Rule 5 Draft

[bmfc1]

The Rule 5 Draft will be held at 10 today. Normally, I wouldn't care too much but after last year, when the Nationals took a player from the Mets system, Jesus Flores, who helped beat them in important games, I'm more interested. However, if the Mets system stinks as much as some of the writers say, then we have nothing to worry about.

The draft will be shown live via mlb.com.

[metirish]

Flores batted .182 against the Mets in 22 ABS with 2 RBI, I can't remember if they were big game changing RBI , perhaps they were. It would be nice alright to have him in tandem with Castro this season.

I don't think that the Mets system stinks but it seems when rated lately against others in the Santana sweepstakes its lacking , I think this coming season that we will have more than a few players form the system helping the big club, that's a good measurement of the farm.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mets.com shows 37 guys on the Mets roster, so three could be added today before the draft. I'm not sure who is both vulnerable and desirable. Corey Coles, maybe.

Pitchers

Adam Bostick
Ambiorix Burgos
Willie Collazo
Pedro Feliciano
Aaron Heilman
Orlando Hernandez
Philip Humber
John Maine
Pedro Martinez
Carlos Muniz
Juan Padilla
Mike Pelfrey
Oliver Perez
Duaner Sanchez
Scott Schoeneweis
Joe Smith
Jorge Sosa
Brian Stokes
Jason Vargas
Billy Wagner

Catchers
Ramon Castro
Johnny Estrada
Brian Schneider

Infielders
Luis Castillo
Carlos Delgado
Damion Easley
Ruben Gotay
Anderson Hernandez
Jose Reyes
David Wright

Outfielders
Moises Alou
Marlon Anderson
Carlos Beltran
Endy Chavez
Ryan Church
Carlos Gomez
Ben Johnson

[smg58]

bmfc1 wrote: However, if the Mets system stinks as much as some of the writers say, then we have nothing to worry about.

It didn't stink any less last year, though. Rule 5 is a good place to look for bargains, but you really have to do some homework for it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Prediction: Pirates engage in piracy.

The system doesn't stink (though they really took some hits two years ago when they brought in Delgado and LoDuca and lost picks over Beltran and Martinez).

They make these pronouncements to have something to say about the Santana deal which is the story, though nothing is happening. The Mets have been in and out five times in those rumors. Does their system stink/not stink/stink/smell great/stink?

[Frayed Knot]

I assume that the order for this thing is the same as next year's draft (minus any FA machinations) which would put the Mets in the 22nd slot. There's rarely a lot of 'buzz' to this thing and if there is it's generally at the very top.

BA takes a look at those potential top guys which includes several recent top draft picks who haven't lived up to their amateur promise.
They will also blog along w/the draft as it happens.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Mets 37-man roster, of course, can also mean that they intend to be active players in this year's draft. The Reds, who absolutely killed in last year's draft by grabbing Josh Hamilton and Jared Burton, seem to be poised to make another grab this year, having just released Jorge Cantu to create roster space.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: The Mets have been in and out five times in those rumors. Does their system stink/not stink/stink/smell great/stink?

The usual lines are: (C'mon, gang. I know you know the words. Recite them with me)
1) The best talent is in the lower levels
2) The numbers don't look good because the Mets challenge their prospects by promioting them quickly to see if they're ready for the higher level.
3) Look at all the good young players who have recently come through the organization and are now either with the big club or have been used in trades.
4) The Mets are active in the international free agent markets, so you may not know much about their signees.
(did I miss any?)

OK, bottom line, Edgy, it depends on how you look at it.
But if you look at it from the standpoint of having big club position player prospects ready now, I'd say slightly odiferous.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mets select RHP reliever Steve Register of the Rockies.

No Met products selected in 1st round.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The best talent isn't at the lower levels.

The best prospects have been pushed.

(3) is irrelevant. We're talking about the system as it is now.

(4) is not an issue. The people who actually track systems do know of the international prospects. The tabloid columnists who speculate about what it would take to get Santana really only know about Santana.

Edited December 6, 2007 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

Register is a 25 y/o (next Spring) RHP who's been in AA Tulsa for the last two years.

[MFS62]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Mets select RHP reliever Steve Register of the Rockies. No Met products selected in 1st round.

24 year old righty starter.
Tough to tell how really effective he is because he pitched his home games in a tiny Tulsa ballpark. (IIRC the CF fence is closer than 390')

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

More Steven Register Fun Facts:

He switched to closing last year after several years of starting and led the Texas League in saves.

Rated "best slider" in Rockies system by Baseball America.

Third-round draftee out of Auburn in 04.

Wore No. 9 (!) in 2006 but 24 last year


Pitched a CG 1-hitter but lost, 5/31/06

[metirish]

Looks a bit like Ted Lilly.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

In the AAA phase the Mets selected RHP Garry Bakker from the Winston-Salem Warthogs (Carolina League-White Sox). Also a native of Suffern, NY

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=16718

[Guest Edgy DC]

Fast tight motion. Reports I read suggest that he was destined to relieve all along, but the Rockies had him starting to extend him and get him to develop his secondary stuff.

