June 2009 Hotsheet

1. Jon Niese

Before June: 0-4, 7.96 era, 7 GS, 31.2 IP, 48 H, 34/28 ER, 12/30 BB/K

June: 3-2, 2.43 era, 6 GS, 40.2 IP, 32 H, 12/11 R/ER, 2 HR, 9/35 BB/K, 1.83 GO/FO, .215 BAA

Season: 3-6, 4.85 era, 13 GS, 72.1 IP, 80 H, 46/39 R/ER, 7 HR, 21/65 BB/K, 1.81 GO/FO, .275 BAA

After pitching horrific baseball for the first 2 months of the season, Jon Niese has kicked it into a serious gear in June, and were it not for his first start of the month (6.1 ip, 7 h, 6 er), those numbers would be downright extraordinary: 3-1, 1.31 era, 5 GS, 34.1 ip, 25 h, 6/5 r/er, 8/29 bb/k. So after really experiencing failure for the first time in his pro career, Niese has bounced back extremely nicely.

2. 1B/OF Nick Evans

Before June (AAA Buffalo + AA Binghamton): .130/.237/.261/.498, 15 for 115, 10 runs, 3 2b, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 16/40 BB/K

June: .323/.397/.554/.951, 21 for 65, 11 runs, 7 2b, 3b, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6/9 BB/K

Season: .200/.294/.367/.661, 36 for 180, 21 runs, 10 2b, 3b, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 22/49 BB/K

Evans' struggles at the beginning of the season were well documented, he got off to a miserable .093/.218/.227/.445 start in Buffalo, was demoted all the way to Extended, and then Binghamton, where he got off to an equally terrible start, but prior to his callup on June 19th, Evans was tearing it up, with a .390 average over his last 10 games (16 for 41, 6 2b, 3b, 2 HR), and overall a very very good month of June, Evans has seemingly regained his stroke from last year, when he was one of the top offensive prospects in the system.

3. 1b Ike Davis

Before June: .282/.367/.448/.815, 49 for 174, 18 runs, 16 2b, 2 3b, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 24/46 BB/K

June: .324/.444/.568/1.012, 24 for 74, 11 runs, 4 2b, 3b, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 15/15 BB/K

Season: .294/.391/.484/.875, 73 for 248, 29 runs, 20 2b, 3 3b, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 39/61 BB/K

Split over two levels, Davis had a fantastic month of June, especially in the plate discipline department. Luckily for Ike, he saved an 0 for 8 stretch in Binghamton until the calendar turned (9 for 27 vs 9 for 35, lol). A valid concern is his continued inability to hit LHP (2 for 12, 3/5 BB/K in AA, after OPSing under .500 vs LHP in the FSL).

4. C Josh Thole

Before June: .369/.440/.490/.930, 58 for 157, 22 runs, 16 2b, HR, 16 RBI, 20/20 BB/K, 2/3 SBs

June: .310/.374/.400/.774, 31 for 100, 12 runs, 5 2b, 2 3b, 14 RBI, 11/5 BB/K, 2 SBs

Season: .346/.414/.455/.869, 89 for 257, 34 runs, 21 2b, 2 3b, HR, 30 RBI, 31/25 BB/K, 4/6 SBs

Well...those claiming bias on my part will have a field day with this selection for the Hotsheet, but here's my explaination: I needed 10 guys, and he was 10th to be chosen (but I go top down in the system, Buffalo down to Savannah).

Anyway, Thole had a good month average and OBP wise (74 IsoD in April, 68 in May, 64 in June), but didn't hit for all that much power, even for him (117 IsoP in April, 124 in May, only 90 in June). He kept up his insane reverse platoon splits, ending the month at .420/.488/.478/.966 vs LHP, and a good (not great) .319/.386/.447/.833 against RHP. His (further) improvement against RHP may allieviate concerns about him needing a platoon mate, but we would like to see those numbers even out a bit more. For those who say he doesn't hit for enough power, given 500 ABs (120 starts), his power numbers would be: 41 2b, 4 3b, 2 HR - well more then adequate from a catcher. Especially when it comes attached to a .300/.375 line.

