Blast From The Past - 2008 New Orleans Zephyrs Recap

SP Jon Niese (Mack Prospect #3)

Niese’s end of the season stint with New Orleans was quite impressive: 5-1, 3.65, 1.22, in 6 starts. I’m confident he will be the Mets SP5 next year, and I look for him to blossom in 2010, the same amount of time it took Mike Pelfrey.

SP Bobby Parnell (Mack Prospect # 4)

Parnell had a rocky AAA stint at the end of this year (2-2, 6.05 in 4 starts), but that’s cool. He has earned a chance to make the Bigs next year… now, all the Mets have to do is figure out where to use him.


CL Eddie Kunz (Mack Prospect # 5)

Okay, so the Mets moved the kid a little too fast this year. The fact still remains that Kunz is in line to follow Billy Wagner when he retires and I expect Eddie to spend most, if not all, of next season in CitiField.


OF Jesus Feliciano

2008 AAA stats: .304/.362/.378 in 503 at bats. Your basic organizational outfielder that may lose his starting job when Caleb Stewart and Josh Peterson are promoted.


C Raul Casanova

2008 AAA stats: .296/.344/.447 in 152 at bats. The only thing working against Casanova is his age, but let’s remember this is the Mets and they love old AAA catchers. He’ll be hear until 2024.


2B Argenis Reyes

I don’t expect the Mets to keep as many old farts on this team as the past couple of years, but Reyes should stick at second base, with Jonathan Malo backing him up. He hit well in 2008: .290/.353/.333 in 300 at bats, and he’s good to have around in case of emergencies.


LF Chris Aguila

Speaking of emergency players, here’s your best outfielder in that supporting role. Aguila had a wonderful 2008: .288/.372/.541/.913 in 410 at bats, 27 HRs, 68 RBIs. My projections are that he, Jesus Feliciano, Caleb Stewart, and Josh Peterson will be the 4 outfielders on the AAA team next year, wherever the hell they play.


RP Willie Collazo

Someone has to pitch relief at the AAA level, so it might as well be Collazo. 2008 AAA stats: 4-9, 4.05, 1.25, 2 saves, 37 games, 16 starts. I consider him an emergency player at best.


SP Adam Bostick

The Mets have not given up on Bostick, who will return to the AAA rotation after spending the end of the 2008 season on the DL. His record for 2008: 2-2, 6.04/1.52 in 11 games, 10 starts. It’s hard to believe the Mets will ever get anything out of this 4-player trade, but we’ll see.


CL Carlos Muniz

2008 AAA stats: 2-4, 3.31, 1.10 in 31 appearances, 9 saves. After his failed appearances this year in Queens, Mets fans may never see him in Citifield, but he’s still young enough and valuable enough to keep around at the AAA level for an emergency closer.


RP Eddie Camacho

2008 AAA stats: 1-0, 5.19, 1.27 in 13 relief appearances. I had high hopes for Camacho, but he just may be an organizational player in the making.