Monday Minors Thoughts.

1. Injuries are starting to set in around Minor Met-land... both SP's Ryan Coutas and Dillon Gee went under the knife for torn labrums, and are out for the season. This is Coultas' 6th season in the Mets organization, but I'm not sure what his Rule V status is. He has been injured in the past, and he has converted from a shortstop to pitcher, so I believe that warranted some kind of exemption. If he is elligible at the end of this season for a Rule V draft, I don't expect the Mets to protect him; however, there is a good chance he will pass through and then be back with the Mets. No one, other that Shawn Bowman, has worked harder to make it as a Met and we wish him well... in the case of Gee, things will slow down and I look for 2010 to be a year he will build back his velocity. This is just his 3rd year with the Mets and he has compiled (even with this year's down stats which might be injury related) is 14-10, 3.03, 1.09, in 48 ganes, 45 starts. He is a control pitcher so his pitching ability should be less effected by this kind of injury. We'll definitely see him again.



2. You all have heard that prospect SP Jenrry Mejia went on the 15-day DL for a "finger injury". Some have speculated that this might not be a bad injury and that Mejia was just being rested. It's hard to say. He just made a jump to a team going nowhere, and both the team above him (Buffalo) and below (St. Lucie) are filled up with starters and also going nowhere. So far, in his 2-year Met career, he is 9-6, 2.70, 1.16, in 27 starts. He also has struck out 135 batters in 143.2 innings. I've seen him pitch a number of times and he reminds me alot like ex-Met prospect Deolis Guerra. Bunches of nastiness and talent here, but he needs to dominate at these lower levels before moving on. I expect him back soon to finish the season in AA, rest a little in September, and play winter ball in his home country.



3. There also seems to be a missing outfielder in Kingsport. Cesar Puello, the lifetime .306 hitter (okay... 1.3 seasons) hasn't played for awhile and I'm trying to get some kind of injury update out of their office. If any of you know what's up ( I sure could use a contributor writer on this team) in K-Port, please let me know at macksmets@gmail.com.



4. Rotations wise... in Buffalo, it looks like Lance Broadway has been sent back to the pen, leaving an opening that I had hoped would be Tim Redding, but will probably turn out to be Frankie Nieve... Binghamton right now is operating with four starters (Coultas DL) and there's a chance that will be filled by ex-starter Jake Ruckle or Mike Antonini. My guess would be Antonini since he did start his last time out... St. Lucie has 6 starters right now, including today's pitcher, Eric Brown, who has not pitched well all season... and it looks like Eric Beaulac will be returned to the Savannah rotation to fill the spot vacated by Elvin Ramirez going on the DL.



5. There is some very exciting ball being played in Brooklyn and in Florida with the GCL Mets. Actually, the talent level for the K-Port team is quite good also, but it doesn't show in the win-loss column. I get lost in all this minor league stuff, but some of you need to start remembering the names of Mejia, Brad Holt, Jeurys Familia, Nefli Zapata, Jhonathan Torrez, and a bunch of others that are really playing some star ball.

6. I've tried to dig up some poop on any pending trades, but there either keeping quiet or there are none on the burner. Trust me, people in the know are on the phones, but I wouldn't look for some big deal. Most of the Mets top prospects are either untradeable, on the DL, or too young.

7. Angel Pagan is rehabbing tonight and will be back in Queens before the week is out. Currently the 25-man has 5 outfielders on the team... Ryan Church, Gary Sheffield, Daniel Murphy, Jeremy Reed, and Fernando Martinez. My bet is F-Mart goes back to Buffalo where he should finish out the season. Carlos Beltran's undated return should DFA Reed, and you might see Martinez again in September. But, then again, as long as you have Nick Evans on the squad, he can play outfield also... and Murphy can play first when Tatis is in the outfield... my head is starting to hurt.

8. I just heard back from Binghamton... there is no update on the Ruben Tejada injury which caused him to be pulled from the game today. The 20-year old continues to remain under the prospect radar, though he has now raised his AA-BA to a respectful .270. I'll post something on him as soon as it comes in.

9. Movement wise, I'm not sure what's going to go on between now and the end of the season. There definitely are some players on Savannah that should be considered moveable (Familia, SP Robert Carson, CL Rhiner Cruz), but wouldn't you rather leave them in Savannah for a playoff drive? Right now, I don't see anybody in Lucy deservent of a bump, and the same goes for the B-Mets.

10. And lastly... there's a no-hitter going on in the Savannah game.

Mack