Following last night’s game, RHP Brandon Knight was designated for assignment and will follow through with his committment to pitch for the US Olympic team. Taking his place on the roster will be LHP Willie Collazo, who will stay with the team until Pedro Martinez returns from his bereavement leave.

Recently, I was able to get a quick interview with New Orleans Zephyrs’ (Mets Triple-A Team) general manager Mike Schline.

Gary Grund, Hot Foot: Being the general manager of a minor-league team, what exactly does your job entail?

Mike Schline: I oversee the business operation of the team as well as serving as the point person for the players and coaches and being the liaison between the Mets and Zephyrs.

Grund: What is the toughest part about your job?

Schline: Definitely keeping the crowds coming in with new and fun promotions. Also, competing for advertising sponsorship with other local major sports teams like the Saints and Hornets.

Grund: What have the Mets done to help the city of New Orleans rebuild after Hurricane Katrina in 2005?

Schline: Last year, they donated several thousands of dollars to provide equipment for youth baseball in our city. They have also been great in encouraging their players to do all community work we ask them to do.

Grund: How often do you interact with the Mets major league club officials such as general manager Omar Minaya when the Mets are making a transaction?

Schline: I interact with Mets officials several times a week, more so involving the current players and what we need to provide them with. I do not have anything to do with players call ups or movement within the organization. Those decisions are strictly the Mets.

Grund: There were numerous rumors this offseason of the Mets possibly moving their Triple-A team to Syracuse in 2008. Obviously, the Mets will return to New Orleans for at least one more season this year. What is the latest on the Mets and Zephyrs? How long does the current agreement run?

Schline: The agreement runs through the end of 2008. All we can do is provide a great atmosphere which we do. I know for a fact that the players and coaches like it here. They have given nothing but great reports to the Mets on what it is like to be here. We are a warm weather city, which is good when teams in other places are being snowed out in April. We also just put in a brand new state of the art playing surface. We want the Mets back and hope that they return. They are very loved in New Orleans. Ultimately, it is up to them but we provide a great city, great field, and climate and will make it tough for them to find a better place to play. If the guys that are here, the manager, coaches, if they love it here then that is all we can hope for.

Grund: Which of the players on the Zephyrs’ roster right now should be a name that Mets fans should keep a close eye on?

Schline: P Adam Bostick, OF Caleb Stewart, P Willie Collazo, and 2B Argenis Reyes. We have a lot of guys that can help the Mets. I like this team a lot.

Ed Ryan at Mets Fever reports that Mets Willie Collazo pitched another fine game in the Venezuelan league playoffs. Collazo threw seven scoreless innnigs, allowing seven hits, no walks, and struck out four.

Collazo has started in 11 games (59 innings) with an ERA of 3.20 and a walk to strikeout ratio of 14/30.

Collazo was named the 2007 Sterling Award recipient for the New Orleans Zephyrs, which is the Mets minor league equivalent of MVP.

He’s a bit on the older end of prospects, at the age of 28, but he might be a decent bullpen arm if the Mets need him at some point in the season.

Ed Ryan at Mets Fever relays some winter league information to us about a couple of notable Mets relievers.

Ed gives us an update on how Willie Collazo, Adam Bostick, Jorge Sosa and newly acquired Brian Stokes are performing.

Willie Collazo has yet to give up a run in 11 innings down in Winter League ball in Venezuela. He gave up two hits in seven innings in his last start this week. The 27 year-old lefty will compete for a spot in the Mets bullpen this spring.

Here's some highlights from yesterday's minor league action courtesy of Toby's Mets Minor League Report…

Dave Williams struck out seven in five scoreless innings Tuesday in his second start for the Rookie GCL Mets.

Williams
was placed on Triple-A Norfolk's DL in mid-June with a strained
shoulder. He seems ready to rejoin Norfolk's rotation now, but the
injury has left him with little chance of a callup to the Mets before
September.

AA

A+

A-

Adam Rubin reports that Royce Ring is en fuego in Triple-A Tidewater. Ring extended a scoreless streak to 21 innings last night with Triple-A Norfolk.

Having taken over the closing role since Heath Bell – the
lone bullpen call-up this season – departed Norfolk, Ring has a 2-0
record, 1.54 ERA and five saves. He hasn’t allowed a run since April
17. Opponents are hitting only .202 against him – lefties .135 and
righties .255.

“I’m getting righthanders out too, which is nice to show,” Ring said.

Ring worked so hard to correct his drop-down mechanics during extra
bullpen work, and spent so much time in the gym early this season, he
was out for two weeks beginning in late April with a strained shoulder.

