Cutnpaste: - Robert Carson, Fernando Martinez, Phillip Evans, Reese Havens, 2012 Bullpen

10-26-11: - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/26/colemans-corner-mets-position-players-shining-in-arizona-sun   - Then there’s left-hander Robert Carson. Or as he refers to himself on his Facebook page – Robert “I’mdestinedforgreatness” Carson. Whoa, big fella, dial that one back just a little bit. At Double AA Binghamton this season, Carson went 4-11 with a 5.05 ERA in 24 starts and one relief appearance. He gave up a whopping 154 hits in 128 innings, striking out 91 but walking 55. Not pretty. In Arizona, he’s still giving up too many hits – 10 in 9 1/3 innings – but the numbers are better – a 2.89 ERA in 5 relief appearances.

10-25-11: - http://www.newyorkmetsreport.com/2011/10/25/mets-have-precious-few-pieces-to-trade - Fernando Martinez: Had been sought after in previous years, but is a fragile, injury risk whose value has declined. Too bad they can’t turn back the clock two years. If the Mets can swing something with him, they should do it, but his real value to them would be to stay healthy and reach his potential, which is becoming less and less likely.

10-26-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/7132/mets-minors/a-look-into-the-future-top-shortstop-prospects   -  Phillip Evans   DOB: 9/10/1992  Birthplace: Carlsbad, CA  Height: 5’10”   Weight: 185  R/R  -  I’m not going to even talk about his stats because they are irrelevant since he only played 9 games. However, he did reach Brooklyn, something Brandon Nimmo did not do. When the Mets snagged him on the signing deadline day, I remember rejoicing that we did not let him go. He’s practically my age and I’m praising him. His frame is pretty much maxed out at this point. It’s impossible to predict growth spurts, but you never know. Evans reminds me of your classic shortstop, who has potential to hit a few homeruns while being a solid gap hitter. He represented the west coast in the 2010 AFLAC All-American game, where he snagged the MVP honors in front of his hometown fans. According to Replacement Level Baseball, they clocked Evans in high school at 4.1 from home to first, predicting that he can be an “admirable base stealer at the next level”. RLP also said that Evans’ arm could be projected at a 65, well above average on the scouting scale. He’s what you want a high school prospect to look like. It’s not going to take him much time to fit into the system because he has the tools to succeed.

10-26-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/what-do-the-mets-have-in-reese-havens  - Reese Havens’ health has been his biggest flaw as a player since being drafted by the Mets in the 1st round of the 2008 Draft (22nd overall) out of the University of South Carolina.  Skeptics might be concerned he will never stay healthy.  While he does strikeout at a high rate, I will give Havens the benefit of the doubt due to the lack of consistent at-bats. Overall, I like what I saw from Havens when he was on the field.  That potential is what draws the attention of scouts and the Mets front office staff.  Havens just turned 25, and the clock is ticking very quickly for him.  Should Havens stay healthy, the Mets look like they have their future everyday second-baseman.

The bullpen, which lacked the hard middle-inning throwers that other teams employed, desperately can use reinforcements. Mets relievers combined for a 4.33 ERA and .267 opponent batting average this past season, both ranked 15th in the National League. The Houston Astros were the only team to finish worse, with a 4.49 reliever ERA and .269 opponent batting average. "Of course the bullpen was a big disappointment -- overall and certainly the last two months of the season," Alderson said in the Mets' clubhouse at Citi Field the day after the regular-season finale. "So I think a lot of our success or failure next year is going to be a function of pitching, regardless of who's playing for us. Now that doesn't mean we're going to go spending all of our money on pitching and not try to sign Jose. But I think our fate lies more on the pitching side than anything else  http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7148914/new-york-mets-finding-capable-arms-bullpen-key-amazins

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.

The Second Base Race

While the main debate remains whether the Mets will re-sign Jose Reyes and/or trade David Wright, I want to talk about a position with options. The Mets have plenty of options for who will end up playing second base, let's look at some pros and cons.

