Mets 2010 Prospect Rankings

Mets vs. Brewers

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I was reading a post by Tejesh at Mets Prospect Hub on his final ranking of 2009 for the Mets top prospects. Sometimes I think that minor league prospect lists require some explanation about the logic used to determine value in a list. For example, the players that spent significant time on the Mets Major League team in 2009 were Fernando Martinez (#1), Jon Niese (#9), Josh Thole (#10), and Nick Evans (not on top list).

Readiness for big league play isn’t prioritized as a qualifying factor. Total future upside appears to be the priority. I love to read blogs about the Mets minor leaguers, and there are several good ones, because I just don’t have the opportunity to see the minor league players in action especially the low-level leagues. My focus is always on which players are Major League ready or will be in the near future.

I’m still hoping to see Niese get a shot at the rotation in 2010 after missing the rest of the season last August when he tore his hamstring in an ugly scene on the mound. The 23 year-old made five starts last season, having two good ones and two that were kind of ugly, and the final start on August 5 when he got hurt. He ended with a 4.21 ERA over 25.2 IP. Not bad.

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Mets And MLB Winter Meetings 2009

Jason Bay at a game between Orioles and the Re...

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We haven’t seen much from the New York Mets yet this offseason but it’s still early. None of the big free agents that the Mets should be interested in have come off the board yet anyway. It’s been in the news since yesterday that Chone Figgins signed a 4-year/$36M deal with the Mariners. As far as I’m concerned, that’s fine with me. I like Figgins but don’t see where he would fit in with the Mets roster. Maybe left field. But that’s a stretch for a guy with a long term contract at $9M/year.

At least the Mets are set at catcher. That was easy. Chris Coste will be the third string guy staying in shape at Triple-A Buffalo. And Henry Blanco should back up Omir Santos. Yahoo Sports wrote that the Mets are still in the market for a starter at catcher like Bengie Molina, Yorvit Torrealba, or Rod Barajas. But I think the Mets have bigger fish to fry than another catcher.

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NY Times: Mets Should Trade For Halladay And Wells

Vernon Wells

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

A couple of writers that I’ve never heard of at the NY Times are touting the idea of the Mets trading for Roy Halladay and Vernon Wells. I hope that Elena Gustines and Jay Schreiber are only temporarily filling in for Ben Shipgel on the Bats blog there. We need the voice of reason back.

The writers touch on the idea of multiple needs on the Mets (and forgot to mention the Mets need a first baseman that can hit). They also only touch on the fact that trading for Halladay and Wells adds $36 million to the Mets payroll next year, which is the total amount that the Mets are likely to add based on the salaries that are coming off the books.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind the idea of bringing in Halladay and Wells. The problem that Gustines and Schreiber don’t address is how complicated it’s going to be to reconfigure the roster to address the existing shortcomings at catcher and first base within the $140 million payroll.

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Mets 2010 Catcher- Youth Is The Way

Omir Santos

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Now that I’ve written about what the Mets should do at first base next season, I thought it was time to move on to catcher. The 2009 season was filled with dichotomy at catcher, Brian Schneider was a complete bust in his walk year and Omir Santos emerged as a viable everyday player. Then September rolled around and we got a look at a good-looking young player in Josh Thole. There certainly is hope for the future at the catcher position.

I want to start by writing that Schneider has absolutely no shame to be cashing the paychecks that the Wilpons gave him this season. He seems like a good guy but for him to accept $4.9 million for the performance he put up this season is criminal. It goes without saying that there isn’t even the slimmest of chances that he’ll be back next season at 33 years-old and coming off a season in which he hit .218 with 3 HR’s and 24 RBI’s in 170 AB’s. That line is disgusting… It’s even painful to write it! When you talk about the problems with the Mets poor performance this season, you can blame it on injuries but don’t forget to point the finger squarely at Schneider.Enough about Schneider, he’s done here.

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Mets 6 – D-Backs 4 Aug. 12, 2009

PHOENIX - AUGUST 12:  Catcher Omir Santos #9 o...
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The Mets finally got a win to take one in the three-game series in Arizona. Oliver Perez was his usual self, working out of big trouble in the first few innings. He went 5.1 innings allowing 6 hits and 6 walks while striking out 7, but only allowed one run. His WHIP is up to a putrid 1.91.

The Mets offense was helped out by some dreadful play at catcher by the D-Backs. Both Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero had trouble holding onto pitches allowing three Mets runs to score on passed balls and wild pitches. They actually looked worse than the Mets. But the Mets did manage to put up 11 hits in the game but only two extra base hits. Both were triples by Cory Sullivan.

Omir Santos had a nice block of the plate against a charging Mark Reynolds. He held the ball while getting knocked down on a hard play, but a clean one. Nice job by Santos.

Box score

Mets 10 – Astros 3 July 25, 2009

The Mets had a rare offensive explosion, and even more surprising it came on a day when Gary Sheffield was put on the DL. They even had three home runs from Jeff Francoeur, Omir Santos, and David Wright. Yes, Wright actually hit a home run.

Jon Niese was very good in his first start back from the minors. He looked shaky at first, giving up a run and a couple of walks in the first inning. But he calmed down and got through 7 innings giving up only the one run. Overall, it was a great job by Niese.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth to get some work in during the blowout game. He ended up giving up 3 hits including a big home run to Hunter Pence. K-Rod seems to struggle in these games where the outcome appears to be decided.

The Mets finally have a game to be happy about. Hopefully, that will continue tomorrow afternoon before the Mets return home.

7.25.09

Mets 4 – Reds 0 July 11, 2009

Tonight’s game was marked by the debut of Jeff Francoeur with the Mets and Johan Santana getting back to his old form. Santana went 7 shutout innings giving up only five hit and 1 walk. He was outstanding and appears to be over whatever problems have plagued him over the last month and a half.

All of the Mets runs were scored in the first and second innings. And Francoeur chipped in with 2 RBI’s on a bloop single in the first inning down the right field line. That was one of his 2 hits on the night. Although he did have an ugly steal attempt and was picked off by the pitcher. Angel Pagan also had 2 hits including a triple and played a very nice center field tonight. Omir Santos was 3 for 4 tonight which is a nice recovery for him from a slump that had me doubting his viability as a big league hitter.

7.11.09