I had thought and asked Toby Hyde, who produces the excellent Mets Minor League Blog I asked whether or not it would be fair to say the Mets had little power through its organization. Here are Toby’s comments to my inquiry:
Yes. That’s fair. The Mets don’t have a lot of power as an organization. However, and it’s a big however, true plus MLB power is very rare and special. Moreover, in-game power is typically the last skill to develop in young ballplayers. Here are the guys with power (or projected power) in the top four levels of the Mets system:
AAA: 1B/LF Nick Evans: near MLB average pop, but doesn’t do anything else all that well
AA: 1B Ike Davis – The Mets drafted him 18th overall because they liked his power and he’s leading the organization in HR after a homerless professional debut in 2008. Almost all of his power is pullside. One of the Mets best prospects.
Lucas Duda – a big guy with plus raw power, he can get into one in BP, but hadn’t shown much ability to drive a ball in games until he hit four bombs in July. Has he turned a corner? Neither Duda nor Davis has learned to hit lefties yet.
A+: 1B Stefan Welch still has a projectable frame. 3B Zach Lutz and SS Reese Havens have fringy average MLB power
A: Sean Ratliff has MLB pop right now, but other enormous holes in his swing. SS Wilmer Flores hasn’t shown much power this year, but the Mets hope that as he grows into his body, he’ll start driving the ball, so his power is projection at this point.
When in the minors, I remember going to certain other camps – like the Reds – and noticed they always had big players. Here is why Toby’s use of the term , “projectable frame” is somewhat telling in terms of talent assessments. Perhaps the Mets need to look at drafted more players with these “projectable frames”.
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This post was written by bobsikes on August 4, 2009
I stop by every few days and read your stuff, and was floored by the amt of Met content suddenly. I like it, but I also stop by to read your political commentary as well. Some I agree with and some I do not, but I find it always well reasoned and earnest. Those who drifted away are the worse for doing so. Keep up the good work and enjoy the remnants of the summer. I too teach/coach and have little time left
Thanks, Luis. I know you’ve read my blog for some time and I’m thrilled to know another teacher/coach reads my blog. Two-a-days start Monday. A life of leisure is over