Mack’s Mets – the premier site for information on the New York Mets talent pipeline and dialogue on Mets prospects, Mets news, and Mets opinions.
3/29/12
Press Release - Mets 25-man Cuts
Mets Option INF Jordanny Valdespin
New York Reassigns Five Others to Minor League Camp
March 29, 2012 –The New York Mets today announced that they have optioned INF JORDANNY VALDESPIN to the minor leagues.
New York also announced that OF ADAM LOEWEN, LHP GARRET OLSON, C LUCAS MAY, C ROB JOHNSON and OF MATT DEN DEKKER have been reassigned to minor league camp.
Of the group, only Valdespin spent time with the Bisons last season. The infielder was promoted to the Herd on August 10 and hit .280 (30-107) with two home runs, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 27 games with Buffalo. In 107 games with Double-A Binghamton, the 24-year old hit .297 (120-404) with 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 51RBI and 33 stolen bases.
Loewen spent the majority of the 2011 season with Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas and hit .306 (159-520) with 46 doubles, 17 home runs and 85RBI in 134 games. His 46 doubles were the sixth most in all of minor league baseball last season. He had his contract selected on September 7 and played in 14 games with the Blue Jays, hitting .188 (6-32) with a home run and four RBI.
Olson split last season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Indianapolis Indians. The southpaw made the Pirates’ 2011 Opening Day roster and was 1-1 with a 2.08ERA in four relief appearances before being designated for assignment. He was 4-3 with a 3.05ERA in 24 games and 15 starts for Indianapolis.
May split last season between Triple-A Omaha and Reno of the Pacific Coast League. In 77 games combined, the catcher hit .238 (59-248) with 10 home runs and 44RBI.
Johnson played 67 games with the San Diego Padres in 2011 and hit .190 (34-179) with three home runs and 16RBI. Johnson has 228 big league games to his credit, spending parts of four seasons in Seattle, 2007-2010.
den Dekker was the Mets 5th round pick in the 2010 draft and is entering his third season as a professional. He split last season between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton and hit .265 (143-539) with 17 home runs, 68RBI and 24 stolen bases in 139 games.
Baseball and Stuff
3B Casey Blake on being released by Rockies: - "I understand the decision. I appreciated the opportunity and wish them success." Class act.
AJ Ellis - @AJEllis17 - No one taught me the importance of clubhouse chemistry and quiet leadership the way Casey Blake did. What a Pro!!
Jerkoff Twins lefty Aaron Thompson and dickwad Cardinals catcher Cody Stanley were each suspended 50 games on Tuesday for their violations of the Minor League drug program.
Rockies putting Alex White in the bullpen
Brewers announce Yovani Gallardo as opening day starter
Nick Evans - .111, .143 OBP
Pitcher Mike Mussina and second baseman Rich Dauer will be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in August
Jack Hannahan has won the Cleveland starting 3B job
The Mets have nine Dominican-born players on the 40-Man Roster: RHPs Pedro Beato, Jeurys Familia, Frank Francisco, Jenrry Mejia, Ramon Ramirez and Armando Rodriguez; INF Jordany Valdespin; and OFs Juan Lagares and Cesar Puello.
The Twins Release Joel Zumaya
Yu Darvish – Count me among the believers that Darvish will be worth the hype. While it’s dangerous anyhow to evaluate a player merely on his nationality, Darvish does stand apart from his peers who have made the conversion. First, he’s bigger than most of the pitchers who have come over and throws harder. He’s dealt with plenty of media attention, too, so the “rock star” treatment that he’ll get in the baseball press is less likely to affect him. And while Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is less than ideal from a park effects standpoint, in other ways landing with the Rangers is ideal for him. The combination of pitching coach Mike Maddux and Nolan Ryan in the front office has been ideal for the team in developing pitchers over the last few years, and they’ve had success scouting in Japan, too, most notably with Colby Lewis. I have two more shots to land Darvish in my leagues, and I hope to get at least one share of him by the time the drafting is done. - http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/
Reds Top-15 Prospects of 2012:
1. Devin Mesoraco | C | Age – 23 | Grade – B+
2. Robert Stephenson | RHP | Age – 19 | Grade – B
3. Zack Cozart | SS | Age – 26 | Grade – B/B-
4. Daniel Corcino | RHP | Age – 21 | Grade – B-/B
5. Billy Hamilton | SS/2b | Age – 21 | Grade – B- link
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka and won the gold medal in the 10th West Asia Baseball Cup at Punjab Stadium on Wednesday. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 4-1 in the final and secured first position in the event. Iran on Tuesday routed Afghanistan 14-0 to secure the third position. link
Orioles Claim Wheeler
The Orioles claimed infielder Zelous Wheeler off of waivers from the Brewers
(he he...)
