Sorry, but our site has been down for awhile, and this is the first chance I’ve had to post. Thanks for bearing with us.
Saturday afternoon. I just came back from the store and logged on to see if we’re up.
The Rockies are some story and it would be nice to see them run the table. Should they do it, you’ll hear a lot about them building from within. That shouldn’t be a bulletin. That’s always the best way to go.
Along that regard, the Mets have a decent core with Wright, Reyes, Milledge, Gomez, Pelfrey and Humber. But, they don’t have enough in their farm system to go completely that way.
For example, they don’t have a catcher, and I don’t think they’ll go next season with both Milledge and Gomez in the outfield.
39 Comments
Well the same thing applies to even the DBacks and the Indians. I mean for me being a 20 year old kid and seeing Justin Upton in the outfield, its amazing. A guy my age is playing RF in the NLCS. I love it. Most of the DBacks players are guys they drafted.
With the Indians its a combination of that and just really smart trades that brought them into the Indians farm system.
I feel the way the DBacks and Indians run thier organization, on par with the Braves and what the Mets are TRYING to do, are the ways organizations should be run and I love it.
Hi John –
I can’t believe the Yankee organization is still stringing Joe along – what are they thinking?
I watched the Boston Cleveland game last night and was surprised and impressed that Manny was patient enough to walk with the bases loaded twice.
Tried to stay awake to see the Rockies/Arizona game, but couldn’t.
I’m hoping for a Rockies/Boston WS.
John I don’t think the Mets plan on a Gomez Milledge OF next year, Moises Alou is prob like 85% coming back, then there are other options like Stewert before the Mets would think of making Gomez a starter so soon.. Milledge had to earn his place, and I would expect the same to happen from Gomez.
I still think a Gomez/Blanton trade should happen..
I had another Idea
A package with Delgado+Humber+Carp and maybe something else for Casey Kotchman..
Angels need a power hitter behind Vlad, and Mets could use a 1B of the future.
Bring Lo Duca back! Lo Duca’s leadership throughout the game was a key to many of the mets victories this year. He called a great game, he has the ability to hit, and he can throw guys out at second. I’d rather have a guy who is a bit less successful as a hitter catching than a guy who is a bit more successful but is young and inexperienced.
Lo Duca can carry the team.
Any thoughts?
When I look at the numbers our prospects at AA and AAA have put up this year, I am shocked. AA is where a lot of the boys get seperated from the men so I start there. Besides Carp, there are no infielders who can hit. AH had a nice year, but he hasnt been able to do it in his MLB chances. There is no catching prospect at this level. The hyped up Gomez and Fmart were injured and missed a lot of time. There are no other outfielders to get excited about. Pitching- Pelfry and Humbers numbers are not impressive. Collazzo was the only pitcher whos numbers jump out.
So, in the third year of Minayas reign, the minor league system is not getting any better. Dan Duquette got fired this week- we could have a thread on him for all the bungling he did when he was here. Does anybody remember the firesale of Alomar, Burnitz, Benitez that was supposed to re-stock our system? How did that work out? We all know about his number one debacle dont we?
I thought Omar was going to get top quality scouts. I havent seen much results yet. Is 3 years enough, or does it take longer to see results? This organization has not produced an ace pithcer since Gooden, 23 years ago.
Sorry to say, but I dont see a lot of hope here of duplicating whats going in with the dbax and rockies any time in the near future.
OK- Im ready for the flame.
I forgot about Mulvey- he looks like he could have a future.
Muniz’s numbers impressed.
To Matt: (Lo Duca): I am an advocate for bringing back Lo Duca. He’s been an asset since he’s been here and I don’t think there’s anybody in the free-agent market who is better, or in some cases, somebody they’ll be able to get.-JD
Weren’t Pelfrey and/or Humber picked by Omar? FMart is touted as the best OF prospect we have but I think he is in A. They drafted a 7’ pitcher ( 2 I think ). Not sure how that will work out.
I am not worried about the farm. It takes a while to stock and get depth. Not everyone with talent makes it.
I wouldn’t mind trading some of our young guys for a legit stud pitcher if we could. Our starting staff is weak and old.
Ray S: Minor League numbers especially for pitchers do not always translate well to how prospects will pitch at the ML level. One example is Yusmeiro Petit before he was traded by the Mets he had great numbers in 2005 at Binghamton 9-3
2.91 ERA and .92 WHIP He is now pitching for the DBACKS
2007 numbers are 3-4 4.58 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. So as far as Humber (remember this was his 1st full year back after TJ surgery ) and Pelfry go the Mets could have left them at lower levels in the minor where they could have dominated but instead pushed them to higher levels where they needed to learn and to also fail. This generally helps make better pitchers at the ML level. The bottom line is that unless Willie will give them a chance over a period of time
we will never find out if they are any good.
btw the book on Mulvey is # 3 o # 4 starter at best so please do not expect more than that.
.oh yeah, that toreabla, or whatever is name is, he’s a world series catcher…blah blah blah. what a great job the rockies did bringing him up through the system…blah blah blah, what nonsense.
