Mets Blowout Rockies 11-3 while Ending Wrights Slump

David Wright had gone 28 games without a home run. Jose Valentin hadn't had a multi-homer game in two years. Both players ended their power outages on Wednesday night as the Mets won their fourth in a row. Dave Williams pitched seven innings to notch his second win as a Met.

Former Met Prospect Victor Diaz gets Traded

The New York Mets today acquired minor league catcher Mike Nickeas from the Texas Rangers in exchange for outfielder Victor Diaz. Nickeas will report to St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League while Diaz will be assigned to Oklahoma (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League.

Nickeas, 23, appeared in 17 games with Bakersfield (A) of the California League this year, batting .297 (19-64) with six runs scored, four doubles and six RBI. Mike missed three weeks of action in May with a pulled hamstring before he was promoted to Frisco (AA) of the Texas League on May 28th. Nickeas hit .248 (28-113) with 15 runs scored, seven doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI with 21 walks and 22 strikeouts in 39 contests with Frisco.

Mike batted .202 (49-242) with seven doubles, one triple, five home runs and 24 RBI in 68 games with Frisco in 2005. He also, hit .286 (6-21) with one double, one home run and one RBI with the rookie-level Arizona Rangers.

Nickeas was named the best defensive catcher in the Rangers' organization by Baseball America in 2005.

The 6-0, 205-pounder was Texas' fifth round selection in the June, 2004 Free Agent Draft after spending
three years at George Tech.

Diaz, 24, was designated for assignment on August 22nd. He hit .224 (85-379) with 30 runs scored, 16 doubles, eight home runs, 38 RBI, 25 walks and 99 strikeouts in 103 games at Norfolk (AAA) of the International League.

Good deal, Diaz was a bust in my opinion who never lived up to the hype. Remember he was considered to challenge Nady for the starting job in Right Field in Spring Training

Floyd plays two games in St. Lucie

Cliff Floyd returned to game action on Tuesday in hurricane-threatened Florida -- the first step in what should be a brief rehab stay before rejoining the Mets. But Floyd may not be coming back to an everyday role when he returns.

"It will depend on how Cliff looks when he gets back," manager Willie Randolph said. "It will depend on how Cliff plays."

At least part of Randolph's wait-and-see approach to his left-field situation is due to Floyd's recent inactivity. Floyd has been on the disabled list since Aug. 15 with tendinitis in his left Achilles. He also spent much of June on the disabled list because of a sprained ankle, and as a result, his pedestrian season totals include a .245 average, 10 homers and 36 RBIs in only 80 games.

And with Endy Chavez playing excellent defense and contributing a .333 average, if not power, Randolph also wants to keep him in the mix.

"It's not about everyday this; it's not about everyday that," Randolph said. "We still want to keep Endy going."
In a doubleheader for Class A St. Lucie, Floyd went 0-for-3 in the opener and 2-for-3 in the second game.
Fearing the effects of Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Mets tried to get Floyd out of Florida and on to Brooklyn so he could continue playing without the threat of rainouts, but massive flight cancellations made it impossible.
Floyd could rejoin the Mets as soon as this weekend in Houston.

Pedro at work: Pedro Martinez began his stay in Florida with a throwing session on Tuesday, and assuming his rehab isn't delayed by Ernesto, the plan is to have him back for three or four regular-season starts prior to the playoffs. That's the number Randolph sees as satisfying both sides of the well-rested and still-sharp equation.
"His health is the most important thing," Randolph said. "His pitch count being down could be a blessing in disguise. It can't hurt. But you still have to have a certain sharpness and crispness to your game. We'll see if that comes back."

Matsui vs. Mets: For the first time since the June 9 trade that sent him to Colorado for Eli Marrero, Kaz Matsui faced his former teammates on Tuesday night.

Before he hit leadoff in the Rockies' order and played second base, Matsui said he had no hard feelings toward the Mets, and blamed himself for his struggles.

