No, I have not seen Fernando Martinez play...ever. But just looking at his numbers, I am not too convinced this guy is everything he is cracked up to be.
F-Mart is supposedly the Mets blue chip prospect, the best we have, the savior of the farm system. Why? Let's take a look at his statistics through his first three seasons in the minor leagues. Granted, he is only 19 years old and still growing and maturing, but it just doesn't seem he's as groomed as Nick Evans or Daniel Murphy seem to be.
His first season, split between one game at the Rookie level, A, and A+ ball, at the young age of 17, he hit .279/.336/.457/.793 (AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS). He hit 10 home runs, drove in 39 runs, and scored 43 times in 76 games. He walked 21 times while striking out in 61 AB's.
Nothing really special there. He played decent in the field, only committing two errors. Again, he was only 17 years old this season.
Moving on to his second season in the minor leagues, where he saw three games at Rookie ball and 60 games in AA Binghamton. Last season he hit .265/.331/.376/.707 while hitting only four home runs. In the 63 combined games, Martinez only drove in 22 runs, while scoring 33 times.
In the field, he committed six errors for a fielding percentage of .975. Not a great season at all. Still, only 18 and seeing a higher level of competition in AA.
Onto this season, where he is 19 years old. Again, Martinez seen time at the Rookie level, playing four games, but he is mainly playing in AA where he has appeared in 61 games. He tore up Rookie ball while he was there, to the tune of .429/.467/.643/1.110 in those four games.
Back at AA, Martinez is hitting .292/.332/.420/.752. Martinez has hit five dingers, driven in 25, and scored 37 times. He has walked only 14 times while striking out in 56 at bats. He's committed two errors in the field this season, both at the Rookie level. At AA, he's sporting a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Let's run under the assumption that an average player should hit .275/.330/.410/.750 or so. In his career, only 204 games due to injuries, F-Mart is hitting .282/.336/.420/.761. He's hit only 19 home runs in his career. He's hit 42 doubles and 10 triples in his short career.
That's not too pretty. That's slightly above average.
Maybe I am missing something on the F-Mart parade. If someone can fill me in on why this kid is supposed to be so good, I'd love to know.
8/4/08
Why is Ryan Church with the team?
I understand that Ryan Church wants to be with his teammates, with his friends, as they move through the season. But Church is still coming back from migraines and a concussion.
He's taking unnecessary plane flights around the country and the Mets don't seem ready to have him start his rehab assignment any time soon. He's been diagnosed with migraines and cleared to start playing baseball again, but so far he's only taken batting practice and done some throwing.
Two scenarios could be in place here: In one, the Mets are feeding the media bad information on Church, who might not actually be ready to play. Could be just a ploy to keep fans waiting and not screaming for a trade or promotion in his absence. The other could be that they just don't want anything to backfire and they're taking this time around extra careful.
For the sake of the organization, I hope it's the latter, but every time he travels with the team and isn't heading to Port St. Lucie to work out and rehab, I get a little bit more suspicious.
Church was supposed to stay in Florida after the Marlins series, go to the Mets facilities and begin working out on his path back to the Mets. Those plans were scrapped and he traveled to Houston with the team.
After Houston, I figured he would go back to Florida and start. Now Church is coming all the way back to New York. Why? I don't know.
The Mets need Church to get right, and if they keep dragging him all across the country and blocking him from starting his rehab assignment, I don't know what they're thinking.
He's taking unnecessary plane flights around the country and the Mets don't seem ready to have him start his rehab assignment any time soon. He's been diagnosed with migraines and cleared to start playing baseball again, but so far he's only taken batting practice and done some throwing.
Two scenarios could be in place here: In one, the Mets are feeding the media bad information on Church, who might not actually be ready to play. Could be just a ploy to keep fans waiting and not screaming for a trade or promotion in his absence. The other could be that they just don't want anything to backfire and they're taking this time around extra careful.
For the sake of the organization, I hope it's the latter, but every time he travels with the team and isn't heading to Port St. Lucie to work out and rehab, I get a little bit more suspicious.
Church was supposed to stay in Florida after the Marlins series, go to the Mets facilities and begin working out on his path back to the Mets. Those plans were scrapped and he traveled to Houston with the team.
After Houston, I figured he would go back to Florida and start. Now Church is coming all the way back to New York. Why? I don't know.
The Mets need Church to get right, and if they keep dragging him all across the country and blocking him from starting his rehab assignment, I don't know what they're thinking.
