Every fan knows what a grinder is. It’s a player that doesn’t necessarily have all the skills to excel at their position, but with extreme heart, will, and #want, they somehow win the hearts of the fans for walking off the field with a dirty uniform. Whether the player performs well or not, fans always seem to have a special place inside their hearts, despite the ups and downs. For myself, it’s Endy Chavez, the grind-dela-grinder. I wonder why the New York Mets will not bring him back on a minor-league contract. The Mets always have a few grinders, this years being Collin Cowgill, with lasts Kirk Nieuwenhuis, etc…

This new series is called Grinders, where I dig within the farm systems of each team to find the next fan-favorite. The players that won’t always have a guarantee at starting the next day, but every time they come up to the plate, your heart flourishes with what they can do with their hustle. Without further ado  let’s start with the National League East.

National League East Projected Standings:

1. Washington Nationals

Jeff Kobernus

Grinder: Jeff Kobernus, OF/2B

– If the Detroit Tigers didn’t return Rule-5 pick Jeff Kobernus this week, I would have selected outfielder Eury Perez. Like Perez, Kobernus’ best asset is his speed. Without his speed, Kobernus doesn’t really do anything else that makes him standout. He showed a lot of promise early in his career, but had a down year last year. 2012 saw Kobernus power disappear, which prompted the Nationals to not place him on their 40-man roster. Being that he isn’t on the 40-man, perhaps Eury Perez would be a better selection, but a crowded outfield will halt that. But if Danny Espinosa struggles, Kobernus is close by in Tripe-A Syracuse. Even if Espinosa doesn’t struggle, Kobernus’ speed alone makes him a candidate for a post-season roster spot, as he can change the game with his wheels.

2. Atalanta Braves

Grinder: Todd Cunningham, OF/3B

– Cunningham is one of my favorite prospects in all of baseball. He’s never going to be a Top-100 prospect, nor is he likely to crack deep farm systems top 10s, but that doesn’t mean he’ll never see time in the Majors. His ability to play multiple positions is attractive. Combine that with speed, good plate discipline, you may have yourself a Chris Coghlan-lite from 2009. I was rooting hard for Cunningham to make the Braves roster but the acquisition of Justin Upton squashed those hopes. He’s a player that you’ll see at the end of the season. His versatility will makes him very attractive.

3.Philadelphia Phillies

Grinder: Tyson Gillies, OF

– He’s had his off-field trouble and his on-field trouble (see: WBC brawl), and the clock is starting to tick on Tyson Gillies. Actually, the clock has been ticking and I don’t see him doing much at the major league level. Since posting a ridiculous performance at High-A High Desert, Gillies has failed to remain healthy since being acquired in the Cliff Lee trade. He’s played a total of 129 games since 2010, but he could be a useful 4th outfielder.

4. New York Mets

Grinder: Matt den Dekker, OF / Danny Muno, 2B

– I wrote about den Dekker at Mets Today, using sabermetrics to show how poor his plate discipline is. He’s a gold-glove center fielder waiting to happen. The problem is: he strikes out a lot, doesn’t have great bat speed, and is starting the season on the disabled list. However he brings a lot of excitement, potential power, and speed! He’s not on the 40-man roster, which is why the Mets were hesitant to start him in the majors. People seem to not like him as much because he is old (25), but he’s valuable enough to be a late-inning defensive replacement.

One other note: Danny Muno is an exciting, older prospect. He’d be in Double-A if it wasn’t for a 50-game suspension due to PEDs. He had an interesting slash of .280/.387/.412 and can take a walk (50 BB / 53K).

5. Miami Marlins

Grinder: Derek Dietrich, 2B

– Not really a grinder, but fans will forget about the brief Yunel Escobar stint. With Adeiny Hechavarria at short, Dietrich may best be suited for second base. He brings power, a glove, and no speed. The only other grinder I can think of is Cody Keefer, who is a few years from making an appearance.

Note: This idea comes from a Twitter conversation between two Mets bloggers, which can be found here.

