Edwin Díaz is going to be leaving Port St. Lucie for a couple of days as he is going back to New York for the birth of his third child. Díaz made his long-awaited return this week as he struck out the side in the top of fifth on Monday, after walking in to his infamous trumpet entrance song. Along with that came a video of Díaz’s wife Nashaly and their two children celebrating his return to the mound. 

Edwin Díaz's kids were thrilled watching him strike out the side tonight 🫶

(via nashaly.diaz/IG) pic.twitter.com/KXztCDPxev

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 12, 2024

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned that this will not effect his throwing routine as he will throw a live BP in the morning prior to catching his flight to New York. 

Congratulations to the Díaz family on welcoming another child into the world!

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

The Mets announced that José Quintana will be their opening day starter as they will host the Brewers at Citi Field to open the season. Read more on the announcement!

After being scratched from last night’s game against the Astros due to “minor back tightness,” Brett Baty is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

The Mets are having Kodai Senga wait an extra week to resume throwing. Click here to learn more. 

Mets prospect Luisangel Acuña was included in a list of the 20 most “notable and intriguing” global prospects included in the Spring Breakout, article written by Michael Clair of MLB.com.

The Mets walked off the Astros in Wednesday’s spring training game. Click here to read up on the happenings of that matchup!

Latest MLB News

The Seattle Mariners announced the passing of former catcher and manager Bill Plummer. He was 76 years of age. 

The San Diego Padres put an end to the Dylan Cease sweepstakes as they gave up four players to land the White Sox ace. To learn about the details of the trade, click here!

Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge is dealing with an oblique issue and his toe is still ailing him from last year, per Pat Ragazzo of SI.com. Judge is still expected to be ready for opening day. 

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams has two stress fractures in his back and is expected to miss around three months, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The Dodgers continue to renew former player Andrew Toles‘ contract to maintain his health insurance as he treats his mental health issues, per The AP.

The Yankees learned that their ace, Gerrit Cole, will be out at least one to two months and has an appointment to fly to LA and meet surgeon Neal ElAttrache, per Jon Heyman of the NY Post. While no tear in his UCL has been detected, they are going to continue to gather more information. 

The Kansas City Royals announced that they will be inducting Bo Jackson into the Royals Hall of Fame on June 29. 

The Boston Red Sox announced that newly signed pitcher Lucas Giolito underwent successful right elbow ulnar collateral ligament repair with internal brace on Tuesday. 

Latest on MMO

MMO will have a free live stream of the Mets Spring Breakout game!

José Quintana will be the Mets 2024 opening day starter!

The Padres add a big piece to their rotation prior to opening day!

On This Date in Mets History

2021: Luis Guillorme fouls off 16 pitches in route to drawing a walk in a 22-pitch battle against Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks. In his first outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Hicks had to leave the game after just one batter. 

Birthdays: Josh Stinson (36)

The post Morning Briefing: Edwin Díaz Leaving Camp for Birth of Child appeared first on Metsmerized.

Pen went to paper way back in 1843. Even so, the classic holiday novella, “The Christmas Carol” resonates with readers today as one of Charles Dickens’ most important literary contributions. No other character in the beloved novella captures the fascination of readers and viewers like Ebenezer Scrooge.

Many times, my mind shifts to Ebenezer Scrooge when I hear New York Met fans and members of the media characterize Met General Manager Sandy Alderson. For me, it’s almost like many who root for or write about the Mets, have stolen a page from Dickens when they reference the Met GM.

Think about it. Like Scrooge, Sandy Alderson is often vilified as a cold, reclusive figure, a definitive “low temperature guy,” stoic and self-contained. Dickens painted a portrait of Ebenezer Scrooge as a Victorian like miser, a character who symbolized the rich, the elite, protecting only their interests at the expense of the suffering poor.

Fast forward to modern times and consider how many Met fans depict Sandy Alderson. Ditto. In their world view, Sandy Alderson was planted in the Met front office by Commissioner Bud Selig to protect the interests of his friend, multi-millionaire Met owner Fred Wilpon. Like Scrooge, Alderson is presented as shrewd and cunning, a tight-fisted, emotionless hoarder, a guy fixated on protecting the interest of his boss while at the same time immune to the suffering of fans who live and die for the Mets.

To read some comments on Met blogs and fan sites it would be easy to come away believing Sandy Alderson is a synonym for a covetous, grasping, possessive guy with no soft edges. A man who defers to logic and sabermetrics to avoid the warmth that comes with feelings and emotion.

The Sandy Alderson popularly typified by many Met fans and the press is not the Sandy Alderson I met at a Binghamton Met game in early September of 2011.

It was the final weekend of Double-A baseball, and I was in a foul and Grinch-like mood myself. Hurricane Irene had just devastated the tiny Catskill Mountain town where I lived, Binghamton Met baseball would soon be ending, and I was in desperate need of a mental reprieve. I hunkered down in a seat in the top row behind home plate and went about my pre-game statistical recordings that come with keeping score at a baseball game.

I’m obsessive about keeping score when watching a ballgame. Batting and pitching statistics are recorded before the game and then every pitch and every play is charted. For the most part, I’m not approachable as I madly jot down notes in the moments before a baseball game begins.

On this particular day, I was aware someone had appeared in the aisle outside my row. I was sitting in the third seat and glanced up to note a gentleman studying his ticket stub, clearly deciding where he was supposed to sit. An odd feeling of recognition flooded my senses, but I struggled to match a name with the face. This stately fellow sent a ‘hello’ my way as he settled into the aisle seat, which I returned with a nod. Deferring to my statistics, I decided to try and figure out if I knew who this Met fan might be when the final pre-game stats had been logged.

Turning back toward the stranger I was certain I should know who he might be. He was clearly a man who cared about his appearance, trim and neat as a pin. He traveled without scorebook, notepad or camera, somewhat unusual for a solitary fan sitting in the part of the park where scouts representing major league franchises often assemble. He was busy on a cell phone, tweeting I assumed.