Early Morning Madness: Lifeless edition
Flat. Dead fish. No oomph. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
This team looks dead. It has no spark, no fight. What we saw nearly three weeks ago, the 10 game winning streak, feels like it happened months ago. Such an abrupt fall from grace. After battling back strong, getting within a few games and finally taking over sole possession of first place, the Mets have fallen back to reality, hard.
A 1-5 road trip, one marked by bullpen disaster after bullpen disaster, was not easy to swallow. Almost every game, it seemed the Mets had a chance. Even Sunday's game, where they had men on base and threatening nearly every inning, but failed to push across any runs.
This team needs a spark. Maybe the youth infusion could do it. I'd love to see Jerry Manuel pull out all the stops and stock the lineup full of these young guns. Throw Nick Evans in left, Daniel Murphy at first. Argenis Reyes can man second base. Eddie Kunz can close. While we're at it...have Jon Niese start and Fernando Martinez in right (or left, and move Evans. It doesn't matter).
I like the way the team is moving. Instead of promoting the old guys hanging around at AAA, it's moving towards getting younger and healthier. There will be a bit of a learning curve, there is no doubt about that. But these kid are young and fresh and ready to go. If they're chomping at the bit, let them run.
This team looks dead. It has no spark, no fight. What we saw nearly three weeks ago, the 10 game winning streak, feels like it happened months ago. Such an abrupt fall from grace. After battling back strong, getting within a few games and finally taking over sole possession of first place, the Mets have fallen back to reality, hard.
A 1-5 road trip, one marked by bullpen disaster after bullpen disaster, was not easy to swallow. Almost every game, it seemed the Mets had a chance. Even Sunday's game, where they had men on base and threatening nearly every inning, but failed to push across any runs.
This team needs a spark. Maybe the youth infusion could do it. I'd love to see Jerry Manuel pull out all the stops and stock the lineup full of these young guns. Throw Nick Evans in left, Daniel Murphy at first. Argenis Reyes can man second base. Eddie Kunz can close. While we're at it...have Jon Niese start and Fernando Martinez in right (or left, and move Evans. It doesn't matter).
I like the way the team is moving. Instead of promoting the old guys hanging around at AAA, it's moving towards getting younger and healthier. There will be a bit of a learning curve, there is no doubt about that. But these kid are young and fresh and ready to go. If they're chomping at the bit, let them run.
8/3/08
TSTDIA: Astros 4 -- Mets 0
More offensive wasted opportunities. Another loss. A sweep at the hands of the Astros. A 1-5 road trip. Mets could be three games out of first by the end of tonight.
What else is there to say?
What else is there to say?
Not good news: John Maine to DL, Billy Wagner injured
Doom and gloom from Adam Rubin:
The Mets need a run of a few wins here before things get worse.
Rubin also notes that Eddie Kunz could close today if needed.
John Maine is going to the DL. Jerry Manuel said he didn’t have a setback, but could use more time. The Mets needed an extra bullpen arm anyway because Billy Wagner is injured and unavailable. Wagner has a stiff forearm and will be examined in New York.Looks like the wheels are coming off this season in a hurry. Injuries are starting to pile up and the offense has started to look flat.
The Mets need a run of a few wins here before things get worse.
Rubin also notes that Eddie Kunz could close today if needed.
Movin' on up: Eddie Kunz called up to the bigs
The youth movement continues.
Binghamton closer Eddie Kunz was promoted to the Mets. Kunz is 1-4 with a 2.79 ERA, tallying 27 saves for the B-Mets.
I called it. Well, so did a lot of people. Will update when we know who is getting demoted or heading to the DL to make room.
Update: John Maine is heading the DL. Kunz will take his spot.
Binghamton closer Eddie Kunz was promoted to the Mets. Kunz is 1-4 with a 2.79 ERA, tallying 27 saves for the B-Mets.
I called it. Well, so did a lot of people. Will update when we know who is getting demoted or heading to the DL to make room.
Update: John Maine is heading the DL. Kunz will take his spot.
The Mets need to call up Eddie Kunz
If the Mets were unsure whether or not to call up AA pitching prospect Eddie Kunz before last night's game, they must know what they have to do now.
Short of the bullpen staff making a sign that read "Omar, promote Kunz now! (Hi Mom!)," they could not send a clearer sign to the front office that they need help. They need reinforcements, and they need them now.
