Mack Attack: June 18, 2008

By John Mackin Ade
Posted Wednesday, June 18, 2008

From Rotoworld:

A bizarre ending to what's turned into quite an embarrassment for the franchise. Randolph's tactics left a lot to be desired and the Mets may well be better off without him, but he didn't deserve to be treated this way over the last several weeks. The rumor all day was that Peterson and Nieto were out, but it appeared that Randolph would get another reprieve. Then the Mets make this announcement in the middle of the night after a victory. Former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel will take over for Randolph on an interim basis. As overmatched as he was in Chicago, it looks like a downgrade.

From Baseball Digest:

No baseball fan deserves to have these kinds of irresponsible cowards in prominent positions with their favorite teams. When the dust settles, Fred Wilpon, Omar Minaya, and everyone else not only owe Randolph, Peterson, and Nieto apologies, they owe Mets fans apologies as well. And Minaya should lose his job for it.

2009 Rule V Candidates:

RP Eddy Camacho/B-Mets – Camacho has a lifetime 2.70 ERA as a Mets minor leaguer, but Eddie Kunz and Carlos Muniz are ahead of him and there simply is no room in the 2009 bullpen for him. He will not be protected. There’s a good chance he will be claimed by another club. I know I would.

SP Jose Sanchez/B-Mets – Sanchez has been a decent pitcher for the Mets, but has no future of making the parent club. He will not be protected. He also has a good chance to be claimed.

C Rafael Arroyo/B-Mets - a lifetime .220 hitter, not protecting Arroyo can not be compared to the last catcher the Mets didn’t protect, Jesus Flores. He will not be protected, nor will he be claimed by anyone.

1B/DH Mike Carp/B-Mets - okay, here’s your first hard decision. I can’t see Carp being around long enough for this decision to be made, and frankly, one of the major reasons he will probably be traded is the fact that he’s reaching his 5 year limit. Let’s face it, he’s a designated hitter and would best be served in the AL. So, what happens if there’s no trade? Well, I’d protect him for a future trade, but that’s all.

1B/OF Nick Evans/B-Mets - Second hard decision. As I mentioned in other articles, I see Evans as a future utility player on the Mets, and I now think that, once they rid themselves of some of the dead wood that’s sitting in the locker room these days, Evans will not be a Rule V factor because he will already be on the parent team.

1B/3B/OF Josh Peterson - There’s no chance Peterson gets protected by the Mets, but he could easily remain in the system if he is passed over. Petersen’s chances of a future in the Bigs is as a utility player only, which usually doesn’t earn a draft pick.

OF Caleb Stewart - The Mets will not protect Caleb, though he could be drafted by one of the small market teams.

1B/2B/SS/3B Ryan Coultas – Playing 2008 at Lucy, Coultas has a 4.5 yr BA. of .243. No way he’s protected, but probably will be back

Draft News:

Scouting report: #3 Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF Santa Monica, CA Highland Ranch, CO Azusa Pacific U (Junior) - Why the Mets took him in the 3rd round is a mystery. He wasn’t even in the top 150 prospect list in California so what was imperative for taking him now? Played for a NAIA school. Wore #24 in college. HIGH SCHOOL: 3x all-district, 2x all-state. Led team to 51-14 overall mark and 2 Metro titles. As Sr led team to a regional championship game. Selected by the Rockies to participate in their Senior Top 40 all-star game at Coors Field. As Sr hit .500 2-21 in 21 games and ranked 2nd in CO w/1.03 ERA 5-0 w/46 Ks in 34 IP. Also played 3 years Football & 1 year Basketball. COLLEGE - in 2008 was team’s CF and was BA’s 2008 NAIA pre-season POTY. 2007 in the summer in Alaskan BL earned MVP honors. - Braunstein

Zephyrs:

The New York Mets announced that Marty Scott will be the new manager of the New Orleans Zephyrs, and Rick Waits will be the new pitching coach. Scott and Waits replace Ken Oberkfell and Dan Warthen, who were promoted to the Mets coaching staff following the dismissal of Manager Willie Randolph.

Scott’s most recent managerial duties were with Team USA in the 2003 World Cup. In minor league baseball, Scott most recently managed the Fort Worth Cats in 2002. Prior to that Scott managed the St. Paul Saints from 1995-2000. Originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1977 from Dallas Baptist University, Scott played in the Rangers minor league system from 1979-1981, making it up to the Triple-A level. After his playing career he served as the Rangers Director of Player Development from 1984-1994. Scott has been out of coaching since 2003, and was hired in April by the Mets to be the manager of the Gulf Coast Mets in the Gulf Coast League before being promoted to the Zephyrs.

