The Mets selected RHP Brad Holt from the University of North Carolina, the 33rd overall pick, in compensation for losing Tom Glavine to the Braves.

From his UNC player profile…

2007: Named CAA Pitcher-of-the-Week (4/9) … Started 15 games … Fashioned 5-5 mark … Set career-highs with 53 strikeouts and 76.1 innings … Struck out career-high seven over seven innings of two-hit, shutout baseball at Hofstra (4/6) … Picked up win against nationally-ranked Texas Christian (2/24) … Held George Mason to one run on six hits in seven innings (5/19) … 2006: All-CAA Tournament … Made eight starts in 14 games … Limited VCU to two runs, one earned, in 8.2 innings in conference tournament … Drew opening game start in NCAA Regional against Winthrop … Fashioned 3-3 mark … Added wins against Duke and LaSalle … At Albemarle: NCPreps.com 1A All-State honors … Earned All-Watkin Valley Conference honors four times … Four-time All-County selection … Louisville Slugger Second-team All-America selection … Played in North Carolina State games … Listed as 19th best prospect in state by Impact Baseball and 26th by Baseball America … Four-year starter for Bulldogs … … Set school record with 404 career strikeouts … Coached by Gary Weiker … Personal: Full Name: Bradley David Holt … Born Oct. 13, 1986, in Albemarle, N.C. … Son of John David and Wanda Holt.

Scout.com had Holt as their 31st best prospect and wrote the following about him…

Holt continues to fly under the radar because he doesn’t pitch for a big program, but his big arm will likely fit nicely as a supplemental round pick.

ESPN.com projects him as a reliever, in the setup role…

Holt shows consistent arm strength and holds it through his starts as well as any starter in this draft, sitting 93-96 mph every week from his first inning to his last. The velocity is easy; the ball comes out of his arm well and has good downhill plane and some life to it. He pitches almost exclusively off his fastball, throwing offspeed stuff less than 25 percent of the time. His curveball, which has a short downward break and moderately tight rotation, is his best secondary pitch; it could become an average offering, but it’s a one-plane pitch. He has a changeup, but he guides this mediocre offering to the plate. He takes a long stride forward off the mound, holding his velocity even from the stretch when he doesn’t stay over the rubber at all, and has just a little bit of violence at the end when his head snaps slightly. If he had a better changeup or could handle a splitter — his arm slot might be too low for it — he’d have a chance to be a back-end starter. But as a one-and-a-half-pitch pitcher, he’s more likely to work in the bullpen when he reaches the majors.

The Mets select Reese Havens SS from the University of South Carolina.

Havens had a .359 average with South Carolina this year. The 6′1″, 195 lb shortstop could play catcher or shortstop as well.

Keith Law saw him play at the SEC tournament and said he ‘reads the ball well off the bat.’ and has ‘great instincts and feel for the game.’

MLB.com on Havens…

A legitimate prospect in high school, teams were scared off because of a strong commitment to South Carolina. He’s improved steadily in his three years there and has evolved into a good all-around hitter with outstanding plate discpline. He may need to move to third down the road because of his lack of range, but his smarts in the field may at least give him the opportunity to play his way off of short as a pro. At either spot, he’s sure to go off the board pretty quickly.

Jim Callis on a recent Baseball America chat regarding Havens…

There are a lot of Reese Havens arguments around, both in the BA offices and among teams. Basically, those who have seen him in the spring (area scouts, my BA brethren) have been less than impressed. Those who saw him make adjustments in the Cape last summer (mostly scouting directors and crosscheckers, whom I talked to while doing our Cape Top 30) are more impressed. The biggest thing working against him is that he can’t play shortstop at the next level. I see him going in the second or third round as a third baseman. Someone may try to make him a catcher.