John: My only question on LoDuca is does Willie want him back. At times he openly questioned his strategy to the media. Could this cause a problem for Willie if the Mets get off to a slow start next year. What do you think ?
Hi John –
It’s time for our local politicians to be going door to door in Cheshire. My councilman, Matt Hall – a Mets fan – wants Tom Glavine to return, and thinks Lastings Milledge is salvageable, and that Pelfrey will have a good year next year :)
I’m voting for him again.
Annie Savoy: Does that mean you will not vote for Hillary or Rudy because they are both Yankee fans ?
To Scott: (Lo Duca): Willie’s take on Lo Duca will be a key factor. They didn’t exactly sing in harmony. Just because I would like to see Lo Duca back doesn’t mean it will happen, and Willie’s feelings will play a big part.-JD
Scott –
Matt is local and we vote in our local elections on November 6th.
It is much too soon to settle on a Presidential candidate for 2008 (and there are so many of them!) As for Hillary and/or Rudy, neither would get my vote – I think that their appeal is limited to New York voters.
PS – Hillary was born and raised a Cubs fan.
Annie Savoy: tks for the reply. I do agree it is way to early to talk about the Presidental candidate’s. I did know that Hillary is really a Cub’s fan. She is like many others who are bandwagon Yankee fans and I am sure you know a few yourself. Happy to hear you are voting in local elections. The biggest problem in this country is that not enough people do so.
Scott-Point taken about minor league numbers translating to the MLB. Thats why I dont even pay attention to the lower minors. That being said, When a player wins a batting title or league MVP award there is a much better chance that player will succeed in the majors. I cant remember us having a super minor leaguer since Gregg Jefferies. Our current AA and AAA teams are littered with .220 hitters with no power.
anyone else think the Mets should change Pelfrey’s delivery?
I just think how he picks up his knee so high could be taking away from his velocity, and could be making it harder for him to repeat his delivery and keep comand.
I mean if the Mets can take away Pelfrey’s curveball why can’t they change his delivery?
I think the Mets have seen there window of opportunity to get to the world series has passed. The Mets are in trouble. I like Gomez but I don’t like Milledge. Milledge is not a good defensive fielder and I don’t like his attitude. Gomez will improve his hitting with experience. The problem is the Mets are old in important areas and there is nothing in the farm system or in free agency to improve that problem. I was really happy when they fired Dan Duquette and brought in Omar Minya but I think Minya has done a bad job of drafting or his so call scouts since he has been with the mets. Omar said he was going to improve our farm system by bringing in better scouts. I just don’t see the mets being that good next year. There is no way at this time to improve the mets.
I also think that this off season will show if Omar is a good GM because of the state of this team. Omar had a good first off season but had a terrible off season last year. I still think the problem with the Mets is ever since Fred Wilpon handed over the every day responsibility to his son Jeff Wilpon. Jeff Wilpon is an idiot.
TomG: I think alot of people agree that Jeff Wilpon is not the brightest bulb in the room. I beieve you are right that the window at least for next year to make the WS has probably closed. That is why I hope they do not panic this winter and make a stupid deal. If Maine and Perez prove that they are not just one year wonders and if 2 out the following 3 (Humber, Pelfry, & Mulvey) work out the Mets will have fixed the hardest part of the puzzle, young starting pitching. One name that John Sickels is high on is lefty Jonathon Niese and he is just 21. He will get alot of buzz in spring training next year. Also another name that has possibilities is Nick Evans he plays 1B and had decent power numbers at St Lucie which is a pitchers league. So
I do not think things will ever get as bad as 2004, unless Omar totally screws up.
Scott From Pelham:
I agree about “Omar doesn’t do something stupid” but I have lost trust in Omar and his decisions. This off season to me will show me what Omar is really made of.
What I don’t like about Minaya is his draft strategy. He’s been stockpiling on middle relief arms in the draft. All in order to have a very inexpensive draft.
I mean it kinda makes sense but you can’t do that, you have to go after the top talent.
I mean 2nd round draft picks being middle relievers for TWO years in a row? I know one was Joe Smith and he was really good this past season but still, the 2nd round is very important and to spend the pick on middle relief pitching is a very curious strategy.
why does anyone expect any GM to turn around an entire farm system in 2-3 years? What are these people smoking? I mean, c’mon. Our farm system was easily in the bottom 3 of all farm systems in the majors for years, and you want this guy to turn it into one of the top systems in 3 years? Get real people. Use your brains, its going to take some time.
metsfan although I agree that it is pretty unrealistic to expect a top farm system in 2-3 years it is possible to really improve the farm system in just one draft.
In 2005, The Red Sox drafted, Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig hansen, Jed Lowrie, Michael Bowden, and Clay Buchholz.
I mean this isn’t typical but it can happen.
The Mets have been Bud Selig’s biatch when it comes to the draft never going over the imaginary “slot” money that Selig reccomends but doesn’t enforce.
