Mooning for Mejia

Mike Puma writes about Jerry Manuel “salivating” over Jenrry Mejia and the natural cut on his fastball.  He even went as far as comparing Mejia’s offering to Mariano Rivera’s cutter. Rivera’s command of the pitch almost stops discussion. 

It makes sense, Mejia’s arm is livelier than just about everyone else on that staff.  At a time in camp when pitchers are throwing a lot of fastballs to get their feel back, Mejia’s arm strength will be impressive.  Once everyone else starts mixing in breaking balls and working to hitters, Mejia’s rawness will become more apparent.    

In the Daily News, John Harper writes that Jerry Manuel “should stop teasing Met fans” with his praise for Mejia.  Harper believes, properly, that Mejia’s control problems mean he should start in the minors.

Here’s the thing, if Manuel’s really worried about his bullpen, and he believes Mejia would help make the big league team better, some of the development has to take a back seat to the need to win games in 2010.  I don’t think Mejia’s quite ready to help in the ‘pen yet, though.   

Happy Recap Tonight
I’ll be on the Happy Recap Show tonight at 6:10.  Listen here. 

This morning Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis all participated in drills at first base. As has been the case over the last few days, the general consensus in regards to Davis is simple: the kid’s just flat-out impressive.

According to Matthew Cerrone over at MetsBlog, he ”looks very fluid in the field at first base, he doesn’t seem antsy and appears confident in his movements, especially on short hops.”

it’s amazing when you think about where Ike has come in the last year in terms of perception… entering last season he was coming off a rough pro debut in which he went homerless in 215 at-bats in Brooklyn… since then he’s displayed the raw power everyone knew he had (20 homers bet. the FSL and AA) and absolutely raked in the Arizona Fall League (.341 AVG)… even if he tears up the Grapefruit League I still can’t envision a scenario in which he’ll break camp with the Mets… he’ll benefit most in the short-term from playing everyday in Buffalo…

his defense has always impressed me – for a tall and lanky twenty-two-year-old he has very good footwork and a strong arm (remember he used to a be a reliever in college)…

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 6’6”, 230 lbs

Acquired: 2^nd rd ’07 (UCLA)

Born: 1/23/85

2009 Rank: 13

Why Ranked Here: Maybe I should just excerpt what I wrote last year about Rustich.  Ok, I will.  Here’s what I wrote last year: “When he’s healthy, few pitchers in the Mets system can match Rustich’s mid-90s fastball and biting slider. However, Rustich has rarely been healthy. In 2008, Rustich’s season ended early when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his humerus bone in his right arm…. doctors found both a small labrum tear and damage in his UCL in his elbow.”  Rustich again struggled to stay healthy in 2009, and was eventually shut down with another stress fracture in his arm.  Reports were that he made some nice progress with his changeup which has some sink to it, but his lack of time on the mound limited his ability to work on it in game situations.  The power stuff and big body keep him ranked, but his injury worries drop him 16 places from last year.

2009: The Mets were extraordinarily cautious with Rustich in 2009.  He began the year in the St. Lucie bullpen, working a few innings every five or six days in April and May.  Rustich made three starts in June all four innings or shorter, but returned to the bullpen in July.  When he pitched, he was extremely effective, striking out a batter an inning with a k/bb ratio of 2.7.  The next step will be AA and more innings.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Rustich has a big league arm and could turn into a shutdown reliever.

Debbie Downer Says: At age 25, having thrown under 100 innings combined in the last two seasons, time has run out on Rustich developing the arm strength to be a starter.  Lets talk when and if he’s pitching healthily for Binghamton in June.

Projected 2010 Start: Binghamton bullpen

MLB Arrival: September 2011, or early 2012

So I’ve been looking forward to writing this post for a few weeks now.  Yes, that picture on the right is the view from my office window.

On February 1st,  I started my new job as the Director of Broadcasting & Communications for the Savannah Sand Gnats.  It’s an exciting time for me.  During the season, I’ll be doing the play-by-play for the Gnats radio broadcasts on WBMQ in Savannah and online at www.sandgnats.com.  That’s the most fun part of my day.  Although we’re carrying all 140 games, I won’t travel for away games.  The plan, driven by the need to conserve costs, is to pick up the feed on the home broadcast when the team is on the road.