5. OF Brahiam Maldonado

Before June: .226/.277/.377/.653, 33 for 146, 16 runs, 8 2b, 3b, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 8/46 BB/K

June: .268/.391/.437/.827, 19 for 71, 10 runs, 3 2b, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 14/27 BB/K, 6 SBs

Season: .240/.317/.396/.713, 52 for 217, 26 runs, 11 2b, 3b, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 22/73 BB/K

A month after making the "Not Hot" portion, Maldonado posted a good bounceback month, especially in the plate discipline department, with a very good 14/27 BB/K ratio (good for him, .5185). We'll have to see if it carries over to July, though. And at 23 1/2, it'll need to.

6. 3b Zach Lutz

Before June: .230/.370/.391/.761, 20 for 87, 11 runs, 3 2b, 3b, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 17/22 BB/K,

June: .293/.375/.402/.777, 27 for 92, 11 runs, 5 2b, 3b, HR, 12 RBI, 12/17 BB/K

Season: .263/.373/.397/.769, 47 for 179, 22 runs, 8 2b, 2 3b, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 29/39 BB/K

Lutz has suffered through an injury plagued tenure with the Mets, and this season has been no exception, he played in just 26 of the Mets first 48 games, and hit accordingly, just .230. However, he was healthy for all of June, and hit .293, albeit with not alot of power, with just a 109 IsoP. However, it portended good things for July, but he may have suffered *another* injury on July 9th, as he left the game early.

7. RHSP Jeurys Familia

Before June: 3-4, 2.92 era, 10/9 G/GS, 52.1 IP, 42 H, 22/17 R/ER, 20/37 BB/K, 1.608 GO/FO, .218 BAA, 1.185 WHIP

June: 2-1, 3.00 era, 5 GS, 30 IP, 24 H, 11/10 R/ER, HR, 9/25 BB/K, 1.70 GO/FO, .220 BAA, 1.10 WHIP

Season: 5-5, 2.95 era, 15/14 G/GS, 82.1 IP, 66 H, 33/27 R/ER, 29/62 BB/K, 1.642 GO/FO, .219 BAA, 1.154 WHIP

Familia's been one of Savannah's best pitchers this season, holding steady with a upper 2s to low 3s era, but he's pitched better then his numbers would indicate, as he goes on 4-5 start streaks of excellence, and then gets bombed for a 1-2 start span. Of course, that's what the low minor leagues are for, becoming more consistent. Familia doesn't turn 20 until after the season ends, so he is well ahead of the game.

8. RHSP Kyle Allen

Before June: 3-2, 4.91 era, 9/3 G/GS, 36.2 IP, 39 H, 21/20 R/ER, 17/34 BB/K, 2.251 GO/FO, .279 BAA, 1.527 WHIP

June: 2-1, 3.38 era, 5 GS, 26.2 IP, 25 H, 13/10 R/ER, 3 HR, 8/24 BB/K, 1.95 GO/FO, .248 BAA, 1.24 WHIP

Season: 5-3, 4.26 era, 14/8 G/GS, 63.1 IP, 64 H, 34/30 R/ER, 25/58 BB/K, 2.124 GO/FO, .266 BAA, 1.405 WHIP

Allen's been very up and down in his first full season, seemingly alternating good start/bad start, and hasn't yet been able to hit a consistent groove. However, he, too is just 19 years old, turning 20 in February of 2010, so time is very much on his side.

