Stuff – Reese Havens, Tillman Pugh, BoSox Prospects, Darin Gorski, ‘The War Room’

Reese Havens

Havens is on another tear. He’s hitting .194 in his last 10 games (through Friday night) and comes in at .220 for the season. Frankly, the .220 was higher than I remembered him hitting this year. He followed up with a home run on Saturday but too little too late. Just a suck year with a stiff back thrown in for grins. I’m sure Sandy is having a hard time projecting David for next season. Danny Muno (who has moved over to 2B) is playing great at St. Lucie and deserves the bump up, and you can’t really promote a guy to AAA with these kind of numbers, can you? Tough call here. 

Tillman Pugh

I’ll never forget the day the Mets cut OF Tillman Pugh this year. We talked on the phone and he told me that the Mets told him that “the organization had too many outfielders”. That’s funny. Pugh was picked up the same day by the CWS and he’s now playing for Kannapolis (.250/.294/.198/.402, 3-SB). Not stellar, but we’re going to check back every six months to see his progress. 

BoSox Prospects

Question: Would you like to change the makeup of your upper levels in one day?

Answer: Here’s the young players Boston now features at the MLB/AAA/AA level:

LHP Felix Doubront               MLB  10-6, 4.70, 119-K, 122.2-IP

RP Franklin Morales              MLB  3-4, 3.77, 76-K, 76.1-IP

3B Will Middlebrook            MLB  .288/.325/.509/.835

C Ryan Lavarnway                 MLB  41-AB, .188 – AAA: .290/.376/.563/.939

RHP Rubby De La Rosa         AAA  On IR most of season  (tear of the ulnar collateral ligament)

2B -SS Ivan DeJesus Jr.         AAA  .295/.333/.415/.749

1B/OF Jerry Sands                AAA  .303/.380/.531/.911

SS Jose Inglesias          AAA  .266/.318/.306/.624

RHP Alan Webster                AA    117K – 121.2-IP

RHP Anthony Renaudo         AA    1-3, 6.69, 9-starts

RHP Brandon Workman       AA    10-7, 3.14 A+/AA (3-0, 1.50 – AA)

SS Xander Bogaerts              AA    .339/.373/.532/.909

RF Bryce Brentz           AA    .294/.356/.483/.839, 17-HR

OF Jackie Bradley                  AA    .276/.363/.443/.807 

Darin Gorski

Darin Gorski hasn’t duplicated the incredible year he had in 2011, but you have to give him credit for turning in a decent season at the talent-heavy AA level. Gorski went: 7.2-IP, 1-ER, 5-H, 9-K, 1-BB, 3.66 and pretty much has guaranteed that he will be the lefty rotational dude for the Mets new AAA franchise. Pick up some sunscreen Daris, you’re heading west. 

‘The War Room’

‘The Draft Room’ concept on Sunday was premature. We will return to ‘The War Room’ next Sunday.

Mets – Tillman Pugh, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Randy Niemann, Gary Carter

metsmerized  - 39. Tillman Pugh (CF) As the 22-year-old Pugh prepares for his third season as a minor leaguer in the Mets farm system. He is working hard with the realization of just how important this season will be for him. This year he will get the opportunity to open the season in a long season league. Although the competition for spots in the Savannah outfield will be fierce, he should be the starting centerfielder for the Sand Gnats. He will have the opportunity to test himself and challenge himself over the course of a season that lasts well over five months. It will be nice to see what kind of numbers he can put up if he gets 450 to 500 AB’s in one year. He should do quite well. At a solid 6’0″ 190 lbs., Pugh is very fast, and athletic enough to play centerfield. His game is speed and he represents something the Mets don’t have a lot of. A three-way threat, offense, defense, and on the base-paths.

1-8-11: - http://nybaseballdigest.com/2012/01/07/most-intriguing-mets-prospects-in-2012   3) Kirk Nieuwenhuis  (OF) Another guy that, if not for injury, would likely be penciled in to start in center field for the Mets to open 2012. Had shoulder surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. Average tools across the board. Could be a 15HR/15SB type talent. If healthy, should be in Queens around mid-season.

Due to his former prospect status — and his age — it’s highly likely that a team will claim Fernando Martinez. For the price of a waiver claim, it’s tough to argue with the move. At the same time, it’s tough to really expect anything of value from Martinez next season. He hasn’t been particularly impressive when he has played, and he hasn’t been healthy enough to improve his play. He’s a low-risk buy, but it’s really tough to argue that Martinez is capable of providing a high reward anymore. It’s always possible that Martinez is just a late-bloomer — which is why a team would take a shot on him — but age and performance are no longer on his side.  http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/is-fernando-martinez-worth-a-waiver-claim/

Anthony DiComo reports that longtime Mets coach Randy Niemann has accepted a job with the Red Sox, according to a person familiar with the situation, in what is believed to be an assistant pitching coach position. The new role ends Niemann’s nearly quarter-century run with the Mets. Niemann, who spent last season as New York’s rehabilitation pitching coordinator and helped oversee portions of Johan Santana’s rehab from left shoulder surgery, will reunite with former Mets manager Bobby Valentine on Boston’s staff. The two were also together from 1997-99 in New York http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/01/randy-niemann-quits-mets-takes-red-sox-job.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

A weakened Gary Carter will go for another MRI exam on Friday as he continues to battle brain cancer, his daughter Kimmy Bloemers wrote yesterday on a family website. “Dad will be getting two MRIs — one for his shoulder that still bothers him from his fall and the other for his brain to check on the tumors,’’ Bloemers wrote. “We are praying for two good reports! ‘‘Now that baseball has begun, his spirits have lifted a bit and I believe he is excited to see his team,’’ Kimmy wrote. “His weak body limits his physical involvement, but the fact he wants to go and still teach his players is beyond amazing. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/carter_continues_battle_vs_cancer_EU5Q9TE6Qv552Dsdh2LB6O?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

The Keepers - #82 - OF - Tillman Pugh

82.         OF        Tillman Pugh

7-3-10: - So… you get drafted by the Mets and you sign a deal, hop in your ride and make your way to your first professional game. You step into the batters box, dig in, and, just before you’re about to hit your first professional ball, a 95mph heater smacks you right in the face.! Well, that was Pugh’s start of his professional career earlier this month for the GCL Mets. Pugh was operated on earlier this month and is now recovering. He should begin working out again in the next couple of weeks and we should see him back in the GCL Mets lineup by the end of the month.

8-14-10 -I talked earlier today to OF Tillman Pugh and was happy to find out that he has returned to the GCL Mets roster. You may remember his first game as a Met (June 21) when he took a fast ball right off his face. Those who saw it live thought he was dead, and those that saw him the next day understood why Pugh wished he was dead. He was a mess, but the 15th round pick this year told me he feels fine and his face looks totally healed.

9-1-10: - My thoughts:  Very nice person and, according to my sources, a  VERY intelligent ballplayer. You can't really judge him on what he did this past season, so the assumption is he could wind up back with the GCL team; however, that team is the new home for most of the visa-kids and late round draftees from the 2011 draft.  My guess.... Kingsport.

7-10-11: - We first started touting “Tillie” last year when he was first drafted in the 15^th round out of Sonoma State. He then got hit in the face in his first professional at bat and basically didn’t get out of first gear all year long (GCL: .230, 61-AB). This year, for K-Port he also started slow, but has heated it up the past seven games, hitting three home runs and driving in six. For the season, through Saturday, so far: .268/.339/.482/.821

8-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/kingsport-mets-team-report-stretch-run-edition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter - Tillman Pugh - The Mets 2010 15th round draft pick out of Sonoma State University, Is the sort of speedy young outfielder who grows up to patrol the expansive acreage of Citifield. But after a solid start to the season, Pugh has stunk, and really needs to pick it up some, and finish the season strong. AMAZING Baseball Catch by Tillman Pugh – YouTube Hopefully, Pugh can begin to showcase his talents over the next few weeks, to warrant consideration for a long season league next year. This years numbers: .261 BA, 3 HR’s and 16 RBI’s in 119 AB’s.

