10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f - Sam Honeck began the season as the Gnats’ everyday first baseman, but side effects of a concussion ended his season in early July when he was hitting just .227/.306/.346. I feel for the 24-year old Honeck, who has had two straight seasons marred by injury after playing in just a handful of games in 2010 with a compound fracture in his leg.
The Jose Reyes free agency frenzy is going to potentially affect many teams and their fans around the league. The team with the best shot at signing Reyes is, of course, the New York Mets . The Mets know his value, but if Reyes finds a better offer on the open market, then things are going to get interesting. The Washington Nationals suddenly seem like a viable candidate to sign Reyes, but that won't be the only team interested. Other teams that could use an upgrade in offense at shortstop (and have the money to spend) include the San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Even the Los Angeles Angels or Boston Red Sox could use the added offense, and that could lead to a bidding war if Reyes does hit the open market. - http://www.caribsso.com/MLB/New-York-Mets/1/Jose%20Reyes%20Auction%20Could%20Deflate%20New%20York%20Mets%20Fans%20(Yahoo!%20Contributor%20Network
Harry Minor, a longtime scout who spent 44 of his 65 years in professional baseball with the Mets, announced his retirement Wednesday. His retirement will be effective Oct. 31. Minor, who began his professional baseball career as a catcher in 1947 in Pittsburgh's Minor League system, joined the Mets as an area scout in 1967. He also served as a national cross-checker during his time with the club and was a key part of the team's '69 and '86 World Series titles. "I'll always remember the championships," Minor said in a statement. "We had some great fun building up the organization, and those World Series teams were built on a foundation of talent the Mets developed." - http://www.caribsso.com/MLB/New-York-Mets/2/Longtime%20Mets%20scout%20Minor%20retires
Deolis Guerra RHP MIN (22) – For years now, Guerra has been trying to outrun the “bust” label being thrown at him by many baseball people. As a 17-year-old in the Mets organization, Guerra’s mid 90s fastball and advanced change-up prompted the powers-that-be to move him aggressively through their minor league system. He was an 18-year-old at Advanced-A St. Lucie. Soon after, he was traded to Minnesota in the deal that sent Johann Santana to the Mets. But then, his fastball velocity mysteriously dropped from 95 mph down to the high 80s. This season, Deolis has spent his third season in New Britain (still young for the level) and the Twins moved him to the bullpen where he’s worked his velocity into the 91-93 range. In 95 innings, he’s struck out 95 batters, posting the best K rate of his career at 22.9%. His walk rate sits at a terrific 6.8%. The ugliness of his 5.59 ERA is put into perspective by his 3.94 FIP and was even better as a RP. Another season like this one and Guerra could salvage his prospect status. Look for Minnesota to start him out at Rochester to start 2012. - http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/10/19/touchem-all-eastern-league-top-mlb-prospects-pitchers
10-20-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/second-base-review-a-ball - Robbie Shields played 17 games for St. Lucie at second after he was promoted from Savannah immediately after the Gnats clinched the first half title in June. However, his season was cut short by persistent back problems. Shields, a college shortstop began the transition to second in Savannah, where he played nine games at the position. He seemed to handle the move with relative ease, but noted the change in footwork around the bag. He showed much improved plate discipline over the 2010 season which helped produce a .274/.354/.425 line in Savannah and a .269/.338/.388 line in 20 games in St. Lucie. Shields, the Mets’ 3rd round pick in 2009, will turn 24 in December, so time is becoming scarce. Put another way, he’s a year younger than Havens, but the same age as Jordany Valdespin
64. Robbie Shields
SS - Florida Southern… 6-0, 200, R/R… junior… 2008: led team in hits, .348, 9 HR, 36 RBIs… injured wrist in Cape Cod League this past summer… ability to hit high for average… great bat speed… limited defensively.
Shields could ascend up draft boards next spring much like Gordon Beckham did during the spring of 2008 with a strong junior campaign. He, like Beckham the year before, enjoyed a fine summer on the Cape this past year, although his time was cut short when he injured his wrist sliding into a base. With very good bat speed and solid offensive tools across the board, Shields has the talent to be a game-changing infielder, with the ability to hit for a high average and power while also having good enough wheels to be a threat on the basepaths. His bat speed comes from very strong hands, wrists and forearms, and he knows how to loft balls to give him double-digit home run potential. Defensively he doesn't have ideal range at the shortstop position, as many feel he may have to move to either 2B or 3B down the road, but he has plenty of arm strength to play any infield position. He does run well and shows good overall baseball instincts. Shields has posted solid numbers since stepping onto campus, including his two summer stints (he was named one of the top prospects in the Clark-Griffith League after his freshman year), and has started at Florida Southern from day one. He is poised for a big junior year, as more and more people will become familiar with his name between now and next June. -
http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=884&draftId=7
Robbie Shields, shortstop: Florida Southern - His draft stock has suffered a similar problem to that of D.J. LeMahieu, although far less severe. Scouts don't think Shields will stick at shortstop, and his bat has not lived up to expectations this spring, very similar to LeMahieu. This past summer, Shields grabbed teams' attention with a strong, albeit short, stint in the Cape Cod League, hitting .429 before injuring his wrist. This spring he has not hit for much power, but his solid approach at the plate, combined with a quick line drive swing still appeals to a number of teams. His future position could be second base as he possesses the hands and footwork, but he does stand the chance of growing out of it, forcing a move to third. It's possible that Shields' wrist injury hurt him at the plate this year, but the general opinion is that he won't be a big power guy anyway. He could go as early as the third. http://www.orkut.com/
9.6.09 - Robbie Shields: Shields emerged as a candidate for the first or supplemental first round of the draft with a strong showing at the Cape Cod League last summer, where he flashed good speed and power before injuring his wrist on a slide. He hasn’t showed any ill-affects from that summer injury. In 49 games thus far this season for Florida Southern, Shields is batting .351 with five homers, 34 RBIs and a .459 OBP. Shields has a similar build to A’s 2008 draft pick Dusty Coleman and a similar skill-set. Shields has above-average power for a shortstop, good plate coverage and decent speed. He may have to move off of shortstop to second or third base in the pros, but he has the bat to play at either of those positions. Shields may be hurt by the fact that he doesn’t play in a big Division I conference, but he did show he could hang with the big boys in the Cape this summer, which may alleviate some of those concerns. - Comparison- Aaron Hil -
http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=862955&ssf=1&
6-28-10: - Shields hit his first home run on Sunday and continues to fight back from last year’s TJS He was a big time prospect, as you will read below, but is way behind in his development. He’s playing DH right now and is playing GCL ball at 22-years old.
