7/28/10

STOCK UP: - Lucas Duda, Jeurys Familia, and Gonzalez German

Lucas Duda:



7-28-10: - Duda not only continues to hit at the AAA level, but his hitting is timely as well. Last night, he kocked in three runs to seal the victory against Columbus, which included his 12th home run of the season. Seasonal stats: .313/.376/a whopping .679/1.055. You can’t do much better than this and it will be interesting to see what the Mets do with this 24-year old one- dimensional player.



Old Duda:
 1-1-10 Forecast: Things are actually starting to heat up a little when it comes to Mets minor league outfielders. The trio from St. Lucie, Brahiam Maldonado, Kurt Nieuwenhuis, and Carlos Guzman, were all ranked in the league’s top 6 home run hitters in 2009. Duda was dead in the water as the furutre Mets first baseman, and by switching to the outfield in 2009, he gets a one year jump of the Three Amigos. The only outfield prospect ahead of him is Fernando Martinez.


4-17-10: - Lucas Duda - OF/1B - AA-Binghamton - I remember some of the Sand Gnats reporting a couple of years ago that the sweetest bat on the cyclones roster was Duda's... Lucas was a 7th round pick in the 2007 draft, out of USC. Three year totals to date: .277/.374/.422/.796, with only 24 homeruns in 1,112 at bats. Duda was moved from first to the outfield and had a decent AA season last year, going .281/.380/.428/.808, with 53-RBIs in 395 ABs. So far this season, he leads all Mets organizational players with 14 ribbys in only 34 at bats.


7-3-10 from: - http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100703&content_id=11864996&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp  - Duda tied a team record by homering for the fifth straight game, powering the Bisons to a 12-4  romp over the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field. Wrapping up his first month at the Triple-A level, the former seventh-round pick drilled a 1-2 pitch from Anthony Swarzak in the third inning over the right-center field fence for his sixth homer in 16 games with Buffalo. The 24-year-old outfielder was promoted by the Mets after hitting .286 with six homers and 34 RBIs in 45 games at Double-A Binghamton. He batted .222 without a homer in his first seven games with the Bisons but is hitting .419 (13-for-31) with six homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine contests.


7-4-10: - As I have already posted, Duda is a home run machine this week and everyone is pulling out their computer, trying to find out some more info on this guy. I remember being in the Savannah lockerroomtwo seasons ago and a couple of pitchers just arrived from Brooklyn. I was yacking with them when one told me about what, in his opinion, was the best swing he had ever seen. It was Duda’s, playing for the Cyclones.


7-5-10: - The International League today named Buffalo Bisons OF LUCAS DUDA the IL Batter of the Week for June 28-July 4. Duda homered in a Buffalo record-tying five consecutive games last week, matching a mark set by four other players in the 125-year history of the team (Ollie Carnegie, Carlos Garcia, Bill Selby and Andy Marte). The 24-year old hit a three-run shot on Monday, June 29 in the final game of a series in Charlotte. Duda then hit solo home runs in three straight games before tying the record with a two-run shot on Friday, July 2 against Rochester. Duda led all International League batters with five home runs, 11RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage last week. In his first three weeks at the Triple-A level, Duda has hit .292 (19-65) with five doubles, a triple, six home runs and 17RBI in 18 games for the Bisons. Duda becomes the third Bisons player to be named IL Batter of the Week in 2010. INF Mike Hessman (April 26-May 2) and OF Jesus Feliciano (May 17-23).


7-6-10 from: - http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100705&content_id=11953216&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp  - International League - Lucas Duda, Buffalo - .304/.433/1.000, 7-for-23, 1 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 6 BB, 2 K, 0 SB - After hitting one homer in his first 11 Triple-A games, Mets prospect Lucas Duda exploded for one in each of his next five games. The streak started on Monday in Charlotte, when Duda was 2-for-4 with four RBIs, and ended against Rochester in Buffalo on Friday, when he clubbed a double -- one of two hits for Duda this week that didn't land on the other side of a fence -- and plated three runs. Duda's week crumbled over Saturday and Sunday; he was 0-for-7 with one RBI between those two games. Despite all of his hard swings, the outfield prospect struck out just twice over the course of the week.


