Featuring Anderson Hernandez as Jorge Toca

[Centerfield]

Anderson Hernandez wins the Mets Minor League Player of the Year Award. Kevin Mulvey wins pitcher of the year.

Congratulations to those two, but that is a sad commentary on the state of the Mets farm system.

[metirish]

I thought of Toca yesterday when Gary Cohen mentioned the pre-game awards that were handed out and that A Hernandez had won.

[Gwreck]

I thought I read once that these things are sometimes handed out to players whose trade value they are trying to increase.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Centerfield wrote: Congratulations to those two, but that is a sad commentary on the state of the Mets farm system.

Mulvey is a real prospect, isn't he?

As for Hernandez, I tend to agree. He seems like he'll forever be a September call-up.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A lot of going nowhere guys win it. One thing it's a commentary on is that their favorite prospects are getting pushed ahead too aggressively to flourish for any long period.

Another thing is that a lot of favorite prospects have been hurt.

Nonetheless, how about Brett Harper?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

More award-winners. Always fun for me when a new prospect -- who we know as a name only -- enters the fan vocabulary. It's like, that's a name I've never heard before.

Like, Ezequiel Carerra. Bam.

]METS ANNOUNCE MINOR LEAGUE AWARDS The New York Mets announced today that shortstop Anderson Hernandez was named the Sterling Minor League Organizational Player-of-the-Year, while righthanded pitcher Kevin Mulvey earned Sterling Pitcher-of-the-Year honors. In addition, the Mets also released the 2007 Sterling Awards, emblematic of the team Most Valuable Player, for each of their nine minor league clubs. Lefthanded pitcher Willie Collazo was the Sterling Award recipient at New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, righthanded pitcher Carlos Muniz at Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League, third baseman Daniel Murphy at St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League, outfielder Brahiam Maldonado at Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic League, righthanded pitcher Dylan Owen at Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League, third baseman Jose Jimenez at Kingsport � of the Appalachian League, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera with the Gulf Coast Mets, outfielder Pedro Zapata with the Dominican Summer League and shortstop Ruben Tejada captured the award with the Venezuelan Summer League. Sterling Organizational Player-of-the-Year: SS ANDERSON HERNANDEZ Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Bats: S Throws: R Born: 10/30/82 Resides: Santo Domingo, DR Obtained: Acquired from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for catcher Vance Wilson on January 6, 2005. Hernandez hit .301 (167-554) with 84 runs scored, 28 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 42 RBI with 31 walks and 16 stolen bases in 128 games for New Orleans. Anderson compiled a 10-game hitting streak from May 6th-May 15th, a 12-game hitting streak from August 6th-August 18th and an 11-game hitting streak from August 23rd-September 2nd. He finished second in the Pacific Coast League in hits. Sterling Organizational Pitcher-of-the-Year: RHP KEVIN MULVEY Height: 6-1 Weight: 196 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 5/26/85 Resides: Parlin, NJ Obtained: Selected in the second round of the 2006 First Year Player Draft. Signing Scout: Scott Hunter Mulvey was 12-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 27 starts between two levels. Kevin went 11-10 with a 3.32 ERA in 26 starts with Binghamton. In 151.2 innings, he surrendered 145 hits, 74 runs, 56 earned, with 43 walks and 110 strikeouts. Mulvey, who permitted two earned runs or less in 19 of his 26 starts, was selected to play for the USA Team in the Futures Game and the Northern Division Team in the Eastern League All-Star Game. He was promoted to New Orleans in late August. Kevin was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start for the Zephyrs. He permitted two hits with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings pitched. Mulvey started Game Four of the best-of-five opening round series against Round Rock. He tossed 7.0 shoutout innings, allowing just four hits with eight strikeouts to help the Zephyrs clinch the series and advance to the Pacific Coast League Championship. 2007 STERLING AWARD WINNERS New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League: LHP WILLIE COLLAZO Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Bats: L Throws: L Born: 11/7/79 Resides: Miami, FL Obtained: Signed as a minor league free agent on March 1, 2006. Collazo was 6-5 with a 2.46 ERA and four saves in 53 games, four starts for New Orleans. In 98.2 innings, he allowed 91 hits, 33 runs, 27 earned, with 19 walks and 69 strikeouts. Willie was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 23rd-July 29th, and was selected to the PCL All-Star Team. Collazo was second on the Zephyrs in games and fourth in innings pitched and strikeouts. Willie did not allow a run over his last 23.1 innings pitched for New Orleans, and had his contract selected by the Mets on September 1st. Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League: RHP CARLOS MUNIZ Height: 6-1 Weight: 180 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 3/12/81 Resides: Wilmington, CA Obtained: Selected in the 13th round of the 2003 First Year Player Draft. Signing Scout: Steve Leavitt Muniz was 2-4 with a 2.45 ERA and 23 saves in 44 relief appearances for the B-Mets. In 58.2 innings, he permitted 43 hits, 20 runs, 16 earned, with 17 walks and 62 strikeouts. Carlos was tied for third in the Eastern League in saves, and was named Binghamton�s Pitcher of the Month for June. He was promoted to New Orleans in late August and tossed 5.2 scoreless innings of relief over three games for the Zephyrs. St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League: 3B DANIEL MURPHY Height: 6-3 Weight: 210 Bats: L Throws: R Born: 4/1/85 Resides: Jacksonville, FL Obtained: Selected in the 13th round of the 2006 First Year Player Draft. Signing Scout: Steve Barningham Murphy batted .285 (143-502) with 68 runs scored, 34 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 78 RBI, with 42 walks in 135 games for St. Lucie. Murphy paced the St. Lucie team in hits, doubles and RBI. In addition, Daniel led the Florida State League in games played, was second in hits, tied for fourth in doubles and ranked fifth in RBI. Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic League: OF BRAHIAM MALDONADO Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 9/18/85 Resides: Loiza, Puerto Rico Obtained: Selected as the 10th round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft. Signing Scout: Junior Roman Maldonado hit .310 (95-306) with 40 runs scored, 20 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 19 walks in 87 games with the Sand Gnats. He was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of July 2nd-July 8th. During that week, Brahiam came within one hit of a cycle on two occasions. Maldonado was also selected as Savannah�s Player of the Month for July. Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League: RHP DYLAN OWEN Height: 5-11 Weight: 185 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 7/12/86 Resides: Cheraw, SC Obtained: Selected in the 20th round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft. Signing Scout: Marlin McPhail Owen went 9-1 with a 1.49 ERA in 14 games, 13 starts for the Cyclones. In 72.1 innings, he surrendered 51 hits, 13 runs, 12 earned, with 12 walks and 69 strikeouts. In addition, he held batters to a .197 (51-259) batting average. Dylan was selected to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, and was named the Cyclones Pitcher of the Month for July. Owen was also chosen as the NYPL Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 20th-August 26th. He led the league in wins and ERA, and was ninth in strikeouts. Kingsport � of the Appalachian League: 3B JOSE JIMENEZ Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Bats: S Throws: R Born: 5/9/87 Resides: Bonao, Dominican Republic Obtained: Signed by the Mets as a free agent on July 9, 2006. Signing Scout: Ismael Cruz Jimenez batted .309 (58-188) with 32 runs scored, 17 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 41 RBI, four stolen bases and 17 walks in 51 games for Kingsport. Jose was promoted to Brooklyn in early September and was 0-2 with an RBI in two games for the Cyclones. Jose paced his team in home runs and RBI, and was tied for fifth in the Appalachian League in RBI and tied for seventh in doubles. Gulf Coast � of the Gulf Coast League: OF EZEQUIEL CARRERA Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Bats: L Throws: L Born: 6/11/87 Resides: Guiria Sucre, Venezuela Obtained: Signed as a non-drafted free agent on April 4, 2005. Signing Scouts: Junior Roman, Robert Alfonzo Carrera hit .329 (82-249) between the Gulf Coast Mets and the Brooklyn Cyclones. In 45 games for Gulf Coast, he batted .341 (61-179) with 41 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, one home run, 26 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 26 walks. Ezequiel was promoted to Brooklyn in mid-August and batted .300 (21-70) with 11 runs scored, two doubles, six RBI, six stolen bases and four walks in 20 games for the Cyclones. Carrera was selected as the Gulf Coast Mets� Player of the Month for July. Dominican Summer League �: OF PEDRO ZAPATA Height: 6-4 Weight: 185 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 10/3/87 Resides: Bani, Dominican Republic Obtained: Signed as an international free agent on September 12, 2006. Signing Scouts: Ismael Cruz, Ramon Pena, Juan Mercado Zapata hit .325 (52-160) with 27 runs scored, six doubles, five triples, 20 RBI, 23 stolen bases with 12 walks in 41 contests for the DSL Mets. Pedro also led the team with a .425 slugging percentage, and was tied for eighth in the league in batting average. In addition, Zapata was named the DSL Mets� Player of the Month for June. Venezuelan Summer League �: SS RUBEN TEJADA Height: 5-11 Weight: 165 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 9/1/89 Resides: Veraguas, Panama Obtained: Signed as an international free agent on July 11, 2006. Signing Scouts: Ismael Cruz, Wilfredo Blanco, Alex Zapata Tejada hit .364 (44-121) with 32 runs scored, five doubles, three home runs, 25 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 19 walks. Tejada led the VSL Mets in batting average, slugging percentage (.479), on-base percentage (.466). Ruben was selected the VSL Mets� Player of the Month for May.

