DRAFT: - Jesse Hahn, Stefan Sabol, Jason Martinson, Hunter Morris... and Dan Scheffler

Jesse Hahn:

5-1 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/04/28/lincolns-2010-draft-board  - The college player making the strongest debut is Virginia Tech right hander Jesse Hahn. Hahn created a lot of buzz after blowing up radar guns in the Cape Cod League, reportedly hitting 99 MPH. This spring, Hahn’s fastball has sat 91-94 MPH with big-time sink and arm-side run. Hahn has shown the ability to add and subtract from his curveball, at times throwing two completely different breakers. When his curveball comes in at 78-80 MPH it has terrific late break and is a true swing-and-miss offering. Hahn will also throw a slow curve, especially early in the count for strikes, which is just average. While his changeup doesn’t get used very often, Hahn maintains his arm speed well and the pitch shows solid upside. The only problem I had with Hahn coming into the year was the thought some had that he was just a reliever. But after watching a good deal of video, I don’t see any mechanical red flags that would keep him from starting. Hahn has struck out 27.7% of batters he’s faced while showing improved command by walking just 6.1%.

Stefan Sabol:

5-1 from: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/4/30/1452824/interesting-high-school-hitters#storyjump  - Stefan Sabol, C-OF, Aliso Niguel High School, Laguna Niguel, California The 6-2, 205 pound Sabol has very good speed and should hit for power as well; the main question for him is defense. Currently a catcher, his speed goes to waste behind the plate in the eyes of some scouts, who see him as a future center fielder. Others believe that his combination of quickness, agility, and arm strength are rare attributes for a catcher. He needs help with the finer points of backstop work, but if he stays behind the plate he can polish up his receiving skills with more experience. His draft position is up in the air at the moment, and there's at least some chance he could end up at the University of Oregon if he falls too far.

Jason Martinson:

4-29 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/4/29/1450107/casing-the-states-texas-part-three#storyjump  - Jason Martinson, 3B, Texas State - Martinson is a former football player that quit playing when he tore his hamstring during his freshman year in the Texas State program. After struggling a rough freshman campaign on the diamond following that, he gave up football to concentrate on baseball. That seemed to work well, as he had a solid sophomore campaign. More importantly, he transitioned to shortstop after not playing the position since high school, and he handled it rather well. He entered 2010 looking to build on that campaign, but he's seemingly leveled off. Despite a hot streak that included a 20+ game hit streak, Martinson's offensive output is roughly the same as 2009, and scouts are wondering if he projects well for the pros at the plate. He's a fringe-average hitter with fringe-average power, and while that's fine for a college shortstop, he lacks the range to stay there as a pro, meaning he'll have to handle third base. He has an average arm, and he's an average runner, so he could be a nice third baseman if he calms his hands down a bit. The consensus now seems to be that Martinson might make for a solid four corners utility player in the pros, and that has some value. He's going to strike out, but he works the count rather well, and he should make for a solid bench presence with good makeup. Projected Draft Range: 6th-12th Round

Hunter Morris:

4-27 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/04/27/sec-players-of-the-week-10  - PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Had the game-winning (walk-off) and series-clinching hit on Sunday vs. Kentucky, a seventh-inning RBI single…Went 8-for-17 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, seven runs scored and nine RBI for a .615 batting average and a 1.538 slugging percentage. He now leads the SEC in slugging percentage (.779) and total bases (134), is second in hits (71), RBI (53) and home runs (13) and is third in doubles (14) and triples (5) while his .413 batting average is fourth…His season home run, runs scored (43), triples and RBI totals are already a career high.

Dan Scheffler:

4-29 from: - http://www.baseballrumormill.com/2010/04/sleepers-for-the-2010-mlb-draft/#more  - Sleepers For the 2010 MLB Draft - Dan Scheffler, Florida Atlantic, 1B - Similar to Chris Duffy, Scheffler is a hefty 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds and likely stuck at first base. However, he's hitting .416/.542/.825 with 12 home runs, 16 doubles and 27 bases on balls this season.

