We’re less than two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting and the only thing we seem to all be reading about is the possibility of the Mets taking on a new minority owner.
I counted 147 posts on my twitter account yesterday about the Mets, and 101 were on the ownership topic.
As some of you know, I was a 20% minority owner in a company. I also was the President, until my “partners” wanted to expand on the company in the troublesome 1980’s and I voted against it due to our already large debt owned to the banks. They met without me (their right), voted me out as President, and told me to take a hike while still retaining a personal guarantee against the debt. A year later, they sold the company for seven figures less than we owed and I got stuck with my portion of the bill. Trust me, it ain’t that special.
Is ownership that important to you, the fan?
Ask yourself a few questions:
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Martinez convinced all the doubters in 2009, hitting .290/.337/.540/.877; however, it was after only 176 at bats. The real good news was the slugging percentage, which finally started to post at levels the Mets always said he could reach. 28 of his 51 hits were for extra bases. Yes, he was called up to the Mets, but the conditions of his advancement were not the best. Martinez seems surrounded by injuries. He’s either replacing guys that got hurt, or he’s getting dinged himself. The good news: they all are dings. The bad news: they won’t stop dinging.
Some history:- click here
As soon as Matt Purke made the decision to go to college, the expectations were great. There wasn’t to be much of a transition period. After all, this was a guy with first-round stuff. Purke, still a youngster, was expected to grow into one of the program’s key cogs in the few months between his first month in college and the 2010 season. Suddenly, the Horned Frogs, which reached the NCAA Super Regional round in ’09, were looking to a freshman to be the final piece to the puzzle with the return of pitchers Steven Maxwell and Kyle Winkler. - http://drafthype.com/mlbdraft/matt-purke-14th-pick-to-1st-overall
We conclude our countdown today with junior third baseman Anthony Rendon from Rice. He is from Houston TX and attended Lamar High School. His senior season saw him hit .570 with eight homers, 17 doubles, 56 RBI, 56 runs scored and 13 steals. He picked up several honors including First team 5A all-state shortstop, All-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle, and a starter in the Texas high school all-star game. He was also named all-state as a junior when he led the Houston area with 14 homers. Rendon stepped right into the Rice program starting all 61 games last season with a .388 average while hitting 20 homers and 72 RBI. He also picked up nine steals in 12 attempts. His .388 batting average, .702 slugging percentage, and 20 homers all lead Conference-USA last season. He was the first freshman in Conference USA to ever win Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year awards. He picked up several national awards including being named Second Team All-American by Baseball America and NCBWA, 2009 National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/28/anthony-rendon-rice-top-100-countdown/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter
We continue the list today at number 2 in our countdown with TCU sophomore LHP Matt Purke. The Spring, Texas native attended Klein High School where he had solid career. As a junior in high school, he went 12-1 with a 0.37 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings pitched. He was named the high school pitcher of the year after his junior season by Baseball America. They also rated him as the third best high prospect in the 2009 MLB Draft. The Texas Rangers ended up selecting him in the first round with the 14th overall pick but were not able to come to terms with him. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/27/matt-purke-tcu-top-100-countdown/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter
#3 - LHP Daniel Norris Science Hill HS, Johnson City Tenn 6'2 190 - quality lefty with arm strength and arm speed from upper 3/4 slot, also one of top HS QB's in state, tends to open early on occ causing elbow to get under pitches, fb velocity ranges from 88-94, most are 90-91, cb true 2/6 downward plane action and throws strikes but pitches up more than he needs to which could hurt him in pro ball. Pro instruction will be needed to help him repeat his delivery to be effective in pro ball. Stamina also a concern, but has shown 93-94 in 7th inning before on occ. His team has a matchup vs Nick Delmonico/Pfifer in May. Stay tuned http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
Kolten Wong – Hawaii - Wong earned WAC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American honors as Hawaii’s starting centerfielder in 2009, but a move to second base helped his team reach new heights in 2010. Wong batted .357 with seven home runs, 15 doubles, 40 RBIs, and team-highs of 57 runs and 19 stolen bases to help the Warriors reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. Wong was named the WAC Tournament MVP while helping his team to its first WAC Tourney title since 1992. The Hilo, HA native had more success over the summer, when he was named the Cape Cod League MVP after batting .341 for the Orleans Firebirds. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
Mack: – Hey girls and guys, today we’re talking with the Mets 15th round pick in the 2011 draft, Tillman Thomas Pugh. Hey Tillman, how was your trip back home?
