The Keepers - #108 - OF/1B - Travis Ozga

108. Travis Ozga

 

Ozga was drafted ny the Mets in the 41st round of the 2009 draft. 

7-8-10: - I know the last thing that Mets fans think they need right now is a new first base prospect, but trust me, no one is safe in the baseball world. The Yankees are considering trading Jesus Montero for Cliff Lee which makes one realize that there surely is a price out there for Ike Davis. I’m sure he’s not going anywhere, but it’s nice to know that they Mets seem to striking gold right now is Savannah with Travis Ozga. Ozga is a 41st round 2009 draft pick that played a little for the GCL Mets last season, and hit a little less than that: .194/.279/.226/.505. Frankly, I didn’t think he’d be back this season, what with Alex Gregory, Jeff Flagg, Eddie Lora, Luke Stewart, Alexander Sanchez, and Marinus Vernooij in the system; but I was wrong again, and Ozga reported to Kingsport… for one game. Savannah was looking for someone to spell Gregory, and the obvious move would have been to bring back Flagg, who was banished to Brooklyn after a slow start in April. Flagg has put his game together and I guess Mets brass like what they see in Coney Island… so up comes Ozga to Savannah. So far, this looks like a killer move. Ozga’s stats for the season for the Gnats are: .371/.425/.514/.939, with only 6-Ks and 4-BB. 10-7-10: 

 

2011 Forecast: - It's far too early to project out Ozga, and we really need to see him for another season to see what the Mets have here. Logic says he will move on the St. Lucie come the spring of 2011 and I hope they keep him there for the entire season. 

 6-28-11: - Ozga was promoted today to Binghamton from St. Lucie. He fills the slot that Jon Malo left open earlier when he went up to Buffalo. Malo is one of your super-AAAA players that bounces around where needed. The assumption here is that 3B Zach Lutz’s recovery from his beaning continues to be slow (failed tests yesterday saying he had headaches). But why promote a first baseman when Allan Dykstra (.255) is already there? Ozga (.288 in 80-AB, 0-HR) has been a backup to Stefan Welsh (.262 in 229-AB, 9-HR) so, frankly, I have to assume he was “promoted” for play time there… ??? 

 9-3-11: - 70 – 1B/OF Travis Ozga – A different version of the Alonzo Harris saga. Ozga is way down the pecking order at first base , so he tried this year to light a spark in the outfield. Zero home runs isn’t going to hack it though. I have him as a utility outfielder in Binghamton in 2012. 

 3-31-12 – Ozga goes into the 2012 season looking for a position to play. I expect him to spend most of his time in the outfield and could wind up at the end of the season in Buffalo, but he’s going to have to ready stand out to win himself a starting position on either the Bisons or Binghamton.

The Keepers - OF-1B - Travis Ozga

Travis Ozga 

 Ozga was drafted by the Mets in the 41st round of the 2009 draft. 

 7-8-10: - I know the last thing that Mets fans think they need right now is a new first base prospect, but trust me, no one is safe in the baseball world. The Yankees are considering trading Jesus Montero for Cliff Lee which makes one realize that there surely is a price out there for Ike Davis. I’m sure he’s not going anywhere, but it’s nice to know that they Mets seem to striking gold right now is Savannah with Travis Ozga. Ozga is a 41st round 2009 draft pick that played a little for the GCL Mets last season, and hit a little less than that: .194/.279/.226/.505. Frankly, I didn’t think he’d be back this season, what with Alex Gregory, Jeff Flagg, Eddie Lora, Luke Stewart, Alexander Sanchez, and Marinus Vernooij in the system; but I was wrong again, and Ozga reported to Kingsport… for one game. Savannah was looking for someone to spell Gregory, and the obvious move would have been to bring back Flagg, who was banished to Brooklyn after a slow start in April. Flagg has put his game together and I guess Mets brass like what they see in Coney Island… so up comes Ozga to Savannah. So far, this looks like a killer move. Ozga’s stats for the season for the Gnats are: .371/.425/.514/.939, with only 6-Ks and 4-BB. 

