Mack's Mets

12/1/09

The Keepers - #9 - 3B - Zach Lutz

9. Zach Lutz – 3B – AA – 24/yrs.

Lutz was the D3ielderBaseball.com National Player of the Year. He also was named PAC Player of the Year andpart of the All-PAC 1st team. His stats in his last year for Alvernia were .454/.541/.858, 12 HRs and 58 RBIs in 40 games.

The Mets drafted Lutz in the 5th round of the 2007 draft. He was signed and played the 2007 season for Brooklyn (1 game, 2 at bats).

9-9-9 From www.hardballtimes.com: - Lutz, the Mets fifth round pick in 2007 out of Alvernia College, is able to smoke the ball. He got off to an okay start for St. Lucie, then took off the rest of the year. The right-handed 23 year-old hit .284/.381/.441 and maintained a solid eye with a walk rate of 12.3%. In a brief call-up to Binghamton, Lutz hit .207/.324/.241 (14.7% walk rate) in eight games. He's a polished hitter who has a great eye; however, he needs to hit for more power if he wants to be a starting third baseman in the major leagues because his defense isn't good enough to make up for it.

Lutz played the entire 2008 season for Brooklyn, going .333/.442/.514/.956 in 72 at bats. This included 4 doubles, 3 HRs, and 12 RBIs in 24 games.

In 2009, Lutz mastered A+ ball, going .284/.381/.441/.822, with 11-HR and 62-RBI in 356-AB and 99-G. He was ranked second in the league in OPS, and seventh in slugging percentage.

He had a cup of coffee at the end of the season for Binghamton, where he will play 2010.

Forecast:

I have never met anyone in the Mets organization that isn’t high on this kid. Lutz’s pro career spans three years at three levels and he has a combined .438 slugging percentage and an .823 OPS. The srtange part is the lack of press he has been getting. If we assume he hits at the same pace in Binghamton this upcoming season, and he plays the season at 24 years old, and he plays 3B, where the hell does he go? I expect to start seeing him play second base soon.

Breakfast Links: Murph, Cora, Coste, Gotay, Tejada, and Luis Alen

Daniel Murphy

The team has no interest in re-signing Carlos Delgado for anywhere close to the $12 million he made in 2009 but could be in the market for other left-handed swinging first basemen such as free agents Adam LaRoche or Aubrey Huff. Delgado, who had hip surgery last season, might be a consideration at a more modest base salary. Based on the current roster, the job belongs to Daniel Murphy, who struggled defensively in the outfield last year. Murphy led the Mets with 12 homers in 2009. Whoever plays first is likely holding the spot until prospect Ike Davis is ready.

Alex Cora:

In an expected move, the Mets today re-signed veteran infielder Alex Cora to a one-year deal worth $2 million. The popular clubhouse presence also has $1 million in incentives tied to games started, and there is a $2 million option for 2011 that will vest if Cora starts at least 80 games next season. - NY Post

Cora is a great team player. He plays hard and knows his fundamentals. That being said, the question I keep asking myself is if Alex Cora is worth 2 million dollars. Now if the Mets go out and sign a big free agent this won't matter, since it would be clear that the Mets have no money problems. But right now based on reports, it looks like the Mets won't go after Lackey, Holliday etc. because of the Wilpon's money problems. So couldn't the Mets get a fine backup infielder for a much cheaper cost? I haven't looked at the available back up infielders who are free agents, but my guess is that there are plenty out there who the Mets could sign for very little - Metsfansforever

Chris Coste:

According to Jeff Kolpack of the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the Mets have signed free-agent catcher Chris Coste. The signing has been confirmed by the team. Coste told Kolpack that the Mets gave him a guarantee of being placed on the 40-man roster, though not a guaranteed spot on the Opening Day roster. Coste hit just .224 in 230 plate appearances with the Phillies and Astros in 2009 and will be 37 next season.- Link

“I will always be a Phillie,” Coste told CSN this evening. - CNN Philly

The New York Mets have signed catcher Chris Coste to a deal for the 2010 season, according to the Fargo-Moorhead Forum. Coste received a guarantee from the team that he will be on th 40-man roster, but he is not guaranteed a spot on the opening day roster. Our View: Coste looks like a good fit for the Mets, as they have plenty of youth at the catching position right now. He struggled at the plate last season with a .224 average, so don't expect the 37-year-old to see much playing time with Omir Santos and Josh Thole both waiting in the wings. - Fantasysp