Interview: - 9-26-11:

Mack:  Good morning everybody. We're speaking with Mets outfield prospect Tillman Pugh, who played Kingsport and Brooklyn this past season.  Good morning Tillie. It's good to see you got through the season face intact. How are you and are you back home?

Pugh:  I'm doing very well. I'm really glad to be back home with my family and friends. It's always nice to come back to the people you love and who love you after being away for a few months.

Mack:  Tillman, the last time you and I talked was before the beginning of the 2011 season and I had you opening the season in Brooklyn. Was there something that slowed down your progress in the off-season, or was Kingsport just the first stop of many to come?

Pugh:  I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason and a mistake that I made sent me to Kingsport instead of Brooklyn at the start of the season. I didn't look at Kingsport as some kind of punishment, but as an opportunity to play for a coach I truly liked and who had the same feelings for me, someone who I shared the same passion for the game as, and someone who was very knowledgable and taught me a lot. I have no regrets and as you said I believe Kingsport was just the first stop of many to come.

Mack:  Tillie, you had a good year in Kingsport (.252/.328/.398/.727), though the pop was a little less than I'm sure you expected. That being said, yur 32 at bats with Brooklyn did produce a .531 slugging percentage. Should we expect more of this come April?

Pugh:  I was very pleased how I ended the season in Brooklyn. I believe that finishing the season strong like that and playing in a must win environment gave me the necessary confidence that I needed coming into the off season. I firmly believe that I will come out strong next year ready to play the way I know I'm capable of.

Mack:  Okay...   Let's talk 2012.   First of all, what are your plans for the off-season and is there anything in particular that you will be working on to imrpove "the game" as they say?

Pugh:  Right now I'm taking a little time off to just recuperate, just letting my body and my mind heal up from being at it everyday for 6 months. Once I start getting back into the routine I'll be working out 5 times a week lifting and running and hitting, I will also be coaching on the side to earn some cash. I will be focusing on my hitting and developing a better more consistent swing path in order to improve my game, along with my bunting and base stealing.

Mack:  It's interesting that you bring up bunting and base stealing. I'm not sure many of the fans out there realize that you are one of the fastest players in the organization. Did you have any competition on that while in K-Port?

Pugh:  Well I have definitely been blessed with some athleticism and I don't want to take any of it for granted, that is why I want to be able to do all the things I can to utilize what God has given me. I would say in Kingsport Yucabert De La Cruz had some good speed and Johnathon Clark also brought tremendous speed to the team. I never raced either one of them, but I'm sure they could give me a run for my money.

Mack:  Tillie, I'm not going to bother to ask you where you think you're going to play next spring because you'd give the standard "I'll play where they send me" answer I would give also. 

 That being said, the worse thing that happens is you'll get to eat some more Nathan's or deal with me in Savannah.  Is there anything you want to say to the fans out there on Mack's Mets?

Pugh:  No sir I have nothing else to say.

Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 96-100

96 – 2B Danny Muno – Muno has been far more than a pleasant surprise this year for Brooklyn. He led the NY-Penn Leauge with a .355 batting average while also having the top OPS in .980. He’ll move on to Savannah next spring to play second there. ETA: - TBD

photo by Allan Greene

97 – OF Greg Pron – Pron played his first season with Kingsport, hitting .318/.389/.493/.882. The 6-6 outfielder needs to add some muscle in the off-season and add to his promising 7-HRs that were produced in 2011. Broolyn bound due to heavy traffic. ETA: TBD