DRAFT: - Manny Machado, Brian Ragira, Jared Ray, AJ Kirby-Jones... and Josh Slatts:

Manny Machado:

5-1 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/04/28/lincolns-2010-draft-board  - Manny Machado a shortstop from Brito High School in Florida makes his first appearance on the board, debuting at No. 5. I held off ranking Machado in the first iteration of my draft board since there were some rumblings about Machado not being a shortstop long-term. Those fears seem to have abated as Machado has dazzled scouts defensively all spring. Some felt he might be a third baseman since his speed is only a tick above average and his lower half is a little thicker than the average 6-foot-2, 180 pound prep shortstop. But Machado has shown soft hands and terrific instincts to go along with a throwing arm that’s as good as any position players in this draft. Offensively, Machado should hit very well for a shortstop, as he shows decent hitting ability and above-average power potential. Machado has as much helium as anyone in the draft process right now and could be the second position player off the board.

Brian Ragira:

5-1 from: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/4/30/1452824/interesting-high-school-hitters#storyjump  - Brian Ragira, OF, James Martin High School, Arlington, Texas - Like Austin Wilson (see below), Brian Ragira is a tools outfielder who is also very intelligent and committed to Stanford. He's not as filled out as Wilson, listed at 6-3, 180, but has the chance to produce excellent power with maturity. His speed is average but he has a strong throwing arm and would fit perfectly in right field. Scouts have had some issues getting a read on Ragira's signability; on talent alone he should go in the supplemental or second round, but his family are Kenyan immigrants and put a lot of value on college education. His makeup is regarded as excellent. He could be picked early in the supplemental round, or he could fall out of the top ten rounds completely depending on how scouts read his intentions.

Jared Ray:

4-30 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/4/30/1451211/casing-the-states-texas-part-four#storyjump  – RHP Ray was considered a possible top three rounds arm entering the season, as he was expected to anchor a solid Houston pitching rotation. However, a shoulder injury suffered last summer on the Cape ended up needing arthroscopic surgery late in 2009, and he's still recovering. Despite the free fall that has come with the shoulder injury, Ray still offers some intriguing upside if a team wants to take a flier on him, hoping to sign him for a discount and get him ready for 2011. When healthy, Ray offers a pair of potential plus pitches in a 91-94 mph fastball and an inconsistent slider, and he has a solid 6'3'' frame that bodes well for durability in the future. His changeup was less advanced than a typical college starter's before he went down, so that might be a factor in a move to the bullpen, but most teams consider him a starting prospect when healthy. He has #3 starter upside, and he might be an interesting summer follow if he gets healthy. Projected Draft Range: 7th Round - Undrafted

AJ Kirby-Jones:

4-29 from: - draft  - Sleepers For the 2010 MLB Draft - AJ Kirby-Jones, Tennessee Tech, 1B - Jones is absolutely destroying the ball this year to the tune of 372/.534/.854 with 47 walks and 18 home runs in just 40 games. Figures to easily break his own school record of 20 home runs in a season which he set last year.

Josh Slatts:

4-27 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/04/26/wac-players-of-the-week-9/#more-25694  - Josh Slaats have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week, for April 19-25. Slaats, a junior from San Ramon, Calif. (California HS), pitched a complete-game shutout at Louisiana Tech last week. Slaats struck out four while allowing just five hits and two walks in the seven-inning 10-0 victory that was called due to the WAC’s run rule. The win marks Slaats’ second complete-game shutout of the season. Slaats now holds a 4-2 record on the season with a 1.71 ERA, striking out 56 in 52.2 innings pitched.

Bisons Roster Moves

The Buffalo Bisons today announced that RHP ELMER DESSENS has been activated off the team’s disabled list. Dessens was placed on the DL with a left hamstring strain on April 23 and missed eight games.


