New York Mets

[MaxV]

Wow, deal with Einhorn falls through.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/6916366/david-einhorn-deal-buy-minority-stake-new-york-mets-dead

Interesting.

[Giantsfan1080]

Wilpons suck. I'm really sick of them.

[Giantsfan1080]

We haven't had much to discuss but with the offseason starting we'll have something to talk about. I give Reyes a 5% chance of staying.

BA's Mets top 10
1. Zack Wheeler, rhp
2. Matt Harvey, rhp
3. Brandon Nimmo, of
4. Jeurys Familia, rhp
5. Cesar Puello, of
6. Jenrry Mejia, rhp
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, of
8. Michael Fulmer, rhp
9. Reese Havens, 2b
10. Wilmer Flores, ss

[MaxV]

Only 5%? That doesn't sound very promising. I hope we can keep him.


That's actually a solid list that they put together. For once, I actually agree with them.

[Giantsfan1080]

I might have switched Captain Kirk with Puello but otherwise it's a very good list. I'm super high on Fulmer as weird as that sounds.

[MaxV]

Why would it be weird? He has great upside.

The only changes that I would make is bring Flores up a couple of spots and maybe put Valdespin at #10 instead of Havens.

[MaxV]

It'll be very interesting to see how the 2011 draftees will do next season. And not only Nimmo and Fulmer. Guys like Evans, Mazzoni, Leathersich, Muno, Taijeron, Verrett and some others are very interesting prospects also.

Leathersich might be a very good Closer prospect, lefty that throws gas with a nasty slider.

Taijeron might be this year's Captain Kirk.

[Forenci]

So, I got pretty out of touch with the minor league system after I moved south. How do you guys feel like it's shaping up overall? You guys always seem to have a really good/objective feel for it haha.

Wish I had paid more attention but once you lose the ability to watch the Mets games everyday it tends to put a damper on the interest in the minor league system too.

[Giantsfan1080]

So, I got pretty out of touch with the minor league system after I moved south. How do you guys feel like it's shaping up overall? You guys always seem to have a really good/objective feel for it haha.

Wish I had paid more attention but once you lose the ability to watch the Mets games everyday it tends to put a damper on the interest in the minor league system too.

We're probably in the 12-17 range right now. Perhaps we'll have 3 or 4 Top 100 guys.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I still have faith in Wilmer.

[Giantsfan1080]

I still have faith in Wilmer.

I do also offensively. I don't know where the heck he's going to play though.

[MaxV]

With an exception of catchers, we have solid depth at every position.

[Giantsfan1080]

If we trade Wright and let Reyes walk I'm done.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I do also offensively. I don't know where the heck he's going to play though.


Hopefully 3B. From the few times I've seen him defensively, he's far from an albatross. He's just obviously too slow for SS.


If we trade Wright and let Reyes walk I'm done.

Excessive.

[MaxV]

I do also offensively. I don't know where the heck he's going to play though.

He has good reaction, good hands and a strong arm. He is a third baseman all the way.

The question is whether he'll hit enough.

[Giantsfan1080]

I'm sorry ATL but that not's excessive. Wright and Reyes are 2 out of my favorite 3 athletes ever. If they're both gone I think I might be done.

[BaLLiN]

If we trade Wright and let Reyes walk I'm done.

feel the same way man

[MaxV]

Here is the BA's write-up.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2012/2612565.html

[MaxV]

Well, we knew this was going to happen.

Bye Jose.

This sucks.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Very upsetting time. I'm more upset with the fact that we are doomed for at least a few more years (realistically until Wilpon is gone/makes everything back) than losing Jose though. The fact that we have to operate with almost no money (since most of it is tied up already) is very concerning.

[MaxV]

Well, I don't know about "few years".

If Wheeler, Harvey, Familia and Mejia develop quickly, we could compete soon.

Farm system needs to start producing players.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Well, I don't know about "few years".

