2009 IBC Mets - Spring Things

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:32 am

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9253 ... re-at-bats

Murphy: The Mets' O'Neill?
Mets general manager John Anderson proclaimed Daniel Murphy his regular right fielder Sunday, yet Anderson isn't the only team official enamored with the former 13th-round pick, who has yet to appear on a projection disc.

One Mets official says left fielder Daniel Murphy could be "our O'Neill," referring, of course, to former Yankees outfielder Paul O'Neill, who was known for his grit and hitting ability.

John Anderson says Murphy may be slightly less athletic than O'Neill was, prefers another comparision – Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

"He gives you good at-bats, tough at-bats," Anderson says of Murphy. "He's just a grinder – a blue-collar grinder."

Anderson projects Murphy, who was acquired with SS prospect Ruben Tejada for pitcher Chris Sampson, as a potential .300 hitter who will hit between 15 and 20 home runs per season.

Murphy, a 2006 draft pick, was signed by the Tigers on June 10th, and dealt to the Rockies on August 27. The Rockies franchise has since moved to the NY Mets.

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:22 am

Larish vying for a spot on the Mets 25-man

One of the many interesting battles in Port St. Lucie this Spring will be for a spot on the Mets bench when they break camp. One reason may be that the players competing are very similar in stature and projection.

Ian Gac, Josh Kroeger, Jeff Larish, John Bowker & Aaron Cunningham are considered to be in direct competition. The Mets seemingly are comfortable enough with John Lindsey at 1st base (so much so they trade Aubrey Huff), but things get a little more interesting at 3rd base, where Troy Glaus is expected to miss about the first month of the season.

Jeff Larish has been taking ground balls at 3B in camp (bats left, but throws right), and GM John Anderson thinks he might be athletic enough to hold the fort down. "Jeff is an athletic kid. We know he can play 1B & OF for us. We were able to trade Blake DeWitt knowing that Larish might be one of those guys who could step in a fill that roll".

Larish has been compared to a poor-man's Nick Swisher, a lefty bat with good pop and a decent on-base percentage, but he will never win a batting crown. "Jeff is a smart hitter who gives you good at-bats", says Anderson. "We think that he can give us a 250/340/800 line if we can find him 350 ab's or so. The kid popped 17 hr's in AAA last year, in just 280 AB's. In the National League, having a left-handed bat that can play corner infield and outfield positions with the ability to pop one out it invaluable".

Larish just turned 26 this past October, so this may be a make or break year for him.

RedSox · Post by **RedSox** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:29 am

.800 slugging? Damn!!

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:03 pm

you know how GM's are in interviews, especially in the Spring.

Rangers · Post by **Rangers** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:05 pm

I have a feeling that Ian Gac is going to come in a distant last in this competition. Cool name though.

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:16 pm

Gac will get tested at AA finally, as a 24 year old.

Still, 32 hr's in 500 ab's last year could still translate to EX power projection if he makes the disc. Unfotunately, a .280 BAA at hi-A usually translates to a .230-.240 MLB average in DMB. But you're right...he only made the story because of his name.

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:31 am

Moylan hopes to be ready for opening day

Word out of Mets camp is that Peter Moylan looks better than expected early in camp. The Mets (Rockies) took a major hit last year when Moylan had to go under the knife (TJ Surgery) in May, the type of injury that would foreshadow a long season of bullpen injuries & woes.

Moylan threw 1 scoreless inning in an intrasquad game, striking out two. "He looked nasty", said Ramon Castro, one of Moylan's strike out victims. "If this is him taking it easy, the league better watch out when he's back to full health. I'll have to wear extra padding in my glove to catch that sinker".

Moylan has a 2.20 ERA in 102 career MLB appearances.

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:50 am

Hill looking to get over the hump

The Mets have a lot of questions in their rotation going into the season, but Shawn Hill hopes to be one of the answers.

Hill made just 12 starts for the Mets (Rockies) in 2008, posting an unimpressive 4.71 era while serving up 9 long balls, before ultimately missing the season. One thing a healthy Hill does give the Mets is innings. The Mets are hoping Hill can border a league average starter while throwing 180+ innings. He did complete 2 of his 12 games in 2008.

The Rockies had big hopes for Hill when they acquired in in July 2007 with Dave Roberts from the Rangers for Cliff Lee. Roberts was dealt the next offseason to the A's. Lee would go on to win the AL CY Young, while Hill has battled injuries, and may never be more than a back end starter in the majors.

"Our team is better with Hill in the rotation" says GM John Anderson. "We think that the move to Citi Field could help a guy like Hill. We'll probably watch his workload early on, but we're definitely rooting for him to make the rotation at the start of the season".