Ruben Gotay:

Cardinals signed infielder Ruben Gotay to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Gotay, 26, batted .272/.429/.450 for the Diamondbacks' Triple-A club last season. He can play most infield positions, but has spent the majority of his career at second base - rotoworld

Luis Alen:

Caribes 4, Margarita 3 - Paul Estrada (Astros), Carlos Silva (Mariners) and Lester Oliveros (Tigers) combined for 8 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and the Caribes rallied for a pair of runs in the ninth to edge host Margarita. Aaron Cunningham (A's), Blake Lalli (Cubs) and Luis Alen (Mets) each contributed two singles for last-place Caribes, which won for just the third time in 23 road games - mlb

Ruben Tejada

With South Carolina product Reese Havens, 23, and Venezuelan Wilmer Flores, 18, also on the rise, the Mets are flush with young shortstops. Tejada has a chance to be the best of the group. "He's the kind of player who can make others better — and he's getting better," Minaya says. Tejada played at Binghamton as a 19-year-old last season and hit .289 with 19 steals. - USA Today

The Recontruction Of The New York Mets - Part Three

The Reconstruction Of The New York Mets – Part Three

Wow.

I was just in the middle of my multi-part feature, called the “Reconstruction Of The New York Mets” and it seems the Mets have pulled off the signings of the century!

The Mets signed a 37-year old backup catcher that hit under .230 last year… AND… Alex Cora!!!

(pause…)

I gotta give this a day to sink in before I go on…

11/30/09

Mets Sign Cora - Savings Down to $44mil

The Mets 2009-2010 Off-Season:

End of season: Released: OF Wily Mo Pena ($400k), IF Ramon Martinez ($750k), and signed RP Jack Egbert ($400k)… savings: $750,000.00

10-7: Mets acquired first baseman Eddie Lora (minimum minor league contract) and outfielder Chris Carter ($400K) for Billy Wagner ($10.5mil) – savings: $10,100,000.00

10-11: Mets grant free agency to: RP Jon Switzer – savings: $475,000.00

10-11: Mets grant free agency to P Connor Robinson – savings: $450,000

10-19: The Mets release RP Ken Takahashi. Savings: Takahashi had an incentive based minor league contract that could earn him up ti 1.5mil a year. I assume he earned it in 2009, since he pitched so well: savings: $1,500,000.00

11-5: The Mets have told J.J. Putz that they do not intend to pick up his 2010 option and will buy him out instead for $1 million. Putz's option would have been for $9.1 million. Savings: $8,100,000.00

11-6: 1B Carlos Delgado filed for free agency. Savings: $12,000,000.00.

11-6: C Brian Scneider filed for free agency. Savings: $4,900,000.00

11-6: IF Alex Cora filed for free agency. Savings: $2,000,000.00

11-6: The Mets exercized their option on SP Mike Pelfry, for $500,000.00. Last year, due to his original contract, he earned $2,900,000.00. Savings: $2,400,000.00

11-9: OF Gary Sheffield filed for free agency. – Savings: $400,000.00

11-10: P Elmer Dessens released – savings: $600,000.00

11-16: Passing on resigning OF Fernando Tatis at option rate… savings: $1,700,000

11-16: 16 AAA/AA players file for free agency… 13 are minimal salaries that will be offset by additional minor leaguers at same rate… three had individual contracts: IF Wilson Valdez (381K), C Robinson Cano (408K), and P Carlos Muniz (402K) – savings: $1,191,000

11-30: Mets sign Alex Cora – spending: $2,000,000

Total savings so far: $44,566,000.00

Breakfast Links: Schneider, Josh, Marquis, Delgado, Livan, and Tony B

Brian Schneider:

The Mets might be hard-pressed to replace free agent Brian Schneider. Schneider hit .218 and was injured for much of 2009 but is well-equipped to handle a pitching staff. The '09 Mets surrendered 66 steals (third-fewest in the National League), and they could go with Omir Santos, who performed respectably in Schneider's absence. Josh Thole, a late-season call-up, showed offensive potential in Venezuela this offseason. - usa today

Josh Thole:

Caracas 6, Lara 3 - Mets prospect Josh Thole went 3-for-4 with an RBI, raising his average to .403 in 38 games for the Leones, - mlb

Jason Marquis:

