1-27-12: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6509
5. OF Kirk
Nieuwenhuis -Baseball-Reference player profile - If it weren’t for June
labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder that cut his season off after 53
games, the 6-3/215 Nieuwenhuis could well have made his big league debut in
2011 and perhaps not even have been eligible for this list. He was hitting
.298-6-14/.908 OPS as a 23 year old in AAA at the time he was hurt. Consistency
has been the left hand hitter’s trademark since he was drafted in the third
round out of NAIA Asuza Pacific in 2008. Nieuwenhuis doesn’t have a true plus
tool, but does everything well on the field. Despite his size and just average
Major League running speed, Nieuwenhuis has played centerfield almost
exclusively since signing due to his instincts and ability to run routes. And
while Nieuwenhuis has hit 17 and 18 home runs in his two full seasons in the
minor leagues, he does hit enough doubles to qualify as a potential run
producer. The big question for Nieuwenhuis is whether his instincts in
centerfield will translate to enough range to cover the large outfield in Citi
Field. That would give the Mets a centerfielder with some power for the
position, whereas he would fall below the ideal production line should he be
relegated to a corner position.
1-30-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/30/2757346/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-21-30
LHP Jack
Leathersich - The Mets 2011 fifth rounder selection out of DII
UMass-Lowell, Leathersich absolutely blew away the competition in his short pro
debut. Yes you're reading those numbers right, he struck out 26 of the 47
batters he faced. 55% of them. That's an otherworldly 18.47 K/9. Obviously 12+
innings is a short sample and we can't get too overexcited but that's pretty
much best case scenario for any short debut. And that was after striking out
126 in 89 innings this spring as a junior. Leathersich is a 21-yr old lefty who
isn't exactly the tallest but has a sturdy 5'11", 205 lbs build. He is
known for a his mid-90's heat as well as a bit of an unorthodox delivery --
like many undersized lefties with such velocity. He also throws an inconsistent
yet promising curve. Before bolting for San Diego, Mets former scouting
director Chad Macdonald stated that though he made his debut in relief the team
will consider Leathersich as a starter based on the promise of his secondary
offerings. I'd say it's probably doubtful that he sticks as a starter long-term
but it's not hard to imagine Leathersich in a role similar to Kansas City
rookie reliever Tim Collins.
Tim Teufel takes over for
Chip Hale, who left to be Bob Melvin’s bench coach in Oakland. Last spring
training, as the manager of Triple-A Buffalo, Teufel sought out Murphy to get
him to improve his defense. “He took quite a bit of time to help me out last
spring and I think that’s going to pay off, because now he knows what I do well
and what I don’t do well,” said Murphy, who spent yesterday afternoon visiting
kids at Cohen Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park and will be honored tonight
at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner in Midtown. Murphy’s unfamiliarity with the
double-play pivot led directly to both injuries and although he was able to
avoid surgery each time, that will be a main focus when he gets to Port St.
Lucie on Feb. 10. - http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_get_teuf_on_murphy_SUj0y79NfMIt9fCVurm00L#ixzz1l2lfHAQs
In 2011, Daniel Murphy hit
.320 in 391 at bats with an OBP of .362. He crushed 28 doubles in less than 400
at bats. The “doubles” stat is important to consider. Without speed, Murphy
would likely need to hit his way to second base rather than nab it on a steal.
And I am sure the Mets would like the OBP to elevate toward .390, but Murphy
has such a good command of the strike zone I think he could make that leap. You
can either put Torres or Ruben Tejada,
who can bunt well, behind him. Those leadoff doubles could quickly
become a man on third with one out situation for David Wright http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/01/31/coutinho-can-daniel-murphy-bat-leadoff-for-mets/
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