Cutnpaste: - Jeurys Familia, Nick Evans, Wally Backman, Al Jackson, Octavio Dotel

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f  - Top five Met prospects -  Sunday, October 9, 2011 - The Record - 4. Jeurys Familia, RHP, turns 22 Monday (.228 batting-average against in St. Lucie and Binghamton): 132 strikeouts in 124 innings for the right-hander who has been clocked consistently in triple digits. He could switch to the bullpen in the majors.

10-13-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-full-season-1b - Nick Evans played 26 games at first for Buffalo, 10 at third and 31 in the outfield. Oh, and the 25-year old hit .313/.375/.462 overall in 249 AB and .338/.397/.544 against lefties in 68 AB. Will he ever hit enough to hold a job at the big league level? His .256/.314/.403 line in 176 AB this year which nearly matches his MLB career of .256/.305/.407 doesn’t offer much hope as an everyday player. And yet, he owns a career batting line of .295/.360/.489 versus lefthanders. If only there was someone who needed a platoon partner…

Wally Backman isn’t going anywhere- except maybe Buffalo. Backman admitted yesterday he considered leaving for a potential spot on Davey Johnson's staff with the Washington Nationals, but opted to remain with the organization that drafted him. "There was some thought," Backman said of leaving on WFAN Saturday. "It was a long-thought process. I started at 17 years old with the Mets and I'm gonna stay with the Mets." After managing the Mets' Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones team in 2010 and then Double-A Binghamton last year, the 52-year-old Backman figures to be in line to become Triple-A Buffalo's manager this season, replacing last year's manager at Buffalo, Tim Teufel, who was recently was moved up to be the Mets' third base coach. "We haven’t talked about that yet," Backman said. Backman interviewed for the Mets' managerial position a year ago after GM Sandy Alderson was hired, but Alderson chose Terry Collins. Still, Backman believes he has a future with the Mets. "I feel like there's unfinished business," Backman said. "The organization is going in the right direction. And I want to be a part of it." – www.newyorkpost.com

When the National League added the New York Mets and the Houston Colt .45s for the 1962 season, Al Jackson was a 25-year-old pitcher with 11 major-league appearances. And when he heard on television that he had been selected by that new team in New York, he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Not because of any weird premonition about the dismal season the Mets were heading for. And not because he had secretly hoped to wind up in Houston. The Mets simply did not have a reputation for anything yet, good or bad. "How can you be excited about a team when you don't know anything about it?" said Jackson, now 75. "I was just happy for an opportunity to pitch in the big leagues." Jackson was one of 22 players selected by the Mets in that expansion draft, held 50 years ago this week. There had been expansion drafts before and there have been several since, but none remains quite as significant as this one. – www.wsj.org

Even 12 years later, the memory eats at Octavio Dotel. Ask Dotel, the St. Louis Cardinals reliever, about his biggest postseason moment before this season, and the conversation turns to 1999, when he was a promising rookie right-hander for the Mets. But Dotel considers it a slight as much as an accomplishment.  Dotel pitched the final three innings of the Mets’ 15-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. He gave up one run and struck out five, and picked up the victory after Robin Ventura’s apparent grand slam turned into a game-winning single when Ventura was mobbed before he could circle the bases. - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/sports/baseball/cardinals-octavio-dotel-hopes-to-erase-a-mets-memory.html

Cutnpaste: - Octavio Dotel, Dusty Ryan, Mike Hampton, Jeurys Familia,

Octavio Dotel, St. Louis Cardinals -- Speaking of ex-Mets closers, the Cardinals reliever has seen his share of success as one but never accrued a save as a Met. Dotel was still a starter back in 1999, but his mixed progress to that point left him vulnerable to be included in the trade by then-GM Steve Phillips that brought Mike Hampton to New York. He was a victim of Phillips's strategy to mortgage the future for a shot at the 2000 Subway Series, but that never gets mentioned much as Hampton's departure ultimately resulted in the Mets drafting David Wright. Dotel battled injuries that stole the shine from his prospect star, but that trade combination contributed more to the Mets than anything Cards third base coach Jose Oquendo ever provided in his short stint with the team back in 1983 and 1984. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs

10-3-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-the-full-season-catchers  - Dusty Ryan, who turned 27 in September, spent the second half of the season with Binghamton, where he hit .265/.351/.496. Ryan appeared in a combined 27 games for the Tigers in the big leagues in 2008 and 2009 before getting stuck in AAA with the Padres affiliate in Portland for all of 201.