Or maybe the Mets will just notice that pitchers better than Jon Garland and Jason Marquis are being desperately ditched by other teams, and get the hint that multi-year, multimillion dollar commitments to pitchers with marginal stuff rarely--if ever--end well. In the never-ending myopia of the Mets brass (and some of their fans), though, the injuries of last season will create a premium on durability. Undoubtedly some nightmarish, Oliver-Perez-part-deux scenario will develop where Jeff Wilpon and John Ricco conference call with "Scott Boras," who is really just Omar Minaya in the other room, forging fake term-sheets between Jon Garland and the Brewers, which he might "accidentally" leave in the fax machine on his way out. -
Amazinavenue

Carlos Delgado:

Delgado has been a slightly below average defender in recent years without being a major liability, according to UZR/150. He isn't the offensive force he was in the early part of the decade with the Blue Jays, but he recovered from a tough start to hit 38 homers and post an .871 OPS in his last full season, 2008. This year, he had a .914 OPS before getting hurt in May and he's now just 27 homers away from 500. So if you cheer for one of the many teams that could use a first baseman or DH, would you want your club to add Delgado? He's never been much of a defender, is returning from hip surgery and turns 38 next season. But he shouldn't be too expensive and he can still hit. The Mariners, Orioles, Braves, Mets and D'Backs are among the teams that could fit - yardbarker

Livan Hernandez

The (allegedly) 34-year-old righthander was arguably the worst starting pitcher in baseball in '09 after Mets GM Omar Minaya signed him as one of the options to fill the void in the back of their rotation. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hernandez had the highest ERA (5.44) in the majors among qualifying starters along with the highest batting average against (.308) and the second-highest baserunners-per-nine innings ratio (14.11) with 120 hits and 67 walks in 183 innings. You had to be pretty bad to get cut loose by both the Mets and Nationals. - Read more: NYDN

Steve Phillips

It's been a few years since the ex-Mets GM made it onto this list, but his latest impropriety, cheating on his wife with an ESPN intern that cost him his job as the network's No. 1 baseball analyst, earns him permanent turkey status if only because he's now blown two prestigious baseball jobs. Can't imagine anyone or anyplace in baseball giving him a third strike.

Tony Bernazard

Like Bradley, his temper earned him a premature summer vacation, but his firing by the Mets - after the Daily News' revelations of him tearing off his shirt and challenging their Double-A Binghamton players to a fight - was long overdue. Before that, he undermined Willie Randolph with the Latin players on the Mets and was generally a negative, perpetually angry influence in the organization. Lastly, as VP of player development, he presided over the worst farm system in baseball.

Omar Minaya

Much as we might personally like the Mets GM, he had a horrible year, culminating with his out-of-line “shooting the messenger” - in this case the Daily News' Adam Rubin - in the Tony Bernazard affair. Otherwise, Minaya's three-year, $36 million contract to chronic head case Oliver Perez was misguided, as was his judgment that Tim Redding and Livan Hernandez could be adequate back-of-the-rotation options.

Read more: NYDN

The Recontruction of the New York Mets - Part Two

The Re-Construction Of The New York Mets – Part Two

Cement The Foundation:

We talked yesterday about the “big five” current on the team: David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Francisco Rodriquez, and Johan Santana. It seems like yesterday that Beltran was signed, as well as contract extensions given to both Wright and Reyes, but the fact is a couple of these key players are scheduled to hit the free agency list soon.

Beltran’s contract runs through 2011, Rodriquez has a team option for 2012, Wright’s is done after the 2012 season, and Jose Reyes has a team option for 2011. Johan Santana’s current contract has a team option at the end of the 2014 season.

Beltran will play 2010 as a 33-year old and there doesn’t seem to be any reason, other than the possibility of an injury, for him slowing down soon. In addition, Jose Reyes, regardless of his 2009 injury, is still one of the most talented and exciting infielders in the business and it would be suicide to take a team option after the 2010 season and let this guy go the route of free agency. Forget the kids in the minors. We’re talking Jose Reyes.

The Mets need a constructive 5-year plan, but, in my opinion, all of this is more easily accomplishable if you lock up these five superstars, possibly as long as through the 2015 season.

And, if I’m wrong, and some of these guys slow down a step by then, what’s the worst thing the Mets have on their hands? An aging David Wright? A slower Carlos Beltran? I’ll take this any day while the five year plan continues.

What’s Available Down On The Farm?:

Before we go anywhere on this subject, let me make a strong point.

The Mets have not depleted their depth or talent in the minor leagues by trading key prospects to other teams for established players. Everyone turns to the Santana deal as some kind of device that sucked the air out of the Mets minor league affiliate operation. Feel free to find some decent major league stats on the four players traded to the Twins that day.