Pugh: – At this moment in time, I’m actually still at the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida and my flight does not leave till 4:10 EST, so I will not be arriving back in California until 11:00PM tonight Pacific Time. I still however am very ecstatic about the idea of being able to lay in my own bed tonight so I am really looking forward to that.
Mack: Kewl. Hopefully, somebody cleaned the sheets. Tell us about draft day and how it felt for you?
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29. Josh Satin .
Satin was drafting in the 6th round of the 2008 draft by the New York Mets.
Baseball America in June 2008: - Phelps' closest comparison may be California senior Josh Satin, who after two difficult springs put it all together as a senior. Satin showed he can hit with wood in the Cape Cod League—he was the league's all-star MVP in 2006—and has above-average bat speed that produces excellent power. He has played mostly second base in college, though many scouts believe he's a better fit in the outfield as a pro due to fringy range and infield actions.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/: - "That was a huge wake-up call," he said. "That led to the revelation that I really had to improve my game. I had to force myself to become the player that I perceived myself to be."
So Satin gave himself a crash course on the art of hitting. He worked with Cal's coaching staff on his swing, stuck to a vigorous diet and exercise routine and watched countless videos of different hitters (Miguel Cabrera is his favorite).
John Manuel: "How did Josh Satin last until the sixth round? That’s a surprise, but he’s a college value pick with legit power and a small chance to stay at second base as a pro. The California senior has enough ability to be a useful outfielder and has the raw power to at least have a chance to reach the big leagues. He could be a utility player if he retains his athleticism and can play second or third base. Satin was the Cape Cod League all-star game MVP in 2007."
Satin was drafted at 23 years old, so he’s moving as fast as he can. After signing in 2008, he played for Kingsport (.583/.615/1.000/1.615… okay, it was only 12 at bats) and Brooklyn (.280/.350/.462/.812).
2009 brought Savannah (.284/.385/.418/.803 in 440 at bats, 7-HR, 60-RBI) and a taste of St. Lucie (.364/.464/.591/1.055).
His 2-year professional totals are: .292/.384/.446/.830
Forecast:
It’s obvious that Satin was a good draft pick and the kid can definitely get on base. We should see a little more power this year, but his biggest problem is the fact that Reese Havens is currently being converted to a second baseman in the Winter Leagues. Havens looks timed perfectly for the end of the Luis Castillo contract, which leaves Satin where?
I wrote on Feb 10: - Josh Satin – I didn’t spend much time with Josh last year in Savannah (hell, I didn’t spend much time with anyone there…). There’s no rush for Satin, who will settle into various minor league levels for a couple more years. He was tagged early on as a poor defensive infielder which just isn’t true.
6-21-10 from: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/ - One player who does not have age on his side is New York Mets farmhand Josh Satin, already 25 years old. Scouts discount the UC-Berkeley (sixth round, 2008) product due to so-so tools and his age, but he's hit at every level of pro ball to which he's been exposed, including a .316/.406/.459 mark in the Florida State League this year. He moved up to Double-A last week and is 8-for-25 (.320) so far, albeit with a weak BB/K ratio of 1/7, granted sample size issues. Primarily a second baseman (although he has some experience at third and first), his range is limited but he's reliable on the routine play, not making many errors. A career .298/.388/.450 hitter so far, he's rated mostly as an organizational player, but strikes me as the type of guy who could end up being a surprise contributor in the majors in his late 20s.
7-13 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/13/1565273/mid-term-farm-system-review-part - Another impressive Pac-10 product (Cal), Satin has continued to hit his way through the Mets system, one level at a time. Without the raw tools of fellow '08 draftees Havens or Nieuwenhuis, Satin has had to prove himself at each stop and hasn't disappointed. For the second straight year, Satin started the season on fire posting a .343 AVG for the month of May with four home runs (.362 April in '09). Not only did he make the FSL All-Star Game, he won the game MVP. Soon after he was promoted to Binghamton and he's continued to do more of the same, hitting for good average with solid plate discipline and decent pop. His numbers haven't jumped up like Havens but the fact that he's maintained them at Double-A is the key factor here. Satin doesn't have any one skill that jumps out at you but he does everything well, with the exception of speed. Different story on the defensive side where he isn't as strong and probably doesn't profile as an everyday major league second baseman. However, it's his bat that will need to continue carrying him, possibly into a long-term role as a solid offensive-minded utility man.