98 – OF Tillman Pugh – Pugh laso will wind up in Broolyn in 2012 because he’s blocked from getting any higher right now. He hit .254 for Kingsport and ended the season adding .344 for the Clones. Lots of potential here. ETA: TBD

99 – 1B Cole Frenzel – Frenzel debuted with Brooklyn and produced minimal numbers (.238) and very little pop (1-HR in 160-Abs). That isn’t going to hack it as a first baseman, but he will move on to Savannah next season and give it another shot. ETA: TBD

100 – RP Tyson Seng – Seng had a very impressive first professional season, with Brooklyn: 3-1, 0.90, 1.07, 30.0-IP, 32-K, 5-BB. He needs to get some more work in before he can be taken serious, though he will move on to Savannah come next April. ETA: TBD





Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (20) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, Brandon Moore, Mark Cohoon, RP Daniel Herrera, Robert Carson, Rhiner Cruz, Eric Beaulac, Jose De La Torre, IF Kai Gronauer, Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, Michael Fisher, Eric Campbell, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter, Juan Lagarus


Binghamton: (22) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, Armondo Rodriguez, RP Mike Powers, Brandon Sage, John Church, Jeff Kaplan, Nick Carr, Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Juan Centeno, Fernando Pena, Stefan Welsh, Rylan Sandoval, Wilfredo Tovar, Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello, Pedro Zapata, Travis Ozga


St. Lucie: (24) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, Tyler Pill, Ryan Fraser, RP Brant Rustich, Hamilton Bennett, Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Yohan Almonte, Adam Kolarek, Gonzalez Germen, Chase Huchingson, IF Albert Cordero, Blake Forsythe, Sam Honeck, Alonzo Harris, Wilmer Flores, Robbie Shields, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez, Darrell Cecilliani, Joe Bonfe


Savannah: (16) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, Marcos Camerena, RP Tyson Seng, Orlando Tovar, Chris Hilliard, Mike Hebert, T.J. Chism, IF Cam Maron, Cole Frenzel, Danny Muno, Brandon Brown, Richard Lucas, OF Javier Rodriguez,


Brooklyn: (7) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, Domingo Tapia, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo, Greg Pron, Tillman Pugh


Kingsport: (5) – SP Luis Mateo, Christian Montgomery, Steve Matz, OF Vincente Lupo, Eudy Pena


GCL: (0) –


DSL: (1) – IF Elvis Sanchez

Cutnpaste: Josh Satin, Tillman Pugh, Johan Santana, Last Place, Sandy on 2012 Closer

Josh Satin:


8-19-11 – http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/8/19/2371629/prospect-of-the-day-josh-satin-inf-new-york-mets  - Satin's offensive numbers are quite good, obviously. He's hit at every level, has doubles power with occasional home run pop, and controls the strike zone well. There are a lot of moving parts in his swing which turns some scouts off, but minor league pitchers have been unable to exploit this or find consistent holes in his approach. He's considered highly intelligent and works hard at his game. Satin has nothing left to prove in the minors. The Mets seem willing to give him a shot in the majors, at least if Farm Director Paul DePodesta's recent comments are any indication. I would love to see what Satin could do with 500 major league at-bats. I'm not sure how he will get them, but he deserves a look as a bench player at least.



Tillman Pugh,


8-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/kingsport-mets-team-report-stretch-run-edition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter   - Tillman Pugh - The Mets 2010 15th round draft pick out of Sonoma State University, Is the sort of speedy young outfielder who grows up to patrol the expansive acreage of Citifield. But after a solid start to the season, Pugh has stunk, and really needs to pick it up some, and finish the season strong. AMAZING Baseball Catch by Tillman Pugh – YouTube Hopefully, Pugh can begin to showcase his talents over the next few weeks, to warrant consideration for a long season league next year. This years numbers: .261 BA, 3 HR’s and 16 RBI’s in 119 AB’s.


