We Are The Future: Nothing Can Stop Us

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Even if he fudges a few minor facts here's Jon Heyman with the dope that there's still hope

6. The most underrated prospect group The Mets' minor-league system looks a lot better now than most realized last year, when so-called experts rated it near the bottom. Those ratings will need to be re-evaluated now that five young Mets looked very good or better this spring. Left-hander Jon Niese will be the fifth starter (one scout said, "He won't be No. 5 for long.''), shortstop Ruben Tejada will start the year with the Mets and supremely-talented right-hander Jenrry Mejia may make it as a reliever. GM Omar Minaya was determined not to take Mejia to start the spring, but the momentum seems to be swinging the other way. Plus, Fernando Martinez re-established his value as a bright young outfield prospect and first baseman Ike Davis looked terrific, especially at bat. It's too late to give ex-Mets exec Tony Bernazard his job back, but if removing his shirt and being impolite once or twice were his only faults, firing him seems like a bad call now. Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/03/29/spring.stories/index.html?eref=sihp#ixzz0jgejWRm4

[metirish]

one scout said, "He won't be No. 5 for long.'')

Is that good or bad, I guess the scout means that Niese will be moving up the starter ladder.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Hope that means he's a 3 or 4, because between Pelf leaving everything up and Ollie being Ollie, Lord knows we've got enough #2 in this rotation.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I take that comment about Niese as a positive one. Hey, he may very well turn out to be the Mets second-best starter in 2010.

[HahnSolo]

Wasn't Heyman one of the guys beating the "Mets have no farm system" drum last year? I seem to recall him saying it or implying it on 'FAN. Kind of makes his first sentence a bit disingenuous.

But I'm all for our system getting some mainstream love.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Wasn't Heyman one of the guys beating the "Mets have no farm system" drum last year? I seem to recall him saying it or implying it on 'FAN. Kind of makes his first sentence a bit disingenuous.

But I'm all for our system getting some mainstream love.[/quote:2rirpsjl]

Hey! Don't go trying to hold us accountable for things written in the past! How are we supposed to seem all-knowing, arrogant and generally smarter than you if you keep referring to our prior statements?

[Benjamin Grimm]

If not for that bit about "so-called experts" I'd be okay with him changing his mind or his perspective. But you can't do that while scoffing at those who agreed with you back when you held that earlier opinion.

(Of course, I don't know if this applies to Heyman. I can't say for sure that he was one of those experts.)

[metirish]

I got to say that I really don't mind Heyman . In no way for me at least is he down there with the likes of Klap and Verdouche.

Heyman too is worth following on Twitter , he often has good stuff.

[Frayed Knot]

I can't remember if Heyman specifically derided the NYM system last year or whether he was just quoting others who said as much.
The main problem was that, as FAN's correspondent, he would respond to questions by saying things like 'the Mets don't have a good match right now to trade for [Halladay, Holliday, whoever]' which the know-nothings on the radio (both ends) heard as, 'the whole system is shit' - once again proving the notion that a little bit of knowledge is worse than none at all.
The truth was more along the lines that their best prospects were either towards the lower end of the minors (Mejia, Davis, etc.) and not ML-ready, and the ones who were much closer to ready were injured and therefore devalued goods at the time of the discussion (Martinez, Niese)

The places that pay attention to these things tended to put the Met system around the middle of the pack this winter meaning that Heyman's above article could be seen as a bit of an over-praise in reaction to the under-praising they got much of last year. But he is right in that (assuming no disasters) if a big mid-year trade is available this season the odds are more likely that the Mets could be a major player. Of course it's also more likely that if they're still going good that the team would want to hang on to some or most of those guys.