1-30-13 – Armondo Rodriguez, Scott Hairston, Michael Bourn, TPA Top Mets Prospects

Gio Gonzalez‏ - @GioGonzalez47

I've never used performance enhancing drugs of any kind and I never will. I've never met or spoken with Tony Bosch or used any substance

Rob Castellano -

RHP Armando Rodriguez - In his first season of relief, the 24-year-old had good success posting career-highs in strikeouts per nine (9.54) as well as walks per nine (2.60) as a member of the Double-A B-Mets bullpen. Remember a couple years ago when Omar Minaya compared his arm to that of Jenrry Mejia? Well obviously that wasn't entirely accurate, made clear by the fact that he went unclaimed in the most recent Rule 5 Draft. However, at the very least Rodriguez offers good command of a very strong fastball -- and not much else -- which, thanks to a spotty relief crew, should be enough to give him a real shot as middle relief fodder at some point in 2013.

I’ve always liked Rodriguez. He came on the scene in 2009 as a 21-year old International free agent from a country (DR) you usually read about teams signing 16-year olds. Where was he for five years? Then again, who was he for five years? That being jokingly said, Rodriguez has basically done nothing wrong during his four year accent to AAA. His career stats are: 19-18, 3.22, 1.13, 361-IP, 365-K… and last year’s stats at Binghamton (2-3, 3.22, 1.09, 72.2-IP, 77-K) got him past that hump. He finished the season pitching in one AAA game which is where he will start off this season. The 6-2 righty does sit in the low 90s where his velo seems to have peaked. We all know that the Mets pen is one of the areas that need improvement. Rodriguez will get his chance sometime in 2013 a la Elvin Ramirez did last season. Hopefully, the results will be different.

Jon Heyman‏ @JonHeymanCBS

Scott Hairston deal with Cubs is for $5M over 2 yrs. incentives, if hit, can add $1M extra.

Wow. I expected this to be a much bigger dollar figure. I know Hairston and his agent wanted many more year than this, but this is chump change based on what some of the other free agent outfielders got this off-season. I thought Hairston was going to bring back any deal to the Mets and, based on last year’s stats and the state of the current Mets outfield, why wouldn’t Sandy Alderson match this? No, there was more here, something we’ll probably never read about.

Fangraph  got into the action regarding the possible adjustment of the Mets 11^th pick:

But, if the idea behind the compensation system was actually to promote competitive balance, then perhaps MLB should immunize the Mets from having to sacrifice their first round pick to sign Michael Bourn. Changing the rules in the middle of an off-season doesn’t seem fair, but the change would be narrow enough that no other team would be affected by the change, as the Mets were the only franchise pushed out of the top 10 by the Pirates failure to sign Appel. No other franchise could claim that the agreed upon rules had a material affect on whether or not their first round pick should be considered their “highest available selection”.  My guess is that MLB will rule against the Mets and declare that their pick is still eligible for forfeit, but it might be a more interesting decision that it seems on its face. If Major League Baseball is serious about continuing the charade that draft pick compensation is for the benefit of losing teams, making an exception for the Mets would be a good way to support that claim.

            Everybody just needs to move on here…

TopProspectAlert - 2013 Top 150 Major League Baseball Prospect

#10 Zack Wheeler – RHP – New York Mets (47) -  Born 5/30/1990 -  Highest Level Reached Triple-A Buffalo Bisons -  2012 Combined Stats:  MILB: 12-8, 3.26ERA, 149IP, 59BB, 148K, .221BAA

#25 Travis d’Arnaud – C – New York Mets (21) -  Born 2/10/1989 -  Highest Level Reached Triple-A Las Vegas 51′s -  2012 Combined Stats:  MILB: .333, 21(2B), 2(3B), 16HR, 52RBI

#44 Noah Syndergaard – RHP – New York Mets (107) -  Born 8/29/1992 -  Highest Level Reached Low-A Lansing Lugnuts -  2012 Combined Stats:  MILB: 8-5, 2.60ERA, 103.2IP, 31BB, 122K, .212BAA

#92 Gavin Cecchini – SS – New York Mets (NR) -  Born 12/22/1993 -  Highest Level Reached Short-A Brooklyn Cyclones -  2012 Combined Stats:  MILB: .240, 9(2B), 2(3B), 1HR, 22RBI

#114 Brandon Nimmo – OF – New York Mets (99) -  Born 3/27/1993 -  Highest Level Reached Short-A Brooklyn Cyclones -  2012 Combined Stats:  MILB: .248, 20(2B), 2(3B), 6HR, 40RBI

       this seemed like a tribute to Alderson's trading, rather than his drafting, ability. I also was surprised that Wilmer Flores didn't make the list.