Mike Hampton (2000): Mike arrived two days before Christmas in 1999 for Octavio Dotel and Roger Cedeno. He helped anchor the rotation in for 2000 NL Champion Mets, going 15–10 with a 3.12 ERA and winning the MVP of the 2000 NLCS. Then he departed for Colorado, making the infamous “the schools in Colorado are better” remark. Injuries derailed Mike’s career and his 8 year, $121 million dollar contract is widely regarded as one of the worst free-agent signings in MLB history. As compensation, the Mets received Colorado’s pick in the draft and took an infielder you may have heard of: David Wright. - http://www.metstoday.com/7084/11-12-offseason/adios-jose-five-free-agents-who-left-the-mets

10-5-11: - www.baseballamerica.com  – (Jeurys) Familia toned down his delivery from his phrenetic motion he showed prior to 2011, and that allowed him to throw more quality strikes with one of the EL’s most explosive fastballs. His loose, whippy arm helps him sit at 92-96 mph with hard life down in the zone. His curveball has improved, and while it has slurvy shape, it has late break at times and gives him another swing-and-miss pitch. His changeup is too firm but is a decent third pitch that plays up thanks to his premium fastball. His youth and inexperience show up most with his erratic defense and difficulties holding runners.

Cutnpaste: - Octavio Dotel, Dusty Ryan, Mike Hampton, Jeurys Familia, TV Viewing

Octavio Dotel, St. Louis Cardinals -- Speaking of ex-Mets closers, the Cardinals reliever has seen his share of success as one but never accrued a save as a Met. Dotel was still a starter back in 1999, but his mixed progress to that point left him vulnerable to be included in the trade by then-GM Steve Phillips that brought Mike Hampton to New York. He was a victim of Phillips's strategy to mortgage the future for a shot at the 2000 Subway Series, but that never gets mentioned much as Hampton's departure ultimately resulted in the Mets drafting David Wright. Dotel battled injuries that stole the shine from his prospect star, but that trade combination contributed more to the Mets than anything Cards third base coach Jose Oquendo ever provided in his short stint with the team back in 1983 and 1984. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs

10-3-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-the-full-season-catchers  - Dusty Ryan, who turned 27 in September, spent the second half of the season with Binghamton, where he hit .265/.351/.496. Ryan appeared in a combined 27 games for the Tigers in the big leagues in 2008 and 2009 before getting stuck in AAA with the Padres affiliate in Portland for all of 201.

Mike Hampton (2000): Mike arrived two days before Christmas in 1999 for Octavio Dotel and Roger Cedeno. He helped anchor the rotation in for 2000 NL Champion Mets, going 15–10 with a 3.12 ERA and winning the MVP of the 2000 NLCS. Then he departed for Colorado, making the infamous “the schools in Colorado are better” remark. Injuries derailed Mike’s career and his 8 year, $121 million dollar contract is widely regarded as one of the worst free-agent signings in MLB history. As compensation, the Mets received Colorado’s pick in the draft and took an infielder you may have heard of: David Wright. - http://www.metstoday.com/7084/11-12-offseason/adios-jose-five-free-agents-who-left-the-mets

10-5-11: - www.baseballamerica.com  – (Jeurys) Familia toned down his delivery from his phrenetic motion he showed prior to 2011, and that allowed him to throw more quality strikes with one of the EL’s most explosive fastballs. His loose, whippy arm helps him sit at 92-96 mph with hard life down in the zone. His curveball has improved, and while it has slurvy shape, it has late break at times and gives him another swing-and-miss pitch. His changeup is too firm but is a decent third pitch that plays up thanks to his premium fastball. His youth and inexperience show up most with his erratic defense and difficulties holding runners.

