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The Big 5

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 01 2008 07:44 AM

So if nothing else the trading deadline was a big vote of CAHNfidence for the guys in our system, five of which were named by Omar yesterday as likely contributors to the club this season (and who presumably were sought after by our adversaries). This isn't to hold Omar or the Mets to their word or anything, but just a look at who's who and where's where. Jon Neise, LHP 6-7, 3.04, 1.30, 124.1 IP, 112/44 K/BB at AA 1 start at AAA, 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks I saw this guy hurl in spring training and had zero trouble with the Orioles' "A" lineup. Daniel Murphy, 2B/3B, BL/TR, age 23 13-67 308/374/496//870 at AA Promoted to AAA yesterday. Question about his ability to play 2B adequately? I didn't know jack about this guy till this year Bobby Parnell, RHP, age 23 9-6, 4.32, 1.45, 116.1 IP, 85/56 K/BB at AA I of course have followed this young pup since he was undernourished 3rd baseman, see his thread in the AaP Forum ("Baseballfan" in that thread I believe is Bobby's father the Fire Chief). Parnell is still something of a "project" with too many walks but he gets good grades for his sinker and is considered a future relief pitcher by observers but not yet by the Mets. His season has improved from a poor start this year. Fartinez, OF, BL/TR, Age 19 5-25 292/332/420//752 at AA We all know about this guy, played above his approriate age level his whole time with the Mets. Just looking at the numbers, seems we'd really be stretching this guy out in the bigs. Plus he's been hurt a few times already. Eddie Kunz, RHP, age 22 1-4, 2.87, 1.30, 26 saves, 47 IP, 41/23 K/BB at AA Lotsa stuff on Kunz in the AaP forum too. And like Parnell, better numbers since a rocky start. He's a big fella, throws hard, and probably most likely to help this year, given our needs and his role.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2008 08:03 AM

My hunch is that of the five, Neise and Kunz are most likely to contribute to the 2008 Mets. My other, unrelated hunch, is that Martinez is being oversold, although I'm not sure if it's intentional or not. I certainly hope he turns out to be good enough to warrant all the saliva that's been drooled on his behalf, but I have my doubts. Murphy, as related in the Adoption forum, has his sights on stealing the second base job in the next year or so. I wish him luck! I wonder about guys with no defensive position. Sometimes they turn into Jeff Kent, but more often they probably become journeymen like Jeff Keppinger.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Aug 01 2008 08:08 AM

Murphy's only played one game at second in the last 12. I don't know if they're working with him outside of the games, but I don't think the transition to second is working. He's still hitting, though.

smg58 Aug 01 2008 09:45 AM

None of those guys should be asked to put us over the top this year. Nick Evans shouldn't even be here yet. They have little to no AAA experience among them. They might all be significant parts of the team in 2010, but I think expecting quality major league output before that from any of them is unrealistic.

AG/DC Aug 01 2008 09:56 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 01 2008 10:03 AM

I don't think the Mets really use AAA as much more than a place to warehouse failed talent, thinking that real talent should blow through there quickly.

soupcan Aug 01 2008 10:00 AM

seawolf17 Aug 01 2008 11:23 AM

AG/DC wrote: I don't think the Mets really use AAA as much more than a place to warehouse failed talent, thinking that real talent should blow through there quickly. I think that's possibly a function of location as much as anything -- it's a pain to drag folks up from N'awlins, whereas Binghamton is closer, both in distance as well as weather.

AG/DC Aug 01 2008 11:26 AM

Yeah, but there's even been explicit statements about not wanting to expose certain young players much to embittered lifers at AAA. This attitude has long had some currency, but I think it's growing. Nick Evans is the first player I've ever known to be on a Bingo/New York shuttle. It's rare enough to get called up from AA. To go back there and get recalled again in one season is almost unprecendented.

metirish Aug 01 2008 11:36 AM

Ownership of the Norfolk Tides used to complain that the roster was stocked with older vets trying to hang on and not with up and coming prospects. One reason why the Mets are not there any more.

AG/DC Aug 01 2008 11:39 AM

Yeah, Baltimore is really cool about stocking the parent club with those players. Oh sit, did I just say that?