7-12 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/12/1564807/mid-term-farm-system-review-part-i  - Lucas Duda has been oneof the bigger surprises in the Mets system so far this season. He started the year on a tear in Binghamton before a right hamstring strain in May landed him on the DL for about a month. It was no coincidence that the team lost nine games straight immediatelely after. Upon returning he was understandably rusty but the offense-starved Bisons (drained by promotions and injuries) needed support so he was promoted anyway. What he's done since is nothing short of amazing: In 24 games in Buffalo alone Duda has already knocked nine home runs, approaching his career high of 11 in '08. At one point he rode an incredible five-game homer streak, only the fifth Bison to do so in their 125-yr history. This power surge is a welcome surprise for Duda who even back to his days at USC has been regarded as a lumbering lefty with a nice penchant for contact but not enough power for a first baseman/corner outfielder. What's more, even his K:BB ratio has improved tremendously this season. There is some negative here as he is still exhibiting some pretty heavy platoon splits (.177 BAA vs. lefties) but suddenly Duda has gone from nice organizational filler to a definite major league piece, even if that is just a platoon player.



Jeurys Famila:


7-28-10 from: - we don’t have to talk about what a frustrating year it’s been for Familia, but he did manage to put together a decent outing last night against Brevard County. Familia went: 6.0-IP, 6-H, 2-ER, 7-K, 2-BB and lowered his season ERA to 6.13. Let’s remember he is only 20-years old and did come off two great years in 2009 (Savannah: 2.69) and 2008 (GCL: 2.79). We’ll give him a push this season and it sure looks like he will repeat Lucy in 2011.



Old Familia stuff:

 
1-1-10 Forecast: - Nothing but blue sky for the 19-year old, but his job is just beginning. We’ve seen many a pitcher do well in rookie and A ball, only to fade away by the time they compete AA. Familia definitely loos like the real deal, but it is too early to tell. He’ll rotate with his Sand Gnat buddies for a new coach in Flordia and we wish him well.


5-22-10: - SP Jeurys Familia: Famila started off the season with a horrendous outing in which he gave up 7-ER in 3.2-IP (17.18). Four outings later, he’s worked his ERA down to 7.06, but he definitely has settled down his last two outings, giving up only 3-ER in 9.0-IP. You won’t see him pitching for anyone other than St. Lucie this season. One good sign is his K/IP ratio has remained high (23-Ks in 21.2-IP). He’s only 20-years old so there’s plenty of time. (update… five more decent innings tonight, giving up only one run…)


6-16-10: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405671-mets-prospect-watch-five-young-future-metropolitans  - The Mets signed Familia in 2007 as an undrafted free agent aiming to raise him as a starting pitcher. After two successful seasons in the low minors as a starter, the 20 year old righty has hit somewhat of a roadblock with Class A Port St. Lucie. The difference maker is his control. It was spot-on in 2008 and 2009, but now it seems to have diminished. His WHIP is currently sitting up around 1.70. If he can’t regain the control he has showcased in the past, he might be destined for relief work. He’s got the velocity, as his fastball topped out at around 96 mph during the spring. He’s put up very impressive and consistent strike out numbers, which make it seem like he is destined for the Mets rotation. Expect to see him appear on the Mets pitching staff early on in 2013 as a reliever. If he plays his cards right, he may get some starts and wind up a fixture in the rotation


6-22-10: - Familia has had a tough time this season and some have speculated that he might be returning to Savannah to get his game together; however, he put together a good outing Monday night, with stats of: 6.2-IP, 1-ER, 7-K, 3-BB. His yearly ERA is now 6.16 and this was especially a heart breaker, since it was a 7-inng game. Jeurys was one out away from a complete game victory, but was relieved and the game was lost eventually to Bradenton. Bad game, but good outing.


