10-19-11: - http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/10/19/touchem-all-eastern-league-top-mlb-prospects-pitchers - Colin McHugh RHP NYM (24) – After just 35 innings pitched in Advanced-A St Lucie with a dreadful 6.31 ERA, McHugh never thought that his spot start at Binghamton would turn out to be a near full season stay. From his first start there against Erie, he kept pitching well enough to stay. And along with his stellar 2.89 ERA, he was striking out hitters at a 25.4% clip while only walking a nice 8.1%. However, these kind of numbers aren’t new for the right-hander. McHugh has shown this kind of success at each level, but reproducing them against the increase in talent of the Eastern League is eye-opening. Now, Colin doesn’t blow guys away. He’s managed to do this with a 90-92 mph fastball, a good swing’n'miss slider, an improving cutter, and an OK curveball. With plus command of four pitches and some deception in his delivery, he’s able to keep hitters from squaring him up. New York could choose to challenge him some more in Triple-A in 2012. From there, with success, he could be in line for a major league call-up.
10-20-11: - http://realdirtymets.com/2011/10/20/minor-league-position-breakdown-shortstop - Behind Tejada on the depth chart is Jordany Valdespin, who had one of the best seasons of any prospect in the Mets system in 2011. Valdespin has incredible athleticism and showed this past year that he can be a dynamic offensive force. In the past he has had problems with discipline and attitude, which was less of an issue this year. He has not walked or stolen enough bases, both of which he improved upon this past year; and he has not always put forth full effort all the time, concerns he has not yet eliminated. Valdespin is not quite ready for the big leagues, just getting a promotion to AAA late in the season, but if he can continue to do what he did in 2011, it shouldn’t be too much longer until making his big league debut is a real possibility.
10-20-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/10/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-19-michael-fulmer-rhp.html - At 6’3″ and 200 lbs. Michael Fulmer has good size, and has gained anywhere from 5-7 mph on his fastball in the last calendar year, while growing an inch in height and putting on about 20 lbs. His heater is now in the mid 90′s with his fastball topping out at 97. He has a very promising secondary pitch he is now throwing at 83-85 mph, that is thrown with a tight rotation and comes in with a sharp downward break. The most impressive thing about his breaking pitch, is he can throw it for strikes, which makes it a potentially devastating out-pitch. His change-up, like most high school pitchers, is a work-in-progress at this time, and will be something he must refine to find success as a starter beyond the lowest levels of the minors. He has shown good stamina on the mound, and should develop into a pitcher who can throw deep into games.
In the least surprising news ever, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports that the Mets have released Ryota Igarashi. In 79 appearances between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Igarashi got shelled to the tune of a 5.74 ERA. His peripherals weren't much better, either, because his strikeouts were largely negated by his walks. The only reason that the Mets had to officially release Igarashi is that his contract included a provision that he would be granted free agency if he and the team could not reach a new deal at the end of the one he originally signed. Without that clause, Igarashi wouldn't have had an opportunity to reach free agency until he had accumulated six years of service time in the big leagues - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/10/20/2503554/mets-release-ryota-igarashi
10-20-11: - http://www.metsblog.com/2011/10/20/toby-hydes-take-on-reese-havens-at-2b - Hey, guess who led Double-A Binghamton in games played at second base? If you had Reese Havens at 51, you win. Havens, who will turn 25 on Thursday, hit .289 with a .372 OBP in 58 games for the B-Mets. He also drew more walks than teammate 2B-SS Jordany Valdespin (27 to 21) in just over half the number of games. This advantage in plate discipline is very important. So to is the fact that Havens is a year older. When he has played, he’s hit. However, Havens will be 25 on Opening Day 2012, so his time is now. I suspect he will break camp as Buffalo’s second baseman, with Valdespin at shortstop.
