Turkey Links: - Jeff & Fred, Eric Brown, Redding, and Jeff Kent

Tim Redding:

If he hasn't been non-tendered already, it can only be chalked up to Minaya's benevolence. At this point, why ruin Thanksgiving at the Redding home? - Jack Flynn

Jeff Kent.

I'm pulling out of field 6 at Jones Beach and I put on WFAN. The Mets have traded David Cone for Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson. What??? Thompson was a turkey but didn't play enough to be an all-time turkey. Kent managed to win an MVP (elsewhere) and maybe even accumulate enough stats to make the Hall of Fame, but he'll always be hated around these parts. He didn't like us and we didn't like him. We won't see Jeff at too many Old Timer's Days not that we have those...I mean the team has only been around for 50 years. - Mets Police

Eric Brown:

RHP Eric Brown and C Ralph Henriquez were released a day before Thanksgiving.

Jeff Wilpon:

And so, Fred and Jeff, in the spirit of the holiday season, I send you the following Thanksgiving wishes: I hope you gag on your turkey, spill cranberry sauce on your suits, and get gravy stains on your ties. I hope your wine is corked, your mashed potatoes lumpy, and your pumpkin pie spoiled. I hope your staff quits at the last moment and spends the day peppering you with crank calls from “me, your old pal Bernie Madoff, don’t you remember?” Then I hope you get the runs afterward. The two of you deserve nothing less.-
Uniwatchblog

Tobi Stoner:

Tobi Stoner is turning a bit human giving up three runs in two of his last three starts. At seven starts the Mets will probably soon bring him back home to rest for the regular season. His ERA is currently at 1.94 with a 4-1 record and a .205 opponent average. - MWOB

Jose Lima:

Jose Lima lost his fourth game giving up three runs and six hits in a little over four innings to raise his ERA to 6.07. He’s lost his last four starts to drop to 2-4 and has given up homeruns in his last three games - MWOB

Jenrry Mejia:

According to Baseball America, top five fastballs in the AFL: Stephen Strasburg 100.5... Sergio Santos 98.8... Jenrry Mejia 98.5... Tanner Scheppers 98.2... Phillippe Aumont 97.4 - BA

The Keepers - #14 - RP - Brant Rustich

14. Brant Rustich – RP – AA – 25/yrs.

Rustich’s 2007 stats with UCLA: 20 appearances (1 start), 3-2, 6 saves, 6.67 ERA, 29.2 IP, 31 H, 20 BB, 28 Ks, 3HRs, .265 BA.

A scouting report prior to draft: A physical beast at a listed 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, at times Rustich has three above-average pitches in his 93-96 mph fastball, power slider (at times touching 87 mph) and split-finger fastball. He's still bothered by a finger injury that caused him to redshirt last season, and his command is nearly nonexistent. In terms of stuff, he's a first-round talent, but his lack of pitchability makes him a 22-year-old with a 6.10 career ERA and 75 walks in 124 innings.

And a local article just after the draft: UCLA right-handed pitcher Brant Rustich was selected by the New York Mets in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft Thursday afternoon. Rustich, the 93rd overall selection in the 2007 draft, became the 28th baseball player in school history to be chosen in the first two rounds. Rustich, a hard-throwing 6-foot-6-inch right-hander from El Cajon, Calif., leads the Bruins with six saves this season. The redshirt junior has tallied a 3-2 record and a 6.67 ERA in 20 appearances, striking out 28 batters in 29.2 innings. Rustich limited hitters to a .265 clip and made one start midway through the season. Rustich becomes just the seventh Bruin to have been chosen by the New York Mets. At least one UCLA ballplayer has been selected within the first two rounds in three of the past four drafts. The former Grossmont High School standout received a medical redshirt in 2006 after suffering a finger injury. Rustich recorded a 1.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings of relief that season.

The Mets drafted Rustich in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft. He started the 2007 season for Kingsport (1-0, 0.87 in 5 games, 2 starts), but was quickly promoted to Brooklyn (2-0, 2.13, 0.39 in 10 appearances).

In September 2007, Rustich was assigned to play in the Hawaiian Winter League (which is always a sign that the organization wants to invest more time and money in you). It is also quite an honor for someone who was drafted in the same year to be assigned this high. Aslo in September, Baseball America ranked Rustich as the 20th top prospect to come out of the NY-Penn league.

In November 2007, Scouts.com ranked Rustich as the 4th top Mets prospect, while BA had him 6th.

In late January 2007, Baseball America ranked him as the 6th overall Mets prospect.

In February 2008, Baseball Prospectus awarded him a 3-star rating and ranked him as the 5th overall Mets prospect.

Also in February 2008, Rotoworld ranked Rustich as the #7 Mets prospect, saying: Rustich was terribly inconsistent at UCLA, posting a 6.10 ERA and a 114/75 K/BB ratio in 124 career innings. He wasn't any better last year, finishing with a 6.67 ERA and a 28/20 K/BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings. Still, the Mets made him a second-round pick and he pulled off a stunning turnaround in the low minors, finishing with a 21/2 K/BB ratio in 23 innings. Rustich throws in the mid-90s and has a powerful build, so it's not surprising that he was drafted as early as he was. Still, he figured to be a long-term project. Now it's conceivable that he could see the majors before the end of this year, depending on whether his command holds up. He has a better chance than Kunz of turning into a closer someday. However, he's also the more likely of the two to have no significant career at all.

Rustich pitched dinged for most of the 2008 season, for Savannah, but still managed to post stats of: 3-4, 3.62, in 20 games, 8 starts, 48Ks, 49.2 IP

In 2009, Rustich dug in to St. Lucie and produced an all-star season: 1-1, 2.45, 1.28, 19 appearances, 3 starts, 46-K, 47.2-IP.

Forecast:


Rustich is injury free, has a lifetime professional record over 3 seasons of 7-5, 2.77, 1.09, and will play 2010 as a 26-year old. He is one of the premier Mets relievers in the system and may be ready for the fast track. Watch for 6-6 right hander to start the season with Binghamton, and if he dominates, could wind up in Queens by September.

Savannah Sand Gnats season tickets.

The Savannah Sand Gnats announced on their web site that the price of a 2010 box seat for 70 home games will be $440. Last year the cost was $490. The price includes many benefits, one of which is a parking pass close to the front gate. It was also announced that the Sand Gnats will offer fans half-season packages in the box seat sections at an introductory price of $250 for 35 games. The general admission season tickets will remain unchanged at $225 for 70 home games. It is nice to see an organization help the fans during the downturn in the economy.

Omir, Tobi, F-Mart, Wags, Parnell, Familia, Bobby Bo, and Joe Foy

Omir Santos:


After missing out on any off season hardware including any Gold Glove or Silver Slugger awards, the Mets manged to pull one out of the hat when catcher Omir Santos was named to the Topps All Star Rookie Team. Omir Santos hit .260 in 96 games for the Mets last season with 7 homers and 40 RBIs, beating out the Orioles Matt Wieters who was the early season favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. - Metsmeriszed

Tobi Stoner:

I was talking to a scout from an American League team a few days ago and, surprisingly, he brought up an interesting player in the Mets system. He mentioned 25-year-old right-hander Tobi Stoner, who went 9-9, 3.55 in 23 starts with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Buffalo. The scout was impressed with the fact Stoner walked only 47 batters in 144.2 innings and allowed just 120 hits. The hurler had a cup-of-coffee with the Mets in September, making four relief appearances, allowing four runs and nine hits in nine innings (0-0, 4.00). He is on the 40-man roster. - Mike Silva

Fernando Martinez:

Young New York Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez may be one of the team's top prospects but the team is apparently ready to put him up on the trading block, according to the New York Daily News. The 21-year-old Martinez played only 29 games in his first season in the majors due to surgery on his right that he is still recovering from, hitting one homer and scoring 11 runs. But he got a lot of good publicity before then. Now he's about to try and prove that he's healthy and worth trading for as he starts winter ball for Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League. The Mets actually held him back from starting winter ball because it was supposedly having trade discussions about him - Yahoo

Billy Wagner:

It's looking like the Atlanta Braves are going to need some help at the back end of the bullpen since it appears that relievers Rafael Soriano(notes) and Mike Gonzalez(notes) are going to head out of town via free agency, according to MLB.com. The man at the top of the list in Atlanta is supposedly Billy Wagner(notes), who finished out last season with the Boston Red Sox after spending most of the year as a full-fledged member of the injured New York Mets contingent. - Yahoo

Bobby Parnell:

Back to the bullpen, unless Omar Minaya can sucker another general manager into giving up a competent baseball player. Think Brent Gaff, without the track record of minor-league success. To steal from The Usual Suspects: "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that Bobby Parnell was a major league pitcher." - Jack Flynn

Jeurys Familia:

While Mejia generates most of the buzz in this system because of his pure stuff, Familia certainly shouldn't be overlooked. Pitching at age 19 in the South Atlantic League, the right-hander went 10-6 with a 2.69 ERA, good for second in the SAL and the organization. He gave up just 109 hits in 134 innings for a .221 batting average against. - Jonathan Mayo

Bobby Bonilla:

We've covered this many times. Great with Bonds, horrible with Mets. One of the most hated Mets of all time, so what do the Mets do? They bring him back for a second time so we can boo him more. He didn't make it to the final game at Shea. - Mets Police 

Joe Foy:

You don't know who he is. He's the Bobby Bonilla of 1970. You kids won't believe it now but the Mets could never find a good third-baseman, so they traded for one. He hit .236. The player they gave up was Amos Otis who played until 1984 and went to the playoffs numerous times for the Royals. Foy was done after 1971. - Mets Police

The Keepers - #15 - SP - Kyle Allen

15. Kyle Allen – SP – A -


Allen pitched the 2008 season for the GCL Mets, going 1-1, 2.12, 1.00 in 11 games (5 starts). This included 45 Ks and only 10 BBs in 34.0 IP.

In September 2008, Toby Hyde wrote: After walking seven batters in his first 14.1 innings out of the bullpen, Allen walked just three batters in 19.2 IP as a starter to finish off the season. That improvement in his control is key. Allen works off a fringy fastball that touched 91, but was more often 88/89 when I saw him in July. In that outing, he fell in love with his breaking stuff, mixing in too much curve, slider and changeup trying to be too cute. On the other hand, the slider had its moments and flashed potential to be an average MLB pitch. Allen was born on an Air Force Base in Portugal, (his dad spent 22 years serving) but moved to the U.S. as a toddler. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah

In October 2008, Mets Prospectus wrote: Kyle Allen was born on February 12, 1990 in Portugal and went to High School in Bradenton, Fl at Pendleton High School where he was a well regarded 2-way player who won Rawlings/Perfect Game All-American as a 2-way player. Kyle was drafted in the 24th round (734th overall) of the 2008 First Year Player Draft who had 2nd to 4th round talent/potential but fell due to signability concerns because of his commitment to NC State. Allen has baseball bloodines as his uncle Ray Semproch was a Major League RHP and his cousin Matt Allen was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 40th round of the 1999 First Year Player Draft.

Because of Allen's size, 6'3 and 195 lbs, theres plenty of projection and potential as he already has a pretty good repetoire that consists of a 90-92 MPH 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs, 80-84 MPH slider and 79-86 MPH changeup. This season for the Gulf Coast Mets Allen had a 1-1 record with a 2.12 ERA in 11 games and 5 starts. Kyle also notched 2 saves in his 34 innings while allowing only 24 hits and 10 BB's for a nifty 1.00 WHIP. Not to mention that Allen only gave up one home run, to the 3rd ranked Minor League Prospect in Baseball, Colby Rasmus. He also struck out 45 batters in the 34 innings, good for a 11.91 K/9.

