Cutnpaste: Brian Valenzuela, Jordany Valdespin, Jorge Rivero, Josh Edgin, Ryan Fraser

8-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/kingsport-mets-team-report-stretch-run-edition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter  - Brian Valenzuela – This 5’10″ LHP was the Mets 10th round draft pick back in 2008, out of Vista Murrieta (Calif.) High School. Things were tough the last 3 seasons when he threw only 28 IP combined, and missed a season due to injury. This year he has tossed 32 IP, so far, with very poor results. He’s 2-4 with a 5.97 ERA in 6 starts, and the league is raking against him to the tune of a .318 BA. Valenzuela has to show some positive signs soon or the new regime may not keep around for another season.

8-22-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/814874-new-york-mets-who-the-mets-should-add-to-their-40-man-roster-on-september-1st  - Jordany Valdespin SS Buffalo Bisons: 119 games combined between Buffalo and Double-A Binghampton 16 HRs, 56 RBIs, .288 BA, 34 SBs Now if you're looking for a speedy shortstop with loads of power, Valdespin is your kind of player. Since signing with the Mets as a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2007, Valdespin has quickly risen through the ranks of the Mets farm system and has stolen bases and driven in runs at every step of the way. With the uncertainty of current Mets star shortstop Jose Reyes' contract beyond 2011 and the chronic injuries of star prospect shortstop Reese Havens, Valdespin enters the very top tier of potential Reyes replacement shortstops in the Mets minor league system. Valdespin deserves a long, hard look from Terry Collins and the rest of the Mets front office during September baseball for his future prospects at the position with the Mets.

8-23-11: - DSL 2011 End of Season Wrap-Up - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35808&sid=e8719b8eddffd9bc033d0ab708d8aff5  - - Jorge Rivero: 22 year old infielder who started out playing all 4 IF positions for the Mets 2 this spring. He put up a .292 AVG with a .823 OPS. A switch hitter, the 22 year old also went 10-13 swiping bags in the DSL. Since his promotion to the GCL Mets, hes gone 0-6. His new batting AVG in the states is .242 while playing mainly 2B and occasionally DH. Stateside, he has hit the only homer of his year, and also has 12 walks compared to 10 Ks. He is after all, a 22 year old in the GCL.




photo by Allan Greene

 8-24-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/32947/farm-repeat-mound-of-praise-for-edgin  - Mets VP Paul DePodesta said he hesitated to mention left-hander Josh Edgin’s name when the subject arose of minor leaguers who may have an impact with the Mets in 2012. But DePodesta went ahead and named the southpaw as a candidate, even though Edgin has not yet pitched above Class A St. Lucie. “He’s got major league stuff and he’s left-handed,” DePodesta recently said. “Again, you just never know how quickly those guys can come. He’s in Port St. Lucie right now, which is why I’m squeamish about talking about 2012."

8-24-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/131fc54efd5f8374  - RHP Ryan Fraser, who is ninth in the SAL in ERA (3.50) and seventh in innings pitched (131), is scheduled to make his 22st Savannah start today. Fraser has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two outings. In August, he’s pitched to a 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP) in four starts with nine walks and 14 strikeouts. At home, Fraser has a 3.14 ERA (23 ER/66 IP) compared to 3.88 (28 ER/65 IP) on the road. In part this is due to his home run rate which is 0.55 HR/9 IP (4 HR/66 IP) at home and 1.24 HR/9 IP (9 HR/65 IP) on the road. Last year with short-season Brooklyn, Fraser struck out 39 batters in 31.1 innings pitched, a rate of 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings. This year, he’s fanned 83 in 131 innings, a rate of 5.7 K/9. With the Cyclones last year, working exclusively out of the bullpen, he was 3-3 with a 1.44 ERA and 12 saves in 31.1 IP and allowed more walks (20) than hits (16). The Mets drafted Fraser in the 16th round of the 2010 draft out of Memphis where he led the Tigers with 93 strikeouts and 92 IP in 2010 on his way to three C-USA Pitcher of the Week honors and a Second Team All C-USA selection. In the classroom, he was a member of the C-USA All-Academic Team in 2010 and ran a 4.0 grade point average in high school. The Gnats are 9-12 when Fraser starts, and have supported him with 2.76 runs per game (58 runs/21 games), the lowest mark of any Savannah starter.