Age has a way of slowing name recognition, but it wasn’t long before the name Sandy Alderson surfaced. Oddly, that presented a dilemma of sorts. I have always followed a belief that people of celebrity deserve some privacy in public venues. Sandy Alderson was at NYSEG Stadium to watch Met baseball prospects not to engage in conversation with me. Yet, it’s always my habit to introduce myself to the folks who sit around me at a baseball game. The social aspect of watching baseball is one of the pleasures of the game. I wasn’t sure how I wanted to handle that divergence.

It was a Juan Lagares at-bat in the bottom of the first inning that was the icebreaker. The B-Mets were playing the Fighting Phils from Reading, and Lagares was the B-Met rightfielder that night. Lagares was on a tear, ripping Double-A pitching at a .370 clip after his arrival to Binghamton. I would later come to believe it was Lagares and Reese Havens that Sandy had really come to see.

Lagares pieced together an uncanny at-bat that lasted 13 pitches with the outfield prospect flying out to the warning track in left field on the final pitch. I leaned towards Sandy and said, “Now that was a major league at-bat.” Knowing what I know now about the Met organizational approach to hitting and the role average number of pitches in an at bat means when evaluating prospects, I would have predicted Sandy’s response to my comment. It was like the flood gates opened and conversation flowed easily between the two of us for the rest of the night.

I made a conscious decision that night not to broach controversial topics swirling around Met land at the time, the hottest issue whether Sandy would resign Jose Reyes. I wasn’t a reporter looking for a sports scoop. My goal was to enjoy Sandy’s company as I enjoyed the company of any new neighbor at a baseball game.

Far from self-contained, Sandy surprised me by peppering me with questions. He had a curious mind and wanted to know everything he could about me. His first line of questions concerned my relationship with the B-Mets. How often did I attend games? Was I a season ticket holder? When Sandy learned I had purchased a game pack, he wanted to know how that worked. What kind of statistics did I take? Did I do anything with them after the game? Where did my interest in baseball and the Mets originate from?

When Sandy learned I lived some two hours from Binghamton and the town where I lived had been hit hard by Irene, the line of questioning shifted. Sandy had seen news clips about the devastation and was clearly concerned. There was much he wanted to know. Was anyone lost? Were folks displaced? What was the extent of the damage? His questions addressed the clean-up, possible damages of my home and property, lodging and provisions for people effected by the storm, anything and everything related to the storm and its impact.

Before long word spread that the Met GM was in the house. A steady stream of Met fans stopped by to chat with Sandy or hawk an autograph. Sandy couldn’t have been more accommodating. He treated each Met fan with the same curiosity and graciousness he showed in his conversations with me, asking people their names or asking questions about them, always obliging, always amenable. I was struck with the sharp contrast between the image of Sandy painted by his distractors and the guy seated alongside me at this B-Met game.

I laugh when I read frustrated Met fans accusing Sandy Alderson of not caring about the team he puts on the field. That is not the Sandy I met. Sandy wasn’t shy about asking my opinions about B-Met prospects. He chatted about some of the younger players in the system, and we talked in general about the Mets. The Met GM was constantly on his cell phone getting Met game updates, reporting the score to me with any commentary that had been passed his way. I remember Sandy was especially pleased to report rookie pitcher Josh Stinson had registered an inning of scoreless relief toward the end of the game.

The things about Sandy that most impressed me that night were his wit, his dry sense of humor, and his genuine appreciation for all the unusual things that take place at a minor league baseball park. No two minor league baseball venues are the same. Every minor league park is distinct. Each minor league franchise has it’s own discrete culture with during the game entertainment events that help define what makes them special.

In Binghamton’s case three between innings game events come to mind. Binghamton is a city nicknamed the “Carousel Capital of the World.” To celebrate that fact, the B-Mets have a Carousel Horse Mascot ridden by a Cowboy who throws hot dogs over the screen to screaming fans. “I remember telling Sandy to prepare himself for something he had never seen at a baseball park before and unless he returned to Binghamton would likely never see again.” He laughed heartily at the mayhem that followed.

With a twinkle in his eye and a smile from ear to ear, Sandy was riveted during a mid-game break when a gate in the fence along the left field stands was opened and hundreds of kids poured out on to the field racing across the outfield to exit through another gate on the right field side. Sandy talked about how important it was to connect baseball with young people and you could tell he approved of the youngster’s lap in the outfield.

The clincher came during the seventh inning stretch. I whispered to Sandy that he was in for a real Binghamton treat. During almost every B-Met home game since the franchise began in Binghamton 21 years ago, an elderly gent called ‘Jingles’ dances to his own lively signature song during the break between the halves of inning seven. Jingles stage is located directly behind where Sandy and I sat. Sandy loved it, clapping to the rhythm and cheering loudly with all the other B-Met fans when ‘JIngles’ completed his jig.

In fact, Sandy was so inspired, as he sat back down in his seat, I watched him fish around in a pocket and pull out his ticket stub. Sandy jotted something down on the stub, turned to me and said, “Here. Take this. If you ever get to New York City call this number, and I’ll make sure you have a good time.”

Stunned would be an understatement. By the time the game had ended, Lagares would add a basehit to his 13-pitch at bat. And Reese Havens went 2-5 with a double and RBI. Sandy and I shook hands and headed our separate ways.

Unlike the cold, solitary, uncaring Sandy Alderson portrayed in print, I experienced the polar opposite. The Sandy Alderson who watched a baseball game with me at NYSEG was curious, welcoming, fun-loving, and generous, nothing like Dicken’s Ebenezer Scrooge.

Oh, you probably want to know if I ever called the number on the ticket stub. Not during the remainder of the 2011 season. The Mets were limping along at the end of the year, so I reasoned I might make better use of Sandy’s offer early in the 2013 campaign.

