For Fox Sports, Frank Piliere of Scouts.com conducted a draft mailbag, where he answers a number of questions about the recent MLB draft.  He was asked two questions about the Mets, the first one asking why the Mets avoided high end high school players in favor of college talent. 

Piliere responded:

I think the Mets did what they had to do, and that was get some guys that could immediately improve their system. Reese Havens and Ike Davis are really two of the best college bats out there and Mets’ fans should be thrilled by that haul. This wasn’t a year for the Mets to be risky and take a high school player who could blow up in their faces. They increase their odds that at least one of these two guys will make a big impact for them. You also have to consider when a team has two picks in the first round it is hard to just ignore the slotting rules. You’d find yourself spending an awful lot just in the first round.

Pilliere was also asked if the selection of Ike Davis means that the Mets are giving up on 1B Mike Carp, to which he replied that ideally the Mets move Davis to the OF and having a guy like Carp likely did not affect their decision making.

In a separate column for Scout.com, Piliere writes about the draft winners and gives them draft grades.  He gives the Mets a B, and notably talks about some of the Mets later round draft picks:

The Mets have to be thrilled that Josh Satin fell to them at the 194th overall pick, as he profiles as a big hitting middle infielder. It was quite a surprise to see him fall that far. Mitch Houck, the 524th overall pick, could surprise some Mets fans with his performance as the left-hander is the owner of a sharp cutter that could give hitters problems at any level.

Well, probably like most people I have never seen these guys play other than a few highlights I’ve caught online.  I’ve read good things about Davis and Havens, especially Havens.  If he could move to catcher like so many people have speculated that could be a nice steal. 

And I agree with Piliere that it would’ve been a mistake to shoot for the stars with high end high school talent, when we have a system that is so depleted like ours is you have to fill it with guys that are better now and have proven themselves more.

Plus, everybody talks about the top few picks and analyzes those so it’s nice to read about Satin and Houck.  This draft is so long, and who knows about these guys that could surprise you as stars from late round (see Mike Piazza: drafted in the 62nd round).