Let’s continue with the
Class of 2012… Sandy and Company’s called out the name Matt
Bowman when they got to the 13th round of the 2012 draft.
Bowman pitched three years at Princeton and compiled a stat line of
.293/.341/.347/.689, with 2HRs in a total of 426-AB. Good stat line for a
pitcher, huh? Bowman finished up his college days tossing nine starts, posting
a stat line of: 4-2, 4.66, 56.0-IP, 58-K, 17-BB. Like others the Mets drafted,
he found the rotational talent in Brooklyn a little deep, so he went down to
the pen and stat lined: 12-G, 1-start, 2-2, 2.45, 0.95, 29.1-IP, 30-K 2-BB
(what I loved about these Brooklyn guys is they don’t like to walk people). It seems to me that the sure bet is he will
start the season in Savannah, but the 22-year old has a chance of making St.
Lucie as well.
I truly appreciate all
the articles lately that the Mets intend on developing a winning team similar
to the plan San Francisco used: lots of pitching and talented hitters developed
inside the system. I have no problem with this, as long as you draft and sign
more than starting pitchers. The Mets had the opportunity in 2012 to draft
heavily promoted OF prospect Courtney Hawkins but
passed. Instead, they went for another
middle infielder, an area that the team already had good organizational depth.
I know everyone says you go into a draft and always pick the best player
available regardless of position. Well, if you’re going to try and operate a
team with a limited budget in an inflated market, then you have to begin to
make decisions based on weaknesses by position. Right now, the Mets top two outfield
prospects are Vincente Lupo and Wuilmer Becerra, both of which haven’t played one
baseball game in America. What’s the ETA’s here? 2016? 2017? Is there anyone
else in the system that could help us here?
We spoke of Latin OF
prospects Lupo and Becerra. Lupo will play 2013 as a 20-year old. Becerra even
younger at 18, but Eudy Pina has already hit
.261 in Brookyn as a 21-year old. His .749 OPS shows potential and he should
hook up with Brandon Nimmo and Steven Sabol in the Savannah outfield. Could be interesting.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see much past this. IMO, you’re going to very
disappointed with what comes out of the St. Lucie, Binghamton, and Savannah
outfield over the next two years. Just real bad planning an execution by two
administrations.
Lastly, you have to like the logic of signing Pedro Feliciano to a minor league contract. This guy never pitched bad. He simply became injured and he's put up impressive stats this winter. This is exactly the kind of pitcher the Mets need to solidify their bullpen. Who knows how much of a workhorse he can be anymore, but why not find out? Yeah, I like it and I called for it early. Good move, Sandy.
