Soler Moves On

According to Adam Rubin Alay Soler is expected to sign with the Pirates, but is most likely going to be in the Minors.

More Cuts

Pitchers Philip Humber, Jason Vargas, Marcos Carvajal, Outfielder Carlos Gomez, Catcher Jose A. Reyes and DH Ruben Sierra were all assigned or optioned to minor-league camp.

March Madness!

March Madness is upon us! There is a decent amount of Mets who went to schools that are playing in the NCAA Tournement. There is Aaron Heilman (Notre Dame), Scott Schoeneweis (Duke), Mike DiFelice (Tennessee), Jason Vargas (Long Beach State), Joe Smith (Wright State), Tom Nieto (Oral Roberts) and Assistant GM John Ricco (Villanova).

By the way, the interview with Joseph Decaro of Mets Merized Online is now posted at his site.

Mets Release Soler

Alay Soler's difficult journey to Flushing has reached a dead end.

The Mets released the Cuban defector last night, the Daily News has learned. Soler, pitching in relief of Chan Ho Park yesterday, allowed two runs on three hits, including a Ryan Zimmerman homer, in 1-2/3 innings against the Nationals to lift his spring ERA to 8.22.

The Mets originally signed Soler, 27, to a $2.8 million contract in August 2004 after he fled Cuba. But Soler had visa difficulties. He also had major trouble with an agent, who was eventually suspended by the Players Association for withholding documents while trying to get an exorbitant cut of the deal.

Soler couldn't even enter the U.S. for the '05 season.

He pitched 45 innings for the Mets last year. His highlights came in June, when he picked up his first major-league win by limiting the Dodgers to one run in seven innings. He then tossed a two-hit shutout five days later in Arizona. He went 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA.

Soler would have been due $826,000 at the major-league level and $620,000 at Triple-A.
Link

Mets loose 9-6

Today the Mets lost to the Nationals by a score of 9-6. The Mets rallied from behind only to have Jon Adkins, who received the loss, give up 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and loose the game 9-6. Carlos Gomez had a hit as a pinch hitter and Lastings Milledge went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs which brought his spring training batting average to .345.

Catcher turned Pitcher

A year ago, Henry Owens was hot. Though he was 25, he was considered something of a young arm, even a pitching prospect. He produced a nice spring, enough of one that he Mets summoned him to the big leagues in July. The one-time catcher made enough of an impression that when the Mets made their annual trade with the Marlins, Owens was part of it, and now he has chance to be Florida's closer.
All that is a preamble to this: Joe Hietpas now is a one-time catcher, too. And he, too, is trying his hand -- his right hand, of course -- as a pitcher.

As a catcher, Hietpas was indentifed as a "catch-and-throw" guy, which is a delicate way to say he didn't hit much. A .208 average in 1,300 Minor League at-bats strongly suggests as much. Hietpas, 28 in May, topped out at .256 in 117 at-bats with Class A Brooklyn in 2002.

That was one year after the Mets selected him in he 16th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.

But the organization clearly has high regard for him. And who knows? In a couple of months, he may be a good-hitting pitcher.
Click Here for the Link

The Biggest Bust

Remember Victor "Miny Manny" Diaz ? I was thining about him lately and wondering where he is today. Diaz was traded in late august for catcher Mike Nickeas. Nickeas is a non-roster invitee to Mets Spring Training and was cut in the first wave. Diaz is now on the Rangers 40 man roster but a long shot to make the Rangers 25 man roster for the season. All I can think of is disappointment and what a bust.

Questions:

Recently, Joseph Decaro of Mets Merized Online asked me to answer these questions....

1. When all is said and done, which pitcher will have had the better career, Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber? Why?

Mike Pelfrey will have a better career simply because Phillip Humber is so injury prone. In Humber’s short career he has already needed Tommy John Surgery. I expect Pelfrey in the years to come to be a number 2 starter and believe he will continue to improve.