Daniel Murphy:
Murphy can hit, he doesn't have a TON of power but he can hit. There is hardly a soul alive that doesn't think Murphy has a legit MLB bat. There are PLENTY of people who don't think he has an MLB position. The fact is he's played okay at first base, reasonably well at third, passably at second... and not so great in the outfield. Before the season I was one of the people who picked Murphy to beat out Castillo, Emaus and Turner for the starting job based on his bat. I was not at all surprised when he wound up there after a few weeks.

Pros - Murphy's bat is what makes us fans clamor for him getting into the starting lineup. He hits for average with some solid power and very good contact.

Cons - Murphy is not a natural fielder. He makes most of the plays but will not do so well and WILL lead to errors no matter where you play him.

Odds - 10:1 (Murphy's biggest issue isn't his glove, it's that he's not viewed as a starter. Some bloggers will talk about the need for defense up the middle, but ESPECIALLY if Reyes and Wright are going away, the Mets NEED to pump as much offense into the lineup as possible.)

Ruben Tejada:
It's no secret that I'm not a huge Tejada fan. Ruben's bat does nothing to excite me and he's always struck me as a solid backup IF. He does show flashes of contact at the plate, but doesn't provide power or speed in such a way that I groan when I think of him as a starting everyday player. Ruben gets his support based on his outstanding glove work which gets rave reviews at SS and 2B. A big thing to consider is that if Reyes leaves town he has NO chance of starting at second as he's almost guaranteed to start at SS.

Pros - The biggest pro is his glove but I guess you could also love his age as it might allow him growth. Any way I cut it, I can't see that meaning power or speed... which translates into minimal production.

Cons - Tejada may occasionally hit for contact which keeps his BA above .260, but his power is non-existent and his speed is minimal.

Odds - 4:1 (Tejada has a good shot to win the starting 2B job IF Reyes is back with the team. If Reyes is not I would say he has NO shot... as he'll be the starting SS.)

Justin Turner:
Big Red was a big, pleasant surprise for the Mets in 2011. He doesn't have a ton of speed or power... like Tejada but he's got double power and seemed to get a ton of clutch hits. In the field he's not exactly a dynamo with the glove and leaves something to be desired, but he CAN handle 3rd, 2nd and 1st. The fact remains that Turner strikes almost everyone as a backup IF. He DOES do more with the bat than Tejada and he DOES have more fielding chops than Murphy but does any of that make him a SOLID starter?

Pros - Jeterlike intangibles? How else can you quantify that he simply seemed to collect BIG hits.

Cons - Completely average. He doesn't do anything that is THAT impressive.

Odds - 6:1 (If Reyes is gone, he has a VERY good chance of at least starting the year on second. His biggest competition would be Jordany Valdespin and my bet would be that Terry would prefer to avoid the immaturity issues that Jordany brings to the table.)

Josh Satin:
Most bloggers love Josh. He's not supposed to be anything special but the guy keeps hitting. I don't think he's a great option to start at 2nd, he's like Justin Turner with less MLB experience. For that reason he's really an after-thought in the race for the position. At the same time he will be a part of the bench and from what I've seen him do in the minors, I expect he'll be useful in whatever his role ends up. BECAUSE of that I think he could work his way into Terry's good graces for a time-share at second by the half-way point of 2012.

Pros - Josh Satin has a GREAT eye. I don't know if it will mean a ton of walks in the majors as pitchers will not be trying to pitch around him, but we can expect he'll not swing at bad pitches.

Cons - Defense is not his strongest suit and though I don't think he'd hurt us, I can already hear the people calling in and saying defense is the most important thing up the middle.

Odds - 15:1 (The odds are not good that he gets ANY starting position, but he SHOULD make the roster.

Jordany Valdespin:
I like Valdespin a lot, but I'm not a manager and I don't have to deal with discipline. Of all the candidates his glove is among the best, his power is among the best and he has the most speed. Should Reyes leave... Jordany WILL be with the Mets as they need the legs in the lineup. He's not the smartest base runner, but that will come with time. The knock against Jordany is his work ethic. Terry loves gritty guys who will kill themselves for their team. Jordany has been disciplined by minor league teams multiple times and that is a bad sign.

Pros - Raw talent is all in the kid's favor. He's got a glove nearly as good as Tejada's, power similar to Murphy and more speed than anyone else on the depth chart for second.

Cons - He's a bit of a problem in terms of discipline.

