The Mets staff is cruising right along, which is good news because the hurlers at Buffalo continue to struggle, plus Rome wasn’t built in a day and their game with Savannah almost didn’t end in one. To the recaps!
Lehigh Valley 8, Buffalo 2
After yesterday’s spaz out about Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia continues to make his case for the bullpen. Unfortunately, he’s starting. In four innings, Familia gave up six run on six hits and six walks – and we all know what 666 means. Zach Lutz had three hits but really, the pitching is scaring me now.
New Hampshire 2, Binghamton 1
Mark Cohoon(6IP, 2R, 7H, 2BB, 1K) had a strong start, but got saddled with the tough luck loss in a pitcher’s duel, and Elvin Ramirez had four strikeouts in two innings. 3B Oswaldo Ramirez went 2 for 4 with the lone B-Mets RBI. Matt den Dekker had two hits to extend his streak to eight games.
St. Lucie 2, Charlotte 0
The strong pitching at the lower levels continues, this time courtesy of righty Cory Mazzoni, last year’s 2nd round pick out of North Carolina State. Mazzoni profiles as a reliever and was used that way at Brooklyn last year, but is being tested to see if he can handle starting this year, which will also give him the chance to gain more experience and develop his secondary stuff. His line to finish the night, a tidy 5IP, 0 R, 3H, 1BB, 4K’s, and his ERA dropped to 1.13 for the year.. Hamilton Bennett and Jeffrey Kaplan each tossed two scoreless frames to preserve the shutout. Wilmer Flores went 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Savannah 6, Rome 5 (12 innings)
Dustin Lawley struck again, homering for the second time in as many days. This time the blast, his only hit in six at bats, came in the top of the twelfth to give the Sand Gnats the late win and, frankly, bail out Jared West. West pitched two innings of relief but gave up a three run triple in the bottom of the ninth. Michael Fulmer went 4.1 innings giving up two runs and six hits with four strikeouts. Not the greatest of outings but not bad for a nineteen year old in his third pro start. His ERA is now an even 4.00. Travis Taijeron also hit his second home run in two games, this time a solo shot that had put the Sand Gnats up one in the eighth.
8 comments
saltygary
4/17/2012-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Familia es el diablo.
Both Harvey and Familia hsplit time between A and AA last year, so I think it’s perfectly reasonable to struggle right now. And I believe Harvey had a tough time through his first six games.
Lets give the kids another month before we freak.
Stick
4/17/2012-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
agree here with Salty. No need to panic after a couple of early season starts. Let them make adjustments and get settled in. They both had things to work on anyway.
frankly, right now, my pick for guy most ready to call up in an emergency is Gorski.
srt
4/17/2012-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
Here’s hoping in another month both Familia and Harvey have made some strides. I don’t even want to think about those 4 arms all failing at the ML level……
Stick
4/17/2012-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
It’s a crapshoot. that is why you need so much volume.
and sometimes, you get the results but not from where you expect. Maybe harvey and Familia bomb out, but Gorski and Peavy (or Mazoni, or one of the other live arms) explodes onto the scene.
Happened pretty much with the Phils. They thought Kendrick was going to be their next star, and he kind of fizzled out. But Worley came out of nowhere (he pretty much was mediocre in his MiL career) and damn year won ROY.
Bryan
4/17/2012-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know if Gorski is ready for the bigs after 2 AA starts, but I’d be tempted to do the same b/c the rotation depth at AAA is not good. If all 5 starters can stay healthy the Mets will have a chance to keep up the good start, but if not they have no one they can go to and expect anything good from.
Stick
4/17/2012-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
oh sure, he should spend some time at AA, but he is my latest fascination (pitching division). Just seemed like a guy that really put it all together, and was pretty much a finished product.
If he continues to mow down AA for 8-10 starts, he will have nothing left to prove.
I am big on guys that show pitching smarts and good control, to go along with a complete arsenal, even if they don’t have the most electric stuff. Better that than a huge FB but no secondary pitches or idea where it is going.
Bryan
4/17/2012-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. He has enough velocity to make his change up really good, and he has a decent slider too. I still don’t understand why he didn’t spend the second half of last year in Binghamton because he could be real close to the bigs by now if they had promoted him. But you’re right, if he does what he’s done so far in AA for the first couple months he should be moving up.
trs86
4/17/2012-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
Give those 2 some time to adjust to AAA and for the weather to warm up before we panic.