In October 2008, Baseball Handyman wrote: I recently ranked Allen as the Mets 20th best prospect entering the 2009 season based on his stellar 2.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11.91 K/9 in the GCL. However, if my rankings were based on tools alone, Allen would rank much higher earning him mention as a player with true sleeper potential. Drafted in the 24th round out of high school in Florida, Allen signed rather quickly considering his strong commitment to North Carolina State. Based on projection alone, his two way potential warranted a top 5 round pick. Armed with four pitches including a pair of low 90's fastballs, a slider and change, the 6'3", 195 lb. two way player has the athletic ability to build on his initial success and could be the Mets organizations breakout talent next season.

In December 2008, John Sickles ranked: 20) Kyle Allen, RHP, Grade C: Sleeper high school pick from 2008 draft bears close attention.

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - Another staple in the Sand Gnats rotation, Allen is an interesting prospect. Born in Portugal, Allen is a tall, lanky pitcher who sits at 90-93 MPH with his fastball and features a nice changeup and slider. He's effective in getting grounders, and the 19 year-old (born in 1990...man I feel old) struck out 111 batters in 125 innings. However, he also walked 51, hit 11, threw 10 wild pitches, and balked twice. Command is definitely an issue, but shouldn't be much of a problem for a young kid competing at an older level. Allen was impressive in his 2008 campaign as well, striking out 45 in 34 innings with a 2.12 ERA. He should be part of an impressive St. Lucie rotation next year.

Forecast: Jeurys Familia and Robert Carson got all the press in Savannah, while Allen quietly put up a season which deserves a promotion. Kepp an eye on this kid in St. Lucie in 2010. He may emerge as the team’s SP1.

Black Friday Sale At Cyclone City

HOLIDAY SALE: Beginning on Black Friday -- the day after Thanksgiving -- Cyclone City will kick off its annual holiday sale. In addition to sales of up to 70% off, the team store will also be raffling off a 32" LCD television! Each purchase of $30 or more will qualify you for two raffle tickets. Drawing will be held on Tuesday, December 22nd*.




The Cyclone City Holiday Sale includes:



Black Friday (Nov. 27th) Special -- 25% off on regular priced items

NEW Mets Alternate Home Jersey will be available for sale on Black Friday

NEW Cyclones merchandise and New York Mets items

Select items on sale up to 70% off regular prices

Cyclone City at KeySpan Park will be open throughout the holiday season on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. For more information, call 718-266-2153.



* See Store Associate for Rules and Raffle details.





For Season Tickets, Mini Plans, and Group Tickets, call 718.37.BKLYN

For individual game tickets, call 718.507.TIXX

www.brooklyncyclones.com

Press Release: New Mets Coach

Mets Name Dave Jauss Bench Coach and Chip Hale Third Base Coach




Terry Collins Named Minor League Field Coordinator



FLUSHING, N.Y., November 24, 2009 – The New York Mets today announced they have completed their 2010 major league coaching staff by naming Dave Jauss bench coach and Chip Hale third base coach. Razor Shines, the third base coach in 2009, moves to first base. Howard Johnson (hitting), Dan Warthen (pitching) and Randy Niemann (bullpen) return to their same roles on Manager Jerry Manuel’s staff.



The Mets also named Terry Collins, who is in his 40th season in professional baseball, the team’s Minor League Field Coordinator.



“Jerry and I both thought it was crucial that we explore changes to the staff to help us achieve our goal next year of returning a championship-caliber team to the field,” said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya.



Jauss, 52, spent the last two years as the bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles. In 2006-2007, he held the same position with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent 10 years with the Boston Red Sox as a coach, scout and administrator. Jauss was the first base coach from 1997-1999 with Boston and he was an advance scout with the Red Sox in 2004 when they won the World Series.



Manuel and Jauss worked together in the Montreal Expos organization from 1988-1989 when Jauss was a minor league manager and Manuel was the Minor League Field Coordinator.