Ring has not had the opportunity to join the big league club because the Mets bullpen has been so solid there hasn't been any need to request support from the minor league system.

Ring, bypassed for a promotion in September last year, hopes he’ll
earn one this time around. That is, if he’s not summoned sooner.

“That would be nice,” he said.

Philip Humber allowed four runs in four innings for the Gulf
Coast League Mets on Thursday in his first rehab start from Tommy John surgery.

Here are some more highlights from Rubin's blog…

Willie Collazo was named Eastern League pitcher of the week.
He shut out New Britain, then limited Trenton to two runs in seven
innings in a no-decision five days later. After earning the award,
Collazo had a rough start Friday. He became the first B-Met pitcher in
10 games to fail to last five innings – allowing a season-high eight
runs while falling one out shy of that mark

Fernando Martinez, the 17-year-old outfielder who received a
$1.4 million signing bonus last summer, returned from a wrist injury
that sidelined him for a month in early June. But Martinez – a South
Atlantic League All-Star selection, who is hitting .321 at low-A
Hagerstown – played only three games before suffering a knee injury
that has sidelined since June 10

Florida State League All-Star Ambiorix Concepcion, who was tied for the league lead in doubles with 21, was promoted from St. Lucie to Binghamton. Catcher Yunir Garcia was demoted to make room

The only thing cooling off Jeff Keppinger is the birth of his son, which caused him to leave the Tides to be with wife Morgan.
Since June 7, Keppinger has gone 20-for-49 (.408) in 13 games. That
stretch has included seven multi-hit games, and five starts in left
field.

Henry Owens is 1–1 with a 0.83 ERA, sporting seven walks and 41 strike outs in
21.1 innings pitched since returning from an elbow injury.

For a rundown of last nights minor league action, check out Toby's Minor League Report.

In Adam Rubin's Daily News “Blog”, he gives a lengthy rundown on Lastings Millidge

Milledge had the least experience in right, which can be tricky at
windy, on-the-water Harbor Park, the Tides’ home. He slammed into the
wall hard going after one foul ball, but came away unfazed.

GM Omar Minaya has said he wouldn’t hesitate promoting
Milledge if needed, though that’s not expected soon, especially with
Beltran’s MRI coming up clean after being reviewed in New York
yesterday. Had Beltran needed to go on the DL, Willie Randolph said it was more likely the Mets would have recalled Victor Diaz and used Endy Chavez
in center. Still, Milledge could be up before September, though an
injury likely would be required, since he’s not going to sit on the
bench.

Center field has become perhaps the deepest position for the Mets’
organization, with the top three prospects all leadoff hitters, too.
Double-A’s Carlos Gomez, also 20, is a rawer version of Milledge, but thought of just as highly. And 17-year-old Fernando Martinez,
signed for $1.4 million last summer, is hitting .333 at low-A
Hagerstown despite being the youngest player in any organization on a
full-season minor-league team.

Rubin gives updates on some other notable folks in the Mets minor league system including Mike Pelfrey, Henry Owens, Chris Shelton, Willie Callazo, Evan Maclane..

Heres a list of the organizations leaders…

Average: Lastings Milledge, Norfolk, .396; Brett Harper, Binghamton,
.382; Jorge Padilla, Binghamton, .367; Corey Coles, St. Lucie, .340;
Fernando Martinez, Hagerstown, .333.

HR: Nick Evans, Hagerstown, 3; Jorge Padilla, Binghamton, 3.

RBI: Bobby Malek, Binghamton, 11; Nick Evans, Hagerstown, 10; Jorge Padilla, Binghamton, 10.

Steals: Carlos Gomez, Binghamton, 9; Ambiorix Concepcion, St. Lucie, 7; Lastings Milledge, Norfolk, 4.

Wins: Willie Collazo, Binghamton, 2; Evan MacLane, Binghamton, 2;
Jonathan Niese, Hagerstown, 2; Marcelo Perez, Hagerstown, 2; Kevin
Tomasiewicz, Hagerstown, 2.

ERA: Carlos Muniz, St. Lucie, 0.00; Alay Soler, St. Lucie, 0.60;
Orlando Roman, Binghamton, 0.93; Eddie Camacho, Binghamton, 0.96.

Strikeouts: Henry Owens, Binghamton, 21; Mike Pelfrey, St. Lucie, 18; Alay Soler, St. Lucie, 17.

Saves: Carlos Muniz, St. Lucie, 4; Henry Owens, Binghamton, 4; Heath Bell, Norfolk, 3.

Check it the entire article here.