Cutnpaste: - Colin McHugh, Jordany Valdespin, Michael Fulmer, Ryota Igarashi, Reese Havens

10-19-11: - http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/10/19/touchem-all-eastern-league-top-mlb-prospects-pitchers - Colin McHugh RHP NYM (24) – After just 35 innings pitched in Advanced-A St Lucie with a dreadful 6.31 ERA, McHugh never thought that his spot start at Binghamton would turn out to be a near full season stay. From his first start there against Erie, he kept pitching well enough to stay. And along with his stellar 2.89 ERA, he was striking out hitters at a 25.4% clip while only walking a nice 8.1%. However, these kind of numbers aren’t new for the right-hander. McHugh has shown this kind of success at each level, but reproducing them against the increase in talent of the Eastern League is eye-opening. Now, Colin doesn’t blow guys away. He’s managed to do this with a 90-92 mph fastball, a good swing’n'miss slider, an improving cutter, and an OK curveball. With plus command of four pitches and some deception in his delivery, he’s able to keep hitters from squaring him up. New York could choose to challenge him some more in Triple-A in 2012. From there, with success, he could be in line for a major league call-up.

10-20-11: - http://realdirtymets.com/2011/10/20/minor-league-position-breakdown-shortstop  - Behind Tejada on the depth chart is Jordany Valdespin, who had one of the best seasons of any prospect in the Mets system in 2011. Valdespin has incredible athleticism and showed this past year that he can be a dynamic offensive force. In the past he has had problems with discipline and attitude, which was less of an issue this year. He has not walked or stolen enough bases, both of which he improved upon this past year; and he has not always put forth full effort all the time, concerns he has not yet eliminated. Valdespin is not quite ready for the big leagues, just getting a promotion to AAA late in the season, but if he can continue to do what he did in 2011, it shouldn’t be too much longer until making his big league debut is a real possibility.

10-20-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/10/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-19-michael-fulmer-rhp.html  - At 6’3″ and 200 lbs. Michael Fulmer has good size, and has gained anywhere from 5-7 mph on his fastball in the last calendar year, while growing an inch in height and putting on about 20 lbs. His heater is now in the mid 90′s with his fastball topping out at 97. He has a very promising secondary pitch he is now throwing at 83-85 mph, that is thrown with a tight rotation and comes in with a sharp downward break. The most impressive thing about his breaking pitch, is he can throw it for strikes, which makes it a potentially devastating out-pitch. His change-up, like most high school pitchers, is a work-in-progress at this time, and will be something he must refine to find success as a starter beyond the lowest levels of the minors. He has shown good stamina on the mound, and should develop into a pitcher who can throw deep into games.

In the least surprising news ever, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports that the Mets have released Ryota Igarashi. In 79 appearances between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Igarashi got shelled to the tune of a 5.74 ERA. His peripherals weren't much better, either, because his strikeouts were largely negated by his walks. The only reason that the Mets had to officially release Igarashi is that his contract included a provision that he would be granted free agency if he and the team could not reach a new deal at the end of the one he originally signed. Without that clause, Igarashi wouldn't have had an opportunity to reach free agency until he had accumulated six years of service time in the big leagues - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/10/20/2503554/mets-release-ryota-igarashi

10-20-11: - http://www.metsblog.com/2011/10/20/toby-hydes-take-on-reese-havens-at-2b  - Hey, guess who led Double-A Binghamton in games played at second base? If you had Reese Havens at 51, you win. Havens, who will turn 25 on Thursday, hit .289 with a .372 OBP in 58 games for the B-Mets. He also drew more walks than teammate 2B-SS Jordany Valdespin (27 to 21) in just over half the number of games. This advantage in plate discipline is very important. So to is the fact that Havens is a year older. When he has played, he’s hit. However, Havens will be 25 on Opening Day 2012, so his time is now. I suspect he will break camp as Buffalo’s second baseman, with Valdespin at shortstop.

Mets Analysis – 2012 Rookie Team Starters

I’m not going to try and predict at this point of the 2011 season, who will pitch in the rotations of the 2012 sub-A and rookie teams. I fail so consistently predicting the four full season teams so there is no reason to embarrass myself even further.

That being said, there are a few names to throw out there that will be written about much more by this time next year. We talked all season about the “Big 4” (Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Famila). Well, there’s another level being quietly developed (I did not include Akeel Morris here, who I have in Savannah and may be the best of the lot).

