Update #2: 5 Minor League Players Released including Tim Teufel's son, Shawn.

Teufel's son among latest minors cuts http://t.co/plYzlwvAEt #NYM #Mets
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) March 27, 2014

It was fun while it lasted... thank you #Mets for the opportunity...
— Alonzo Harris (@Pro_zo) March 27, 2014

Post by Brooklyn Cyclones.

The Gamers vs. The Gifted: Camarena vs. Goeddel

Yesterday we talked about Whitendon (who tops out as an innings eater) and Fulmer (who is so distant that I can't make a projection). Today we have two players with much better project-ability. Again... not necessarily phenomenal project-ability either.

Full Name: Marcos Camarena

Born: 09/08/1990

Birthplace: Culiacan, Mexico

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 202

Bats: R

Throws: R

I like Camarena. He's got the right body for a pitcher and I happen to like pitchers who keep Opp Avg down. My worry is that the higher level talents will start to figure out the pedestrian stuff that Camarena throws.

The flip side of this is that Camarena is plenty young and has room to grow. It also means that he has time to figure out higher level hitters and discover what works against them. He'll move into his first full-year action with the Mets and be promoted to Savannah. There, I imagine he might still succeed and see promotion to Port St. Lucie within a year, but... for Camarena Port St. Lucie and Binghamton will be make it or break it levels.

Camarena Scouting Report:

Camarena is one of the more talented Latin arms on the short-season teams. He’s been the innings eater for Brooklyn, leading the team in innings pitched. The 6-3 righty turns 21 next month and, after a good year in Brooklyn (3-3, 3.13, 13-starts), a projection to the Savannah rotation next spring seems to be a sure bet. ETA: 2015 Mets bullpen candidate

Full Name: Erik Van Norman Goeddel

Born: 12/20/1988

Birthplace: Hillsborough, CA

College: UC Los Angeles

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 185

Bats: R

Throws: R

The only thing that kept Goeddel this low on my list was the injury. He's recovered from it and has had a fine year in Savannah (mixing in a little GCL for rehab). I worry about the apparent decline in velocity which seems a bit off for a 23 year old.

Perhaps it'll return in 2012?

I see Goeddel given another chance to be a starter in 2012 but I think his promotion from Savannah will also see him transfer to the bullpen. Though he'll start in Savannah I would estimate a promotion could be possible after the first two months.

Goeddel Scouting Report:

When Goeddel was drafted he sported a fastball in the 94-97 MPH range as well as a curveball and a changeup. The fastball has lost SOME heat but that could all be adjustments to his approach. His curveball is his second best pitch and, because he lacks real command of the changeup, he projects as a relief pitcher. ETA: 2014 Mets bullpen candidate

In this second round match the Gamer happens to be a more distant prospect than his Gifted counter-part. He also happens to be two years younger and likely entering the same level for 2012. While I give round two to the gifted Goeddel I caution that I can also see Camarena out-pitching Goeddel in Savannah next season.

P.S. Van Norman is an AMAZING middle name!

Stock: Jose De La Torre, Marcos Camarena, Kyle Allen, Gonzalez Germen, Sandy Alderson

8-29-11: - Stock Up – RP Jose de la Torre – Jose returned last night from the DL and pitched another scoreless inning for the Buffalo Bisons. Injuried have held him down to 19 outings this season, but he still produced a 1.14 ERA. The 25-year old definitely deserved his turn in the Queens pen, and it’s good to see him healthy again. Who knows, maybe a September call up.




photo by Allan Greene

 8-29-11: - Stock Up – SP Marcos Camarena – we’re at the point of the season where every great outing gets you closer to a level promotion come next spring. I’m not sure what plans the Mets have for the 6-3 23-yr. old righty, but, hopefully he gets himself a juicy winter assignment and repeats nights like this one for a full season team. Tonight’s line: 5.0-IP, 1-ER, 5-H, 5-K, 0-BB.

8-29-11: - Stock Down – SP Kyle Allen – and then there is the opposite situation. Finish the season with a shit outing after a shitty season and… well, tonight’s stat line for Allen: 5.0-IP, 9-R, 0-K, 2-BB, 1-WP. You just might have read the last paragraph I ever write about this guy.





photo by Allan Greene

 8-29-11: - Stock Down – SP Gonzalez Germen – and you thought the Allen stat line was going to be the stinker of the night? Well, check out GG: 1.1-IP, 10-H, 7-ER… it is only a matter of time before Germen would have been moved to the pen and this outing may just of done it.

8-31-11: - Stock Up – GM Sandy Alderson – Mr. Alderson did something Omar Minaya never did when he was General Manager of the New York Mets. He visited and attended a Savanah Sand Gnats baseball game in Savannah. Last night.