9. Robert Carson

Before June: 3-3, 2.09 era, 9 GS, 47.1 IP, 46 H, 26/11 R/ER, HR, 13/36 BB/K, 2.329 GO/FO, .248 BAA, 1.246 WHIP

June: 2-2, 2.89 era, 5 GS, 28 IP, 30 H, 11/9 R/ER, 13/15 BB/K, 1.44 GO/FO, .280 BAA, 1.54 WHIP

Season: 5-5, 2.39 era, 14 GS, 75.1 IP, 76 H, 37/20 R/ER, 26/51 BB/K, 1.999 GO/FO, .260 BAA, 1.354 WHIP

Carson's been, more then anyone else, a victim of the horrific Savannah defense (but really, every pitcher on the staff should be given at least half a pass, since even earned runs are the result of plays that should be made but aren't, or official scorers who don't give errors when they're justified). Outside of that, Carson's pitched great, with a 2:1 GO/FO ratio, and a good 3.106 BB/9. He needs to improve his K rate, but all his other periphs are very good.

10. ss Wilmer Flores

Before June: .263/.308/.327/.635, 41 for 156, 15 runs, 7 2b, HR, 13 RBI, 10/24 BB/K

June: .309/.340/.426/.766, 29 for 94, 7 runs, 6 2b, 3b, HR, 8 RBI, 2/9 BB/K

Season: .280/.320/.364/.684, 70 for 250, 22 runs, 13 2b, 3b, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 12/33 BB/K, .132 K rate

After a eh April and a terrible May, Wilmer bounced back to post his best month in Savannah. The very good thing about Wilmer is he only Ks roughly 1 every 8 ABs, meaning he has a very good contact rate, which is a good thing for his future. And remember, he doesn't turn 18 until August 6th. His XBH is way down from last year, if you're looking for any negatives (1 every 18.06 ABs this year, vs 1 every 11.2 ABs last year). His K rate and BB/K ratio is virtually the same from 08 to 09, another very good sign.
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|||WHO IS NOT|||
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1. OF Carlos Guzman

June: .224/.283/.365/.647, 19 for 85, 10 runs, 3 2b, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 6/13 BB/K

Much like Maldonado, and some others, the margin of error for Guzman is tiny when it comes to being regarded as a prospect. The 23 year old needs to make it up to Binghamton sometime this season and hit there, so an ice cold month like June serves to diminish his star, such that it was in the first place.

2. OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis

June: .242/.318/.364/.682, 24 for 99, 19 runs, 6 2b, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 10/22 BB/K

Nieuwenhuis has been inconsistent at best in his first full season of pro ball, sandwiching sub .700 OPS months around his .900+ May. However, on the positive side, his plate discipline numbers have been improving month to month (.3157 BB/K in April, .4615 in May, .4545 in June). And unlike Maldonado and Guzman, he turns 22 in August, so he's got some time to middle around before finding it.

3. Greg Veloz

June: .220/.268/.264/.532, 20 for 91, 11 runs, 4 2b, 6 RBI, 6/18 BB/K, 8/10 SBs

Veloz turned 21 in the early days of June, and celebrated by putting up his worst offensive month of the season. He is age appropriate for the league, but so far this season has put up woeful numbers with a .602 OPS.

4. IF Hector Pellot

June: .258/.319/.333/.653, 17 for 66, 5 runs, 3 2b, 3b, 4 RBI, 6/16 BB/K

Pellot's 22, and before his woeful June, there was some hope in the prospect community that he was finally justifying his 4th round selection way back in 2005. Well, then he went out and posted a mid 600 OPS...scratch that idea. Pellot will be eligible for the Rule V draft after the season, and there's virtually no chance he's protected.

5. Elvin Ramirez

June: 0-4, 5.64 era, 5 GS. 22.1 IP, 29 H, 20/14 R/ER, 2 HR, 18/14 BB/K, 1.32 GO/FO, .319 BAA

After posting ERAs of 3.93 and 3.09 in his first two months, Ramirez was a flat out disaster in June, with a mid 5s era, and more walks then strikeouts. Hopefully it's just some deadarm, as he's pitching into rarified air, innings wise (81 last year, 72.2 this). He has been especially bad his last two outings (7 innings, 16 hits, 8 earned). Hopefully he turns it around, as he's repeating the SAL off a good season last year (6-7, 3.67), and he turns 22 after the season ends.