No, the only reason the Mets minor league’s talent level and depth is in question is because the Mets suck at signing international free agents and drafting talented players in the MLB draft.

There’s has been only one international player that has been signed since Omar Minaya took over to make the New York Mets. That would be OF Fernando Martinez, who still has to prove his worth.

But the draft has been the bizarre world of the Minaya era. Can we possibly forget the first five picks in 2006 after Omar & Co. had a full year to figure out who to sign? Let’s see… Kevin Mulvey, Joe Smith, John Holdzkom, Steve Holmes, and Scott Schafer.

But it was last year when the Mets actually came up with a list of draftees that no one had on their hit list. Talk about a “mock” draft… don’t get me started.

Is There Anyone Out There?

We’ll talk about the lower levels of the minors down the road, but you can’t build a good 5-year plan unless you put the time, expertise, and money into your minor league system. There’s nothing any of us can do about who already is part of this organization. But we can recognize where our strengths lie in this system.

There is no one in the current system that will crash the team come spring. Catcher Josh Thole and pitcher Tobi Stoner should return to AAA to get some more work done, and I’m sure we’ll see both of them soon. Jon Niese should be back if he heals correctly, and there’s a good chance that Fernando Martinez will be asked to grow up in Queens, rather than Buffalo, especially if no stud left fielder is signed.
Frankly, my dark horse here is Stoner. He and I have been oil and water since the day we met, but this young man has the confidence and bravado to make a big difference in the Mets bullpen and even possible as the 2011 SP5.

No one thought that Ike Davis was a bigger shit pick than I. I was wrong. Davis will take over first base in the spring of 2011 and he needs to send the 2010 season in Buffalo, freezing his ass off, learning everything he still need to learn. This is a future 20-25 home run a year guy who will also win some golden gloves down the road. Daniel Murphy and Chris Carter will do just fine in 2010. We can wait.

But, that’s about it for now. The good news is no one thought Stoner or Thole would have made the team last year, so there could be others that crash Queens in the next two seasons. Lots of prospect lists still has F-Mart up there, but I want to first see him do 400+ at bats in one minors season, before I project him out in Queens.

Right now, sadly put, Ike Davis may be the only projectable star.

Tomorrow: Here come the kiddies, a restructuring of the scouting system, and back to Wilpon pocketbook.

11/29/09

The Keepers - #10 - SP - Jeurys Familia

10. Jeurys Familia – SP – A+ - 19/yrs.

“Family” signed with the Mets during the October 2007 International signing period. 2008 was spent with with the GCL Mets, where he went 2-2, 2.79, 1.14 in 11 starts. He quickly became the dean of the staff.

In September, Toby Hyde wrote: RHP Jeurys Familia – 2-2, 2.79 ERA, 11 GS, 51.2 IP, 46 H, 20 R, 16 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 38 K - I’d been told to expect big things from Familia’s right arm, but he was just ok when I saw him. I think the 18 year old just had an off day for me in Vero Beach. He showed off a fastball that was 89-92, mostly around 90, to go with two pitches - a slider (77, 78 mph) and a change up (84) - that need about the amount of work you’d expect from an 18-year old his first professional season. However, sometimes the big fastball is there from his loose delivery. In his first start in the GCL in 2008 he was dialing it up 94-96 mph. A scout from an American League club confirmed that he saw Familia dealing similar gas in instructs in 2007. So go figure.

In 2009, Familia pitched for the Savannah Sand Gnats: 10-6, 2.69, 1.16, 109-K, 134.0-IP.

His two year professional stats are: 12-8, 2.72, 1.16.

Forecast:

Nothing but blue skyfor the 19-year old, but his job is just beginning. We’ve seen many a pitcher do well in rookie and A ball, only to fade away by the time they compete AA. Familia definitely loos like the real deal, but it is too early to tell. He’ll rotate with his Sand Gnat buddies for a new coach in Flordia and we wish him well.

Top First Basemen in the 2010 MLB Draft - updated

1. Kevin Keyes – (moved from OF) - Texas – 6-4, 225… excellent bat speed and strength… 2nd on team in 2009 in HRs and doubles… charts out as a RFer… average arm

8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: power stroke, runs well, better underway and has at least a 55-60 arm, reminds me a lot of JD Dye of the White Sox.