This time of year, my primary job is to bring in new business for the team.  That means I sell, or at least try to sell.  This is the time of year when much of a team’s financial outlook for the season ahead is determined.  Can I interest you in an outfield billboard?  How about an ad in our Gameday program?  Radio?  Or would you like to sponsor an on-field contest or the kids club?  Season seats?  Or how about you bring a group of friends to the game?  Yes, that’s a good idea.  The Gnats were last in the SAL in attendance last year at 110,846 for 64 dates, but our team’s aggressive goal this year is 150,000.  I absolutely think we have a chance to hit it.  Attendance drives almost all of a minor league team’s revenue.  It would help greatly if every one of my excellent blog readers took a trip to see a few games at Historic Grayson Stadium.  Savannah itself is a picturesque and historic city: well worth the trip for any Mets fan.   In all seriousness, if fans are interested in booking travel to Savannah, the team can help create a worthwhile package.

As far as this site goes, my new job is only good news.  The demands of working for a team during baseball season means my time will be precious, but the worthwhile tradeoff will be a unique and sharper insight.  Obviously, I look forward to developing an even deeper relationship with the Mets players and staff.  Clearly, there will be things that I learn, that will not be fit for public consumption and that I cannot share on this blog.    The standard that I will maintain will be the following: if it’s something I would feel comfortable discussing on-air, I will write about it here.  Otherwise, not.

I am especially pleased to be returning to the microphone on a nearly nightly basis.  I broadcast for minor league teams from 2004-2008, and missed the immediacy, excitement and challenge of the broadcast last year.  In another way too, it is a return for me.  My first boss in baseball, when I worked for the Stockton Ports, then the Rangers advanced-A affiliate in the California League, was GM John Katz.  Katz is now the Gnats team president and a big reason I have my current job.  I owe John, who is now both my boss and my friend, a thank you for this opportunity.

Lets go Sand Gnats and Lets go Mets!

According to an article that appeared yesterday in the New York Times, Major League Baseball plans to begin blood testing for human growth hormone in the minor leagues as early as this year. This comes just a day after a British rugby player was suspended for testing positive.

Yesterday, Baseball America ran a series of prospect chats. Mets prospect, Ike Davis, was one of the invited players to chat with fans. Here are some of the more intriguing questions:

Josh (New Jersey): What are the pressures of playing in a big media market like New York?

Ike Davis: I’m looking forward to play in NY. The only way to play baseball is to have pressure on yourself and to expect to win everyday.

Zach (Wilton, CT): What are you trying to improve the most about your game heading into this year? Strikeouts, Hitting Lefties?

Ike Davis: I would say that hitting against lefties is what I am working most on.

mike (nyc): who would you say is the most talented player you have played with down in the minors?

Ike Davis: There are a lot of guys down here that are really talented but Jenry Mejia is probably the best player.

Let’s start by saying Ike Davis is the best 1st base prospect the Mets have had since ???? (insert any random name) Him getting invited to spring training is cool, but people who think he has a legit chance of making the team out of spring training need to tone down the excitement. Let the kid taste AAA pitching for at least a half of season, then we can reassess his status. Remember a couple of years ago, Mike Jacobs was anointed the Mets 1st baseman of the future. This year he couldn’t get a guaranteed ML deal. While I believe Davis will eventually be in Queens for a long time, maybe as soon as this year, let’s give him some time. Quoting Davis, “I would say that hitting against lefties is what I am working most on.” To read the rest of Davis’ chat click here

Baseball America and Project Prospect both released their Top 100 Prospects in Baseball on Tuesday.

BA:
#56 – Jenrry Mejia

Best Tool: Fastball, Grade: 70

#62 – Ike Davis

Best Tool: Power, Grade: 60

#77 – Fernando Martinez

Best Tool: Power, Grade: 60

#88 – Wilmer Flores

Best Tool: Power, Grade: 60

I wonder how these grades would compare to the numbers scouts have put on these players.  In each case, these rankings feel a little higher than the scouts’ consensus.

Project Prospect takes a different tack:
#10 – Fernando Martinez

Plus power/good contact skills may allow him to ascend to stardom some day

#48 – Jon Niese

Commands a sinking FB; CB and SL both get swing-throughs; Likely no. 3 starter

#57 – Ike Davis

Comment: Strong pro debut; contact is a concern; potential to hit 35+ bombs a season

#92 – Reese Havens

Began shift to 2B at AFL; patient fly-ball hitter with make outs but solid power

#100 – Jenrry Mejia

Filthy 94-98 FB w/ hard, cutting action; CH has excellent movement; may be a RP

I prefer at least one piece of Project Prospect’s approach: Niese could be one of the Mets top four starters this year, and should make the top #100. The divergence on everyone but Ike Davis is fairly striking.