3-6-13 – Ken Singleton, Ike Davis, Brant Rustich, Jenrry Mejia, ST Pitching

Ken Singleton was the Mets' first round selection in the 1967 January draft, taken one spot before future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk.  At the time, the New York-born Singleton was a student at Hofstra University who had played just one year of college ball.  But that single season was enough to attract the attention of Mets scouts, as the team took the 19-year-old outfielder with the third overall pick in the draft.

          Singleton was born the same year I was and was part of the 1971 outfield which features Cleon Jones (.319) and Tommy Agee (.285). The Mets added him to a package deal to obtain Rusty Staub from Montreal which resulted in four productive years for Staub during the first time he was a Met. I liked Singleton, but, at the time, I loved the deal for Staub.

Ike Davis is among multiple candidates being considered to be added to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, an official familiar with the process told ESPN

                   

God, I hope this doesn’t happen. This camp couldn’t possibly be going any worse and the last thing they would need is having other players that are trying to win utility roles having to fill in for the games Davis misses. I don’t expect the Mets to do much this year, but, if I’m wrong, there’s going to have to be a great year out of the box by Davis.

                   More importantly, his 2012 stat line doesn’t warrant the honor. Let him first earn the invitation after a great year in the MLB.

Brant Rustich is busy finishing up his grad work and will be back with us as soon as he can. He did send me an email last night and talked about a few of the players in the system:

                  

          “I saw the list of the questions you sent me. I think highly of Matt den Dekker. When asked if he could play CF this year my answer is absolutely. Baseball season is long and streaky. Who knows what could really happen. I see him having the potential to play there, so it's not out of the question. However, if it means he doesn't start everyday and pull at-bats, he won't be there.

As for Domingo Tapia, that guy is quite the talent. First time I saw him pitch I was very impressed. He warmed up effortlessly at 98mph. I've played catch with him and he has feel. He can throw a change-up, he can spin the ball. He just needs to refine the gifts and learn to pitch. I didn't follow him last year, nor am I aware of his progress, but from what I saw, I would take him VERY serious.

Those list of pitchers I'm only familiar with Zack Wheeler and Darin Gorski. Both are very high on my list. First time I saw Gorski pitch, I asked myself how the hell did this kid fall to the 7th round. That was a score. I've thrown with Wheeler, and we've chatted a few times. My first impression, was obviously this kid knew what he is doing on the mound. Both have a ton of confidence from what I've seen and I think they will definitely be there.

Another I loved when I first saw pitch was Josh Edgin. I told him shortly after that he would pitch at Citifield last spring training 2012. He chuckled, I said, no I'm serious. You keep pitching like that, you'll be in the big leagues right now. Sure enough, later I checked and there he was... in the big leagues.

As for the draft, I would draft the best player available. Always.”

Jenrry Mejia was sent back to New York for tests Tuesday when doctors found a medical issue relating to his  physical. Mejia, 23, was scheduled to pitch in a B game against the Marlins. “It’s going to be dealt with here in the next day or so,” Collins said. “He was scratched early this morning. I don’t even know what it is.’’

                   Jeez… can’t TC just stuff a sock in his mouth once in awhile? And they wonder why we write that there is a disconnect in this camp. Do you really think that I wouldn’t know what’s up if one of my rotation pitchers was being sent off on a plane to new York for medical tests? And, if I didn’t know, would I tell a beat reporter that?

From the same article above:

If the Mets had to do it over again, they likely wouldn’t have had their pitchers on the mound as early as they did in this year’s longer-than-usual spring training. “We probably should have pushed some guys back,” a source said. “It might have saved us some trouble.”

                   More and more this seems to be being run like a church summer camp. And there is far too much talking going on behind the backs of top Mets officials. Not goo, folks. Not good.

2-9-13 – John Buck, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Brant Rustich, Ed Ryan

Zack Wheeler on going from AA to AA:

“The strike zone got a little bit smaller. I wasn’t really expecting that, but it did. The higher you go, the smaller it’s going to get. You just have to adjust. I think hitters, they chase more down to up, instead of side to side. Like with the slider, they don’t chase that sweeping slider. You just can’t make mistakes. That’s really what I learned.”

We’ve talked about this so many times and it’s the chief reason why you see great A and A+ level pitchers simply disappear after a year either in Binghamton or, in the past, Buffalo. You have to have the ability to not only pound the zone, but also work the corners. Past that, most of your balls thrown outside the zone will not be swung at.

Wheeler is in camp, throwing next to Harvey. Life is good.

John Buck on Matt Harvey:

"My focus with him is to hone … what he needs to be effective as a power pitcher. If you get up there as a power pitcher and just aimlessly throw pitches, sometimes, as a hitter, you can wait on that. But if he uses his stuff effectively in those power situations, then you’re not only being a power pitcher, you’re keeping the hitters off-balance. I think one of the things that made me attractive in the trade for the Mets was that I am known as a game-caller. I’m a little bit older and I have experience. We have pitchers who are right at the cusp of success, so I think it’s a perfect situation for me to help bring the most out of them. Those guys aren’t even throwing hard yet and the ball jumps. It’s fun to have those tools at my disposal.’’

          I really like this Buck guy…

It’s an honor and pleasure to announce that former New York Mets pitcher Brant Rustich has joined Mack’s Mets as a contributor. Brant has been a long time friend since my first ‘camp’ when I went on the beat for Morris Communications. The 6-6, 220 righty was a 2007 2^nd round pick out of UCLA that basically never had a bad season. His combined career stats were: 7-6, 3.00, 1.18, 135.0-IP, 128-K, 46-BB, and the only reason he not the Mets 8^th inning guy right now is all about his hand, numbness, bad advice, worse diagnosis and… well, it’s a story for him to tell which frankly is good enough for a book (which it just might wind up being).

For now, baseball’s loss is Mack’s Mets gain and you have no idea how happy I am that he’s with us.

Ed Ryan  wrote: 

“The real misstep this off-season was the outfield, I have a hard time believing that the plan was to pursue Bourn all along and really if they do land Bourn, then they had a solid off-season taking into consideration they're still building this organization.  I think they misread the market and Bourn is now their scramble to recover.  Either they thought players prices would come back to them or they thought they could land a trade that never materialized.  Without Bourn it was a disappointing off-season but if they land him I believe it's a big step toward changing the perception about the Mets...”

          Ed could be 100% correct here but we’ll never know. It doesn’t matter how much you want or don’t want a Scott Boras client. Boras will also slow the process down and also use your excitement and desire against you. No, baseball is now a business and all this cloak and dagger, smoke and mirror shit is part of the game.

I May Be Wrong, But… Brant Rustich

-By now, you all know that Brant Rustich has retired. There’s a lesson here. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much talent you have. If your body breaks down, you have to move on. People always ask me how hard is it to become a major league baseball player and I keep telling them to do the math. This is a guy that can still hit 97, but no one can correct a structural abnormality that constantly brought numbness, pain, and weakness to Brant when he pitched. 750 people play major league baseball. There are 7,000,000,000 on earth. None play major league baseball with numbness, pain, and weakness. I’m very upset about this. Brant and I became online close over the years. There was no one in the organization that I rooted harder for. Another shit story in a shit Mets year.

Mack Ade

Mack On – The Future of Second Base, ST Pitchers, Brant Rustich, Reese Havens, Toby Hyde

·         Queens is pretty simply this year. Daniel Murphy is going to play every day until he’s injured again. Justin Turner is the back-up, but only if Ike Davis stays healthy because, according to Terry Collins, Turner also in the back-up first baseman. It’s anybody’s guess past that.

Reese Havens will be the AAA second baseman until he’s injured…  I got stop all these negative waves. Rylan Sandoval looks to be the Binghamton starter while Wilfredo Tovar lines up at Lucy. The big question is Savannah and whether or not Danny Muno begins his switch to second back. He’s blocked by prospect JC Gamboa so now’s a good time to begin the process.

Cory Wimberly and Michael Fisher will fight it out for a utility slot in Buffalo while Luis Nieve may stick in the same role for St. Lucie.

Yucarybert De La Cruz, Carlos Leyva, and Sneider Batista will remain back in the extended camp waiting for the next wave of draft picks.

·         The Mets released the pitchers they will use in the first week’s worth of ST games:

o   Friday intrasquad - Dillon Gee, Jeurys Familia, Daniel Herrera, Jeremy Hefner, Matt Harvey, Miguel Batista, Tim Byrdak, Frank Francisco

o   Saturday intrasquad - R.A. Dickey, Pedro Beato, D.J. Carrasco, Armando Rodriguez, Chris Schwinden, Josh Stinson, Fernando Cabrera, Robert Carson

o   Sunday vs. top prospects - Mike Pelfrey, Ramon Ramirez, Manny Acosta, Chuck James, Jon Niese, Jon Rauch, Bobby Parnell, Garrett Olson

o   Monday vs. Washington at Port St. Lucie - Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Miguel Batista, Daniel Herrera, Tim Byrdak, Frank Francisco

o   Tuesday vs. St. Louis at Port St. Lucie (split squad) - Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Pedro Beato

o   Tuesday vs. Houston at Kissimmee (split squad) - Jeurys Familia, Jeremy Hefner, Josh Stinson

Missing:  Collin McHugh, Elvin Ramirez, Roy Merritt, Fernando Cabrera, Tobi Stoner, Mark Cohoon, Jeff Stevens, Erik Turgeon, Eric Beaulac, Eric Niesen, Jack Egbert, Dylan Owen

·         RP Brant Rustich continues his rehab. He has now completed five bullpen sessions, the best coming on Tuesday. Look for him to be moving on to pitching BP soon.

·         The Mets reported on Wednesday that 2B prospect Reese Havens will sit out a few days with a “stiff back”. Of course, we all hope that’s all it is, but, a bad back doesn’t heal. I can’t recall a single ballplayer that spent the early years of his professional career on the IR ever come back and be productive major leaguers. Genetics is, well, genetics. Sadly, it looks lke the Mets need to come up with a plan B for second base. Next in line would be Jordany Valdespin, followed by Phillip Evans and Danny Muno.

·         Toby Hyde is no longer an employee of the Savannah Sand Gnats.

The Keepers: - #76 - RP - Brant Rustich

76.       Brant Rustich – RP – AA –

Rustich’s 2007 stats with UCLA:  20 appearances (1 start), 3-2, 6 saves, 6.67 ERA, 29.2 IP, 31 H, 20 BB, 28 Ks, 3HRs, .265 BA.  

The Mets drafted Rustich in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft. He started the 2007 season for Kingsport (1-0, 0.87 in 5 games, 2 starts), but was quickly promoted to Brooklyn (2-0, 2.13, 0.39 in 10 appearances).

Rustich pitched dinged for most of the 2008 season, for Savannah, but still managed to post stats of: 3-4, 3.62, in 20 games, 8 starts, 48Ks, 49.2 IP

In 2009, Rustich dug in to St. Lucie and produced an all-star season: 1-1, 2.45, 1.28, 19 appearances, 3 starts, 46-K, 47.2-IP.

Forecast: Rustich is injury free, has a lifetime professional record over 3 seasons of 7-5, 2.77, 1.09, and will play 2010 as a 26-year old. He is one of the premier Mets relievers in the system and may be ready for the fast track. Watch for 6-6 right hander to start the season with Binghamton, and if he dominates, could wind up in Queens by September.

10-19-10: - I talked to SP Brant Rustich today, who let me know that he is scheduled for TOS surgery on October 28th, in Dallas, Texas. As you know, Brant has had two years of bad road regarding hand and arm problems, which resulted in his diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, defined as a compression of nerves and artery in the thoracic outlet which is above the first rib and collarbone. Doctors feel he will be 100% recover by the beginning of the 2011 season, and, with a little luck coming my way, maybe they’ll rehab him back in Savannah.

To refresh, Rustich was a 2nd-round beast (6-6, 220) with three above-average pitches in his 93-96 mph fastball, power slider (at times touching 87 mph) and split-finger fastball. He wants you all to know that he’s thrilled that there will finally be an end to his pain and he looks forward to pitching next year at whatever level the Mets place him.

2-8-11: - There’s been a considerable amount of Mets chatter online recently about the improvement of P Brant Rustich since his recent surgery. Some, like Ed Ryan and Adam Rubin are both speculating that he could someday replace K-Rod as the Mets closer. I reached out to Rusty and asked if he’s got an official indication from anyone in camp that his 2011 role, be it in Binghamton or Buffalo, will be as a closer….  “I'm at the field so I'll have to get back to you this afternoon. I'm pretty sure my role will be in relief. If I'm healthy and pitching like I'm capable there is no doubt I can be a closer at any level. So I think I'll focus on being healthy and then pitching like I'm capable first. :) My role will follow suit. I'm definitely excited this year. I have a lot to look forward to and work towards. It’s already a good feeling being back here with more of a purpose than before. It’s good knowing I'm fixed rather than hoping for some miracle like the years before. I like the aura from the guys here and from TC (Terry Collins). I think if the players can't play for Terry, than you can't play for anyone. I truly think New York has a lot more to be excited about than worrying about money issues. Just my take. Take it easy.”

4-16-11: - Rustich is still rehabbing in Florida and said that things are going along well. I didn’t realize his rehab would be taking so long, but I truly believe this is going to be worth the wait. 

 

8-18-11: - Hey Mack, I'm currently back home in San Diego because I wasn't going to be ready to pitch this year and the nerves needed more time, so the Mets and I thought it was best to rest the remainder of the season with no throwing. Not much news other than that, other than it seems to be feeling great, however I'm not throwing so I guess time will tell. The plan is to begin up throwing in December, and then be 100% for spring training. Basically, I'm going to be pitching no matter what next spring. It's going to be my last go, so it's all or nothing, and nothing is really stopping me at that point. I was shut down this season not due to pain, but lack of feel. Which is something I'm used to, but it's not something that would stop me next season if that happens to be the case. Hopefully it feels as perfect as it did for a few weeks this season. At one point I never felt better, but when I rasised the volume, i lost some feel in my fingers, so i wasn't as consistent. However my stuff was all there.  Anyway, hope all is well with you. Take care, Brant

Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 86-90

86 – 1B Sam Honeck – Honeck came back from a devastating injury the season before and had a sub-par season in Savannah: 269-AB, .227, 3-HR. His future as a Met may rely on whether or not the Mets brass moves either Aderlin Rodrigues or Wilmer Flores to first base. For now, I have him backing up Flores on the bag. – ETA: - AAAA








photo by Allan Greene

 87 – P Orlando Tovar – Tovar has had a decent year for Brooklyn… 5-1, 3.09 in 21 appearances, but he will play 2012 as a 24-year old and doesn’t have the velo to project him to a future spot in the Queens pen. What he has done is earn a bump up and he will be in Savannah in April. – ETA: AAAA

88 – P Mitch Houck - The good news is that Houck has never pitched bad in the Mets organization. The bad news is, due to injuries, he’s only pitched in 20 games in four years. He was out the entire 2011 season and it doesn’t look like he’ll be ready come April 2012. I don’t have him on any active roster right now.

89 – P James Fuller – Fuller dominated the Sally League last year, going 11-5, 2.19, 1.18 in 19 starts. He finished the season with St. Lucie, but has sat out the entire 2011 season. I have him starting next season in extended camp and have no idea if or when he’ll be back.

90 – P Brant Rustich – Tough story from a great guy. The Mets and Rustich decided to let Brant sit it out for the 2011 season after TOS surgery. He still doesn’t have proper feeling in his pitching hand but he will report in April for, what he has told me, the last time. We wish him well. A healthy Rustisch would have been in the top 20 prospect. ETA: TBD


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (17) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, Brandon Moore, RP Daniel Herrera, Robert Carson, Rhiner Cruz, Eric Beaulac, Jose De La Torre, IF Kai Gronauer, Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter, Juan Lagarus


Binghamton: (21) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, Armondo Rodriguez, RP Mike Powers, John Church, Brandon Sage, Jeff Kaplan, Nick Carr, Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Juan Centeno, Stefan Welsh, Rylan Sandoval, Wilfredo Tovar, Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello, Pedro Zapata, Travis Ozga


St. Lucie: (23) – 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, Sam Honeck, Alonzo Harris, Wilmer Flores, Robbie Shields, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez, Darrell Cecilliani, Joe Bonfe


Savannah: (13) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, Marcos Camerena, RP Orlando Tovar, Chris Hilliard, Mike Hebert, T.J. Chism, IF Cam Maron, Brandon Brown, Richard Lucas, OF Javier Rodriguez,


Brooklyn: (5) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, Domingo Tapia, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo


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


GCL: (0) –


DSL: (1) – IF Elvis Sanchez