If Wheeler, Harvey, Familia and Mejia develop quickly, we could compete soon.

Farm system needs to start producing players.

The chances even 1 of those arms develops into a front line starter are slim.

[Giantsfan1080]

Rauch, Francisco, and Ramires in one night. Add that to Parnell, Acosta, Byrdak, and Beato and at worst we have a good bullpen.

[MaxV]

That's a good trade. I like Pagan, but he is really just a solid utility OF.

I don't think that Tejada is a long-term solution at SS. He too is at his best as a utility guy.

Valdespin might be the guy eventually, but he still needs a lot of work, both on the field and off.

[MaxV]

Top 10 Mets' Prospect list.

1) Matt Harvey, RHP, Grade B+: He can be a number two starter and someone to build around. Some evaluators see him more as a closer if his changeup remains erratic, but I'm cutting him some slack on that issue and am optimistic.

2) Zack Wheeler, RHP, Grade B+: This is actually more like Harvey -A and Wheeler 1-B. They are very close but Harvey is closer to being ready. Like Harvey, I see Wheeler as a future number two starter and staff anchor. He made big strides with his control last year. Like Harvey his changeup needs more work, but I'm optimistic about him given the improvements he's already made.

3) Jeurys Familia, RHP, Grade B: Control still needs work, but took a major step forward towards harnessing his stuff. Could be a number three starter, perhaps more with additional changeup refinement. Could also end up as a fine closer.

4) Brandon Nimmo, OF, Grade B: Borderline B-. One of my favorite players from the 2011 draft. Strong tools, skills are more refined than you think given his Wyoming background. There's some risk here but lots of upside too.

5) Cesar Puello, OF, Grade B-: Tough to grade and I'm not really comfortable with this guy. Tools are very impressive and he started tapping into his power. However his strike zone judgment slipped badly, with a dramatic reduction in his walk rate and increase in strikeouts. Power improvement was cancelled out by loss of OBP, and Double-A pitchers will easily exploit his over-aggressiveness. However, many scouts really like him and think he's going to break through, plus he was just 20 last year. Upside is very high but risk of failure is quite high as well.

6) Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, Grade B-: Positives here are solid tools, high walk rate, moderate power (secondary average skills). Weaknesses include high strikeout rate and inability to hit left-handed pitching. I've seen him compared to Brett Jackson but Jackson is a better athlete and younger. Kirk looks like a very solid platoon player/fourth outfielder to me. Doesn't have Puello's ceiling but a much higher floor. I've gone back and forth about 10 times between Kirk and Cesar in the 5/6 spots.

7) Jenrry Mejia, RHP, Grade B-: Waiting on Tommy John recovery at this point. I've liked him for awhile but he was handled badly by previous administration and it is still unclear if he's a starter or reliever going forward.

8) Reese Havens, 2B, Grade B-: Borderline C+. I like his power/patience combination and ability to handle second base, but his health care expenses have helped bankrupt the organization. If he manages to avoid injuries he can be a .260 hitter with 15 homers and a fine OBP.

9) Wilmer Flores, 3B-SS, Grade B-: Borderline C+. Still very young at age 20. Switch over to third base increases pressure on his bat. Will he develop sufficient power for that position? He keeps his strikeout rate low but power hasn't blossomed as Mets hoped, granted he was promoted aggressively. Stock is starting to sag but it isn't too late yet.

10) Cory Mazzoni, RHP, Grade C+: Borderline B-: North Carolina State product has sound combination of solid stuff and command. I don't think he got as much attention as he deserved in pitching-rich 2011 draft class and I expect good things from him.

11) Michael Fulmer, RHP, Grade C+: Live-armed Oklahoma high school kid, upside of a number two or three starter, but rather raw. Ceiling higher than Mazzoni but risk of failure is higher as well.

12) Jordan Valdespin, 2B-SS, Grade C+: Will probably rank higher on other lists. Tools and athleticism stand out, developed more power this year, but high-maintenance mercurial personality and sloppy strike zone judgment make me wary that he'll fulfill his potential.