I May Be Wrong, But… Armondo Rodriguez, Wilmer Flores, Josh Edgin, Eric Langill

·         RHP Armondo Rodriguez seems to be getting some serious attention in the parent camp this spring training. Today was his third outing, all in one-inning short relief situations. I have him as the SP5 in Binghamton next month; however, we may be watching  conversion to the pen here. We’ll see in a few weeks.

·         Wilmer Flores got to play with the big boys on Monday and proceeded to make two errors in a row while playing third base. This is not good news for the pundits that think he can replace David Wright someday in the Mets infield.

·         Josh Edgin got in the game on Monday, the same day he switched lockers from the minor league portion of camp to the Big Boy’s room. He gave up a double to his first batter, scoring a run charged to Jeremy Hefner. He was accredited with 1.1 innings and his ST ERA remains at 0.00.

     




   The Mets bullpen catcher, Eric Langill, was arrested for a DUI after flipping his car driving home Sunday from Bowling night. Well, at least it wasn't an oblique injury. 

Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey, Armondo Rodriguez, Ike Davis, Rafael Santana



Photo by Michael G. Baron

 Jose Reyes


Two months ago I was certain that Reyes would be wearing another uniform by August 1. Now, I’m not so sure. First, his most recent hamstring injury makes him a risk, and therefore opposing teams may not be willing to deal away a worthy package for 2-3 months of what could be a hobbling player. Second, if he is healthy, he puts fannies in the seats, and the Mets need to do everything they can to keep people going to Citi Field. - http://www.metstoday.com/6684/opinion-and-analysis/who-will-the-mets-shop-this-month 



R.A. Dickey:


B - Dickey started slow and has gotten better as the season has progressed. His walks were high in March and April, but since then, Dickey's back to his 2010 habits of barely walking anyone despite throwing a knuckleball. Whether or not the Mets end up making a run at the Braves, watching Dickey pitch is something to behold. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/12/2272199/new-york-mets-pitchers-mid-season-grades



Armondo Rodriguez:


7-13-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/765098-new-york-mets-dillon-gee-and-the-mets-top-10-young-pitching-prospects#/articles/765098-new-york-mets-dillon-gee-and-the-mets-top-10-young-pitching-prospects/page/2  Rodriguez is an interesting pitcher for the Mets to have their eyes on, because while he has done relatively poorly on most scouting reports he has also reeled in some very impressive statistics. Sometimes referred to as the best-kept secret in the Mets organization, last year Rodriguez’s 152 strikeouts led his Savannah squad. Generally, his other numbers (1.10 WHIP, 3.08 ERA) weren’t exactly shabby either. Rodriguez, who is now 23 years old, is 6’3”, weighs 250 pounds and comes from the Dominican Republic. He has broad shoulders and a strong build. On the mound, he generally works quickly and rarely gets rattled. He’s working on improving his slider, which has already paid off as one of his strikeout pitches.



Ike Davis:


7-13-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/13/2272873/new-york-mets-batters-mid-season-grades  - A - This could be an incomplete, but Davis really impressed in his first 149 PAs. But cutting his whiff and strikeout rates and benefiting from a little BABIP love (.344), he upped his batting average nearly 40 points. Perhaps a natural growth in his power is the only reason that his lumber played bigger, as his ground ball per fly ball ratio is about the same. Reaching less and whiffing more is a good enough reason to give him this grade, even if the power statistics from this year are not yet reliable and the batting average is a little propped up.


Rafael Santana:


1983-1990 (Mets/Yankees/Cardinals/Indians) - Santana was the shortstop on the 1986 Mets. On a team full of superstar drug addicts and skirt-chasers, Santana carved out a reputation for having no reputation. His "good behavior" was even the topic of a New York Daily News profile in 2009. It's true, Santana never got arrested. He also hit just .218 that year, and was a below-replacement-level fielder and hitter throughout his career - http://deadspin.com/5820716/the-100-worst-baseball-players-of-all-time-a-celebration-part-1  

Cesar Puello, Armondo Rodriguez, Cyclone Game, Trading Reyes, VV on Jose

Cesar Puello:

6-21-11: - minorleaguebaseball  - Cesar Puello delivered a two-out double down the left-field line in the bottom of the 11th, driving in Travis Ozga with the winning run. Ozga, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, drew a one-out walk to set up the run. "It was unbelievable," manager Pedro Lopez said of the reaction in the dugout. "I thought that Puello came up with a big hit for us. I was just hoping the ball wouldn't bounce over the wall (for a ground-rule double) and make things more interesting. Ozga did a helluva job drawing a walk after being down 1-2 in the count."