Waits was in his fifth season as the Mets’ Minor League Pitching Coordinator before being assigned to New Orleans, and has been in the Mets organization for the past 13 years. In his tenure with the Mets, Waits has served as a pitching coach on all levels of the minor league system. From 1999-2002, Waits was the pitching coach for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, and prior to that was the pitching coach for the Double-A Binghamton Mets in 1998, the Single-A St. Lucie Mets in 1997 and the Rookie League Gulf Coast Mets from 1995-1996. As a player, Waits pitched in the major leagues for 12 years (1973-1985) with the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers. He went 79-92 with eight saves and a 4.25 ERA in 317 games (190 starts), and also threw 47 complete games and 10 complete game shutouts.

Lucy:

Roster Moves:

Send OF – B.J. Hubbert to Savannah
Send C – Salvador Paniagua to Binghamton
Re-Instate OF – D.J. Wabick from Temporarily Inactive List
Add IF – Shawn Bowman to roster

SP Angel Calero is beginning to learn what many have before him… being dominant at one level of minor league baseball doesn’t mean you are immediately going to dominate at the next level. Calero gave up 4 earned runs in the first 3 innings of game one Tuesday night, which has raised his A+ level ERA to 9.00.

Minor League Bios:

Ezequiel Carrera OF L L 5-11 170 6-11-87 Guiria Sucre, Venezueala

Carrera started the 2006 season for the Tronconcero team in the VSL, but joined the VSL Mets (.301 in 216 at bats) for the remainder of the season. He was tied for 4th in the VSL in triples. Carrera came stateside in 2007 and played the majority of the season in CF for the GCL Mets (.341/.430/.436 in 179 Abs, 16 SB). He finished the season out with Brooklyn (.300/.347/.329 in 70 at bats). In 2007, Carrera was named the winner of the Sterling Award, given to the MVP of the the GCL Mets.

From the 2008 Prospect Handbook:

Carrera has moved slower than most of the Mets' Latin prospects that the organization hopes to develop into big league regulars, but he started to make believers in 2007. He batted .341 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and emerged as the best center fielder at the lower levels of the New York system. Carrera profiles as a fourth outfielder because of his lack of power but he could have the small-ball skills to become a regular. He has a short, contact-oriented swing with no real load to speak of, so he's unlikely to ever hit for much pop. But he's willing to draw walks, has improved as a bunter and is a plus runner, though he's not a burner. He looks like a traditional No. 2 hitter. Defensively, he's accomplished in center field, with above-average range and an accurate if below-average arm. Carrera is likely to jump on the fast track and start 2008 in high Class A.

A May 2008 scouting report from Andy Braunstein:

Ezequiel Carrera - CF - I dubbed him Zeke the Streak, some are politicing for Easy Ezequiel because he makes things look so easy in CF. He has the speed, gives Ps fits if he is on 1B. Has a good enough eye to walk, his OBA is 80 points higher and K/W ratio is under 2:1. In the OF he can run them down especially laterally, Going back he could use some work as he plays shallow and he ends up running after the rolling ball. Arm is avg at best. He is Mr. Excitement. Sometimes he falls in love with his power potential and ends up hitting deep fly balls that are caught and doesn't bunt as often, and as well as he should. There is no excuse for ever popping up a bunt attempt. He is only as good as his BA, OBA and SB #s are. That he is a 20 year old doing as well as he has here is a good sign. If he was 22 and doing the same red flags will be popping up all over the place. He has 2 years to up his BA, and iron out the wrinkles in his path the the MLs.

This Day in Mets History:

1989 - Phillies trade infielder/outfielder Juan Samuel to the Mets for outfielder Lenny Dykstra, relief pitcher Roger McDowell and a player to be named later (minor league pitcher Tom Edens).

2004 - At Shea Stadium, Hall of Fame catchers Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, Gary Carter and Yogi Berra take part in a pre-game ceremony honoring Mike Piazza for hitting more home runs as a catcher than anyone in baseball history. The Mets’ backstop established the new mark, breaking Carlton Fisk’s record, with his 352nd home run on May 5.