From his University of South Carolina player profile…

Competed in 65 games with 65 starts at shortstop … Hit .274 (64-for-234) with 12 doubles, five HR and 43 RBI as well as one triple and 38 runs scored … Batted 2-for-3 with a run scored in 8-6 win over North Carolina at NCAA Super Regional (6/9) … Went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI in 11-6 win over Charlotte (6/4) … 2-for-4 with three RBI in 9-1 win over Wofford in NCAA Regional (6/1) … 2-for-5 with three RBI in 13-7 win over Tennessee (5/13) … 4-for-5 performance with a double, home run and three RBI in 12-3 win over The Citadel (5/9) … 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, first multi-homer game of his career, in 11-9 win at Ole Miss (4/22) … 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in 18-4 win over Auburn (4/15) … Career-high five hits including tying USC single-game school record with three doubles in 20-3 win over Mississippi State (3/23) … Four hits with a pair of RBI and one run scored in 13-5 win over Appalachian State (3/13) … Played in the summer and earned All-Star honors for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League

The Mets select Ike Davis 1B/OF out of Arizona State with the 18th overall pick. The Mets received this pick in compensation for losing Tom Glavine to the Braves.

MLB.com on Davis…

On radars since high school, when he was a 19th-round pick of the Rays in 2005, the son of ex-big leaguer Ron Davis has a sweet left-handed swing that should generate more power in the future. He’s not speedy, but he is a solid base runner and would be fine as a corner outfielder or first baseman at the next level.

Jim Callis of Baseball America on Davis…

One of the few first-round-caliber first basemen who has a chance to play a more difficult position.

From his Arizona State player profile…

Turned in another stellar season, earning First Team All-Pac-10 honors for the second straight season…was also named a Jewish Sports Review First Team All-American for the second consecutive year…Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American…named to the All-Tempe Regional squad…appeared in 62 games, starting each one…batted .349 with eight homers and 61 runs batted in…also pitched in seven games, making one start…finished 1-1 on the mound with a 1.35 ERA…tied for the Pac-10 lead with 23 doubles and finished tied for fifth in the league with 83 hits…made the change from first base to outfield, throwing out four runners from right field…played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League during the summer, going 1-0 with a save without allowing a run in 2.2 innings and batting .246 in 16 games before a wrist injury ended his summer.

LIVE DRAFT CHAT

UPDATE : The Mets select Ike Davis 1B/OF out of Arizona State with the 18th overall pick.

MLB.com on Davis…

On radars since high school, when he was a 19th-round pick of the Rays in 2005, the son of ex-big leaguer Ron Davis has a sweet left-handed swing that should generate more power in the future. He’s not speedy, but he is a solid base runner and would be fine as a corner outfielder or first baseman at the next level.

Jim Callis of Baseball America on Davis…

One of the few first-round-caliber first basemen who has a chance to play a more difficult position.

We will be watching the 2008 MLB Draft on ESPN 2 from 2-6 PM and discussing the event as it happens in the Hot Foot Bleachers. Join us for the live chat as we break down the picks and listen to what you have to say about them.

Here are some of the links around the blogosphere you’ll want to read to get familiar with the players and keep up with the news leading up to the 2PM draft.

• Mets Blog Live Blogs The Draft
• Baseball America’s Top 30 Prospects
• Baseball America Draft Blog
• MLB Trade Rumors
• MLB.com Draft Tracker
• MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo’s Draft Buzz
• Keith Law of ESPN’s First Round Projection
• Always Amazin Draft Preview
• Mets Merized Draft Wish List

ESPN’s Draft Preview

LIVE DRAFT CHAT

This week at Hot Foot we are giving away a very special prize. The New York Mets Essential Game of Shea Stadium DVD.

With Shea Stadium in its final season, heres a chance to look back at the greatest games ever played at Shea.

There will be two winners of this contest. The best Hot Foot commenter and the best Hot Foot writer.

Throughout the week we will keep our eyes out for who is the most entertaining, interesting, and funniest commenter. We will also reward the best Hot Foot writer this week with a DVD as well.

So make sure you’re adding your two-cents here at Hot Foot this week. We want to hear your opinions. Use your account to comment on our posts, or sign up for an account if you don’t already have one.

If you’re looking to pick up a copy, you can purchase it at MLB.com as well as Shopaetv.com

Jon Heyman on SI.com writes of the influence Scott Boras wields in the amateur draft and how the Mets are expected to continue to follow slotting rules. Omar Minaya states the Mets “will look at it on a case-by-case basis”

Lower-ranking Mets officials continue to believe that the team is more likely than not to continue to stick to the slots, even if it costs them a chance to grab one of the best hard-hitting first baseman they seek (the Mets also covet a catcher). After Alvarez, University of Miami lefthanded-hitting first baseman Yonder Alonso is said by one scout to seek $8 million with the backing of his adviser Brian Peters. Other big-hitting first basemen include switch-hitting Justin Smoak of South Carolina, Dysktra and Arizona State’s Brett Wallace, another lefthanded hitter.

