Mets Minor League Blog Report 9-16-08
Toby Hyde
In this issue
- See you in Buffalo
- Sterling Awards one-by-one
1. Buffalo Herd = Future Mets
At his Daily News Blog in his postgame entry, Adam Rubin wrote: “Look for Buffalo to announce Monday that it’s the Mets’ new Triple-A affiliate. Sorry, Syracuse.”
Earlier Monday, in the Buffalo News, Mike Harrington in the Buffalo News wrote:
It looks like Buster Bison is getting set to greet Mr. Met in Dunn Tire Park.
Deals can't be officially negotiated until Thursday but all signs are pointing toward the New York Mets becoming Buffalo's new parent in 2009.
2. Sterling Awards
Here's a breakdown of each Sterling Award Winner.
Players of the Year
Dan Murphy LF/1B/2B/3B
MLB: .360/.448/.528, 7 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 15 BB, 16 K – 89 AB, 37 G
AA: .308/.374/.496, 26 2B, 3B, 13 HR, 39 BB, 46 K – 357 AB, 95 G
What he is: a good MLB hitter, and a productive Met
Where he came from: The Mets 13th round pick in 2006 out of Jacksonville University
When he grows up: I hope an above average 2B. Murphy has been a big help to the Mets in 2008, but is unlikely to hit .360 forever. If you subtract 70 points from his MLB line he drops to .290/.380/.460, which looks a little more realistic. NL leftfielders have averaged .271/.350/.455 in 2008, so put Murphy in LF and he’s an average player. However, he’s a converted infielder who played a little bit at secondbase in AA. He showed some aptitude for the position. He made the routine plays and hung in well on double plays. His range is the question, but the Mets have made do with below average defense at second all year. The value of his bat would be maximized at the keystone where the position average is .269/.336/.406.
Nick Evans LF/1B
MLB: .270/.305/.400, 10 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 22 K – 100 AB, 43 G
AA: .311/.365/.561, 18 2B, 7 3B, 14 HR, 26 BB, 64 K – 296 AB, 75 G
What he is: a valuable weapon against lefties, and a developing MLB hitter
Where he came from: The Mets 5th round pick in 2004 out of St. Mary’s HS
When he grows up: He’s a potential contributor to a good team either in an OF corner or at 1B, although he might be best suited to be the righty half of a platoon. Evans was clearly overmatched when the Mets, in desperate need for an outfielder in May, while hitting.226/.242/.323 in his first 31 AB. Over his last 69 AB, he’s hit a more robust .290/.333/.435 with seven doubles and his first big league homer. In 2008, Evans has displayed significant platoon splits in both AA and the big leagues.
|
AA |
|||||
|
|
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
AB |
|
Vs. L |
.366 |
.438 |
.699 |
1.137 |
93 |
|
Vs. R |
.286 |
.330 |
.498 |
.828 |
203 |
|
MLB |
|||||
|
|
AVG |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
AB |
|
Vs. L |
.338 |
.386 |
.508 |
.893 |
65 |
|
Vs. R |
.143 |
.158 |
.200 |
.358 |
35 |
I’m sympathetic to the argument that we’re dealing with small sample sizes, but the pattern is clear over almost 400 AB.
Other candidates for the Sterling Organization Player of the Year Award: Wilmer Flores
Pitcher of the Year
Jonathan Niese LHP
AA: 6-7, 3.04 ERA, 22 GS, 124.1 IP, 118 H, 53 R, 42 ER, 5 HR, 44 BB, 112 K, 1.5 gb/fb
AAA: 5-1, 3.40 ERA, 7 GS, 39.2 IP, 34 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 32 K, 1.66 gb/fb
What he is: At age 21, the Mets fifth starter, who was dominant in his last start.
Where he came from: Drafted in the 7th round in 2005 out of Defiance HS (OH).
When he grows up: Niese, is relatively close to being a finished product. He added a cut fastball this year to combat righties, who OPSed 117 points higher than lefties against him in AA. He works off an average fastball for a lefty with a plus curveball. His continued refinement of his command will dictate how effective an MLB starter he will be.
