I think I'm gonna need a few more drafts
The 2010 MLB First Year Player Draft begins Monday June 7th at 7:00pm. Thanks to sucking so badly in 2009, the Mets held onto their 1st round pick despite signing Type A free agent Jason Bay. They will be picking at # 7.
My friends call me Jonathan
MLB.com writer Jonathan Mayo took a look at some potential picks in the top 20 and where he thinks they might end up. Through his article you can access video and brief scouting reports on his top 20. Check them out and let TRDMB know who you think the Mets should choose at # 7.
80 comments
rustyjr
5/27/2010-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Free Zapata !
njstuckintx
5/27/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
best player available. Preferably Lincecum v 2.0.
metro
5/27/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been told they will take Machado if he somehow falls to #7 but Brentz is their target.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah everything I’ve read is they are all over Brentz like white on rice.
I obviously have no real knowledge of any of the players or the team’s goals but based on the scouting reports I’ve read on the potentially likely players I am into the guy Mayo has them picking in his mock draft – Deck McGuire.
From what I’ve read he doesn’t have a “high” ceiling, projected as a 3rd starter, but is essentially very close to ML ready now. He’s allegedly got 3 viable pitches and knows what to do with them. When I look at the Mets system I don’t see any starting pitchers ready to come up very soon and I would love it if they could snag one. Plus I just like the name Deck McGuire.
metro
5/27/2010-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
I would rather not go “safe” but if you do both McGuire and Workman are solid picks. Potential #3 starters in the bigs. They are praying Machado falls to 7 but Brentz is garnering some comparisons to Braun and David Wright so you can’t go wrong there. My top 5 assuming Harper and Taillon (My dream pick) are off the board
1. Machado
2. Whitson
3. Brentz
4.Pomeranz
5. Grandal
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Whoever they wind up picking I can’t react all disappointed because I simply don’t know enough about any of the players. I am just looking forward to it, I’ve already checked to see that the Mets aren’t playing that night so the draft will have my undivided attention.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/27/2010-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
I like Brentz’ swing. It’s nice and compact.
stickguy
5/27/2010-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
wait til Hojo gets ahold of him. He will have his head pulling out and a big loop in it in no time.
ceetar
5/27/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Wake me up when said player makes his debut. Then I’ll care.
I’m sure someone will find a way to tie their pick into “The Mets suck because they didn’t spend the money like XXX”
metro
5/27/2010-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
The fans have a right to complain. The Mets were LAST in draft spending last year… LAST.
trs86
5/27/2010-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
But did go slightly over slot on their first pick.
trs86
5/27/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously though, do you know how much they spent on the international guys last year?
metro
5/27/2010-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
They signed 1 player over 100K last year so while I don’t have their entire budget in front of me it wasn’t all that much compared to other teams and have signed 0 so far this year.
trs86
5/27/2010-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
So you don’t have a total amount spent on new players to the organization nor how they would rank total?
metro
5/27/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Considering they only signed 1 player in IFA that would be any significant addition to the budget I don’t see how it is relevant. Signing 40 guys for 20,000 doesn’t make up the difference in spending only 3.1 million on the draft. They haven’t signed anyone yet this year while other teams have. It’s a fallacy that the Mets are saving all this money for IFA. Again, 2 players to significant money in 2 seasons.
trs86
5/27/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
So we should just spend to spend? Ah, I got it. See I thought it was about scouting and bringing in good talent. I guess the only way that happens is to sign a bunch of high priced guys.
metro
5/27/2010-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
Last 2 seasons they have signed 2 players for 100K or more… Aderlin Rodriguez and Juan Urbina, 2005-2008 they gave Flores, Familia, Puello, Marte, Pena, Fernando and Guerra more than 100K
metro
5/27/2010-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Yes the draft and signing your players is the way to build a good farm system. What a coincidence that the best team in baseball has had top 5 picks (and signed them) AND is very active in Latin America (the Rays) as well as other draft/IFA spenders the Red Sox and Yankees. The 3 teams KNOWN for not going over slot? The Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros and New York Mets. The first 2 teams are CONSISTENTLY known as having 2 of the worst farm systems and the Mets are usually in the low-20′s-lateteens.
