MPH System Audit Part VIb: Relief Pitchers 9-15

9. Steven Cheney (21) R/R (A- Brooklyn 4-4, 2.70 era, 18 G, 40 IP, 33 H, 12/39 BB/K, 1.13 WHIP

Cheney was drafted by the Mets in the 25th round of the 2006 draft out of Florida Gulf and Coast University. After signing, he was sent to Kingsport, where as a 19 year old, he put up a 2.73 era in 17 games, spanning 29.2 innings. In 2007, Cheney spent the season in Brooklyn, where he wasn't slowed down at all, putting up a 2.70 era in 40 innings, covering 18 appearances.

ETA. late-2010. It wouldn't be a shock to see Cheney in St. Lucie next season, either to start the season, or at some point after opening in Savannah.

10. Ivan Maldonado (27) R/R (AAA New Orleans 3-1, 3.86 era, 41 G, 44.1 IP, 9 SVs, 42 H, 20/49 BB/K, 1.40 WHIP, VWL Magallanes 1-3, 5.92 era, 29 G, 24.1 IP, 25 H, 9/18 BB/K, 1.40 WHIP)

Total 2007 Stats: 4-4, 4.59 era, 70 G, 68.2 IP, 67 H, 29/67 BB/K

The Mets drafted Maldonado in 18th round of the 2002 draft out of Indian Hills Community College. He has advanced a level per year, starting off in Kingsport in 2002. however, he did skip high A, jumping directly from Cap City (Sally League) to Binghamton (AA). Maldonado was left unprotected in the 2007 Rule V draft, but was not taken. Maldonado should compete for a bullpen slot in spring training 2008, but more then likely, he will head back to New Orleans and await a call up.

11. Willie Collazo (28) L/L (AAA New Orleans 6-5, 2.46 era, 53 G, 4 GS, 98.2 IP, 91 H, 19/69 BB/K, 1.11 WHIP, VWL La Guaira 4-5, 3.62 era, 15 G, 14 GS, 74.2 IP, 88 H, 19/39 BB/K, 1.43 WHIP)

Total 2007 Stats: 10-10, 2.96 era, 68 G, 18 GS, 173.1 IP, 179 H, 38/108 BB/K, 1.25 WHIP

The southpaw was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of the 2001 MLB Draft out of Florida International University. After spending years within the Braves and Angels organization, he signed on with the Mets prior to the 2006 season. In his two years with the Mets, he has been used in varying roles. In 2008, he should compete for a bullpen slot in spring training 2008, but more then likely, he will head back to New Orleans and await a callup.

Repertoire: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup

Collazo throws his fastball in the 84-88 range, and as evidenced by his miniscule 38 walks allowsed in 173.1 innings this year (1.97 walks per 9), he can command his pitches exceptionally well, whether it be starting or relieving. He can throw his fastball to both corners, and also can occasionally throw it up in the zone to throw off a hitter's timing. He also throws a cutter in on righties hands, and away from lefties. Aside from his 2 fastballs, Collazo also throws a 73-77 curveball, which he can throw to either corner. He keeps this pitch down, and will not hesistate to throw it in any count. He finishes his off his repertoire with a good changeup that he works consistently down in the zone as well.
Collazo is a smart pitcher, and knows he won't overpower anyone. He works to contact and is a good groundball pitcher.

As many people noted during his brief appearance in the majors, Collazo looks and pitches like a mini-Feliciano, and that is his ceiling, a solid setup man. More likely, however, is Collazo being a very effective lefty specialist who shouldn't see many righties. We would expect him to open 2008 in New Orleans, and be among the first up in case of trouble.

12. Ryan Cullen (27) L/L, (AA Binghamton 0-1, 4.38 era, 8 G, 12.1 IP, 18 H, 0/12 BB/K, 1.46 WHIP, AAA New Orleans 2-6, 3.04 era, 45 G, 71 IP, 74 H, 19/52 BB/K, 1.31 WHIP, DWL Licey 0-1, 5.87 era, 11 G, 7.2 IP, 10 H, 2/3 BB/K, 1.57 WHIP)

Total 2007 Stats: 2-8, 3.46 era, 64 G, 91 IP, 102 H, 21/67 BB/K, 1.35 WHIP

Cullen was drafted in the 33rd round of the 1998 draft by the Texas Rangers. In 2000, he was traded by the Rangers to the As, and he was released in 2004, after missing the entire season. The Mets picked him up in 2005, and he only appeared in 3 games, totalling 5.1 innings. In 2006, Cullen spent the bulk of the season in Binghamton, appearing in 35 games, totalling 60.1 innings. He sported a 2.98 era, and gave up 47 hits, while walking 16 and striking out 52.