8-2: from 6-16 article www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com: Keyes has physicality that can't be ignored at 6-4, 225 pounds. He has bat speed and strength that plays even in Texas' spacious Disch-Falk Field, as he ranks second on the team in home runs and doubles. He profiles as a right fielder with an average arm and enough speed for the position. His draft status will depend on how well he taps into his raw power.

9-30: From: http://web.usabaseball.com: - Karsten Whitson, Connor Mason and Kevin Gausman combined on a three-hitter, and an opportunistic offense took advantage of five errors as the USA Baseball 18U National Team remained unbeaten with a 19-0 run-rule shutout of Colombia Monday on Day 4 of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium. Garin Cecchini made it a 3-0 game with an RBI double. The team then added four more runs in the second on Tony Wolters' two-run double and a two-run home run by Bryce Harper, a towering blast to right field. Team USA erupted for five runs in the fifth on two hits and two Columbia errors, with Brian Ragira's two-run double the big hit in the at bat. Wolters ended up with three RBIs. Harper, Cecchini, Ragira and Kavin Keyes had two apiece. Keyes also had three hits. Harper, Cecchini and Manny Machado each scored three runs.
11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 17- OF Kevin Keyes – (3rd OF on list)

11-4 from www.baseballamerica.com: - Texas is moving hulking outfielder Kevin Keyes to first base, which could open up an outfield spot for freshman Cohl Walla. Keyes is still listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds but has bulked up to around 260 and lacks the mobility for the outfield.

11-17 from www.mlbdraft.blogspot.com: - 22. Texas Rangers- Kevin Keyes, OF, Texas - Another first round pick for Texas. I see the Rangers staying local, and selecting the power hitting Keyes. They have been on Keyes for a while, since selecting him in the 2007 draft before he attended UT. (4th OF picked)

11-18 from www.macksmets.blogspot.com: - 29. 1B Kevin Keyes – Keyes would never be a first rounder, but he will move to first base from the outfield this season and his power will easily make him the top prospect at that position. That means more press and higher ranking. (only 1B on list)

2. Cody Hawn – Tennessee

9-24: From: http://mlbresource.blogspot.com: Mock Draft Version 1 – 7th pick overall - Cody Hawn 1B – Tennessee

9-25: From Blake Crosby: - Strong first basemen with a ton of power. Hit .364 with 22 HR last year for Tennessee. His height at 5'11 is his downfall but he has hit at every level for power and scouts love his makeup. Been drafted twice, once in 2007 by Milwaukee, and once out of Walters CC in 2008 by Oakland. He has played a little 3B and outfield.

3. Andy Wilkins –- Arkansas … 6-2, 225, R/L… junior… excellent swing… can hit for power to all fields … 2009: .319, 19-HR, 58-RBI, 48-BB

8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: lefty power plus with solid skills at 1b. Runs good for a big kid and upside left. Project to a 280 type hitter with 20+ HR power. Playing for Team USA this summer.

11-2 from www.perfectgame.com: - Future Scout Sully said: Here is my list of the Top 50 in the class. I have seen almost every one of these players. Went out to AFLAC for the week, saw team usa play, and went to many cape games: - 39- 1B Andy Wilkins (1st … and only… 1B on list)

11-4 from www.collegebaseballblog.com: - named the 77th top college player in 2010

4. Christian Yelich – Westlake HS (CA) – 6-3, 190, L/L - also plays OF… runs 60-yd in 6.8… arm strength questionable… projects out at 1B… one of the best pure hitters in draft…

8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: solid power, lefty stroke, make solid contact and adjusted well enough seeing several pitchers with different deliveries, could be a solid contributor at the ML level in 4-5 years

8-10: From www.baseballamerica.com – Area Code Games - Yelich is a and tall and thin lefthanded hitter whose sweet swing produced a long triple to right center in today’s morning game. He followed that in his next at bat with a sharp double down the left field line.

10-5 from http://baseballdraftreport.com: - top 50 prospects in 2010 draft – #41 – Christian Yelich – 1st 1Bman on list

10-6 from: http://baseballdraftreport.com: - 1B Christian Yelich - If I had to pick one guy on my list to drop off over the course of the season, I’d probably go with Yelich. That naturally begs the question of why he is on the list in the first place. Yelich is like the hitting version of Stetson Allie, an up and down prospect that can look like a late first rounder one day and a fifth round lottery ticket on the next. It gets repeated every year, but it’s important: prep players limited to first base need to be able to hit, hit, and hit some more to be taken seriously as a draft prospect.

