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Posted Sunday, January 27, 2008
Stay back ..... I bite.
Major/Minor League position Analysis – SS
As we have said the last couple of years, all the Mets try to do is keep someone ready at AAA in case Jose Reyes goes down with an injury. Don’t believe that Reyes will be traded some day. He will die a Met.
If, for some reason, another shortstop develops into a probably major league starter… well, don’t worry about that either. He’s be long gone on a future trade for a pitcher or position player the Mets need before 2015.
Currently at AAA, there is only one SS on the roster, recently added Anderson Machado, who is known for his defensive skills and light bat. Good insurance, that’s all.
At Binghamton, things looks a little crowded. Once thought of as a prospect Emmanual Garcia, once thought of before Garcia as a prospect Jose Coronado, and never thought of as a prospect Luis Rivera all look to compete for the starting job here. My money is on Rivera, with Coronado being optioned to a buffet to be named later.
Now things get really crowded. Juan Legares was supposed to be ready this year to play Lucy, but I expect him to be held back and developed more at Hispanic-friendly Savannah. That will give Michael Parker (.298 at Kingsport in 2007) a chance to jump 2 spots in 2008; however, if I’m wrong, Legares will go to Florida and Parker to Georgia. Either way, these are the next two guys in line. Past that, there’s a bunch of chopped liver (Jonathan Santos, Brandon Richey, Joaquin Rodriquez, Mathew Bouchard, and Jacob Eigsti) projected for both squads as utility infielders.
But the real prospect for this position is Ruben Tejada, who probably will be showcased this year in Brooklyn. Tejada had an impressive stateside debut in 2007 (GCL: .283 in 120 Abs, .401 OBP) after a steller 2 year career in the VSL (via Panama). He will start the 2008 season still 19 years old and should be ready for the pros just about the time Reyes’ contract is up for renewal. Hmm.
In summation, throw out everything but the first and last paragraph I just wrote. The Mets will play Jose Reyes at SS until Ruben Tejada takes his job away at 1/10th the cost, sometime around 2011.
IMO.
*****
Don’t you just get simply sick of all this Joba-Hughes press shit day after day? You would think these are the 2nd coming of Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson.
Hey, what about Mike Pelfrey and Phil Humber? How come nobody ever writes about them. All we hear about is the “3 rookies” that start in the Yankees rotation this year. Well, the Mets got 2 that might start also, and I think the right thing to do is to compare minor league records between these 4 dudes:
Joba Chamberlain - Minor League Totals - 1 Season - 9-2 2.45 88.1 IP 135 Ks 1.01 whip
Phillip Hughes - Minor League Totals - 4 Seasons 25-8 2.03 275.0 IP 311 Ks 0.86 whip
Okay… nice numbers, but what about the Mets 1-2 punch?
Mike Pelfrey - Minor League Totals - 2 Seasons - 10-9 3.12 176.1 IP 167 Ks 1.26 whip
Phillip Humber - Minor League Totals - 3 Seasons - 18-19 4.11 289.2 IP 266 Ks 1.20 whip
Err… next subject.
*****
Oliver Perez, Pedro Feliciano, Ryan Church and Jorge Sosa.
--
Non-Roster Invitees To ST So Far:
P: Andy Cavazos, Ryan Cullen, Joselo Diaz, Nate Field, Juan Padilla
C: - Robinson Cancel, Raul Casanova, Salomon Manriquez, Gustavo Molina
IF: - Anderson Machado, Fernando Tatis, Jose Valentin
Sounds like another pretty shitty AAA team…
*****
The Red Sox signed RHP Dan Miceli to minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Miceli took 2007 completely off while collecting $850,000 from the Rays in the second year of his two-year deal. Miceli did a nice job for the Mets from 1995-1998 and… err… oh, that was Dave Mlicki… the KC Royals signed LHP Tim Hamulack and the San Diego Radres inked LHP Glendon Rusch, who last pitched in 2006 for the Cubs, going 3-8, 7.46…. the Astros signed RHP Ken Chenard and RHP Harold Eckert…. BP lists RHP Gaby Hernandez as the 5th top Marlins prospect…
*****
My last “Mack Attack” was posted on www.flushinguniversity.com and it generated some discussion on just how great the Mets and other teams in their division have drafted. I took the critical 5 year period of 1998-2003, because, if you didn’t draft some studs in these 5 drafts, you ain’t got a great team right now (unless you have unlimited bucks to spend in trades and free agency).
The numbers were interesting:
Team # drafted on team in pros %pros %on team
Mets 251 3 21 8.4 1.2
Braves 258 8 34 13.2 3.1
Phillies 210 8 21 10.0 3.8
Marlins 243 6 17 7.0 2.5
Nationals 242 3 20 8.3 1.2
*****
From Newsday: David Wright believes that the Mets will be formidable with or without Johan Santana. Wright, who visited the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island Wednesday in New Hyde Park for the rededication of its Mets "clubhouse," said: "With Johan, or without Johan, I'm going to be very confident in this Mets team." Wright emphasized that he has no inside knowledge about negotiations between the Mets and Twins. He's been following the rumor mill like any other fan this offseason. "I think there are 30 teams that would love to have Johan Santana," Wright said. "But you're talking about a very steep asking price, maybe giving up the farm to get him, so I can see both sides. It's not too long ago that I was on the other side, where I was hearing my name in all the rumors, and I'm definitely glad I'm still here. I think we will be fine either way. I think he can make this team great, but I understand the concerns of giving up the farm." Wright expressed confidence in the Mets' current pitching staff. He named Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and John Maine as young pitchers he thinks can make leaps forward.
-what do the hell do you expect Wright to say? “Oh, yeah, both Humber and Pelfrey suck the big one and we’re just waiting for Perez to go Bonzo Dog Band… Wright is a great poster boy for the team and should issue all press releases for Willie.
*****
According to the Rocky Mountain News, Livan Hernandez "is close to a deal with the Mets." Signing Hernandez to join a rotation that already includes his brother Orlando Hernandez would seemingly make the Mets less likely to pursue a trade for Johan Santana
-boy, this sure sounds like:
1. a typical Omar move when you can’t get what you want (Santana)
2. try to make a friend in the clubhouse (Orlando)
3. no confidence in either Mike Pelfrey or Phillip Humber
I guess, if this happens, the rotation will be Pedro, Maine, Perez, Hernandez, and Hernandez.
So, what do you do with Pelfrey and Humber? There’s no room for them at AAA, which is stacked up with starters… and Minnesota sure as hell doesn’t want them…
(Shaking my head…)
Mack
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