7-17-10: So, do you like a strong, loud entrance? Seems Farrell, who was drafted in the 32nd round this year, signed and got himself in theKingsport lineup last light. As you read below, Farrell was considered a late bloomer who finished this year in the nation’s top 10 home run list, while nursing a torn cartilage in his knee.All Patrick did last night was hit a three-run homer, get another hit, and lead his team to a victory. Big home run guy. Big home run in first game. Did I mention he was a catcher?
Old stuff on Farrell:
6-11 from: - link - On Wednesday, Farrell, 23, was chosen by the New York Mets with the 932nd pick of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft. That came after an All-American season at Regis University in Denver. This was Farrell's breakout year. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound catcher posted a .386 batting average with 20 home runs and 55 RBIs. His home run total ranked in the top 10 nationally despite him missing a handful of games due to a torn meniscus (cartilage in the knee). He posted 35 home runs and 120 RBIs in two seasons at the NCAA Division II member school. "He was a late bloomer," Lain said. Indeed he was, but Farrell also made the most of his opportunities. He was a two-year starter for Post 6 after moving to catcher in fall of his junior year at Cheyenne East. Lain liked what he saw from Farrell at the plate and wanted to find a way to get him in the lineup. Farrell evolved from being a guy who merely could receive pitches and deliver strikes down to second base to a solid all-around catcher. He also put up solid offensive numbers, hitting .350 with a team-best 10 homers as a senior
5-25-10 from: - http://www.regisrangers.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/news/Farrell_All-America - Senior catcher Patrick Farrell has been raking in the all-america honors over the last week highlighted by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Second Team All-America honors. Farrell, from Cheyenne, Wyo., also garnered ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America Third Team and Daktronics Honorable Mention All-America. The ABCA honor was voted on by the coaches while both the Daktronics and ESPN THE MAGAZINE were both voted on by sports information directors around the nation. He was one of the top homerun hitters in the nation finishing with 20 while also driving in a team-high 55 runs. His .897 slugging percentage is third base in Regis history and his homerun total second most. The exercise science/biology major had a cumulative 3.43 GPA through the fall semester. Farrell's .777 career slugging percentage topped the previous Regis record by .100 points. Farrell was even better in clutch situations, especially with runners in scoring position. He hit .426 (23-of-54) in those situations with 11 RBIs, which bettered his team-leading batting average of .386. His 35 career homeruns in just two seasons are second most in Ranger history trailing Scott Landgraf (1989-91) by just three. His .369 career batting average is 10th best in the Regis baseball record book.
3-10-10 from: - www.regisrangers.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/news/CCU1 - Two homeruns and six RBIs by senior Patrick Farrell helped the Rangers to a 12-6 victory over Colorado Christian in a non-conference tilt. Colorado Christian (6-13) got on the board against Regis (7-7) starter Steve Falconi with one run in the top of the first inning. The Rangers responded scoring two in the bottom half when Farrell smacked his first homerun a no-doubter over the left center fence driving in fellow senior Jesus Arzaga. The Rangers didn't look back scoring five runs over the next two innings including three of the five on one swing from Farrell in the third inning. Regis tacked on two more in the fifth and three more in the sxith to blow open the game. Junior Zach Blakeley doubled to left center in the fifth to plate Farrell, who was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate.
7-17-10: - look, it’s not every day that you get a chance to write something good about a Brad Holt outing. The young man did good last night, going: 5.0-IP. 1-ER, 7-K, 3-BB… forget the yearly stats; we’ll take one good outing and take it from there. BTW… the word from the Mets pitching coaches is there really isn’t anything wrong with the kid’s velocity, or mechanics. He simply is pitching like shit this year. Regarding last night, we’ll take it.
