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A combination of Tony Pena's defense and Piazza's bat

seawolf17 Jul 10 2006 06:26 AM

]The New York Mets on Saturday signed Dominican prospect Francisco Pena, the son of former major-league catcher Tony Pena, a source told ESPNdeportes.com. The Mets, who paid Pena a bonus of $750,000, are not planning to make the move public until next week. Besides the bonus, Pena would receive schooling expenses in case he decides to take up his studies again, and he could be invited to the Mets' training camp next spring. "After intense negotiations with the most interested teams -- around 10 -- the Pena family decided to accept the Mets' offer," the source said. According to the source, the presence of general manager Omar Minaya, also a Dominican native, in the Mets' front office was a major factor in Pena's decision to sign. Pena, 16, is considered to be one of the best catching prospects in the Dominican Republic's baseball history. "The kid is a good defensive catcher, but it is his bat what will take him far in baseball. We could say that he is a combination of Tony Pena's defense and Mike Piazza's bat," said Leo Mercedes, who runs the young player's career. "I feel embarrassed to talk about my own son, but I think Francisco has a natural talent for batting, and as a catcher I can say that right now he has a better arm than I had when I was 16," said Tony Pena, now a Yankees coach who won four Gold Gloves and played in five All-Star games during his 18-year major-league career. Tony Pena Jr., Tony Pena's eldest son, made his major-league debut two months ago with the Atlanta Braves. He's only sixteen, so you temper this a bit, but...

Johnny Dickshot Jul 10 2006 06:52 AM

I thought I heard the MFYs got him!

Edgy DC Jul 10 2006 07:45 AM

I got the idea that the Yanks signed Peņa to coach just to get to his son.

Frayed Knot Jul 10 2006 09:33 AM

"We could say that he is a combination of Tony Pena's defense and Mike Piazza's bat," said Leo Mercedes, who runs the young player's career. " Mr. Mercedes then went on to add that "we COULD say that but then we realized what a fucking ridiculous thing to say about a 16 y/o kid. But what the hey, if it gets internet & talk radio Met fans all hopped up and penciling him into their fantasy 2008 lineups then it'll all be worth it". But seriously, he was considered a prime target in this year's foreign FA market - although the reported $750K, while a big number for a teenager, is far below what some have been paid so there's apparently some limit to where teams see his potential.

Elster88 Jul 10 2006 09:37 AM

There's an 11-year-old in Gooberville, Iowa, who has a combination of Babe Ruth's bat, Willie Mays' glove, Jose Reyes' speed, and Barry Bonds' ability to absorb steroids.

Johnny Dickshot Jul 10 2006 09:51 AM

]"We could say that he is a combination of Tony Pena's defense and Mike Piazza's bat," said Leo Mercedes, who runs the young player's career. The writer spelled "ruins" wrong. Stupid spellcheck.

seawolf17 Jul 10 2006 09:52 AM

Elster88 wrote: There's an 11-year-old in Gooberville, Iowa, who has a combination of Babe Ruth's bat, Willie Mays' glove, Jose Reyes' speed, and Barry Bonds' ability to absorb steroids. You laugh, but I totally have that kid on my Gooberville Little League roto team.

Centerfield Jul 10 2006 11:27 AM

I've been tracking a 10 and a half month old living in Manhattan. He can't walk, run or throw a baseball yet, but he has shown that he can create an incredible amount of drool. We feel that if he keeps up his drool production, he may one day have a spitball comparable to Gaylord Perry's. A bonus, he's a local guy...and a big Mets fan.

seawolf17 Jul 10 2006 11:31 AM

Boy, there's just something about a baby in a Mets hat, isn't there? Makes you smile.

ScarletKnight41 Jul 10 2006 11:46 AM

The left handed catching star of the future is more than willing to give the Mets a home town discount, no matter what his agent says -

MFS62 Jul 10 2006 11:46 AM

Elster88 wrote: There's an 11-year-old in Gooberville, Iowa, who has a combination of Babe Ruth's bat, Willie Mays' glove, Jose Reyes' speed, and Barry Bonds' ability to absorb steroids. The New York Giants already had him. His name was Clint Hartung. When he was signed they didn't know if would become the best hitter or best pitcher in baseball. He was neither. (Obviously, since his name has been long forgotten by most baseball fans) Later

soupcan Jul 10 2006 01:16 PM

My son gets SI For Kids and in this latest issue there is a profile of 'the best 13 year-old player in the country' Interestingly enough, the kid's name is Delino DeShields, Jr. I tried to Google some info on him but came up empty.

RealityChuck Jul 10 2006 01:28 PM

]"The kid is a good defensive catcher, but it is his bat what will take him far in baseball. We could say that he is a combination of Tony Pena's defense and Mike Piazza's bat," said Leo Mercedes, who runs the young player's career. Come on: it has to be true. Mercedes is Pena's agent. What possible reason does he have to exaggerate his client's ability? How could he possibly benefit from that?

Elster88 Jul 10 2006 01:41 PM

Did Tony Pena play really good defense or something?

seawolf17 Jul 10 2006 01:44 PM

Four Gold Gloves, basically invented the snap pickoff throw to first base (or at least he was the first catcher who I remember doing it), and did that cool sticking-out-the-leg thing when nobody was on base. Plus he made some really funny movies with Tommy Chong.

Edgy DC Jul 10 2006 02:02 PM

="Elster88"]Did Tony Pena play really good defense or something? Obviously there's so much ambiguity in pitcher defense that it's hard to speak defintively, but he blew minds when he came up, throwing beebees from every position, from his knees, his butt, his hips. As noted, he sat down to with nobody on base, setting a target at the knees facing up at the pitcher, which sure seemed to aide his staff. He played most of his career on the rug, and I imagine throwing from his squat position was aided by skipping the ball cleanly.

Nymr83 Jul 10 2006 04:56 PM

]Obviously there's so much ambiguity in pitcher defense you mean catcher defense i can't get excited about a guy unless i see, at the very least, stats from a division 1 college or the low minor leagues. my guess is that he isnt even allowed to play here for another year, get back to me when he's had 300 ABs for port st. lucie

Hillbilly Jul 10 2006 05:26 PM

What a cutie, CF

Edgy DC Jul 10 2006 05:53 PM

Nymr83 wrote: you mean catcher defense Yup. Sorry.

Centerfield Jul 10 2006 06:17 PM

Thanks Hillbilly. The little troublemaker cut his finger today. It wasn't too bad, but it was deep enough that I felt a doctor should look at it. Doc says it's fine, no stitches required. We feel like we dodged a bullet there. Hopefully that'll teach him not to slide headfirst into first base.