"I left the Mets because I didn't do well. I didn't make good results," Matsui said.
Upon hearing that assessment, Randolph agreed.

"That says it all right there," Randolph said. "It's nice that he was honest about it. That's it in a nutshell. I wasn't here for his first year [2004], so I can't speak for that. But he was hurt at times, and he struggled to produce. I liked the things he could do for us. I tried to get him in the lineup when he wasn't hurt. But it just didn't work out."

www.mets.com

Mets Win 10-5

Carlos Beltran established a new career high with his 39th home run of the season in the first, and the Mets never looked back. David Wright got back on track with three RBIs, two singles and a triple, and Jose Reyes homered and drove in two. Every Mets starter had at least one of their 15 hits.

Henry Owens represents Mets for Team USA

Henry Owens is representing the Mets as Team USA tries to qualify for the Olympics in Cuba. Ex-Met Mike Bacsik is also part of the team. Owens, from Miami, speaks Spanish fluently. His wife is of Cuban descent. He allowed one run in one inning yesterday as Team USA improved to 2-0 with an 8-7 win against Brazil. In the opener, Owens struck out both batters he faced to close out a 9-3 win against Canada. Next up: Aruba this afternoon.

Cyclones pay tribute to 26

Twenty-Six people, all of them born in 1926, stood by the pitcher's mound on Saturday night before the 6 p.m. Brooklyn Cyclones game.

It's not what you think; they weren't new additions to the lineup.

Those 26 people were on hand to throw out ceremonial first pitches as the Cyclones celebrated the record-setting 26-inning game they played last month with "A Salute to All Things 26."

Among the other highlights of the night were giveaways including $26 gift cards, a 26-inch TV, 26 gallons of gasoline, 26 cans of Spam, a chance to win $26,000, free bleacher seats for those born in 1926 or on the 26th day of the month, 26 cent hot dogs for the first 26 minutes after gates opened, etc.

"A Salute to All Things '26' " was a night to celebrate the New York Penn League record that the Brooklyn Cyclones set on July 20 by playing a 26-inning game, the longest in the league's history. The game lasted 6 hours and 40 minutes.

Mets Win 8-3

Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green knocked in two runs during a six-run third that was helped by two bunts and a controversial call reversal turning a foul ball into an RBI single. John Maine used the third-inning support and 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball to pick up his fourth win of the season.

Rained Out

Sunday afternoon's series finale between the Mets and Phillies at Shea Stadium was postponed by rain.
The game was rescheduled for Monday at 12:10 p.m. ET. Fans with tickets to Sunday's game may use them for Monday's makeup.

When to Expect Glavine Back

A week ago today, Tom Glavine sat in the cramped, leaky interview room at Shea Stadium and talked calmly about the possibility that his career could be over.So you’ll understand why Glavine was excited yesterday to climb the bullpen mound and throw for 20 minutes before the Mets played the Phillies. It was Glavine’s first real test of the coldness his left ring finger that led to fears of a blood clot in his pitching shoulder.

“There haven’t been too many times where I’ve looked forward to a simple game of catch like I did the last two days,” Glavine said. “Certainly I don’t look forward to throwing in the bullpen as much as I did today.”Glavine gave the finger the thumb’s up after the bullpen session and pronounced himself on schedule to return to the Mets’ rotation Friday in Houston.

The coldness isn’t gone, but Glavine said it “feels better than it did a week ago, so that’s a good sign. It seems like it actually feels better since I starting throwing.”Glavine will next perform his normal between starts routine, including another bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday in Denver.

“I’m on target to pitch Friday barring something unforeseen,” he said. “I feel good and assuming I continue to feel good, that will be the case.”

Mets win 11-5

A seven-run seventh inning brought the Mets back from a three-run deficit to even the series with the Phillies at a game apiece. Shawn Green and Endy Chavez each hit two-run doubles during the rally. Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado each delivered two-run homers earlier in the game.

Perez had a no- hitter through 4 innings but was very inconsistent. Giving up 5 runs and 5 walks in 5 innings.