Old stuff on Holt:
The Mets picked Holt in the supplemental portion of the 1st round in the 2008 draft. College stats: 3.18 ERA, 11-1, 93.1 IP, 78 H, 36 BB, 95 K, .225 BAA, 8 HR allowed
Comments by Baseball America before draft day: With an impressive performance, Holt could vault himself into position to be a back of the first-round or early supplemental selection. A team such as the Mets with multiple picks in the first 50 could be especially interested in a guy like Holt. Mets scouting director Rudy Terrasas is known for liking pitchers with pure arm strength such as Holt, and with picks at 18, 22 and 33, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Mets take the Seahawks righthander. This weekend will not be the first time that Terrasas and his staff have seen Holt—as the scouting director, along with multiple other members of his staff, was in attendance to witness Holt pitch eight innings against Old Dominion. Holt struck out 11 and only allowed one earned run in the outing. The Brewers are another team with three selections in the first 35 picks that could be especially interested in Holt.
Also from Baseball America: His fastball has improved since arriving in Wilmington and now sits between 92-94 mph, touching 96… He is able to maintain his velocity deep into games. [He has] vastly improved command. Holt at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, has a perfect pro body with a clean delivery and a first-round arm… The only thing holding him back is the lack of a usable secondary pitch…. Even though his secondary stuff is in need of refinement, teams will not walk away from the pro body, strong arm and life on the fastball.
From Keith Law: Ultimate Role: Setup man Summary: Holt shows consistent arm strength and holds it through his starts as well as any starter in this draft, sitting 93-96 mph every week from his first inning to his last. The velocity is easy; the ball comes out of his arm well and has good downhill plane and some life to it. He pitches almost exclusively off his fastball, throwing offspeed stuff less than 25 percent of the time. His curveball, which has a short downward break and moderately tight rotation, is his best secondary pitch; it could become an average offering, but it's a one-plane pitch. He has a changeup, but he guides this mediocre offering to the plate. He takes a long stride forward off the mound, holding his velocity even from the stretch when he doesn't stay over the rubber at all, and has just a little bit of violence at the end when his head snaps slightly. If he had a better changeup or could handle a splitter -- his arm slot might be too low for it -- he'd have a chance to be a back-end starter. But as a one-and-a-half-pitch pitcher, he's more likely to work in the bullpen when he reaches the majors.
Holt pitched the day before the draft… threw 149 pitches and was clocked at 94 in the 9th inning.
In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Holt was ranked #8, with the comments: “8. Brad Holt, rhp - 2008 supplemental first-rounder can touch 96 mph, needs a reliable second pitch.”
In July 2008, From The Hardball Times: Brad Holt – RHP - Holt does a really good job loading his arm horizontally toward first base. By loading his arm this way, Holt is "scap loading." I've talked about scap loading before, but if you haven't heard the term, here is a semi-detailed definition: Scap loading is the horizontal loading of the arm. By loading the arm horizontally, the pitcher almost seems as if he is trying to touch his throwing elbow to the mid-point of his back. By carrying out this action, the pitcher creates tension in all the elastic muscles and tendons of the shoulder, and if done efficiently, the shoulder unloads aggressively toward home plate due to these elastic muscles being stretched and then released like a rubber band you let go after stretching.
The end product is a high-velocity fastball, which is exactly what Holt possesses. Holt's fastball is very lively, reaching up to 95, and it gets on the batter quick. It seems to pick up an extra gear just before it reaches home plate. My opinion is that he even has some velocity left in the tank, which could be tapped either through mechanics (like getting his hips moving a little earlier toward home plate) or by filling out his projectable frame.
In 2008, Holt was spot on for Brooklyn, going 5-3, 1.87 in 14 starts. He also struck out 96 batters in 72.1 IP. Holt won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the 2008 Brooklyn team.
September 2008: Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios on: Brad Holt: “Holt has a power arm. He hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun in Aberdeen and it was the first time I saw it live. That was impressive. We had a report on him that he threw 147 fastballs out of 152 pitches in a start in college. In the beginning, he told me, ‘I don’t even know what I throw.’ I told him, just throw whatever you have and we’ll take it from there. It turns out he has a power curve, 79-81 miles per hour with a big break. He also started to incorporate his change up. He’s very athletic and he’s constantly learning. He’s got a world of talent and with that type of power, especially considering how far he’s come with his secondary pitches in such a short amount of time, the sky is the limit. I think in two or three years, he’ll be a guy on the front end of the Mets rotation.”
