Forbidden love
With the Mets minor league system seemingly about to bear some fine fruit, some Mets fans will be keeping a closer eye on the minor league teams than usual. The Buffalo Bisons AAA team wrapped up it’s spring training Friday beating the New Orleans Zephyrs (remember them?) 7-2 to finish with a spring record of 7-0-2.
Those interested in following the Bisons but not living in or near Buffalo may be pleased to note that SNY will be televising 5 Bisons games this season, the first on April 29th versus the Tampa Bay affiliated Durham Bulls.
Finally, be sure to check out Bisons TV. Their motto is “Bisons TV is always on the air.” Not exactly, but for those who don’t have it available to them via cable or satellite it is available via the internet.
Do they make one for Bison?
9 comments
stickguy
4/3/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
it will be nice to see a strong upper minors for a change. Even Bingo should be pretty good, but of course they would be better with a #1 starter like Mejia (sorry, I just can’t let it go!)
Saddest part of this? I don’t conceptually disagree with the idea of taking a MiL SP and breaking him in through the pen. And the mets even have a guy that looks like a good candidate. But not mejia. I was thinking of Brad holt. Similar profile (big FB, secondary stuff still a work in progress). But, he actually has profiled as ultimately a RP, he is years older, and has a big pitchers frame.
So if they had Given holt a shot and decided to start him in MR this year, I wouldn’t really have a problem with it.
metsfan4decades
4/3/2010-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Heiman taking about Mejia right now on WFAN.
He says if he has legitimate talent, starting out in the BP shouldn’t set him back, nor should failure up front.
He thinks the Mets have to use him now b/c of the ?? in the BP and starting rotation. Said it shouldn’t upset his development to start in the BP.
And I don’t agree with that b/c I don’t think Mejia in the BP makes or breaks their season. Not unless he was going to be that 8th inning set up guy from the get go and he was successful in that role. But apparently the idea is to ‘ease’ him into that?
He compared him to Joba, saying the situations are different. In his opinion, having Joba in the BP, then in the starting rotation was not the cause of his failure as a starter. He flat out said he doesn’t think Joba was ever starter material and he’s more suited to the pen. He’s not convinced at this point it’s the same as Mejia and feels Majia should be able to make the switch to the starting rotation.
We shall see….
GravediggerHebner
4/3/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
I can envision a scenario of easing Mejia into the 8th inning role being essentially one or two successful appearances in the 7th inning leading to his being the 8th inning guy.
I will not be surprised if Mejia is the 8th inning guy by the end of the first homestand. I think there are only two ways Mejia isn’t the set up man very soon: either he flops in earlier innings, or whoever is used in the 8th initially gets off to a hot start.
stickguy
4/3/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
my hope was calero nailing it down right away. Guess that aint happening.
metsfan4decades
4/3/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the heads up on the 5 televised games. I’ve saved those dates so I don’t forget.
I just love watching baseball – at all levels. Back in my younger days, when time was more plentiful and responsibilities less, I would occasionally get on my bike and pedal over to the local high school field to watch a game between two schools. I didn’t know anyone on these teams but it was interesting to see the intensity of these young guys and some of the talent they had.
Also, it was just a fun, relaxing way to pass a beautiful spring day.
stickguy
4/3/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
speaking of the minors, makes me wonder why I spend so much to go to Citi.
just looked at the Bingo website (I actually go right through there quite often now, since my son goes to school in central NY).
1st Saturday of the season (the 10th), looked for best tixs available. Pops up with field level, right next to the visitors dugout (on the home plate side). Front row. All for $10.
And I bet parking is less than $19!
The uniforms still say Mets on them. And now, I probably would have even heard of most of the guys.
if I lived closer I would go quite often.
darknova306
4/3/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
I think the ‘premium’ seats here for the Rochester Red Wings (AAA for the Twins) are $12 a piece. Gotta love minor league ball.
stickguy
4/3/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
interesting summary by Mike Silva over at NYBD about the Buffalo pen:
“On the pitching side Kiko Calero, Bobby Parnell, Raul Valdes, and Elmer Dessens isn’t a bad AAA bullpen. Calero has the most upside and I fully expect, short of an injury, seeing him in New York sooner rather than later. Some other names to keep in mind are recently acquired Manny Acosta and Clint Everts.”
Actually, with those 6, there is a lot of potential. At least they got a bunch of big FBs and K ability. A little control, and that could be a damned fine pen, and certainly nice depth for the mets to dip into.
Quite possibly the Bison’s pen might be better than some ML clubs!
Kingman 26
4/3/2010-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Grave, thanks for the very cool Bison info as well as the televised game situation; will be watching the Junior Core for sure.
Have to say I wholeheartedly agree with every cut.
Figueroa and Dessens are terrible pitchers and have always been.
Adams and Carter are not serious major league players.
Calero clearly has not recovered from whatever his injury situation was.
Parnell is still a prospect with potential, as hard as he throws, and maybe one more AAA stint for tutoring and working on more pitchers will finally help him become a bullpen force.
Can’t agree with Mejia though; but from what we know about him, hopefully he is much more tough mentally then Joba the Nutt, and ready for the bigs. As others have said, Omar and Jerry are clearly desperate.
And this is certainly a result of the ridiculously awful pen performances this spring of every pitcher outside of KRod and Feliciano.
I am SO ready for the games!