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2008 11:43 AM

I don't think it's anything new. For a long time I've gotten the sense that the best impending prospects were likely to be at AA, and the hangers on age 30 or up were more likely to be in AAA. Some examples (and counter-examples). I looked at a bunch of players who were promoted to the Mets from within, with the intent that they'd play a significant role with the big league club. Gregg Jefferies played almost a full season at Tidewater. (132 games in 1988.) Dwight Gooden: 4 starts for Tidewater in 1983. Darryl Strawberry: 16 games in Tidewater in 1983. Ron Darling: 26 starts for the Tides in 1982, and 27 in 1983. Lenny Dykstra: 58 games for the Tides in 1985. David Wright: 31 games for Norfolk in 2004. Jose Reyes: 42 games for Norfolkk in 2003. Edgardo Alfonzo: Skipped AAA entirely. Lee Mazzilli: Skipped AAA entirely. Randy Myers: 7 starts for Tidewater in 1985, 45 relief appearances in 1986, and another 5 in 1987. Jason Isringhausen: 12 starts for Norfolk in 1995. Paul Wilson: 10 starts for Norfolk in 1995. Bill Pulsipher: 13 starts for Norfolk in 1995. Rey Ordonez: 125 games for Norfolk in 1995. Tim Leary: Skipped over AAA, but spent time there later after his infamous injury.

Nymr83 Aug 01 2008 11:45 AM

it makes sense though for the mets to have the guys that are next in line for an emergency callup if they need a starter/reliever/outfielder/etc to be sitting 200 miles away in binghamton instead of 1000 miles away in new orleans.

AG/DC Aug 01 2008 11:51 AM

Sometimes. Even if you believe that prospects should spend as little time as possible in AAA, emergeny fill-ins should be in there.

seawolf17 Aug 01 2008 11:52 AM

AG/DC wrote: Yeah, Baltimore is really cool about stocking the parent club with those players. Oh sit, did I just say that? When I was living in Rochester, we hated the O's because they left all the good players in Bowie and gave the Wings crap.

metirish Aug 01 2008 11:57 AM

One surprising thing to me at least was Tatis staying the whole of last season in NO.

metsguyinmichigan Aug 01 2008 02:32 PM

Is this the last year at NO, or do we have one more? Would be great to have AAA at Syracuse. Tigers do well with Toledo less than an hour away, and we're just over two hours in Grand Rapids with the low-A team. We get a lot of rehab guys.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 01 2008 02:50 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Is this the last year at NO, or do we have one more? The Mets originally signed up for two years in New Orleans. I think after this season ends, they'll play another round of musical chairs. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up in New Orleans again, but I'd like to see them land back in the International League. (I'd like to be able to attend some games in Allentown, and I won't bother doing so unless they're playing a Mets farm club.) Also, if they're in the International League even their road games will be closer to New York; they won't have to go to places like Tuscon.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 01 2008 02:50 PM

I believe the presumption is we take over Syracuse next season. No way can the Mets like their guys so far away. Maybe a smart thing to do would be to allow Murph a chance to take over Anderson's role. What he lacks in Veteran Leadershipness he may make up for in ability.

MFS62 Aug 01 2008 04:29 PM

Maybe its just that the Mets feel Murphy won't have a chance to face as many lefty starters at Binghamton as he will at N'Yawlins. Later

Frayed Knot Aug 01 2008 04:52 PM

]The Mets originally signed up for two years in New Orleans. I think after this season ends, they'll play another round of musical chairs. All affiliated agreements run for two years so the end of the even-numbered years signals musical chairs time for everyone.

metsmarathon Aug 01 2008 11:05 PM

i'm hoping for a major league team to return to sussex county, displacing/replacing the skyhawks... it would be too sweet if it were the metsies.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 01 2008 11:18 PM

Well. Internet sez Murphy was seen packing bags and receiving congratulations at New Orleans with the presumption he was Houston bound, perhaps as a DL replacement for Anderson??? Adam Rubin sez it's too early to tell but that Niese could start against Pittsburgh in the make-up game Aug. 11.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 02 2008 08:35 AM

Adam Rubin sez Murphy arrives for tonight's game: [url]http://tinyurl.com/5pb269[/url]

metirish Aug 02 2008 08:40 AM

Cool , looking forward to his debut(hopefully) . I really like Saturday night games.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 02 2008 09:26 AM

Predict their uniform numbers! I'll go first: Neise 43 Murphy 12 Martinez 22 Parnell 47 Kunz 30

AG/DC Aug 02 2008 01:41 PM

22 still sorta belongs to Valentin. Niese: 27 Murphy: 8 Fartinez: 44 Parnell: 29 Kunz: 28

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 03 2008 11:22 AM

Kunz is in uni, wearing No. 44.