I think it's time for the Mets to wise up and send Duaner Sanchez to the DL. His velocity seems to be dropping with every appearance. The newest Met, Daniel Murphy, saved his butt with a beautiful jumping grab at the wall and eventual double play, or the game might not have gotten to Billy Wagner (not that it mattered, because Wagner blew the save anyway).
Sanchez, who spent a year and a half out of baseball rehabbing his injured shoulder, seems to have hit a wall. It makes sense, as he hasn't thrown this much in two years and his stamina just isn't there. It works on the same reasoning that the Mets don't want Mike Pelfrey to top 180 innings.
Pelfrey's arm is young and fresh, but it's not used to throwing this much. Same thing with Sanchez. The promotion of Kunz would give Sanchez precious time off to both rest his arm and strengthen it.
Both games in Houston have seen a bullpen implosion, costing the Mets the game. A move needs to be made, and promoting internally is the only way to do it. The bullpen market is slim and the player would have to pass through waivers as it is.
Promote Kunz now.
Short of the bullpen staff making a sign that read "Omar, promote Kunz now! (Hi Mom!)," they could not send a clearer sign to the front office that they need help. They need reinforcements, and they need them now.
I think it's time for the Mets to wise up and send Duaner Sanchez to the DL. His velocity seems to be dropping with every appearance. The newest Met, Daniel Murphy, saved his butt with a beautiful jumping grab at the wall and eventual double play, or the game might not have gotten to Billy Wagner (not that it mattered, because Wagner blew the save anyway).
Sanchez, who spent a year and a half out of baseball rehabbing his injured shoulder, seems to have hit a wall. It makes sense, as he hasn't thrown this much in two years and his stamina just isn't there. It works on the same reasoning that the Mets don't want Mike Pelfrey to top 180 innings.
Pelfrey's arm is young and fresh, but it's not used to throwing this much. Same thing with Sanchez. The promotion of Kunz would give Sanchez precious time off to both rest his arm and strengthen it.
Both games in Houston have seen a bullpen implosion, costing the Mets the game. A move needs to be made, and promoting internally is the only way to do it. The bullpen market is slim and the player would have to pass through waivers as it is.
Promote Kunz now.
8/2/08
TSTDIA: Astros 5 -- Mets 4
All you need to know is that Johan Santana pitched great and the bullpen absolutely imploded again.
I really feel bad for Johan. This must be his 243904809 no decision this season (a rough estimate).
And the Mets move back to third place.
I really feel bad for Johan. This must be his 243904809 no decision this season (a rough estimate).
And the Mets move back to third place.
Daniel Murphy's first game
Let's see how Daniel Murphy fares in his first major league game. It seemed to work for Nick Evans.
First AB: Singles through the hole between first and second. A seeing eye single. Murphy isn't on the basepath long, as Damion Easley rockets a two run home run to deep left field. 2-0 Mets.
Second AB: A 10-pitch AB results is a backwards K for Murphy. The 1.000 batting average is no more. It now stands at a measly .500.
Third AB: Murphy likes to make pitchers work. After an 8 pitch AB, Murphy grounds out to third base.
Murphy just made an absolutely gorgeous play in left field in the bottom of the seventh inning. He had to go back to the big wall in left field, jumped against the wall, and made a gorgeous catch. He then had the presence of mind to throw a beauty into second base to double off the runner, end the threat, and get out of the inning. Wow.
Fourth AB: Ground out to third again. 1-4 on the day.
First AB: Singles through the hole between first and second. A seeing eye single. Murphy isn't on the basepath long, as Damion Easley rockets a two run home run to deep left field. 2-0 Mets.
Second AB: A 10-pitch AB results is a backwards K for Murphy. The 1.000 batting average is no more. It now stands at a measly .500.
Third AB: Murphy likes to make pitchers work. After an 8 pitch AB, Murphy grounds out to third base.
Murphy just made an absolutely gorgeous play in left field in the bottom of the seventh inning. He had to go back to the big wall in left field, jumped against the wall, and made a gorgeous catch. He then had the presence of mind to throw a beauty into second base to double off the runner, end the threat, and get out of the inning. Wow.
Fourth AB: Ground out to third again. 1-4 on the day.
You can call me "Daniel"
According to Keith Hernandez, the newest Met, Daniel Murphy, perfers the longer name over his nickname.
It's Daniel over Dan, for future reference.
It's Daniel over Dan, for future reference.
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