To make roster room, the Mets announced that LHP TRAVIS BLACKLEY has been released.

Dessens, 39, is 3-0 with a 1.29ERA and two saves in five relief appearances for the Bisons this year. He’s tied the team lead in both wins and saves. Dessens left the Bisons game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 20 in the ninth inning after delivering a called strike three to Yankees’ hitter Chad Huffman.

Dessens saved a team-high 11 games for Buffalo in 2009 before pitching in 28 games with the New York Mets.

Blackley posted an 8.53ERA in four appearances and 6.1 innings of work for Buffalo.

B-Mets Game Notes - Binghamton vs. Aakron - 1:35pm

LAST GAME: The B-Mets set a franchise record with four triples


and rebounded from an early 6-1 deficit to knock of Akron

8-7 in 10 innings at Canal Park Friday night. Starter Brad


Holt struggled mightily allowing five runs in a third of an inning

in his second start since returning from the Disabled List a

week ago. However, the bullpen picked up where Holt fell

short, tossing the game’s final 9.2 innings. Josh Stinson was

the long man, allowing two runs in four innings and Jose De La


Torre, Clint Everts and Roy Merritt tossed the final 5.2 innings

in scoreless fashion to lead the come-from-behind charge.

Brahiam Maldonado tripled twice as part of a 2-5 showing

including an RBI and two runs scored. Kirk Nieuwenhuis

scored three runs, including the game-winning run on an error

in left field committed by Nick Weglarz on a Lucas Duda twoout

flyball in the 10th inning. Akron starter Ryan Edell allowed

seven runs in 3.1 innings for a no-decision.


STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Scott Shaw will chase his

fourth straight win this afternoon. He threw a season-high 6.2

innings versus New Hampshire April 25 and allowed two runs

on five hits for his third win. Shaw is 3-0 with a 7.11 ERA in 19

innings. He led St. Lucie (High-A) last season in numerous

categories, including starts (26), innings (149.2), wins (8) and

strikeouts (118). The righty was drafted by the Mets in the

13th round of the June 2008 draft out of the University of

Illinois.


LHP Scott Barnes is due for his fifth turn in Akron’s rotation.

Last time out, the lefty allowed six runs in three innings at

Bowie April 24 in a no-decision. He is 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA in

15.1 innings. The southpaw made six starts for Akron at the

end of last year and racked up a 2-2 mark and a 5.68 ERA in

31.2 innings. He opened 2009 in the San Francisco Giants

system with San Jose (High-A) before being traded to Cleveland’s

system for first baseman Ryan Garko July 27. The native

of Massachusetts pitched for St. Johns University and was

drafted by the Giants in the eighth round of the 2008 draft.


FRANCHISE RECORDMAKERS: The B-Mets four triples Friday

night set a new franchise record for Binghamton. The old

mark of three had been reached five times in the 19-year

history of the B-Mets, the last occurrence of such was May 15,

2008 at New Britain.


MALDONADO JOINS THE RECORD BOOK: Outfielder Brahiam


Maldonado also etched his name in Binghamton’s record

book with two triples in his first two at-bats. He joins Rodney

Nye (May 13, 2003 vs. New Britain) and Tony Darden (June

24, 1998 G1) as the only B-Mets to rip two triples in a game.

His 2-5 showing brought a 1-20 slump to an end

Where Has Jack Been?

(The original version of this post can be found at Productive Outs and Crackerjack.)

Mack called me out the other day on how I haven't been posting much lately, either here or at my regular blog. As he is so often when evaluating minor-league talent, Mack was right.

Most writers go through periods where they simply aren't as prolific as they can be. It was different when I was a professional - the more I wrote, the more money I made. Even when I wasn't feeling inspired, I found a way to get something down so I could collect a paycheck for it.

Now that I am an amateur again, I go through these periods where I just do not have much to say. It's why I admire the best written blogs in the Mets universe (Mack's Mets definitely included!) because the authors always find a way to give the readers fresh content, no matter what else is going on or how uninspired they may really feel.