Reyes MVP?

Jose Reyes has developed into such an offensive force from the top of the Mets' lineup that it's not a reach to suggest he'll earn some MVP votes and perhaps finish in the top 10.
Jose Reyes is on pace to hit .292 with 19 HR, 85 RBI, 23 triples, 34 doubles and 68 stole bases…the last shortstop to hit .300 with 50 stolen bases, 20 doubles, 15 triples and 10 home runs was Honus Wagner in 1908 for the Pirates…
"I think he could be," Randolph said. "That to me is what a real MVP is. You're crazy valuable when you can do all of those things and play defense. If I'm a manager, I want a guy that can do all of those things."

Oliver Perez

Oliver Perez will start tomorow for the mets for his first Mets Start. He will face Jon Lieber.
It will be intresting seeing how he does.

Mets loose 3-4

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run home run and doubled in another run, but the Mets dropped Friday's series opener, 4-3, to the Phillies. Beltran's 37th homer leaves him one shy of his career high. Brian Bannister returned from the DL, but suffered his first loss.

Paul Lo Duca selected as Mets Heart & Hustle Candidate

Paul Lo Duca was selected as the Mets candidate for the "Heart and Hustle" Award presented by the Major League Players Alumni Association.

"To be recognized by men who played the game, and to have Rusty present it to me is a special honor," said Lo Duca, a Mets fan when he was younger. "I know Rusty played the game the right way, and with all that he has done off the field for police and fire departments, it makes me appreciate it even more. Rusty was an idol of mine, and I followed him growing up. It's an honor to accept the award from him and to meet a great person who does a lot of things for the community, so it's a privilege to be mentioned in the same breath as Rusty." Lo Duca is one of 30 big-league players, one from each club, to be named a winner of the award.

Mets add Catcher Kelly Stinnett to replace Castro

The Mets have signed Kelly Stinnett to a minor-league contract, though it's probable he'll join the major-league team once rosters expand Sept. 1. Ramon Castro was transferred to the 60-day DL following knee surgery, but team officials don't rule him out of being ready for the postseason.
Stinnett is hittting .228, 9 rbi's, 1 hr, in 34 games.

Bannister is Back

Brian Bannister will be making his first start since April 26, when the righty went down with a hamstring injury. In his first game back, he'll face Randy Wolf and the Phillies on Friday.

TRISTAR to produce Minor League cards

Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP), licensing agent for Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and its member Clubs, and TRISTAR Productions Inc., one of the premier producers of sports collectibles and memorabilia, have reached a multi-year exclusive licensing agreement making TRISTAR the only trading card manufacturer licensed by MLBP to produce nationally-distributed trading cards of top draft picks and prospects within Minor League Baseball.

This new agreement, which introduces TRISTAR into the revamped Minor League Baseball trading card market, designates TRISTAR as the exclusive MLBP national trading card licensee with national distribution rights to produce the first professional base set cards of amateur players selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft as well as prospects signed as undrafted free agents.

The first TRISTAR Minor League Baseball card set, titled TRISTAR Prospects Plus, will debut in the fall of 2006 and will include the first pro baseball trading cards of players selected in the June 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft. This set will also mark the introduction of Minor League Baseball's "Pro Debut" firstcard identification program. The "Pro Debut" logo will identify a MiLB player's first professional baseball trading card with his first MiLB team. A special "Pro Debut" logo will be featured on cards depicting Minor League players with their introductory team. The "Pro Debut" program will complement the new MLBP Rookie Card program by helping card collectors seek and identify a MLB player's very first professional trading card before he makes the jump to the Major Leagues.

"We are thrilled to welcome TRISTAR Productions as the exclusive Minor League trading card resource," said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball Properties. "TRISTAR is a leader in the memorabilia industry and their commitment and experience will help to create excitement and exposure within the Minor League Baseball trading card category."

