I May Be Wrong, But… Steve Matz, Chad Zurcher, Alex Panteliodis, Hunter Carnevale

·         LHP Steve Matz checked in after his bullpen session on Friday: 

“…bullpen went good, so far so good…”

The best thing this kid has going right now is the fact that most people have forgot he’s still around. He’s always been kind to me as a writer and I wish him well, though I have no idea where he would pitch come April. My guess is they will hold him back to make sure everything works well, and start in his home town with the Cyclones.

·         SS Chad Zurcher also filled us in on his plans in March: 

“My goals for spring training are just to go back and show the staff I worked on the things they told me to during the off season. My main goal is to earn a spot on a full season team. I've been able to put on about 10 pounds so hopefully I'll be able to drive the ball a bit better. I just want to be able to give great effort every day and show what I'm capable of. I feel at my age I have to be pushing for a full season spot and I want to show the organization that I am able to do the things they want me to. I just need to go out and prove my worth to this organization.”

 Zurcher is a dark horse in the system. He was drafted last year in the 31^st round, after hitting .443 for the University of Memphis (it will always be Memphis State to me). I had him projected much higher. He went on to finish the season with Kingsport, hitting .283/.386/.336/.723 in 113-AB. No power here, but a good bat and great defense.

·         We also spent a few minutes with one of my  favorites, P Alex Panteliodes.  His comments caught me off-guard: 

This preseason I just want to get back out on the field and pick up from where I left off. My hip is feeling a lot better and I am just looking forward to starting my career as a New York Met.

Pants had a torn labrum in his hip, but had successful surgery and is now 100%.

·         I also spent a few moments with Hunter Carnevale. He was well on to a great season (2011) with Brookyn, going 1-1, 1.08, 19-K, 16.2-IP, in 12 appearances, when his arm gave out. I wanted to see how the process is going and Hunter was happy to fill us in:

“Hey Mack. My goals for spring training are pretty simple. Since I had Tommy John in August, I'm really focused on getting healthy and getting back into live action as soon as I can. I know that the earliest that I could get into a game would be later in the season, so that's what I'm shooting for.”

At worse, we won’t see Hunter in 2012; however, don’t bet on it.

Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 51-55:

51: - SP Steve Matz – The best at thing I can say about Steve at this point in his professional career is he gives a great interview. Oh yeah, he’s from New York too. That’s two things. I had very little on him when the Mets drafted him and a lot of the fans have forgotten he’s still in the system. Hopefully, he will heal up this winter and we’ll see him in the spring. No sense in printing old velo stats; the kid is basically starting over here. He’ll start with baby steps. I have him in K-Port. ETA: ???

52: - 3B Elvis Sanchez – No, I’m not going to say that Elvis is in the house. Oh, shit. Sanchez was signed last year as a 16-year old and was hyped with having similar power as Aderlin Rodriguez. You can’t ask for more when he went yard on opening night for the DSL2 team. He wound up having one of the strangest seasons and might go down in history as the most patient teenager in baseball: 198-AB… 73-K… .157-BA… but, 62-BB! That translates to an OBP of .367 with a slugging percentage of .222. The Mets plan on working on removing his bat from his shoulder, and if they are smart, they’d leave im in the DR for another season. ETA: ???

53: - RP Jose De La Torre – The 25-year old had a banner year in 2010, relieving in 51-games for Binghamton and Buffalo and combining for a 3-2, 2.69 record. This included 80Ks in 70.1-IP. This year, most of the year was spent on and off the DL, but he did get in 20 games for GCL/Clones/Bisons and has a stat line of: 2-2, 1.09, 25-K, 24.2-IP.ome April 2012, but I might change that before this report is done. He really deserves to be in Queens. ETA: - Queens pen sometime in 2012.



photo by Allan Greene

 54: - SP Domingo Tapia – I probably have Tapia too low. He’s making quite a name for himself this season, throwing at 100 for K-Port. 2012 will be the 5th year in the Mets system for Dom, who will play 2012 as a 21-year old. I have him starting for Savannah next season, but this is a closer in waiting. You give him one more season throwing 100+ heat, plus control on some pitch with sink, and you watch how fast this kid moves. ETA: Projected Mets closer 2014.