[metirish]

Cool that they list the signing scouts....and hands up who ever heard of Ezequiel Carerra.

[Vic Sage]

is it too soon to move Tejada to 2b?

[Guest Edgy DC]

[G-Fafif]

Without trying, I seem to be at the Sterling (nee Doubleday) Awards presentation game annually. Yesterday I got deja vu chills watching Anderson Hernandez take home another trophy. I saw him get one in 2005. And not for work in the low minors, but at Binghamton.

[metirish]

Well yeah of course you heard of him Edgy,and I mean that in the best possible sense.

[seawolf17]

]Dominican Summer League �: OF PEDRO ZAPATA Height: 6-4 Weight: 185 Bats: R Throws: R Born: 10/3/87 Resides: Bani, Dominican Republic Obtained: Signed as an international free agent on September 12, 2006. Signing Scouts: Ismael Cruz, Ramon Pena, Juan Mercado Zapata hit .325 (52-160) with 27 runs scored, six doubles, five triples, 20 RBI, 23 stolen bases with 12 walks in 41 contests for the DSL Mets. Pedro also led the team with a .425 slugging percentage, and was tied for eighth in the league in batting average. In addition, Zapata was named the DSL Mets� Player of the Month for June.

[DailyNews]Quickly... cut Shawn Green and call this guy up.[/DailyNews]

[RealityChuck]

]METS ANNOUNCE MINOR LEAGUE AWARDS ... Kingsport � of the Appalachian League: 3B JOSE JIMENEZ

Isn't his real name Bill Dana?