So Mack called me out, and I immediately started a "State of the Mets" piece so I that could have some new content. I tried to stay focused, but I ran out of material even before I got through the relievers. I just lost the patience to get through another long-form post and so I abandoned the project.

The Mets are in first place, they beat up on the Phillies last night and they are turning heads in the National League. So why am I not posting more?

Complacency, I guess. It's hard to rail against a team that's won 10 of 11 games. I think that I've set myself up as a contrarian voice against what remains a wildly mismanaged franchise, but that voice rings hollow when the team is winning.

As a writer, I have become a pathological second-guesser. Too much time is spent focusing on what is wrong and not enough on what is right. And right now, the Mets are right.

Of course Jenrry Mejia should be in Double-A and working on secondary pitches. But he dominated the eighth inning last night even if the Mets already had an seven-run lead. It's obvious that Frank Catalanotto should be unemployed right now instead of doing his worst Marlon Anderson imitation. It's clear that Carlos Beltran's career may be over and the team's mismanagement of a very serious injury may have contributed to that.

But, Mets fan, what do you care? The Mets are in first place. Ike Davis looks like a keeper. Mike Pelfrey looks like a #2 starter. Jon Niese looks like he will be a legitimate #3 starter once he gains a little more experience. Jeff Francouer, God save us all, is hitting.

The shrill voice of logic and reason can always be drowned out when, in the moment, it *looks* like everything is going right. I've been drowning that voice out myself - and that's why I've had very little to say.

The first month of the 2010 season is a reminder of Tug's magnificent old saying - 'Ya Gotta Believe!" I've stopped believing. Maybe it's time I find a way to start doing so again.

Power Rankings, With The 7th Pick, The Mets Choose, Damien Magnifico, Prospects Come and Prospects Go... and Scott Moviel

Power Rankings:


The first-place . . . Mets? Not yet in the SI.com Power Rankings -- which have their third No. 1 team in as many weeks -- but the Metropolitans are baseball's hottest team. They lead the NL East for the first time since May 29 of last season, take a seven-game winning streak into a key weekend road series with the suddenly second-place Phillies and made the biggest rise in the rankings, climbing from No. 21 to No. 8. The Mets have won nine out of 10, a streak that exactly coincides with the arrival of top prospect Ike Davis, who has re-energized the fans and clearly the team with his play: 11-for-31, a homer and six RBIs. He has also turned first base into a productive spot in the lineup, after it had been an offensive black hole earlier in the year when manned by Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis. - link

With The 7th Pick, The Mets Choose:

Multiple sources indicated that the Mets will "go off the board," or "pull a surprise" at No. 7. While one of the remaining college arms might be the more obvious choice, three sources indicated a connection between the Mets and Cal State Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon. While this draft is filled with players generating highly divergent scouting reports, maybe nobody has brought more wide-ranging opinions than Colon.- link

Damien Magnifico:

RHP, Howard JC - Magnifico became a notable name in high school when he raced up draft boards with an excellent senior year. The Mets decided to make him their 2009 5th round draft pick despite rumors of big bonus demands, and they ended up not being able to get a deal done before the August deadline. Entering Howard as the most well-known freshman on their team, he bumped up his velocity even more in the fall, attracting plenty of interest from the scouting community. However, he came down with severe elbow soreness before the start of the spring season, and he's been out all year. At the moment, I can't confirm whether or not he had surgery on the elbow, though I'm told he has. Before the injury, he was pumping in fastballs in the 92-94 range, touching 96-97, and that was up a tick or two from his high school days. He added in a potential above-average curveball, but both of his pitches were considered below-average for command in both the present and future, and many scouts thought of him more as a shutdown reliever than a starter. In addition, his frame is smaller than a prototypical starter's, and the elbow problems only stand to reinforce the issue. It's quite likely that Magnifico ends up back in school next year, but he's still a name to watch. Projected Draft Range: 7th Round – Undrafted - link

Prospects Come and Prospects Go:

Prospect OF Fernando Martinez returned to the Buffalo lineup Friday night and served up his second home run of the young season. Nobody gets excited anymore when he comes back from an injury because we all know it’s just a matter of time before he’s banged up again. And we’re not talking Shawn Bowman, I broke my back, banged up either. No, this is more like stubbed toe, pulled pinky and dust in my eye boo boo shit. Welcome back F-Mart… for now.