Message to Fred... Extend David!
Honestly, I pay ZERO attention to the legalities of whats going on with the Mets, Madoff and Wilpon. As the case with many fans, my interest for the Mets lays solely in the on field product. I don't care how much money Fred or Jeff makes because he ain't ever gonna be showing me any of that green. Put a winning product on the field and let it rip.
I've been going to Mets game since I was young enough to put on my Mets T-shir, high five Tim Bogar and John Franco on my dash post game around the bases. I've been suckered in with the Alomars, Burnitzs and Vaughns. I've seen the spending gone awry and the little growth in the farm system. I've seen the one bright spot in the past tens years, now residing in sunny Miami. Its time for Mr. Wilpon to open up the checkbook for a proven commodity, somebodies whose won and succeeded in New York. I don't care if the Rockies offer us Drew Pomeranz or the Phillies offer us EVERYBODY in the farm system; I want David Wright to be the face of this franchise for the rest of this decade. They moved the damn fences in for this guy, show him some loyalty and let him continue to be the face that he was brought up here to be. SHOW HIM THE MONEY FRED!
The View From The Rear View Mirror - Nolan Ryan and Tug McGraw
The View From The Rear View Mirror - Nolan Ryan and Tug McGraw
by Michael Jawitz, AKA: Grubby Glove
Nolan Ryan. Where to begin? The images I have of
Nolan Ryan are too numerous to count. Which portrait should be featured? The
fire-balling young pitcher who unleashed bullets, some of which were actually
strikes comes to mind. The dazzler who appeared in the third game of the 1969
National League Division Championship game against the Atlanta Braves is a nice
one. The jubilant celebrant of yet another
no hitter is high on anyone’s list. The unflappable veteran who so graciously
introduced a hard-charging Robin Ventura to his fist is a classic. The seasoned
master acknowledging the applause of tens of thousands after recording his
5,000th strikeout always works for me. How about the retired
gentleman accepting his plaque upon his induction into Baseball’s Hall of Fame
in Cooperstown, New York for a fitting image? Any of these options will
successfully illustrate his long and triumphant career in the big leagues.
For many long in the tooth New York Mets fans, however,
there is one more image that might do the trick, that of a pickle barrel. As
strange as it might seem, this is the
one that comes to my mind first, because in his early days, Nolan Ryan had an
ongoing problem with finger blisters. On Easter Sunday, 1968, in a game at Houston’s
Astrodome, he stuck out seven of the first ten hitters the Astros sent to the
plate. Two of the better known victims among this bunch were future Hall of
Famer Joe Morgan, and the “Toy Cannon,” Jimmy Wynn. For his efforts he won his
first game as a big league pitcher, and
left before its conclusion with a finger blister. The Mets Trainer, Gus Mauch, came
up with a remedy I had never heard of before. He bought some kosher pickles
from a New York City delicatessen, and had the young flame thrower soak his
fingers in the pickle brine on his off days. This is my primary recollection of
his early years, when all seemed both possible. The Miracle Mets were a year
away, but many of the pieces were already in place. Nolan Ryan was one of those
pieces.
This is Nolan Ryan's 1970 Topps card. It
features a beautiful image of our man standing in Shea Stadium. It’s a high
number, too. For those of you who aren’t familiar with that term, back in the
day baseball card manufacturers would issue cards in series. By the time the later
series came out, the season was nearing its conclusion and fewer people were
purchasing packs. As a result, fewer of the high number cards got out. Now that
many decades have passed, high number cards can be very costly, especially if
the subject is a Hall of Famer. This card is # 712 out of a 720 card set.
This is a special card for me, one that I’ve enjoyed for
almost thirty years. It was a great birthday gift that I still have. I didn’t
know what was inside the gift box at the time, but I knew from the size and
shape of the box that it was a tie. I was asked to open the tie first, and upon
doing so I found the 1970 Nolan Ryan card instead! Thank you, Nancy. Thank you,
Steve.