Michael Fulmer – Fulmer was a pleasant surprise as the 2^nd round pick this past June. Great high school stats (10-2, 0.72, 127-K, 68-IP), but we always questing the quality of high school competition. He was comfortably hitting 97 this past season, which is just fine with me. His sitting velo climb was 2009: 90, 2010: 95, 2011: 97. He’s pushing 6-4, and that should be about it height wise. His future will be dependent upon mastering his “slider/curve”, which has big, downward break. The Mets will move slow here, but will probably showcase him in Brooklyn next season.

photo by Allan Greene

Juan Urbina – The once 16-year old super-sign had a rough season in 2011 (Kingsport: 4-6, 5.95, 12-starts, 49-K, 56.0-IP), but the 6-2 lefty showed signs of brilliance throughout the season. He’ll play 2012 as a 19-year old, so there is plenty of time here. My concern is his projected velo is still just that, projected.

Domingo Tapia – Everybody that has seen this kid pitch gets excited real quick. He’s 20-years old, 6-4 and was throwing 100 in Brooklyn earlier this month. Stats for the season: 6-5, 3.38, 56.0-IP, 36-K, 16-BB. Needs lots of work and projects out as a future closer, but will probably start for the Cyclones in 2012.

Luis Mateo – The 21-yr. old signed with the Mets in March after originally signing with the Giants and Padres. Lots of drama (undisclosed injury, wrong age), but the bottom line is the fact he can damn well pitch. He’s sitting at 95 and his DSL stats this year were: 13-G, 6-1, 63-IP, 80-K, 5-BB. He will definitely be stateside come the spring.

The Gamers vs. The Gifted: Whitendon vs. Fulmer

I've ranked both Whitendon and Fulmer as the #10 on the respective Gamers and Gifted lists. Some might argue for either being higher on their list and I'd hear the arguments out.

Full Name: Anthony Taylor Whitenton

Born: 02/20/1988

Birthplace: Conyers, GA

College: Darton College

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 190

Bats: R

Throws: R

For those who tell you Whitendon will be nothing... there is some validity. He's not exactly blessed with anything spectacular. Also... success in Savannah doesn't translate into success ANYWHERE else. What you have to like is well... his ERA for 2011: 2.49, His K/9 for 2011: 9.56 and his WHIP: 1.12. I'm not a scout and I don't live near enough to Savannah to make any of the games but it would appear that scouts aren't that impressed.

Whitendon Scouting Report:

In game action, Whitenton works up in the zone with an 89-91 MPH fastball, 81-83 MPH changeup, and slurvy, mid-70′s curveball.

In all honesty, I probably liked Whitenton more than most as I see a couple of more miles in his frame and easy arm action. However, a scout commented the downward plane on his fastball was non-existent implying Whitenton will have significant difficulties at higher levels with his current repertoire.

And while it’s unlikely Whitenton will reach the big leagues without a spike in velocity AND significant refinement of his breaking pitches, the Mets have done much worse in terms of drafting small college arms with little to no upside.

I tend to look at results in the minors and focus on one key thing... PROGRESSION. Whitendon flopped in Savannah in 2010 but in 2011 he was a soaring success. In 2012 he'll move to Port St. Lucie and as long as he doesn't flame out he continues to slowly rise through the ranks to the exalted role of innings eater.

Full Name: Michael Joseph Fulmer

Born: 03/15/1993

Birthplace: Oklahoma City, OK

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 200

Bats: R

Throws: R

Fulmer did not have a great splash into the minors with a few flame-out outings that showed he could get people to K but also that he's got a few problems to work out. Anyone who can reach the vaunted 95 MPH on the radar gun has a chance of being an impact in the majors but being almost a decade younger than me... he's hardly CLOSE.

Fulmer Scouting Report:

Fulmer is an attractive combination of stuff and polish. After a velocity bump this past spring, Fulmer is now throwing in the low-90s and can touch 95 from time to time. With a 6-3, 200-lb. frame, he might have a little bit more projection left in the tank, but the body is pretty mature right now. He's actually bordering on soft-bodied, and conditioning will be important for him going forward. In addition to the fastball, he throws a curve (which I've also seen referred to as a slider) and a changeup. While Fulmer's coaches even refer to the pitch as a slider, it acts more like a curve, but whatever you call it, it's impressive. He throws it with tight rotation and it has big downward break, coming in around 78. Even better: he can throw the pitch for strikes. He also has a changeup, but that's pretty much a non-factor right now, as is common with high school arms. But despite that, it's rare to see a prep curve ball as consistent as Fulmer's and it implies that he might move a little faster than most high school arms.

The battle between Gaming and Gifted pitchers comes down to a battle of odds. Odds are that Whitendon will continue a slow plodding progress up the ranks towards AAA. If he stops there... nobody would be surprised, but in all likelihood he could reach AAA in the next 3-4 years without much imagination. Fulmer, on the other hand, could spend 2-3 years in rookie ball before finding himself and he might NEVER find himself at all.

I give round 1 to the Gamers as Fulmer's ETA could be anywhere between 4 and 8 years.