As luck would have it, my son who resides in Los Angeles, came east for a cousin’s wedding. I hadn’t seen him in a year and asked if he would like to catch a game at Citi Field. A huge Met fan, who only sees his team on west coast swings, my son had never visited the Mets new ball park and was eager to make the trip.

I called the number. It hooked me with Sandy’s office. His secretary was great. She made the arrangements for us to see the game. When my two other children learned they hadn’t been included they were not too pleased with Dad. So, tail between my legs, I called back and inquired if there was a chance that there might be four tickets instead of two.

The end result – a magical night for me and my family. The Mets rolled out the red carpet, and we had a blast. It was an evening none will forget.

When we returned home I wanted to do something personal for Sandy in way of thanks. The Catskills and our mountains are famous for maple syrup. I sent Sandy and his secretary containers of home made syrup with a lengthy hand written thank you letter explaining how much the night meant to me and my family and, of course, expressing my thanks. Like the first President Bush, famous for his hand written thank you notes, Sandy impressed me as a similar kind of guy.

Several days later, when I returned home from my morning errands, I had a message on my answering machine from Sandy’s secretary to call his office. I did. After a pleasant chat, she told me how much she appreciated the maple syrup. She added that I had not left a return address on the package, and Sandy had asked her to call and get my address. I chuckled not expecting a thank-you for a thank-you, but sent along the information.

Not long after, a handwritten thank-you from Sandy on New York Met stationary arrived. It read:

John,

Thanks for your letter and the maple syrup! Both will help me through the month of September as we try to get back on a positive note here at Citi. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip here and look forward to seeing you again in Binghamton when I return there.

Regards, Sandy

I hope good fortune brings me together with Sandy Alderson again some day. Far from the Ebenezer Scrooge-like character unhappy Met fans portray him to play, the Sandy Alderson I met is everything Scrooge is not; a self-confident, fun-loving, genial, and generous guy. In the spirit of the Christmas season, I wish Sandy good fortune and good health and the joy that comes with a winning Met baseball season in New York.

An MMO Flashback from December 24, 2013.

The post A Christmas Carol: The Sandy I Met appeared first on Metsmerized.

He also gives us this progress report: that he began throwing Monday, and will resume hitting “pretty soon hopefully.” He sounded very optimistic that he would be back in the line-up before opening day, which is April 5th for the Bisons. When Wagner asked the Captain how far from the big leagues he is right now, Kirk replied “Really close, I feel like I’m really close.”

For the complete interview, click here

Bisons Notes

Reliever Justin Hampson, who pitched well out of the Buffalo pen last year, was signed to a minor league contract by the Mets the other day. The veteran lefty will provide bullpen depth at the AAA level, and could also be an option during the year for the big league club. Hampson has a lifetime major league record of: 5-4 with an ERA of 3.38 in parts of three seasons with the Rockies and Padres. Last year at Buffalo he went: 3-3 with a 3.41 ERA over 58 IP, and lefties hit only .216 against him.

RHP Matt Harvey in an interview with Wagner from Saturday, when asked if he has heard whether he would be headed to AAA to start the season, said that he had not been told. He did however express confidence that he felt vastly improved now, from the end of last season, when while pitching at AA Bingo he began to really turn it on. I have said all along I believe the Mets will start Harvey at AAA this year and with Wally Backman as the manager there, I would say it’s a pretty safe bet. Wally was asked if he wanted Harvey on the mound for him when the Bisons square off against Pawtucket in the season opener on April 5th, “I think that he’s proven he’s ready for that level,” Backman said. “He improved so much over the winter and dominated the hitters for the six innings he pitched (Tuesday).”

Third-baseman Zach Lutz feels that if he hadn’t been hurt last season he would have made his major league debut. And he’s right, he surely would have been promoted when DWright went on the DL, if he hadn’t been on the DL himself. Now Lutz puts the disappointment behind him as he looks forward to a healthy and productive season. “I had a lot of opportunities last year. They were a bunch of freak injuries. I’m ready to prove I can play in the big leagues. I came down here a month before everybody else to get out here and get ready. I’m ready to put all the bad luck behind me and move on for a healthy 2012 season.” Go get ’em Zach!

RHP Josh Stinson who pitched with the Mets in September last year, is working hard this spring to refine his change-up. After watching Johan Santana up close in big league camp this spring, Stinson came away impressed: “I’m fine tuning my change up, I’m really jealous of Johan’s. I’m going to execute, work to get back up and stay.”

Ben Wagner had this to say about a bullpen thrown by RHP Jenrry Mejia last week:

“Observed Jenrry Mejia’s bullpen last Tuesday. This was the first time watching him throw since the season ending injury last May in Rochester. The same demeanor and energy he brought as a starter was evident in a limited bullpen. He flashed a “thumbs-up” when I asked him how things were progressing. You had a sense the life on the pitches were there too. I watched the bullpen catcher box no-less than four pitches as they hummed across.”

Let’s hope Mejia continues to progress the way he has so far. And always remember:

LGM FOREVER!

The post Prospect Pulse: Captain Kirk Eyes Return To Action appeared first on Metsmerized.

Some big positives that can be taken from the NY Mets 2011 season were the contributions, and emergence, of some promising young players that were called up from the minors. During the year, the Mets relied heavily on players like: Lucas Duda, Ruben Tejada, Dillon Gee, and Justin Turner. And in September, we got to see some very interesting pitching performances, by righties Chris Schwinden and Josh Stinson. I caught up to Stinson this week, and despite a very busy off-season he was good enough to provide us with some awesome insights, and answers to a whole bunch of interesting questions! Let’s see what Josh had to say:

Petey:  We are chatting today with Josh Stinson of the NY Mets. First of all Josh, congratulations on a terrific season in 2011! Although it started out as a struggle, you worked your tail off, overcame adversity, and were rewarded for your efforts with a promotion to the Major Leagues. To be called up to make your debut in the ‘Show’ must have been an unbelievable thrill! Thank you so much for sharing a little of your time. The readers at MetsMerizedOnline.com will really enjoy getting to know a little bit about one of our newest Mets! When the Mets drafted you out of Northwood High School, in Shreveport, LA, in the 37th round of the 2006 MLB Player Draft, how did you first hear about it, and what was that feeling like? What round were you thinking you might be taken in? Were you planning on going to college, or did the Mets change your mind and convince you to sign?