"We are extremely excited and honored to have been selected by Major League Baseball Properties as the exclusive producer of Minor League Baseball trading cards," said Jeff Rosenberg, President and CEO, TRISTAR Productions, Inc. "We have a team at TRISTAR with vast experience in the creation, production and collectability of baseball cards, and we look forward to working with Minor League Baseball to create excitement within the Minor League Baseball trading card category."

Special features in the upcoming TRISTAR card sets will include autographed cards signed by top prospects and game-used memorabilia cards. In addition, collectors will have the opportunity to collect cards of their favorite baseball greats in their Minor League uniforms. An example of a special card in the inaugural TRISTAR Fall 2006 release will be a special dual-signed Roger and Koby Clemens autographed card.

As a baseball card collector I am pumped. How Awsome does this sound!

Mets Sweep but Milledge sent down

The Mets were the victors as they completed their second straight series sweep 6-2 behind a solid effort by lefty Dave Williams and contributions from several members of the lineup, including Shawn Green, who had an RBI single in his Met debut. Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

My favorite Player Lastings Milledge was optioned to AAA Norfolk Tides after themets win of the Card's in order to make room for Brian Banister coming off the 60 day DL. At least their both young; Bannister 25 & Milledge 21

Outfielder Prospect Carlos Gomez

Big Mets Prospect Carlos Gomez
Born/resides: Santiago, Dominican Republic.
• Acquired: Signed as an international free agent in 1998.
• Age: 20.
• Ht/wt: 6-4/190.
• Bats/Thr: R/R.
• Makes the jump from low Single-A to Double-A. ... Named the third-best mets prospect in the mets organization by Baseball America. ... A five-tool player who Baseball America says is the fastest baserunner and has the best outfield arm in the organization. ... Stole 64 bases and hit .275 at Hagerstown last season. .... Was second in all of minor league baseball in stolen bases. ... Also hit eight home runs and drove in 48 runs. ... Expected to bat leadoff for the B-Mets. ... Named Hagerstown's MVP and was a South Atlantic League all-star. ... Signed his first pro contract when he was 16 years old. ... Raw talent who needs to refine his game. .... Three-year pro totals: .269, 10 home runs, 135 runs scored, 94 stolen bases.

St. Lucie

For the fourth straight year, the St. Lucie Mets set a new single-season attendance record with a crowd of 2,962 bringing their season total to 93,098 with six home games remaining.
The Mets' previous single-season attendance record was 91,382. The Mets are averaging 1,526 fans per game.
The St. Lucie Mets' attendance has increased every year since 1999. In the 18-year history of the St. Lucie Mets, they have drawn 1,243,613 fans.

Hot and Not

On Hot sheet at BaseballAmerica.com Delolis Guerra is ranked the 9th best prospect

9. Deolis Guerra, rhp, low Class A Hagerstown (Mets)
Hope Mets fans enjoyed the show, because Guerra's cheese smelled so good last week: no hits in five innings, though he walked six and struck out six. This 17-year-old has a 1.15 ERA in August and is 6-7, 2.20 overall with just 59 hits allowed in 82 innings.

While Fernando Martinez who I feel will be a future superstar has been icecold since being called up from Hagerstown and was on the The Not so Hot Sheet.

Fernando Martinez, of, high Class A St. Lucie (Mets)
Understand, we come not to bury Martinez . . . he's 17 and playing in the Florida State League. That's incredible, really. But he went 5-for-32 last week and is hitting .200 in the FSL so far (14-for-70). Just don't pencil him into the 2007 lineup in New York as Cliff Floyd's replacement, that's all we're saying. I was out a hagerstown suns double header in early july. Its a fun place to go with a couple great prospects though the team is not great

Welcome to The New Mets Prospects

Welcome to the new Mets Prospects. There was a previous one at prospects.metsblog.com but it was a free trial and it will run out soon. This site will give you all your mets news, minors and Prospect news you want.
To see a preview of what will come go to;
Prospects.metsblog.com

Enjoy