Jauss graduated from Amherst College with a B.A. degree in psychology and has a Master’s degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts.



Hale, 44, was the third base/infield coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks the past three years. An infielder, Hale spent portions of seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1989-1997. He posted a career .277 batting average in 333 games.



Hale compiled a 392-305 record (.562 winning percentage) in six seasons as a minor league manager for Arizona. In 1986, Hale hit .345 to help the University of Arizona capture the College World Series title.



“Innovative and creative are two words that I would use to describe both Dave and Chip,” said Manuel. “That’s what impressed me during the interview process with each of them. Dave was schooled under Felipe Alou in Montreal, and Felipe always stressed speed and the running game. Dave will be an exceptional resource.



“Chip learned from Tom Kelly in Minnesota where everything is about fundamentals, fundamentals and fundamentals,” added Manuel. “The third base coach is such a critical position and we think it’s a great plus that he comes to us with a ready-made knowledge of the National League.”



Collins, 60, who managed the Houston Astros from 1994-1996 and the Anaheim Angels from 1997-1999, will oversee all on-field aspects of the Mets Minor League Spring Training, Mini-Camps and Instructional League. In addition, he will be involved in all phases of minor league on-field operations, including instruction, discipline as well as player and staff evaluations.



Collins compiled a 444-434 record as a manger (.506 winning percentage). This year, he managed Team China in the World Baseball Classic and won the country’s first game in WBC history. He directed the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods Summer League in 2009.



In 2007 and 2008, he was the manager of the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Professional League.



During his career, Collins also was the bullpen coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992-1993), an advance scout with the Chicago Cubs (2000), a bullpen coach and third base coach with the Tampa Bay Rays (2001), a Field Coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-2004) and the Director of Player Development for the Dodgers (2005-2006).



He was an infielder for 10 seasons in the minor leagues with the Pirates (1971-1975) and the Dodgers (1975-1980) before beginning a 10-year career as a minor league manager in 1981.

Early Breakfast Links: - Kaz, Ike, Gullen, Angel,

Ike Davis:


The 2008 first-rounder out of Arizona State University didn't make the best first impression when he hit .256 for Brooklyn in 2008, with a .652 OPS, but he more than made up for it in his first full season. The son of former big league reliever Ron Davis, Ike started the year in the Florida State League and ended it in the Double-A Eastern League before heading to Europe to help Team USA win its second straight World Cup gold medal. Before his travels, he hit .298 with 20 homers and a .524 SLG. -  MLB.com

Jose Guillen:

Jose Guillen would approve a trade to the Mets. Guillen is aware the 2010 season will not be with the Kansas City Royals.

The newspaper goes on to report that Guillen has a limited no-trade clause and quoted the outfielder in Spanish saying: "If trading me would help the Royals, New York would be one of the clubs I would approve. ... I have just started a rigorous program of winter training in order to arrive in the best form possible for spring training. My mind is focused on having a great season next year and until now I believed that would be with the Royals. ... It would be a little unjust if they judge me for the statistics of this year, because the injuries did not allow me to play, but I have shown that when I am healthy I can produce a lot." -  Adam Rubin

Kaz Matsui:

The Yankees have a Matsui, we should get one too! This was the height of the Japanese obsession where the Mets would sign Shinjo and "The Japanese Greg Maddux" rather than get the real guys. - Mets Police 

Angel Pagan:

One thing that people must remember is that Angel Pagan was never considered a top-flight prospect, never hit more than .287 over a full season in the minors, never reached double figures in homeruns in any year, and collected 500+ at-bats only twice in ten professional seasons. Early in his pro career, his main tool was his speed — he was a burner on the basepaths, and used his legs to make up for errors in judgment both between the bases and in the outfield. Now that he’s older, banged up, and lost a step, his poor judgment is exposed — especially at the big league level, where everything moves just a bit faster. His fielding, in fact, is not unlike that of Shawn Green in the twilight of his career, when he, too, lost a step (or three). Like Green in his youth, Pagan used to be able to outrun his mistakes; but now, those mistakes result in flies that fall safely and runners who take extra bases. - Mets Today

