! If he cannot stay on the field he's useless.

Odds - 20:1 (It's a long shot for him to win the job but a longer shot for him not to earn it if he's healthy.)

The Face of the Franchise

R.A. Dickey is the face of this Met team. Don't believe me? R.A. Dickey is a scrappy guy who occasionally exceeds expectations. A guy we can relate to because he's had some struggles through the years and he's never going to be a supermodel, but he's going to go out their and try. Sometimes you forget he's a re-tread who picked up a knuckler late in life and think he could really be something special. Most of the time we remember that he is what he is and we should be happy to have just that.

The Mets are a scrappy team who occasionally exceed our expectations. A team that has had some bumps and bruises over the past few years and doesn't exactly possess the mystique of say... their Bronx relatives. Sometimes we forget that the experts predicted that the Mets would be AT BEST a .500 team and think they could be a playoff team. Most of the time we remember that this is a REBUILDING year and that is fine.

But... what of next year?

Jose Reyes: If Jose is the face of the Mets, we'd be young and fast and full of energy. Capable of sprinting ahead of the competition with a certain level of "Wow Factor". It'll be a little hard for Jose to be the face of the franchise if he's not a Met, but just think of all the great things he does and imagine that all of those were commonly associated with the team. Now... think of the not so good things. Think of the team being VERY talented but ONE INJURY AWAY from being washed up. Think of a team who might be a little immature at times... what about Wright?

David Wright: If David Wright is the face of the 2012 Mets, they certainly have a little more pop in their bats. Despite missing a prodigious amount of time, he's still showed good power this season and in his career. Wright is also a dynamic player who not only brings power, but also brings speed. A team with speed, power and a certain quiet dignity... that doesn't sound half bad. Until you get to the bad parts. A David Wright team is also a team that is unbearably streaky. A team that might his .486 for a week and then .134 for 3 more. A team that has good defensive ability, but might throw the ball away a bit too frequently. Maybe it's a team that simply shies away from a leadership role in the club-house or one that's a good player... but not a superstar. Maybe... maybe, Justin Turner.

Justin Turner: Justin Turner is a success story for 2011. He was abandoned by the Orioles and picked up by the Mets in 2010 and in 2011 he proved he could make us all forget about a mistake named Brad Emaus. He's been a timely hitter and hard worker. That sounds like the team I want to root for. Hardworking and clutch with an Everyman angle that I can relate to. Then there's the issues of Turner not exactly being Ozzie Smith in the field. The issue of Turner not necessarily even having a job if Ike Davis is healthy. Or maybe the fact that Turner isn't exactly fast OR powerful. Maybe, we should pick a pitcher?

Mike Pelfrey: Oh no! Great! We're mental headcases who go from being very promising to flaming failures in the course of a single at bat. We're the #1 pitcher despite having mediocre (middle of the rotation) stuff. We're the kid who looked like he might have been a major asset to the ball-club but winded up being equally a hindrance and a part of the problem. Maybe... you know maybe... we shouldn't even be looking at the major league club for the 2012 face of the franchise. Ever think about that?

The Face of the Franchise:

Matt Harvey: The face of the franchise? He's not likely to pitch a single game in Queens for all of 2012. How is he the face of the franchise? Take this and spin with it: The 2012 Mets are a team who have a lot of talent coming up through the minors. Talent headed by Matt Harvey, Jenrry Mejia, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia and others. A team that might not be so good now... but a team that is going to mess you up and leave you shaken in a couple of seasons. That's the kind of face I can live with. Plus it looks like he's about to drop an F-bomb every time he pitches.

With Mack away from the computer, I'm pitching in an extra post.

Justin Turner, Choo Choo Coleman, Jordany Valdespin, Jeff Francoeur, Beltran deal

Justin Turner:


7-13-11: - amazinavenue.  - B- The major league average second baseman has a.254/.316/.378 line this year. Turner has a .268/.331/.364 line right now. He gets a nod above average just because of the history of the position here in New York maybe. But Turner is also another in a long line of Mets players that has cut his strikeout rate, and he's done so while maintaining his walk rate. He just won't show much more power until he gets the ball off the ground though (48.7% GB).