Josh:  Well originally the Mets told me I would be drafted on the first day around the 4th-7th round. After the first day had passed and I wasn’t drafted, I had personally made up my mind that I was going to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA to get a nursing degree. I found out I was drafted while I was sitting at my house and my parents just happened to look at the draft. I originally thought I was going to college because I didn’t think the Mets were going to be able to give me enough money, and also pay for my college. But they came back and offered me the 4th-7th slot money that they promised me, and paid for my college so it made my decision a lot easier.

Petey:  Is there one person, a coach, a friend or family member, or even another player, who you learned the most from, or who inspired you to chase your dream of becoming a major league baseball player?

Josh:  There are actually two people who have inspired me to reach for my dreams. First, there is my father Randy, who from the age of 3 to even now, has been my coach. He taught me everything I know about baseball. How to play the game, the fundamentals, sportsmanship, and playing at 110% all the time. Then there is my mother, Connie. She was the one at home giving me the encouragement, making sure that I made good grades in school, cooking meals, and providing me with anything that I needed for baseball.

Petey:  Tell us a little bit about your arsenal. What pitches you throw, at what speeds, and are you working on any new pitches moving forward?

Josh:  I throw a 4-seam fastball, a sinker, a change-up, a curveball, and a slider. I am not working on any new pitches at this time, just trying to fine tune my pitches. I am also working being able to locate all my pitches to anywhere on the plate, and any time.

Petey:  Quite a bit of happened for you during the 2011 season, some good, some not-so-good, and some great. When you arrived at AAA Buffalo for the start of the season, you earned a spot in the starting rotation, but got off to an uneven start, and you struggled to the tune of a 3-7 record with a 7.44 ERA, your walks were up, and strikeouts were down. On June 22nd the Mets sent you down to AA Binghamton, to work on your command, and you pitched out of the Bingo bullpen. Sometime over the next month, you made some adjustments and started throwing the ball really well. The rest of the season in AA you went 4-3 with a 3.99 ERA and your walks were down and strikeouts were up. What happened? What did you start to do differently that resulted in turning your season around?

Josh:  This year was a very up and down year for me. I originally started the year in Binghamton because all the late moves in camp moved me down. After two starts, they sent me up to Buffalo. I think the biggest thing that effected me there was the pure fact the I wasn’t being aggressive. I wasn’t pitching with the attitude of “I am better than you and I am going to beat you, this is my job, and you aren’t going to take it.” When I was sent back to Binghamton to be in the bullpen, I found that attitude again. I believe it was mostly because of the adrenaline that you get when you are warming up in the bullpen and then running on the field. Being a reliever is a lot more fast paced. You have to warm up quickly, go in and execute pitches in tight situations, keep your nerves. At this time in my career, I would have to say I prefer relieving over starting.

Petey:  By the end of the Eastern League season, you were throwing the ball so well that the Mets called you up to the big leagues for the first time on September 1st, when the rosters expanded. When you got that call to the big leagues, it must have been an unbelievable thrill! What was it like? How did they inform you that you were headed for the “big stage?” What was your first thought at the time? Did any one player, or players, go out of their way to welcome you to the Mets?

Josh:  Getting called up was one of the best experiences in my life. We were in Erie and it was raining all day so we didnt have to get to the field till 4 pm. When we were on the way to the field my pitching coach called me and told me when I got to the field I needed to come to the office. So right away I thought man that is weird, I’ve been throwing the ball well and hadn’t been doing anything I wasn’t supposed to do. When I walked in the office, my manager Wally Backman, told me I was being called up, and to go up there and show them what I’m about. My first thought was that I had achieved my goal of making it, and now the new goal is staying there. All of the guys in the (Mets) clubhouse were very welcoming. It was a very easy transition because I was around a lot of the guys in spring training.

Petey:  You got 13 innings in for the Mets in September over 14 games, going 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA, and picked up your first big league save. You pitched quite well, much better than the numbers indicate, as you gave up nine out of your ten earned runs in just three of those 14 games. You were so impressive, in fact, that Sandy Alderson recently expressed confidence in you, and feels you are a viable bullpen option for the Mets heading into next season. How did your big league experience prepare you, and motivate you for the coming year? What do you need to work on to maximize your opportunity to make the big league club coming out of ST in 2012?

Josh:  I believe my experience in September helped me realize I have to execute my pitches everyday. I have to keep that attitude of “I’m better than you,” even when I’m facing the best in the world. Being there in September also helped me realize I can pitch at this level. This year I am going to work on going after the hitter a little bit more aggressively, trying to lower my walks, and like I said earlier being able to locate my pitches on both sides on the plate.

Petey:  Was there any one hitter you have faced so far in the majors, where you said to yourself, “Oh-my-gosh, I can’t believe I’m about to pitch to this guy!” What happened in the at-bat?

Josh:  The one guy that I faced where I was kind of star struck would have to be Albert Pujols. He is one of the best in the game. In that at bat I was ahead of him 1-2, and threw a couple of pitches trying to get him to chase. We went to 3-2 and I threw a good slider, he hit it directly in the ground in front of the plate and it bounced probably 40 feet in the air and went over Wright’s head into left field for a single. It was probably one of the weirdest hits I gave up because most of the time if someone hits the ball into the ground like that it would be a slow roller to 3B but this time it hit something in front of the plate and went into left field.

Petey:  Yeah, Albert’s pretty good. Let the American League deal with him for a while. What kind of things do you do to stay in shape over the winter, Josh? Can you describe your workout regimen? Did you play any winter ball?

