Daily Archives: October 19, 2007
Reports from the Associated Press note that Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez had surgery today in New York on his right foot and expects to be ready by spring training.
El Duque, who had a bunion removed from his toe, is entering the second season of a $12 million, two-year contract.
Tagged Orlando Hernandez, Regis Courtemanche |
Mets GM Omar Minaya told reporters today that RHP Ambiorix Burgos will likely miss most of next season, though it’s possible he could pitch towards the end the season.
Burgos underwent Tommy John surgery in late August.
On the bright side, Minaya said RHP Duaner Sanchez could take part in Winter Ball and will certainly be ready for spring training.
According to Mets.com, Billy Berroa, the Mets’ Spanish Broadcaster on WADO 1280 AM, passed away yesterday in his native country of the Dominican Republic following a long illness.
Berroa, who was in his second tour as an announcer for Mets Spanish broadcasts, began announcing Major League Baseball games in 1963. He was 79.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
Baseball America recently completed its yearly Top 20 Prospect List for every league and level of Minor League Baseball.
The Mets placed seven players in the top 20 lists of five leagues, though they failed to boast a top 20 prospect in the short season Appalachian League or the Low-A South Atlantic League. Their top ranked player in any league was Fernando Martinez, who came in third in Double A Eastern League Rankings.
Here is a list of how the Mets’ prospects placed (You must be a subscriber to read the individual scouting reports, so accompanying the rankings are my brief player capsules.)
Gulf Coast League (Rookie):
14. Scott Moviel, RHP – Drafted in the second round out of high school this past June, Moviel went 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA for the GCL Mets, tossing 40 innings and allowing 45 hits, but walking only 11 and striking out 37. He’s a power pitcher with a strong feel for his breaking stuff.
New York Penn League (Short Season A):
16. Nick Carr, RHP – A draft and follow from the ’05 draft, Carr was 5-2 with a 3.80 ERA for Brooklyn. He tossed 66 innings, only allowing 55 hits, and while he tended to lose command at times, walking 27, he struck out an impressive 74 NYP league hitters.
20. Brant Rustich, RHP – A second rounder out of UCLA this past June, Rustich is a big (6’6, 225) reliever with big stuff. He began his short debut season with Kingsport of the Appy League, appearing in five games while posting a 0.87 ERA. In 10.1 innings he allowed six hits and a walk, striking out ten. After moving up to Brooklyn, he tossed 12.1 frames in ten games, allowing ten hits and two walks, while striking out 11.
Florida State League (Single A)
8. Deolis Guerra, RHP – Another big right hander, Guerra pitched the entire season as an 18-year old in the High A FSL. While pitching limited innings and suffering some ups and downs, his stuff improved, especially his fastball, and ended with a 2-6 record and a 4.01 ERA, allowing just 80 hits in 90 innings, walking 25 and striking out 66.
Eastern League (Double A)
3. Fernando Martinez, OF – Making the giant leap to Double A Binghamton as an 18-year old, Martinez missed time with a hand injury but held his own when healthy, hitting .271 in 236 at bats. Martinez compiled 11 doubles, 4 homeruns and 21 RBI in a weak Binghamton lineup that was often missing its few big bats. He walked 20 times, while striking out 51.
Pacific Coast League (Triple A)
7. Carlos Gomez, OF – Splitting time between AAA, the Majors and the DL, Gomez impressed when healthy, especially in New Orleans. He hit .286 with 8 doubles, two triples and two homers in 140 PCL at bats, walking 15 times and fanning 23. He showed his plus plus speed by stealing 17 bases while being caught four times. He showed flashes in his stint with the Mets, hitting .250 with two homers and nine bags swiped in 108 ABs, before struggling after returning from a hand injury.
12. Mike Pelfrey, RHP – Another up and down campaign for Pelfrey, both in location and performance. He started the season in New York, struggled and was sent down, continuing his troubles in New Orleans. But he began to regain fastball control in Triple A, and his next two stints in New York were stronger, especially his final go round at Shea. He made 14 PCL starts, going 3-6 while surrendering 74 hits in 74 innings. He had a 4.01 ERA, walking 26 and striking out 56. In the Majors, he was 3-8 (having started 0-7) with a 5.57 ERA in 15 games, 13 of which were starts. He allowed 85 hits in 72.2 innings, walking 39 and K’ing 45.
Tagged Minors |Over the last year, the Mets and White Sox have linked up in a variety of trade rumors, including names such as Lastings Milledge, Javier Vazquez, 
Aaron Heilman and Mark Buehrle.