The Mets currently have an outfield full of questions pertaining to production, defense, health, etc… The only lock at this point, Lucas Duda, who has to prove himself just as much as Collin Cowgill, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter, etc… Marlon Byrd had a nice debut today but he’s fought injuries throughout his career, and the Mets cannot rely on a washed-up outfielder to seriously give them 162 games, even if he is added to the 40-man roster. Is he even worth a 40-man roster spot?

There’s a simple solution to all of this: trade for the Chicago Cubs leftfielder Alfonso Soriano. An aging veteran with a terrible contract, the Cubs have seemed desperate to unload him and move on with their new plans. If the Mets would be willing to give up a C+ level prospect the deal could possibly get done, though the Mets would most likely have to eat some of his contract. This all depends on if the Cubs are willing to eat up his most of the contract, since the Mets are continuing to pay Jason Bay and other outfielder until eternity.

Soriano brings an obvious attraction: power. He tapped into the fountain of youth last season, belting 32 homeruns. He also played almost a full season, missing just 11 games. Injuries are something he’s dealt with most of his Cubs career, but at this point, it’s worth a gamble. The only downside with this move would be the terrible defense, but for 27-30 homeruns a year, the Mets wouldn’t mind giving up a few runs for a much needed power infusion. This also gives the Mets more balance, adding a right-handed bat.

So what kind of prospect would it take? You could see the Mets possibly unloading second-basemen Reese Havens, who’s battled back injuries since forever. Theo Epstein took a chance on Adrian Cardenas last season, which didn’t work out, but Havens have significant upside over Cardenas. The move makes sense since it would free up a 40-man roster spot. The Mets could also look into trading Collin McHugh. He’s loved by Mets prospectors, for some think he’s 2.0 version of Dillon Gee. In a realistic future, he has no place in the Mets rotation with Niese locked up, Harvey and Gee locked, Wheeler on the horizon, and the lower minors pitchers.

One downside to if this happens, Duda would need to move back to right-field. Oh well.

Interesting idea which probably won’t happen but it could be an interesting move that, in my opinion, could possibly get some fans in the seats and give this outfield a little more personality.

No secret: the Mets are looking for outfield help. While the team pulled off one blockbuster deal this off-season, could the Mets afford to execute another one? However, this time, the Mets would be the ones vying with a win-now point-of-view. Justin Upton, anyone?

Justin Upton is a star outfielder. He can fill the void in right-field for the Mets and be a perennial all-star for years to come. When Travis D’Arnaud comes up mid-season, how nice would it see him batting sixth, rather than 4th? Here’s a projected mid-season 2013 lineup I’d like to think could happen:

1. Ruben Tejada, SS

2. Daniel Murphy, 2B

3. David Wright, 3B

4. Justin Upton, RF

5. Ike Davis, 1B

6. Travis D’Arnaud, C

7. Lucas Duda, LF

8. Kirk Nieuwenhuis/Collin Cowgill (Adam Eaton?) CF

9. Johan Santana, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Dillon Gee, Jennry Mejia/Jeremy Hefner

Looking at the line-up, the Mets finally have a “potentially sexy” card to hand to an umpire. Upton will provide protection for David Wright, which both Ike Davis and Lucas Duda failed to-do last season. Behind Upton is where Ike Davis will slot, in the 5 hole, where I feel Ike could thrive with a homerun or bust approach. D’Arnaud in the 6-hole is very comfortable for a rookie and in the future, if he can bat .285 with 15-20 hr’s, would be well-above production for a catcher and even if he isn’t the star everyone projects him to be, this would be the best offensive catcher since Paul LoDuca. I feel that 2013 is really huge for Lucas Duda, especially if he sees himself a part of the Mets future for years to come. His raw power is real but Duda tends to hit solid line-drives, when his mentality at the plate should be only uppercuts. It might sound ridiculous but you’re not giving Duda a position in the outfield to swing like Daniel Murphy.

Now the rotation. The missing piece is Jon Niese. And with the friendly contract the Mets snagged Niese for, he becomes a very, very lucrative trading piece and can net Upton if he’s included. Here’s my proposed deal:

The Arizona Diambondbacks receive:

Jon Niese (LHP), Wilmer Flores (3B/1B/2B/wherever), Brandon Nimmo (OF), one of the lower arms (Fulmer/Montero/Verrett/Mateo/etc…)

The New York Mets receive:

Justin Upton (OF), Adam Eaton (OF)

In all honesty, I feel I might be holding out on Arizona just a bit. As an Jon Niese lover, he really performed extremely well in 2012 and pushed himself into the next category of pitchers. Jon Niese isn’t going to be an ace but he can be one of the best #3 starters in baseball. He’s also a pitcher that Arizona’s prospects like Corbin and Skaggs can observe as they transition into the MLB rotation.