That was the reason Pedro Beato wasn’t signed because of $10, 000 how pathetic is that? And although I have no evidence I’m assuming it was the same reason they didn’t draft Dellin Betances last year.
And just to say it, mentioning the 2005 Red Sox draft isn’t hindsight, at the time of the draft I felt, as well as many others of the online community felt the Red Sox had the best draft of 2005. Those were all just really good picks.
This is now my 3rd comment in a row but jeeze looking over the Mets’ most recent draft, UGH, just UGH!
The Mets sure have a knack for drafting guys that PROJECT already to be backup catchers.
I don’t get thier draft strategy, its been to draft very toolsy outfielders and backup catchers and more recently its middle relievers and pitchers that fall into one of two catagories, the ones that can’t find the strikezone or those control pitchers.
The farm system doesn’t really have to have prospects at every position. What Omar needs to do, however, is swap pieces around to take from his escess to fill a need.
So, if his OF prospects get buzz, try to turn GOmez into say a catcher. Not literally, but trade him for one!
Hopefully thesystem can produce just enough to let Omar make a trade or 2, and fill in a couple of spots on the Mets (along with some FAs).
As long as the Mets get what they need, who cares how the rest of the guys in the minors do!
What is your thoughts on getting David Eckstein for 2nd base as oppose to Luis Castillo? He seems open to the idea of moving, would give the mets that gritty, hard-nosed player they’re looking for (especially if Loduca goes), and would also fit as a solid number 2 hitter.
Also, is this the offseason they trade Heilman?
How about bringing Cliff Floyd back?
The clubhouse loves him, and he’s David Wright’s best friend.. And one of Willie’s favorites also wanted to stay a Met but the Mets didn’t re-sign him..
Our Corner OF are both right handed hitters, and Moises Alou is going to need at least 2 days off a week and your not going to sit him against lefty’s so you put Floyd in those days, and with Milledge in RF Floyd can get time facing tough right handed pitchers..
Floyd could wind up getting 300 at bats, and facing only righties he would be very productive.. Kind of like what he did for the cubs this year..
Omar´s biggest mistake as GM was leaving Jesus Flores exposed in the Rule 5 draft. When you have two catchers who are approaching their FA year, and you don´t protect your best catching prospect? Just dumb.
Best Mets prospects:
Pitchers- Pelfrey, Humber, Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, John Niese
Catcher- Francisco Pena, but only 17 in low A ball. Too early to tell.
Relievers—maybe Eddie Kunz, but too early to tell
1B- Mike Carp, Nick Evans
2b, SS, 3B—nobody really.
OF- Gomez, FMart
And our old GM was Jim Duquette, not Dan Duquette (Dan used to be Boston GM who traded Clemens because he thought he was on the downside…).
Metsfan- I didnt say Omar needed to completely turn things around in 3 years. I am looking for progress, and I am not seeing it. Minaya’s forte is supposed to be as a talent evaluator. Thats why hes here. When I see the talent coming up in other organizations, I know its out there. The Braves have had a steady stream of top talent coming up for 20 years, despite having a low slot because they won thier division every year. When Cashman got control of the yankees, it was about the same time Omar took over the mets. I can see results from cashman (who also drafts at the bottom) I dont see it from minaya.
If you cant have a discussion without name calling, it shows a lack of intelligence on your part, my friend.
Responding to some posts:
-No way would they, or should they, bring back Cliff Floyd. If you’re trying to get younger, this isn’t the way. If I had my choice between Floyd or Shawn Green, I’d take the latter because he can also play some first.
-You’re right about minor league numbers not always translating. Brian Lawrence’s numbers weren’t too bad in New Orleans.
-There’s no minor league help behind the plate or in the infield.
-You can’t package Carlos Delgado in any deal. Makes too much money, is coming off a bad year in which he was injured.-JD
the farm system has improved, it has gradually gone up baseball america’s rankings, quite significantly from the time when we were run by Steve Phillips an Duquette. Is is great right now? No, but we do have a handful of talent right now that is on the brink of being major leaguers. To me, that’s really not too bad. It’s hard to draft like Boston did in ‘05, that simply does not happen very often. So while we’re not there yet, I do think we’ve made strides in the right direction, and coming from a farm system completely devoid of ANY talent, because of past GM’s, we’re doing ok.
I should have mentioned in my earlier post that Brooklyn had a good staff this year, but short season league player are so hard to project. Names that were mentioned a lot were Dylan Owen, somebody Gee, and Brant Rustich. Owen won the Short Season Pitcher of the Year award from minor league baseball, but he´s only 5´10¨ and those guys are harder to project too…
should say: “our site has been down for a while”
“awhile” is not a word in the english language
When “awhile� is spelled as a single word, it is an adverb meaning “for a time� (“stay awhile�); but when “while� is the object of a prepositional phrase, like “Lend me your monkey wrench for a while� the “while� must be separated from the “a.� (But if the preposition “for� were lacking in this sentence, “awhile� could be used in this way: “Lend me your monkey wrench awhile.�)
Hey!
I found a dictionary!