Choo Choo Coleman:


1961-1966 (Mets/Phillies)- The Mets of the early 1960s were as entertaining as they were terrible. Almost as amusing as Marv Throneberry was lightweight catcher and career .197 hitter Choo Choo Coleman. Long before Rickey Henderson allegedly forgot who his teammate John Olerud was, Duke Snider once asked Coleman, "Do you know me?" only to have Coleman respond, "Yes, you're number four." Coleman may have been big-timing Snider—he was coming off a career high .250 average in 1962. Manager Casey Stengel didn't think too highly of Coleman either, saying of him, "You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls - http://deadspin.com/5820622/the-100-worst-baseball-players-of-all-time-a-celebration-part-2  


Jordany Valdespin:


7-14-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/11/2270752/mets-minors-road-report-binghamton-7-9-brooklyn-7-10  - I am pretty high on Valdespin. He’s already walked more this year then he did all of last year, and he’s turned some doubles into home runs. These are both good signs, as it means the tools are starting to turn into baseball skills. He showed everything that makes him both a intriguing prospect and a maddening one in the doubleheader. He chased a high fastball to strike out, he dropped a perfect drag bunt for a basehit, he laced a 2 RBI double to right, and he got a little fancy with a flip to Satin to try and start the 6-4-3. Part of the reason he had to try the flip to Satin is he is not as rangy as you would expect, and despite his speed and base stealing ability, he hasn’t quite figured out shortstop. He’s a second baseman in the end, probably, albeit one who has an all-star ceiling.


Jeff Francoeur:


Specifically, yes, of course, outfielder Jeff Francoeur has heard those growing trade rumors that link him to Detroit, Boston and Philadelphia. Those rumors, and others, are only likely to intensify in the days preceding the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline. Francoeur would prefer to stay put. “People keep asking me about it,” he said. “And what I say is I’m sure if a team came to the Royals and overwhelmed them (with an offer) for me or Melky (Cabrera), they’d probably have to do it. But you know what? I think a lot of us will be here.” - http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/14/3015300/francoeur-wants-to-stay-put-as.html#ixzz1SBHvCyFw  


Beltran Deal:


In 2004, the Kansas City Royals knew they weren't going to be able to re-sign pending free agent, Carlos Beltran. So at the trade deadline, they along with the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics worked a three-team deal that had Beltran (Royals) and John Buck (Athletics) go to the Astros, Octavio Dotel (Astros) ending up on the Athletics and Mike Wood and Mark Teahan (Athletics) going to the Royals - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/764844-mlb-trade-rankings-the-20-worst-deadline-deals-of-the-last-25-years#/articles/764844-mlb-trade-rankings-the-20-worst-deadline-deals-of-the-last-25-years/page/4  

Edwin Rodriguez, Justin Turner, Sickles on Mets Draft, Mets as Buyers, Wright Update

Edwin Rodriguez:


I see that Edwin Rodriguez resigned on Sunday as the manager of the Florida Marlins. I resigned like this one time as the VP of Capstar Broadcasting. It came right after I got a phone call from the Executive Vice President who told me to pack my ass up and get the fuck out of Dodge. The Marlins actually played well in the beginning of the season, but have gone 1-17 in the month of June. That’s bad. What’s even worse is the fact that the Washington Nationals have won eight games in a row and have past the Marlins in the standings. Being behind the Nats in the standings isn’t grounds for firing. It’s grounds for a firing squad. E-Rod was a good man. Hopefully, he can find a team to manage tht has fans.