trs86
5/27/2010-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
the draft and signing your players is A way…
metro
5/27/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
What other way is there to build a good farm system? Build a good organization? Which good teams over an extended period do without this?
trs86
5/27/2010-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Sure you could trade off top talent all the time like Pitt. You could also do a lot of scouting outside the draft.
metro
5/27/2010-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
The Yankees have drafted their starting C, starting SS, starting LF and 2/5 of their starting rotation as well as their closer and setup man
The Red Sox have drafted their starting 2b, their starting LF, starting 1b, plus Lester, Papelbon, Buchholtz
The Rays…. the majority of their team is drafted/signed by them
Phillies- Rollins, Howard, Ruiz, Hamels, Utley all homegrown/home signed
metro
5/27/2010-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
Here are 23 pages discussing 2010 international signings… 0 have been signings by the Mets to this point (unless you include Igarashi/Takahashi)
http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30563
trs86
5/27/2010-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
OK and the Mets have Wright, Reyes, Pelfrey, Mejia, Davis, and gained Santana by trading top talent? They also have a buzz around their minors that has not been there in a while.
metro
5/27/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Who is saying the system sucks? The “joke” was made that fans will complain about the lack of spending and I countered with the truth being is a valid complaint. The Mets system even with Davis and Mejia was ranked between 16-24 on almost every “expert” site and nearly ALL of them (note not everyone has an ax to grind with the Mets) that the Mets lack of being willing to go over slot has hurt them. The last played they signed that they were willing to go well over slot… Jon Niese. Going over slot guarantees NOTHING but normally when a player has the ability to ask for more money their talent is more highly regarded. Talent guarantees nothing but bringing in more over slot guys is a nice way to bring in talent. The 2009 Mets draft looks like an EPIC disaster and the 2007 draft is being called “awful” this is no fluke.
metro
5/27/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
Toby Hyde’s review of the 2009 draft
http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/2010/05/19/the-mets-2009-draft/
ceetar
5/27/2010-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
Jon Niese just goes to show you taht the Mets _will_ go over slot if they’re serious about their evaluation of your talent.
metro
5/27/2010-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
Ceetar, Jon Niese was drafted in 2005. You really think he is the last player they thought was worth over slot money? 5 years and 4 drafts ago? Fred is very, very close friends with Bud Selig (he recommended Omar for the Expos job) it’s a HUGE reason why we adhere to slot. I don’t recall 1 time the Mets have REALLY gone over slot (they in an effort to give full disclosure there has long been a rumor we offered Justin Woodall 1 million 4 years ago)
Mr North Jersey
5/27/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
Metro I have to say you are definitely knowledgeable when it comes down to the Mets minors.
Just reading your comments here today has shown me that you really keep up with what’s going on.
You have made some very interesting points today.
metro
5/27/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Mr. North Jersey I appreciate the compliment and I apologize to others if I have come off as a “know it all”. The Mets minor leagues is the only thing that kept me sane through the early 90′s reading the back of the yearbook to see what up and coming players were on the way. The system is actually in solid shape (they MUST add some starting pitching this draft whether they take one at 7 or not) as the way I see it Mejia, Allen and Familia are probably the only 3 arms we have that have LEGIT shots at top 3 starters (obviously other guys will prove me wrong).
stickguy
5/27/2010-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
But, they were more mid-pack if you take out the 1st round picks, since they didn’t have one.
They also had fewer picks made than other teams, so the pverage per pick is also not last.
losing 2 single digit picks to college certainly didn’t help either.
but LAST is such a strong word, filled with emotion…
ceetar
5/27/2010-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve never seen anyone link me a player that conclusively didn’t sign with the Mets. So it’s not about spending. Did they actually target guys that would cost less, or did they just chose different players.