Heyman also writes that a team looking to trade for Matt Holliday will need to start with giving up two of their best young players in return.

John Delcos provides us with some pregame notes from the Mets clubhouse tonight on his blog for the Journal News, including word that Moises Alou is with the club in San Francisco and could be activated Friday.

Taking nothing for granted they doubled up on the bubble wrap when they shipped him to the Bay Area in his cryogenic chamber.

Former Met OF Raul Gonzalez was signed to a minor league contract with the Mets today, the Associated Press reports.

Gonzalez played for the Mets in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Gonzalez hit .278 in 41 games with Vaqueros Laguna of the Mexican League this year before getting released May 5. Gonzalez is headed to Port St. Lucie for extended spring training, after which he is expected to report to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs.

This week at Hot Foot we are giving away a very special prize. The New York Mets Essential Game of Shea Stadium DVD.

With Shea Stadium in its final season, heres a chance to look back at the greatest games ever played at Shea.

There will be two winners of this contest. The best Hot Foot commenter and the best Hot Foot writer.

Throughout the week we will keep our eyes out for who is the most entertaining, interesting, and funniest commenter. We will also reward the best Hot Foot writer this week with a DVD as well.

So make sure you’re adding your two-cents here at Hot Foot this week. We want to hear your opinions. Use your account to comment on our posts, or sign up for an account if you don’t already have one.

If you’re looking to pick up a copy, you can purchase it at MLB.com as well as Shopaetv.com

Some strange WordPress gremlin has eaten up all of the links under the Friends Of The Foot section which is our blog roll.

If you link to Hot Foot, and are not listed, please let us know and we will add you.

Sorry friends, we hope to get all your links back ASAP.

David Lennon in Newsday quotes Aaron Heilman regarding the idea that he’s somehow still disgruntled about not being a starter with the Mets.

“It’s the most insane logic I’ve ever heard,” Heilman said Wednesday outside the team’s weight room. “The reason I haven’t pitched well is because I want to be a starter? If I can’t get through one inning, how could I ever expect to pitch more than that? It doesn’t make sense.

“I realized a while ago that my role on this team is as a reliever. That’s my job. That’s my responsibility. That’s how they feel I’m best suited to help this team. I don’t think my mind-set has ever changed on that.”

After his early season struggles, Heilman has been better of late, giving up just one hit in his last two appearances, four innings, with seven strikeouts.

In honor of Kevin-B-Illin from last night’s Willie Randolph press conference…

You Be Illin - Run DMC

Head over to Mets Blog for the full scoop.

Bobby Valentine, on WFAN’s midday show with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts said he sees the Mets going all the way to the World Series this year and thinks Willie Randolph will take them further than he ever did.

“I think it’s their year. I think it’s destiny for this team,” Valentine said. “I see the Yankees New York Yankees making a run, but I can see the Mets making a run that gets them to the World Series and a win in the World Series.”

Valentine said he could see himself returning to the states to coach a MLB team again but right now he’s happy where he is.

“I think Willie is going to turn that thing around and have a wonderful managerial career. Whether or not I end up back in MLB or in New York that will (be) somebody else’s offer and then my decision to have to make afterwards, but right now I am where I am and I have a job.”

I know there are mixed feelings about Valentine amongst Mets fans but I am firmly entrenched in the Bobby V fan club. I miss having him around and wish him the best of luck in Japan. I hope someday down the line he finds his way back into the Mets organization.

Jayson Stark writes in his recent article assessing the first third of the season that the Mets are missing a key clubhouse leader in Jose Valentin.

“Not having Jose Valentin might be the biggest difference between this team and the 2006 team,” said one baseball man. “He not only played well. He’s a tough guy. He kept other players in line. And he added to the toughness and the winning attitude of that team. You look around that clubhouse now, and there’s not one guy like that.”

Two different NL scouts told Stark that its time for the Mets to give up on Carlos Delgado, one describing watching him these days as “sad.” The other said the following

“He can’t field. And he can only hit [mistakes]. Anybody who can throw the ball with any

velocity at all throws it right by him.”

The Stache was a big influence on Jose Reyes and I would love to see him return soon. Word is he could be back with the club shortly, and has already begun rehabbing in minor league games.