5. Ben Thomas – – Xavier… junior… 2009: .338, 16-HR, 66-RBI, .667 Slug%, also pitched: 5-2, 7.41, in 12 apearances, 11 starts… named 2nd team all-conference first baseman

11-1 from: www.collegebaseballblog.com: - named the 80th top college player

6. Kevin Patterson – Auburn – 6-4, 220, L/R – 2009: .231, .418 slugging percentage, 6-HR, 18-RBI in 31 starts…

8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: power stroke, upper cut, 250-270 type hitter, also OF, not a great runner, however gets it done. Glove is ok with adequate range. Power numbers are intriguing.

10-18: from www.collegebaseballblog.com: - named the 94th top college player

7. Mickey Wiswall - Boston College – junior… L/R… 6-0, 205… 2009: .320, 14-HR, 63-RBI… .551 slugging percentage… played the summer with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox: .305, 30-RBI… named 2009 CCBL 1st team 1st baseman

7-23: stats thru 7-15 in Cape Cod League: .323, 2-HR, 18-RBI… starting in Cape Cod All-Star game

10-28 from www.collegebaseballblog.com: - voted the 84th top college player

8. Wes Cunningham – Murray State – senior… 2009: .411, 11-HR, 52-RBI in 51-G… .698 slugging percentage… summer 2009: Jayhawk league: .395, 42-R, 18-doubles, 4-HR, 39-RBI…

8-31: From www.baseballamerica: Cunningham wasn't drafted this June even after hitting .380 and .411 the last two seasons for the Racers. Just 5-foot-11, he doesn't profile at first but ran a 6.6-second 60-yard dash at a pro workout this summer and could move to the outfield. He showed gap power while hitting .402 this summer and uses the whole field well; his power would improve if he learned to pull the ball more. Cunningham helped lead the Broncos to the NBC World Series title, scoring the winning run in the championships against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.

10-25: From www.collegebaseballblog.com: - voted the 87th top college player

9. Troy Scott - Univ. of Washington – 6-5, 205, L/R, sophomore -

10. Daniel Palka – Greer HS (SC) – 6-2, 190… also is LHP…

PG Cross Check has Plaka as the #2 high school prospect out of South Carolina and #124 in the nation

11. Chris Brooks – South Aiken HS (SC) – 6-3, 190…

PG Cross Check has Brooks ranked as the 5th SC prospect and the 216th overall in the nation…

12. Kyle Roller – East Carolina – senior… L/R

7-23: stats thru 7-15 in Cape Cod League: .326, 4-HR, 13-RBI… starting in Cape Cod All-Star game

13. Mike Giller – Illinois – DH/1B – 6-3, 220, senior, L/R… played the 2009 summer for the Waterloo Bucks…

7-24 – Fr. www.rivals.yahoo.com: The skinny: Giller didn’t have much of a spring for the Fighting Illini, but is making the best of his summer with the Bucks. Giller finished this past season hitting just .231 in only 13 at bats. With the Bucks, though, the veteran is a force at the plate. Giller is hitting .363 with 11 doubles, two homers and 34 RBIs. He also has walked and struck out 17 times each. Giller appears to be readying himself for a strong senior campaign for the Illini.

14. Kevin Koziol – Brother Rice HS (IL) - 6-2, 195 –

7-29: From: www.baseballfactory.com: - Koziol has a big, strong frame that produces some raw power from the right side of the plate. He has good hands in the field to go along with a solid throwing arm and he runs a 7.2-second 60-yard dash.

15. Marcus Littlewood – Pineview HS (UT) – 6-2, 185 –

8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: played wherever the coaches wanted, displayed solid contact from both sides of the plate, solid arm strength, running speed is adequate and has room to fill out, will be someone to follow through college for sure.

16. Jeff Jackson – Wauconda HS (IL) – 6-3, 195 –

8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: mostly DH'd during tourney, made solid contact, better power showed in BP, needs a position, 1b seems to be the best bet for him. Good face too! Will contribute solidly in college, so a solid watchful player next 3-4 years.

17. Ryan Ford – Plano West HS (TX) –

8-6: From www.baseballamerica.com: - Ford is a powerful hitter, with natural lift and pull-side power. Ford drops his bat head on the ball quickly and the ball explodes off his bat. He is smooth at first base and has potential above-average ability there.

18. Jared King – verbally commtted to Tennessee

9-8: www.pgtracker.com lists as one of the top 10 high school players coming out of Ohio.

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