Flores is an offensive-minded player that can benefit with a move away from New York. He’s virtually blocked at every positon, that includes third-base (David Wright), first-base (Ike Davis), and second-base (Daniel Murphy, for now…). Flores took a huge step in his development and put up career numbers in all aspects. While it was his third year repeating High-A, he continued his production into Double-A and is likely scheduled to appear in Triple-A to start the 2013 season. Where he fits in Arizona, I do not know. Third-base prospect Matt Davidson isn’t a sure lock anymore so he could fit in at third.

The final two pieces are going to be the ones that make or break the deal. When the Mets selected Nimmo in the 2011 draft, I did not love the pick, and to this day, I still do not like the pick. Nimmo is a big “IF” and it’s an “IF” that Mets fans have become too  known to. After a so-so season in Brooklyn, Nimmo still has enough promise to fill out those Hunter Pence comparisons that he’s been deemed with. It’s an attractive piece for Arizona because he’s a potential top-100 prospects, potential 5-tool player, and can be ready when the awful Cody Ross contract is up.

The Mets can play the player-to-be-named card here. Give the Diambondbacks a list of right-handed pitching prospects to pick from. You can throw Noah Syndergaard’s name here and I feel that it wouldn’t be icing on the cake, rather be the deal clincher. But maybe the Mets can get away without including Wheeler or Syndergaard. I view Harvey as untouchable because of his success last season and if the Mets were to part with him, it would be viewed as poorest decision since Tom Seaver was traded to Cincinnati.

Coming back to the Mets, Justin Upton. There is no need to explain who he is because he’s proven he can perform. The one question surrounding Upton is his motar and how much hustle he really puts into the game. The same problem surrounds his brother B.J, who recently moved leagues and signed a deal with the Atlanta Braves.

The next player the Mets would get is Adam Eaton. He’s a above-average defender who can play a true centerfield and is someone I personal love. I tweeted a few weeks ago how the Mets should inquire about Eaton because he is blocked Arizona by Jason Kubel, Ross, and Gerardo Parra. He’s not a fourth-outfielder in this league and would fit perfectly in Citi Field. The only downside is he’s another left-handed bat.

What do you guys think? Would the Diambondbacks bite at this deal?

I haven’t seen this news posted anywhere, and I do think it has been over-looked, but Toronto Blue Jays draft-pick Anthony Alford has been granted a release from his football commitment at Southern Mississippi. Alford was seen as a blue-chip quarterback prospect who also excelled on the baseball diamond. This is a reaction after Alford ran into some trouble on campus and the school recently hired a new head coach. It is something to follow because Alford signed a contract with the Blue Jays and is a highly regarded prospect, if he can focus solely on baseball. It’s not a bad option to have the Blue Jays in your back pocket as insurance. 

Who the hell is playing outfield for the Mets in 2013?

The Mets have some glaring holes on their roster especially in the outfield. As fans witnessed last season no player is a sure bet to survive the cruel season. I had pretty high expectations for Lucas Duda but sadly he unperformed and found himself in Triple-A for a month. The Jason Bay experiment is finally over and Andres Torres left the organization to return to the San Francisco Giants (smart move, Andres). So as of right now, I’d say that maybe one outfield position is guaranteed, with Duda moving from right field to left field due to his inability to field a flyball.

So now, where would the Mets find help to field the other positions? One theory is to re-sign Scott Hairston, who’s coming off a season of miraculous homeruns and dominance against left-handed pitchers. Could it work? It might but is Scott Hairston really the best answer? He’s probably the cheapest answer and will keep the fans quiet since the general consensus is to bring Hairston back.

Other options could include the Detroit Tigers Delmon Young, who’s really nothing to write home about but could be very serviceable and might not cost the Mets that much. It’s a signing that if he doesn’t perform well, the front management will hear about it forever, similar to the Jason Bay backlash. The problem with Young is he carries a fair amount of baggage and isn’t the kind of player the Mets would typically go after.