Another prospect came back down in Lucy… once SS, projected C, and now 2B Reese Havens returns from an oblique problem. Like Martinez, Havens knows most of the Mets’ doctors intimately, and everyone is still waiting for his career to begin. His conversion to second adds him to the long list of youngans’ trying to replace Luis Castillo in 2012.


And lastly, SP Brad Holt lasted only 0.1 innings pitched Friday night, where he was charged with five earned runs. His yearly ERA is now 23.14 and it seems like years since he pitched well. Oh yeah… it has been years.

Scott Moviel:

Stock Down: Moviel was a big-time second rounder who has played scuffed up for the past two seasons. Everyone was looking forward for a strong start this year from Scott, but it simply hasn’t happened: 3-starts, 10.29, 16-H, 9-BB, in 14.0-IP… only 9-K. He would be in jeopardy of losing his gig if it wasn’t for the fact that most of the so-called Mets SP prospects have been off to a slow start this season.

Minor Rags: - More Dickey, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Sean Ratliff... and Jenry Marte

Bisons:


When the Buffalo Bisons started spring training they received a short pep talk about what transpired last season. The talent on hand was proof that the team didn't have to be asphalt to another team's steamroller. After Friday night's 12-7 triumph over the Durham Bulls before an announced 9,129 at Coca-Cola Field, the Bisons are now 13-9, just one game out of first place in the International League North. "You could tell that the Mets wanted to put together a really good team chemistry-wise," said Bisons pitcher R.A. Dickey. "We have good players, good people, and it's really showing. Being the new team this year we wanted to come out and show everyone what we can do." - link

B-Mets:

Center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis took advantage of two Akron miscues to score the winning run in the top of 10th inning Friday night as the Binghamton Mets grabbed an 8-7 victory over the Aeros. Nieuwenhuis struck out swinging, but reached first on Vinnie Pestano's wild pitch on the third strike. One out later, he came around to score the deciding run on left fielder Nick Weglarz's fielding error. The B-Mets (12-9) won for the sixth time in nine games despite falling behind 6-1 in the first inning. - link

Lucy:

The Fort Myers Miracle rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the St. Lucie Mets 5-3 on Friday at Digital Domain Park. Jair Fernandez had a two-run double and Jonathan Goncalves added an RBI single for the Miracle in the inning. The Mets scored all their runs in the first. Sean Ratliff hit a two-run double for St. Lucie. The loss went to Jose Bierd (1-1). - link

Gnats:

Jefry Marte isn't apologizing. He got ahead in the count Friday night and drilled a fastball off the left-field wall for a two-run double. That hit keyed a four-run fourth inning and propelled the Savannah Sand Gnats to a 7-2 victory over the Lexington Legends before 2,389 fans at Grayson Stadium. It was the first pitch to Marte that caused a little commotion. A fastball, the Spanish-speaking Marte admitted through a translator, that looked pretty good, but umpire Jonathan Bailey called a ball. - link

Binghamton 8, Akron 7

The Binghamton Mets set a new franchise record with four triples and took advantage of a costly error by Akron leftfielder Nick Weglarz in the 10th inning to beat the Aeros 8-7 in 10 innings Friday night at Canal Park in Akron, OH. Two of the team’s four triples came from Brahiam Maldonado, who joins Rodney Nye and Tony Darden as the only three players in team history to record two triples in a game.