At his blog for the Daily Herald, beat writer Scot Gregor writes that while Buehrle and Vazquez will be staying put, Jon Garland and Jose Contreras might be traded.
The 28–year-old Garland won 18 games in each of 2005 and 2006, but has posted an ERA lower than 4.00 only once in the last five seasons.
He is eligible to be a free agent after next season.
…i do not know much about garland…judging from his stat line, it appears that he allows a lot of hits and home runs, but few walks, while getting more ground balls than pop ups…
According to Gregor, “In Garland, [the White Sox] have a proven performer who can bring quality talent. A talent like, say, Milwaukee’s Bill Hall,” who he describes as, “exactly the type of player the White Sox need to get back into contention.”
Hall, 27, is signed through 2010, while earning roughly $7 million per season.
He hit 17 HR during 146 games in 2005, then 35 HR in 2006, followed by just 14 HR in 136 games for the Brewers last season, all while hitting .254, compared to .270 in 2006 and .291 in 2005.
…in other words, he’s been all over the map, and i do not know how any one can consider hall an ideal anything, let alone the exact type of player needed in a trade…very strange…
Gregor also wonders if Devil Rays OF Carl Crawford or Phillies OF Michael Bourne could be he had in a deal for Garland.
However, no place in his post, which deals a lot with young center field talent, does Gregor mention the Mets or Milledge.
Tagged Hot Stove, Jon Garland, Lastings Milledge, Rumors, White Sox |At NJ.com’s Always Amazin, Ryan McConnell announces that he will no longer be blogging, meaning the website is now in search of his replacement.
…best of luck, ryan…you’ll be missed…
…earlier this morning, i noted how at his blog for the Journal News, Yankees beat writer Peter Abraham quoted Mariano Rivera as saying he is ‘more determined 
than ever’ to test the free-agent market, considering how recent treatment of Joe Torre…
…the initial post’s comment’s section took on a long conversation of how the Mets could sign mariano and force Billy Wagner to the set-up role…i’m just thinking out loud here, with nothing based in fact, but, assuming the Mets paid rivera more than any other team, i wonder if he and wagner would be comfortable being a two-headed save monster…one right-handed…one left-handed…sort of the old Jesse Orosco-Roger McDowell model, but with a lot more credibility and success in their sails…i mean, they already share the same music, how about they share the same job…
…i don’t think there is any chance of this happening, of course, but it’s fun to dream about…
In the Star-Telegram, Dave Sessions reaffirms that Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo will entertain offers from other clubs when he becomes a free agent at the end of October.
Last week at his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that the Mets should hire Jaramillo, among other moves, in an effort to help improve for next season.
On Monday, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin explained why the Mets will not finalize Willie Randolph’s coaching staff until Jaramillo’s contract expires at the end of the month.
…as i wrote earlier in the week, this is a noteworthy maneuver, which will certainly push Howard Johnson back to coaching first base in place of Rickey Henderson…why…well, 1) jaramillo, and Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long are widely considered the Rick Peterson of hitting coaches, in terms of how they are changing the way the job is done, but 2), and most important, jaramillo and Omar Minaya are close friends dating back to the mid-80s, and, if you recall, jaramillo was a top candidate for the managerial job at shea before it went to willie, which would suggest that jaramillo could be willie’s obvious, some-day replacement, while sitting next to him on the bench all season long…
For more on Jaramillo, check out this report in the Sporting News from 2004, which, among other comments, reads…
“Jaramillo inspires such reaction because of a never-ending work ethic, complete belief in his players’ ability, adaptability and a method of teaching that is equal parts understanding hitting and understanding players.”
…also, from what i recall, he’s a disciplinarian, father-figure type, especially when it comes to the younger latino players…
Tagged Rudy Jaramillo |At her blog for the Bergen Record, Aditi Kinkhabwala explains how Mets 3B David Wright is being groomed to cheer for Rutgers University, thanks to his team’s equipment manager, Charlie Samuels.
According to MLB.com, Mariners OF Jose Guillen will ‘probably’ terminate his contract and become a free agent.
Guillen hit .290 with 23 HR and 99 RBI this past season.
…it’s one thing to want the Mets to acquire more fire and passion, but the Mets should not do so by bringing in an absolute loose canon…i will never trust a player like guillen, who has spent time with seven different teams in just six years, all before turning 31 years old…that is the definition of red flag…this is not to say he will never mature and grow beyond his reputation, as i’m sure he will, it’s just that a team in new york should never lean on such a gamble…
…my guess is that he will simply work out a contract extension with the Mariners, who reportedly want him back…
Speaking of Guillen, remember this.
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