In September, Patrick Hickey wrote on: Brad Holt- His secondary pitches came such a long way during the season and he proved he’s much more than a fastball pitcher. His curve ball has the potential to be a devastating pitch as well and his changeup needs some work, but is progressing steadily. As far as his potential goes, I see him as someone who could round out the last two spots of a starting rotation or be an excellent setup man or reliever, kind of like an old New York favorite, Dave Righetti. His fun-loving, yet professional attitude with the media and in the clubhouse could also make him a fan-favorite in a jiffy once he gets to Brooklyn. Final grade- A+
In February 2009, MYOB write: Brad Holt RHP - Brad signed for a little over $1 million and is a supplemental first rounder for the Braves signing Tom Glavine. He throws in the mid-90s and has good command of his fastball. Brad led the NY Penn league in ERA at 1.87 in 14 starts, striking out 96 hitters in just over 72 innings pitched. He only gave up 43 hits, translating to an opponent average of .171. All this success without a secondary pitch. If he is going to have success as he advances Brad will need to find a second and third offering, otherwise he can replace K-Rod as the closer. He’s working on a slider and change.
In February 2009, Toby Hyde wrote: Holt has both the highest ceiling, and the best downside projection among Mets pitching prospects. He has the best fastball in the system with a great pitcher’s build and clean, easy mechanics. In college, he moved from the third-base side of the rubber to the first, which allowed him to land more online to home plate, rather than closed and snap his hips through the pitch more effectively. The result of the change by 2008, was a legitimate mid-90s fastball that he threw 93-95 mph that exploded on hitters out of Holt’s hand. Moreover, the plus, or perhaps plus-plus heater played up thanks to fine command. A detractor might complain about Holt that he has only one plus pitch. That detractor’s criticism would be entirely justified. On the other hand, Holt has made terrific progress with his breaking ball, tightening up a slurvy offering from college into a tight, hard curveball, that at times, flashes plus potential. A scout who had seen him as an amateur, and then repeatedly in the New York Penn League, was left shaking his head, noting that every time he saw Holt as a professional, he made strides with his breaking ball. Holt rarely threw his below average changeup in the NYP League. He did not need it against less advanced hitters, although he has expressed a desire to improve the pitch. Holt’s progress with his breaking stuff will dictate whether he becomes a frontline starter. Even if he struggles with his changeup, his fastball will take him to some kind of big league bullpen role, where he could excel. 2008: Holt had a monster debut in Brooklyn, easily outshining the two gentlemen, Ike Davis and Reese Havens, the Mets picked ahead of him in the 2008 draft. Holt led the circuit in ERA and strikeouts while landing second in WHIP (1.05) behind teammate Chris Schwinden. Holt reached double figures in strikeouts four times, including a 14 punch-out performance on July 24th, that tied a Cyclones single-game record. Holt worked deep into games, throwing five innings or more in five of his last six contests. Projected 2009 Start: St. Lucie rotation
In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: Holt, the 33rd overall selection in the 2008 draft, overmatched New York-Penn League hitters in his debut. Of course, that's exactly what should have happened. The UNC Wilimington product throws in the mid-90s with regularity. The rest of his arsenal, though, needs serious work. He's inconsistent with a slurvy slider and incapable of fooling hitters with his changeup. The Mets will work with him to refine his secondary pitches this year. If he doesn't make as much progress as hoped, he could find himself on the verge of a switch to the pen at this time next year.
9-9-9 From http://www.hardballtimes.com/ : - Taken in the first supplemental round in the 2008 draft, Holt, a 6'4 righty out of UNC-Wilimgton, quickly impressed in his pro debut. After posting a 2.62 FIP for Brooklyn last year, Holt struck out 54 batters in 43.1 innings for St.Lucie in 2009 before being called up to Binghamton. However, his run of great pitching ended there. He only struck out 45 in 58 innings and walked 23 while giving up nine homers, leading to a 5.01 FIP. Holt is a power pitcher who has to rely on his plus fastball, so when he's not striking out guys at a good enough rate it could lead to problems. However, he was hampered by an ankle injury, so we'll see if he can bounce back in Binghamton in 2010.
