Mack Ade – Morning Report – 4-4-13

Chris‏@tpgMets20m -

By my calc, the #Mets 2013 Opening Day payroll was $101,648,590. The #Mets 2013 Opening Day Active Roster payroll was $38,564,665.

Oakland DFA P Josh Stinson.


Dodgers release RP Kevin Gregg - went 11-G, 0.82 in ST

Michael Salfino‏  @MichaelSalfino11m

350: Days Shaun Marcum has spent on the disabled list since 2008


Astros are 1st team in Live Ball Era (since 1920) with 15+ K (as hitters) and 0 R scored in consecutive games - ESPN

The rosters are set for the four “full season” teams and, by my count, 88 players were left in Extended Camp. A few that stand out:

SP Zack Dotson – Dotson was a 13^th round ($600,000 bonus) pick in the 2009 draft out of Effingham County H.S., just outside Savannah, Georgia. Did you check out the bonus amount? Obviously, the Mets wanted this kid big time but, so far, it hasn’t happened. Dotson has been injured most of his professional career and has pitched only 18 innings over three years, posting a 7.50 ERA. I have confirmed he is still with the team and is in Extended Camp

SP Christian Montgomery – Where the hell is this guy? Montgomery was in everybody’s first round mock draft in July-Sept 2010, but then came an arm injury and he fell like a rock. The Mets felt they stole him as an 11^th round pick in 2011 (which I agreed with them on), but we’ve not seen or heard of until late last year when tossed 7.2 innings in 2-starts, giving up eight runs and posting a 9.39 ERA. I expect to see him in Brooklyn if his arm is finally healed. Warning: Big heat here.

SP Miller Diaz – This makes little sense. Diaz pitched in 11-games (5-starts) last year for Kingsport, posting 2-1, 3.56, 1.26. That included 45-K in 43.0-IP. He then ended the season in Savannah with eight more strikeouts in 4.2-IP. Now, he doesn’t even get an invite back to Savannah?

RP Juan Urbina – Big time ex-prospect that is now a full time relief pitcher. We all know the blood line. Urbina was a big-time international bonus baby who frankly just hasn’t happened… 5.03 ERA for GCL in 2010… 5.95 ERA for K-Port in 2011… 5.11 ERA for K-Port in 2012. Changed to the pen last year and finally put up some decent numbers for Brooklyn (3-G, 5.0-IP, 5-K, 3.60) and I guess the Mets felt he needs more time there this year.

RP Akeel Morris – Like Urbina, was a projected starting prospect but the coach’s just couldn’t leave the mechanics alone. Morris was a 10^th round pick out of the US Virgin Islands and smoked both GCL (2010-2.19) and K-Port (2011-3.86). He also had 89-Ks in 76.0 combined innings over those two years. Then, everything went to hell in 2012 which results in a bad year (K-Port: 0-6, 7.98) and a change to the pen. I expected to see him at the Savannah Media day and was disappointed he wasn’t there. This is big-time heat.

Tom Coughlin on David Wright:

“Mets fans should be thrilled. I just appreciate the way a young man like David represents his organization on and off the field. ... Guys like David Wright, Derek Jeter and Eli are cut out of the same cloth. They are blessed with great ability, and they understand the responsibility that comes along with it. They understand what it means to represent their respective organizations, and they know that the people of the metropolitan area respect somebody who rolls up the sleeves and goes to work and leads by example, not words.”

Links;

            Matt Balasis On the ‘Gritty Mets’ - link

            Mike Piazza will make ballet debut in Miami - link

The new Elvis Andrus deal could be worth as much as $146 mill. We continue to see teams locking up their young talent (that they either drafted or signed as an IFA) when they are entering arbitration. The new rules regarding fixed bonus slots has led to this and the free agent market will never be the same. We once again ask for the Mets to consider offering any combination of Ike Davis, Bobby Parnell, Dillon Gee, and Ruben Tejada a new deal. I didn’t say do this tomorrow. Determine what these guys are worth to this team and lock them up through, let’s say, 2017.  Pick three, two, or Davis only, but get with the program.