Josh:  I did not play winter ball this year because I had a lot of innings for a reliever, because of starting earlier in the year. As far as staying in shape, I am working out 5 to 6 times a week. I do upper body and shoulder routine twice a week, and I do lower body twice a week. I do some type of cardio everyday whether it be biking, long distance running, or sprints. I also started throwing the first week of January to get my arm in shape for spring.

Petey:  What was your favorite baseball team growing up? Is there someone at the big league level, past or current, that you think you are similar to you in style, and the type of stuff you throw?

Josh:  My favorite team growing up was the Texas Rangers because of growing up in Shreveport, LA. That was the closest team to us. I’m not sure who I would compare to. I just try to go out there and be the best I can be.

Petey:  Fair enough. To finish up Josh, just a little personal info, not pertaining to baseball. What is your favorite movie? Favorite musician or band? Favorite food?

Josh:  My favorite movie would have to be Step Brothers. My favorite musician is Jason Aldean. My favorite food would have to be a good steak.

Petey:  Thanks again Josh for being so kind as to participate in this interview! Our readers at MMO will really enjoy it! Enjoy the rest of your time off, and we’re looking forward to seeing you on the “bump” at Citi next year!

It sounds as if Josh’s big league experience in September was a very useful confidence builder, and that he is wisely using it as a measuring stick moving forward. His eye-opening performance with the Mets, puts him squarely in the bullpen mix for CitiField next year, and it will be very interesting to watch his continued development.

LGM!

Here’s an interesting interview by Statsgirl14 with Josh shortly after he was called up to the bigs:

Interview 9/14/2011

For more of my player interviews, and some other cool stuff, click here.

The post MMO Exclusive Interview: NY Mets Josh Stinson RHP appeared first on Metsmerized.

As we continue our analysis of the Mets minor league system through player rankings, I offer you the NY Mets Top Prospects, numbers 31 to 40. Although a few players here have slipped as far as their perceived rankings of the last few years, most listed here are new to Mets prospect rankings. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got:

31. Brad Holt (RHP) Holt was at one time ranked up near the top of this list, but after failing miserably as a starter upon arriving at AA, he regressed for several seasons before seemingly straightening things out towards the end of last year. He has therefore fallen pretty far in the rankings as he tries to re-invent himself as a relief pitcher. I wrote a pretty involved spiel on Holt back in September, in the “Buffalo 2012 Preview” piece, entitled ‘Help On The Way’. Here’s some of what I said:

“Holt’s 2011 season wasn’t eye-popping, but he is definitely making progress. His overall numbers this year are average, 8-8 with a 4.71 ERA, but most of the runs he gave up were in the first half when he was being utilized as a starter. Since being converted to a relief pitcher full-time, he has been quietly doing a superb job, going 6-2 with a 4.09 ERA, in one and two inning stints. In his last eleven games out of the pen Holt is: 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA, and opponents are hitting .203 off him.

The biggest improvement Holt has made is in his increased command, which has resulted in fewer walks, and that was crucial for him. As a starter last year, his K/BB ratio was 39/42, that’s right, more walks than strikeouts. As a reliever, his K/BB was 35/15. If he can keep moving forward, and make the necessary adjustments to the higher caliber of play at AAA, he could emerge as a “relief ace” for Buffalo, a real lock down 8th inning guy, which is exactly what the Mets see him as in the bigs. Will he be a help to the Mets at sometime in 2012 as a bullpen option? Why the heck not? He’s got the talent, hopefully his mechanics will fall into line.”

32. Cory Vaughn (OF) The 23 year-old Vaughn, who was taken in the 4th round of the 2010 draft out of San Diego State, had his short minor league career hit a wall right in the middle of the 2011 season. I don’t know what could make the Mets do something so stupid as to take a guy who was having a very good year at Savannah, and yank him out of the league rather abruptly at mid-season, to promote him to the Florida State League. Why? Who knows? But it definitely did not have the desired effect as Vaughn’s season fell completely apart. In the first half at Savannah, Vaughn hit .286 in 245 AB’s, while in 210 AB’s at St. Lucie he hit .219. You can say it’s the minors and it doesn’t matter but it couldn’t have done any good for the man’s confidence. And was the second half slump due to injury, or fatigue? Or is it a matter of Vaughn being unable to hit advanced breaking pitches? Now Vaughn finds himself between a rock and a hard place because he is mired in high A ball after having played a brutally bad half-season there. What’s more, there are some very talented outfielders coming up through the system behind him, and the prospects of the big jump to AA, loom ahead. The next year will go a long way to seeing whether Vaughn moves up this list, or drops off it altogether.

33. Greg Peavey (RHP) It was a very successful season for the 23 year-old right-hander despite the fact that his performance was over-shadowed by other highly regarded pitchers in the system. With the sizzling professional debut of Matt Harvey, the continued development of Jeurys Familia, the meteoric rise of Darin Gorski, and the outstanding acquisition of Zack Wheeler, it was easy to forget what a terrific season Peavey had on the farm. Drafted by the Mets in the 6th round out of Oregon State in the 2010 draft, Peavey signed too late to pitch that season. He made his professional debut in 2011 pitching out of the Savannah rotation. There he went 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA over 78 innings, and 14 game starts. He surrendered 75 hits while striking out 69, and walking 11, and his WHIP was 1.10. After making the SAL Mid-Season All-Star Team, he got a call-up to Advanced-A St. Lucie, and continued to pitch well, finishing the year with a combined record of 11-6 with a 3.48 ERA over 24 game starts, and 137 innings. His fastball sits in the low 90’s, and he also throws a slider, change-up and curveball. Although quite advanced, Peavey will, probably need two more seasons, but by then, should definitely be in the discussion about joining the big league team.

