We will be featuring a few new candidates for authors in the coming week. We want your opinions. While many authors have applied only a few will make this cut and then you the reader will have a chance to voice your opinion. Just like the GM search except you get to be part of the process.
First candidate:
Candidate 1 applying for Mets minor league guru.
The New York Mets minor league system has recently become a reason for disappointed fans to look ahead to a brighter day that includes the next Chase Utley, Tim Lincecum or Ubaldo Jimenez. It represents youth as well as the promise of knowing that the next big thing in baseball could be an 18 year old pitching in Binghamton. The problem is when the hype machine grabs on to a young prospect and makes them out to be a guaranteed star on the pro level. The phrase “Can’t miss prospect” has become more and more prevalent in today’s game and more times than not these prospects come up to the big stage too early and become overwhelmed and lose all confidence. Every year it seems like the Mets have a young player who is thought to be a future cornerstone of the Mets organization. From Jay Payton to Alex Escobar to Aaron Heilman to Lastings Milledge these players have come up and been nothing short of a let down. Of course, players such as David Wright, Jose Reyes, and (for now) Ike Davis and Mike Pelfrey help to restore some respect to the farm system but as a loyal Mets fan it has become harder and harder to trust the organization when it comes to player evaluation and development. On a side note, it would help to not have retired Mets players compare a player like Daniel Murphy to Pete Rose and a pitcher like Jenrry Mejia to Mariano Rivera; these comments help to fuel the hype machine.
When looking at today’s Mets farm system there are a few bright spots including Mejia, current shortstop Wilmer Flores and the still surprisingly young outfielder Fernando Martinez. Do not be fooled by the final month of the 2010 season though, most of the big league roster is spoken for in 2011. Only second base and catcher may be open for competition and perhaps one or two spots in the rotation pending the injury to ace Johan Santana. Of course the new General Manager will have a lot of decisions to make regarding the organization and many of these prospects may find themselves as part of a package to either shed salary or bring in a starting pitcher. If they do remain within the organization it may be a good thing that the big league roster is set for the foreseeable future. Letting youngsters like Reese Havens, Matt Harvey, Steve Matz, Wilmer Flores and Fernando Martinez develop in the minors without a ticking clock may be the only way to allow them to reach their full potential. Like any die hard Mets fan I too get excited when hearing the terms “five-tool player” and “can’t miss prospect” but scouts have been wrong before and will be wrong again.
The most important idea is stock piling talent and assets so that maybe one of every four or five prospects can be every day players on the pro level. That is what good teams like the Phillies do. They collect talent so that they can plug them in the lineup when need be, but also include them in trades that bring back essential players. Instead of just competing with teams, maybe we can learn a thing or two from them as well.
11 comments
njstuckintx
10/22/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
A few things. I’d leave their names out. No sense in flaming out someone, especially if they are a normal poster. Leaves for uncomfortable situations.
As for the post, other than my nit-picky-ness on grammar (like the cowbell, more comma’s please!), It was alright. Didn’t shed any more light on what we already know, really. For a Minor League writer, I’d like to see more about the struggles/advances/progressions of the kids as well as strengths/weaknesses, etc. I understand it’s the first run for this, so doing an overview is ok. Still, need some more meat on them bones for my liking.
Thanks for contributing. I mean that. Takes some cajones to put one’s self out like that.
TRS86
10/22/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, you may be right about not including the name. It did not really occur to me. I took care of it.
metsfan4decades
10/22/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
I too give all these candidates a lot of credit – on the whole.
As you guys know, I’ve been posting here from the beginning and time constraints aside, I know I don’t have what it takes to be an author.
I know we’re looking for a sabermetrics expert and a minor league guru. Both would be great additions as it makes TRDMB more of a one stop shopping kind of site.
I like the opinion pieces too though. This one is a good overall post on the Mets minor league, prospects and what we have to look forward to – or not.
Five points off though for the mention of ‘good team like the Phillies’.
I kid, I kid…..maybe.
I would like to see some stats broken down though on a regular basis for players we have down there. More so ’cause I’m I’d be too lazy to go look them up elsewhere….LOL.
Seriously though, is it that we rush prospects through the system or up here too soon? Or is it really that some of these hyped prospects were never really that great to begin with? That’s where the stats would come in to tell the story.
njstuckintx
10/22/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
You could turn this into a reality series… The next TRDMB Author. You know you hit the big time when you start mimicking reality TV.
Prismo
10/22/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
I don’t feel comfortable critiquing someone’s piece in a public forum, but I’ll email you my thoughts TRS.
oleosmirf
10/22/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
i’m really hoping Satin can play well enough to get the spot at some point next season. Tejada has a very weak bat and Murphy has been out for a year and I can’t imagine him being able to play 2B .
TRS86
10/22/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
Murphy being out for a year does not bother me. It’s just is he mobile enough to play an acceptable 2B. Hopefully we shall find out.
stickguy
10/22/2010-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
I want havens to find the magic method of rehab (Yoga baby!) come into camp 100%. I honestly think that, given the rest of the 2B scrum competition for ST, he could win the job.
Utley lite, baby!
njstuckintx
10/22/2010-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Go Big Murph!
stickguy
10/22/2010-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
I am all for giving the guy a real shot at it. I hope he is able to go out and get some serious 2B PT in winter ball.
If nothing else based on his history, he is going to work like a dog at it.
He may not be the prettiest or flashiest guy out there, but it is conceivable he can be functinal enough (in a Kent sort of way maybe) to get the job done.
and best of all, if he handles the job and hits in the upper echelon of 2Bs, the idiot over at FWICG that seems to have made it his life’s work to bash Murphy will have people ragging all over him!
njstuckintx
10/22/2010-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
As I’ve said before, I look through Murphy Tinged Glasses, but for what you say above is a possibility. I don’t care how pretty he looks, but if he’s serviceable in the field and he hits at a .280 clip with 20 HRs with 80 rib-eyes, sign me up.
If he falls on his face, I’ll shed a tear and then move on.