13) Phillip Evans, 2B-SS, Grade C+: Overslot $650,000 bonus for 15th round pick could end up being a bargain if Evans develops as I expect...above-average hitter with some pop and solid glovework at second. Excellent makeup. Need more data, could be much higher next year.

14) Cory Vaughn, OF, Grade C+: Slump in High-A could be related to painful heel injury. I like his tools and he's flashed the skills to make them meaningful. Stock could be considerably higher next year. . .or considerably lower.

15) Darin Gorski, LHP, Grade C+: Excellent statistics in High-A Florida State League (2.08 ERA, 140/29 K/BB) generated by superior command of average fastball and off-speed stuff, refined changeup. Needs to duplicate this in Double-A.

16) Collin McHugh, RHP, Grade C+: McHugh broke out with impressive Double-A season. Average velocity for right-hander but works lower part of the strike zone well, nice assortment of secondary pitches, makeup well-regarded. Could be a fifth starter or long reliever.

17) Domingo Tapia, RHP, Grade C+: Earned some headlines with 99 MPH fastball but struck out just 30 in 50 innings in Appalachian League. High ceiling but needs a lot of work on his secondary pitches.

18) Akeel Morris, RHP, Grade C+: Teammate of Tapia at Kingsport, doesn't throw quite as hard, "just" in the low-to-mid-90s, but secondary stuff is in better shape. Fanned 61 in 51 innings and gave up just 30 hits, but wobbly command led to 38 walks. High ceiling.

19) Danny Muno, SS, Grade C+: Senior out of Fresno State led New York-Penn League in OBP, impressed observers with steady play and makeup. May end up as a utility player but a good one, could get beyond that if he keeps hitting at higher levels.

20) Juan Lagares, OF, Grade C+: Quick bat, improved plate discipline from abysmally awful to merely poor and hit .349/.383/.500 as a result between High-A and Double-A. This was at least partially driven by unsustainable BABIP gains, and I want to see more before buying into him.

21) Logan Verrett, RHP, Grade C+: College pitcher out of Baylor has yet to make pro debut. I saw him pitch in college and I think he has the stuff and command to be a number four starter.



http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/12/27/2664351/new-york-mets-top-20-prospects-for-2012


Solid list. Mine would have been slightly different. Biggest gripe for me is that Travis Taijeron didn't even make the "honorable mention" list.

[Giantsfan1080]

Fulmer should be higher and Vaughn wouldn't make my top 25.

[MaxV]

I agree, I would put Fulmer in the top 10 also, although Mazzoni could definitely be one of our top guys.

Our pitching is definitely far ahead of our position players in the system, but there is certainly a chance that both will be deep next season.

[Giantsfan1080]

So Ruben Tejada is already in the TC doghouse. I'm glad we're getting this season started off right.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

So Ruben Tejada is already in the TC doghouse. I'm glad we're getting this season started off right.

Apparently Terry Collins also mentioned yesterday about wanting to lead the league in sac bunts. THIS SEASON IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!

[Giantsfan1080]

Apparently Terry Collins also mentioned yesterday about wanting to lead the league in sac bunts. THIS SEASON IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!

Yeah that made me shiver when I read that. It really doesn't matter in the long run. I just want to see the development of the younger guys. I'll also be way more into the minors this year than the actual team but it's been like that for a while now.

[MaxV]

Yeah that made me shiver when I read that. It really doesn't matter in the long run. I just want to see the development of the younger guys. I'll also be way more into the minors this year than the actual team but it's been like that for a while now.

Yeah, I'm an expert on Mets' system now. :)

As a matter of fact, if Mets have another crappy season, I would want them to suck enough to get 1st overall pick.

[Giantsfan1080]

Yeah that would work but we'd cheap it up somehow.