I’m not sure the Mets should throw more money at their draftees just because. If they get signed, that’s all that matters.
metro
5/27/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
They lost Buchanon because he wanted 600 K, they were offering 400, they called him the last day and said “ok 600″ and he said “no I’m headed to college”
trs86
5/27/2010-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Good for us and him.
ceetar
5/27/2010-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
yeah, sounds like that guy was going to college anyway. if those facts are even correct.
metro
5/27/2010-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry my numbers were off but my facts were correct. Not sure why youy had to question me “if those facts are even correct” I’m no liar
“In Buchanan’s case, the Mets knew before drafting him that the young man wanted a $200,000 signing bonus, not outrageous (albeit over slot). Yet by the time they bid $185,000 this past week, Buchanan already had moved into his residence at Georgia State, secured loans and grants and taken a team photo. At that point, he wasn’t going to accept an offer he probably would have taken in July.
In other words, the Mets’ own ineptitude — and nothing else — cost themselves another pitching prospect.”- Ken Davidoff
ceetar
5/27/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
I wasn’t questioning you, as you’re not the one that got those numbers. It was Davidoff i was questioning, and still do.
Do the Mets still control the guy, or does he reenter the draft now? It’s not like this Buchanan guy is Strasburg. It’s all a crapshoot, and the Mets can evaluate guys as worth it or not, without it being wrong.
They offered him nearly what he requested, and if he really was set on that course of action, he would’ve withdrawn from Georgia State and gone to the Mets. instead he’s decided to gamble that he’ll be worth more after a couple of years in college, and not completely worthless and not get drafted again.
Just because the Mets don’t throw a lot of money at every draft pick to made sure they go to the minors doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Also, just because there was no ‘reported’ offer between draft and when they made the 185k offer doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. Perfectly possible they were talking, and perfectly possible they decided he wasn’t worth it. Going to college was obviously part of the backup plan and the negotiating point. See if the Mets were bluffing with their interest, they weren’t, so now there’s a fair shot this guy never even sees the minor leagues.
Just throwing money at it is not a viable draft solution, and ‘junk change’ adds up when you throw it at guys that could very well have next to no chance of ever returning the investment.
metro
5/27/2010-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Buchanon claimed the Mets stopped calling him for weeks and he took that to mean they were done negotiating. We lost his rights as they have eliminated “sign and trade” and while Buchanan throws 94-96, he isn’t REALLY the issue. The issue is if your going to adhere to slots in most cases, you 100% MUST sign your high picks. If a kid tells a scout “It will take X to sign” then you have a pretty good idea if he will sign or not (also depending on what school he is committed to). You can’t take 2 players 5th and 6th round and let them go unsigned. It’s terrible scouting on what they will take to sign and that is lost talent. It doesn’t help that recent top picks (first 2 rounds and supplemental) include
Javier Rodriguez, Scott Moviel, Nathan Vineyard, Kunz etc
metro
5/27/2010-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, the average MLB spent 6 million on the 2009 draft, the Mets spend 3.1 million.
”With a brand-new ballpark and a television network, the Mets’ revenues are probably among the top five clubs in baseball,” said Jim Callis, the executive editor of Baseball America and an expert on player development. ”After spending about $6.5 million when they had extra picks last year, do I think they could have found the money this year? Yeah, I think they could have. It just comes down to the willingness to spend.”
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE1DA143FF933A15752C1A96F9C8B63
stickguy
5/27/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
it says right in that quote, “when they had extra picks last year”. so it makes sense that they spent more. And didn’t they have a 1st round pick too?
but again, other than the 2 guys in the middle of the 1st round that decided to go to college instead, where exactly where they supposed to spend the money? Pay more to the ones they signed?
If you have specific examples of studs they passed on because they didn’t want to pay them, please share, along with who finally signed them and for how much over slot.
trs86
5/27/2010-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. What I would like to know is how many players total, counting international players, did the Mets bring in last year and compare that to other teams.
metro
5/27/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
There is absolutely no way to compute that as teams have players on the shelf, in extended ST, in other countries leagues (Mexican league for one) but in terms of expenditure only Urbina cost more than 100K (the number in which they actually announce the signings). So signing a bunch of guys for 80K is something EVERY team does.
metro
5/27/2010-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
#1 Magnifico was seen as a major reach, they took him because they felt he would be cheaper to sign. Then he said he wanted 1 million to sign and they said no way. #2 Buchanon wanted to sign he asked for 200K (far from outrageous) but they waited until he moved into his dorm and secured loans to bump their offer to 185K meaning they let 15K get in the way of signing a top 6 round pick.
metro
5/27/2010-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
FACTS-
The Mets were the ONLY team without a first round pick who didn’t sign everyone in their top 10.