Odds - 13:1 (He's a bit of a long-shot to make the team unless Reyes leaves town. Then he's a longshot to NOT be the starting 2B.)

Reese Havens:
Reese is the wild card. He's still the 2B of the future and he's got the skills to blow most of the other players away. The issue with Reese is the same issue he's had for years. He cannot stay healthy. I love that he did not go to the AFL and instead is focusing on conditioning and weight training to get him healthy for 2012-13. It makes him a longer shot to win the job this spring, but if Wright and Reyes are gone it's going to be hard to keep him out of Queens. We could have a redux of the 2010 Ike Davis situation very quickly.

Pros - GREAT bat. The guy commands the plate, has a good and powerful line drive swing and plays reasonably good defense.

Cons - HEALTH! If he cannot stay on the field he's useless.

Odds - 20:1 (It's a long shot for him to win the job but a longer shot for him not to earn it if he's healthy.)

Cutnpaste: - Jason Isringhausen, Don Zimmer, Mets Attendance, Reese Havens, 1882 Mets

Jason Isringhausen — It was a rough season for Isringhausen, who had mixed results filling in as the team's closer in the second half. Once a bright prospect in the Mets organization, Izzy had his best years closing games for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. But he returned to where it all started this summer and notched career save No. 300 in a Mets uniform. - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9174449

Don Zimmer, Tampa Bay Rays -- Rays owner and longtime Mets fan Stuart Sternberg isn't cutting any checks to ex-Mets this postseason, but he is ponying up some dough to pay for the services of one on the bench. Zimmer's best days certainly happened elsewhere, from his playing days with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers as well as the Chicago Cubs to his managerial turns in Chicago, Boston, and elsewhere. Or maybe you just associate him as Joe Torre's old bench coach with the Yankees, the one who Pedro Martinez threw to the ground in self-defense from a charging bald bull. Zimmer's an original Met, though -- a dyed-in-the-wool 1962 vintage that played all of 14 games for the Amazin's that year before being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in May. That should give him a pass in case Jonah Keri's The Extra 2% didn't woo you about the good things going down in Tampa these days. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs

Mets attendance declined for a third straight season, with the team drawing a total announced crowd of 2,352,596 in 2011. That figure was the team's lowest in seven years, since Art Howe's final season as manager. The 8.1 percent decline this season comes on the heels of a 19.2 percent dropoff from the inaugural season at Citi Field to Year 2 in 2010. Attendance dropped 21.6 percent from 2008 at Shea Stadium to 2009 at smaller-capacity Citi Field. - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/35658/mets-attendance-down-8-in-2011

9-22-11: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2011/09/22/2011-eastern-league-top-prospects - Reese Havens, 2B New York Mets - “He really stayed with his approach no matter how we pitched him. I had the opportunity from second base to see how he hit. He got in good counts. We started pitching him away more as the season went on and it’s like he changed his approach. He was fun to watch.” – Eastern League hitter

In the 1800s the game went huge, particularly in New York where journalists referred to it as the “national pastime”. Leagues were formed, stadiums were built, and players were paid to play the game. By the turn of the century baseball looked like the modern-day game, with owners, presidents, managers, and star players. Here are some photos of that era pulled from the Library of Congress Archives. - http://1x57.com/2011/10/02/historical-baseball-photos-1880-1915

Cutnpaste: Brandon Moore, Reese Havens, Miquel Batista, Josh Thole, Terry Collins

9-16-11: - http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110916&content_id=24774440&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb  - (Brandon) Moore, 25, was a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2010 with Class A Savannah when he had a 3.49 ERA in 14 outings for the Sand Gnats. He pitched at three levels in 2010 before spending all of this season at Double-A, where he finished 10-8 with a 4.47 ERA in 26 outings (25 starts). The Crawfordsville, Ind., native was New York's 14th-round pick in the 2008 Draft out of Indiana Wesleyan University and has also pitched for Kingsport, Brooklyn and St. Lucie over the last three years.