 10-7-10: - 2011 Forecast: - It's far too early to project out Ozga, and we really need to see him for another season to see what the Mets have here. Logic says he will move on the St. Lucie come the spring of 2011 and I hope they keep him there for the entire season. 

 6-28-11: - Ozga was promoted today to Binghamton from St. Lucie. He fills the slot that Jon Malo left open earlier when he went up to Buffalo. Malo is one of your super-AAAA players that bounces around where needed. The assumption here is that 3B Zach Lutz’s recovery from his beaning continues to be slow (failed tests yesterday saying he had headaches). But why promote a first baseman when Allan Dykstra (.255) is already there? Ozga (.288 in 80-AB, 0-HR) has been a backup to Stefan Welsh (.262 in 229-AB, 9-HR) so, frankly, I have to assume he was “promoted” for play time there… ??? 

9-3-11: - 70 – 1B/OF Travis Ozga – A different version of the Alonzo Harris saga. Ozga is way down the pecking order at first base , so he tried this year to light a spark in the outfield. Zero home runs isn’t going to hack it though. I have him as a utility outfielder in Binghamton in 2012.

Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 66-70

66 – 1B Stefan Welsh – Welsh has done very little wrong but he’s in an organization that right now has too many first basemen. First, you have Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, Josh Satin, and Nick Evans in Queens and there’s also Alan Dykstra ahead of him going to Buffalo. 16-HRs, 53-RBIs, and an OPS of .805 in 430-Abs is great, and will definitely get him to Binghamton next spring, but then what? ETA – out of system via trade




photo by Allan Greene

 67 – OF Pedro Zapata – Zapata is a no-pop speedster that plays the outfield. He’s had a very nice season (.293/.330/.391/.721) for St. Lucie and there’s a slot waiting for him in Binghamton next spring. I especially like the 34 stolen bases and only six errors all season. Most of the outfield talent in the system is either at his level or below, so his fate is in his own hands. ETA: Utility 2014

68 – IF Wilfredo Tovar – Tovar has moved over to second base and has done a decent job for the Sand Gnats (.253/.320/.322/.648) this season.He did have 20-errors, but doesn’t everyone at this level? I don’t consider Tovar major league material and he should bounce around the organization for a few more years. Look for him to start second for Lucy next spring. ETA: AAAA





photo by Allan Greene

 69 – OF Alonzo Harris – Harris has been lost and passed by in Savannah for the past few years. He even changed positions from second base to the outfield in hopes of turning a coach on. So far, it hasn’t. He can’t stay in Savannah for a third year, and there’s four other guys projected for St. Lucie, so I have him as either the 5th outfielder there, or out of the system. ETA: OOS 2014

70 – 1B/OF Travis Ozga – A different version of the Alonzo Harris saga. Ozga is way down the pecking order at first base , so he tried this year to light a spark in the outfield. Zero home runs isn’t going to hack it though. I have him as a utility outfielder in Binghamton in 2012.




Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (15) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, Brandon Moore, RP Robert Carson, Rhiner Cruz, 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: (17) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, Armondo Rodriguez, RP Jeff Kaplan, Nick Carr, Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Juan Centeno, Stefan Welsh, Wilfredo Tovar, Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello, Pedro Zapata, Travis Ozga


St. Lucie: (17) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, Tyler Pill, Ryan Fraser, RP Hamilton Bennett, Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Chase Huchingson, IF Albert Cordero, Alonzo Harris, Wilmer Flores, Robbie Shields, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez, Darrell Cecilliani


Savannah: (7) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, Marcos Camerena, RP T.J. Chism, IF Cam Maron


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


Kingsport: (5) – SP Luis Mateo, Christian Montgomery, Steve Matz, OF Vincente Lupo, Eudy Pena


