The Mack Attack - 5-4-08

By John Mackin Ade
Posted Sunday, May 4, 2008

May 4, 2008

Mets News

The Mets seem to be taken a different approach to how they stock their minor league teams.

In the past, everyone came to the team either through the draft, or by International free agent signings. Teams developed who had the most talent, and the rest stood around sticking up the place for 4-5 years.

Now, very quietly (and probably due to the poor start of the collective arm system), the Mets are signing ‘outsiders’ who have played 4-5 years for other teams and have worn out their welcome with that team, not because of their production, but because of their advancing age.

So now the Mets are signing the Corey Coles of the world… like Mike Hernandez, that Valentine guy, and today, Casey Craig.

I happen to like it… continue to develop the young prospects but fill the team up with seasoned organizational players that will help pad the win-loss record.

Gustavo Molina has officially been optioned to Triple-A New Orleans to make room for Moises Alou

How’s the Santana trade working out?

Johan Santana: 3.12

Carlos Gomez: .265

Phil Humber: (AAA) 5.63

Kevin Mulvey: (AAA) 3.21

Delois Guerra: (A+) 4.61

And the Milledge trade?

Lastings Milledge: .264

Ryan Church: .316

Brian Schneider: .309

And the Pagan trade:

Angel Pagan: .278

Corey Coles (AAA): .333

Ryan Myers (A+) 6.30

From John Sickels:

After a four-year absence, Nelson Figueroa has reappeared in the majors, and seems like a good subject for a prospect retro.

Figueroa was drafted by the Mets in the 30th round in 1995, out of Brandeis University. His pro debut was very good: 7-1, 3.07 with a 79/22 K/BB in 76 innings for Kingsport in the Appy League. A similar pitcher now would get a Grade C from me: good numbers, but a college guy in rookie ball without a plus fastball isn't going to rank higher.

1996 was a special year: he went 14-7, 2.04 with a 200/58 K/BB in 185 innings for Columbia in the Sally League, with 119 hits allowed. Scouts downplayed him due to his 84-86 MPH fastball, but his curveball, changeup, and splitter were excellent and he dominated Sally League hitters. I gave him a Grade C due to the lack of fastball, but also wrote that he had a shot at remaining effective at higher levels.

Promoted to Double-A Binghamton in 1997…

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/5/2/471835/prospect-retro-nelson-figu

Possible Mets Prospect Pick-up:

Dejan Kovacevic of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirms that the reason the Pirates released pitching prospect Olivo Astacio is because the 23-year-old attacked his own teammate with a freaking bat earlier this week. Based on information from two sources, Kovacevic tells us that, “Astacio and the other player were having an argument…and Astacio struck the player’s leg with a swing of his bat. He swung again and missed before the incident was broken up.” What an idiot, huh? Thankfully, the other player was not seriously injured. Astacio has had a troubled past. He was signed by the Red Sox out of Latin America in 2002, but was suspended for the 2005 season for disciplinary reasons, released, and then picked up by Pittsburgh. I think it’s safe to say that this guy is not alright, and will probably not catch on with any team real soon unless, of course, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis buys an MLB team.

Full Name: Olivo Astacio

Born: July 28,1984 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Height: 6-5 Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Drafted: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 2002

[May 9,2002] - Signed as nondrafted free agent by Red Sox [Aug 9,2005] - Traded by Red Sox to Cubs for Mike Remlinger and cash

Mets Contracts

Anderson Hernandez inf - 1 year (2008) - re-signed 3/4/08 - 1 year (2007), re-signed 3/07 - 1 year/$0.327M (2006), re-signed 3/06 - contract purchased 9/05 - signed 2001 as amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic - ML service: 0.125

Minor League Rankings:

Starting Pitcher ERAs (based on a minimum of 5 starts):

1. Jon Niese/B-Mets: 1.82

2. Ruddy Lugo/N.O. 2.40

3. Tony Armas/N.O. 2.78

4. Angel Calero/Gnats: 3.00

5. Michael Antonini/Gnats 3.26

6. Adam Bostick/N.O.: 3.86

7. Elvin Ramirez/Gnats: 4.03

8. Dylan Owen/St. Lucie: 4.26

9. Joselo Diaz/N.O.: 4.50

10. Dillon Gee/St. Lucie: 4.55

Relief Pitchers WHIPs (based on a minimum of 5 outings):

Top Ten Relief Pitchers (minimum 5 appearances) based on WHIP:

1. Carlos Muniz/N.O.: 0.96

2. Willie Collazo/N.O.: 1.05

3. Edgar Ramirez/Gnats: 1.10

4. Tim McNab/N.O.: 1.12

5. Jose Bierd/Gnats: 1.18

6. Sal Aguilar/B-Mets: 1.27

7. Ryan Coultas/St. Lucie: 1.30

8. Eddie Camacho/B-Mets: 1.33

9. Eddie Kunz/B-Mets: 1.34

10. Wendy Rosa/Gnats: 1.35

Top Batting Averages (based on 75 minimum official at bats):

1. Mike Carp/B-Mets: .361

2. Jesus Feliciano/N.O.: .346

3. Dan Murphy/B-Mets: .345

4. Nick Evans/B-Mets: .340

5. Lucas Duda/St. Lucie: .330

6. Chris Aguila/N.O.: .326

7. D.J. Wabick/St. Lucie: .298

8. Ezequiel Carrera/St. Lucie: .280

9. Jose Coronado/St. Lucie: .265

10. Argenis Reyes/N.O.: .265

B-Mets

Are the Mets going to give up on SP Eric Brown?