Justin Turner:


Fewest pitches per plate appearance (minimum 3 PA). - Neil Walker 7.3 - Alex Gordon 6.8 - Justin Turner 6.0 - Ross Gload 6.0 - Ronny Cedeno 6.0 - Justin Smoak 6.0


Sickles on Mets Draft:


I like this. Nimmo and Fulmer provide plenty of upside at the top, while college picks Mazzoni, Verrett, Pill, and Muno could all advance pretty quickly through the system. There are some more speculative/upside choices mixed in, and if the Mets are really serious about spending money they could see what it takes to steer some of the teen-round-tough-sign picks away from college.


Mets as Buyers:


Mets officials have told outsiders there will be no adding to the payroll. So the only way to be July buyers is to get another team to eat money in a trade in exchange for better prospects or to deal salary elsewhere to create financial flexibility. The Mets are not really in the right place to begin chipping away at the best of a frail system. So perhaps if they could trade K-Rod and save a few dollars, they could try to acquire a less-expensive closer type with the money/prospects received for Rodriguez. That would remove the financial burden of K-Rod in 2012 while not completely surrendering 2011. - joel.sherman@nypost.com  


Wright Update:


David Wright's workout at Citi Field yesterday wasn't much, but the way things are for the Mets these days, was a promising development. Wright played catch and took some grounders from his knees, and afterward did not report any problems. "I felt good," Wright said after yesterday's 7-3 loss to the Angels. "I made it through [it], which I was expecting. . . . I played catch for 20 throws and took some ground balls on my knees. It was very little." - nypost.  

Dillon Gee, Justin Turner, Ruben Tejada, Jose Reyes, Jeurys Familia

From the Elias Sports Bureau: Dillon Gee’s no-hitter was broken up with two outs in the sixth inning on a single by Livan Hernandez. The last time a pitcher broke up a no-hit bid that late into a game was Sept. 18, 2003 when Scott Randall of the Reds singled off Kip Wells of the Pirates with two outs in the sixth inning.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/23471/more-on-gees-no-hit-bid



Nearly eight years ago, Turner was a freshman bunting for Cal State Fullerton at the College World Series. As he remembers it, a shadow stretched from home plate to the mound. He never saw the high fastball hurled by Stanford’s Matt Manship. The baseball struck him flush in his face on his left cheek. His cleat wedged into the dirt as he crumpled to the ground. In the process, he broke his ankle. Blood smeared his batting gloves. While his leg throbbed, doctors examined his face. http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2011/05/mets_justin_turner_has_used_ve.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter





He already has been dubbed the Mets’ shortstop of the future, though I’m wondering why he shouldn’t be the shortstop of the present. He played second base and batted eighth in the Mets’ 3-0 win over the Nationals last night at water-logged Citi Field in his first game since being called up from Buffalo. He singled in his first major league at-bat of the season to go 1-for-3 on the night. Tejada also saved a run in the second inning. With a man at third, he charged hard on a slow ground ball on the wet infield and barely got the runner at first for the third out. It was a solid debut. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/tejada_shouldn_get_nd_thought_in_WeZ3BDnbozImCnpOBFLiQO#ixzz1MnnVuqe6


Reyes is doing everything he can to teach Tejada the ropes. Tejada was called up from Triple-A Buffalo because of the Wright injury. He will play second base and spell Reyes at shortstop. Collins sees nothing but success for Tejada, who played in 78 games for the Mets last season after being forced into major league action because of injuries to Reyes. In 216 at-bats, Tejada hit just .213 but showed flashes of success. He’s only 21. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/tejada_not_short_on_potential_gtEjbnuIvYamaZv3IfZ7cI#ixzz1Mjx3OgLW
New York Mets prospect Jeurys Familia suffered through a difficult 2010 campaign for High-A St. Lucie, struggling with his command and control, but he looked better late last year and has maintained that progress so far in 2011. He made six starts this spring for St. Lucie, posting a 1.49 ERA with a 36/8 K/BB in 36 innings with just 21 hits allowed. This earned him a promotion to Double-A Binghamton, where he's kept the momentum going with a 12/3 K/BB and just eight hits and two runs allowed in his first 14 innings. Overall, he's got a 1.25 ERA with a 48/11 K/BB in 50 innings this year with a miniscule 29 hits. Stuff has never been his problem: he gets past 95 MPH and has made big strides commanding his slider and changeup this year. As I wrote in the book this year, he is "a pitcher who could break out at any time" and was "someone to take a close look at while his stock is down a bit." His stock is no longer down, and he'll rank highly on top prospect lists for 2012 if he continues to pitch like this. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/5/18/2177461/minor-league-notes-may-18-2011