34. Albert Cordero (C) The 21 year old right-handed hitter from Venezuela, was signed by the Mets as an IFA in 2008. At 5’11″ and 175 lbs., he was recognized as a good defensive catcher with advanced receiving skills, quick footwork, and an impressive throwing arm. Cordero made his stateside debut with Kingsport in 2010. It was there that he first began opening eyes by hitting .277 with 8 HR’s, 32 RBI’s, and a .466 SLG, in just over 200 AB’s, while at the same time throwing out 43% of would be base stealers (23 of 53). When 2011 started Cordero got off to a very slow start as the regular catcher at Savannah. At the end of May he was hitting only .208 with 1 HR, and his K/BB was 27/1. It was around that time that Cordero decided he had to shorten his swing and stay more in control, and to be more selective at the plate. In June, the first month where he employed his new approach, his OPS was .688. He then gained some solid momentum in July getting hotter as the month wore on and finished with an OPS of .777. By August he was literally on fire, with an OPS for this month of 1.343! In 103 August AB’s, Cordero had: 11 runs, 37 Hits, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR’s, 15 RBI’s, for a .359 average for the month. Keep in mind that he is still very far away from Flushing, the South Atlantic League being a far cry from the majors. But with the development and skills he has shown so far, he has already moved all the way to the head of the Mets minor league catching class.

35. Darrell Ceciliani (CF) This speedy 21 year-old, lefty swinging center-fielder, who the Mets made their 4th round draft pick out of Columbia Basin Community College (Wash) in 2009, is still very raw, and if he does reach the majors, it won’t be before 2014. This past year he was the Savannah Sand Gnats everyday center-fielder. In three full seasons, (two short season, and this one) he has amassed 800 lifetime minor league AB’s, with a lifetime .283 BA. He has a .358 OBP, and a .403 SLG%, but his problem so far has also been too many K’s. His K/BB ratio reads: 173/78, and for a lead-off hitter those numbers need to improve. If he can become a better contact hitter, he has the speed and ability to stay in centerfield.

36. Rafael Montero (RHP) The 2011 Sterling Award winner at GCL St. Lucie, Montero is one of those players you will start to hear more and more about next year. At 6’0″and 170 lbs, this right-hander from the Dominican Republic, possesses a power arm, and three decent offerings. He has good command of his fastball which sits in the 90-93 mph range, topping out at 95, with late life. He throws a below-average change-up and breaking ball, but can throw them for strikes. He is a work in progress but very advanced for a 20-year-old. On the surface his work from 2011 is difficult to analyze by the numbers since he played at four different stops in the Mets system. He logged 18 innings at DSL Mets1, 31 innings at the now defunct GCL Mets, 17 innings at Rookie level Kingsport, and 5 innings at Brooklyn. His combined totals were 12 starts (71 IP), for a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 2.15. He surrendered 55 hits while striking out 66 and walking 13, and putting up a commanding WHIP of 0.96. But the most telling stats, highly significant for a young power pitcher are: 8.37 K/9, 1.65 BB/9, and 7.0 H/9. Montero will be one of eight or nine very talented young arms that will be battling it out in ST for one of the five rotation spots at Savannah. If he gets beat out for a spot, he should wind up in the pen until the NYPL season starts in June. Then he would likely become a starter at Brooklyn.

37. Josh Stinson (RHP) The 2010 season really put Stinson on the map with a big year at Bingo, he finished the year at Buffalo, going 11-5 combined with a 3.90 ERA. The 2011 season started terribly for the 6’4″ right-hander. In 13 starts for Buffalo he was 3-7 with a 7.44 ERA. He was sent to Bingo to figure things out, was moved to the pen, and in his last 10 games there he went 2-1 with a 1.38 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 14/3, with opponents hitting .159 off him. That is how he earned himself a call-up to the Mets, making his MLB debut, going 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA, in 13 innings. He pitched effectively in ten out of 14 games though, giving up all his earned runs in just four of his appearances. Stinson is definitely in the bullpen mix in ST 2012, and will be on the Mets at some time next year.

38. Zach Lutz (3B) What can you say about a guy who hits the way Lutz does? He can fall out of bed, and line a rope up the middle. He can hit a home run in his sleep. He can…oh you get the idea, the guy rakes. The biggest problem regarding Lutz is he can’t stay healthy, and misses huge chunks of time every year. Last year was the perfect example as he was only able to stay on the field for 220 AAA AB’s. He managed to hit .295, however, with 11 HR’s and 31 RBI’s, with an OBP of .380, and a SLG% of .500. Early in his professional career, his physical ailments came in the form of foot and ankle problems. Broken feet, badly broken ankles, surgeries, you name it. It wasn’t pretty. Last year, it was injuries involving his head. A horrendous line-drive beaning while in the dugout, and a couple of pitches to the head featuring “concussion-like symptoms” and 2011 was spent more on the DL, than in the batter’s box. Drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 draft out of Alvernia College (PA), Lutz needs to play a full season in 2012, just to show he can do it. If DWright spends any time on the DL next year, and Lutz is healthy at Buffalo, he could be the one to take over if DMurph was being utilized someplace else.

39. Tillman Pugh (CF) As the 22-year-old Pugh prepares for his third season as a minor leaguer in the Mets farm system. He is working hard with the realization of just how important this season will be for him. This year he will get the opportunity to open the season in a long season league. Although the competition for spots in the Savannah outfield will be fierce, he should be the starting centerfielder for the Sand Gnats. He will have the opportunity to test himself and challenge himself over the course of a season that lasts well over five months. It will be nice to see what kind of numbers he can put up if he gets 450 to 500 AB’s in one year. He should do quite well. At a solid 6’0″ 190 lbs., Pugh is very fast, and athletic enough to play centerfield. His game is speed and he represents something the Mets don’t have a lot of. A three-way threat, offense, defense, and on the base-paths.

