Taking the next step in our quest to accurately evaluate drafting from the opening decade of the 21st century, I used the ranking system Brian unveiled and assigned values for every first-round pick arranged by team. The goal is to assess which teams got the most out of their first-rounders over a 10-year period. To [...]
Headlined by the best player of a generation, the 2009 draft has emerged as one of the best draft classes in the 21st century. One of the most recognized faces in baseball today, Mike Trout already is a two-time MVP and five-time Silver Slugger. In six full seasons in the majors, Trout has finished no [...]
For the first time in this Mets360 series, it feels like bWAR numbers are not reflective of a draft’s impact. The 2007 edition does not have anyone from its top 100 with a career bWAR over 40 (each of the previous two drafts had three), but it features multiple Cy Young Award winners and MVPs [...]
There is a superstition that bad things come in threes. That certainly seems to have held true for the first half dozen Major League Baseball Amateur Drafts of the 21st century – even the ones dripping with talent, like the 2005 edition. The Seattle Mariners’ selection of catcher Jeff Clement with the third pick of [...]
While the Mets360 draft series is still in relative infancy, there is a very good chance the 2003 draft will go down as the least flashy of the bunch when the series concludes. Looking at the previous three drafts dissected in this exercise, each has had a minimum of three players among the top 100 [...]
The 2001 draft started with a bang and – outside of a handful of hits beyond the first half dozen picks – fizzled considerably as it climbed toward 100. Five of the first six players selected in 2001 have posted a career bWAR in double digits. However, only five of the remaining 94 players in [...]
Noah Syndergaard seems to relish second chances. Pitching for his second organization, Syndergaard made his major league debut in Wrigley Field on May 12. He didn’t embarrass himself that day – allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts - but was overmatched in a 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs and Jake [...]
The Mets are facing an offseason of stark changes, and the front office will be no exception. General manager Omar Minaya likely will be reassigned within the organization, opening the door to a fresh start for a franchise that seemingly has lost its way over the last few seasons. Several names have emerged as prospects [...]
The Mets need to win 13 times in their final 18 games in order for Jerry Manuel to avoid concluding his career as the team's skipper with a losing record. While Manuel's future with the organization technically has not been decided, the Mets cannot possibly re-sign him. After succeeding Willie Randolph midway through the 2008 [...]
The Mets have not had the same primary right fielder for more than two consecutive seasons since Darryl Strawberry patrolled that portion of Shea Stadium from 1983-90. With the recent trade of Jeff Francoeur, who has led the team in games played there each of the last two seasons, the Mets remain in search of [...]
Oliver Perez recently expressed an interest in returning to the Mets in 2011. Even though the team will have to pay him $12 million next year one way or another, they should tell Perez, "No thanks." Perez is in the second year of what has become an abomination of a contract for the Mets. Since [...]
With a little over a month left in the 2010 season, Mike Pelfrey is closing in on a feat last accomplished in 2003. He has a legitimate chance to be the team leader in wins on a pitching staff that includes Johan Santana. Pelfrey turned in eight scoreless innings on Friday night to match a [...]