The Keepers - #50 - SP - Marcos Camarena

50. SP Marcos Camarena



Marcos Camerena seems to be the one standout player that will come out of the DSL/VSL system this year. Camarena debuted with the DSL Mets in 2008, going 0-1, 3.68 in 7 relief appearances. This year, he was moved to a starter and produced stats of: 7-2. 1.74, in 14 games, 12 starts. He also had 57K, and only 10-BB in 67.1-IP.


1-1-10:: As usual, not much info on this guy, but he’s 6-3, 202 and was virtually unhittable this season. Then again, how many others have I said this same thing about over the years (Nelson Portillo and Alay Soler comes to mind). I think we’ll see him in extended came come March and I’m sure he’ll pitch for one of the winter teams as well.


6-27-10: - Camerena piggybacked with another GCL Mets pitcher on Saturday and was just about perfect: 4.0-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 3-K, 1-BB. The team is still trying to figure out which five pitchers will settle in to their rotation, and Marcos made a good case for being one of them.


8-15-10: - SP Marcus Camerena continues to impress for Kingsport. He ”went the distance” in a 7-inning game Sunday, with stats of: 8-H, 3-ER, 3-K, 1-BB, and a seasonal ERA of 3.19 (in 9-G, 4-starts). He impressed us all last year for the DSL team (7-2, 1.74), as well as his short stint near the end of the 2009 season for the same team he plays for now (2-2, 3.03). The 6-3 righty turns 20 in September and I expect to see him Savannah next spring.


6-27-11: - Another player we should begin to keep an eye of is SP Marcos Camarena. I’ve had him as the #77 Keeper, after having two excellent seasons in the system. In 2009, he went 7-2, 1.74, in 14-G, 12-starts for the DSL Mets, and followed that in 2010 with a 3-3, 2.68 stinit for Kingsport. The 6-3 right hander pitched for Brooklyn on Sunday, giving up zero earned runs over six innings. He’s now 1-0, 1.80 after two starts and you should keep one eye on this control starter.


7-30-11: - Camarena first turned our head in 2009 when he went 7-2, 1.74 for the DSL Mets. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pitch that well in that league? Anyway, he continued his success last year (3-3, 2.68) for the GCL Mets and we were looking for big things from him this season in Brooklyn. Last night, he was almost unhittable for the Cyclones, going: 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 1-BB, 7-K.

Marcos Camarena, Greg Pron, Brad Holt, Matt den Dekker, Mike Nickeas

Marcos Camarena:


Camarena first turned our head in 2009 when he went 7-2, 1.74 for the DSL Mets. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pitch that well in that league? Anyway, he continued his success last year (3-3, 2.68) for the GCL Mets and we were looking for big things from him this season in Brooklyn. Last night, he was almost unhittable for the Cyclones, going: 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 1-BB, 7-K.


Greg Pron:


Normally, you don’t write much about 42nd round draft picks, but I keep noticing the Kingsport box and Pron’s stats keep screaming out. Last night, he hit his 6th home run of the season and raised his BA to .310. We’re going to keep an eye on this 6-6 rookie.


Brad Holt:


Holt’s been trying to make the conversion from starter to pen and, frankly, he started out as inconsistent as a reliever as he’s been in the rotation. Last night; however, was his third plus outing, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings. That’s five scoreless innings in his past three outings. Boy, wouldn’t it be great if this worked out.


Matt den Dekker:


7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump  - OF Matt den Dekker - STOCK HOLDING - Den Dekker showed many of the tools that make him such an easy bet to make the show. His glove in CF has lived up to all expectations. He has solid speed on the bases. He's even showing the kind of home run power that many thought would only translate to doubles in the pros. But for me to really feel good about his prospect status he's going to have to cut down on the strikeouts. At St. Lucie they were high but acceptable and as a four year college player he they should have been. In Bingo they're pushing 30% which will not cut it in the majors, let alone the high minors. The development of his plate discipline is the key. It is what will determine if he can maintain a passable OBP as he climbs the ladder. It is what will allow his surprising power to either continue to blossom or to fizzle. And it is ultimately what will determine whether he's Jordan Schafer or Drew Stubbs.


Mike Nickeas:


The Mets tried to quietly promote Mike Nickeas to Queens as the third catcher, but some of the online blogs have questioned why Nickeas and not a big bat. Well, you’re welcome to go to www.milb.com and check out the Bisons roster and look for that bat. To be honest, the Mets are quite concerned with the catching defense, which is a specialty of Nickeas. I may be wrong, but doesn’t Josh Thole lead the league in passed balls?