MPH August 2008 Hotsheet

For the purposes of the minor leaguers, "August" will include all regular season games played in September.

1. LF Daniel Murphy L/R 4/1/85 MLB New York

What a banner month for Daniel Murphy. He makes his major league debut, has his first homer, first double, first RBI, and oh yeah - he's played out of his mind all the while manning a position, that of the Trinity, he played the least amount of (LF). Murphy's extremely above average eye has helped him to a first month line of .333/.420/.493/.913 (23 for 69, 13 runs, 3 2b, 3b, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 11/14 BB/K). He's played so well, that he's solidified his standing as pretty much the everyday LFer (he's in a strict platoon, with the limited LHP out there, he plays virtually everyday). Not only that, but in limited ABs against LHP, he's been virtually perfect (4 for 6, run, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BBs, .667/.667/1.167).

And as he told us, his name is Daniel, NOT Dan or Danny. So there.

2. 1b Mike Carp L/R 6/30/86 AA Binghamton

Before August: 115 for 379, 51 runs, 19 2b, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 53/68 BB/K, .303/.393/.449/.842

August: .283/.438/.556/.994 (28 for 99, 16 runs, 10 2b, 3b, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 26/20 BB/K)

Season: .299/.403/.471/.874 (143 for 478, 67 runs, 29 2b, 3b, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 79/88 BB/K)

Mike Carp ended a banner bounceback season with his best offensive month of the year (.289/.435/.567/1.002 in August proper). Most notable in his turnaround campaign is his newfound ability to handle lefties (.268/.354/.438/.792, 41 for 153, 21 runs, 6 2b, 3b, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 19/32 BB/K), while still keeping the ability to mash righties (.314/.425/.486/.911, 102 for 325, 46 runs, 23 2b, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 60/56 BB/K). Not to mention his dramatic improvement in plate discipline. While last year he had a respectable 39/75 BB/K ratio, this year he had an off the charts great 79/88 BB/K and an equally great 104 IsoD. Carp is eligible for the Rule V Draft, so it is a safe bet he'll conclude his great season with an addition to the team's 40 man roster.

3. 1b Lucas Duda L/R 2/3/86 A+ St. Lucie

Before August: 99 for 385, 42 runs, 22 2b, 3 3b, 7 HR, 52 RBI, 54/101 BB/K, .257/.355/.384/.739

August: .286/.368/.449/.817 (28 for 98, 16 runs, 4 2b, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 12/28 BB/K)

Season: .263/.358/.398/.755 (127 for 483, 58 runs, 26 2b, 3 3b, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 66/129 BB/K, 2/9 SBs)

Duda bookended his season with good offensive months (.862 OPS April, .817 OPS August), but it was the middle 3 months which sunk his season (.724 May, .621 June, .733 July). In addition, his complete inability to handle LHP (.187/.281/.247/.527, 28 for 150, 11 runs, 4 2b, 3b, HR, 13 RBI, 18/55 BB/K) led to the crumbling of his stats. He hit very well against RHP (.298/.393/.468/.861, 98 for 329, 47 runs, 22 2b, 2 3b, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 48/72 BB/K). Still, Duda likely showed enough to be promoted to Binghamton next season, after what will likely be a second straight winterball trip to Hawaii.

4. RHSP Dillon Gee R/R 4/28/86 A+ St. Lucie/AA Binghamton

Before August: 7-6, 3.36 era, 19 GS, 115.1 IP, 105 H, 18/81 BB/K

August: 3-0, 1.62 era, 6 GS, 39 IP, 30 H, 6/33 BB/K, 0.92 WHIP

Season: 10-6, 2.92 era, 25 GS, 154.1 IP, 135 H, 53/50 R/ER, 7 HR, 24/114 BB/K, 1.03 WHIP

Gee performed significantly better then expected, posting a very solid 8-6, 3.25 line in 21 starts, over 127.1 innings. However, it was his late season promotion to Binghamton, and performance there that really raised eyebrows across the prospect loving community. Gee went 2-0 with a ridiculous 1.33 era in 4 starts, pitching 7 innings in 3 of them, and not allowing more then 1 earned run in any. Gee didn't hit his innings total from last season (178.2), but he significantly bettered his performance (7-9, 3.78 between college/Brooklyn). This season, split between high A and AA, Gee was 10-6 with a 2.92 era. Gee should open 2009 right back in Binghamton, bridging that talent gap between the Jenrry Mejia/Scott Moviel/Brad Holt etc wave and the Jon Niese/Bobby Parnell/Eddie Kunz etc wave.