The good news for the New York Mets: An average of 163,000 homes watched their games in 2011 on SNY. That ranked fourth in Major League Baseball, behind only the Yankees (319,000), Phillies (276,000) and Red Sox (192,000). The bad news, according to SportsBusiness Journal: The audience size was a 19.3 percent drop from 2010 levels.  As a percentage of audience lost, the Mets did not rank in the bottom five. Those honors belonged to the Padres (-41.4 percent), Astros (-40.3.), Rays (-37.5), Dodgers (-30.1) and Twins (-28.3). But in raw numbers, the Mets lost the third-largest TV viewership in 2011 compared to the previous season, according to the study.  In all, 39,000 fewer homes per game watched the Mets this past season. The biggest raw dropoff belonged to the Twins with a loss of 43,000 homes per game, followed by the Rays at 40,000. – www.espn.com

The Gamers vs. The Gifted: McHugh vs. Familia

Getting to the top of the list and at this point we're getting to some gifted pitchers who are simply SO good that beating them is a tall order. The flip side is that some of the upper-level gamers are nearly ready to assume duties of becoming a major league starter (albeit sometimes in the back end of the rotation).

Full Name: Collin Alexander McHugh

Born: 06/19/1987

Birthplace: Covington, GA

College: Berry Col

Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 195

Bats: R

Throws: R

Sometimes, like with Gorski, a player emerges from the ether. You don't see things coming they're just suddenly there. That isn't REALLY the case with McHugh. He had a strong 2009 in Brooklyn, a strong 2010 in Savannah and after skidding a bit in St. Lucie he flew high in Binghamton.

Like one or two other names I listed on the "Gamer" side of the table. McHugh fringes on the level of being "Gifted". His fastball DOES touch 93, he has five pitches and his breaking stuff isn't bad. He's just not in the league of raw talent with some of the other Met pitchers around him.

McHugh will be the #2 pitcher in AAA to start 2012 and could see a call due to injury at any point. The Mets will be less concerned about protecting McHugh due to his lack of "Gifted" status and that is JUST FINE with me. I can see McHugh being better than a #4 pitcher if things break right.

McHugh's Scouting Report:

• 6’2, 195 lbs. A better athlete than what he looks. He could add more muscle to his frame, soft body.
• Unorthodox motion. Very long on the arm take back, but gets his arm up in plenty of time as his front foot plants.
• He has cleaned his mechanics, which has helped him gain some velocity to his FB.
• Repeats his mechanics very well with little effort at release. Gets momentum going to the target, helping him throw strikes consistently.
• Over the top delivery. Gets good downward plane with extension to the plate.
• Fastball: 89-92 with some glove side run, topping out at 93 once or twice. Commanded it well in, out, up and down. Last year his fastball was mostly 87-90.
• Curveball: 71-74. 11-5 break. Slow looping, not hard sharp bite. Plays up a bit due to command. Uses it as a get me over pitch as well as a chase pitch in the dirt.
• Slider: 84-86. Best offspeed pitch he throws for me. Gets late bite to it with some depth and tilt. The late bite is the key for hitters not being able to recognize it and square it up. Throws it with confidence. Best swing and miss pitch.
• Cutter: 84-86. Very similar to his slider only lacked the downward action. Used it to get in on lefties. Threw a couple of front-door cutters to righties too.
• Change-up: 80-81. Did not use the change-up often. Tried to guide it instead of letting the grip do the work for him at times. Had some fade to the glove side.

Full Name: Jeurys Familia

Born: 10/10/1989

Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 185

Bats: R

Throws: R

For all the Harvey and Wheeler hype, I think we forget which of the gifted pitchers in Generation 2K is CLOSEST to the majors. Familia was promoted to AA before Harvey, he's not injured (like Mejia) and control... is REALLY not an issue.

So... why is Familia listed BELOW Harvey? Well... while he clearly has two PLUS pitches... he lacks that third pitch. I'm hoping that 2012 is the year of the change-up for Jeurys and he learns to throw it for strikes as well as a swing and miss offering.

Like Mejia and some other pitchers I've heard that a move to the pen is "inevitable". These words that smack of finality upset me. You can't say that anyone will absolutely succeed or fail at anything until you see them do it. Take a look at Brandon Belt's "Can't Miss" rookie campaign.

Familia's Scouting Report:

• Big strong physical body with more room to add bulk (6’3”, 185lbs). Long arms and big hands. Ideal power pitcher’s frame and physique.
• Good mound presence. Very calm demeanor on the mound.
• Fastball: 94-96 with life in the zone and arm side run. When he gets extension, the ball explodes out of his hand. A true plus fastball when it is good.
• Slider: 78-83. When he gets his release point out in front, the slider is really good. Tends to get a little slurvy at times. Good arm speed. When good it has sharp downward bite, swing and miss pitch.
• Change-up: 80-82. Worst offering by far. He babies this pitch, telling me he lacks confidence in it. Key pitch to attack lefties and for his development as a starter.
• High ¾ release point. Could add more velocity with more leg drive and effort.
• Great attitude and work ethic. Very pleasant young man to talk with.