Brown took one for the team yesterday afternoon (he gave up 4 doubles and 2 homers in the first 3 innings… 9 ERs overall in 4 1/3 IP), and he simply doesn’t seem to fit any longer in the Mets long range plans. Both Jake Ruckle and Bobby Parnell could be pitching better also, but it seems that the Mets have time and money invested in these two prospects. The problem is the B-Mets aren’t winning and, the closer we get to draft time, everyone starts pushing from the lower levels. Don’t be surprised if Brown isn’t released soon (unless he turns things around) and we see a Tobi Stoner sighting in Binghamton.

The Binghamton Mets got a trio of solo homers, but the Connecticut Defenders scored 10 runs over the final two innings for a 19-5 win over the Binghamton Mets at NYSEG Stadium Saturday. The loss, Binghamton’s seventh in their last eight games, evens the series at a game apiece. Connecticut (13-15) went ahead in the first on four straight one-out hits off Eric Brown. Ben Copeland drove in a run with a double before Travis Ishikawa’s two-run homer put the Defenders ahead 3-0. Binghamton (11-18) got one back in the second when Caleb Stewart launched a one-out solo homer off Dave McKae, cutting Connecticut’s lead to 3-1. After Connecticut went up 6-1 on a Ben Copeland homer and RBIs by Eddy Martinez-Esteve and Dave Maroul in the third, Ambiorix Concepcion reached McKae (2-1) for a solo homer in the bottom of the inning that cut Connecticut’s lead to four. Ishikawa’s RBI single off Brown (0-3) in the fourth put Connecticut ahead 7-2 before a run-scoring wild pitch and Brad Boyer RBI double made it 9-2. Daniel Murphy led off the bottom of the sixth with his second homer in as many days before Connecticut put the game away in the late innings. German Marte allowed seven of the eight he faced to reach during a sixth-run eighth that included a Maroul grand slam. Joe Hietpas allowed a grand slam to Olmo Rosario in the ninth. The B-Mets scored twice in the bottom of the ninth off Connecticut reliever Ronnie Ray. Mike Carp was hit by a pitch and Stewart and Jose Coronado walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Jonathan Malo drove in Carp with a fielder’s choice before Stewart scored on a wild pitch.

Gnats:

New Gnat… Casey Craig OF L R 6-1 185 1-12-85 Granite Hills H.S. (CA.)

Craig was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 21st round of the 2003 draft.

Began pro career with Peoria...hit safely in 29 of 35 games.

In 2007, Craig started season with Inland Empire and hit safely in seven of eight games with three multi-hit games. He transferred to Everett on May 9th and then to San Antonio May 27...appeared in four games with Missions before being transferred back to Everett on June 21...had a season-high 12-game hit streak, hitting .404 (21x52), July 4-18...named Northwest League Player of the Week, July 4-10...went 2x4 with three runs, two home runs and a career-high five RBI on July 9 vs. Salem-Keizer...

Craig spent 5 years in the Seattle organizations before being signed by the Mets in May 2008. He was assigned to Savannah.

His 7 year minor league stats are impressive: ..284/.365/.434/799 in 1,554 at bats.

Minor League Bios

Cesar Puello OF 16 year old Dominican Republic

Puello signed as an international free agent in 2007.

Stephen Puhl C S R 6-0 195 7-6-84 St. Edward’s College.

Puhl, who is from sugar Land, Texas, played his college ball at St. Edward’s College, where he made the All-Heartland conference all-star team, after batting .350 for the season. His slugging percentage was .525.

The Mets drafted him in the 17th round of the 2006 draft, signed him almost immediately. Puhl managed to get himself 53 rookie at bats and compiled a batting profile of .111/.127/.151. In 2007, he converted to a pitcher and played for the GCL Mets (2-0, 3.24 in 6 appearances).

He is the son of former major leaguer Terry Puhl.

Edgar Ramirez P Louisiana State University

Ramirez was drafted in the 36th round of the 2006 draft by the Mets. He signed and reported to K-Port for the 2006 season.

In 2007, Ramirez pitched for Brooklyn (4-0, 3.07, 1.33, in 19 appearances, 1 start).

Observation: Ramirez was upstaged by some of his Brooklyn bullpen mates; however, he has definitely earned himself a bump to Savannah for a full season in 2008. He currently leads the entire minor league organization with the lowest WHIP

Ex-Mets:

Brian Bannister after 6 starts: 3-3, 4.04

Chris Woodward - Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Vic Darensbourg - Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Carlos Gomez felt fine Saturday morning after getting hit in the helmet with an Ivan Rodriguez throw Friday night

Matt Lindstrom said his back felt better Friday and expects to return sometime this weekend

This Day in Mets History:

1984 - At the Metrodome, David Kingman is awarded a ground rule double when the ball he hits a ball disappears. The Oakland A's slugger towering fly ball goes into a drainage hole in the stadium roof and doesn't return to the playing field.