55: - SP Ryan Fraser – I can’t wait for the off-season so I can have another interview with Ryan. This is a career reliever that was pumped at the end of 2010 when he was told he was going to start for the Sand Gnats in 2011. I thought it was just a way of getting him more innings so he can be evaluated in the future. Let’s face it, the kid just hasn’t thrown a lot in his career and his arm could use a good, seasonal test. Well, he got what he wanted, and did a good job, earning him another starting slot next spring, this time with Lucy. ETA: Mets pen 2015


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (14) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, Brandon Moore, RP Robert Carson, Eric Beaulac, Jose De La Torre, IF Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter, Juan Lagarus


Binghamton: (9) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, RP Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello


St. Lucie: (13) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, Tyler Pill, Ryan Fraser, RP Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Chase Huchingson, IF Wilmer Flores, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez, Darrell Cecilliani


Savannah: (6) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, RP T.J. Chism, IF Cam Maron


Brooklyn: (5) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, Domingo Tapia, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo


Kingsport: (4) – SP Luis Mateo, Christian Montgomery, Steve Matz, OF Vincente Lupo


GCL: (0) –


DSL: (1) – IF Elvis Sanchez,

The Keepers: - #41 - SP - Steve Matz

41. SP Steve Matz



Matz was the first player drafted by the Mets in the 2009 draft. I had him as the 97th most talented lefty available for the draft, which, if I was correct, would have put him around a 35th round pick. The Mets signed him with an $800,000 bonus and will most probably assign him to Brooklyn where all the future prospects go.

Matz lost the 2010 season to TJS.



8-31-10 interview with Matz:



Mack Ade Okay, fans, we're moving on to one of the big guns, last year's number one draft pick, Hicksville's own Steve Matz. Steve, how's everything doing out on the island?



Matz: - It's Stony Brook. Hicksville is Cam Maron. But everything is going very well out here. I have been rehabbing in Garden City at the Professional Atheltic Performance Center and my arm is coming along very well.



Mack: Stony Book, Hicksville... it's all the same to a Cold Spring Harbor guy... tell us about that wonderful day called draft day....

Matz: - Draft day was awesome. A lot of my family are big Mets fans so it was an exciting day for the whole family.

Mack: - I remember that great pic (see above) you had taken with your parents on the field at Citi Field... so... I ask this question to all the high rounders... what was the first thing you bought with the bonus money?

Matz: - The first thing I bought with my bonus was an F 150 Raptor, its a 2010 special addition Ford pick up truck.



Mack: - Ha ha... got news for ya.... 75% of all bonus babies say "truck". So, you head down to Lucy, start pitching in extended camp, and... then what happens?

Matz: - I pitched two innings, gave up a few walks, a few hits, and get out of the two innings. I was done for the day, and then, that night, every time I extend my arm my it was really tight and it got me worried. I was just hoping it was sore, and then a day and half later I try to throw a bull pen and its like nothing was on my pitches. So the pitch coach (Rick Waits) asked if something was wrong and I pointed to the spot and he sent me in to get it checked out by the trainers.



Mack: - You went under the knife... was it TJS, and, on a scale of 1-10, how's the arm now?



Matz: - Yeah. Luckily, when they went in there, everything else looked good. No bone spurs or chips or anything, and right now it feels without throwing, I would say, about an 8.5. So close to feeling normal like nothing ever happened.



Mack: - Last question Steve. I'm sure your short term goals for 2011 is to simply get back on the mound and throw your first professional pitch. My question is simple... on what Mets team do you hope to end the 2011 season with?

Matz: - I would love to play in Brooklyn. It's short season and thats just about when I'll be back. Also, it's close to home which would be awesome. It's one of the cooler places to play in the whole minor league system. Hopefully everything will go smoothly, but thats just my preference. I know the Mets have a good handle on where they put players so ultimately I'll be happy anywhere.



Mack: - Thanks Steve, and the best of everything this off-season. I'll see you in the spring in extended camp.