The one free-agent I would love to see signed is Grady Sizemore. Grant it he has not been healthy for a few seasons, but when healthy he can be a #gamechanger.  If you platoon Sizemore with Kirk Nieuwenhuis, it could be the perfect combination that the Mets wanted to have with Kirk and Torres last season. If the Mets see Sizemore as an everyday type, you could slot him to one of the corners. To preserve Sizemore’s health, the Mets can put him in a corner spot to limit the wear-and-tear of his body. I’m not saying signing Sizemore is going to have the kind of impact that R.A. Dickey had in New York, but it’s potentially a similar signing that wouldn’t cost the Mets that much, and could pay huge dividends in the end.

Robert,

It’s a trade that I love and hate at the same time, with a piece of my heart that cannot fathom the empty void that lies there. Sports can be a bitch sometimes. The average fan puts sports over academics, health, girls (not always true, but sometimes), and other minor life events. From the time that we were younger rolling around on the grass, the imagination of a human sole gives you the power to envision yourself with the stars you idolize, and for a brief second, feel immortal to everything around you.

I’m twenty years old now and while I don’t roll around outside pretending to be a young Oregon quarterback named Joey Harrington, I do have some heroes in my life. Growing up I found Roger Clemons as my favorite baseball player and Chuck Knoblauch as my favorite position player. Both players cheated while playing and squashed any fascination I had with them, essentially telling me that cheating will get you to where you have to be. 

As a Mets fan, I look at David Wright as the face of my generation/hero. He’s my Koosman, Seaver, and Piazza in stock-piled-into-one. Then came R.A. Dickey, a minor-league journeymen with a long face that, that the lesser-knowing fan would think he’s been balling his eyes out for hours. The statistics are out there on the Internet, as are countless articles about what he went on in his life and how he climbed this mountain and became a Cy Young award winning pitcher, to becoming* a Toronto Blue Jay.

As much as this trade will make no sense to my mom, the fact is that it needed to happen. From the rumors that boiled weeks ago, my mouth started to moisten with the possibility of adding an impact player. And once the name Travis D’Arnaud was included I was all in, never looking back– until now.

I’m not sad about the Mets acquiring a potential cornerstone for their franchise and a pretty good-looking pitching prospect. I am sad that the hero of my time is leaving and that’s because I am selfish. R.A. Dickey carries the same emotion on his face that the embarrassed Mets fan has. His emotion and sway while pitching can explain the rollercoaster ride that every fan has been on since Carlos Beltran taking strike-3. The uncanny grip and mastery of a pitch that has never been respected before is comparable to the organization he represented in the All-Star game. The expression that Dickey bleeds when releasing the knuckleball is not going to be sporting orange and blue anymore. And most of all, the fan loses an intelligent individual who enjoys reading and talking about other things.

Once a week, Dickey would give the viewer entertainment that wasn’t embarrassing. The entertainment is something I will miss. Whether this works out or not, I now understand how fans felt when Tom Seaver was traded from New York to Cincinnati. You grow a bond with a person you’ve never met before, practically falling in love with them based on their performance. You find yourself staying up late at night sneaking glances at the television while your attention should be elsewhere. You whisper to them when they can’t hear you, the “way to go, R.A!” or  “nice play, R.A.”.

Whether R.A. Dickey performs as he did in 2012 is only something time can tell, but in a time where every hero I’ve ever had has proven to let me down, he continues to amaze me, encapsulating me to believe that being in the front seat of a rollercoaster ride isn’t the worst thing in the world; that taking chances to be different is better than never changing. And as this love affair ends I will continue to watch from a distance, not in the creepy way, of course, but the way that says, “I still care, R.A.”.

This letter is not all that personal for you, Robert. I’m sorry things didn’t work the way we expected them but maybe down the road there will be a meeting or two between us where we can reflect on the what happened instead of wondering what would have happened. Because sometimes not knowing is better than knowing, right?

The New York Mets need some pieces –well a lot of pieces.