8-17-10: - from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/436319-unsung-new-york-mets-minor-leaguer-joshua-satin - A California native, Satin was selected by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft. He's logged some great hitting numbers in the Mets farm system, as he is a career .303 hitter and has shown good discipline. The right-handed hitting Satin began the year at Class A St. Lucie, and has since earned a promotion to AA Binghamton, where he has spent half the year. It is almost difficult to think of Satin as a prospect at this point. The 25-year-old is getting to the point where he is just another minor league player. But this burst of solid hitting should start getting him some attention. To say that Satin has hit regularly doesn't really sum his game up enough. He hit .316 with a .406 OBP in 58 games at St. Lucie. Since his promotion, the hits have kept coming. In 56 games with Binghamton, Satin has posted an even higher batting average of .325 and a .417 OBP.
Sept 2010 from: - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/userblurb.php?item=2026 - The guy just hits and hits wherever he goes. He has turned many skeptics into believers that he can eventually play at the mlb level as a possible utility player. He doesn’t look to be defensively equipped to be a starting 2nd basemen as he spent most of his time this year at 1st base. He doesn’t hit for enough power to play 1st but if he can increase his versatility he can be a valuable player off the bench.
11-15-10 from: - http://networkedblogs.com/ayM5h - Satin reminds me a lot of a right-handed version of Dan Murphy. He can clearly hit, for average and gap-power with the occasional pull-side homer, and what's more he'll take some walks. Unfortunately he just doesn't have the kind of defensive skill set or even that one plus offensive tool to profile as an every day player. On the bright side, like Murphy, Satin too has been able to get comfortable all over the field which in and of itself creates some of that defensive value that he is otherwise lacking. Satin profiles well as an offensive-minded major league utility man; though with guys like Murphy, Evans & Justin Turner in the fold, there may be a bit of a logjam in that role with the big club.
Jim Dolan:
With some experts predicting the Madoff lawsuit will lead to the sale of the Mets, who could possibly be an option to purchase the team? According to Forbes, the Mets are valued at $858 million dollars. Such a significant price shrinks the pool of likely candidates. The first name that comes to mind is Jim Dolan and Cablevision. There were rumors about a decade ago the Dolan’s were interested in buying the team. This was before SNY, so I am not sure how the owners of Cablevision and MSG could purchase a product the airs on SNY, which has Time Warner and Comcast as stakeholders. Another possibility is Mark Cuban, who bid on the Texas Rangers during their bankruptcy. - http://xscn6.th8.us/
Darryl Strawberry:
On the other hand, at least he’s around to break stuff. Writing this, I find I’ve changed my mind somewhat. Yes, Darryl Strawberry is being a distraction. But hey, he’s still around, wearing an orange and blue cap, and periodically saying things that make you sigh or roll your eyes or want to shake him. That’s familiar. It’s aggravating and amusing and, in the end, gratifying.-
http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2011/01/27/stra
John Stearns:
Stearns saw his first season as a Met ( 1975) as the backup catcher behind veteran Jerry Grote. There Stearns learned from veteran Grote, who had been the Mets’ regular catcher since 1966. As Grote’s backup, Stearns didn’t see much playing time and posted a batting average of just .189 . 1976 was not a good season for Stearns. In limited time he once again hit poorly and was sent down and replaced by Ron Hodges. Stearns fixed his flaws while at the Mets AAA affiliate in Tidewater, and was brought back to the majors as a September call up. He had 18 hits in his first 13 games from being recalled from the minors. He even had seven hits in two games, Stearns was made the everyday catcher for the rest of the season, usurping Grote. -
http://realdirtymets.com/2011/01/28/this-day-in-mets-infamy-with-rusty-the-top-50-mets-of-all-time-countdown-40-edition-01-28-11
Matt Harvey
Though he's yet to throw a pitch as a professional, Harvey almost definitely deserves to top this list with his impressive array of potential plus offerings. Harvey's bread and butter is his four-seamer, a mid-90's fastball which he can dial up to 98 mph, generating lots of swings and misses. However, thanks to a lack of movement he complements it with another fastball, a two-seamer with heavy sink and late life that works in the 91-93 mph range and produces weak contact and lots of ground balls. Harvey also possesses two major league quality off-speed pitches: A tight, low 80's slider and a slower, hammer curve both of which flash plus potential right now. Despite limited use during college, the Mets are encouraging Harvey to focus mainly on the curve. His change-up lags behind thanks to lack of use as an amateur but he shows decent feel for the pitch. Harvey's impressive overall mix of pitches paired with a perfect pitcher's build (6'4", 225 lbs) gives him the ceiling as a top of the rotation, workhorse starter. -
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/1/28/1955488/mets-farm-system-top-5-electric-arms
1. Some posters may grow older, but never wiser. I paid a visit to one of my old stomping grounds, NYFS, and found a particular post interesting. It was about Matt Cerrone, of www.metsblog.com and I couldn’t believe how many of the many loyal posters there think Matt doesn’t know what he is doing. I’ve always had trouble with haters online, but knock Matt Cerrone? Isn’t he the guy that gives most of you morning cup of Mets stuff?