9-1-10: - 2011 Projection: - There's no rush here. The Mets are loaded with lower level SPs and it simply takes time to recover from TJS. The Mets have 800,000 reasons to use 2011 as a year to keep Steve on a strict pitch count. I too expect him to play Brooklyn, not because he's from New York, but the Mets will want to keep an eye on him there. Expect him back around June with a couple of weeks on the GCL squad so Rick Waits can spend some quality time with him, followed by a plane ride to Coney...


4-29-11 – I talked to Steve. His rehab is on schedule and we should see him on the Brooklyn roster come June.


5-3-11: - I talked today with former #1 pick, LHSP Steve Matz who said things are going well. His rehab from surgery continues and he hasn’t’ thrown in any kind of game yet. His tone seem to tell me that he may not make the beginning of the Cyclone season and could start off rehabbing with the GCL team. Take your time Steve. We need you healthy.


6-10-11: - I heard that ex-New York Mets first round pick SP Steve Matz, was shut down again and will begin throwing again next week. Word is that he will start the short season with the GCL mets, so he can stay in Florida and keep on his healing program. Matz is a great kid, with a Darrell Ceciliani type personality, who hasn't thrown a pitch in a professional baseball game. I first hope his health returns.


7-5-11: - I talked with Steve last night, who has been shut down for the remainder of the year. Matz, who was the Mets number one pick (72nd overall) in the 2010 draft, has been recovering from TJS and doctors have decided to take the long road on his recovery. “I was back facing hitters and it just wasn’t feeling right”, said Matz. “They told me I just need some more rest. I will hopefully throwing bullpens when the instruction leagues come around. It’s frustrating, but I’ve got to be patient.” We’re all in his corner and wish him both strength and patience through this period.

7-29-11: - Matz was transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day version after reporting that he felt soreness. Baseball America wrote: The Mets' top pick in the ’09 draft (second round), Steve Matz has yet to throw a pitch as a professional. He had Tommy John surgery in ’10 and suffered elbow soreness this year, necessitating a shift to the 60-day disabled list.


7-29-11: - As we reported earlier this here on Mack's Mets, SP Steve Matz will not be pitching this season at any level. He continues to heal from TJS which just somethimes takes a little more for some players. I talked to Steve earlier today and asked his spin on this:


Matz: - Hey Mack, yeah, my season is definitely going to be over. I was back in simulated games in May, and I seemed to be fine. My velocity on all my pitches was back and even a little higher, but it started to hurt again. I got a second opinion from Dr Andrews and he said its just not 100% healed yet. I got a prp injection and have to rest six weeks. It's beyond frustrating, but there's really nothing else I can do.


Opinion: Yes, this is frustrating, but the fact remains that Matz is a very talented pitcher that will someday get his turn.

Steve Matz Update, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, OPS

Steve Matz:


7-29-11: - Matz was transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day version after reporting that he felt soreness. Baseball America wrote: The Mets' top pick in the ’09 draft (second round), Steve Matz has yet to throw a pitch as a professional. He had Tommy John surgery in ’10 and suffered elbow soreness this year, necessitating a shift to the 60-day disabled list.


Matt Harvey:


7-29-11: - minorleaguebaseball.  - Binghamton's Matt Harvey still doesn't have a victory six starts into his first Double-A career, but he took something else home Thursday night. Harvey struck out 10 and allowed four hits over seven strong innings, but gave up a game-tying run in the Mets' eventual 2-1 defeat in 14 frames to the host Harrisburg Senators. The 22-year-old right-hander -- New York's No. 3 prospect -- struggled to control the running game. The Harvey-Kai Gronauer battery allowed three stolen bases, and the the last was the most significant: Derek Norris walked on four pitches, swiped second base and scored three batters later on Chris Rahl's liner into left, tying the score, 1-1.



Zack Wheeler:


11-28-11: - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2011/index.jsp  - Scouting report: The Giants' first-round pick in 2009 is was a Futures Gamer in 2010, his first full season. He features a heavy fastball that he can run into the mid-90s with a vastly improved breaking ball and a changeup that has developed well this year. He's a much better pitcher after an up-and-down first full year that was interrupted by a fingernail problem, though he's still working on refining his command. Still, at age 21 and in the California League, he's ahead of the curve.