An argument can be made that Johan Santana should not have a spot guaranteed in the rotation. Besides the no-hitter and a surprising first-half, Santana fell off the map completely. It was somewhat expected because of the wear-and-tear he went through.

Do you give Mike Pelfrey another shot? Is Jenrry Mejia a guarantee?

The outfield has its gaping holes that don’t just lie within the alleys. Centerfield is no ones position right now, as both Andres Torres and Kirk Nieuwenhuis failed to impress. Torres had his moments where he looked like he’d turn his season around but he failed to. Early in the season, Nieuwenhuis was in contention for the Rookie of the Year award, until the league started throwing him breaking balls. His strikeouts went through the roof and he was sent to Triple-A, where he regressed and had a season-ending injury.

The question right now is what to do with R.A. Dickey. He’s one of the most entertaining players to watch in baseball now. For the past 6 years, besides David Wright, there has not been a player on the Mets that represents the Mets better than R.A. Dickey. He represents the working-class of New York and his ruggedness makes him look like just another man; someone easy to relate to. Plus, he’s not a bad writer either.

The Mets are trying to lock up Dickey. Makes sense. He should win the Cy Young award; why not? But they really don’t look like they’ll compete in the next year. There are too many questions, starting with the outfield, with vacancies now in Left, Center, and Right field. Also the catching position should be up for grabs since Josh Thole has seemingly not produced since his arrival to Flushing.

Would you trade R.A. Dickey? At this point, as much as a piece and identity he is to the organization, the Mets should entertain offers for Dickey. Not to speed up negotiations but to see what he could possibly be worth. Besides the robbery of Zack Wheeler, general manager Sandy Alderson hasn’t really impressed anyone with his Billy Beane “Moneyball” moves. If you look back on them, most of them failed minus Scott Hairston, who looks to walk away from the organization this off-season.

This off-season is pretty important for the Mets. Who knows what will happen. I’ll remain an optimist until I see a move that will impact the club.

(From left to right) Fulmer, Montero, Tapia, Verrett, Pill (milb.com)

The Savannah Sand Gnats are a perfect example of old versus new. Some of prospects are thanks to former New York Mets GM Omar Minaya’s, such as right-handed pitcher Domingo Tapia, who excelled at low-A Savannah. even Montero finding much success at High-A St. Lucie. On the other hand, the new regime came in and asserted their new players. Now general manager Sandy Alderson included pitchers like Tyler Pill and Logan Verrett, two 2011 draftees who both excelled at the level. Alderson upped the international market by signing Rafael Montero, who showed maturity beyond his years. And you can’t forget about first-round supplemental pick  Michael Fulmer; he’s the youngest out of the bunch and looks promising as well.

Each pitcher brings something different to the table. One can fall in love with the fastball; your man would be Domingo Tapia. Just 20-years-old, Tapia possesses a mid-90s fastball that has touched 99mph. Some might prefer the guy with the plus slider, somebody like Logan Verrett, who if not for a sub-par junior campaign could have found himself in the 1st round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Then there’s the pitcher that has the perfect arm, contains a deadly slider, fastball, and barely walks anybody. His name is Rafael Montero. And finally, there’s the player that has had the most success, yet questions still linger to whether he can pitcher at the higher levels. That’s the story with 2011 5th-rounder Tyler Pill.

There’s also the guy who lurked in the shadows of Oklahoma prep stars Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley. The Mets first-round supplemental selection Michael Fulmer is continuing to slip under-the-radar, but is he the best out of the core?

Each pitcher brings something different yet all of them have one thing in common: they have all had immense success in Savannah. The only question left is, who’s the best? Every analyst has their preference. Here’s where I’d rank them.

Michael Fulmer

1. Michael Fulmer, RHP

Age: 19

Acquired: 2011 MLB Draft (1st-round supplemental pick)

Stat line: 7-6 2.74 ERA 8.29 K/9 3.27 FIP 1.26 WHIP 2.16 BB/9

Why?: The most intriguing part of Michael Fulmer is he’s only 19-years-old and doesn’t receive even half the publicity that farmhands Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler get. Part of the reason is because he’s so far away from the majors, but he could be moving up the ladder quickly after a very impressive 2012 campaign.

In the beginning of the season, I wasn’t as impressed with Fulmer and didn’t doubt his talents, just thought he was maybe over-challenged. Fulmer only made a handful of starts in Kingsport in 2011, but Mets Minor League Blog’s Toby Hyde notes this:

The 19-year old has improved measurably over the course of the year, lowering his ERA from 3.35 in 11 starts and 51 innings in the first half to 2.20 over 57.1 inning and 10 starts in the second half. His strikeout rate increased from 20% in the first half to 24% as his slider improved.

The strikeout rate is a very encouraging sign, just like his lowering walk-rate. When Fulmer was drafted some thought he’d be more of a 3/4 starter, but that has changed. The Mets decided to place Fulmer on the disabled-list this past week which may be to cut his innings down, since he’s thrown over 100 innings in his first full season. As he matures as a pitcher he’s going to start getting more recognition for what he is doing. As I said, he’s been blocked from the lights because of the excitement at the higher stages, but next season I believe Fulmer will really blossom.

I asked Jim Callis of Baseball America what he thought of Fulmer’s campaign and his future status:

“I haven’t tried to plot out a Top 100 yet, but I think there’s a good chance that Fulmer makes it. He got overshadowed coming out of high school by Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley, but he was a legitimate sandwich pick. I didn’t think he’d dominate low Class A like this so quickly. His fastball and slider are plus pitches, and he has made nice progress with his changeup. He definitely looks like a frontline starter.”

Rafael Montero, St. Lucie Mets

2. Rafael Montero, RHP

Age: 22

Acquired: INT Free Agent

Stat line (Combined low-a & high-a): 11-5 2.36 ERA 8.11 K/9 2.58 FIP 0.96 WHIP 1.40 BB/9

Why?: Montero basically bursted onto the scene out of nowhere. The only prospect analyst that had him anywhere was MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo, who aggressively ranked #11 in the Mets organization at the beginning of the season. Montero’s key to success has been his impeccable control. He maintains a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a very good slider, which helps his create strikeout chances.

In his last four starts, Montero eclipsed 10 strikeouts twice, even striking out 14 against Clearwater. Like Fulmer, Montero was placed on the disabled-list and is likely to stay there, as the Mets try to keep his innings down. I was hoping they’d send him to the Arizona Fall League but they may feel that he deserves a rest after a busy 2012 campaign. He looks destined to start at Double-A Binghamton in 2013 and will be in my personal top-10. I’m not sure if he’s a “safe-bet”, but he’s definitely showing encouraging and promising signs.

I asked Callis whether Montero could find himself in Top 100 prospects discussion. He said that’s unlikely but had other things to say:

Montero has had a very good year but I wouldn’t put him on the Top 100 list yet. He has a terrific arm, with a fastball ranging from 90-95 mph and a hard slider. He’s also not a real big guy and his secondary stuff is inconsistent, so projections on him range from a No. 3 starter to a reliever.

Domingo Tapia, Savannah Now

3. Domingo Tapia, RHP

Age: 20

Acquired: International Free Agent

Stat line: 6-5 4.03 ERA 8.15 K/9 2.69 FIP 1.24 WHIP 2.45 BB/9

Why?: I touched upon the Mets system a few weeks ago, writing about the emergence of Latin American arms. When the piece was published I ranked Domingo Tapia ahead of Rafael Montero. Well a few weeks have passed and I have him one slot below. The problem with Tapia is it’s too soon to label him as a front-line starter without the development of another plus pitch. Everybody knows about his fastball, which consistently hits 95 mph. But besides that, is he a one-pitch pitcher, or can he develop the whole package?

I do think that if Tapia progresses and does touch up his hard slider or develops a good change-up, he’ll be much more valuable. He is just 20-years-old and besides a few shaky starts, he did dominate Low-A hitters for the majority of the season. But as he climbs the ladder, it is pivotal for the development of another solid pitch.

He’ll most likely start in St. Lucie with Fulmer and other promising young arms. Next year is the year where I expect what we’ll really see out of Domingo Tapia and whether he becomes the pitcher people are talking about, or if he’s another fastball slinging reliever.