2. Jeff Wilpon seems to be getting a little soft on the loss of Omar. He’s been quoted as saying he misses him and would welcome him back in some capacity. Listen, firing someone can bring you a lot of guilt. I fired people who thought they were my friend. One eventually hung himself in his mother’s bedroom. I haven’t held a job in the radio industry for over ten years and I still have a minimum of three nightmares a week about that subject. Change is sometimes inevitable and people need to move on without each other. Stay away, Omar.
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My next Top Performer From the 2010 Summer Season is Bryson Myles of the Mckinney Marshals. Bryson is currently a junior outfielder from Stephen F. Austin University. He is 6-0/225 pounds and he hails from Grand Prairie, TX. He attended and stared in both baseball and football at Arlington Grace Prep. He was originally a TCU football recruit, but he spent the last two seasons at Weatherford Junior College. He hit .371 with 5 home runs in 181 at-bats last year. - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/01/top-performers-from-2010-bryson-myles.html
We continue the list today at number 3 in our countdown with UConn junior centerfielder George Springer. The New Britain, Connecticut, native attended Avon Old Farms all four years of high school. He had an outstanding career being named All-New England in 2007 and 2008 while participating in the Cape Cod High School Classic in 2007. The Minnesota Twins selected him in the 2008 MLB Draft but were unable to sign him. Springer stepped right into the UConn Huskies lineup as a freshman appearing in 56 games (54 starts) as he hit .358 with 16 homers and driving in 57 runs. He was solid on the basepaths also swiping 12 bases in 15 attempts. The Big East Conference named him the Rookie of the Year as he was the first UConn player ever to receive the award. He was also named a Freshman All-American by Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA and a Louisville Slugger. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/26/george-springer-uconn-2011-top-players/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter
Ryan Wright – Louisville - After earning Freshman All-American honors in 2009, Wright stepped-up his game for the Cardinals in 2010. He hit .366 with 16 home runs, 17 doubles and a team-best 80 RBIs for a Louisville team that was ranked from start to finish last season. The Ft. Wayne, IN native also scored 61 runs with 19 stolen bases and a 1.051 OPS. He committed just three errors for a stellar .989 fielding percentage. Wright’s torrid pace didn’t end when Louisville’s season did. He continued his hot hitting by batting a team-high .381 for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer. He scored 18 runs with 12 RBIs while starting in 17 of 19 games. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011
#1 - LHP Matt Purke TCU 6'4 190 - smooth lefty who has progressed each year that I've had the pleasure to see since 2008 at the TOS in Cary, NC when he was 16 yrs old. He's gone from throwing 86-89 mph as a soph in HS to presently up to 95-96 tops, mostly 91-93 with run and sink down in the zone and he's aggressive. Matt has good depth to a vastly improved cb that he throws confidently for strikes and gets hitters out in front with a straight change as well. Year to year his progression is one that warrants first player drafted type scenarios as he'll be a solid fixture in any ML rotation. He's yet to physically mature which is scary considering he's improved each year. - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
#2 - RHP Gerrit Cole UCLA 6'3 1/2 220 - power armed rhp with solid above ave fb that will reach 97-98 on occ, pitches at 92-94 consistently with run and sink on his fb, best when down in zone using the L on a hitter, hard slider 81-85 breaks properly sometimes too big, must stay within himself and not rush which can cause him to get his elbow down in position from his 3/4 arm slot. Could be in the ML quickly either as a closer or as a 2-3 man in the rotation. Still some roughness to iron out, but plenty of upside left in the tank with pro instruction. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
We’ve just watched a major revolution start on Facebook.
Only America continues to minimize the power of new media. And baseball is even behind that curve.
In particular, the Mets are in the dark ages. Everything, and I mean everything, is controlled by one man, Jay Horowitz. The entire media business acumen is dependent upon his definition of how things should be reported to the public.
I like Jay. It’s hard to tell if Jay likes me because he’s not that kind of person. He is very close to the players, and is shit loyal to his supervisors, but even the beat press seems to have a separation from him.
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