Jeurys Famila:


7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump  - RHP Jeurys Familia - STOCK UP - I'm not one to toot my own horn...but beep beep. Me, Jan. 17: 'I for one am still looking for that big-time breakout campaign from Familia, just a year later than we all expected.' And so it shall come to pass. After a 2010 that saw his ERA more than double -- from 2.69 in '09 up to 5.58 in '10 -- Familia fulfilled the promise that kept him among the organization's top 5 pitchers in the pre-season rankings. He has translated increasing fastball velocity -- now in the mid to upper 90's -- and a sharpened change into exceptional results. He quickly dispatched FSL hitters, posting a 1.49 ERA and a .171 average against before being promoted after just six starts. He continued to roll initially but began to see that Double-A hitters wouldn't chase and worse, when behind they could catch a good fastball (see: seven hrs allowed). But despite finding Double-A a bit trickier, Familia still maintained a K/9 above 10 and a .239 average against. He has struggled over the past month with a mysterious injury that the club seemed happy enough to label a lack of energy. Yet it recently landed him on the DL in the form of a shoulder impingement. Regardless, he has emerged to challenge Harvey and Mejia as the organization's top minor league pitcher.


OPS:


OPS – “On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging Percentage”. One of the most popular sabermetrics statistics in use today as well as one of the simplest, OPS combines two of the best metrics in determining a hitter’s value to his team. On-Base Percentage (OBP) is the ability of a player to get on base and Slugging Percentage (SLG) is the ability of a player to hit for power. As a point of reference, .728 was the average OPS for MLB in 2010. In his essay titled, “The 96 Families of Hitters” - http://baseballreflections.com/2011/07/28/sabermetrics-101-gaining-the-fantasy-baseball-edge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sabermetrics-101-gaining-the-fantasy-baseball-edge  

Steve Matz, Adam O’Neill, Dustin Lawley, Reyes Return, Ike Davis Update

Steve Matz:


7-5-11: - I talked with Steve last night, who has been shut down for the remainder of the year. Matz, who was the Mets number one pick (72nd overall) in the 2009 draft, has been recovering from TJS and doctors have decided to take the long road on his recovery. “I was back facing hitters and it just wasn’t feeling right”, said Matz. “They told me I just need some more rest. I will hopefully throwing bullpens when the instruction leagues come around. It’s frustrating, but I’ve got to be patient.” We’re all in his corner and wish him both strength and patience through this period.


Adam O’Neill:


7-5-11: - I also talked to Adam , who has been out of the GCL Mets lineup for around three week. He flew up to New York yesterday for an MRI on what has been diagnosed as a “UCL sprain”. We’ll let you know the results tomorrow.


Dustin Lawley:


7-5-11: - Okay, we’re going to have to keep an eye on K-Port OFer, Dustin Lawley. He went 4-5 last night, raising his line to .320/.345/.500/.845. It includes one home run but only two more walks than that.The 22-yr. old comes out of Wallace State CC/University of West Florida, as a 19th round draft pick this past June. Had nice stats in his senior year (.338, 10-HR, 22-doubles, 28-SB), but one always questions the competition this far down. Still, anyone that bats over .300 at any level gets our attention.


Reyes Return:


Rush back? What's the hurry? The Mets' star shortstop isn't about to jeopardize his season by returning too soon from the strained left hamstring injury he sustained Saturday against the Yankees. Reyes, diagnosed with a Grade 1 (the least severe) strain, wasn't available last night, but remains hopeful he will play at some point on this West Coast trip. "I feel like I'm getting better every day, but I don't want to get on the field too soon, because I know what happened in 2009 when I tried to get on the field too soon," Reyes said before the Mets beat the Dodgers 5-2. "Right now I have to take my time." - http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/reyes_won_rush_his_return_jbfE0zpNZCdUZtZ5vkWO3O#ixzz1REXqvJRi  


Ike Davis Update:


Ike Davis (ankle) will judge how cartilage damage is healing next week. If the first baseman can comfortably run, he will starting taking further steps toward a return. Otherwise, he may be headed for season-ending surgery (after an outside medical opinion is sought to confirm what Mets doctors advised). - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/28468/mets-morning-briefing-7-5-11