Tomorrow's Star's Playing In The AFL

As we have written, there are six Mets on the Peoria Saguaros: Pitchers - Eddie Kunz, Bobby Parnell, Toby Stoner, and Jason Vargas.

Position playser have been C Josh Thole and 2B Daniel Murphy.

Murphy, who we all remember from his tremendous debut with the Mets last season, is tearing up the Arizona Fall League with a .400 avg. (22-55) with two HR's, 15 RBI,and 1.103 OBP.

Josh Thole is hitting .405 (17-42) with 1 HR and nine RBI.

The pitchers are performing well, with Vargas leading the way with a 1-0 record and a 0.48 ERA. Vargas, as you may remember, was acquired from the Florida Marlins for fireballers Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens. Vargas didn't pitch well for the Mets in limited duty in 2007, and spent this year on the DL recovering from hip surgery. Many feel that Vargas could be just the lefthanded help the Mets need if they lose Oliver Perez to free agency.

Stoner is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA, striking out 10 and walking six in 14 innings, and Bobby Parnell is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, striking out 14 and walking eight in 12 innings.

Eddie Kunz hasn't fared well with a 1-1 record and a bloated 8.44 ERA. The one positive sign is that the bulk of this hefty ERA is a byproduct from one bad outing where he allowed eight runs in 1/3 of an inning.

The future looks bright for these young Mets, some of which will be ready to help in 2009. If Vargas continues to heal and improve, he could be a cost efficient starter in the Mets rotation. Vargas, only 25, is a solid fielder with a lot of potential. It is too early to render a verdict on this trade with the Marlins. Vargas might very well be a diamond in the rough.

For more, check out the NY Post's Minor League Baseball Beating the Bushes