2009/2010 Mets. The Jerry is gone version!

Stud is an understatement. Parnell is looking more and more like a lockdown set up guy for Frankie. Kid has a blazing heater and a good slider. If he develops a change some poor schmuck is going to dislocate their shoulder thinking its a fastball.

 

Mets took a high school player with their 1st pick (72nd overall) for the first time since Lastings Milledge in I believe 01 or 02. Lefty pitcher, Steven Matz....a few scouting reports I found:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuoPomNeJEc&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Matz, Steve LHP Ward Melville HS[/ame]

SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Matz missed part of his junior season with some elbow soreness, and also was burdened with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder last summer and a broke a knuckle on his pitching hand in November. But he has been moving quickly up prospect charts, and seems to have established himself as the No. 1 high-school pitching prospect in New York-if not the entire northeast. Scouts have quickly come to realize that there are few young pitchers in the 2009 class that throw as easily as Matz does. "Effortless" is usually a word that works its way into any report or conversation on Matz's long, loose arm action and delivery. He currently throws his fastball at 88-92 mph, but it's very easy to project him adding more velocity as he gets older. Matz's build, which features long legs and a high, athletic core, point to more growth potential as well, which should equal more velocity. He came out of the gates this spring touching 92 mph, with good tailing life on his fastball. Matz also has three other pitches of note, including a low three-quarters sweeping slider he learned in the off-season working with former major-league lefthander Neal Heaton. His curveball is his more established breaking pitch. He gets good spin that results in a two-plane break, but he may need to throw it harder at the next level in order for it to be effective. He also throws a mid-70s changeup. As usual, Matz' fate with the draft may be linked to the late winter weather in the Northeast, but he will be on scouts' short list of players in that region to see early.-DAVID RAWNSLEY

UPDATE (5/15): As predicted, Matz clearly established himself this spring as the top high-school pitcher in the northeast. As he continued to throw harder with almost every outing, reaching 94 mph at times, his stock for the draft continued to climb to a point several clubs were looking at him seriously in the second round, perhaps higher. He dominated his competition, going 6-1, 0.47 with 81 strikeouts in 44 innings, while allowing just 26 base runners (11 H, 15 BB). Matz' obvious strengths were his live, lean body and above-average velocity from the left side, but his ability to throw his curve and change, and new-found slider for strikes was prominent in his climb up draft boards. He has a few mechanical issues that need to be refined and his durability will be questioned, but his positives far outweigh any perceived negatives.-AS

 

Robbie Shields (2B/ss/3B) was our 3rd round pick:

SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Shields played in just 12 games in the Cape Cod League last summer, but it was readily apparent that he measured up with any shortstop in the league-even No. 1 prospect Grant Green. Green was the more athletic of the two and his tools were more obvious, but Shields may have been Green's equal as a player. He was the glue to the Cotuit roster, and the Kettleers struggled when Shields was lost for the season after he broke a bone at the top of his wrist on a head-first slide. He was hitting .349-2-11 with six extra-base hits at the time, and had not committed an error at shortstop. Shields displayed solid, all-around tools-at the plate, in the field and on the bases. He has good bat speed and deceptive power for a middle infielder, and can drive balls to all fields. His defensive actions are just average by shortstop standards, but more than adequate if a move to second or third might be in the works. His arm is strong and accurate, and definitely plays on the left side of the infield. He gets particularly good backspin on his throws, resulting in good carry. Though his speed (6.75 in the 60) is slightly above-average, he knows how to use it to advantage on the bases, though will not be a base stealer of any significance. Shields' makeup is one of his strong points and it was not lost on scouts that he remained with Cotuit the balance of the summer-working camps, taking ground balls, cheering on his teammates-rather than return home. Shields showed no hesitancy playing on a big stage last summer, but his limited time on the Cape and the Division II competition he plays against during the school year may prompt scouts to put him under a little closer scrutiny this spring. He hit .348-9-36, stole six bases in nine attempts and committed 18 errors as a sophomore at Florida Southern. Scouts say if it all comes together for Shields, he could be a player in the mould of big leaguer Aaron Hill, a former first-rounder.-ALLAN SIMPSON

UPDATE (5/15): The Aaron Hill comparisons are still valid, though Shields is more likely a second- or third-round pick after an indifferent spring. He hit .345-5-37, similar to what he did as a sophomore but short of what scouts were expecting. He played a good shortstop, but it was apparent that he lacked the quick feet for the position. If anything, he showed he has the first step needed to become a very good third baseman. At the plate, Shields handled the outer-half well, but scouts had concerns over how he'll handle inside pitches with wood. If it all turns out well for him, Shields could become a solid all-around third baseman in the big leagues.-ANUP SINHA

 

watching this game made me want to gouge out my eyes. 6th time this year we lost a game while leading by at least 3 runs. Philly's only 2 wins vs us this year have been blown leads.

 

Feels like groundhog day. Another loss, another blown lead.

Dear Mets,
Take the damn bat off your shoulders with RISP. Also please stop playing Fernando Tatis. Dude is like 1/30 with RISP. At this point Id rather have Johan batting.

Thanks,
MGMT

 

Just pray that Klapisch is right for once. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9670142/Valentine-reunion-with-Mets-isn't-far-fetched

I miss Bobby V. He did over-manage once in a while but in game this guy was brilliant. Anyone who can get to the WS with quite possibly the worst outfield of all time has to be. People forget 1/2 of that Mets team was out of the league within 3 years.

 

I LOVE that Wright is using that right-centerfield gap again these last few weeks. Thats why he's hitting 350+. He doesnt need to be hitting 35 hrs to be effective....just keep driving the ball to the opposite field and the rbi's will happen.

 

Take him back please. We'll pay you to do it

 

Yea he does. Solid outing today in his 13th game.

Finally a big game from king fernando, his 1st 3 hit game.

And I don't care what anyone says santos >>>> Schneider.

 

Johan's worst outing as a met....I guess he's human after all. Whole team just laid an egg today.

By the way, who is Brian Bruney again and why is he even talking about k-rod? If he doesn't like the way k rod pitches that's his problem, no one elses.

 

I totally agree. Players are entertainers and Im watching or attending to be entertained. Plus I love the emotion sports brings out of you if you really care about it. Its nice to see players that really care about the game. If the other team doesnt like it, do something about it.