Tug McGraw. This is Tug McGraw’s 1966 Topps card, among my favorites of
the two dozen cards he appeared on during his career. Its various elements,
including the young left-handed pitcher, Shea Stadium, the blue sky and the
1964 – 1965 New York World’s Fair patch add up to an eye-pleasing combination.
The visual image is just one of the reasons why I am
featuring it here. This card was issued at a time when real, legitimate major
league players were beginning to arrive after being developed in the Mets
minor-league system. By 1965 they were arriving at the rate of two or three a
season. Tug McGraw was a fan favorite as well as a glimmer of hope.
One game early in his stay with the Mets stands out. I
remember the game as if it was played yesterday. The Los Angeles Dodgers were
the opponent on Thursday, August 25, 1965, when in front of 45,950 fans, Tug
McGraw defeated Sandy Koufax in what was a close contest until the bottom of
the eighth when the Mets pushed a couple of insurance runs across the plate. I
don’t quite remember the headline, but I swear the win made the front page of
the New York Daily News. “Rookie Beats Koufax,” is what I recall. Who knows if
it happened that way, or even happened at all? It’s a happy recollection, one
that makes me smile to this very day.
Tug became one of my favorite Mets. He was spirited and exceedingly likable. He was the "Ya Gotta Believe" guy whose enthusiasm proved impossible to resist. Although he spent the last part of his career with another team, for me, he will always be a Met. Thanks, Tug. I still believe.
"Joe D - Metsmerised
"Joe D" over at Metsmerized could use your prayers
I talked to Joe prior to his going into a Veterans Hospital for a procedure to have a "mass removed". He said it was routine.
I have this feeling that it isn't.
He remains in the hospital which is now going on two weeks from the procedure. People on their blog are quite concerned and have started a "get well" guest post that they are going to deliver to him.
Please visit over there and participate.
Joe and I go back over seven years as Mets bloggers and he has helped me a number of times on technical issues and advertising. There is no bigger Met fan and no site more dedicated to that team.
Please keep him in your prayers.
Mack
New Met - 2B/SS - Josh Rodriguez
The Mets signed 2B-SS Josh Rodriguez to a minor league contract
The 27-year old was a second round draft pick in 2006 by Cleveland, who he played five years for
He was chosen as the first pick in the 2011 Rule 5 draft by Pittsburgh, but that's where it gets confusing. He plaed for the Pirates until 4-22, when he was sent down. Cleveland reacquired him on 4-29, but sold him back to the Pirates (?). now it seems the Pirates released him.
J-Rod has showed power, hitting 20-HR, 82-RBI for A+ Kinston in 2007.
Mets Cuts - J-Rod, Hebert, Powers
OF Javier Rodriguez, RHP Michael Hebert, and RHP Michael Powers have been released.
The release of ‘J-Rod’ creates an opening for a fourth outfielder in St. Lucie. My guess it would be Julio Conception with Greg Pron jumping from extended to the Sand Gnats.
Powers was scheduled to pitch Binghamton while Hebert would have been in Savannah. None of these three were in my top 50 Keepers, but they were on the full list:
61. RP Michael Powers
Powers was the 31st round pick by the Mets in the 2008 draft, out of the University of Michigan. In his debut year, Powers pitched for Kingsport and Savannah, combining for: 2-2, 2.88, in 18 relief appearances. In 2009, he combined for Brooklyn and Savannah with: 4-3, 3.70, 39-G44-K, 48.2-IP. Powers excelled for Savannah in 2010, going 3-4, 2.28 in 41 appearances. He also had 52-K in 51.1-IP. He did have some trouble with the conversion to A+ and went 2-1, 5.29, in 10 games for St. Lucie. 9-22-10
– 2011 Forecast: - I’m sure Powers will return to St. Lucie to start the 2011 season. He will pitch 2011 as a 25-year old, which isn’t as critical for a relief pitcher. That being said, he needs to gitty-up.
10-14-10: - Mack: Good morning kids, today we're talking with the 31st round pick in the 2008 draft, relief specialist Michael Powers. Morning Micheal. Are you home or participating in the Instruction League?
Powers: Good Morning Mack, No Instructional league for me this year, I am back at home.
Mack: Good. Mike... let's go back to the beginning when you were drafted. Tell us about all the emotions that day?
