N.Y. Mets: Sandy Alderson's "Angle" in the Outfield

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OF - Fernando Martinez

This Former Mets' Prospect Was a Major Bust.

He was said to be a five tool player.  Too bad none of them worked.

NEW YORK METS:

Organizational Summary; Minor League Outfield Prospects.

That's not a typing error.  I said angle, not angel.  What's Sandy Alderson's angle?  Or more to the point, how is he going to upgrade this outfield?


From left field to right, the grounds of Flushing beyond the infield are a veritable no man's land.  Even the guys who run chop-shops across the street from Citi Field's right field gate maintain a more stable living than the list of players who've roamed the grass lands of Citi Field in search of steady employment.  Two of the three Mets outfielders; Lucas Duda, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis; who helped launch the team to first half heights are currently elsewhere.  While Duda's return to the club is eminent, none-the-less, he is back playing in Buffalo.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis is even farther away from Flushing.  He's in Port St. Lucie attending to a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.


Left to man three outfield positions is a consortium of Andres Torres, Jordany Valdespin, Jason Bay, Jerry Hairston, and the recently activated Mike Baxter.  Maybe Mike Baxter is a personal favorite to some fans, and perhaps others have developed a liking for Jordany Valdespin.  That's all fine and well. But truth is, all three outfield positions are in dire need of upgrades - Major, major, upgrades.  And so personal tastes aside, we'll have to say good-bye to some of these players.  If not all of them...?


Lucas Duda is still the number one hopeful.  He was being counted on to increase the Mets power potential this season.  If that was one season too premature for placing such expectations on him, then we're all guilty as charged.  But there are still many people pulling for him, to include the organization. Thing is, when his head is screwed on straight, and he is feeling self-confident, he sweetly takes lefties to left field, and pulls right-handers with power.  But when he's down, he falls like an ACME safe in the desert.


I believe one of Lucas Duda's biggest problems, if not the biggest, was not having any protection behind him in the line-up.  Without Jason Bay, or any other right-handed bat protecting him, pitchers had no reason at all to offer Duda something appetizing, or remotely decent.  That can mess up any hitter's thinking.  Just look how the same scenario wreaked havoc on David Wright, until he readjusted.


The jury is still out on Kirk Neiuwenhuis.  All he is at this point, is a good story; until he got hurt that is.  Somewhere between his jump from AA-Binghampton to AAA-Buffalo, he lost his ability to hit double-digit home runs per season.  Now, injuries have taken a bite out of his season for the second consecutive year.


It is hard to determine what the Mets have in either player.  What Duda and Nieuwenhuis are not doing so far, is showing glimpses of stardom.  That might be unfair to say.  But at least show some consistency then.  They might yet earn another season to prove they are worthwhile players.  But they can just as easily get packaged and shipped in a trade without being terribly missed.  Am I right?


When it comes to Jason Bay, why beat a dead horse?  I know why.  Because he hasn't been shipped off to the glue factory yet.  The money owed him is just too prohibitive to negotiate or push out the door, which has served to paralyze the Mets and Jason Bay in place.  The club has made it clear they will not be eating the remainder of his contract which runs through next season.  The only hope here is the Winter months bring with them a surprise transaction.


Andres Torres must have eaten a lot of Wheaties during the 2010 season.  But the sun shines on a dog's posterior at least once a day too.  However well Andres played in that 2010 season, he never played like that before, and never came close to replicating that season again.  Just speaking on his one year as a Met so far, Sandy Alderson's pick-up has been an unmitigated failure.  There were low expectations for him to begin with.  But something from nothing, still leaves nothing.


Scott Hairston?  Sandy Alderson is holding on to him like a family heirloom.  That's his prerogative.  The Mets still need bench players.  Hairston not fooling any one either.  He is pretty much playing to the back of his baseball card.


That leaves Mike Baxter.  And what can we say about Mike Baxter?  See Scott Hairston.


