The Future

Right now it is safe to say that the Mets are at a fork in the road. They are both a team of budding superstars, and also a team of aging veterans. It is clear that while a solid nucleus is in place for many years to come, the Mets have a supporting cast that is in a dire need of a makeover. Within the next year or two the Mets will need to replace a 1st baseman, a Left fielder, a 2nd baseman, a Catcher, a #2 or #3 starter, a #4 or #5 starter, and a closer. Now the Mets will likely fill some of those holes via free agency, but it is unrealistic to believe that all of those vacancies can be filled that way. What that means for the Mets, is that they need some impact players to emerge from their farm system. Considering that much of their system was depleted this off- season finding these impact players could be a daunting task. This is what is basically left...

The Mets top 15 prospects:
1. OF Fernando Martinez
2. LHP Jon Niese
3. RHP Eddie Kunz
4. RHP Brant Rustich
5. 1b Mike Carp
6. RHP Robert Parnell
7. 1b- OF Nick Evans
8. 3b Danny Murphy
9. RHP Nathan Vineyard
10. RHP Dylan Owen
11. 1b Lucas Duda
12. SS Jose Coronado
13. RHP Nick Carr
14. RHP Scott Moviel
15. SS Rueben Tejada

There is a lot of upside in that group, but most of the prospect are a ways away from the majors. However the first 8 names or so on that list are playing double -A ball currently, as is Jose Coronado (#12). The reason that is significant is because the double- A Binghamton Mets have been hitting the cover off of the ball. Mike Carp, Nick Evans, and Danny Murphy, all have OPS' over 1.000, and combined have 8 HRs in only 11 games (4 by Carp, 3 by Evans, 1 by Murphy). Its not just the middle of the order that has been hitting however as top prospect and lead- off hitter Fernando Martinez has an OPS of .756 with 1 HR through 11 games as well, and Jose Coronado, who has very quietly surprised this season, has an OPS of .850 so far this year for the B- Mets. Their pitching has been a different story. Outside of Jon Niese, who has posted a superb .57 ERA and a .77 WHIP in 15.2 IP while striking out 14, the Binghamton pitchers have struggled. after a promising spring Robert Parnell has a 6.48 ERA, a 1.92 WHIP, and only 5 strike- outs in 8.1 IP. Top relief prospect Eddie Kunz does have 3 saves, but also has a 6.32 ERA in 4.1 IP. Brant Rustich has yet to pitch. With Mets on the verge of major personnel turnover on their major league roster the double- A B- Mets are a team to pay close attention to as the may soon be on the real Mets.

Other notable performers:
RHP Dylan Owen: 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9k, 11 IP ( Single- A St. Lucie)
1b Lucas Duda: .896 OPS, 1 HR, 11 Games, 44 ABs (Single - A St. Lucie)