2. What can we expect from Mike Carp and when the time comes, will Carlos Delgado be re-signed by the Mets, or will Mike Carp take over for him at first base in 2009?

It is hard to say at this time if the Mets will resign Carlos Delgado. You can expect some good hitting from Mike Carp. He has power to all fields which is rarely seen at someone of his age. At this point, Carp is lacking defensively. His throws and glove are not always there. If Mike Carp continues to increase offensively and progresses defensively he might be looking at the future Mets First Base starting position.

3. We hear so much about Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez lately and how they will both be in the outfield of the future for the New York Mets. Considering that Carlos Beltran still has 5 years left on his contract, and that Lastings Milledge is also supposed to be the future of the team, what do you think the outfield look like in 2010 and why?

The Mets 2010 outfield is really up in the air. Carlos Beltran is almost a definite to still be the Mets starting Center Fielder due to the years left on his contract. Lastings Milledge will probably be the starting right fielder if he continues to improve and he will also have more experience than Gomez or Martinez. I hate to say it but it really looks like the Mets will end up trading either Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez for a solid young pitcher. My guess is it will be Gomez. Gomez is more likely to be traded because he is closer to the majors and is looked at as a Jose Reyes type player with a better build and perhaps more power. If Fernando Martinez lives up to his potential, he will be the Mets Starting Left fielder.

4. How would you rank the top five prospects in the Mets Minor Leagues?

1. Fernando Martinez
2. Carlos Gomez
3. Mike Pelfrey
4. Joe Smith
5. Ben Johnson
6. Mike Carp




5. It seems like the Mets somehow got the curse of the Bambino at second base (Baerga, Alomar, Matsui). I don't believe that Anderson Hernandez is the answer at second base, do the Mets have any second base prospects on the horizon in their minor league system?

Anderson Hernandez is really it. If he improves his bat I would be fine with him at second base. Remember that amazing catch he had last year. The only other option was Jeff Kepinger who they traded away last year.

6. Does Alay Soler have a future or a role with the New York Mets and if so what will it be?

Alay Soler could get his chance if he pitches well in Spring Training. He has shown excellence pitching having a 2 hit shutout against the Diamondbacks. He has a lot of experience from his pitching days in Cuba which could help him get an opportunity. I look at him as the John Maine of last year, not really being looked at but coming up big.

7. I loved Lastings Milledge from the time he first came up and hit that homerun and high-fived the fans. I also think he got a raw deal from the media. Do you think Lastings Milledge will make an impact this season on the Mets?

I think Lastings Milledge will have a major impact this season and will gain the starting right field role. Green has not shown up to hit, and if this continues look at Milledge to step up. He recently shaved hit head and said, “I’ve got to get my grown man on.” Now that shows maturity.
8. Why did the Mets Triple A team leave Norfolk after all those years and move all the way to New Orleans?

The Mets moved Triple A teams simply because their contract expired and was not resigned. Believe me; I am just as disappointed as everyone else to leave the Tides behind.

First Round of Cuts

Mark Hale at the New York Post reports on the Mets first round of cuts: The first round of cuts saw 14 players get sent down. The biggest ones were prospects Fernando Martinez, Francisco Pena and Kevin Mulvey. The other 11 were Michel Abreu, Chip Ambres, Adam Bostick, Drew Butera, Eddie Camacho, Willie Collazo, Joe Hietpas, Victor Mendez, Clint Nageotte, Mike Nickeas and Jorge Vasquez.

Mets Sign Wil Cordero

The Mets have signed free-agent 1B Wil Cordero to a minor-league contract. Cordero last played with the Nationals in 2005 and batted .118 with 2 RBIs in 51 at-bats.

Why Shawn Green should be Replaced

Shawn Green is 34 years old and on the downside of his career. Since 2004 Green is averaging less RBIs, Batting Average, Home Runs, Runs, and Walks. Green has also done poorly as a Met in his short stay; .257 avg. and 15 RBIs in 34 games. This Spring Training Green has started extremely slow with 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 0 hits in 13 at bats. I know it’s only the beginning of spring training but let’s be realistic, how much can the Mets really expect out of Shawn Green this Season. His bat is worse, he's slow, and not very adept in the field. That is why I am predicting this is the year for Lastings Milledge.

Lastings Milledge hype has cooled down but I’m still high on it. Although Milledge did not perform as expected last year there should be no concern. He was 21 years old and a rookie in the Big Leagues. This year he realizes that he needs to step up.

People have said that Milledge drops his shoulder and swings under the ball. That is somewhat true. He does have a habit of upper cutting. But an upper cutting Lastings Milledge is more valuable than an aging Shawn Green. Lastings Milledge would most likely put up better numbers or at least similar numbers to Green. On top of his hitting Milledge is much more defensively sound with a superior arm and speed. In the process Milledge could also mature and possibly become the player he is destined to be. If that doesn’t work out the Mets could always just trade him .

Milledge the Artist

Lastings Milledge not only is a rising star in baseball, but also has his own record label. For more, Read This.

Mets Beat Astros 7-2

In todays win against the Astros Mike Carp had a giant performance. He was was 2–for-4 with two doubles and five RBI. I recently talked about Mike Carp on Febuary 8th where I gave a bio of him. He has some serious power to all fields which is rarely seen for someone at his age. Shawn Green was hitless in 3 at bats today and is 0 for 13 on the season. Another highlight was Carlos Gomez hitting a solo home run in the 9th.

Mike Carp Bio

Your Killing Me Humber!

Not the best outing for Mets Prospect Phillip Humber today against the Orioles. In 1 inning he gave 3 hits and 5 runs! Dissapointing to say the least. At least John Maine pitched well going 2 innings, giving up 1 hit and 0 runs. Lastings Milledge was 2 for 4 and Ben Johnson recieved 1 hit in 4 at bats. Anderson Hernandez and Mike Carp were both hitless in their 3 at bats. The Mets lost by a score of 3 to 6.

So far Ben Johnson and David Newhan

We are three games into spring training. At this point not much has been seen. Though, Ben Johnson along with David Newhan are starting off very well. Mets Prospect Ben Johnson, who is 25 years old, has a chance to be on the bench with a strong bat. He is 3 for 5 in 2 games with 2 runs. Personally, I really like this guy. He has a solid bat with a lot of offensive potential. David Newhan is 2 for 7 but he has managed to be very productive. He has two sacrifices in which he recieved RBIs for both. In todays game he had the two-out, three-run triple and a bases-loaded, two-run single to tie it up in the ninth. Overall Newhan has 6 RBIs in 3 games played and 7 at bats.

Gomez and Martinez

So far in spring training Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez have had their hype raise even more. There has been a plethora of links about these two young outfield prospects. Here is why:

Gomez is 6 foot 4, almost 200 pounds. The reason why he is so valued is because of his speed and power. Carlos Gomez told Adam Rubin that in races "He wins sometimes. Ten times, I win seven." Not only is he amazingly fast he has alot of potential power because of his size. Beltran admitted in a report to Ken Rosenthal that "He's more talented than I was at his age. He weighs about 200 pounds. When I was that age, I maybe weighed 175. He's a very strong kid." Also Gomez has a powerful arm throwing from the center field wall to third base on a one hopper in yesterdays intersquad game.

Links for Carlos Gomez Articles:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6509536
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/500852p-422367c.html

Fernando Martinez is 6 feet and 180 punds. Scouts really love his hitting. He has very good power to left and center field which is impressive from any hitter none the less an 18 year old.
He is a very advanced hitter for his age which is allowing him to quickly move through the minor league system. Martinez will mostly likely start this season in AA Binghamton.

Links for Fernando Marinez Articles:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6509536
Here

Away

I appoligize for not writing any articles in a week but I was in vactation in Arizona. During my vacation I broke my ankle. Because of my broken ankle I will have more time to update Mets Prospects and will be posting more articles more often.