The Mets were the ONLY team with under 10 picks in the first 10 rounds who didn’t sign 2 of their players.
1/30 teams
trs86
5/27/2010-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
But again you can’t tell me if they used that else where signing guys for 99,000?
metro
5/27/2010-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
None of showed up on any 2010 rosters, mentioned by scouts or by baseball america or showed up in any transactions so while I can’t prove they don’t exist there is no reference to them anywhere.
metro
5/27/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
You can be sarcastic all you want but as I pointed out.. they were the ONLY team who had no first round pick who let 1 guy go unsigned, and they let 2 go unsigned.
trs86
5/27/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I am not being sarcastic. My point is how much was their budget for new players and how much of it did they spend TOTAL. That’s the bottom line.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
The way I read this is it took the Mets having extra picks for them to even spend barely above what the average team spends, which IMO does not suggest they are spending freely let alone spending on an average basis.
It makes me scratch my head that they even bothered to make those two 2009 top 10 picks that they then didn’t sign. The Mets signed the fewest top 10 picks of any MLB team last year, that’s sad especially considering their large market status to be blown away on the draft by Pittsburgh is just insulting.
ceetar
5/27/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
not really. it’s the same thing with Chapman really. Why throw away money, even if it’s junk change, on “will probably miss” prospects? It does all add up. The Mets can afford to focus on guys taht are out of college and closer, guys that are more of a sure thing and fit their needs, and then pay for what doesn’t pan out.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
29 teams make their best assessment based on a combination of talent and sign-ability and then make a pick, I don’t love the Mets so much that I think they can just say the hell with it and throw away picks.
If that is indeed their strategy I find it to be shortsighted. Homegrown talent purchased at this level if you do the proper scouting, evaluation and teaching is more cost effective than signing type A free agents, if they don’t see that they’re bigger fools than I ever imagined.
It’s bad enough if the large market Mets eschew alleged top talent by not picking it because they think it will be too expensive, but to compound that by picking allegedly cheaper players then still not signing them is just absurd.
ceetar
5/27/2010-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Do they eschew top talent? As metro pointed out above, they both signed and went above slot to get Niese.
A lot of this seems to be a disagreement over the specific guys the Mets pick, but that’s for them to say, not the so called ‘experts’. It’s all a crap shoot, and there is no saying the Mets system is better or worse than how anyone else evaluates guys. Just like the Mets look correct in their analysis of Bay as above average fielder even when others disagreed.
there are people/fans out there that say the Mets should’ve just thrown extra money at Lackey or Sheets or whoever. But that philosophy is the same as with the smaller higher risk prospect guys, spend the money wisely. It sucks when you don’t sign all your picks, but not every team signs all their picks and while i don’t have/see the numbers, I imagine the Mets are probably right around league average with it going back a couple of years.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t consider the example of one 7th round pick from 2005 to be enough for me to consider my understanding to be incorrect that they pass on consensus talent that is deemed too expensive by the commissioner’s voluntary standards.
If the Mets are going to make non-consensus picks at rounds 5 & 6 and go for players deemed to be less talented and thus less expensive by majority of evaluators that’s one thing, it’s their choice, their evaluators may see the talent differently and I can only accept their evaluation.
But to then not even sign those players, that I can’t accept, especially when it happened twice in last years draft. Once I could believe circumstances beyond their control led to the player and the organization going in a different direction, but twice in one draft on top of the team’s reputation for draft frugality (deserved or not) certainly makes me question their approach.
stickguy
5/27/2010-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
I think they should sign a pitcher, then immediately give him TJ surgery, to save time down the road.
njstuckintx
5/27/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Or just sign one related to ambrioux.
metsfan4decades
5/27/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
rustyjr
5/27/2010-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
They’re one step ahead of you – Matz is having tj surgery
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/27/2010-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
Pitchers seems to come back stronger with TJ surgery
metsfan4decades
5/27/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
I suck at remotely evaluating raw talent such as this. I usually read the posts on Amazin Ave who do a very good job at breaking down the talent for the drafts and who they would go after.
