1/14/12

Mets: Bret Mitchel, Fernando Martinez, Brandon Nimmo, Mike Piazza


1-11-12 -  http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/01/2012-mets-top-prospects-s-41-50.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29  46.  Bret Mitchell (RHP) The Mets made an excellent grab in the 12th round of the 2010 draft when they tabbed the 6’2″, Minnesota State right-hander Mitchell. Mitchell separated himself from the pack this season after starting out with eight non-descript starts in 2010 when he went 2-2 with a 5.94 ERA for Kingsport. Starting out in Kingsport again in 2011, was a different story altogether. He was awarded the 2011 Sterling Award by the Mets for being the Kingsport Pitcher of the Year, going 5-1 with a 2.95 ERA over seven starts. That earned him a promotion to Brooklyn on Aug 5th, but he was injured in a start against the Staten Island Yankees on August 7th, and went on the DL shortly after. Mitchell throws a fastball around 89-92, a 12-6 curve, and a change-up. He will be solidly in the mix for one of the five coveted spots in the Savannah rotation in ST.

Fernando Martinez, Astros -  Though no longer eligible to be a prospect based on the number at-bats accumulated during fits and starts over three different seasons, Martinez was the Mets’ top prospect for about 52 straight years. Then we found out the org that once gave the Dominican $1.6 mill (really, it was former GM Omar Minaya), decided he was no longer worthy of, you know, playing baseball for them in any capacity. As my colleague Mr. Cwik pointed out recently, F-Mart’s biggest problem is that he’s, well, injury-prone just doesn’t seem strong enough to cover it, does it? Injury-riddled! (An arthritic right knee will do that.) That, and the now-23-year-old Martinez was starting to run out of time, especially with all the lost development. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/danny-hultzen-fernando-martinez-andrew-brackman-prospect-chatter/

OF Brandon Nimmo–I took a conservative approach with ranking draftees this year, so Nimmo was left out. Like any high school player, he carries a significant amount of risk, and he’s not quite at the elite talent level of someone like Bubba Starling to outweigh that. Like the other 2011 draftees I left off, he could certainly earn his way on with a strong full-season debut. http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/01/14/top-100-prospect-snubs-nl-east/#more-3170

It is probably unfair, but to me this encapsulates the 8-year Mike Piazza Era in New York; a time marked by some spectacular play and wonderful moments but ultimately disappointment and failure.  The Mets in Piazza's first year, 1998, missed the playoffs by one game, then lost a brutal playoff to the Braves in 1999, when Kenny Rogers walked in the winning run, and, as noted above, lost to the Yankees in the 2000 World Series.  And that was it.  In Piazza's final five seasons the team was mediocre at best finishing third twice, fourth once and fifth twice. http://fairandunbalancedblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/mike-piazza-and-tools-of-ignorance.html

No comments: