Spring Training, Finally!

Spring Training is finally upon us. Spring training is great because it prepares older players for the regular season while showcasing future talents. This year the Mets have a decent amount of talent some of whom have an actual chance of making the team.

Lefty Jon Niese and hard throwing righty Bobby Parnell arguably have the greatest chance to make the team. Parnell who relies on his mid 90s fastball needs to show he has improved his breaking pitches and is a more complete pitcher then last season. Niese has to show that he is more consistent and can truly handle being in the majors. Niese was rushed up to the Mets after making only a few starts in AAA. Niese started 3 games for the Mets while struggling in 2 and pitching 8 scoreless innings in the other game. Niese has a shot to be the 5th starter but he needs to outpitch solid competitors in veterans Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, and Tim Redding.

Fernando Martinez is once again in camp. He is another year old and closer to finally reaching the Mets. Martinez has tremendous tools but has had problems staying healthy. Many people think Martinez will be called up around July but if he has a good spring he could reach the Mets even sooner.

The Mets have many other prospects in camp like Brad Holt and Dillon Gee, arguably there 2 best pitching prospects. Both will not make the team but it will give them good experience and a chance to show off there potential. Strong hitting catcher Josh Thole and shortstop Jose Cornado will also be in camp to name a few more prospects. Thole has been getting increasingly more popular as hit bat is improving and he might have surpassed Francisco Pena as the Mets top catching prospect.

Putz trade in the end

Earlier this off season the Mets acquired JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed and Sean Green for Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith, Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas, Mike Carp, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and righty pitcher Maikel Cleto. Right now the trade seems like a steal but I would like to take a closer look to see who the Mets really gave up.

Everyone knows the big name players whom the Mets surrendered to the Mariners and Indians like Smith, Chavez, and of course Heilman. But many people do not know the young prospects who were traded and what their future might hold.

The top prospect the Mets gave up is first baseman and future DH Mike Carp. Carp is known for his bat and hit .299 with 17 home runs and 72 rbis last year for AA Binghamton as a 22 year old. Carp was highly regarded in before the 2007 season and was invited to spring training, but during the season he injured his hand and struggled in the power category for sometime afterwards. His lack of power was shown when Carp hit .243 and had 0 home runs in 2007 in the Arizona Fall League and still managed to be the AFL Prospect Team. Carp had a strong 2008 season which allowed to be used as the high chip prospect in this deal.

Lefty Jason Vargas was acquired in November of 2006 along with pitcher Adam Bostick in exchange for right-handed relievers Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom. Vargas had a lot of potential when he arrived in New York but never lived up to it. He spent most of his time in AAA. In 2007 he started 2 games for the Mets, but he allowed 14 runs in 10.1. Vargas missed all of 2008 with injuries but faired well in the AFL as he had a 2.1 era. Vargas isn’t the young talent he was a few years back and at 26 years of age he better get it together if he wants to make it in the big leagues. I wouldn’t even really call Vargas a prospect anymore but he would be considered the 4 prospect in the deal.

Ezequiel Carrera is a pretty good outfielder with a lot of speed. He hit 263 in 2008 while stealing 28 bases. The 21 year old also managed 11 doubles, 12 triples, and 7 homeruns which shows he can hit for average and power and uses the entire field, indicated by the amount of triples. Carrera has also had high on base percentages, .344 in 2008. He had a pretty good amount of potential and is the number 2 prospect in the trade.

Maikel Cleto is a young 19 year old pitcher who pitched decently in 2008 for A- savannah. Cleto relies heavily on his fastball, as most young pitchers due. He allowed 140 hits, 34 walks, 81 strikeouts with a 4.25 era in 135.2 innings for the Gnats. He often struggles with his control which can be seen by the high number of hits and more importantly he surrendered 25 wild pitches. As a young pitcher he has to get better control of his good fastball and needs to become more comfortable with his breaking balls if he wants to find success. He is the number 3 prospect in the deal.

Pinch Hit Home Run

In tonight’s Caribbean Series game of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico Mets Prospect Fernando Martinez put the Dominicans ahead with a pinch hit 2 run homer. This put the Dominican Republic on top where they won 2-1.

The Mets have several players in the Caribbean Series. On the Dominican Team: pitcher Valerio De Los Santos, catcher Salvador Paniagua, and Fernando Martinez. On Puerto Rico: Catcher Robinson Cancel and outfielder Jesus Feliciano

Bowman to represent Canada

When Shawn Bowman was 20 years old he was considered one of the New York Mets top prospects. Bowman just had a career year for the A Capital City Bombers putting up 19 home runs, 69 rbis, and 66 runs while batting .258 in 110 games as he carried his team to an 89-47 record. The following year Bowman couldn’t maintain his success batting .221 but he was still had pop in his bat as he bombed 17 homeruns with 53 rbis in 87 games for St. Luicie. But by the end of the2005 season Bowman had chronic back pain which ended up taking the next two and half years to rid of.

As the 2008 season arrived Bowman was not the highly noted hitting prospect he was 4 years prior. He had not been healthy in two and a half years and had a lot to prove. With all the doubt about his health and if he still had any potential Bowman hit .340 in 26 games for St. Lucie but had lost most of his power only knocking 2 home runs and 11 rbis. He then was promoted to AA where he struggled, batting .248 with 2 home runs and 10 rbis in 29 games.

This fall Bowman was invited to play in the prestige’s Arizona Fall League. He didn’t see a lot of playing time but Bowman made the most out of it. In 37 at bats Shawn hit .297 with 2 homes runs and 0 strikeouts. As the 2009 season roles around Bowman should start the season in AA Binghamton and hopefully end up in AAA buffalo by seasons end.

A 6 foot 2 third baseman, Shawn Bowman has some pop to go along with a decent bat. Bowman has a tendency to strikeout (110 strikeouts in87 games in 2005, 35 strikeouts in 29 games in 2008) while drawing few walks showing poor plate discipline. He is not the same hitter he was 4 years ago which makes his future less promising. He could end up being a pretty good bench player but if he wants to make it he needs to fix his discipline problem and stay healthy. Bowman will also play for team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and this could be a good opportunity to show his stuff.

Ranked 17

Recently the Mets Farm System was ranked by ESPN.com while placing 17th.
"It took a few major trades, but their system finally has thinned. Their international scouting department has saved the system, with three of their top six prospects (Fernando Martinez, Wilmer Flores and Jefry Marte) all coming via that route. Keep an eye on Brad Holt, a potentially fast mover from the 2008 draft whose curveball is improving."

Everyone knows about Fernando Martinez as he has been regarded as the Mets top prospect for awhile now but Flores and Marte both have tremendous potential. Both are very young and had very strong season's last year so this upcoming year will be especially important.

A Gun Slinger Named Holt:

Okay before I go into why I think Bradley Holt is the closest thing to a pitching sure shot in the Mets lower farm system, let me have a little fun with just his name. It holds no true value and certainly does not have a check box next to a player evaluator in any scouting system anywhere. But come on. “Now taking the mound Bradley Holt.” “The Holt 45.” “And the Braves playoff run has come to a screeching Holt.” I admit that last one was a stretch but you have to admit the guy has a good baseball name. This being said, I am still dumbfounded that a guy who’s name was (and to my knowledge still is)Butch Husky is not preparing his hall of fame speech right now. So we better play it safe and look at the player. Just in case the name doesn’t pan out.
Born: October 13, 1986. Sorry, that is the second time that October of 1986 has come up and it has been eating me alive trying to remember why that month and year are so important to me.

Drafted: 2008 Compensatory pick out of the University of North Carolina. Worthy of note, the draft pick the Mets got for not resigning Tom Glavine after he concluded his Mets career with “Just like any other game. Do I have enough sky miles to fly me and my family back to Atlanta?”

Vitals: Throws right handed (How rare…) Builds around his fast ball. Radar reports vary but most have his heater in the 91-94 range. Throws 3 pitches for strikes and this time next year it should be four.
Took a perfect game into the 6th inning of his second professional start.

Stats: 14 Starts all with the Brooklyn Cyclones. 5W 3L – 1.87 ERA – 96 K – 72.1 IP –
It should also be noted that as endearing as a 1.87 ERA is on July 29, 2008 he gave up 7 walks, 3 hits, 3 earned runs in 3.1 innings of work. His ERA for a day when he could not get out of the 4th inning was 8.10 he still managed 2 strikeouts. What I like to see here is: In the previous game he went 6 innings gave up no earned runs and struck out 14 on July 24. The lousy game happened. How did he respond? With pure heart. On August 3rd he went six strong innings giving up one run, 4 hits, 3 walks and struck out 5. This tells me? He had a bad start. Shook it off. Made adjustments i.e. he only struck out 5 and relied more on his brain than he did his arm. Without the game on July 24, his ERA would have been around 1.25.

Potential: I had to be careful when I did my first write up on Josh Thole because between the time I started to research him and the time I started to write, a buzz had begun to … well buzz. This time I am pulling no punches. I have seen Holt pitch in person he appears to have the heart of a lion and the brain of a UNC graduate.
X Factor: another thing you can’t research on the web, is this kid’s determination and ability to make adjustments. He already seems to have the on field demeanor of a big leaguer. In my opinion it is just a Question of when. I predict Citi Field in some capacity by 2010. You heard me. That is the season after next.

Up-Side: He did four years in college so is likely on the fast track. I don’t think he will need more than 75-85 innings in AA ball before people start to talk. He possesses tremendous control of his fastball to the point were I would almost say he throws 2 different fast balls as well as a change up. Very high ceiling. Just for comparison, I did not see as much potential in Pelfrey or Heilman after they were drafted. I won’t discuss the gentleman down in Tampa who I saw a lot of potential in as well.

Down-Side: Secondary pitches take time to develop, and even more time to master. At this stage in his career he seems to reach for the fastball a little to soon and often when the count does not necessarily call for an out pitch yet. Big leaguers will see that and make him pay in sums of great pride. He needs to spend next year mastering his secondary pitches. He does have the motion and build to throw a good cutter (that’s a cut fast ball to all of you non catchers out there, and a slider to anybody over the age of fifty. Maybe he can start to develop one of those.

The Mets Very Own Joe Maur? Or The Curse Of The Soutpaw?

Josh Thole played most of the year behind the plate in Port St. Lucie and had been selected to the Florida State League Mid –Season and post season All Star team. Mr. Thole is presently playing in the winter leagues and from what I have read thus far, his numbers in winter ball are likely to improve before I am done typing. (7:56 a.m. November 14, 2008)
Born: October 28, 1986 – Now what do I remember most about October of ’86. I forget
Drafted: 2005 player draft. 13th round (389 overall).
Born: 10/28/1986
Vitals: Bats Left Throws Right. 82 point disparity between batting average and on base percentage. Struck out 38 times in 347 at bats. (Puts ball in play almost 90%)
Stats: St Lucie 2008: .300 avg. -111 games – 347 AB – 49 R – 104 H – 25 2b– 2 3b - 5 HR – 56 RBI – 45 BB – 2 SB. - .427 SLG.
AFL 2008: (up to the minute) .368 avg. – 16 g– 58 AB – 15 R – 21 H – 1 2b – 2 HR – 15 RBI – 1 SB for good measure. He only struck out 4 times in 58 at bats. Did I mention that he has plate discipline?

Potential: Difficult to predict as he has not played AA ball as of yet. With main focus on patience and pitch selection possible spring training invite, subsequent promotion to Binghamton. He could work his way north to Buffalo as soon as July 2009. Then its anybodies' guess. His numbers in the AFL are starting to create a little buzz. Trade bait? Could he be the future starting catcher at Citi Field? Back up catcher to big league club? We must keep in mind that the area behind the plate wherever the Mets play is the closest piece of real estate the Mets have to the coveted centerfield at Yankee Stadium. And we sure do have an affection for our own home grown talent.
I would need to see more at the higher levels to be definitive. I hope he gets an invite to spring training because I plan to make a few trips down there next year. I would need to see the way he calls a game against A-level big leaguers.
Up-Side: Patience and plate discipline (or didn't I mention that.Josh batted .667 in 12 at bats vs. left handed pitching in the AFL. Lefty against Lefty, advantage: Pitcher)
X-Factor Josh has only recently become a full (or most of the) time catcher. When it comes to defense behind the plate, I do not trust any other reports but my own. As a catcher myself, I need to be in the building to see his a) Footwork. b) Arm. More specifically how he gets his throws off. Are his throws merely academic? or does he have that look in his eyes that every good catcher should have? The look that sees the runner and says “Dead.”
A possible“Down Side” believe it or not is the fact that he bats left handed. I have never seen any organization with this problem, but the Mets have too many left handed everything. This may prove a short term disadvantage but when all is said and done if the player rises to the league and does not wait for the league to lower itself to the player (which seems to be the case in the early stages) there will be room for him. Hell we learned to live with a left handed batting catcher for a good chunk of the big club's season this year. But this could be an eventual...
Down Side He was drafted in 2005 and has not crossed A-ball. Again, in a world where lefties are rare, and even more rare in baseball players, the Mets have found a way to have too many. (The best example I can think of to elaborate on this point just in cas I haven't beat it to death and again back to life is, Ryan Church of the big club. The man went through hell to get back on the field, having began to prove his critics wrong by hitting left handed pitching at the beginning of the season, returns just in time to have to face southpaws in six of his first seven starts. The Transition may have been easier if they did not already have Delgado, Chavez, Schneider and often Daniel Murphy in the same lineup) Of course this is the kind of problem baseball teams generally wish for. And considering how patient he is at such a young age this should be no great obstacle.
Finally: Consider this, there were 2 catchers selected in the first round that year and by the 79th pick (all supplemental rounds included) 6 catchers had been selected. This was also the same draft that brought us such names as Ryan Braun, Jacoby Elsbury, Ryan Zimmerman, Troy Tulowiyski, Clay Bucholz and the Mets own Mike Pelfrey. Surely this could be a draft were a great talent was overlooked until the mid rounds. Anybody remember a Mets back stop who was drafted with the last pick of the last round (as a favor to Tommy Lasorda I might add.. well I did add) by the Dodgers in the early 90s? All told, I like the numbers this kid is putting up. I must admit to being (on ocasion) a little too optimistic when it comes to Mets farm hands because the first name I think of when I see a lefty hitting catcher is Joe Maur. I will conveniently overlook the offensive numbers of the Mets present (8:32 a.m. November 13, 2008) catcher, also a lefty.

F-Mart Update:

Fernando Martinez has been dominating the Dominican winter league. In 41 at bats, Martinez is hitting .341 with 2 home runs, 3 doubles, and a triple.

Rising Stars Game

In the National League Rising Stars 7-6 win over the American League Stars Josh Thole had the game tying hit in the top of the ninth on an rbi single. Eddie Kunz had a blown save pitching .2 innings allowing 2 hits and a walk. Daniel Murphy also had a walk in his only plate appearance.

F-Mart Update:

Fernando Martinez has played solid baseball in the last week. After starting the season 2 for 9, Martinez has recorded 7 hits in 21 at-bats and has a 5 game hitting streak. More importantly, 3 of hits 7 hits have been doubles and Martinez has just 3 strikeouts which shows he is putting the ball in play and is not over matched.

Greg Veloz Struggles

Greg Veloz has continued to struggle over the last few weeks. Veloz, who at one point was hitting in the low/mid .300s, is now batting just .233 and .129 in his last 10 games. The 20 year old had a good year in A- Savannah batting .286 with 25 doubles and 28 steals in 111 games. He closed out the year playing 21 games in the hitter friendly A Florida State League but he only managed a .234 with a double and a steal.

As one of the top second base prospects for the Mets, Veloz is a raw athletic player with a ton of potential. He has good gap power which can be seen in his statistics for doubles and triples. Though Veloz needs to work on his strikeouts as he put up 113 combined St. Lucie/Savannah in 132 games. Scouts have also said that he is a little shaky on defense but he is only 20, and he is one of the Mets better second base prospects along with Reece Havens, Hector Pellot, and Emanuel Garcia. Though, at this point in time I would call him the top second base prospect. So now that Veloz is struggling, look to see how he bounces back and see how resilient the young kid is.

AFL Update:

Peo Saguaros won 8-1 today. Bobby Parnell had a solid start pitching 4 innings of 1 hit, no run ball. Tobi Stoner pitched a scoreless 8th inning while Eddie Kunz surrendered the only run of the game after walking 2 hitters and giving up a hit in the 9th. Shawn Bowman went 0-4 as the only Mets farmhand position player in the game.

On top of this Daniel Murphy, Josh Thole, and Eddie Kunz have been named to the Arizona Fall League's "Rising Stars Game" which will be Friday night in Surprise, Ariz.

Murphy and Thole playing well

In todays 11-18 Peo Saguaros loss Dan Murphy and Josh Thole both had multiple hit games. As the only two mets prospects to play in the game Murphy went 3 for 5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 rbis. After an average start to the season Thole is 7 for his last 11 including 2 hits and a run in todays game and is now batting .421 without a strikeout.

Hawaii League Update:

Greg Veloz has just 2 hits in last 17 at bats shrinking his average to .259. Veloz has really struggled lately as is hitting just .156 in his last 10 games (32 at bats). Ruben Tejada apparently left Sundays game in the fourth inning. He is hitting .318. More information will be available on his status when known.

On the flip side pitchers Scott Shaw and Roy Merrit are continuing there success. Shaw has shown great stuff and good command in his 15.2 innings pitched. He has accounted 19 strikeouts and has prevented base runners from reaching base which can be seen in his very low whip of 0.38. Merrit has an era of 2.19 with 14 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.

In Josh Stinson's last start he gave up 5 runs in 2.1 innings. But other than that Stinson has pitched well as he only allowed 1 run in his other 3 starts. Junior Guerra has been average since giving up 5 runs in an inning on October 7th. He now has an era of 7.59.

Dominican Winter League

Argenis Reyes and Fernando Martinez began playing for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League. The season started last week and Martinez is 2 for 9 while Reyes is 3 for 15.

Kunz Good and Bad

Eddie Kunz has been great thus far in the Arizona Fall League except for 1 game. In 5 of Eddie's 6 games he did not surrender a run. But on October 17 against the Mesa Solar Sox Kunz allowed 8 earned runs on 7 hits in .1 innings giving him an era of 216 for the game. After a good scoreless outing today Kunz has an era of 13.50.

I have seen this out of Kunz a lot in his short minor league career. He has pitched well very often but he usually will have an outing where he just doesn't have it while getting bombed. In order to be an effective relief pitcher, especially if he wants to be a setup man or closer in the majors, Kunz needs to learn how to pitch when he doesn't have his good stuff. So as Kunz continues to progress, keep an eye out to see if these occasional horrendous outing continue.

Saguaros Win Again

Last night Saguaros of the AFL won 8-2. In the win Bobby Parnell started the game. He struggled going only 1.1 innings allowing 2 runs on just 1 hit but surrendered 4 walks. He was then replaced by Jason Vargas who has an impressive game as he held Phoenix scoreless in 3.2 innings of no hit ball.

On the offensive side Murphy, Bowman, and Thole started. Murphy was 0-4 with a walk and a run lowering his average to .429. Bowman was 2 for 5 with a run and a strikeout which gives him a .400 average on the short season thus far. Thole had his best day yet as he was able to snag 2 hits in 4 at bats and pick up a rbi. He now is batting .250