2-3-12: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/3/2760606/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-20-16
3B Zach
Lutz - I know I'm going out on a limb here, which I said I don't like to
do. I also know I may be the last one on the Lutz bandwagon, but I still can't
let go of his superior all-around offensive ability displayed thoroughly at the
highest levels of the minors. I've said it before and it's still true today,
the '07 fifth rounder has quietly become the best all-around hitter in the Mets
farm system. The problem is that he just can't stay healthy, having surpassed
100 games in a season just once in his pro career. But hear me out: While I
more than most try to take players to task for poor health -- as the ability to
stay on the field is indeed a skill -- 2011 was not his fault. Yes he missed
time with a hamstring, but the errant foul ball that broke his finger in the
dugout? The wild pitch that concussed him after he returned? The second wild
pitch that concussed him just two weeks later? I can't penalize him for all
that, especially since when he played he raked as usual, posting yet another
.200+ ISO. It's going to be easy to forget about Lutz going forward and if
you're concerned about the long-term effects of the concussions, that's
completely fair. But if he's healthy, in my opinion he's an easy top ten
prospect.
RHP Jeff Stevens - On Dec. 16th the Mets
signed another former top prospect in the hard-throwing Stevens. The 28-yr old
is best known as the PTBNL in the notorious Minaya-authored Brandon Phillips to
the Indians Brandon Phillips to the Reds deal. After some moderate success as a
minor league closer, the hard-throwing righty made a handful of appearances
with the Cubs between '09 and '11, but nothing of note (see, 6.27 ERA).
However, he possesses a very good low-to-mid 90's fb and has always boasted
good K-rates, but walks have been a real issue. To me, we could become another
Brian Stokes-esque back of the staff reliever. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/31/2753903/taking-inventory-of-the-mets-minor-league-free-agents
2-2-12: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/33-erik-goeddel/
- Erik
Goeddel is smart, and the ability to think through at-bats and self-analyze
will help him along the way. In 2011, he was very concerned with maintaining
the tempo of his delivery. He had a
tendency to go too slowly, and lose fluidity and his release point. His goal, at the urging of Sand Gnats’
pitching coach Glen Abbott was to speed up his delivery to stay in sync. 2011:
Goeddel was absolutely lights out in May, and seemed to be well on his way to a
second-half promotion to advanced-A St. Lucie before coming down with his
shoulder soreness. His May: 25 IP, 14 H,
3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 27 K. Yum. However, he just wasn’t the same pitcher when
he returned to the Gnats in August.
2-3-12: -
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/3/2760606/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-20-16
RHP Akeel Morris- After flashing
electric stuff in his pro debut with the GCL Mets in 2010, the former tenth
round selection followed up by featuring some of the most dominant stuff in the
entire Appy League last season. Morris dominated rookie league hitters with a
mid-90’s fastball that touched 96 mph as well as a developing 12-to-6 curve
that currently shows potential to be an average major league pitch. Even more
impressive, for the second straight season he posted a 10+ K/9 while holding opponents
to a completely ridiculous .166 average, by far the lowest mark in the league.
You do not see dominance like that from a teenager often. However, the problem
is Morris also posted a 6+ BB/9 for the second straight season, demonstrating
the key issue for Virgin Islands native going forward. Although the big
question I have about the 19-yr old Morris is that if/when he does begin
throwing more strikes – which he will have to do to take the next step and
become a blue-chipper -- does he have the stuff to continue to baffle more
disciplined hitters? Obviously we know that his stuff is very, very good; but
it most certainly plays up as a result of inferior competition that will swing
at pitches anywhere near the zone. When he reaches the point where the hitters
stop swinging, will his fastball be as effective when he has to put it in the
zone? Well the short answer is that unless he’s the second coming on Gooden it
won’t. But how big of a hit will he take? The answer to that question will
determine whether he truly does have a ceiling as a future star or if he’s just
another hard-thrower whose suspect command derailed his career.
Despite his offensive
struggles throughout his career, the soon-to-be 29-year-old Mike Nickeas is penciled in as the
Mets’ backup catcher for the upcoming season. Whereas the team looked for a
platoon last year with Ronny Paulino and Josh Thole, the situation in 2012
figures to be one in which Thole is the starter and Nickeas is the backup. The
one thing that Nickeas might be able to provide this year is defense, a topic
he discussed with Ted Berg last year. If Thole stays healthy all year, Nickeas
might be able to stick with the Mets, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see a
rotation of backup catchers between Buffalo and Queens. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/3/2768339/2012-mets-player-profile-mike-nickeas
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