9-17-11: - Reese Havens (Mets first-round pick in 2008): The second baseman, taken four picks after Ike Davis, has suffered through one injury after another practically since the day he was drafted after playing every single game of his career at South Carolina. But it would be a stunner if the Mets chose not to protect a player that could become their long-term answer at second base as soon as next season. Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/yankees_mets_must_make_key_decisions_5aKoxsOfZQzXf4dhd226oK#ixzz1YErc8tpG  

This 40-year-old Dominican pitcher doesn’t have any higher learning on his résumé. So how is it he finds himself on this list of the nine smartest players in baseball? By being a published author, that’s how. Batista has had a book of poetry entitled Sentimientos en Blanco y Negro (or Feelings in Black and White) published, as well as a thriller novel about a serial killer called The Avenger of Blood. I have no idea if these works are any good, but not just any old dummy can sit down and write a book. So for a baseball player, I’d say Miguel is of above average intelligence. Wouldn’t you? - http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/09/16/9-smartest-players-in-major-league-baseball  

Though (Josh)Thole has had the challenge of handling knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for most of the season, he said that is no excuse for his NL-leading 16 passed balls. That number has partly obscured Thole's throwing improvement and steady game-calling this year Offensively there have been fewer questions, even if Thole's .266 average with three homers and 36 RBIs in 312 at-bats haven't exactly evoked images of Mike Piazza. But the Mets will remain patient with the 24-year-old Thole, whose role could become more pronounced next season if veteran Ronny Paulino isn't re-signed -- the team could go with a tandem of Thole and Mike Nickeas behind the plate. - Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/getting_defensive_gx39RsY8mPcZg7oa8EpG4N#ixzz1YHrP4wxG  

It has nearly been a year since Terry Collins was introduced as the Mets manager and declared, "I’m not the evil devil that a lot of people have made me out to be." And his words have rung true as he has been a non-stop whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm, cherishing the days on the field after an 11-year absence from a spot on the bench. He has shed the reputation as a too-intense explosion waiting to happen. At least he had until Thursday when he blew up publicly, ripping his team for appearing to have folded up. But when he finally erupted, his team didn’t turn on him. There was no anonymous sniping and really little disagreement with his words. Even Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen took to Twitter to back up Collins. But there was really nothing to defend him from. - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/34978/mets-morning-briefing-9-18-11  

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  

Cutnpaste: Francisco Rodriguez, Reese Havens, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mets DL Payroll, Dale Thayer

Francisco Rodriguez - $17.5 million option vests with 55 games finished. - Ron Roenicke said that he was going to give K-Rod some closing opportunities when the deal with the Mets went down. He has finished one game since the trade. I guess Doug Melvin and Brewers ownership let him know how things were going to go. There was no way in God’s green Earth that the Brewers were going to take a chance like that and pay a “closer” $17.5 million when they have Prince Fielder on the way out the door this winter. Rodriguez has finished 35 games this season and won’t come much closer to that vesting option. - http://thebaseballhaven.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/2012-mlb-vesting-options  

9-3-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/833229-new-york-mets-ranking-their-current-best-prospect-at-every-position/page/7#/articles/833229-new-york-mets-ranking-their-current-best-prospect-at-every-position/page/2  - In 2008, the Mets had two first-round picks. The first went to current Mets star Ike Davis. The other went to Mets top prospect Reese Havens. The Mets have been very thin at second base for as long as this decade can show, and their long-term solution is absolutely found in Reese Havens. The South Carolina stud would have ideally been called up to the show by now, but injuries have created setbacks for him as many have praised his well-rounded approach at the plate.

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9-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/09/prospect-pulse-buffalo-2012-help-on-the-way.html  - Kirk Nieuwenhuis - Captain Kirk returns from labrum surgery on his left shoulder, hopefully doesn’t miss a beat, and picks up right where he left off before his injury last May. The hope is that since the injury was to his non-throwing shoulder that his return will be sooner rather than later. At the time he went down he was the best player on the Buffalo squad, hitting .298, with a .908 OPS. His task at the time was to cut down on his strikeouts, and as soon as he makes progress in that regard he will be ready for prime time.

From the start of the 2009 season through the end of August this year, the Mets paid a staggering $107.2 million to players on the disabled list—based on Wall Street Journal analysis of the time they missed and their daily pay rate. Not only is that the highest figure in all of baseball over that span, it is nearly $47 million more than the next closest team, and more than double what 24 other teams paid their injured players. - wsj.  