GCL: (0) –


DSL: (1) – IF Elvis Sanchez,

Jose Reyes, Alonzo Harris, Travis Ozga, Carlos Beltran, Interleague Play

Photo by Michael G. Baron

Jose Reyes:


I hope all of you are observing what’s going on with this guy. You get very few opportunities to see this kind of complete dominance in a game. I’m old enough to say I was there when Bob Lemon pitched, or Rod Carew own the plate. I also sat behind home plate watching an early Doc Gooden and a seasoned Bob Gibson. You younger fans need to suck all of this up so you can tell your grandchildren of the year Jose Reyes tilted to fields around both divisions.






Alonzo Harris:


6-28-11: - Harris tweeted on Tuesday: Pro_zo Alonzo Harris Jr. –“ i wish i knew what plan they got for m”e........#headstartingtohanglow – Let’s see if we can help him out here… Harris is only 21-years old and is in his 4th season in the Mets organization. He had a fair amount of prospect talk early on after being drafted in the 39th round in 2007. Hit well (.308) and played the entire season in 2008 with the GCL Mets. Conservatively bumped to K-Port in 2009 (.273) where he showed promising pop (10-HR). Once again, promoted to the next level, Savannah, in 2010, where he stumbled (.224). He was also 2nd on the team last year in errors (21) as a second baseman, so the Mets decided to play him more in the outfield this year. Problem with this is Darrell Ceciliani and Cory Vaughn were promoted from Brooklyn (with all that bonus money hanging off them) so “Zo” lost more “Mo”. Now, he’s hit .321 in his last ten games (.264 overall) as he repeats Savannah, watching his playmates get sent to the airport. Normally, I would tell him to just keep hitting above .300, but how has that helped either Josh Satin or Juan Lagares? Conclusion: He’ll finish the year in Savannah. There’s no one ready behind him in the outfield so he should play every day. Frankly, I’d put him back on second and give him another shot there.


Travis Ozga:


6-28-11: - Ozga was promoted today to Binghamton from St. Lucie. He fills the slot that Jon Malo left open earlier when he went up to Buffalo. Up what Jon tweetered: “here we go again”. You know something was Malo is one of your super-AAAA players that bounces around where needed. The assumption here is that 3B Zach Lutz’s recovery from his beaning continues to be slow (failed tests yesterday saying he had headaches). (Note: he did go on the 15-day later on in the day… will print out the press release also this morning). But why promote a first baseman when Allan Dykstra (.255) is already there? Ozga (.288 in 80-AB, 0-HR) has been a backup to Stefan Welsh (.262 in 229-AB, 9-HR) so, frankly, I have to assume he was “promoted” for play time there… ???


Carlos Beltran:


Carlos Beltran isn’t sweating out whether he still will be wearing a Mets uniform for a potential stretch run with the team. On one hand, Beltran is having fun, thankful he is healthy enough to contribute to a team with playoff aspirations. But unlike Jose Reyes and Francisco Rodriguez, who have expressed a desire to finish this season with the Mets, the veteran outfielder doesn’t seem to have a preference. “This is a business,” Beltran told The Post before hitting a grand slam in the Mets’ 14-3 victory over the Tigers last night. - http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/carlos_would_ok_trade_to_contender_AwbWuWeMMXucskQuQh0MrN#ixzz1QfmZbu5b  


Interleague Play:


Since interleague play began in 1997, the Mets' American League opponents have had an average year-end winning percentage of .527 -- the highest in all of baseball. The Mets' two biggest division rivals, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, registered at .513 and .506, respectively. The Florida Marlins and the Washington Nationals, the other two teams in the National League East, have both played AL slates against teams with an average winning percentage below. 500. "If you're going to have interleague, everybody in our division ought to play the same teams someplace else," manager Terry Collins said. "I don't care which division it is. We ought to play the same animals." - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/27815/mets-morning-briefing-6-29-11