So now what?  The only players the Mets have under control are the ones in their farm system.  For the moment, anything else is pure speculation.  Whether the Mets continue grooming these prospects for eventual play on the big club, or are just interested in turning them over for eventual upgrades is inconsequential.


For starters, here is a short list of the outfield seeds planted throughout the Mets farmland:

** MiLB Statistics as of August 13, 2012


Brandon Nimmo - Class-A NYPL.
Nineteen years old; Bats left.
He is currently batting .273 for the Brooklyn Cyclones.
In 183 at-bats - 31 runs, 18 doubles, 3 home runs, 25 rbi, .391 obp, .432 slg., 30 walks.

Brandon's is the story of two seasons - before he was inserted into the lead-off slot, and after being appointed lead-off batter.  On July 24th, he finished the day 1 for 3 hitting eighth in the order, and ended the day with a .228 average.  On July 25th, he was inserted into the lead-off spot.  The Cyclones have played eighteen games since then.  Brandon has batted ..375 over that span accumulating twenty-one hits in fifty-six at-bats.  He has raised his season average to a .277 mark now.  Brandon Nimmo is among the New York Penn League leaders in doubles, walks, and on-base percentage.


*


Dustin Lawley - Class-A; South Atlantic League.
Twenty-three years old; Bats left.
He is currently batting .277 for the Savanna Sand Gnats.
In 419 at-bats - 72 runs, 33 doubles, 13 home runs, 61 rbi, .353 obp, .463 slg.

Playing the majority of 2010 in Kingsport, Dustin is up-ticking during a full season with the Sand Gnats.  In 2010, he slugged .510 for the season.  Forty-nine of his 116 hits this season have been for extra bases.


*


Cory Vaughn - Class-A; Florida State League.
Twenty-three years old; Bats right.
He is currently batting .239 for the St. Lucie Mets.
In 397 at-bats - 63 runs, 20 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 rbi, .351 obp, .441 slg.

After a triumphant first season in Brooklyn, offensively, he has stayed fairly consistent through stops in Savanna and St. Lucie; all except for his batting average which has slid precipitously since his Brooklyn days.  He established a few offensive record for the Cyclones in his first professional season.  He should be making the jump to Binghampton next season.


*


Darrell Ceciliani - Class-A; Florida State League.
Twenty-two years old; Bats left.
He is currently batting .283 for the St. Lucie Mets in only fourteen games due to injury.

After a less than stellar showing in Kingsport in 2009, Darrell received a promotion to Brooklyn for the 2010 season.  His .351 season average qualified to win the New York Penn League's batting title.  But things haven't gone as smoothly for him since.  He battled injuries this season, and has only appeared in fourteen games so far for the St. Lucie Mets.


*


Joe Bonfe - Split time between A-St. Lucie and AA-Binghampton.
Twenty-four years old; Bats right.
With A-St. Lucie - .152 avg, 33 at-bats, 4 runs, 1 double, 3 rbi.
With AA-Binghampton - .318 avg, 44 at-bats, 7 hits, 1 double, 4 rbi.

He finished his first two seasons (2009, 2010) in the minors batting above the .300 mark.  After dipping in Savanna in 2011, he struggled early again in St. Lucie this season.  Regardless, he was pushed up to Binghampton where his numbers are now appear up to snuff again.


*


Juan Lagares - Class-AA; Eastern League.
Twenty-three years old; Bats right.
He is currently batting .281 for the Binghampton Mets.
In 427 at-bats - 63 runs, 24 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 42 rbi, 20 stolen bases, .336 obp.

Juan has been in the Mets possession since the 2006 season.  He finally made his state-side minor league debut in 2007 with Savanna.  Since then, every season has been an incremental uptick through the Mets system.  He now plays for Binghampton, sporting a career minor league .270 batting average.  Last season was his best.  Splitting time between St. Lucie and Binghampton, he batted .349 for the season, and slugged .500 on the nose.  In 471 at-bats, he had 71 rbi.