With Jason Isringhausen dealing with a herniated disc in his lower back, the Mets will add Dale Thayer to the roster. Thayer made four appearances with the Mets in late May/early June, allowing two runs on five hits in four innings. He was 4-3 with a 2.66 ERA and 21 saves in 54 relief appearances for Triple-A Buffalo - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/34230/thayer-joining-mets  

Cutnpaste: Reese Havens, Jon Niese, RBIs, Evans to Catcher, Albert Cordero

9-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/09/prospect-pulse-buffalo-2012-help-on-the-way.html  - Reese Havens - Havens will be embroiled in a fierce competition for the Mets 2B job in 2012. If they manage to retain Jose Reyes, the inside edge for 2B goes to Ruben Tejada, with Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy, Jordany Valdespin, and Havens all vying for the job. On natural ability and a balanced game, Havens may be the best baseball player here. His sweet left-handed stroke, is ideal for not just hitting, but hitting for power. And being a natural shortstop, he has made a fairly seamless transition to 2B. He just needs to stay healthy in order to open some eyes, and he could force his way into the picture anytime in 2012.

9-6-11: - .mlb.  - Though the Mets are not ruling out a return this season for starting pitcher Jon Niese, the left-hander has not progressed significantly since straining his right intercostal muscle last month. Niese is currently doing pool work in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is "not close" to returning, according to assistant general manager John Ricco. "That midsection is kind of tricky, so we've just got to wait until he's pain-free," Ricco said. "When he sneezes, he feels it. It's not a sharp pain, but he still feels something in there, so we're not progressing him until he totally feels good."

9-6-11: - http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/  - RBI clearly is not a predictive statistic. A predictive statistic is one that correlates highly from year to year.[1]. What a player accomplishes in year X, we should expect him to accomplish in year X+1. As an example, look at xFIP. xFIP does not tell us what happened in the current year - how a pitcher was able to prevent runs - but rather tells us how one should have been able to prevent runs by looking at one's strikeouts, walks, while assuming a league average homerun rate. The assumed home run rate isn't even something that actually happened.

9-6-11: - http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2011/09/06/nick-evans-for-catcher/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mets+%28The+LoHud+Mets+Blog%29  - Way back in October of 2009, I wrote that moving Nick Evans to catcher made a ton of sense for the New York Mets. After all, Evans had a plus bat, no clear on-field destination, and the Mets certainly needed depth at the position. Like many things concerning the Omar Minaya Mets, this was n apparently fleeting idea with no follow-through. Two years later, it is hard to see how anything has changed concerning Evans, or how he could best help the Mets. Evans certainly holds his own at first base- his 143 OPS+ this season is more than adequate for the position. Among catchers? It would make him a superstar, assuming he could merely hold his own behind the plate.





photo by Allan Greene

 9-3-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/833229-new-york-mets-ranking-their-current-best-prospect-at-every-position/page/7#/articles/833229-new-york-mets-ranking-their-current-best-prospect-at-every-position/page/2 - Fantastic news, Mets fans! For a team that is basically using a platoon role for their current catcher, they also don’t really have a top prospect catcher anywhere in the minors! Luckily, I was able to find a bit of a sleeper candidate in Albert Cordero. Cordero has a good glove the plate, puts up decent power numbers (eight home runs, .189 ISO, 32 RBI in rookie ball), and shows breakout potential as a prospect. His power numbers were behind only Aderlin Rodriguez in rookie ball last season, and at 20 years old, he has already shined behind the plate defensively.

State of the System: New York Mets

Quick Look

The 2009 season was an utter disaster for the Mets, as a hobbling roster forced them to christen Citi Field with a profusion of journeymen and end the year with a better record than only 5 teams in the game. If MLB stars like Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, etc. are healthy next year, the Mets will have a much better chance of competing. Their farm system won't be of much assistance, however. After a few respectable prospects, New York's system is devoid of talent.