40. Armando Rodriguez (RHP) Signed as an IFA out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, Rodriguez  has good size and strength at 6’3″ and 250 lbs. He throws hard too, with his fastball sitting at 90-92 mph, sometimes hitting 94. The pitch exhibits some arm-side run, and sink, but tends to flatten out and elevate if he overthrows. He has a fringy slider thrown in the 78-81 mph range, that was pretty devastating to hitters in the South Atlantic League, but as he moves up to AA he will need to tighten the rotation, and add some sharpness to the break. His change-up is his weakest offering, thrown in the high 70’s, but with very little command. The deceleration on the pitch is not caused by his grip, but by his arm-speed which he tends to slow down when throwing the change, making it detectable to the hitter, and causing the pitch to elevate. The other factor working against Rodriguez, is that he is about to turn 24 years-old at the end of the month and he has yet to pitch above Advanced-A ball. Last year he pitched sparingly at St. Lucie, starting 16 games and hurling 75 innings. His record was 4-4 with a 3.96 ERA, 60 hits, 74 strikeouts, and 29 walks, with opponents hitting .218 off him, and a WHIP of 1.19. Although a starter since 2008, the Mets will move Rodriguez to the bullpen full time in 2012. Providing he does well, he could split the year between AA Bingo and AAA Buffalo, but the safer bet would be a big league ETA of 2014, if at all.

Not a bad group of players with each one on this list having a solid chance at a big league career. This just reaffirms how far the Mets minor league system has come in the last two years.

Check back next week when I finish up the MMO Top 50 Mets Prospects, by naming #’s 41 thru 50!

2012 MMO Mets Top 40 Prospects

1.   Zack Wheeler              RHP

2.   Jeurys Familia            RHP

3.   Matt Harvey                 RHP

4.   Jenrry Mejia                RHP

5.   Brandon Nimmo          OF

6.   Kirk Nieuwenhuis        OF

7.   Juan Lagares              OF

8.   Wilmer Flores             INF

9.   Cesar Puello               RF

10.  Reese Havens             2B

11.  Cory Mazzoni             RHP

12.  Jordany Valdespin      INF

13.  Darin Gorski               LHP

14.  Phillip Evans              SS

15.  Jefry Marte                  3B

16.  Collin McHugh           RHP

17.  Juan Urbina               LHP

18.  Akeel Morris              RHP

19.  Michael Fulmer          RHP

20.  Danny Muno               INF

21.  Domingo Tapia          RHP

22.  Brant Rustich             RHP

23.  Brad Marquez              CF

24.  Gilbert Gomez             RF

25.  Logan Verrett              RHP

26.  Tyler Pill                     RHP

27.  Juan Carlos Gamboa    SS

28.  Robert Carson             LHP

29.  Chris Schwinden         RHP

30.  Jack Leathersich          LHP

31.  Brad Holt                      RHP

32.  Cory Vaughn                 OF

33.  Greg Peavey                 RHP

34.  Albert Cordero               C

35.  Darrell Ceciliani            CF

36.  Rafael Montero             RHP

37.  Josh Stinson                RHP

38.  Zach Lutz                      3B

39.  Tillman Pugh                CF

40.  Armando Rodriguez     RHP

The post 2012 Mets Top Prospects: # 31 – # 40 appeared first on Metsmerized.

After a bad start by Miguel Batista, the Mets came back only to have Josh Stinson and Ryota Igarashi blow the game in the 11th inning, and the Mets lost 10-6 to the Chicago Cubs

Game Notes

Miguel Batista had his first poor outing as a Met, going five innings, allowing four runs on five hits walking three and striking out one. Batista was not helped by the Mets defense, as David Wright made his third error in two days. Batista couldn’t find control, and when he gave up hits they were for extra bases.

Today saw a huge bullpen day, with D.J. Carrasco, Tim Byrdak, Pedro Beato, Daniel Herrera, Manny Acosta, Josh Stinson, Ryota Igarashi and Dale Thayer came out. Everyone but Stinson and Igarashi was effective, but Stinson was hit hard and walked two to not record an out.

The offense today existed in spurts, with runs being scored in the first, sixth, eighth and 11th. Jason Pridie hit a home run in the eleventh, but by then the Mets were already down six, so it just closed the deficit. The offense today wasn’t stifled, but stranded runners, 26 to be exact.

Jose Reyes – 1 for 5 with a walk and a strikeout. Jose dropped his average to .332

Jason Pridie – 1 for 2 with a two-run HR.

David Wright – 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and a walk. Tough last two days for David.

Turning Point

The ineffective bullpen work of Stinson/Igarashi

GOAT of the Game

Josh Stinson takes the cake in this one. Not getting an out and giving up four runs will do that for a player.

On Deck

The Mets will continue their home series, playing against the Washington Nationals at 7:10 P.M. Ross Detweiler will pitch for the Nationals, and R.A. Dickey for the Mets.

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Miguel Batista had another good outing spoiled by a blown save, but Nick Evans had a huge day in the Mets 7-4 win.

Game Notes

Miguel Batista took the mound, and pitched another surprising game, but was not as sharp as his last outing. Batista went six innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking four and striking out three. Batista wasn’t hit hard, but he had Marlins batters chasing bad pitches consistently. While some Mets fans are upset Batista is taking away starts from prospects, Batista may have a chance to be a useful bullpen piece next year, at an inexpensive price.

The bullpen today was solid, but Manny Acosta was charged with an unearned run after another Angel Pagan misplay in the outfield allowed the runner to advance to second on a single. Acosta still got out of the inning without much damage, but it was to be expected. Jason Isringhausen came in for the eighth inning, and exhibited absolutely no control, walking three batters and consistently falling behind. However, when needed Izzy struck out Jose Lopez with the bases loaded, and struck out Emilio Bonafacio to end the inning. Bobby Parnell blew another save, giving up a two run double in the ninth. Tim Byrdak & Pedro Beato combined for two scoreless innings, and Josh Stinson nailed down his first MLB save in the 12th inning.

The offense today was quiet, but did manage to get hits when it was needed. Justin Turner hit an RBI single in the fifth, Nick Evans an RBI single in the sixth and was thrown out trying to advance to second, and Evans yet again in the eighth with an RBI single. In a bit of insurance, Angel Pagan hit a double right off the first base bag, scoring Jose Reyes and moving David Wright to third. The Mets rallied in the 12th inning, thanks to RBI singles by Nick Evans & Jose Reyes, and a bases-loaded walk by Lucas Duda.