Johan Santana:


8-18-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/6922/opinion-and-analysis/mets-2011-end-of-season-review  - I predicted that Johan Santana would not pitch this season. Now I hope to be proved wrong on that but his effort to return was cut short after he recently had some “discomfort” after his first minor league rehab outing. An injury to a pitcher’s shoulder is akin to breaking the hand of a neurosurgeon. It could easily spell an early exit to one’s career. Hopefully his “discomfort” was merely muscle fatigue and scar tissue tearing and not further damage to his shoulder. The intricate nature of the muscular system of a human shoulder is really a minefield of potential damage for a pitcher. Johan arguably would have been better off requiring Tommy John surgery on his elbow than have any issues with his shoulder. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.


Last Place:


If the Mets end up in last place this will be a huge disappointment for me. It may be the only reason I watch the team for the rest of the year, to see if they end up in last. I picked them to be in last but, after an inspired run of playoff type baseball just before the trading deadline, I was really hoping for something more. Maybe they’ll surprise me in the last 6 weeks. Maybe Terry Collins will breathe some fire back into them. I hope I’m wrong but this team may be destined for last… http://metsreport.com/mets-have-a-real-shot-at-last-place  


Sandy on 2012 Closer:


We'll see where we are at the end of the season," Alderson told Lennon. "We do have an internal candidate or two, but I'd say that the options are limited. On the other hand, if you look at the closer market over the last couple of years, it hasn't been a place where free agents are getting major contracts. There could be a lot of guys out there that are capable potentially and we'll look to see where the market is. Our bullpen is going to be an important focus for us next season. It needs to be improved, and now without K-Rod, it needs to have someone at the back end of it." - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/32450/mets-morning-briefing-8-19-11  

Josh Edgin, Cam Maron, Tillman Pugh, Lee Mazzilli, Future’s Game

Josh Edgin:


7-10-11: - There was a rare occurrence last night involving St. Lucie RP Josh Edgin. He actually gave up an earned run. You have to realize this just hasn’t happened that much this season. It was the first one in 9-G/14.1-IP in A+ ball and he only gave up three in 24-G/31.0-IP in Savannah. His combined ERA has now soared to 0.79. Poor baby..


Cam Maron:


7-10-11: - The Mets have a catcher in their organization that has produced OPSs of .823, .848, and .948 in his first three seasons. The problem is he’s also only had 139 at bats in those three seasons. No one ever projected Cam Maron as a prospect (34th round – 2009) and you see so many catchers drafted late on day three just to fill in your extended camp roster. That being said Cam has hit and now is getting regular time in Kingsport as both a catcher and DH (.360). Keep an eye open…



Tillman Pugh:


7-10-11: - We first started touting “Tillie” last year when he was first drafted in the 15th round out of Sonoma State. He then got hit in the face in his first professional at bat and basically didn’t get out of first gear all year long (GCL: .230, 61-AB). This year, for K-Port he also started slow, but has heated it up the past seven games, hitting three home runs and driving in six. For the season, through Saturday, so far: .268/.339/.482/.821.



Lee Mazzilli:


Lee Mazzilli sat on the bench at The Kingdome in Seattle for seven innings, watching the 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star unfold. Mazzilli, then the 24-year old New York Mets center fielder who was named to the team by National League manager Tommy Lasorda, was soaking it up like a sponge. It was Mazzilli’s first and, eventually, only All-Star appearance and from the beginning it must have felt more like a circus freak show than a showcase of baseball’s biggest stars. - http://johnstrubel.com/2011/07/10/all-star-flashback-maz-stars-in-79  


Future’s Game:


Watched it yesterday afternoon… boy, there was some pitching talent out there. The Mets only placed two players on the rosters, Jenry Marte and Matt Harvey. There also was some dude with a face lift that looked a little like Mike Piazza in the dugout, but that’s all I’m saying about that. Barring injury, Jenrry Mejia probably would have made it, but there really isn’t anyone else in the organization right now that would qualify that high.