Top Prospects

Fernando Martinez, of

Age: 21 Level: MLB

Martinez' budding power and potential to hit for a solid average have long made him a touted prospect. Though he just turned 21, Martinez would have already established himself in the majors had it not been for continued injury problems (knee, hand, hamstring, etc.). The 6-1 native of the Dominican Republic signed for $1.3 million in 2005 and played a season in Double-A at age 18. His BB-K track record is mediocre, but he has the quick stroke and power potential to still be an above-average offensive producer. Martinez has slowed down and moved off center field. His throwing needs work, but he could be a pretty good defender on a corner, although he needs to produce big-time to be of use there. After logging 100 plate appearances in the majors this season, Martinez will compete for a job in Spring Training. He is advanced for his age, but has yet to show the durability necessary for a grueling full season.

Ike Davis, 1B

Age: 22 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Davis, the 18th overall pick in 2008, had an inauspicious debut, going homerless and posting a .652 OPS in the New York-Penn League. The former Arizona State star put to rest doubts about his power in 2009, though, blasting 20 homers while reaching Double-A. Davis, a 6-5 lefty, has at least plus power in the tank. He has the bat speed and lift in his swing to potentially hit 30 homers, and he draws a healthy amount of walks. Davis, who played right field and pitched at ASU, is also a plus defender and has some athleticism. Many question how his approach will fare at the highest level, though, as Davis strikes out in bunches and can get pull-happy. Samesiders give him fits. There have been some rumblings that the Mets might give Davis the big league first base job in 2010, but he'll more likely return to the minors to work on his hittability. If he can cure his K and LHP woes, he'll be an above-average regular.

Jenrry Mejia, rhp

Age: 20 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Mejia signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007 with little fanfare. Reaching Double-A as a 19-year-old and flashing dominating stuff has helped him go from a virtual unknown to one of the better pitching prospects in the game. Baseball America ranked Mejia as New York's #1 prospect. His fastball has incredible movement in the low- to mid-90s, and Mejia can dial it up to 98 mph on occasion. His next-best offering is a mid-80s changeup, more notable for its splitter-like drop than a large separation in velocity. Mejia also has a hard curveball, but it's wildly inconsistent. The compact 6-footer does not have a prototypical pitcher's frame, but he is muscular and makes it work. He induces bushels of groundballs. Mejia's biggest pitfalls are a lack of consistency with his offspeed pitches and poor command. His walk rate this year was 9.5%, and his command within the zone is even more erratic. Some suggest he's destined for the bullpen, but Mejia has the raw ingredients to pitch at the front of the rotation. He will split the upcoming campaign between the top two rungs of the minors, with an eye on improving his pitchability. He has ample time for refinement, and will reach the majors in 2011, if not earlier.

Jon Niese, lhp

Age: 23 Level: MLB

Niese was establishing himself in New York's rotation when he severely injured his hamstring in August. He'll be ready in 2010, and should spend his first full year in the majors. Niese's fastball creeps into the low-90s and his big-breaking curveball is his trademark pitch. He also has a solid changeup. Niese's command still needs fine-tuning, and his delivery isn't ideal. He projects as a quality back-of-the-rotation southpaw long-term.

Reese Havens, 2B

Age: 23 Level: High A-Double-A

Havens, a shortstop at South Carolina, shifted to second this year. The 6-1, 195-pounder lacked the range to play short, and he projects as more of a slugging, offensive-oriented keystone sacker than a typical pesky, scrappy type. The lefty-swinger has plus pop, especially for a middle infielder, and should be good for doubles and home runs. He has advanced pitch recognition and exhibits control of the strike zone. His pro BB rate is 12.5%, although he also strikes out a fair amount (and has batted just .247 in his two pro seasons). Havens may not have the quick footwork to play second, but his hands and arm are assets. He has shown injury-prone tendencies in his brief pro career, and needs to shake the injury bug. He also has underachieved at times. Havens is flawed, but his offensive potential and feel for the game give him a solid shot to be an everyday regular.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, of

Age: 22 Level: High A-Double-A

Nieuwenhuis, an Azusa Pacific (NAIA) product, was a recherché 3rd-round pick in 2008. He has gotten off to a nice professional start, and ranked as the #13 prospect in the Florida State League. The 6-3, 210-pounder has some pop from the left side. He socked 61 extra-base hits this season to go with his .282/.364/.479 line, and he also runs well. Nieuwenhuis currently plays center, but his strong arm makes him a better fit for right in the long run. He plays with an all-out mentality. For all his solid tools, though, Nieuwenhuis swings and misses too often (21.8 pro K%), and needs to cut down his swing to hit at higher levels. His tools aren't overwhelming enough to simply glide to the MLB without making progress with his contact skills. Nieuwenhuis shined in a Double-A cameo at the end of 2009, and it will be fascinating to watch him log a full season at that level this season. He is a sleeper who just popped onto the radar, but I'm cautiously optimistic he can develop into an starting outfielder in the big leagues.