Other Good Candidates: LHP Michael Antonini, who started the year in Savannah and ended in Binghamton after stopping in St. Lucie had a nice year, combining for a 9-7 record and a 2.77 ERA across the three levels, but Niese was the clear choice.
AAA: Brian Stokes RHP
AAA: 10-8, 4.41 ERA, 23 G, 22 GS, 130.2 IP, 124 H, 74 R, 64 ER, 7 HR, 48 BB, 97 K
MLB: 1-0, 3.08 ERA, 17 G, 1 GS, 26.1 IP, 24 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 4 HR, 6 BB, 20 K
What he is: a pleasant surprise who will likely make his second MLB start Wednesday
Where he came from: acquired for cash from TB 11/28/07; signed by TB as a non-drafted free agent 10/2/98
When he grows up: Stokes is grown up. In the big leagues, he’s thrown a fastball that has sat at 93-94 mph, a slider and a changeup. This is the same pitcher who put together a 7.07 ERA in 62.1 innings in the Tampa pen, which was dreadful, in 2007. Note that Stokes has struck out over a batter an inning in the big leagues. The last time he struck out more than batter per inning was back in 2005 in four rehab starts for advanced class-A Visalia when he was rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery.
Other Good Candidates: Fernando Tatis, Valentino Pascucci, Chris Aguila
AA: Mike Carp 1B/LF
AA: .299/.403/.471, 29 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 79 BB, 88 K – 478 AB, 134 G
Carp’s .874 OPS and his .403 OBP were both fourth in the Eastern League and his .497 SLG was ninth. Carp was the 2006 Organization Player of the Year.
What he is: a 22 year old left handed hitter who had a big bounce back after a 2007 destroyed by injuries. Two reasons for optimism about his future: he’s still relatively young, and controlled the strike zone well.
Where he came from: Mets 9th round pick in 2004 from Lakewood (CA) HS
When he grows up: Carp still has the potential to be a major league contributor at 1B, but has a number of things to work on in AAA in 2009:
- Get in better shape. This will help every facet of his game.
- Hit lefties. In 2008, he put up an OPS of .911 against righties and .792 against lefties.
- Improve defensively. Scouts enjoyed knocking Carp’s defense, especially in left, but if he gets himself in better shape, he’ll at least be a more agile defender.
- Be more consistent/mentally tougher. I usually hate it when analysts say a player must be “more consistent.” In most cases, what they’re really saying is that the player needs to be consistently better. However, check out Carp’s July and August:
July: .260/.390/.340, 2 2B, 2 HR – 100 AB
August: .289/.435/.567 10 2B, 3B, 5 HR – 97 AB
My sneaking suspicion is that a fair amount of early season media attention followed by the promotion of Nick Evans to the big leagues distracted Carp in July.
Other Good Candidates: Murphy, Evans and Niese won organization wide honors
A+: Dillon Gee RHP
A+: 8-6, 3.25 ERA, 21 GS, 127.1 IP, 117 H, 49 R, 46 ER, 6 HR, 19 BB, 94 K
AA: 2-0, 1.33 ERA, 4 GS, 27 IP, 18 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 20 K
Gee’s 3.25 ERA was 7th best in the FSL.
What he is: A 22 year old RHP who had a very nice 2008 with superb control. Gee is a three pitch guy working off a 89-91 mph fastball, an soft curveball (69-75) and a changeup which had some movement the night I saw him in Florida.
Where he came from: The Mets drafted Gee in the 21st round in 2007 from UT-Arlington
When he grows up: It’s impossible to project stardom for a righty with a fringy fastball. However, Gee throws so many strikes that he cruised up to double-A in his first full professional season, and for a 21st round draft pick, that’s a success story in itself. He should begin 2009 where he ended 2008; with the B-Mets.
Other Good Candidates: None really. Dylan Owen was a possibility
A: Greg Veloz
A: .286/.339/.402 25 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 32 BB, 93 K, 28/40 SB – 455 AB, 111 G
A+:.234/.298/.247, 1 2B, 0 HR, 7 BB, 20 K – 77 AB, 21 G
Veloz was the 2006 DSL Sterling Award Winner
What he is: A 20-year-old switch hitting 2B with plus speed.
