Minors Stuff

Extended Camp:

New York Mets

Signed: SS Gered Mochizuki (Southern Illinois (Frontier))

Draft picks signed: 2B James Ewing (12), OF Darrell Ceciliani (4), OF John Semel (26)

Released: 1B Doug McNulty, OF Bobby Kielty, OF Carl Loadenthal, OF Mark McGonigle, OF Wily Mo Pena, OF Daniel Stegall

Placed on suspended list: RHP Mike Hebert, RHP John Holdzkom, LHP Alex Merricks, LHP Brian Valenzuela, OF Javier Rodriguez

Placed on restricted list: RHP Thomas Paredes, LHP Raul Batis, LHP Tim Erickson, SS Ignacio Medrano, OF Matt McCarney

Recalled: LHP Pat Misch, OF Fernando Martinez

Added to 40-man roster: RHP Elmer Dessens, 2B Argenis Reyes

Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Ken Takahashi

Option transferred: RHP Connor Robertson (Triple-A to Double-A)

Designated for assignment: RHP Connor Robertson

Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: LHP Jon Switzer, SS Wilson Valdez

Outrighted to Double-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Connor Robertson

Outrighted to Mexican League: RHP Luis Carlin, RHP David Reyes

Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ryan Coultas, RHP Julio de la Cruz, 3B James Schroeder

Reinstated from DL: C Jordan Abruzzo, C Mike Nickeas, C Javier Valentin, SS Reese Havens, OF Bobby Kielty

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=5399#more-5399



The Herd:

Nelson Figueroa has pitched in postseason games all over the globe. Yet the 35-year-old righthander insists that being named Buffalo’s lone representative to the Triple-A All-Star Game next Wednesday in Portland, Ore., is meaningful.

Figueroa (right), who had no run support early in the season with Buffalo, has won his last four decisions. He has a 4-4 record, 2.63 ERA and .230 opponent batting average in 13 starts this season for the Bisons. Figueroa’s ERA ranks sixth in the International League, behind Clay Buchholz (2.11), J.D. Martin (2.14), Charlie Morton (2.26), Matt Maloney (2.28) and Carlos Torres (2.30).

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/#ixzz0Kg5zUiQR&D



B-Mets:

Wednesday, July 8 at Portland 7:00 pm RHP Jake Ruckle (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA

Thursday, July 9 at Portland 7:00 pm RHP Dylan Owen (1-5, 5.48) vs. LHP Felix Doubront (5-2, 3.71)

Friday, July 10 at New Britain 7:05 pm LHP Eric Niesen (0-4, 6.35) vs. TBA

Saturday, July 11 at New Britain 7:05 pm RHP Eric Brown (4-9, 5.83) vs. TBA


Jonathan's pick: Josh Thole, C, MetsIt's about time this guy gets some attention, even if he's on the shelf with a dislocated thumb. Thole broke out last year by hitting .300 in the Florida State League, and he's been even better this year with an Eastern League-leading .346 average. He doesn't hit for much power, but a backstop who can hit for average isn't all that common, especially one who's just 22 years old.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090706&content_id=5726630&vkey=fantasy&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb



Clones:


The Brooklyn Cyclones (16-2) were victorious for the 10th straight time on Tuesday, with a 3-2 win over the Aberdeen IronBirds (5-13). Fans in attendance at KeySpan Park enjoyed Brooklyn’s annual Hebrew Heritage Night shtik that included a knish eating contest, on-field hora, and Rabbi Harry Hertzberg as guest PA announcer.

Lefthander Mark Cohoon (4-0) was the mentsh of the night, winning his fourth straight decision -- best in the New York-Penn League. Cohoon (pictured, by George Napolitano) pitched 7.0 innings with six strikeouts, surrendering two runs on seven hits.

The Cyclone bullpen followed, and gave Aberdeen bupkis. Michael Johnson got the hold and Brandon Sage the save, with each pitching one scoreless inning. On the offensive side, C Ralph Henriquez notched his fifth RBI of the season with a single in the bottom of the first to put Brooklyn on the board. In the bottom of the third, Henriquez and RF Luis Rivera hit back-to-back doubles to score the second run for Brooklyn. In the bottom of the fourth, 2B Matt Gaski blasted a triple to center, scoring LF Nick Santomauro, and earning his first RBI of the season. All three RBI for the Cyclones came with two outs in each of the innings.

The Cyclones play the second game of the three-game series against Aberden on Wednesday night at KeySpan Park. The Cyclones will be celebrating Bay Ridge Community Night and all fans will also enjoy Weiner Wednesday: Buy One, Get One Free Sausages.


K-Port:

Outfielder Javier Rodriguez, the Mets’ second-round pick in 2008, was suspended, Baseball America reportshttp://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/#ixzz0Kg6DQFWy&D


Queens:

There has been much criticism for Omar Minaya this year regarding the lack of a move in getting a hitter for the depleted, injury-ravaged New York Mets lineup. With injuries to Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran, the Mets are left with only David Wright, a 40-year-old Gary Sheffield, and a bunch of “he doesn’t scare me” type of hitters.

I have been critical of Minaya in the past, primarily for his lack of building farm systems as GM of the Mets and, after he was given the GM job for the Montreal Expos, making inexcusable trades by the boatload.

Notice how many proven major leaguers Minaya has traded away, including Jason Bay, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, and Orlando Cabrera

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/213365-new-york-mets-need-to-make-a-trade-for-the-future/page/2



"I just think we stink right now, we're just not very good," Wright said after the Mets' sickly 8-0 loss to the Dodgers. "When you don't pitch, you don't hit, you don't play defense, you're not going to win very many games. We're not playing very good baseball. ... I don't think anybody's having very much fun right now."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2009/07/08/2009-07-08_after_loss_to_dodgers_punchless_david_wright_takes_crack_at_the_mets.html#ixzz0Kg6akeJd&D


Draft:

Clemson first baseman Ben Paulsen, who like Brothers is represented by Jet Sports Management, also agreed to a $391,000 bonus ($4,000 above slot at No. 90) today. Both deals are expected to be finalized by the end of the week.

Prior to Brothers’ deal, the biggest difference between a bonus and MLB’s recommendations was $26,000. Astros first-rounder Jiovanni Mier signed for $1,358,000 at pick No. 21, where the recommendation was $1,332,000.

The only other players believed to have signed for more than MLB’s bonus recommendations barely cleared the bar. Pirates sandwich pick Victor Black signed for $717,000 ($600 above Baseball America’s slot estimate for the No. 49 pick) and Diamondbacks third-rounder Keon Broxton signed for $358,000 ($700 above our slot estimate for No. 95).

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=1290


General:

Blow up the Nats. Or at least spend the rest of this month, before the trading deadline, giving it a try. This misshapen group is no good together, so why not take it apart?

The Nats should keep their eight young starting pitchers, including three at Class AAA. Hang on to Ryan Zimmerman, injured catcher Jesús Flores, perhaps Josh Willingham and probably Adam Dunn. New outfielder Nyjer Morgan looks useful. Beyond that: open for business.

No team could trade all

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070701614.html