[MaxV]

OMG, this can't be happening.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120303&content_id=26980142&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym

[Giantsfan1080]

Same bad luck.

[Giantsfan1080]

Johan looked decent today. It's a good start.

[Giantsfan1080]

So it's opening day for the Mets and the minors!!! I'm hoping for 75-80 wins and our young pithers all dominate. Maybe Puello and Nimmo can take that a big step into prospect world also.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

The Minors will definitely be more fun. All I can realistically hope for out of the Mets this year is for Ike to be as studly as he looked last year, and for the true DWright to return.

[Giantsfan1080]

And for Duda to emerge!! Murphy, Wright, Davis, Duda top 4 really wouldn't be all that bad if they play up to their numbers.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Define emerge.

[Giantsfan1080]

Define emerge.

Sort of how Ike was mashing last year before that ridiculous injury. Or if Duda does what he did last year but over a full season.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I think .280/25/.355 is fair.

[Giantsfan1080]

I think .280/25/.355 is fair.

I'll sign up for that right now.

[MaxV]

Yeah, that would be very cool.

I'm hoping Valdespin takes a big step forward and takes over at SS.

[Giantsfan1080]

Can he play SS defensively? I always thought everyone really had him pegged as a 2B because his range wasn't all that good.

[MaxV]

He's a solid enough athlete, but makes some bone-headed plays.

He's just one of those players that has great all-around tools, but needs to learn to be a baseball player.

[Giantsfan1080]

I gather Torres is hurt already? Captain Kirk time!!

[LTgiants]

Ya Torres is hurt.

[Giantsfan1080]

Kirk Nieuwenhuis will be called up for Saturday's game.

[MaxV]

Nice start. I hope they keep it up.

I'm a bit worried about Ike not hitting.

[Giantsfan1080]

Nice start. I hope they keep it up.

I'm a bit worried about Ike not hitting.

Haha why? It's 4 games you know better than that.

[MaxV]

I'll take whatever I can get from the Big club.

Very encouraging start from a few prospects in the minors also.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Ike does indeed look awful, but no need to be worried yet.

[Giantsfan1080]

Our system is so void of any big bats it's awful. Thankfully we're pretty stacked pitching wise everywhere.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Our system is so void of any big bats it's awful. Thankfully we're pretty stacked pitching wise everywhere.


Exactly. Much safer buying bats in free agency (hopefully we're heading back to spending money) than arms anyway. Maybe we can pick up a stud hitter in the draft this year too.

[Giantsfan1080]

Exactly. Much safer buying bats in free agency (hopefully we're heading back to spending money) than arms anyway. Maybe we can pick up a stud hitter in the draft this year too.

Yeah I'd rather have it this way than vice versa. I hope Nimmo starting off in Extended isn't a sign of how he's looked so far. We could really use a good solid year from him.

[MaxV]

Our system is so void of any big bats it's awful. Thankfully we're pretty stacked pitching wise everywhere.

We'll see.

If by "big bats" you mean prospects with a lot of power potential, then you might be right, but there isn't a lack of position prospects with multiple tools.

[Giantsfan1080]

We'll see.

If by "big bats" you mean prospects with a lot of power potential, then you might be right, but there isn't a lack of position prospects with multiple tools.

Yeah I meant position prospects as a whole not just guys with big power. Aderlin does have 3 HR's already I believe.

[MaxV]

Position players are behind in the system, but I'm not sure I would call it barren.

[MaxV]

Jeez, starting with injuries early this year.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Any optimism after the first 4 games just went out the window.

[MaxV]

Nice start by Wheeler tonight.

[Giantsfan1080]

Nice start by Wheeler tonight.

Very nice. He got out of 2 bases loaded no out jams.

[MaxV]

One of the most talented young arms in the system, Domingo Tapia, had a great day yesterday.

I hope he develops, awesome arm.

[MaxV]

I hope this game doesn't mess with Kirk's confidence.