Mets Farm, Nick Evans, Justin Turner, Jose Reyes, Buffalo Call-Ups, David Wright

The real hope for the Mets is down on the farm. They got bad news when Jenry Mejia had to undergo end of the season arm surgery. Some argue that the Mets bouncing him around from starter to reliever couldn’t have been the best therapy for his arm. Their hope now rests in the arms of Brad Holt (1-2, 3.12 in AA), Jeurys Familia (0.64 in AA and 1.64 in High A), Matt Harvey (5-2, 2.61 in High A) and the son of ex-major leaguer Ugueth, Juan Urbina. Rule V selection Pedro Beato has yet to give up a run this year and could find himself closing for those starters after Francisco Rodriguez departs myworldofbaseball.



Evans had picked things up with the stick after a slow start in Buffalo; this will be his seventh stint with the Mets in the past four seasons, and it’s unlikely to be the one in which he breaks on through to the other side. Sandy Alderson wanted Tejada to spend a full season in upstate New York after last year's headlong rush to the majors, but ready or not, circumstances required the 21-year-old’s presence. This personnel exchange doesn’t do wonders for the Mets’ season outlook, but since they’re already mired in last place and coming off an offseason of minor moves made to keep the engine idling until it can really kick into gear, they’ll likely be content to stand pat baseballprospectus  

Turner is the latest horse on the Mets second base carousel. Some solid hitting has enabled him to draw regular starts over the last week and as any deep league owner knows, accumulate the most at-bats and you will almost guarantee yourself a top offense. Turner has shown some pop in the minors, despite that power not yet translating to the Majors, and he makes pretty good contact. He has a bit of speed as well, so would probably steal 10 bases or so in a full season of at-bats. With David Wright having been placed on the DL, he will receive full time at-bats at the hot corner for the time being. While he does not excel at any one skill, he is decent enough everywhere to generate some deep league value, even if his starting gig, whether at second or third, ends up not lasting too much longer. .fangraphs  



The Reyes case is an interesting one. As each day passes, you get the sense Alderson appreciates more and more the value of the effervescent Mets catalyst. Clearly, if you read between the lines, you can see he has begun to get the Reyes “it factor” by the adjectives he uses to describe him — “exciting,” “potent,” and “a game changer.” Back in spring training, he used phrases like “we’ll just wait and see.” It seems watching him every day has made Alderson more keenly aware of Reyes’ inherent value to the club. cbs 



Early Tuesday afternoon, the Mets’ band of minor league call-ups sat around the clubhouse and counted heads while reminiscing about the bus rides and laughs they shared together at Triple-A Buffalo. The number they came up with: eight. That’s how many players who started the season in Buffalo are now on the Mets’ roster. Injuries have decimated the parent club, robbing it of its biggest bats and most dominating early-season pitcher. .nj.com 





Mets placed 3B David Wright on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 16, with a stress fracture in his lower back. Wright is expected to rest for 10 days before resuming baseball activities, though it's possible he could miss more time. His only previous stint on the disabled list was for a concussion suffered when he was hit in the head by Matt Cain during the 2009 season. The hot-hitting Justin Turner is expected to get most of the playing time at third base during his absence and is worth adding in NL-only leagues rotoworld.  