Jose Reyes – 3 for 6 with a walk, an RBI and a strikeout and a strikeout. Jose has struggled since his return from the DL.

Justin Turner – 3 for 4 with two walks and an RBI. Any production right now is good, because he is playing for next year.

David Wright – 0 for 6 with two strikeouts and an intentional walk. Rough game for David, not many of these since return from DL.

Turning Point

The 12th inning comeback, showing the offense hadn’t died

Game Ball

Nick Evans – 3 for 6 with three RB, a walkI and a good play on a ball to force the runner at second on a bunt. Nick has been hot as of late, and as most Mets prospects is playing for a spot on the team next year.

On Deck

The Mets will finish the series against the Mets, sending R.A. Dickey to the mound against rookie Brad Hand of the Marlins. Game time is 5:10 P.M.

The post Parnell Blows Another Save, Evans Plays Hero In 12th, Mets Win 7-4 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mike Pelfrey had another poor outing, but the offense spearheaded by Lucas Duda’s second home run in two days rallied to snatch a win from the Nationals, 6-3.

Game Notes

Mike Pelfrey took the mound, and as has been a recent theme has not had his best stuff, and when he runs into that one bad inning, it doesn’t end. Pelfrey threw 106 pitches over 4 and two-third innings, giving up three runs on five hits, including five walks and three strikeouts. Pelfrey seemed to struggle with control all game, and took a beating pitch-wise in the fourth inning when he allowed all three runs. Pelfrey seems to just struggle with the mental aspect of the game at this point in his career.

The bullpen today came through in a big way, pitching four and one-third innings of scoreless relief. Ryota Igarashi pitched a clean third of an inning, Josh Stinson went two allowing one hit and one walk while demonstrating his top-notch fastball/slider that could have him in Flushing next year. Jason Isringhausen continued his effective campaign, allowing a hit in one inning. Bobby Parnell, after yesterdays meltdown picked up his fifth save of the season, walking one batter.

A big question/food for thought – why not reduce the role of Ryota Igarashi in the pen, and allow someone who may be pitching for the Mets next year a shot?

The offense today struck early, with Ruben Tejada hitting a two-RBI single in the third inning. After a few quiet innings, Lucas Duda went out and hit another big home run, this time to right center. Willie Harris then hit a two-RBI single, scoring David Wright and Angel Pagan. Mike Nickeas capped off the scoring with a sacrifice that some aggressive baserunning by Jason Bay turned into an RBI sacrifice.

The offense hasn’t been an issue in most of the Mets recent losses, so knowing one side of the equation is working is a positive going into the offseason.

David Wright – 2 for 4 with a run and no strikeouts. Since his return from the DL, David has been driving the ball and has cut his strikeouts dramatically.

Josh Satin – 1 for 2 with a strikeout. Josh got his first MLB hit today playing 1B, congratulations.

Ruben Tejada – 1 for 5 with two RBI batting out of the leadoff spot.

Turning Point

While it only tied the game, the Lucas Duda home run was definitely the momentum swing the Mets needed in the sixth inning.

Game Ball

The entire Mets bullpen gets today’s game ball due to their quality effort covering nearly half of the game only allowing two hits and two walks in four and one-third innings.

On Deck

The Mets will travel to Florida to begin another series against the Marlins. Chris Capuano will take the mound for the Mets, opposing Javier Vazquez. Game time is 7:10 P.M.

The post Duda Goes Yard Again & Bullpen Holds In Mets 6-3 Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

The offense, spearheaded by a David Wright three run shot in the first never let up, and R.A. Dickey pitched a quality six innings in the Mets 7-3 win against the Nationals.

Game Notes

R.A. Dickey had a good outing and the definition of a quality start, going six innings allowing three runs on nine hits, striking out one. Dickey may have not had his strikeout stuff today, but allowing three runs is nothing to scoff at. This win has been the easiest win Dickey has had in well over two months.

The bullpen got a fair amount of work today, and most of it was displaying new faces. Tim Byrdak came out and continued to impress, striking out two in his two-thirds of an inning. Ryota Igarashi came out for one-third of an inning, and gave up a hit and struck out a batter. One of the two new bullpen arms called up to the Mets, hard throwing righty Josh Stinson went one and two-third innings, giving up two hits and striking out two. His stuff does look impressive, and his control wasn’t that erratic today, throwing 15 of 20 pitches for strikes. The second lefty in the bullpen now, Daniel Ray Herrera came out, and struck out the only batter he faced.

The only plus of roster expansions & being out of the playoff race – get to test the competence of your farm system, and in the Mets case rebuilding the bullpen from within.

The offense today was hot from the start, as David Wright sent a three-run homer into the left-center bleachers. Nick Evans agreed with David’s decision, and sent another ball into the left field bleachers for a solo shot. Angel Pagan hit a two-run single, scoring David Wright and Lucas Duda and the last long ball belonged to Mr. Duda when he deposited a ball into deep right field. Today, the offense ran on all cylinders and was not going to let R.A. Dickey pitch another good game and suffer a loss.

Justin Turner – 1 for 5 with three strikeouts. Tough day.

Jason Bay – 0 for 4 with two strikeouts….and Bay has cooled again.

Mike Nickeas – 0 for 4. Not up here for his bat.

Turning Point

When the Mets came out swinging for the fences, and connecting. As dissapointing as it is to say, the three best power-hitters on the team all went yard today.

Game Ball

Lucas Duda – 2 for 4 with two runs, a solo home run and a strikeout. Duda has been on fire this entire month, and if this is Duda “figuring it out” then next year can only improve

On Deck

The Mets will continue the series against the Nationals and send Dillon Gee to the mound against Tom Milone, making his MLB debut. Game time is 7:05 P.M.

For Mets thoughts, responses to the game, and news about the Mets in general follow me on twitter @TheSeanKenny

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