I’m with Grave on this. Mets are looking at a mid rotation starting pitcher who might be close to ML ready? Sounds as good as anyone, considering the depth for SP ML ready (and maybe close to Mejia aside) doesn’t look to excite.
asod75
5/27/2010-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
The guy I like is from a small school down here, Florida Gulf Coast University. He’s a 6-6 lefty named Chris Sale, although he might be gone by the time the Mets pick. Low to mid 90′s fastball with chance to improve as he continues to fill out (pretty skinny right now). Tough arm slot which makes the ball difficult to pick up. FGCU isn’t a well known school yet, but has already produced several draft picks over the last few years and is currently ranked nationally in the Top 30. Plus Sale has pitched against big boys like Clemson and dominated. Would love to see him slide to the Mets at 7. Also like (from what I’ve read) McGuire and Zack Cox. Not so sure on Brentz but it really is a crapshoot anyway.
metro
5/27/2010-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
I like Sale. Not high on Cox at all. He has below average power, speed and an average glove. So you are looking at a guy who will move to 2b and probably hit for a very high average but nothing else. His upside isn’t enough to take him 7th when we have Havens and Tejada.
stickguy
5/27/2010-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
after reading the iece on Deck over at MB today, he certainly sounds like a reasonable pick. Certainly more likely to give value than some HS kid with a big FB and lousy mechanics, that has been beaten like Jerry on Neive.
They said he had 4 solid pitches, and nice mechanics with a smooth, easy delivery. Combined with a big frame, probably the best odds you will get of a guy that can stay on the field. Also said he potentially cold reach #2 status.
Might not be the next lincecum, but certainly worth something valuable to a team.
Not sure what kind of RP he will make, but if the Mets take him, we will know soon enough.
Although it does sonund like he could easily be fast tracked, as in practically being ready now.
And if they go with a bat, hopefully it is one with a lot of per potentail, but also plus defense. no more “hide the glove” projects in the NL please.
stickguy
5/27/2010-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, and why haven’t they signed Maya yet? Time’s a wasting.
ceetar
5/27/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I doubt it’s that easy. You’ll notice no one else has signed him either.
metro
5/27/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Bidding war. 8 teams are interested including the Sox, Yankees, Mets and the wildcard White Sox (who always land the Cubans)
metro
5/27/2010-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
Alfonzo apparently wants to make a comeback
http://www.impre.com/laopinion/deportes/beisbol/2010/5/24/alfonzo-no-descarta-volver-a-l-190330-1.html
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
I wanted the Mets to sign him in spring training, then have him retire as a Met without really even trying to actually make the team. One of those ceremonial things. But he seems so dead set on playing that it wasn’t going to happen. He’s failed to make MLB teams for a couple years now, unless I’m missing something I think his pride is getting in the way of his realizing his playing days are over. When he does finally realize it I’ll welcome him to the organization in a scouting or coaching capacity.
metro
5/27/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
We have had his brother working for us for a good while now and we used to have his nephew in our system so I agree I wish he would come back in a coaching capacity. We may still have his nephew but he hasn’t pitched this year.
metro
5/27/2010-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
We had a discussion on another site about how many people wish the Mets would bring back more of the 90′s Mets. The 86-88 Mets are well represented but from 90 on we don’t see much representation or even mention. I’d love to see some of those guys come back.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
I have nothing to substantiate this at all but I do wonder if perhaps that era’s players being part of the Steve Phillips/Bobby Valentine era may be considered a strike against them by the current administration. I sure hope not.
stickguy
5/27/2010-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
It still isn’t fair to call the Mets ‘cheap” just because they spent less on the draft, or because they don’t constantly go “over slot” (doesn’t that in some ways make them noble, trying to abide by the rules? Yes, I was kidding here).
you have to look at the total spent on players. And in that context, the Mets obviously spend way more than the pirates, Rays, etc. Probably more than every team other than the Red Sox and Yankees.
So, right or wrong (personal opinion, I think I know what Metro’s is), maybe they just decide to allocate their payroll/talent dollars DIFFERENTLY then some other teams.
And the Pirates know they have zippo chance (or logical need) to sign expensive FAs, so they almost have to spend more on the draft and IFAs, etc., just to get the money spent.