Wilmer Flores, inf

Age: 18 Level: Low A-High A

Flores backers point to his age. The native of Venezuela, who signed for $750,000, held his own (kind of) as a 17-year-old in full-season ball. The 6-3, 175-pounder consistently puts the barrel to the ball and projects for power. He has a strong arm and his hands are fine. On the other hand, however, Flores is a well below-average runner and will not stay at shortstop. He is exceptionally impatient (4.2 BB%) and is unlikely to wind up with high OBPs. He hit just 3 homers this year, though he is young and should get stronger. Flores is 3 or more years from the majors, if he makes it. His contact ability and youth are positives, but I find it hard to get excited about a teenager who is bound to switch positions and rarely gets on via the free pass.

Ruben Tejada, ss/2B

Age: 20 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Tejada is a classic example of New York's hyper-aggressive promotion philosophy for young prospects: The Panamanian middle infielder played in Double-A as a 19-year-old this year after struggling to a .229/.293/.296 clip in High A in 2008. Tejada finally caught his breath, though, showing excellent maturity and a potential MLB future. The 5-11, 165-pounder has strong contact skills (.289 AVG and 10.7 K% this season), though he needs to show more patience (although a 7.0% full-season walk rate isn't atrocious). Tejada's power is to the gaps at best, and he won't be a true offensive threat at any rate. He does have arm strength and plus potential in the field. He runs well and is a solid basestealer. Tejada, well ahead of the curve but still looking to add polish, will move to Triple-A in 2010.

Josh Thole, c

Age: 23 Level: MLB

Thole's contact ability is brilliant: The 2005 draftee hit over .320 this year and has accumulated less strikeouts than walks at each of his stops in full-season ball. The drawback is that Thole employs a choke-up, pretend-like-there-are-two-strikes, protect-the-plate, dump-a-single-in approach to achieve his results. He seldom drives the ball (multiple homers in only 1 of 5 pro seasons) and his ultimate value is all tied up in his batting average. The 6-1, 205-pounder is a fringy defensive catcher, though he's made steady improvement. He performed well in a late-season call-up this year and should get more MLB playing time in 2010, but it's hard to see him being more than a backup. There's nothing wrong with a lefty bat with great contact skills off the bench, though, and Thole should be that at the very least.

Brad Holt, rhp

Age: 23 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Holt is primarily a one-pitch pitcher. The 6-4 righty works off a low-90s fastball, and has touched 96 mph. He commands the pitch and it has outstanding life. Holt's secondary stuff is a different matter. The UNC Wilmington product has an inconsistent breaking ball which he struggles to control. His changeup is underdeveloped and ineffective, and his release point varies on all his pitches. Holt breezed through the lower levels of the minors before hitting a wall in Double-A (6.21 ERA and diminished K rate). His projectable, durable frame and dynamite fastball should guarantee him a big league role in some capacity, but I'm very skeptical that Holt will ever improve his secondary pitches to the point where he is a difference-maker.

Others: LHPs Juan Urbina and Steve Matz; RHPs Kyle Allen, Tobi Stoner, and Josh Stinson; OF Cesar Puello

Impact Talent: C

Farm System Depth: D+

2010 Breakout Prospect

Zach Dotson, lhp

Age: 19 Level: none-Low A

The Mets notoriously skimped on the draft this year, but Dotson was one draftee for whom they went over slot to secure. The Georgia prep product signed out of the 13th round for $500,000. Dotson has a nice 3-pitch mix, beginning with a fastball that sits 87-88 and tops out at 91 mph. His curveball and changeup also flash solid potential. I'm not a big fan of Dotson's delivery, but he's still a good pick to start his career off well and perhaps jump into the Mets' Top 10 next year. He will likely pitch in the South Atlantic League in 2010.