2/2/12

Mets: Minority Owners, Fernando Cabrera, Darrell Ceciliani, Rafael Montero


The great minority-owner search by Fred Wilpon and his partners who own the New York Mets has hit another new deadline, with Newsday reporting late Monday night that the team now expects to sell ten shares worth four percent apiece, at $20 million a pop, by the end of February. http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/null/2012/01/5168842/minority-investors-are-about-come-wilpon-groups-rescue-still

• Jan 10: RHP Fernando Cabrera - Aside from Miguel Batista, the 30-yr old Cabrera has the most major league experience of anyone on this list. In parts of seven seasons with the Indians, Orioles and Red Sox, he's posted a pretty mediocre 5.24 ERA exclusively in relief. He's actually only appeared in over 25+ major league games twice in that time. In parts of twelve minor league seasons he's posted a more palatable 3.24 ERA, including a very solid 2.71 ERA in Triple-A in 2011. Cabrera is known for his extreme reliance on a slider, throwing the pitch nearly 43% of the time since 2008. Again, depth for the Buffalo staff -- he'll know his way around after three seasons there when they were an Indians affiliate -- though with a decent shot to appear with the Mets at some point during the season. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/31/2753903/taking-inventory-of-the-mets-minor-league-free-agents

1-30-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/30/2757346/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-21-30  - OF Darrell Ceciliani - One of 2010's most dynamic prospects, the 21-yr old Ceciliani found the Sally League a bit more challenging than his time with the Cyclones. The speedy lefty saw declines pretty much across the board, including most notably his 100+ point drop in BABIP. After posting a .430 mark last year we knew some regression was in order; the problem is even with a sort of high .327 mark in 2011, he was barely able to keep his average respectable. And while he was able to make some moderate strides being more selective in the second half, it came at the expense of some power. Ultimately, he did boost his walk rate above the 10% threshold which isn't insignificant. And he did maintain an ISO above .100, which is solid for a center fielder. He also continued to show off his excellent speed while manning a good center field. Hamstring injuries bothered him once again but he managed to bounce back relatively quickly. The offensive potential he showed in 2010 paired with the fact that he falls high on the defensive spectrum keep him relatively high on this list. However, we may have to revise his offensive ceiling from Jacoby Ellsbury down to the still respectable Brett Gardner.

1-31-12 – http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/  - Rafael Montero - 1-31-12 – He had a great 2011, but more importantly, has one of the most explosive arms in the lower levels of the system regularly working in the low-90s, with the ability to throw mid-90s when he airs it out. He has the beginnings of a breaking ball and throws strikes, lots and lots of strikes. On talent and arm strength alone, I think Montero should be much higher. However, I’m scared a little of short-season pitchers with very little track record so far from the big leagues. 2011: The Dominican Summer League was not challenge.  Really, the GCL wasn’t either.  Four starts in the Appalachian league were less dominant, but he showed off with five good innings in the New York Penn League in Brooklyn.   Seriously, for the year, he struck out 23% of the batters he faced, walked under 5% for a K/BB of 5.1.

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