Hey Mack.
I can't figure out why everyone keeps saying that the Amazins have one of the worst minor league systems in baseball. It's a fact that their minors have been producing some quality talent for the major league level for the past few years.
The biggest problem is that they are giving their prospects to other teams. It may be a short sample as far as Phil Humber is concerned, but you can’t help but notice how well he has been pitching lately. Good for him, it was a long, bumpy road he traveled to finally reach baseball heaven.
Jason Vargas is another example. Hes become a quality starting pitcher for Seattle, and recently pitched a brilliant game, shutting out the Phillies while maintaining an ERA of 3.75. If Omar knew what he had in Jason, I doubt he is included in the J.J Putz deal. This isn't a random year of quality pitching for Vargas, 09 was bumpy but successful and since then, he's been a solid.
I think the biggest slap in the face has got to be Heath Bell. Oh wait, forgive me Heath, I mean, all-star closer Heath Bell. Since the trade that brought over...uh,...um...shoot I forget who the heck we got for Heath, but since the trade, Heath had stated his disdain for the powers that be in the Mets front office and coaching staff, all of whom have since been fired.
I think we can probably sleep comfortably knowing that it was Alderson, not Minaya, who traded Eddie Kunz to the Padres for Allen Dykstra. I'd hate to watch Kunz become Cy Young overnight, but I think Sandy probably made sure to know what he had before shipping him off.
Anyway, if you consider Pelfrey, Niese, Humber, Vargas, Bell, Parnell, Gee, Joe Smith, and the upcoming crop of Mejia, Harvey, and Familia, you'd have to say that if there was one thing lacking in the Mets' minor leagues over the past five years, it sure wasn't pitching. Had we held on to those pitchers, we'd have an entire pitching staff that was effective and cheap.
Mack:
I happen to believe that the current Mets minor league system is weak in talent, but the main reason is it has already produced Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy, Josh Thole, Dillon Gee, Pedro Beato, Angel Pagan, Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, and Lucas Duda… in the past five years. That’s 10 members of the 25-man in five years.
Phil Humber has been an exception. He has pitched very well this season (7-3, 2.90) for the Chicago White Sox, but he basically was a bust for three years past the Mets trade. Call him the White Sox version of Dillon Gee. A complete positive surprise.
Jason Vargas wasn’t a Mets draft pick. He was drafted by Florida.
Heath Bell turned out to be a mistake (it was Jon Atkins and Ben Johnson for Bell and RP Royce Ring).
The system is currently depleted in many areas, but not in starters.
Charlie, I have two quick solutions to the depleted system.
First, sign some of the high schoolers you just drafted. So far, none have signed and most have said online that they are going back to school.
Secondly, trade both Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes to the Boston Red Sox for… SS Jose Iglesias, RHP Anthony Ranaudo, OF Josh Reddick, C Ryan Lavarnway, and OF Bryce Brentz.
3 comments:
I knew Vargas wasnt drafted by the Mets. He came from the Marlins, but since he got traded from the minors and went strait to the minors, I considered him the Mets' responsibility to marinate. One thing I was thinking about Mack,...the Mets' front office went in a total opposite direction then most would've thought in this years draft. Instead, of picking a possible front line starter like most thought, they went with Nimmo. With their Sup 1st round pick, they took another prep kid that had little fanfare. My point is, if they do trade Reyes or Beltran, don't be suprised if the talent that comes back makes you scratch your head yet again. They obviously grade talent a little differently then most, and seem totally willing to take a beating if it means getting their man, while also giving up a lot to do it.
you could be right... but, I hope you're not...
I'll still waiting for them to sign one of these high school kids and.. ya know... I haven't said how I totally feel about this last draft... think I will here.
First, it's hard for me to believe that the Mets even participated this time around. This was, IMO, a complete disregard for the tremendous talent that was rperesented in this draft. The Mets had a chance to draft four quality players in the first 101 picks, and completely missed the mark.
Lastly, I think it will turn out even worse. I don't expect most of these prep kids to sign al all and this could go down as a complete dud.
I hope I'm wrong.
I have been before
You might not have said it before, but it was obvious. And honestly, with the talent that was available in the draft, unless Nimmo becomes Jon Olerud or better, it's a bust until proven otherwise. However, a lot of drafts are. Thats the nature of MLB's draft. It just takes so long for these guys to make it that it's utterly ridiculous to promote it. All the build up, all the hype, all of the expert ex-major leaguers and minor league experts all giving opinion on who should go where and what team needs what, and then the pick gets made and.......see you in four years. The Mets took who they took, and it just makes cents to me to not be suprised by whoever they might receive in whatever deals they make before the deadline. These guys value talent differently then most. Reyes, however, is and should be universally valued at priceless, and therefore irreplaceable. I just hope they play at a level which makes trading him moot.
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