Binghamton (12-9) needed help to break the game’s 7-7 deadlock in the 10th inning. With one out, Kirk Nieuwenhuis swung at an errant 0-2 fastball from Akron stopper Vinnie Pestano. The wild pitch reached the backstop allowing Nieuwenhuis to reach despite striking out. After Hector Pellot flied out to right, Lucas Duda worked the count to 3-1 on Pestano. Duda hit a towering flyball down the line in left on the 3-1 offering. Weglarz, who was playing deep so as to eliminate the possibility of an extra-base hit, rushed in to snag the fly, but overran the ball, missing it entirely. Nieuwenhuis who was running on contact with two outs, motored around from first and scored the decisive run.

The B-Mets were the first and last on the scoreboard. In the first inning, Nieuwenhuis singled to open the game off starter Ryan Edell. Nieuwenhuis promptly stole second and took third on Lucas Duda’s single to left. With runners at the corners and two out, Luke Montz lined a singled to left, plating Nieuwenhuis with the game’s first run.

The bottom of the inning produced the bulk of Akron’s (8-13) runs. Brad Holt, in just his second start of the season, put the first three men on base to open the inning. The young righty chased home the tying run with a bases-loaded walk to Matt McBride. Then, Beau Mills grounded a single into center, putting the Aeros on top 2-1. After Holt struck out Carlos Rivero, he was replaced by Josh Stinson.

Stinson proceeded to allow all the runners left on base by Holt to score as well as a run of his own courtesy of a Cord Phelps two-run single and a Jared Goedert two-run double, which pitted Akron a 6-1 lead. Holt was charged for five runs in just a third on an inning.

In the B-Mets first 20 games of 2010, they failed to hit a triple, but they would mash the first of four on the night in the second. Maldonado lined an Edell offering off the wall in center for a leadoff triple. The three-bagger ended a 1-20 slump for Maldonado. Carlos Guzman drove him home with a sac fly to left, cutting the deficit to four.

In the fourth, the B-Mets rallied to take the lead. Marshall Hubbard, who returned from the disabled list Friday, walked to open the five-run frame. Maldonado drove him home with his second triple of the game, a liner to center that was misplayed by Tim Fedroff. Guzman plated Maldonado on a bloop single to center. After Jose Coronado struck out, Nieuwenhuis and Jonathan Malo hit back-to-back triples to tie the score. Malo would score the go-ahead run after Edell departed on a Zach Lutz RBI single, making it 7-6.

Edell was charged with seven runs on nine hits over 3.1 innings, but struck out a season-high six men in a no-decision.

Akron tied the game with an RBI single from Phelps off reliever Jose De La Torre in the fifth. However, that was the only blemish on the bullpen, which tossed 9 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs to make up for Holt’s poor start.

Roy Merritt picked up his first win of the year with two perfect innings. He has now retired 17 consecutive hitters dating back to April 25 and has thrown 7 1/3 straight scoreless frames.

Sand Gnats 7 Lexington Legends 2

The Savannah Sand Gnats won their third game in a row over the Lexington Legends, 7-2 Friday evening at Grayson in front of 2,389 fans.
In the third inning, Gnats scored when Cesar Puello, singled, stole second and would score on a ground out.
The Sand Gnats scored 4 runs in the fourth inning:Juan Lagares singled and stole second which was followed by walks to Wilmer Flores and Sam Honeck. Jefry Marte doubled scoring two runs. Cesar Puello singled scoring Honeck. Marte scored on an error.
Gnats added a run in the 6th when Kai Gronauer hit a line drive over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. The final run for the Gnats was scored in the 8th when Juan Lagares led off the inning with a triple and scored on a ground out.
Starting Gnats pitcher,Mark Cohoon, won his 4th game of the year without a loss. He pitched 61/3 innings and gave up 2 runs on 6 hits. Lance Hoge and Brandon Sage pitched in relief and did not allow a run.