He looked very good up to today and looks like a good future player.

[Giantsfan1080]

Bay and Pelf to the DL on same day. Looks like Pelf will be heading to Mr. Andrews.

[MaxV]

Looks like Lutz and Schwinden will get their shots.

Pelf might have thrown his last pitch as a Met.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Bay and Pelf to the DL on same day. Looks like Pelf will be heading to Mr. Andrews.

The Mets are back!

[Giantsfan1080]

The best part of it though is if we could choose two poeple to be off the team it probably would have been those two Miguel Batista not withstanding.

[MaxV]

Kirk is probably staying up for now because of this also.

[MaxV]

Nice Comeback!

BTW Zak, you were right, hitting in our system is MUCH weaker then pitching right now.

[Giantsfan1080]

Nice Comeback!

BTW Zak, you were right, hitting in our system is MUCH weaker then pitching right now.

It's ok since some of the guys are up now like Kirk who I love. I love his all around game.

The pitching depth we have right now is insane though and I think that's more important.

[MaxV]

Nice sweep. Keep it up guys!

Mejia made his first start since the surgery. He went 5 efficient innings. During the Phillies game, Gary mentioned that he touched 95 on the gun.

I hope he gets back strong. He is still my favorite prospect.

[Giantsfan1080]

Yeah looking real solid so far. Let's hope they can keep it up.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

This past series was awesome.

[MaxV]

I hope Ike is finally breaking out. We can't go far without him.

[Giantsfan1080]

He'll get it together. I don't buy that it's the Valley Fever thing considering he never even had any symptoms.

It's good to see Wilmer Flores start hitting like we thought as well.

[MaxV]

On that subject, I'll post my very early top 10 prospect list:

1. Zack Wheeler (RHP)
2. Matt Harvey (RHP)
3. Jeurys Familia (RHP)
4. Kirk Nieuwenhuis (OF)
5. Jenrry Mejia (RHP)
6. Domingo Tapia (RHP)
7. Michael Fulmer (RHP)
8. Brandon Nimmo (OF)
9. Wilmer Flores (3b)
10. Cesar Puello (OF)


Definitely pitching dominated system. Even my 11-20 would probably be heavily pitching.

Savannah lineup is just an eye sore. Only my boy Travis Taijeron is worth following and he is 2 years too old for that level. They must really want to bring Nimmo and Evans slowly for them to not be in that lineup.

[Giantsfan1080]

Tapia and Wheeler with awesome games yesterday. Out pitching depth is going to be sick finally.

[MaxV]

Chris Young with a good rehab start also.

I don't know if he is the answer, but we need an upgrade at the 5th starter badly.

[Giantsfan1080]

Chris Young with a good rehab start also.

I don't know if he is the answer, but we need an upgrade at the 5th starter badly.

I'd call him up right away. Get as much of that arm as possible before he gets hurt again.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I'd call him up right away. Get as much of that arm as possible before he gets hurt again.

Seriously. Give him one more start in the minors just to stretch the arm a bit, then get him up here. No more Batista.

[Damix]

Saw Paul DePo talk at the conference I'm at for work today

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Saw Paul DePo talk at the conference I'm at for work today


Awesome. Anything interesting? I always enjoy reading his interviews. I know Baseball Prospectus has done a few.

[Damix]

Awesome. Anything interesting? I always enjoy reading his interviews. I know Baseball Prospectus has done a few.

Didn't talk about baseball too much, this is a conference for data migration and he talked about analytics and how he got started in them (non baseball sense)

Well spoken and interesting though.

[Giantsfan1080]

Wheeler with a kick ass start this afternoon.

8 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K 1.97 ERA

[ATLDirtyBirds]

And it was only the Pirates, but it was good to see Niese back on track.

[Giantsfan1080]

And it was only the Pirates, but it was good to see Niese back on track.

Yeah I'll take it especially when he hardly threw his curve today. Dickey great on Tuesday night also.