*


Matt Den Decker - Split time between AAA-Buffalo and AA-Binghampton.
Twenty-five years old; Bats left.
-With AA-Binghampton - .340 avg, 238 at-bats, 47 runs, 21 doubles, 8 home runs, 29 rbi, .397 obp, .563 slg, .960 ops.
-With AAA-Buffalo - .206 avg, 218 at-bats, 31 runs, 10 doubles, 8 home runs, 35 rbi, .241 obp

After raking for half a season in Binghampton, Matt has struggled in Buffalo.  Statistically speaking though, Matt might be the best prospect the Mets have to yet break into the Bigs.


*


That's the extent of what the Mets have in uniform, and under organizational control.  I think it is safe to say, up above and down below, the Mets are lacking a sensational outfielder.  If Sandy Alderson's master plan is designed for the 2013, and 2014 season, these are the Mets we will either see on the big club, or the bodies Sandy Alderson will use in trades.


Good luck with that, Boss.


Plain and simple - The Mets need power production.  Ike Davis is not going anywhere; at least we don't believe.  And the David Wright contract drama is still a bridge we must cross.  So traditionally speaking, the Mets must seek an infusion of power from their outfielders.  The Mets are one of seven National League teams not to break one-hundred home runs so far this season.  They currently rank eleventh in the National League, and twenty-fifth in all of Baseball.


Remarkably, the Mets have scored the seventh most runs in the senior circuit.  They additionally rank third in doubles, fifth in walks, and fifth in on-base percentage.  But when it comes to team slugging, they still remain under .400 and rank tenth in the National League.


In so many games, just a little more power could have provided the margin of error the Mets bullpen woes necessitated.  Offensively, if Ike Davis straightens himself out, and David Wright re-ups with the club, then just one formidable bat in either corner outfield position will do.


Team speed and a lead-off hitter is another conversation.  Or do you like Ruben Tejada leading off?  I would rather he didn't.




Mike/BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Johan Santana Pitches Mets First Ever No-Hitter

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:   FINALLY!

JOHAN SANTANA

TOSSES METS FIRST EVER
NO-HITTER!

It came, finally, in the Mets' 50th Anniversary season.  It happened 8,019 games after they played their first ever game, in their first ever season at the old Polo Grounds.  It happened roughly 7,700 games after they played their first game at Shea Stadium.  For me personally, it came somewhere around my 6,200th game as an astute Mets fan.  But come it did, finally, in the Mets fourth season on the grounds of Citi Field; their newest home.


The Roosevelt Avenue Nine, and Johan Santana, together achieved what no pitcher in Met history has ever accomplished before - throwing a no hitter.  The latter portion of the game was ripping at Terry Collin's sensibilities as a responsible manager.  Johan's pitch count was creeping up on his career high levels.  He already walked five batters heading into those late innings.  The obvious problem looming like an 800 pound gorilla in the dugout was this was Johan's first season back from major shoulder surgery, and more specifically, this was only his eleventh start since the 2010 season.  Heading into the eighth inning, he was already over 100 pitches.  At one point, Coach Terry ran out to the mound to speak with his starter after Johan released a pitch high and away.  Coach then promptly ran back into the dugout, apparently reassured by his "hero", as Johan Santana later revealed was the way Coach Terry referred to him during the game.


This was Johan Santana's second consecutive complete game shut-out victory.  But obviously this win was a vastly more majestic effort authored by one of the true pitching titans of 21st Century baseball.

Johan Santana's Line ~ June 1, 2012

9 Innings - 0 Hits - 0 Runs - 5 Walks - 8 Strikeouts - 134 Pitches*

* Career High

There have been six no-hitters thrown against the Mets.  And an astonishing thirteen former Mets have pitched no-hitters elsewhere. For the Mets' part, they've thrown thirty-five one-hitters in their history.  Now, finally Flushing, we have our first.  A representative crowd of twenty-seven thousand and sixty-nine people trekked out to Citi Field this Friday night and were treated to history.  And to think, I contemplated being a walk up for the game tonight.  But you'll get no tears over spilt milk from me; only tears of joy and champagne in my eyes.  I watched on TV, and what a great night it was.

