• Dec 13: LHP Garrett
Olson - Olson was considered a top prospect for the Orioles for a number
of years after being drafted in the first round in 2007. The 28-yr old
soft-tossing lefty moved quickly through the minors, boasting a career 3.18
minor league ERA based on the strength of highly developed secondary offerings
-- namely a power curve and an excellent change -- as well as pinpoint command.
But as we've seen so many times before, as a finesse lefty Olson had trouble at
the major league level, posting a 6+ ERA in parts of six seasons. Stuff-wise
Olson is a clone of current Mets farmhand Mark Cohoon and may join him as part
of the Bisons staff. However, Olson has already begun the transition to the
bullpen and having had great success against lefties may audition for that role
with the big club. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/31/2753903/taking-inventory-of-the-mets-minor-league-free-agents
2-1-12: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com
-
Ranking guys who have not begun their professional career is
difficult. Logan
Verrett made it more difficult by an inconsistent last 18 months, with a
slow start to his junior year dropping him out of the first round. According to Baseball America, he throws
88-92 and can touch 94, but it “lacks life.”
The Mets were very pleased with his arm strength at instructs in the
fall. That’s a very controlled
environment, and I’m eager to see how he handles a full professional season.
(Note: I’ve moved Verrett around the rankings a bunch: 30 felt too high, and
the guys between here and there have some professional track record. Again, it’s not too precise at this point.)
Granted, September was
meaningless and Jon Niese had already begun
showing signs of fatigue before suffering the strain in his side; there wasn’t
any point in bringing him back even if he was 100% healthy. But still, the fact that he didn’t return in
2011 puts a tiny shred of doubt as spring training opens — a shred that can be
easily eliminated after one simple bullpen session. I don’t know enough about
the specifics of Niese’s strain, but I know too much about the failure rate of
Mets players coming back from injury — setbacks seem to be expected. Hopefully,
Niese took enough time off to allow the strain to heal, and went through a
proper rehab to prevent the injury from ever happening again. Further, we hope
that the injury is completely out of Niese’s mind; if it’s lingering in his
thoughts, it could affect his mechanics. Finally, we must hope that he doesn’t
injure himself again. Reportedly, it occurred as a result of swinging the bat,
not pitching, but still the question must be asked: why? Was he swinging too
hard? Were his swing mechanics out of whack so badly that it caused the strain?
Whatever it was, has it been corrected? http://www.metstoday.com/7414/11-12-offseason/mets-spring-training-question-19-jon-niese/
Johan Santana
(LHP):
In 1997 & 1998, Santana posted a combined 7-5 record with a 4.27 ERA in 16
starts with Auburn during his first and second professional seasons. Santana
was signed by the Houston Astros in 1995 as an amateur free agent out of
Venezuela by legendary scout Epy Guerrero and coming through the Astros
Venezuelan Academy. The four-time All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007 & 2009) has pitched
in 339 career regular season MLB games over eleven seasons, as a member of the
Minnesota Twins and New York Mets. Santana won the 2004 and 2006 American
League Cy Young Award. http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/02/major-league-alumni-auburn-doubledays/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Then there's the pitching...oh dear lord the
pitching. I know I make a comment every year about the team not having enough
pitching depth, but this season will set the bar pretty low. As it stands
today, the team doesn't have five healthy starters because no one can provided
a definitive answer on Johan Santana. Even if he is ready for opening day,
someone will eventually fall to injury. The Mets will be left with...with who?
The Mets are so thin at starting pitcher that I fear they may prematurely
promote from within when their less than mediocre "major league
ready" options run dry. http://networkedblogs.com/twoZZ
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