Powers: Well, obviously that was a special day for me and my family. Just like most people, I wasn't sure when or if I was going to be drafted so I tried to stay busy and not worry about it too much, I still had another year of eligibility left so if things didn't work out I was headed back to school. When I got the call and found out it was the Mets I was excited for the opportunity. It was a tough decision for me because of the all the great things that Michigan provided me but I just felt like school prepared me well for the challenges of pro ball and the timing was right to move on.
Mack: Mike, you signed and came out of the box real quick, going a combined 2-2, 2.88, in 18 appearances for Kingsport and Savannah. Did it take you some time getting used to those daily wind sprints?
Powers: Yes definitely, Everyone says it but the switch from college to playing professionally and everyday is a big change of pace. I hit a rough spot that first year with probably about 2 weeks to go, The end of the year was in sight and I got hit around a bit one outing. I'll never forget that because it kind of snapped me back into the season and made me realize you need to finish strong. It does take some getting used to, but more or less that is what your first short season is for, just learning the game and how to play everyday.
Mack: Like the K-Port coaches always say... "here is where you learn to play the game you've been playing all your life..." So, they send you to Brooklyn in 2009 (3-3, 4.01, in 30 games), which I found disappointing since you ended the year with Savannah. You did get in a couple of weeks with the Gnats though (1-0, 3.00, 9-appearances)... how was playing every day in the Big Apple?
Powers: Brooklyn is a taste of the big leagues in the minors, Everything from the amenities the media and of course the fans. I imagine those things and the added pressure of playing in the shadow of the big league team can only help prepare you for life in the big leagues. It was a great experience for me, I really enjoyed the city and the people and we had a great group of players and a staff up there that really helped us develop.
Mack: So, what's your award for doing well in Savannah the past two years? You return again in 2010 (3-4, 2.28, 41-appearances, 52-K, 51.1-IP) when the city of Savannah is doing it's best imitation of feeling like Cambodia during the Tet. You finally break loose and finish the season at Lucy (2-1, 5.29, 10-appearances), which is really the first spike in your ERA... is the competition at that level that much harder than A-ball?
Powers: Anytime you move up levels the competition gets stiffer, Being it St. Lucie was a little tougher than Savannah, The hitters just have a better idea of what they want to do and also of how you want to handle them, but I felt like I got adjusted and held my own up there, I put together a nice streak of outings and then on the last day of the season I gave up 5 runs, so it wasn't the best way to go out, but with the limited number of innings I had up there any inning like that is going to throw your numbers off.
Mack: Forget the last day... we do a lot of forgetting the last day in Met-land. Mike, you're right there... the K/IP ratio is spot on... your velocity has never been better... and your overall professional stats stand up with any pitcher. Now... you're playing 2011 as a 25-year old and it looks like you will return again to A+. I know age for a relief pitcher isn't as much as in issue as starters, and I'm expecting the standard "I'll go where they send me" answer... but, do you think after pitching for well over 10 years that you're ready for AA ball?
Powers: Ha ha. I never thought of it that way but yeah it's no secret that age plays a factor as far as prospects go but I do believe that as long as you pitch well you can at least keep your name in the mix. That is what I try and go out to do, try not to worry about the business side of things and just pitch, and hopefully pitch well. As far as am I ready? I feel as though I'm a guy who is honing in my skills, Just like everyone of the pitchers in the organization I think I possess the skill set to pitch in the big leagues, None of us would be around if we didn't. Its just a matter of putting it all together and sustaining it over a career. Hopefully we will get to find out if I am ready eventually but until that time comes I'm just gonna keep working.
Mack: Okay... so if the pitching don't pan out, you can always turn to politics :) I keep asking that same stupid question and no one ever answers it... Mike... you've done a damn good job so far as a professional. My money's on you. Enjoy the off-season and I'll see you in March at Lucy. .
Powers: Thanks Mack. I'll see you there.
4-30-11: - Powers probably is the first legitimate promotion (A+ to AA) of the season. This is his fourth year as a Met, but, like many Mets draft picks, he was a college pitcher started too low by the Mets. He’s now pitching as a 25-year old after 3 stints in Savannah, and two with Lucy. Lifetime through 4-30-11: 11-10, 3.23, 1.30.
83. OF Javier Rodriquez
The Mets drafted Rodriguez in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft. In 2008, Rodriguez batted .193 for the GCL Mets.
1-1-10: - Forecast: Many Mets sources say that J-Rod is real prospect material, though he has gotten off to a slow start. My guess would be that he is showcased in Brooklyn come next spring.
5-17-10: - Stock Up: Looks like the mets might have found another 19-year old Latin shortstop to brag about. Wilfredo Tovar comes out of the DSL system and really didn’t do anything that special last season for the GCL Mets (.243/.294/.318/.611). For some reason, he was called upon this month to go to St. Luic and start in place of Reese Havens (moved to 2B) and Luis Nieve (DL). So far, this sure is working: .400/.419/.500/.919. Yes, it’s only 30-Abs but it’s worth noting at this point in the season.
7-27-10: - J-Rod continues to impress this season. Last night, he went 3-5 and raised his seasonal stats to: 132-AB, .318/.345/.500/.845, .371-BABIP, .182-ISOP. I like the slow speed the mets are using here. Rodriquez was a very quiet second rounder who didn’t play the year he was signed. He’s only 20-years old, but he’s obviously way ahead of the rest of the players at his level. I expect him to play Lucy next season and possibly get a reward bump to Savannah before the end of this season. Rodriguez played the entire 2010 season for Kingsport and hit .319/.353/.513/.865 in 160-AB.He led his team in hitting and needed less than five more official at-bats to qualify for the 5th best BA and 9th best slugging percentage in the league.
2011 Forecast: - J-Rod was a very quiet second round pick. He played very little after being signed, yet the international pundits raved about the pick. Well, it's turned out they were right. Rodriquez looks like the real deal and is starting to show some pop. There really is no reason to play him in Brooklyn next spring, so I have him going straight to Savannah. This is a top ten prospect and you need to keep your eyes on this one.
81 – OF Javier Rodriguez – J-Rod was a 2nd round draft pick in 2008 that just hasn’t gotten out of the box. He reported late but hit first gear in 2010 with Kingsport. Rodriguez started the 2011 season with Savannah, hit poorly, and then something happened. He was gone. It’s hard to find out scoops on discipline stuff, and I think there was something here, but I don’t know. What I do know is he wound up in Brooklyn where he has done, well, just okay. There’s a good chance he won’t be around in the spring, but I have him back in Savannah as a fourth outfielder. – ETA – OOS 2015
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| photo by Alan Greene |
85. Michael Hebert
Hebert was a 7th round draft pick in 2008 (he was the second pitcher chosen that year by the Mets), who has gotten off to a slow, unspectacular start; however, progress was made in 2009. In 2008, Hebert signed with the Mets and went on to the GCL Mets, where he went 2-2, 4.71, in nine games, three starts. Control was not his forte, walking 29 batters in 21.0 innings.
Hebert came back to the GCL Mets in 2009, and finished up: 1-3, 3.38, in seven games, five starts. More importantly, he walked only 14 batters in 29.1-IP.
Forecast: Let’s not forget that Hebert was drafted as an 18-year old, straight out of high school. But, let’s also not forget that, so far, this was a very bad choice for the second pitcher you’re going to draft. I really hate 18-year old high school pitchers, especially ones that pitched to inferior competition. I’m old school. Give me the guy that pitched three years at Texas, or Clemson, or Rice any day. That being said, Hebert may be doing baby steps, but they aren’t embarrassing. So far, in his major league career, he is 3-3. 3.68, 1.59, in 14 games, with 28 Ks in 39.1-IP. He’s also too young to buy a beer in the Piggy Wiggly down the block from my townhouse. Let’s give him two more years. Look for a well deserved promotion to a full season team in Savannah.
9-14-10: - 2011 Forecast: - Hebert is past all the growing pains and should wind up next season with a full season team. My guess right now is he will return to the team he finished the season with, the Savannah Sand Gnats.
7-10-11: - Hebert pitched a gem yesterday for the GCL Mets, going 6.0-IP, 0-R, 1-H, 6-K in their 1-0 nightcap win against the Cardinals. This is Hebert’s fourth year in the Mets organization and, frankly, he’s back with GCL where everything started in 2008. Mike was a 7th rounder in 2008, staright out of high school. Assorted injuries and other matters have kept him bouncing around the lower levels and I had hoped to see him pitch Savannah this season. He’s still only 20-years old.
9-23-11: - #88 – RP Mike Hebert – Hebert is a 2008 preppy that’s beginning to find his way after four years in the system. He’s finished this season with Savannah, where he will probably start next spring. He’s still young but Rule V is lurking. ETA – TBD
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