Make-The-Mets-O-Meter

Back for its second season, the Make-The-Mets-O-Meter (MTMOM) makes its 2008 debut on the morning of the Mets' first intrasquad game of the spring. After tussling with each other for nine innings the Mets will take on UMich tomorrow before heading to Lakeland on Wednesday to take on the Tigers. Mike Pelfrey is slated to start Wednesday's game, with John Maine and Johan Santana to follow on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Maine and Santana are assured of spots with the big league club when camp breaks at the end of March, but Pelfrey and many other players will spend the next four weeks trying to impress enough to convince Mets management that they should go north with the big boys.

This is where the MTMOM comes in. I blatantly swiped the idea for this last season from my buddy Martin Gandy over at Talking Chop, so I give him full credit for its conception. I have taken the Mets' 40-man roster (minus those obviously slated to make the team) as well as all of the Mets' non-roster invitees and rated each player's current chance of making the team out of spring training. An up-arrow means a player's stock is on the rise, though it doesn't necessarily mean he is particularly likely to make the club. A down-arrow means that a particular player isn't doing so hot. Neutral is just that: neither here nor there.

I'll post an updated list once a week or so as circumstances encourage me to do so.

Player, Position		Comment
Michel Abreu, 1B		Missed all of 2007 with visa issues. Might actually be 33, not 29.
Tony Armas, RHP	--	Rotation depth ticketed for New Orleans. Currently having visa problems.
Adam Bostick, LHP	--	Came to Mets from Marlins in last year's Lindstrom/Owens trade. Has never pitched in the bigs, look for him to continue that trend in 2007.
Robinson Cancel, C	--	One of many catchers in camp who probably hits better than Brian Schneider but has no chance of making the team.
Raul Casanova, C	--	Great name notwithstanding, that he was originally drafted by the Mets in 1990 doesn't help his cause much here. .286/.346/.467 career minor league line is intriguing.
Brady Clark, OF	--	Just signed a couple of weeks ago. Has a good eye at the plate, but has no power to speak of.
Andy Cavazos, RHP	--	10.35 ERA in 20 innings with the Cardinals last year.
Willie Collazo, LHP	--	Good news: has his own baseball card. Bad news: might not get one this year.
Ryan Cullen, LHP	--	Just 16 walks in 67.2 innings with New Orleans last year. Could be interesting if anything happens to Pedro Feliciano.
Joselo Diaz, RHP		Was packaged with Scott Kazmir to net the Mets Victor Zambrano and Bartolome Fortunato. Had a nice Caribbean series with Dominican Republic.
Nate Field, RHP	--	Pitched pretty well with Florida's AAA affiliate last year.
Nelson Figueroa, RHP	--	One of four players traded to the Phillies for Curt Schilling at the 2000 deadline. Uhh... shares a common surname with someone I used to temp with while in college.
Ruben Gotay, IF		Could have the inside track for a backup infielder spot. Hit well with the Mets last year, and flexibility to play shortstop can only help him.
Anderson Hernandez, IF		Probably doesn't hit enough to unseat Gotay as the frontrunner to be Jose Reyes's and Luis Castillo's backup.
Ben Johnson, OF	--	Signed a minor league deal a couple of weeks ago, he's all the Mets have to show for giving Heath Bell away last offseason.
Eddie Kunz, RHP	--	Closer in training, was just drafted last year out of Oregon State. Has no shot of making the team.
Ruddy Lugo, RHP	--	Claimed off waivers from the Athletics at the end Of January, will battle all spring for a bullpen spot.
Anderson Machado, IF	--	Great plate discipline as a minor leaguer. The fact that he has done little else of note will keep him far, far away from Queens.
Brahiam Maldonado, OF	--	Has hit well in the minor leagues. Should begin this season in AA, which will be a good test for him.
Salomon Manriquez, C	--	Homered off Johan Santana in batting practice. Had a nice season in AA with Texas last year..
Fernando Martinez, OF		Top prospect, thinks he'll play for the Mets in 2008. Gotta love the kid's confidence.
Gustavo Molina, C	--	I have no idea what he's doing here.
Carlos Muniz, RHP	--	Has pitched very well in the Mets' minors over the past two seasons, striking out many and walking few.
Mike Nickeas, C	--	See: Gustavo Molina.
Jon Niese, LHP	--	Has good stuff, though is a bit raw and the Mets don't really have room for him right now anyway. He's only 21 and will start the year in Double-A Binghamton.
Juan Padilla, RHP	--	Hasn't pitched in two years, and there are a lot of guys who have who are much better bets to make the team right now.
Angel Pagan, OF	--	If Endy Chavez isn't ready to go when spring training is over, Pagan might head north to provide some outfield depth.
Robert Parnell, RHP	--	Has never pitched in the majors, and is really organizational filler at this point.
Mike Pelfrey, RHP		Plays a lot of Wii, which is awesome. With El Duque taking things slowly, Pelfrey might get the fifth starter spot after all.
Steven Register, RHP	--	Saved 37 games with Texas's Double-A team last year, which led all minor leaguers. Fastball/splitter pitcher, could be a dark horse to make the 'pen.
Ricardo Rincon, LHP	--	Pretty good career numbers, missed most of last year with shoulder surgery.
Brant Rustich, RHP	--	Like Kunz, drafted last year. Unlike Kunz, actually pitched well in limited professional exposure in 2007. Like Kunz, won't make the Mets out of spring training.
Olmedo Saenz, 1B	--	Stunk last year, but was solid off the bench for the Dodgers from 2004-2006. His lack of defensive versatility hurts his chances.
Joe Smith, RHP	--	Surprised many by making the team out of spring training last year. Pitched marvelously for a while and then horribly for a while. Maybe he got tired as the season wore on. Is no lock to make the club, but his experience last year can only help his case.
Brian Stokes, RHP	--	7.07 ERA in 62.1 innings with the Devil Rays last season.
Fernando Tatis, IF	--	Once: hit two grand slams in an inning off of Chan Ho Park. Now: having visa problems and likely destined for New Orleans.
Jose Valentin, IF	--	Is a "baseball guy". Loves the Ground Round. Might be too injured to make the team.
Jason Vargas, LHP	--	Not looking good.
Matt Wise, RHP		Unlike most of the bullpen fodder the Mets are auditioning this spring, Wise actually has a major league contract in his back pocket. If he pitches well enough over the next few weeks the Mets might have a tough time leaving him behind.

Key:
-- = Chance of making the team is even.
= Chance of making the team is going down.
= Chance of making the team is going up.