5-30-10 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - Brad Holt RHP - A supplemental pick for the loss of Tom Glavine, Brad signed for a little over $1 million. Brad reminds me more of a closer type than a starting pitcher, but all his appearances have been starts. He has three decent pitches, with a decent fastball that hits 95, though is more comfortable between 88-92. He has a good, durable frame at 6′4″ that allow him to be an innings eater in the middle of a rotation. Brad struggled a bit last year when promoted to Binghamton, finishing with an ERA of 6.21 in 11 starts. He was a bit too prone to the walk and the homerun ball, a deadly combination for 3-run homers. This year he is back at Binghimton and his ERA is even worse at 9.90 in seven starts. Walks continue to be a problem, but this time he is being hit at a .357 clip, 80 points higher than he was hit last year. The Mets can only hope that he is starting to turn his season around after his last start. He went 5 innings for the first time this season and gave up only one hit, walking three without giving up a run.
5-29-10: - Brad Holt got one more shot at starting last night and he past the test. I remember talking to Rick Waits out on the back mounds about Holt in the spring of 2009 and he told me that the emphasis last year would be on creating secondary pitches for Holt. I left that day thinking his ERA would be up for 2009 (which it was) simply because you’re going to have to throw these new pitches during game time condiditons. Well, it hasn’t worked, and now Holt’s velocity on his fastball is in question. Listen, if you’re a one pitch pitcher, it better be a fastball… and if it’s a fastball, you’re a bullpen pitcher… and if you’re a one pitch fastball pitcher with lost velocity… well, you’re playing in the Central Park League.
9-15-09 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - 4. Brad Holt RHP - Brad was the Mets first round supplemental pick in 2007. After a dominating performance for the Cyclones in 2008 Brad continued his success with the St Lucie Mets, finishing at 4-1, 3.12 in nine starts. It wasn’t the 1.87 ERA that he had with the Cyclones but it earned him a promotion to AA Binghamton. There he found pitching a little more of a challenge, finishing with a 6.21 ERA in eleven starts. Opponents batting average against him have gone from .171 to .215 to .270. He needs to find a way to reverse that. Expect him to repeat AA. He does control a high velocity fastball, but his secondary pitches need a lot of improvement.
6-23-10: - Well, sending him back to St. Lucie doesn’t seem to be the answer to Holt’s woes. He pitched last night, giving up five runs, four earners, in 4.0-IP. That’s a 9.00 ERA, still up in the range of his 10.20 in Binghamton. Only two strikeouts and eight hits against him; yes, eight hits in four innings. Boy, if there was ever a pitcher that needs to be shut down…
6-30-10 from: - Holt had a rare good outing Tuesday night, though it was at the A+ level, at least one level below where he should be dominating at this stage in his professional career. Stats were: 5.0-IP, 1-ER, 2-H, 1-WP, 5-K, and still 5-BB. This is the best he’s been all year long and the last thing we should be applauding is five walks and one wild pitch in five innings, but in his case, we’ll take what we can right now. Holt’s A+ record now is 1-1, 5.00… combined A+/AA: 2-6, 9.00. Far from prospect material.
7-9 from http://www.baseballamerica.com/ : - Biggest Disappointment: "Brad Holt, no question," one club official said. Though no one seems quite sure how it happened. "His fastball is still there. The velocity is good. He just lost something. His command hasn't been there, and he doesn't seem to know how to get it back."
7-14 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/14/1567569/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review - If you were wondering who has been the biggest disappointment of 2010 in the Mets farm system, you're looking at him. Exhibit A: Twelve combined walks in his last three starts. Holt's season has been an unmitigated disaster. Exhibit B: .336 BAA in Binghamton. And frankly, I wish there was more I could say about it but so far there isn't. He hasn't attributed his inconsistent velocity or his suddenly scattershot command to any sort of lingering ailments from his checkered injury history. Even on days when his velocity is back up near where it should be he's not looking like the guy who set the Cyclones single season strikeout record back in '08. The really scary part is that the fallback bullpen option which seemed so failsafe before is now suddenly just as questionable, as his one plus pitch is suddenly lacking any of the electricity it once had. In short, Holt seems to have gone all John Maine and lost the one skill that truly made him a top pitching prospect and without it, he's little more than Eddie Kunz. Every fifth day I keep hoping to hear that he corrected a minor mechanical flaw and is back to normal but if that doesn't happen soon, a move to the bullpen is imminent.
7-17-10: - it’s not that Zach Lutz did anything specialon Saturday. What he did was simply play. Lutz was on his way to a great season with Binghamton (8-HR, 17-RBI, .896-OPS in 126-AB), when he broke his ankle. No one expected him back this quick, but, you know Zach. Anyway, he did go 1-3 for the GCL Mets on his first rehab day and we expect him back in the B-Mets lineup this time next week.
Old stuff on Lutz:
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 http://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.
1-1-10: - 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.
2-10-10 - Zach Lutz – nothing wrong here, either… Lutz is showing the minor league brass that they just might have three major league third basemen in their organization… hit .284/.381/.441/822 for Lucy this year and will join most of his 2009 teammates with the B-Mets this season. Remember this name.
4-22-10: - Stock Up: We talked yesterday about the fact that the Mets have solved their first base problems for the next 5+ years. It’s also true that they don’t need a new third baseman during that same period, but the fact remains that there is a new one developing down on the farm and we might see him branching out to a new position someday to hopefully make this team both as the backup to David Wright, and a quality power utility bat.
5-10-10: - Stock Up: Lutz is one of those minor leaguers that doesn’t seem to get any press, but just goes out and does his job every night. And, don’t be fooled by that baby face… the kid’s got some real power! Lutz was a 5th round pick in 2007 and has produced well in Brooklyn (2008: .333/.442/.514/.956) and St. Lucie (2009: 11-HR, 62-RBI, .822-OPS). The soon-to-be 24-year old (June 3) continues to develop power and currently leads the Eastern League in both home runs (8) but also the best HR-AB ratio (13.13). ETA: 2011
5-24-10: - Stock Up: Lutz is one of those minor leaguers that doesn’t seem to get any press, but just goes out and does his job every night. And, don’t be fooled by that baby face… the kid’s got some real power! Lutz was a 5th round pick in 2007 and has produced well in Brooklyn (2008: .333/.442/.514/.956) and St. Lucie (2009: 11-HR, 62-RBI, .822-OPS). The soon-to-be 24-year old (June 3) continues to develop power and currently leads the Eastern League in both home runs (8) but also the best HR-AB ratio (13.13).
5-26-10: - 3B Zach Lutz placed on 7-day Disabled List retroactive to May 21 with a left foot fracture.
7-13 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/13/1565273/mid-term-farm-system-review-part - What does Zack Lutz have in common with Fernando Martinez & Reese Havens? That's right, he can't stay on the field either; Lutz has been out since May 20 with a fractured left foot. In 2007 it was a broken foot on opening night, in '08 it was a whole mixed bag including a back strain, a quad injury and an ankle injury, in 2009 he had a month-long case of food poisoning. And to make matters worse, he's probably been passed on the Mets 3B prospect totem pole by the 2010 dynamo that is Eric Campbell. Many people consider health/durability a skill and clearly Lutz doesn't possess it which is a shame because when he's on the field the kid can clearly hit. He's always had excellent contact skills and good power but in the first month+ of 2010 he seemed to take a step forward, blasting eight homers in just over 30 games, on pace to crush his career high of 11 bombs in '09. At the Double-A level, this definitely portends well for his ability to cut it in the bigs. He's also always had very strong plate discipline leading to high on-base averages, it's his defense that needs work and has probably suffered most from his various DL stints. Lutz definitely resembles a solid, if unspectacular, major league piece but to seal the deal he'll have to stay on the field and a big second half like he had in '09 certainly wouldn't hurt.
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