For my fellow Mets fans who date back to the pre-Tom Seaver trade, congratulations to you, and to us all.  And to the rest of my fellow Mets fans, congratulations to you, and us, just the same.  At this point, the last five years in Flushing are an era that binds no matter how old we are.

Coming off pitching a complete game shutout against the Padres in his last start, I still do not think anyone saw this coming.  If anything, any recent speculation as to who could and might pitch the first Mets' no-no leaned towards R.A. Dickey.  If you weren't aware, while pitching for Buffalo before Dickey's promotion to Queens, there was a game in which he allowed the lead-off man to get on, then proceeded to retire the next twenty-seven batters he faced; perfectly I might add.

As Johan's game gets recorded in the annals of baseball, the Mets' first no-hitter was ultimately thrown by a pitcher with stature.  It wasn't Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Doc Gooden, David Cone, et al.  But Met History wasn't created Friday night by a transient pitcher either.  Johan Santana turned in this gem.  And Johan Santana's is as formidable a name as you'd want associated with the Mets, and with regards to all-time performances.

The Mets' 3,840th win in their history came in historic fashion.  But it did not come without a price.  Mike Baxter rammed his shoulder into the left field wall retrieving a fly that threatened Johan's no hit effort.  Baxter made a fine, yet difficult play, but was forced to leave the game, just adding to the growing list of Mets' casualties.

However, unlike so many other of Johan's starting efforts, this game came with plenty of offensive support.  The Mets put Johan ahead by two in the fourth.  Then up by five runs after six.  And up by eight runs after seven.

Lucas Duda is now wielding a hot bat.  He hit his third home run in the last two games, and resumes the team lead.  He also had four RBI on the night.  Daniel Murphy was 2 for 4, with three RBI.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis was 2 for 3, with three runs scored, and has his batting average back over .300 again.  And then, get this - the unteenth sub to fill in at shortstop this season, Omar Quintanilla; was 2 for 4, and is off to batting at a .417 clip.

This Friday night affair came against Adam Wainwright; the man who threw the curve ball which ended the Mets' 2006 dream.  This game came against Carlos Beltran, who is now leading the Cardinals, and is among National League leaders in a few offensive categories, and who incidentally was the beleaguered former all-star Mets center fielder, who in 2006, was the one at bat and watched Adam Wainwright's curve ball drop in for strike three.  This game also comes after a scheduled day off on Thursday, before the team embarks on a twenty game stretch against above .500 teams.

Unlike the Mets' effort against the Phillies, Johan Santana showed his team how to seize the moment.  On a team filled with so many young players; home grown players; that can tend to dominate fan affections; Johan Santana came from places elsewhere which makes it a little harder to win those same fan affections.  Justask Carlos Beltran.  Till this day, I am still embarrassed FOR my fellow Mets fan, regarding those who booed Johan Santana during his first ever start at Shea Stadium against Ben Sheets, and the Brewers.  I said it then, and I'll say it again now - Shame on you!  Shame on all of you who booed him that day.  The simple fact that game was his first day pitching in front his new home crowd, and that we greeted him that way, astonished me!  But then again, as a New Yorker, I wasn't surprised.  Just embarrassed!

On June 1, 2012, Johan just etched his name onto the stone Doric column permanently listing the Mets of Forever.

Met fans, we have our No-Hitter!

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Late Scoring Makes Dickey a Six Game Winner

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:

It's Time To Start Talking About R.A. Dickey the All*Star.

After seven full innings pitched in Pittsburgh, R.A. Dickey achieved his career high for strikeouts in a game with eleven.  R.A. surrendered but five hits, one earned run, and walked none.

In the top of the eighth, Coach Terry was faced with leaving Dickey in the game, as he only had thrown eighty-nine pitches to that point, or pinch hitting for him, because the Mets were tied with the Pirates at one, with the pitcher due to lead off.  Buc's starter, James McDonald, was equal to the task with seven innings of one run baseball as well.  He allowed four Met hits, walked two, and struck out eight.