Cullen spent most of 2007 with New Orleans, compiling a 3.06 era in 40 games, spanning 67.2 innings. Much like Maldonado and Collazo, he should compete for a bullpen slot in spring training 2008, but more then likely, he will head back to New Orleans and await a call up.

13. Jose De La Torre (22) R/R (A+ St. Lucie 4-7, 4.76 era, 28 G, 8 GS, 62.1 IP, 8 SVs, 79 H, 10/51 BB/K, 1.43 WHIP)

The Mets signed De La Torre as an undrafted free agent out of Texarkana College in 2005. in 2006, De La Torre spent time in Kingsport and Brooklyn, pitching to a 1.93 era in 37.1 innings between the levels, allowing 29 hits, while walking 14 and K-ing 46.

In 2007, De La Torre opened the season in St. Lucie, in the starting rotation, but after 8 starts, he was moved back to the bullpen. It was revealed in October that De La Torre needed Tommy John Surgery.

Repertoire: Fastball, Slider.

De La Torre's repertoire is very limited. He throws a low 90s fastball with good movement, and a plus mid 80s slider. His slider is his out pitch due to the tremendous break he gets on it. De La Torre would be best served in a relief role due to his meager arsenal, not starting as he was during the early portion of the 2007 season. With such a small arsenal, there really isn't much he can do to confuse hitters, and so he goes right after them. Due to his undergoing Tommy John Surgery during the winter, he is expected to miss all of 2008 and some of 2009. With that in mind, we would expect him to be ready sometime in mid 2011 at the earliest, and early 2012 would be a more conservative time frame.

14. Brandon Nall (25) R/R (AA Binghamton 2-0, 4.57 era, 34 G, 43.1 IP, 50 H, 17/37 BB/K, 1.55 WHIP, A+ St. Lucie 3-2, 2.21 era, 11 G, 20.1 IP, 4 SVs, 15 H, 3/21 BB/K, .89 WHIP)

Total 2007 Stats: 5-2, 3.82 era, 45 G, 63.2 IP, 65 H, 20/58 BB/K, 1.34 WHIP

Originally drafted by the Braves in 2002, Nall declined to sign and instead opted to go to LSU, where he missed the entirety of the 2003 and 2004 seasons recovering from a torn labrum. In 2005, he posted a 3-2 record with LSU, but a 5.18 era in 7 games (4 starts), spanning 24.1 innings. The Mets signed him as an undrafted free agent and sent him to Hagerstown, where he struggled, posting a 7.06 era in 12 games (2 starts).

2006 was a much better year for the righty, but he was old for his level. He will open 2007 in Binghamton, as a 25 year old, and should end the season in New Orleans.

Repertoire: Fastball, Slider, Changeup

Nall is a submarine righty, who throws between 87-91 on his fastball, with the lower speeds conducive to higher movement. He did not generate as many Ks in Binghamton as he did in St. Lucie this season, a sign that he may be topping out around the AA level. Aside from his fastball, Nall throws a slider with very good movement on it (down and away from righties), this pitch is thrown between 77 and 81 MPH. He continues to work on a changeup, but he did not throw it much in 2007 so its development is still a long ways away.

ETA. late-2009. Nall projects as a righty specialist at the big league level, with his ceiling being a middle innings reliever. This assumes he will further refine his changeup. We would expect Nall to open 2008 in Binghamton, and if all goes well, to end in New Orleans, with a mid to late 2009 arrival date in the majors.

15. Eddie Camacho (25) L/L (A+ St. Lucie 1-1, 2.77 era, 9 G, 13 IP, 3 SVs, 10 H, 2/15 BB/K, .92 WHIP, AA Binghamton 0-0, 0.00 era, 5 G, 11.2 IP, SV, 9 H, 3/10 BB/K, 1.03 WHIP, AAA New Orleans 2-1, 4.14 era, 36 G, 2 SVs, 50 IP, 53 H, 15/46 BB/K, 1.36 WHIP, AFL Scottsdale 0-2, 2.31 era, 10 G, 11.2 IP, 15 H, 2/9 BB/K, 1.46 WHIP)

Total 2007 Stats: 3-4, 3.13 era, 60 H, 86.1 IP, 87 H, 22/80 BB/K, 1.26 WHIP

The Mets signed Camacho as an undrafted free agent in 2004 out of Cal State Northridge. He spent 2004 in the GCL and NYPL, followed by the FSL in 2005, and then a level per year until now.

As with the other AAA relievers, he should compete for a bullpen slot in spring training 2008, but more then likely, he will head back to New Orleans and await a call up.