6-28-10: - Giving up three earned runs in 6.1-IP may not be considered the best of outings, but it’s a good one for Familia, who’s been struggling all year long. He struck out five, but walked four. Regardless of the tough year, he still is considered a top pitching prospect


7-9 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/25793  - Jeurys Familia - RHP - Age 20
New York Mets - High-A (FSL) - 26.3 K% - 15.7 BB% 0.3 HR/9 1.59 GO/AO - What an inning will look like: If Familia pitches — and I’m guessing that’s no sure thing since he threw yesterday — we will see a lot of fastballs. The great U.S. offense is likely to draw a few walks off Familia, as he’s the most wild pitcher in this game. He’ll pitch into the mid-90s with a heavy fastball, but he doesn’t really know where it’s going. What he profiles as: A reliever, if a Major Leaguer at all. It’s hard to believe that some pitching instructor can’t help Familia harness his stuff, but it wouldn’t be the first time it didn’t work out.


7-14 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/14/1567569/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review  - Consider Familia another bitten by the Mets pitching prospect bug: As I recently noted in a farm report, Familia just surpassed his walk total from all of last season in less than half the innings. On the bright side, his fastball seems to have gained a couple ticks as he now regularly reaches the mid-90's and still shows the tremendous sinking movement that has garnered a 1.59 GB/FB rate and allowed just two homers thus far. So at least the stuff is still there and considering this is his first exposure to truly advanced hitting, it's not that surprising or alarming that a kid with good fb command up to this point is suddenly a bit more wary of the strike zone. Also, he has reportedly spent a lot of time working on his changeup and slider and if he brought that work into the games that would definitely explain increased walks. So his stock is down but not by as much as you might think upon seeing his line.


7-17 from: - http://baseballanalysts.com/  - Jeurys Familia dialed it up to 98. I'm very surprised to see that he's a starter in the minors, considering. At 20 years old, he can afford to throw one off-speed pitch out of a dozen offerings. Lots of time to work on that secondary stuff and that command. For now, that velo will do.


7-23 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2010/2610396.html  - Jeurys Familia, rhp, Mets. Familia offers ample evidence of why some scouts deride "scouting by the radar gun." Familia can touch the upper 90s with his fastball, but his heater seems a few ticks slower than that because hitters get such a long look at the ball. With high Class A St. Lucie he's walked 17 batters in the last 12 1/3 innings, which explains why he's given up 14 runs over those three starts. Familia's 71 strikeouts are nice, but his 58 walks and nine hit-by-pitches keep him from success.



Gonzales Germen:



7-28-10: - German has had a tough time this season, pitching for Kingsport, but he finally put together a good one last night, going 8.0-IP, 1-ER, 5-H, 5-K, 0-BB. His season ERA was lowered to 4.61. As you read below, I have been high on Germen for awhile and, hopefully, this will the beginning of the old Gonzalez… yeah, old… he’s 22.


Old German stuff:



German was signed in 2007 as a non-drafted free agent.


German had an impressive debut in 2008 with the DSL Mets: 5-2, 1.34, 0.76 in 15 games, 14 starts. Also, 70 Ks in 74.0 IP and only allowed 11-ER, 41-H, and 15-BB. He limited the opposition to a .159 BA and did not give up a home run in 258 at bats against him.


German won the Sterling Award as the top Met player for the 2008 DSL team. Everyone expected him to come stateside in the spring; however, he stayed a part of the DSL Mets to start the season. After dominating in eight starts (5-0, 1.80, 54-K in 45.0-IP), the visa came through and off he went to the GCL Mets, where he first, was shaky, (0-1, 9.00, in one game), and then disabled until the next tolast game of the season, in which he tossed two scoreless innings.


For the entire 2009, Germen went 5-1, 2.29, in ten games, nine starts.


1-1-10 Forecast: We’ve been following Germen since the first time he pitched for the Mets and, in our opinion, he’s the most talented pitcher coming out of the DSL chain in the past two years. There obviously was a shut down injury which we can’t get any info on… by the way, getting info out of the Mets Florida camp is harder than the getting it out of the Russian Mafia. Because of this injury, there’s a good chance he will repeat rookie ball, but I’d sure like to see him in Brooklyn next spring.

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