Where he came from: Signed as a NDFA from the DR 3/3/06
When he grows up: Veloz will start 2009 back in St. Lucie, where he will need to improve on his plate discipline if he is to develop into a threat at the top of the order. Veloz has shown some ability to adapt. After a .171/.243/.235 showing the SAL to begin 2007, he recovered in the Appy League and then improved on that line in each half in 2008 when he hit .258/.304/.352 in 267 AB before the All-Star Break and .324/.388/.473 after.
Other Good Candidates: None. Veloz was the clear choice.
SSA: Brad Holt
SSA: 5-3, 1.87 ERA, 14 GS, 72.1 IP, 43 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 3 HR, 33 BB, 96 K
What he is: At 6’4” and 200lbs, the 21-year-old Holt is the best Mets pitching prospect not currently on the big league roster
Where he came from: The Mets 3rd pick, 33rd overall, in the supplemental round out of UNC Wilmington
When he grows up: Holt has the potential to be a mid-rotation or better starter if he refines his secondary offerings. His best pitch is an explosive fastball that was 94-95 mph and touched 97 with big time run and sink that simply overpowered NYP League hitters. His second pitch is a hard curveball, that he throws at about 80 mph that improved in every single start. Scouts were blown away by the progress he made with the offering as a professional this summer. Holt almost never threw his changeup. He understands very well that he must develop the changeup as he moves up the chain.
Other Good Candidates: None. Holt, who set a new Cyclones single-season strikeout record with 96 punchouts, was the best Cyclone by leaps and bounds.
R –App: Wilmer Flores SS
R-App: .310/.352/.490, 12 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 12 BB, 28 K – 245 AB, 59 G
SSA: .267/.290/.300 1 2B, 1 BB, 7 K – 30 AB, 8 G
Flores’s .842 OPS was 12th in the Appy League.
What he is: A ridiculously young (he turned 17! on August 6th), ridiculously talented hitter. He’s in the conversation at the top of any ranking of Mets prospects.
Where he came from: Signed as a NDFA out of Valencia, VZ 8/6/07
When he grows up: Something very good? He’s already over 6’3” which would make him unusually large for a SS, but there is no need to move him anywhere yet. He’s still years out from the big leagues.
Other Good Candidates: None. Flores’ double play partner 2B Kyle Suire (.297/.369/.549) had a very nice year, but he turned 23 on August 23rd, making him almost six years Flores’ elder.
R – GCL: Jefry Marte
3B
G-GCL: .325/.398/.532 14 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 13 BB, 20 K
Marte’s .930 OPS led the GCL.
What he is: A 17 year old 3B with precocious pop.
Where he came from: signed as a NDFA 7/2/07 from La Romana, DR
When he grows up: In a perfect world, Marte, who already shows impressive pull power becomes a middle of the order run producer. However, like Flores above him, he’s just 17 and years away from the big leagues. Marte committed 19 errors in 44 games, so it’s possible his future is somewhere else besides third.
Other Good Candidates: Again, Marte was the obvious choice. Cesar Puello had a nice year, but it wasn’t anywhere close to Marte’s level. Also, RHP Jenry Mejia (3 GS) and LHP Robert Carson (5 GS) were excellent, and proved quickly they were ready for challenges beyond the GCL.
DSL: Gonzalez Germen
RHP
DSL: 5-2, 1.34 ERA, 15 G, 74 IP, 41 H, 21 R, 11 ER, 15 BB, 70 K, 1.47
gb/fb
6’1” 175 lbs. b. 9/23/87
VSL: Jhonathan Torres
LHP
5’11” 170 lbs. b 3/20/90
VSL: 5-2: 3.39 Era, 13 G, 63.2 IP, 63 H, 30 R, 24 ER, 13 BB, 42 K, 1.43 gb/fb
Toby Hyde has written about the Mets organization since 2004. Please pass this along to friends, family, co-workers, and Mets fans of all stripes. To sign up for the email newsletter, click here. Even better, please visit my site at http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com.