Logan Verrett, Savannah Now

4. Logan Verrett, RHP

Age: 22

Acquired: 3rd round selection in 2011 MLB Draft

Stat line (combined low-a & high-a): 5-2 2.70 ERA 8.10 K/9 3.25 FIP 1.00 WHIP 1.13 BB/9

Why?: The next two pitchers haven’t been on the average Mets fans radar, but both have made a huge slash this season. I ranked Logan Verrett at #4 right now, but I could definitely see myself possibly ranking him higher than Tapia. The reason: Verrett isn’t as much of a reach that Tapia is. Verrett pitched at Baylor University who participate in Big-12 baseball. The righty also found himself on the Cape Cod Baseball League summer circuit and had success there. Due to a mediocre junior campaign, Verrett dropped from a 1st round selection to the 3rd round, where the Mets snatched him and it looks like a good gamble.

He joined St. Lucie later in the season, but like his teammates, he found immense success there. I could see the Mets holding him back for half the season at St. Lucie, but they could move the trio of Montero, Verrett, and Pill up the ladder to Binghamton. Verrett was injured for about a month, so taking him up slow would make sense. Then again, he has versed the proper competition that would warrant a call-up.

I asked Jim Callis whether Verrett can be considered a mid-rotation arm since some think he’s nothing more than a #5 or a reliever. Here’s his take:

Verrett is more of a mid-rotation guy. He’s a polished college pitcher, so it’s no surprise he’s fared well at his two Class A stops. He throws strikes with three average to solid pitches, and his slider is his best offering.

Tyler Pill, Savannah Now

5. Tyler Pill

Age: 22

Acquired: 5th round of 2011 MLB Draft

Stat line (combined low-a & high-a): 8-5 2.31 ERA 8.42 K/9 2.61 FIP 1.19 WHIP 1.73 BB/9

Why?: My personal favorite and I rank him where he’s supposed to be. While fans love numbers, that doesn’t mean it’ll always translate to success at the higher levels. From what I’ve read I do believe Tyler Pill can pitch at the major league level, however I don’t know if he’s a mainstay in any rotation. He doesn’t have any plus pitches, all average-to-good. But the one thing he has is consistency and that’s what makes Dillon Gee such a successful 5th starter.

Keep in mind, this is Pill’s first year fully concentrating on pitching. At Cal St. Fullerton he played both ways, so who really knows that the Mets have in him. Callis said his “stuff is pretty fringy”, which is a fair assessment. Who knows if it’s luck but the Mets could have yet another interesting piece. I really have no clue what the Mets have with him, but for what it’s worth, his brother Brett plays for the San Francisco Giants.

Pill is the type of guy who will have to prove himself at every level. As with Verrett, he’s a polished college pitcher from a quality program, so he should be expected to come in and thrive in Class A, as he has. His stuff is pretty fringy.

The Mets seem to have something working for them. Between the upper minors guys in Harvey, Mejia, Wheeler, Familia to the Gnats to the Cyclones, there’s an infusion of young, promising talent that certainly looks to refueling a once-depleted farm system.

I’d like to thank Jim Callis for answering my questions. Be sure to follow him on Twitter, @JimCallisBA

Billy Hamilton, cincinnati.com

They say speed kills, which in this case, Billy Hamilton is killing everyone. If you haven’t heard of Billy Hamilton, he’s the Cincinnati Reds shortstop prospect, who has 139 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A this season. Those 139 stolen bases are just 6 shy of shattering Vince Coleman’s minor league record of 146, which was set back in 1983. The record is going to be broken sometime this week, but would Hamilton have been here without making adjustments?

I’m not going to include stats, but Hamilton struggled immensely with his approach. Last season, he played for the Dayton Dragons; his first full-season as a full-time switch-hitter. While he struggled in the first-half, he turned his whole prospect status around and now is a legitimate top 35 prospect.

With the Reds in the playoff hunt, it makes sense to call-up Hamilton as a pinch-runner. After this season, questions will flock about his position and if he can hit enough to be an effective major leaguer. But one things for certain, he’s the fastest man in baseball right now and can change the whole culture of a sport.

Today, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has a feature on Billy Hamilton and the story behind the man. I was lucky enough to speak with Hamilton last season and it’s astonishing how far he has come in his development process. Take a listen here and we’ll see you in September, Billy.