Register in action:

http://www.calleaguers.com/RegisterSteven05.html

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like that he employs magic in his repetoire.

[Vic Sage]

He might be insurance in the pen if they move Heilman.

[Valadius]

Tampa Bay took RHP Jose Mejias from us.

[nymr83]

From Keith Law:

] Steven Register was a top closer at Auburn before he was drafted in 2004, but the Rockies tried to make him a starter and it didn't work. As a reliever, he has good control and a 91-93 mph fastball with some sink (although it hasn't produced a good groundball rate), and a tight slider that should be an average pitch in time. I could see him making the Mets' club in spring training, and if it saves them from going after the next Guillermo Mota, so much the better.

[Valadius]

I find it funny that the Royals selected a pitcher named Ray Liotta from the White Sox.

[willpie]

Valadius wrote: I find it funny that the Royals selected a pitcher named Ray Liotta from the White Sox.

Funny how? Funny like a clown? Is that what the Royals are to you, just some big fucking clown for your amusement?

[Frayed Knot]

We're worried about Valadius, we feel he may crack under questioning.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Dance that drink over here ya little mumbling stuttering prick.

[Guest attgig]

http://roxhead.com/SRegister.html

]Steven Register Full Name: Born: May 16, 1983. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 170. High School: Shaw High (Columbus, Ga.) College: Auburn Drafted: Auburn, 2004 (3rd round). Signed by: Damon Iannelli. 6/05/06.. addition.. Rocky.. thumbnail sketch Pitches at 90 to 91 mph and tops out at 93 mph. Fastball, slider and changeup are good pitches. Stuff can be electric at times, especially his slider, which is a two-plane pitch with late break. 3/3/06.. analysis.. Baseball America.com Register's Shaw High (Columbus, Ga.) team drew frequent attention from scouts in 2001, as the pitching staff also included Nick Long and Edwin Jackson. Long (fourth round, Expos) and Jackson (sixth round, Dodgers) signed out of high school, while Register went undrafted. He went to Auburn, where he led NCAA Division I with 16 saves as a junior and became a third-round pick in 2004. He moved into the rotation for the final three weeks of his college career, and the Rockies have used him exclusively as a starter since he turned pro. He'll most likely shift back to a relief role, but they wanted to extend him to see how his secondary pitches developed. His quick arm generates a solid-average 91 mph fastball. He shows a good slider and changeup, but he has trouble maintaining his stuff past the first few innings. Register is aggressive, has a good idea how to use his pitches and works consistently around the strike zone. A good athlete, he has solid mechanics but must concentrate on finishing his pitches to avoid leaving them up in the zone, where they're hittable. He'll advance to Double-A Tulsa this year and could return to the bullpen in the near future.

and back when he was getting drafted
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/040601register.html

]Scout's View: Steven Register By Will Kimmey June 1, 2004 Steven Register, rhp, Auburn Register has recorded 25 saves in three years to rank just four behind Finley Woodard in Auburn history. He might have a hard time getting out of second place though, because coach Steve Renfroe moved one of college baseball's most reliable closers into the rotation with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Renfroe sensed the 6-foot-1, 162-pound junior righthander was wearing down a bit and wouldn't be able to make multiple appearances out of the bullpen during a series. Register, who was 6-0, 3.78 with 49 strikeouts and 14 walks in 50 innings, struck out seven Georgia batters and allowed three runs in six innings in his second start. An area scout offered his opinion on Register. "He's a strike-thrower; he has good command. He's got an average fastball with above-average life that sinks and bores. He can be up to 93 (mph), but he doesn't get a good hip turn or get balanced over the rubber and in turn, he's never quite consistent with his release point and sometimes loses the life on his fastball. "He's got an average to plus slider with a short break and some tilt. At times, it's an out pitch. His changeup is not an average pitch. He's got to use it more to get better, but he doesn't have to at the college level. "He's got a very quick arm, but I'd be surprised if he's a pound over 170. He's not real durable physically. I haven't seen him go out on back-to-back nights and have the same stuff. "On the field, he's a very tougher competitor. He goes after hitters and you see a side of him you don't see off the field. "Long term, I see him as a quality middle reliever, on the right club he could be a set up man. Some people like him in the second or third, but he's probably a fourth-rounder for me."

a lot about keeping the ball down from everyone.

]

[Guest Edgy DC]

From the UNC baseball team website profile of Garry Bakker:

Personal
Majoring in communications � Garry Joseph Bakker is the son of Marge and Garry Bakker � Born in Suffern, N.Y. � Favorite movie is Boondock Saints �Fan of the New York Yankees.

[Valadius]

Nice how you took the Goodfellas reference and ran with it, but I found it funny that the White Sox had a player named Ray Liotta more for this reason: