The minor league season has come to an end, so now is a fine time to take a look at how each affiliate faired during the 2011 season, which went quite well for most of the teams, with the teams in the upper levels being the exceptions. We’ll also give out some arbitrary award and labels to players at each level.
Record – 61-82
Place in standings – 5th of 6 teams in International League North Division, 20.5 games out of first place and 18.5 games out of the wild card.
Overview – It wasn’t as bad as previous seasons the Bisons have had since becoming a Mets affiliate, but it was not a good year for Buffalo. Their projected roster would have competed for a playoff spot in the International League, but that promising roster never came to fruition because of injuries to key players as well as injuries at the major league level that forced the promotion of other key players. By seasons end the roster was made up mostly of washed-out veterans and quad-A players. The hope is that by next year the farm system will be replenished enough to fill out the Buffalo roster with youngsters and legitimate prospects, while making Buffalo a competitive team for the first time since joining the Mets organization.
Top pitcher: Chris Schwinden – There were some bullpen arms that put up good numbers in limited innings, but Schwinden was essentially the ace of the Bisons for much of the year, and their most consistent pitcher. He didn’t finish as strong as he started, but he got a September call up and could see future time in the big leagues in the coming years if needed.
Top position player: Valentino Pascucci – He’s not a prospect, but he put up big numbers including 21 homeruns and earned a September call up. Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Zach Lutz would have been the main contenders had they played anything close to a full season.
Biggest surprise: Chris Schwinden – His success came out of nowhere. He was nothing but an organizational guy who took a small opportunity and ran with it, turning himself into a guy who will get a chance to show what he can do in the big leagues.
Biggest disappointment: Jenrry Mejia – It’s a little unfair to give him this title, but his TJ surgery is a significant set back. Before the injury he was having success, but his peripherals were a little questionable, so even when he returns from the injury, he still has plenty of developing left to do.
4 comments
Kimi
9/19/2011-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
Who said Val Passucci was the top postion player? With A Bat maybe but his play in the field was awful
Bryan
9/19/2011-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
I was mostly just looking at offensive numbers. Who would be your pick?
MetsFan4Decades
9/19/2011-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
Mejia – I wonder, had he not had TJ surgery, if he would have seen some time with the big club this year. Our BP second half was abysmal. If the old FA was there, hands down he would have been called up. If he was healthy all year, I suppose minimum a Sep. call up would have been due.
Bryan
9/19/2011-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
If he was healthy there would be no reason not to call him up in September and probably give him starts over Schwinden (assuming he hadn’t pitched too many innings). After Gee took Young’s spot when he was injured there weren’t any other health issues in the starting rotation until Niese so there wouldn’t have been any reason to call him up for a start until September, and I think this FO would have preferred to let him stay in Buffalo as opposed to trying him in the ML Bullpen. As it stands, probably another full year until we hear from him; I haven’t heard anything about how he’s progressing, but I doubt he’ll be pitching in games until at least May.