SO, if the Met’s decided they had 150mm to spend last year, and spent 147 on the payroll and 3 on the draft, then that is their perogative. The only thing you can judge by is the end results.
ANd don’t forget, damn near everyone was SCREAMING that they had to Win Now! or else. And which is more likely to help that cause, overpaying a 17 YO to skip college, or signing a big bucks FA?
So, while it would be wonderful to do both, maybe the budget did not support it. So, will the die hards sign off on a rebuilding plan? If given the choice to pay extra for Buchanon and the other guy but not get Bay, which option do they choose (I know that was an exaggeration on the $$, but the concept is there).
The Mets pay what they think guys are worth. Right or wrong, it is their method.
oleosmirf
5/27/2010-4:11pm at 4:11 pm (UTC -4)
its not the star players that hurt us, its paying for mediocre/bad players like Castillo and Perez that do the most harm.
It keeps players in the lineup that arent playing well enough to be there only b/c of how much money they make and management’s desire to get return from their investments…
stickguy
5/27/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
also, it seems like “over slot” gets thrown around an awful lot without much substance behind it. I know the Mets did do it for at least one guy (maybe the 7th pick?) but it was not an outrageous amount.
But, who are the players, and which are the teams, that are getting these fabulous deals by opening up the checkbook? It seesm that 27 teams are in a over slot free-for -all. How the hell many studs can be falling for all these teams to get them?
The Mets picked in the 2nd round. Was there a top 5 talent that every single other team passed on (some 2 or 3 times) that the Mets could have grabbed in the 2nd round, but were too cheap to get (although that would make the other teams just as cheap, a conundrum).
Especially when you read the evaluations about drafts dropping off quick after the top X players, once you are into the 3rd round, there is a whole lot of sameness going around. Maybe the Mets just like different guys? Maybe their talent evaluation sucks? Maybe they are just trying to maximize their budget?
metro
5/27/2010-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
I am in no way calling a franchise that has spend nearly 1 billion since 2002 “cheap” I’m stating fans saying “I wish they would spend more on the draft” are not being ridiculous in the least.
ceetar
5/27/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
Part of my issue is that I don’t buy into “This guy should be drafted at this level, and is this talented.” I don’t buy into it for Fantasy drafts either. (What? You drafted Victor Martinez in the second round not the third? How stupid!)
So I’m willing to give the Mets the benefit of the doubt of actually ahving scouts and analysts in-house that know better than the so-called experts. Because I don’t trust so-called experts. I didn’t trust ‘em when they said the Mets would finish 3rd or 4th this season either.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. I cannot dispute the possibility as TRS brought up above that the Mets might simply be funneling the money many believe they “should” be spending on the draft to other useful places in the organization, they very well may be whether that is to international players or to new coffee makers for their offices.
But it is fairly indisputable that the Mets spend less on the draft compared to a majority of other MLB teams (as I’ve read previously but cannot immediately locate now) and when you add on top of that that they make picks, then don’t sign them, that exacerbates their reputation that they utilize the draft poorly as part of their overall player development scheme.
GravediggerHebner
5/27/2010-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
I forgot to add that I do have an open mind to the idea that under Terry Collins things may be undertaken differently than they were under Tony Bernazard and that is a large reason for my interest in this upcoming draft.
oleosmirf
5/27/2010-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
everyone knows the Wilpons are looking to save money and signing a draft pick doesnt directly lead to more revenues. The Wilpons would rather overpay for a big name player to get more fans in the seats, than build a strong farm system.
The Mets have a very strong international base in the DR and Venezuela (which makes sense given Minaya’s Latin ties.) They choose to allocate their money to their costs in Latin America rather than paying guys extra in the draft.
Now I think they should spend more on both, but the Wilpons dont have the financial flexibility/will power to do so
njstuckintx
5/27/2010-5:16pm at 5:16 pm (UTC -4)
We are going to debate and debate on all this stuff, but it’s so hard to get excited for who is drafted when you have a billy beane type drafted so high and a Piazza drafted so low and we all know how that played out over their careers.
oleosmirf
5/27/2010-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
i dont have any statistical evidence to prove this but it seems like position players tend to be more successful then pitchers when it comes to the first round.