Report: Alay Soler is on His Way

by Eric Simon on May 21, 2006 2:08 PM EDT

With Lima Time! DFA'd, it looks like the Mets will look to Cuban import Alay Soler to fill Lima's spot in the rotation. Soler dominated High-A with St. Lucie and has been almost as impressive since his callup to AA Binghamton.

Lg     ERA     IP      H    R       HR    BB    SO
A+    0.64    28.0    12    2     0     8    32
AA    2.75    19.2    16    6     0     3    22

This is a much better idea than bringing up Mike Pelfrey, who similarly dominated High-A but has struggled since being called up to AA. He is going to be a stud in time, but he definitely needs some more time to develop his off-speed pitches. Soler is 26 years old and brings with him his experience from pitching in Cuba.

His peripherals this year in the minors are outstanding: in 47.2 combined innings he has struck out 54 batters while walking just 11 and not allowing a single ball to leave the yard. His hit rate in St. Lucie was absurdly low (just 12 in 28.0 innings), but if he can come anywhere near the 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio he has posted in the minors he should find success in the bigs.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

As an environmentalist...

I've been a long-time believer in Soler power.

by Mr. Met on May 21, 2006 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

wow

we actually agree on something. this is the right move.

It's only a game

by elifriedman on May 21, 2006 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

seems like a good move...

Soler didn't look great at Spring Training, but his numbers in the Minors look good.

Pelfrey will come around, but needs some more time in Bingoland from the looks of his last few starts there.

So who are they going to replace Jeremi Gonzalez with? He's as bad as Lima...

by erich11226 on May 21, 2006 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

at this point

an ERA under 8.50 and pitching only five innings a night makes Soler a better option than either LIMA TIME! or Gonzalez. that is a sad testimonial to how bad those two were in their five starts, but i like this move over Pelfrey right now. can't wait to see how it shakes out this week.

by londoncatfish on May 21, 2006 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

anyone know if he has

regained his velocity? In spring training he was only throwing in the high 80s. From what I heard when they signed him, he allegedly threw in the low to mid 90s. His strikeout numbers would suggest that he has, but I am not sure. Anyone have the original [or recent] scouting report on him?

by Art Vandaley on May 21, 2006 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

Velocity

From what I hear, Soler's velocity has been in the low 90's (90-93).

by Alex Nelson on May 21, 2006 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Option for #5 starter

I like Evan Maclane down in triple A to replace Gonzales in the rotation. Maclane is a prototypical crafty lefty with great control and average stuff.

Coming into this season Maclane logged 370 innings with a 2.97 era, 8.25 h/9, .95 hr/9, 1.19bb/9, 8.17k/9, and 1.05 whip.

So far this season he has the following lines:
AA: 33 inn, 4.64 era, 9.27h/9, 1.09hr/9, .54bb/9, 6.82k/9, and a 1.091whip.

in aaa: 20-1/3inn, 1.31era, 7.40h/9, .87hr/9, 1.74bb/9, 8.27k/9, and a 1.016whip.

according to baseball prospectus, his mlb-equivalent production is somewhere around 9.8h/9, 1.6bb/9, 1.7 hr/9 with a VORP of 3.9, making him a player roughly 3.9 runs better than a league average arm. lima's 2006 line is: 11.30h/9, 5.02 bb/9, 6.28 k/9 1.26hr/9 for a VORP of -5.7- UGLY.

jeremi gonzales isnt a whole lot better, with a line of 15.75h/9, 3.38bb/9, 7.88k/9, and 2.25 hr/9 for a VORP of -3.8.

Either way you cut it, maclane is a better pitcher right now than either of the 2 guys we brought up. he is roughly 9.6 runs better than lima or 7.7 runs better than gonzales (10 runs= 1 win over the course of a 162 game season). the only argument i see against mclane is that he is really young- 23 or 24- and has an actual future with the team, such that team brass doesnt want to rush him, but i just cant see him being worse than gonzales or lima. I am all for Soler as he is an older prospect at 26 and he has theoretically nasty stuff.

by gene on May 22, 2006 3:19 PM EDT reply actions