7-13-10: - Shields was a hot-shot prospect before he had to go under the knight for TJS… he quietly has returned this year, starting out with the GCL Mets and, frankly, he’s really heating up, batting leadoff and playing shortstop. On Monday, Shields went 3-4, scored one run, and knocked in three runs. He finished the day with a seasonal .293 BA… this includes going 7-12 in the last three games.
7-25-10: - Shields was transferred from being a rehabbing SS for GCL, to a part time SS for Lucy and now a full time SS for the Sand Gnats. The ex-prospect needs to play every day to get back his strength and he’ll get that opportunity in Savannah. In the pecking order, he’s currently behind Wilmer Flores. Wilfredo Tovar, and Jordany Valedespin in development.
10-7-10 - 2011 Forecast: - Hopefully, we won't have another Shawn Bowman on our hands here. Shields is a bonefide prospect who has fell down the pecking order due to a serson ending injury. No sweat. He got right back on the horse last season for Savannah, and a good year in 2011 at Lucy will get the writers writing about him again.
5-31-11: - SS Robbie Shields has done a good job of settling into the two spot in the Sand Gnats order this year, (.281), especially after getting off to quite a slow start (.236 April). He’s playing A-ball as a 23-year old due to past injuries, and, frankly, the ex-number two draft pick should be realigned to be put back where he is supposed to playing right now. Shortstop wise, Ruben Tejada will step in when Jose Reyes is gone, but Shields should be the next in line and playing Binghamton right now. 19-year old Wilmer Flores has been rushed lime most “Omarlatins” and should stay in St. Lucie through 2011. Jordany Valdespin and Rylan Sandoval have faded and Wilfredo Tovar needs to play every day in Savannah.
RHP Gonzalez Germen had another good outing on Monday… 6.2-IP, 5-H, 1-ER, 6-K, 3.22. The problem is he’s doing this in A-ball as a 23-year old. 2011 is his fourth season with the Mets after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007. As a 20-year old. He pitched great that season for the DSL Mets (5-2, 1.34), but he was pitching against 16-17 year olds. So, what was he doing the four years before signing with the Mets? There is nothing wrong with G.G.’s game, but, then again, there’s nothing special about it either.
In the past four starts RHP Brad Holt has posted: 18.2-IP, 13-H, 16-BB, 15-R. It’s not easy to find a pitcher that gives up more walks than hits. This is the same Brad Holt who’s first 18 innings this year yielded 9-H, 2-R, and 5-BB.
You can’t help smiling when you thing of RHP Dillon Gee. Who would of thunk that a guy that barely hits 90 would wind up 5-0 in the Mets rotation this season? Some of us got a chance to analyze his game last year in Buffalo and we quickly determined that he didn’t have all those strikeouts because of his fastball. No, Dillon’s game is control, a plus-plus change-up, and hitting the corners with all his pitchers. His fastball, when most effective rises and he mixes his pitches with the best of them; however, so did what seemed like hundreds of ex-Mets minor league pitchers that never got a chance because they didn’t have a 93+ heater. Gee was at the right place when Chris Young went down and I have a funny feeling he’s going to be around until the 2013 class of Matt Harvey, Jenrry Mejia, and Jeurys Familia arrive en masse.
SS Robbie Shields has done a good job of settling into the two spot in the Sand Gnats order this year, (.281), especially after getting off to quite a slow start (.236 April). He’s playing A-ball as a 23-year old due to past injuries, and, frankly, the ex-number two draft pick should be realigned to be put back where he is supposed to playing right now. Shortstop wise, Ruben Tejada will step in when Jose Reyes is gone, but Shields should be the next in line and playing Binghamton right now. 19-year old Wilmer Flores has been rushed lime most “Omarlatins” and should stay in St. Lucie through 2011. Jordany Valdespin and Rylan Sandoval have faded and Wilfredo Tovar needs to play every day in Savannah.
Okay, so Mark Cohoon did give up five runs in five innings last night, but it was his first AAA outing and he did win the game. Only one strike out, two walks, and seven hits given up. I’m thrilled some of these guys are being tested at new levels and it seems that Alderson & Co. has properly slowed down the “Omarlatins” and sped up the college boys.