Morning Report: - 5.17.11 – Moves, Zach Lutz, Justin Turner, Ruben Tejada, Bobby Parnell, Matt den Dekker, Cory Vaughn, Dylan Bundy



Photo By Mack Ade

 Queens:

You'll notice that I wrote something about Ruben Tejada in the Buffalo section of this morning report. I wrote that around 11am yesterday, long before the David Wright announcement, and the moves that came after last night's loss.

Let's go over them:

IF Chin-Lung Hu was sent to Buffalo. I don't think Queens fans will see him again.

RP Ryota Igarashi was also sent to Buffalo. I expect him to finish out his contract there unless there are future injuries in the pen.

2B-SS - Tejada was recalled. He will play second base and, frankly, if he can hit .275, he might play it for years. This is his shot.

3B-1B-OF Nick Evans was recalled to be available to play where needed. Good move and also, last shot.

RP Pedro Beato came off the DL and will fill the Igarashi slot in the pen.



Today could have been an exciting time for us minor league weenies if Zach Lutz wasn’t on the DL. None of us ever expected Lutz to ever replace Wright some day, but it would have been kewl to see him playing in Queens until the all-star break. As I understand, Lutz’s hammie was just about healed when he broke one of his fingers when it was hit by a foul ball… or something like that.



Going into Monday’s game, the Mets are 5th in the NL race for the wild card.


You might not want to jump on the Justin Turner bandwagon yet. True, he had a great game on Sunday, but so did Victor Diaz once. The 2011 Mets can not afford to keep Daniel Murphy’s bat out of their lineup as long as they are in the wild card race, and they are. Murphy will return to second as soon as Ike Davis is back in the lineup.



Buffalo:


Ruben Tejada was back in the starting lineup on Monday, batting first. The 21-year old has only hit .147 in his past 10 games and has done nothing to prove he can step in for Jose Reyes in case Reyes is traded. Look, we all know that the field tilts when Jose gets on base and no one brings more positive energy to both the field and the plate. This simply doesn’t happen at any level when Tejada is in the game. I’ll never understand the logic of trading an established star, that’s under 30 years old, for a prospect that hasn’t done squat yet in the majors. Think the Santana trade.


Bobby Parnell has proven every time he has pitched during his rehab that he should remain in Buffalo for possibly the remainder of this season. Parnell gave up another run on Monday and his AAA ERA is now 7.36. At the same time, Jason Isringhausen (2.19) is doing just fine and Mike O’Connor (0.00 in 4 Mets outings) has done nothing to prove he should be demoted soon.




St. Lucie:


The general consensus of Mets experts all agree that CF Matt den Dekker will most probably get bumped to the B-Mets once the first half of the season is over. He proved last year he could hit at the A-level (.346), and he is currently 9th in the FSL in hitting with a .331 BA. den Dekker is also the top Mets defensive outfield prospect in the system and 23 of his 48 hits this season are extra base. Based on his current performance, and the lack of others I have had ranked higher in my “Keepers” series, I’ve moved him from 27th to 21st.


Savannah:


We’re starting to get to the point in the season where certain players are proving they can play baseball at a level higher than they played last year. Prospects usually don’t have that much difficulty in doing this. OF Cory Vaughn, who wowed everybody (even me) last year in Brooklyn, has already proven he can dominate at the next level in the Sally League. I can speak first hand to his desire to excel, something I didn’t think he possessed when he was drafted out of college. Here is a guy that went into Mondays game leading the league in OBP (yes, even higher than Bryce Harper) and he honestly feels he has played like shit this year. Amazing. He has been the only consistent bat on the team, and, now that other players are being to hit, we should se a huge increase of RBIs from this true prospect. I had him as the #15 “Keeper”, but I have now moved him up to #10.




Draft:


Jim Callis tweeted that the asking price for P Dylan Bundy is 6 yrs/$30M. Archie Bradley is 5 yrs/$20M. The funny part about this is Bradley might still be around when the Mets pick. The entire order of the first round could alter greatly if TCU’s Matt Purke bounces back beginning this Thursday. The more I see these numbers, the more I think the Mets may go bat with their first pick, specifically, George Springer.