Armondo Rodriguez:
6-20-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/20/2230852/minor-league-notes-june-20th-2011  - New York Mets pitching prospect Armando Rodriguez is off to a good start for High-A St. Lucie. Since being activated from extended spring training in late May, he's made four starts and pitched 17 innings, allowing five earned runs for a 2.65 ERA, with 16 hits allowed and a 21/6 K/BB ratio. 10 of those strikeouts were over five innings in his last start. The 23-year-old right-hander is one of the more interesting prospects in the Mets system. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, he had a fine year in 2010, posting a 152/46 K/BB in 146 innings for Low-A Savannah, with just 116 hits allowed. He entered '11 with 322 career strikeouts and just 225 hits allowed in 306 IP. Despite his excellent component ratios, scouts are lukewarm on him, pointing to mediocre right-handed velocity (87-90, hitting 92 on his best days) and a fringy slider and changeup. He does have a decent cutter, but his success is primarily reliant on sharp control and deceptive mechanics. Scouts admit this works in A-ball, but there is a lot of skepticism about how it will translate to higher levels. Rodriguez has definitely earned to chance to show us, however, and continued quality pitching at St. Lucie could/should result in a Double-A trial later this year.


Cyclone Game:

Watched the Cyclone game on SNY… frankly, the lineup didn’t impress me when it was flashed up. It was good to see Brian Harrison, though I wish he was playing third base instead of Richard Lucas. Lucas was considered prospect material a few years ago, and does have some pop, but he has disappointed since becoming a Met in 2007. Five years and still in Brooklyn? I saw that SP Chris Hilliard figured out early that the home plate ump was going to call strikes on curves… wonder if that came from him the coach, or catcher Nefli Zapata. SS Danny Muno reminds me of a 1000 kids that have come through here, like Jon Malo and Matt Bouchard. Excellent throw to second from Zapata… hoping he starts off as hot as he was last season. If you think Lucas has been around too long, RP Orlando Tovar is in his 6th year as a Met. Six years and you’re still in Brooklyn? Looks like a long season in Kings County.


Trading Reyes:



Trading Reyes, who leads the NL with 103 hits, 12 triples and a .341 batting average, will "have to be a clear win'' for the Mets to make, the NL exec suggested. The Giants have been named by several competing execs as a logical suitor, as Reyes would provide the offensive spark and defensive glue needed by the pitching-rich defending World Series winners. The Giants' best young players include pitcher Madison Bumgarner and first baseman Brandon Belt, but the Giants have resisted considering a trade for Bumgarner (last year they wouldn't part with him for Jose Bautista) and Belt really doesn't fit the Mets as a young power-hitting first baseman is one of a few assets they don't need. "I don't see San Francisco moving guys of their major league club,'' the exec speculated. Even if they kept their 25-man unit intact, the Giants could still make a respectable offer that starts with top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. But even if their proposal includes a few others, that may be a tough sell for Mets fans : http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/06/20/trade.market.hitters/index.html#ixzz 1PuWBBCyo


VV on Jose:


Why then would Jose want to stick around on a mediocre team that has little chance of making the playoffs even if the Mets did meet his asking price? "The Mets," writes Smith, "have to decide whether their championship hopes rest with Reyes or the pieces they can assemble without him." I'd say that's putting it all too grandly. I'd say what the Mets have to do first is decide whether they really have any "championship hopes" with or without Reyes. If the Mets are serious about being contenders any time in the next three-four years, then there isn't any question that they had better make every effort to convince Jose Reyes that Carl Crawford is soon going to be wishing he was getting Jose Reyes money - http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/06/jose_reyes_a_fr.php  

Updated: - The Keepers - #53 - SP - Armondo Rodriguez

53. Armando Rodriguez



Rodriguez was a much heralded international signee in 2007.


Rodriguez began his pro career in 2007, by impressing at the DSL Mets (2-2, 3.46 in 11 games, 2 starts). He also had 29 Ks in 26.0 IP. He returned to the DSL Mets for the 2008 season, going 4-4, 2.63, 0.97 in 15 games, 13 starts.