5. RHSP Scott Moviel R/R 5/7/88 A Savannah/A+ St. Lucie (one start)

Before August: 9-8, 4.54 era, 21 GS, 105 IP, 113 H, 31/71 BB/K, 1.37 WHIP

August: 1-0, 2.70 era, 4 GS, 20 IP, 17 H, 6/13 BB/K

Season: 10-8, 4.25 era, 25 GS, 125 IP, 130 H, 75/59 R/ER, 9 HR, 37/84 BB/K

Season minus April: 9-4, 3.35 era, 20 GS, 107.1 IP, 100 H, 29/71 BB/K, 1.20 WHIP, 2.43 BB/9

Moviel started off his first pro season in utterly disasterous fashion, compiling an ugly 1-4, 9.68 line in April. However, from May 1st on, he pitched very very well, as you can see above. Moviel hit a bit of a wall around the 90-105 inning marker, which coincided with his career high in IP, set last season. However, he pushed through it to set a new career high in innings, with 125. Look for Moviel to begin the 2009 season in St. Lucie, right on pace for a prospect at age 21.

6. OF Cesar Puello R/R 4/1/91 R GCL

Before August: 21 for 81, 10 runs, 2 2b, 7 RBI, 7/9 SBs, 2/22 BB/K, .259/.294/.284/.578

August: .357/.410/.457/.867 (25 for 70, 14 runs, 4 2b, HR, 10 RBI, 3/10 BB/K, 6/9 SBs)

Season: .305/.350/.364/.714 (46 for 151, 24 runs, 6 2b, HR, 17 RBI, 5/32 BB/K, 13/18 SBs)

Puello started off slow, hitting just .259 thru his first 81 ABs, but turned it on in August with a blistering .357 clip. He was signed during the IFA period of 2007, and was one of Omar's Big Three of 2007 (the other's being Wilmer Flores and Jefry Marte). Expect Puello to possibly open in Savannah next year, at age 18.

7. 2b Alonzo Harris R/R 1/16/89 R GCL

Before August: .321/.345/.396/.742, 17 for 53, 11 runs, 2b, HR, 4 RBI, 1/9 BB/K, 1/1 SBs

August: .294/.410/.627/1.037 (15 for 51, 12 runs, 5 2b, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 8/14 BB/K, 6/8 SBs)

Season: .308/.379/.510/.889 (32 for 104, 23 runs, 6 2b, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 9/23 BB/K, 7/9 SBs)

Harris was hitting for a high average all season, but he put on a very impressive power display in August, blasting 9 XBH in just 51 ABs to end with an impressive .889 OPS. It wouldn't be that shocking to see Harris in Savannah next year, especially with the Mets penchant for pushing prospects.

8. RHSP Jenrry Mejia R/R 10/11/89 A- Brooklyn

Before August: 4-1, 2.84 era, 8 GS, 38 IP, 24 H, 14/36 BB/K, 1 WHIP

August: 1-1, 2.94 era, 6 GS, 33.2 IP, 27 H, 12/31 BB/K, 1.16 WHIP

Season: 5-2, 2.89 era, 14 GS, CGSO, 71.2 IP, 51 H, 4 HR, 26/67 BB/K, 1.07 WHIP

Mejia had a great first season stateside, posting career highs in IP (71.2), Ks (67), and wins (5). And he was one of a a handful of teenagers to finish their seasons in Brooklyn, something very rare for the Mets, they usually want Brooklyn overtly stacked to win (really stupid, but whatever). Mejia's on track to begin 2009 in Savannah at age 19, well ahead of the game. It's not inconceivable that he could end his age 19 season in St. Lucie, either.

9. OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis L/R 8/7/87 A- Brooklyn

Before August: 39 for 147, 13 runs, 5 2b, 3b, HR, 11 RBI, 3/6 SBs, 18/34 BB/K, .265/.349/.333/.683

August: .293/.352/.474/.825 (39 for 133, 20 runs, 10 2b, 4 3b, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 8/12 SBs, 11/36 BB/K)

Season: .279/.350/.400/.750 (78 for 280, 33 runs, 15 2b, 5 3b, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 29/70 BB/K, 11/18 SBs)

Nieuwenhuis was drafted in the 3rd round (100th overall) this year. He posted a pretty good line for a lefty in Brooklyn, and should be in St. Lucie to open the 2009 season.