The Mets Police

METS ACQUIRE RHP ZACK WHEELER FROM SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS FOR OUTFIELDER CARLOS BELTRAN

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 28, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced that they have acquired minor league righthanded pitcher Zack Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Carlos Beltran and cash considerations.

 

Wheeler, the Giants’ first-round selection and the sixth player picked overall in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, is 7-5 with a 3.99 ERA (39 earned runs/88.0 innings) with 98 strikeouts this season for San Francisco’s Advanced Class-A affiliate in San Jose.  The 21-year-old was named a California League mid-season All-Star and ranks fourth in the league with a .224 batting average against and fourth with 10.02 strikeouts per nine innings.

 

“We’re excited to add a player of Zack’s caliber to our organization,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson.  “Zack is one of the top pitching prospects in the game and we are fortunate to have him in our system.”

 

Wheeler began his professional career in 2010 at Augusta (A) of the South Atlantic League, where he went 3-3 with a 3.99 ERA (26 earned runs/58.2 innings) and 70 strikeouts in 21 games (13 starts).   He pitched in Major League Baseball’s Futures Game last summer earning a hold with a scoreless inning.

 

Baseball America ranked Wheeler as the 35^th best prospect in minor league baseball in their mid-season report. The publication also ranked him as the top pitcher in the Giants’ minor league system.

 

The 6-4, 185-pounder graduated from East Paulding High School in Georgia and was named Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season after posting a 9-0 record with a 0.54 ERA.

 

Beltran is batting .289 this season, with a National League-high 30 doubles, 15 home runs and 66 RBI.   During his career with the Mets, Beltran hit .280 with 149 home runs and 559 RBI.  He signed a seven-year deal with New York on January 11, 2005.

 

“We thank Carlos for all he has done for this organization – both on and off the field – and wish him well,” Alderson said.  “It has been a pleasure for me personally to know and be able to work with Carlos.  He has been the consummate professional.”

Look what Dan sent me in the middle of the night!

Now that would look great in the new Mets Police HQ, but $229 for a poster is kinda scary. I don’t think I can do it.

My white whale continues to be the Mazzilli poster from poster day, which of course I once owned, and is long-lost to whatever moms do to our toys when boys are at school.

Oh by the way Dave and Jeff, note how the logo really pops in this campaign and how the ball logo has a nice NY.

Help me David Einhorn, you’re our only hope.

Damn that poster is eye-catchy.

Media Goon was reading the newspaper and saw this. The orange shaded areas are “strong Mets” areas. What, you see mostly blue?

Yep. Been trying to alert Jeff to this for 4+ years now. An entire generation lost to Jeter and to some fool-hardy marketing a few years back that left some of the core feeling unwanted. Don’t lose your 40 year olds and their children.

Next week’s kids-for-free is a great start.

Take a look at the top tweet

It’s not like Pagan has had issues with heat.

This is on Colactus too. Stupid to wear black when it is 93 in Cincinnati.

Yesterday on twitter (@metspolice) I saw some discussion about Carlos Beltran being a Hall of Famer.

Since I had never ever heard that mentioned even once while he was on the Mets I was quite surprised.

I’m sure y’all can pull out all sorts of stats, especially those newfangled “advanced” stats that will “prove” he should be in – I go with my old standby…my eyes.

Simple enough, since nobody ever mentioned the possibility to me, and I never thought it once – he isn’t a Hall of Famer.

A good player, maybe even good enough for the Hall of Garvey (where Mattingly, Hernandez and Gooden live) but not the one in Cooperstown.