In 2009, Rodriguez spent time between Kingsport (3-1, 2.96, 9 starts, 36-K, 45.2-IP) and Savannah (2-1, 2.16, 3 starts, 1-CG, 24-K, 16.2-IP).


His combined 2009 stats were: 5-2, 2.74, 12 starts, 1-CG, 60-K, 29-BB, 62,1-IP.


1-1-10 Forecast: Like other players in the DSL or VSL system, there is very little press on them. Rodriquez is slowly moving up the chain without much fanfare. There is a good chance he will return to Savannah for the 2010 season, but I’m sure he’ll end the year in Florida, with St. Lucie. Keep an eye on him. One of many talented young relievers currently in the system.


8-1-10: - We first jumped on the A-Rod bandwagon when Omar Minaya told all of us in ST that he was “another Jenrry Mejia”. I made sure he was the first player I hunted out at the Savannah Sand Gnats press luncheon the day before the season started and I’ve been keeping an eye on him since. Last night, he did well again… 7.0-IP, 0-R, 4-H, 7-K, 1-BB… seasonall he’s: 21-G, 6-6, 113-1-IP, 3.18, 1.11, 102-K, 39-BB. He’sthis season at 22-years old and I expect him to anchor the St. Lucie rotation come next spring.


10-6-10: - 2011 Forecast: - this is the kid that Omar Minaya said would be the next Jenrry Mejia. The only problem with that is, currently, Rodriquez sits around 5-mph less than Jenrry. Still, the kid did a masterful job in 2010 and will pitch next spring as a 23-year old. I expect that to be St. Lucie, due to the log jam at Binghamton.


6-14-11: - Armondo got off to a slow start this season coming out of extended camp. A-Rod went 8-9, 3.08, 27-starts, 152-K, 146.0-IP last season for Savannah, and only had his fourth start last night for St. Lucie. He did well: 5.0-IP, 10-K, 1-BB. He’s sitting on a 2.65 ERA and we can expect him to stick around in the Lucy rotation this season.

Aderlin Rodriguez, Jon Niese, Armondo Rodriguez, Beck Wheeler, Brandon Nimmo

It looks like 3B Aderlin Rodriguez is finally getting out of his hitting funk. A-Rod went 1-3 last night, raising his batting average to a season high .223. More importantly, he’s hitting .342 for the past ten games. He also has nine home runs through a miserable first half of the season. We have to remember he’s still only 19 years old, so expect the new Mets regime to let him play the entire year, and maybe next year, in Savannah.




You know, in the all the bitching and moaning I’ve done about not drafting the final piece of my “dream team” rotation, I’ve never considered that Jon Niese just may be that piece of the puzzle. He’s pitching his second season as part of the Mets rotation and he’s still only 24-years old. Lifetime major stats: 17-17, 4.12, but this year alone stands at: 6-5, 3.46. More important, since May 18th, he’s 4-1 with the majors 2nd best ERA, 1.58.



Armondo Rodriguez got off to a slow start this season coming out of extended camp. A-Rod went 8-9, 3.08, 27-starts, 152-K, 146.0-IP last season for Savannah, and only had his fourth start last night for St. Lucie. He did well: 5.0-IP, 10-K, 1-BB. He’s sitting on a 2.65 ERA and we can expect him to stick around in the Lucy rotation this season.




Two UC Santa Barbara baseball pitchers signed free agent deals in the last week following the Major League Draft. Greg Davis, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. Beck Wheeler, a 6-foot-3 right-hander, signed with the New York Mets. Wheeler signed with the Mets as a pitcher, a role that he accepted this season after not having pitched in quite some time. However the righty appeared in four games, posted a 2.25 ERA and showed flashes of brilliance to go along with a fastball in the low 90s. Wheeler had also played third base and shortstop for the Gauchos and as a junior was one of the team's best hitters. "I had an opportunity to work out in front of one of their scouts and things went well," Wheeler said. "Pitching is still relatively new to me, but I think the Mets' organization felt that was a good thing because I can learn to pitch the way they would like me to. This is very exciting and I can't wait to get on the mound." - http://www.ksby.com/news/two-gauchos-sign-contracts-with-mlb-teams




6-14-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/14/2222649/2011-mlb-draft-new-york-mets-review#storyjump  - 1) Brandon Nimmo, OF, Wyoming HS: He'll want a lot of money to skip college ball at Arkansas, but I think it is worth it. He's got above average tools across the board, good plate discipline, and more polish than we have any right to expect given his background.