The scoring re-cap is easy.  Mike Nickeas singled home Daniel Murphy back in the second.  And Pittsburgh scored on a sac-fly in the sixth.

Coach Terry sent up Andres Torres to pinch hit, who promptly struck out.  So much for strategy.  Mike  Baxter then lined a double to straight away center field.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis did well to work out a walk which brought up David Wright.  But the (now) .403 Kid struck out too.  So up stepped Lucas Duda looking for a clutch two out hit.  And you know..., he came through.  He pulled righty Juan Cruz' offering past first base for an RBI single.  Baxter scored from second on the hit.  James McDonald's line was now complete and would be marked by a no-decision.

The Bucs brought in another righty, Chris Resop, to face lefty Daniel Murphy with two outs and Nieuwenhuis on third.  An E-5 put Murphy on first, and allowed Nieuwenhuis to score for a 3-1 Mets lead.  Ike Davis, who was 0 for 4 on the night, with two strikeouts, ended the threat.

Then, in came the Mets' bullpen.  After suffering the loss in Monday's game, Jon Rauch was first.  A one out double by Jose Tabata to right was followed up with a fine play by Nickeas, 2-3 for the out.  Tabata moved to third on the play and scored when Daniel Murphy couldn't make an over the shoulder catch on a flair to short right.  The game was now 3-2 Mets, with the tying run on first.  Out went Rauch.  In came Tim Byrdak to face Pedro Alvarez.  Andrew McCutchen stole second to put the tying run at second.  Then on a 1-2 pitch, Tim Byrdak struck out his man and preserved the Mets lead.  The book on R.A. Dickey wasn't closed yet.

Frank Francisco began to muster in the bullpen while the Mets took their at-bat in the top of the ninth.  Once they failed to tack on any insurance runs, the big righty entered the game in search of his eleventh save, or his fourth loss, or his third blown save.  We never know these days.

A grounder to Murphy, and a strikeout, left Pittsburgh down to their last at-bat.  Rod Barajas popped up that opportunity a mile high and Kirk Nieuwenhuis squeezed it for the last out.  And so Frank Francisco's eleventh save indeed, came without incident.  R.A. Dickey is now a six game winner versus just one loss.

Scott Hairston is still the only Met to hit a home run on this road trip.  Pittsburgh barely has more than New York.  After tomorrow's rubber game, the Mets will host the San Diego Padres - the only team with less home runs than the Roosevelt Avenue Scrappers.

In lieu of power, the Mets have five, two-out RBI, against Pittsburgh so far.  And unlike their paltry .179 batting with RiSP against Toronto, the Mets are now 4 for 13 (.308) with RiSP this series.

Even with no power to speak of, everything the Metrs aren't getting accomplished against a string a good starting pitchers this month, they've done well to take out on relief pitchers.  The Mets continue to outlast many quality starts, and score late against team's bullpens.  James McDonald's was just the latest good start and Pittsburgh's bullpen was just the latest to implode against the Mets.

Such style of Baseball is tough on starting pitcher's baseball card.  But unlike last season, when a preponderance of R.A. Dickey's quality starts were relegated to no-decisions, or toe-tagged with a blown loss, this season, the Mets are doing a better job getting R.A. wins.

His continues to be a remarkable story.  Signed out of the ether by Omar Minaya to a minor league contract over the winter of 2009-10, he's become the Mets' most reliable, and consistent starting pitcher.  While improving his staff leading record to 6-1, he also lowered his ERA to a 3.45 in nine starts.  He leads the Mets rotation with 57.1 innings pitched, by far offering the Mets bullpen the most respite.

I think it's time we starting talking about R.A. Dickey in the same sentence with All-Star Game.

The Mets came back to split two games and will play the rubber match against the Pirates tomorrow in an early afternoon matinee, before returning home.  After dropping two of three to Toronto, they can end this road trip (2-3), and bring their overall road record (11-12) this season to .500 with a win Wednesday.





Mike.BTB