More Stuff

The Herd:

David G: Adam Bostick: He’s pitching well this year, but he’s 26 now, can he be a successful reliever? Does he hit 90 mph? I’ve wondered why the Mets went with Misch over him (though Misch has pitched well.) And thanks again for taking the time to do this, very cool of you.
John Sickels: Bostick is a guy that i’ve been watcihng for what seems like 10 years now. i’ve seen him throw 93 MPH and I’ve seen him throw 86…..i don’t have a current velocity report on him for 2009, but his track record is that of a pitcher with potential who could sneak up on us just as soon as eveyrone gives up. He reminds me of Dennis Reyes, who was a failed starting pitcher prospect with injury and weight problems, but who ended up being a pretty useful pitcher once everyone gave up on him.

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2009/7/10/943778/amazin-avenue-chat-transcript-john

Chip Ambres of the Bisons, acquired in a trade with Boston on June 10, unloaded on his old team with a pair of home runs in the Herd's 3-1 win over Pawtucket before 8,311 at McCoy Stadium.
The 29-year-old outfielder was in a 1-for-31 slide in his last 10 games. He found his stroke Thursday as he unloaded a two-run home run into the Pawtucket bullpen in the fourth inning with Jesus Feliciano aboard and added a two-out solo shot to left field in the eighth. They were his third and fourth home runs since being traded.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/729106.html

B-Mets:

Meddler: What's the word on Brad Holt's curveball? With all the back and forth and spotlight dueling he’s had with Mejia, I really haven’t heard as much about this as I imagined I would by now, yet it seems to be the biggest hurdle for Mr. Holt. What are you hearing? Has he wrangled it in and got it a bit more consistent? Does it still look like a possible plus pitch in the making?
John Sickels: Well supposedly it was looking pretty decent in the FSL, but Holt has been knocked around a bit in Double-A. Small sample and I don’t have a current scouting report. He does sound an awful lot like Pelfrey: great arm, secondary stuff needs help.

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2009/7/10/943778/amazin-avenue-chat-transcript-john

Lucy:

AnthonyR: Earlier, you said Francisco Pena "sucks" (absolutely spot on awesome). Are there any other prospects in our system that you feel less strongly about than most?
John Sickels: Well i have to admit, I’m not especially passionately positive OR negative about most Mets prospects. But Pena…well, he just sucks. If he wasn’t the son of a major leaguer he wouldn’t have gotten as much attention as he has.

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2009/7/10/943778/amazin-avenue-chat-transcript-john


Clones:

The Brooklyn Cyclones are a short season A minor league baseball team that plays in the New York Penn League. There season doesn’t start until late June and the rosters are filled with a number of the recent 2009 draft selections as well as some Latin American prospects graduating from the Dominican Summer League.

The park is located in Coney Island and the team is named after the Cyclone roller coaster at the amusement park that you can see from the stands. You can get there by taking the N train to the end of the line. The cost is $4.50, but then I’m told the cost of any ride on the New York subways is $4.50, no matter if you are going one stop or to the end of line. So you get a pretty good bang for your subway ticket by taking the train to the end of the line.

http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?m=200907


Queens:

New York Mets, LF Fernando Martinez: After mashing his way through the Triple-A International League, Martinez made his major league debut in May at 20 years old. Martinez scuffled in his brief big league time before coming down an injury—a regular staple in Martinez’s career—this time with knee problems

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=5445



International

Official word is expected later this month, but the Red Sox [team stats] and Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias have agreed to terms on an $8 million-plus deal, according to a source familiar with the talks.

The 19-year-old defector is considered to be a defensively gifted player with major league caliber glove skills. His offensive potential appears to be a question mark.

He has been heavily scouted since defecting in Canada a year ago. The Red Sox have been scouting him for months, and have been working him out at their complex in the Dominican Republic

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1184016