It always is interesting how people automatically call a hitter that hits homers, strikes out a lot and has a low average “Dave Kingman.” Kong certainly had his issues, but regardless of what you think he still had a 16-year career in which he hit 442 homers. To say that Ike Davis is Kingman would be an insult since that would be an improvement over what he’s producing today. As a matter of fact, a [...]

Updated Post 1:44 PM MLB Trade Rumors just posted something that would add to the debate on Choo as a potential acquisition for the Mets in 2014. I also updated the original post to indicate that Choo’s best position is right-field. Of course, as with most free agents, Choo’s next contract will cover post-prime years, perhaps age 31-35.  With Boras doing the negotiating, we can’t rule out a sixth year or a salary in the [...]

Despite a major league pedigree and respect for his tools (Baseball America Top 15 organizational prospect three years running), Binghamton Mets outfielder Cory Vaughn had yet to put all his tools together. His power and speed didn’t show up until 2012, but he hit .243. In St. Lucie in 2011, Vaughn hit .286 before his promotion, but only four home runs. After the promotion, he more than doubled his home run total, but the batting average dipped to .219. [...]

Left field has always been used as a kind of defensive dumping ground for many teams trying to find a way to get a bat in the lineup.  Not requiring the arm strength considered de rigueur for Right, and less daunting in the presence of a fleet centerfielder, it is often a place for players whose offense demands playing time, but are not “natural” outfielders and have been blocked from a preferred position by a [...]

1B/3B COLIN MORAN, NORTH CAROLINA  Player Profile: Position:  3B/1B Height:  6-3 Weight:  215 Bats/Throws:  L-R Birthdate:  Jan. 28, 1992 College:  North Carolina Projected Draft Round:  1 Scouting Grades: Hitting: Present 55 – Future 55 Power: Present 55 – Future 60 Speed: Present 40 – Future 50 Fielding: Present 50 – Future 50 Arm Strength: Present 60 – Future 60 2013 Season Colin Moran had a collegiate slash line of .347/.439/.522 heading into the 2013 season. [...]

Are the Mets in desperate times now?  With how our offense has failed to click lately, I think so. I was under the impression that we had a few guys that could actually play the outfield for us – and then we went out and signed Rick Ankiel. I remember the player Ankiel was after he switched positions from pitching to play the outfield, so there is hope for production.  But, if we needed a player with [...]

What a beauty of a cover and an instant Mets collectible for all you die-hards out there. Get is signed, get it framed, I know I will. Matt harvey has gone from New York sensation to a National sensation in less than a half season worth of starts. SI.com’s Tom Verducci, calls Harvey: “The most fascinating young power arm in baseball.” “In an era dominated by pitchers, Matt Harvey has the ferocity of stuff and [...]

Binghamton 9, Harrisburg 3 An ominous gray sky and a persistent drizzle dampened my spirits as I started an excursion to Binghamton’s NYSEG Stadium for the second consecutive day.  Saturday’s sojourn was for naught, nearly four hours driving in the car and no baseball.  The prospects of a double washout loomed. Halfway to Binghamton, the clouds almost evaporated in the sky giving way to sunshine, blue skies and baseball.  I couldn’t help but think that [...]

The draft is slowly creeping up on us, and is now less than a month away. It’s do or die time for scouts, and for some draft hopefuls, coming down to the wire to show that they deserve a shot to call baseball their profession. On June 6, everyone is expecting the Houston Astros to take Stanford Pitcher, Mark Appel, with the first pick in the draft. After that, it’s really anyone’s guess. The Mets [...]

Keith Law of ESPN updated his Top 100 Draft Prospects. Here is who he projected at No. 11 where the Mets will pick in the Rule 4 Draft in June. Read the Full Rankings Here. (ESPN Insider Subscription Required) And with the No. 11 Pick of the 2013 First Year Player Draft… The New York Mets select: OF HUNTER RENFROE, MISSISSIPPI STATE   Player Profile: Position:  OF/C Height:  6-1 Weight:  216 Bats/Throws:  R-R Birthdate:  Jan. [...]

Ever since Lucas Duda burst into our consciousness in 2010, nobody has been satisfied with his plate approach. Too many strikeouts and not enough walks, I frequently wrote. He gives away too many at-bats. He tries to pull too much and doesn’t use the entire field. All valid in the early Duda critique. Now, unbelievably, he’s become too selective, too patient at the plate. No matter how hard I try, I don’t get this one. Even Keith Hernandez, [...]