Just because Marte has been more of a "slow build" doesn't make him any less of a prospect than Wilmer. Marte is putting up very nice numbers at AA despite only being 3 months older. He's not going to be tossed aside just to promote Wilmer. Makes absolutely no sense. There is just as much chance Marte is a good MLB player as Flores. I'd take Wilmer by a nose but it's not as if Marte is some bum. They both signed the same year.. Wilmer got 700K, Marte 550K. They are essentially the same exact age and Marte was given 483 AB's in St. Lucie to Wilmer's 977. Not a stretch at all to suggest had assignments been flipped the same people arguing to promote Wilmer at the expense of Marte would be suggesting the opposite.

I think me, you, and Nitey are the only ones who still hold a glimmer of hope.

Pena's Savannah assignment in 2007 still befuddles me; maybe the F-Mart Effect made them think every high or semi-high profile IFA could handle a jump into full-season ball as a 17 year old for their professional debuts.

FWIW, Kazmir was 20 when pitching for the B-Mets.

Ok but does the promotion of Flores at any point HAVE to be at the expense of Marte? Can't they figure something out?

Because I believe not promoting Flores because of Marte would be the exact same thing except in reverse.

Flores is obviously ready for Double-A and he needs better competition so he can make adjustments to his game accordingly.

They are going to have to figure SOMETHING out but there really is no rush. This is Wilmer's first extended run of really good offensive play (and Marte's best as well). Neither one likely can play another position and Marte's defense has improved a lot over the past 2 years. No way they basically "ruin" his prospect status moving him to 1b and you don't move a guy to the OF in the middle of the season (I have my doubts he can play out there). My guess is they try and figure out a way to get Wilmer ab's at 3b, 2b and SS once he's promoted to AA but I don't think it's going to come at the expense of "junking" Marte or bumping him to AAA as a 20 year old.

The 2007 assignment still pisses me off. Few American high school catchers, even those drafted in the first round, start in full season ball. Pena was even younger than them. I understand the bloodlines, but they really moved him faster than made sense. He should have spent at least one year in short-season ball. As it is, the Meta handcuffed themselves go continuously pushing him to inappropriate levels by putting him at such a high level at such a young age.

But hey, great defense, some pop, and a decent contact rate? I realize he's been in the FSL since Nimmo was in middle school, but he's not ancient and catchers develop funny. There's still a chance, IMO.

I don't think fullmer gets in tomorrow

They handled Pena absolutely brutally. Lagares, too. Tejada, three.

Not to say I like Pena - I don't, and haven't for years, but it's partially not his fault.

Wheeler and Flores, with Fulmer and perhaps Den Dekk "in the team photo"

Let's be fair, Marte is a *little* bit less of a prospect than Wilmer, isn't he? Marte doesn't have close to the power potential Wilmer has, for one thing.

I don't think either of those statements are true. Wilmer just got a lot of early buzz when he annihilated the Appy in his first taste of stateside ball, but it just as easily could have been Marte. They're probably basically a wash when you factor in defense.

And Marte the better fielder and far better athlete . Wilmer is a better prospect no doubt but lets not lose track of the fact he was given twice the time at A+ despite a 3 month age difference . Marte has a .768 ops as a 20 year old in aa, I'm guessing that's one of the best marks for 20 year olds in the EL. You don't move him off 3b because "Wilmer has more upside"