Roy Halladay:

In order for the Mets to acquire Halladay by trade, they will be in the position of giving up several top name prospects combined with one or two other players, whether they are position players or pitchers . Matt Holliday will most likely stay in St Louis for another year with the Cardinals, but as a Free Agent, his options are open and the Mets know that an everyday left fielder who is a power hitter is a priority. Holliday’s contract demands may be more than the Mets are willing to spend but the Wilpons have told Omar Minaya that he has the budget that he needs, so it is possible that the Mets can spend the bulk of their winter budget to bring Holliday to New York - Daily Stache

So, Just Where The Heck is the Mets Salary right now?

Okay…

Below, is a list of the current 40-man roster.

There are 8 firm inked contracts for the 2010 season. They are:

SP Mike Pelfrey $ 500,000

SP Oliver Perez $ 12,000,000 (yeah… I know…)

CL Francisco Rodriguez $ 11.500,000

SP - Johan Santana $ 21,000,000

2B - Luis Castillo $ 6,000,000

SS Jose Reyes $ 9,000,000

3B - David Wright $ 10,000,000

CF - Carlos Beltran $18,500,000

That totals $88,500,000.

The next list is what I project are players that will make it to opening day. Yes, there could be a trade, but I’m operation based on there being none. In my opinion, here are the guys that should remain on the 40-man, regardless where they are playing in April, and the approximate amount they will eventually sign for:

SP Lance Broadway Proj: $ 450,000 AAA

RP Jack Egbert Proj: $ 400,000 AAA

RP Pedro Feliciano Proj: $ 2,000,000

SP John Maine Proj: $ 2,900,000

RP Pat Misch Proj: $ 450,000

SP Jon Niese Proj: $ 450,000 AAA

SP Fernando Nieve Proj: $ 450,000 AAA

RP Bobby Parnell Proj: $ 450,000

RP Brian Stokes Proj: $ 450,000

RP Tobi Stoner Proj: $ 400,000

C Omir Santos Proj: $ 450,000

C Josh Thole Proj: $ 400,000 AAA

3B Shawn Bowman Proj $ 400,000 AAA

SS/2B Anderson Hernandez Prok: $ 450,000

1B Daniel Murphy Proj: $ 450,000

1B/OF Chris Carter Proj: $ 450,000

OF/1B/3B Nick Evans Proj. $ 450,000

RF Jeff Francoeur Proj. $ 3,700,000

LF Fernando Martinez Proj: $ 400,000 AAA

OF Angel Pagaan Proj. $ 650,000



That’s 20 projected players, totaling $15,300,000.

So, the way I look at it, the 2010 Mets current stand at:

28 players

7 of which will play AAA

$ 103,800,000

Leaving 4 openings for the 25-man at the following positions

Catcher – Starting Pitcher – Relief Pitcher – Option

Regarding Left field, if the Mets sign someone, Martinez will play 2010 at AAA, thus, there are still four openings on the 25-man.

Pitching consists of five starters and eight relievers, which could go to nine if you use the option here.

Who’s left on the 40-man?

Nelson Figueroa, Sean Green, Eddie Kunz, Arturo Lopez, Tim Redding, Andy Green, Jeremy Reed, Cory Sullivan

I guess either Green or Lopez could be the eight relief pitcher, but there’s no room for Figueroa Kunz, or Redding. Green, IMO, isn’t an option for any position, and I’ve already got six guys on the 25-man that can play in the outfield, and that’s before finding a stud left fielder.

So… that leaves three slots…catcher, SP, and option, plus a left field upgrade.

Mets want a budget of $135,000,000.

Can you do this with $31,200,000?

1. Your “option” is a utility player, or 9th RP, so that’s in the $500,000 range.

2. Benji Molina got 6.5mil in 2009… so, what’s take? 8mil?

3. Your’e down to 23.2mil for an SP2 and a stud LF upgrade.

You tell me…