If you asked me which pitcher was a better overall package I'd go with Familia. His stuff and control make him a straight-up better pitcher than McHugh. HOWEVER if you ask me who has a better shot to be a major league starter... I have to go with McHugh whose 5 pitches are just as meaningful as a fastball that tops 95 with regularity. So McHugh wins? No... I'm going to shy away from this one and call it a tie.

Cutnpaste: Reese Havens, Jeurys Familia, Jose Reyes, Jon Niese, MLB

Limited to a little more than 200 minor league at-bats in 2011, New York Mets second baseman Reese Havens is an injury-prone prospect looking for an AFL bump. Havens has the potential to draw walks and provide above-average power. The Mets lack a long-term solution at second base, and Havens could work his way into the 2012 mix. - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/fantasy/shandler/story/2011-09-13/arizona-fall-league-prospects/50379482/1  

9-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/09/prospect-pulse-buffalo-2012-help-on-the-way.html  - SP2: Jeurys Familia - With 22 GS this season, split between St Lucie (6 starts), and Bingo (16 starts with one remaining), Familia has shown why he is one of the four top pitchers in the Mets system. Frequently hitting triple digits with his fastball is no small feat for a young starting pitcher. And while the team is trying to bring him along slowly, how can they not start him at Buffalo next year, the way he has simply dominated the hitters in AA? The Mets will add him to the quickly filling up 40-man roster this winter, and he may force their hand at some point next season, and earn a call-up. He is too good to ignore, and with this kind of talent, anything is possible. Could this be the guy to throw the Mets’ first no-no in their history? He has the stuff.

Jose Reyes: The Mets' superstar shortstop has been their property since 1999 -- when he was 16 years old, and a big leaguer since 2003. Despite two disabled-list stints this season, Reyes is enjoying one of his best seasons of his career. He's been worth 5.5 wins above replacement this season, according to Fangraphs, which is 17th-best in the league, and second among shortstops. Sure, he's been an injury waiting to happen for much of his career, but that's really been all that's stopped him. When he's in there, he's an elite top-of-the-order player and an energizing force in the field and at the plate. With five home runs, 87 runs, 35 steals, a .377 on-base percentage and an NL-leading .335 average in 109 games, the 28-year-old has proven his worth when he's on the field. Since I've been born, with about two decades of Mets-watching, there hasn't been a more electrifying Met than Jose Reyes. Yet these could be the last games I witness with Reyes in a Mets uniform, if the Mets don't offer him a contract to his liking. This reason in and of itself is a reason to watch the Mets in September. It will be very sad if we all have to watch him torment the Mets next year in another uniform. http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-mets/2011/9/9/2415542/five-reasons-to-watch-the-new-york-mets-jose-reyes-lucas-duda-johan-santana  

Jonathon Niese: 4.40 ERA – 3.36 FIP = 1.05 ERA-FIP (Not Ranked, N/A)- Jonathon Niese was another preseason sleeper, an idea first made popular by my good friend (and friend of the podcast) Marc Normandin, after putting together very good performances for most of the season before fatiguing during the final stretch. Niese made significant strides in his control and his ability to strike opposing batters out, but that has not been enough for this young lefty to improve upon his 2010 ERA of 4.20. Still, Mets fans can blame Niese’s poor strand rate (67%) and unlucky BABIP (.333) for this year’s performance, making this former 7th round pick a sleeper, once again, in 2012. Expect a bounce-back season for Mr. Niese next year - http://www.replacementlevelbaseball.com/2011/09/what-the-luck-september-2011-edition

At this point, I just don't think there are any reasons that Major League Baseball could trot out that would hold up to scrutiny. That's not to say MLB didn't have their reasons - obviously they did, and they were probably some sort of amalgamation of a business relationship with New Era, a fear of further teams trying to deal with tragedies, and a desire to honor the anniversary uniformly across the league. It's just hard to see how any combination of those reasons - or anything else they may have been considering - could outweigh the poor PR and just plain foolishness of the final decision. Bad call, Major League Baseball. - http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15023