Stuff – Maikis De La Cruz, Cory Mazzoni, Gabriel Ynoa, Adrelin Rodriguez, Empire State Shooting

Maikis De La Cruz

I always wonder where some of these ‘kids’ come from. Take the case of Kingsport CF Maikis De La Cruz (.279). This is the second year De La Crus has been in the Mets system, hitting an impressive .321 last year for the DSL system, but here’s the rub. He’s playing K-Port this year at the age of 21-years old, meaning he was 20 last year. You can’t tell me someone just walks off the street and hits .321 in organized ball. Where did he play for the four years prior to this? Is he for real? Well, if he is, he better get moving because, at his rate, he’ll play AAA and pull a Medicare check the same year. Spring Projection: I’m placing him in Savannah for now. 

Cory Mazzoni

This might not be a bad time to shut Cory down. He gave up seve earned runs (3.0-IP) on Thursday, which now totals to 20 runs in his last five starts (28 innings). All this bad news still results in a seasonal AA ERA of 3.49 and a combined AA/A+ (23 starts) of 3.37. You know I loved this pick out of North Carolina State. Mazzoni is going to have to repeat this level next spring to hopefully earn himself an all-star break promotion to  the AAA affiliate in the PCL. Spring Projection:  Binghamton

Gabriel Ynoa

Is Gabriel Ynoa a ‘prospect’? Frankly, I’m not sure yet and he needs to turn in another year like he’s putting together for Brooklyn this year. Through Thursday, Ynoa has had 10 starts with a stat line of: 60.0-IP, 50-K, only 7-BB, 5-1, 2.40, 0.90. I love the average of 6.0 innings per start. This is very encouraging at this point in a young man’s career. He just turned 19 and we got our first peak at him in 2010 when he went 5-3, 1.99 for the DSL Mets as a 17-year old. Definitely on the ‘blue’ list. Spring Projection: Lots of rotation congestion, especially at the lower levels… Savannah. 

Aderlin Rodriguez

We keep revisiting A-Rod, hoping his defense improves and his power continues to develop. We have good news in both areas. Defensively, Aderlin currently has 28 errors in 2012 combined for Savannah and St. Lucie. That’s a vast improvement over the 44 errors he had in 2011 for Savannah. Rodriguez is never going to win the Golden Glove trophy, but who cares if he keeps hitting like he’s done so far this season: 443-AB, 24-HR, 81-AB, 95-K, 36-BB. Spring Projection: A-Rod spend parts of three seasons in Savannah and seems ready to move past St. Lucie. He’s still only 20-years old. I have him playing 3B in Binghamton, right behind Wilmer Flores (just turned 21) in Buffalo.

Empire State Shooting

Did anyone think that this might be the new way nuts jobs have come up with committing ‘suicide by cop’? I mean, running around Manhattan randomly shooting people should earn you one in the head, no?

Stock: Adam Kolarek, Maikis De La Cruz, Michael Fisher, Jordany Valdespin, John Church

8-9-11: - Stock Up – SP Adam Kolarek – Kolarek is starting for the Sand Gnats this week. The 22-yr. old 6-3 right hander has pitched in 42 professional games over the past two seasons, but only one has been as a starter. That was two outings ago when he struck out seven in 5.0-IP. He does have 87-Ks in 78.2 professional innings, so obviously the thought process here is to try him as a starter.


8-10-11: - Stock Up - Maikis De La Cruz is one of the DSL players that was singled out recently by Paul DePodesta in an interview with ESPN. Last night, he went 204, with a double and four runs batted in. The 20-year old has been switched around between the two DSL teams (something that was done with most of the every day players), but it really didn’t slow him down. He has hit .300+ with both teams. He also has 31 stolen bases.


8-10-11: - Stock Up -  Michael Fisher is sort of the forgotton Mets infielder. Sort of the other Jacob Turner. He really doesn’t do that much wrong but he’s blocked every way from Sunday. Last night, for Binghamton, he went 3-4, 2-doubles, 4-RBIs, and raised his yearly line to: .300/.336/.500/.836. He’s 26-years old and, sadly, stuck.


8-10-11 – Stock Up – Jordany Valdespin – it’s obvious that the promotion of Ruben Tejada got this ball rolling, but Valdespin earned this one on his own. He hit .297/.341/.483/.824 in AA, with 15-HR and 51-RBIs. The problem is he also had 29 errors which the Mets aren’t used to with their middle infielders. Still, kudos to Jordy.


8-10-11: - Stock Up – John Church - Church pitched a 7-inning complete game in the back end of a Lucy doubleheader, giving up only one run and five hits. John has been making the conversion from a successful 2010 as a reliever for the Sand Gnats and you can't do better than complete a game.