Last night on the farm was all about pitching, which is nothing new. Jenrry Mejia had a nice rehab start, Collin McHugh was real good yet again, and Jeurys Familia had his best outing of the year.
Buffalo 4, Gwinnett 1
Much, much better stuff from Jeurys Familia; he was about as sharp as he’s been all year. Familia went 6 innings giving up just 1 run on 4 hits. More importantly he walked just 2 and struck out 6. Justin Hampson and Elvin Ramirez combined for the final 3 innings; Ramirez picked up the save. Fred Lewis led the offensive charge with 3 hits. Zach Lutz, Oswaldo Navarro, and Jean Luc Blaquiere all had 2 hits each.
New Britain 5, Binghamton 1
Collin McHugh was good once again giving up just 1 run in 7 innings while striking out 5. But then Erik Turgeon came in and let up 4 runs in an inning of work. Raul Reyes and Juan Lagares had 2 hits each. Matt Den Dekker tripled but struck out twice. Reese Havens was 0 for 4 and his average is now down to .200.
St. Lucie 4, Brevard County 2
Jenrry Mejia made his season debut and went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks, with just 1 strikeout. The plan for Mejia is to make three more rehab starts and then the organization will decide whether he will be a starter or reliever for the rest of the season. Angel Cuan followed Mejia with 3 shutout innings, giving him the win. Adrian Rosario struck out 2 to get his 9th save of the year. Cesar Puello was 2 for 4 with a triple. Wilfredo Tovar was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Cory Vaughn sat for the second straight day, but I’m willing to bet it’s just to give him a little rest.
Savannah had the day off, so now’s a good time to mention the recent retirement of two guys on the Sand Gnats opening day roster: first baseman Sam Honeck and pitcher Tyson Seng. Honeck was incredible in April 2011, but that month turned out to be a complete aberration as he struggled the rest of the year and early this year. Seng’s retirement is a little more puzzling. He was a New-York Penn League all-star last year and finished with an ERA under 1 while averaging better than a strikeout per inning. He pitched 6 straight shutout innings to start the year but then had a couple rough outings, and then he called it a career.
29 comments
Stick
5/10/2012-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
what’s the scop on Mchugh? Does he have real good “stuff”, so could be consider a real potential rotation prospect , or is he someone that can get by in AA with control and smarts but average pitches? not that it is a bad thing, just more appatizing if he is actually good too!
He has now pitched a full years worth of innings at AA (130ish), so it should be about time to start considering him for a promotion (to AAA at least, if not consideration in the “replace batista” sweepstakes!
Bryan
5/10/2012-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
I think McHugh has to be in line to replace Batista. He’s definitely behind Hefner, but he should be next. He does have 130 innings in AA, and he’s been real good in almost all of them. There was apparently a team that came close to taking him in rule-5, so there are some people out there who think he has a big league future. He stuff is probably average to slightly above average. But he has at least 4 pitches and the numbers indicate he has good control of them. I think he should definitely get a shot at AAA soon because I think he can have success there, and then he be considered as rotation depth. Of course, with Batista getting at least one more and then Hefner in line for a chance after him it’s unlikely they’ll go to McHugh before Young gets back.
Petey Pete
5/10/2012-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
I agree with your assessment Bryan. Hefner is definitely the next-in-line to pitch in the Met rotation. And deservedly so. The guy is about 26, very experienced and has been pitching fantastic all season including his brief stop in the big leagues. Most significant though is that Hef is on the 40-man already, Collin is not. But I think it’s pretty obvious when Hefner does get the call, that McHugh will finally get that promotion to the Herd.
Stick
5/10/2012-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
makes sense. but as long as they are stockpiling guys at AAA you could defend as viable call-up options (I believe that is called “depth?”, the better off you are. let them earn the promostion.
trs86
5/10/2012-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
” The plan for Mejia is to make three more rehab starts and then the organization will decide whether he will be a starter or reliever for the rest of the season. ”
Why do so many organizations do this now days? Leave the kid alone, let him be a starter until he can’t be a starter anymore. No more Bobby Parnelling, Jobaing, Chapmaning, all the Rangersing…
srt
5/10/2012-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
I was going to ask the same thing. What’s the rush?
Stick
5/10/2012-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
I hope it is just a decision about how strong and ready he looks (so part of his rehab), and not a rush decision about his future career path.
and I really can’t believe they are trying to figure out how to fast track him to NYC now. why?
Bryan
5/10/2012-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
I think what’s going on with Mejia is the Mets know they need pitching help and they know Mejia is probably closer to helping than either Harvey or Familia so if it looks like Mejia is going to get a look to see if he can be rotation depth for them this year, mainly because they really need it. If not, then they’ll proceed as if he’s going to be a reliever long term; although he could still be starting in the minors just to get him some innings.
Stick
5/10/2012-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
why not consider guys that are healthy, and actually performing in the minors. Gorski, Mchugh say. or have they already been relegated to the Schwinden scrap heap?
Bryan
5/10/2012-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
Well once Mejia completes a few rehab starts and is deemed healthy and recovered from Tommy John then Mejia is further along in his development than McHugh and Gorski. Mejia has time in the big leagues and more time at AAA than either guy. He’s also on the 40, so as long as he looks healthy he’s a better option than those two guys.
Stick
5/10/2012-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Ah, the old ML time that never should have happened. Still pissed that Omar caved in to Jerry on that. What a debacle.
to me, I thought that Mejia was really still in the middle of the rehab process (another step on the ladder). So once he got these few starts in, he could move into a MiL role to continue building on the rehab. But, that would be closely omnitored (innings, pitches, frequency). Things that you can’t really (or shouldn’t) be doing in the majors right now.
I really wasn’t thinking of him as close to being completely rehabbed, and ready to be used in any capacity without restrictions!
trs86
5/10/2012-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Right but to me for the same reason you are not tempted to bring up Harvey you have to also do what is right for Mejia. If you want him to start, EVER, then make him a starter and let him exhaust that first.
Bryan
5/10/2012-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
I think they’re pretty close to exhausting Mejia as a starter anyway. With his delivery, things were leaning towards him being a reliever anyway, but starting in the minors gets him more innings and development. My guess is he ultimately goes to the pen.
trs86
5/10/2012-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
How have they exhausted anything? If they had they wouldn’t be trying him in the rotation now. He’s made 7 relief appearances in the minors all in his first year.
Bryan
5/10/2012-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
Even guys that are future relievers are starters in the minors because it gives them more innings and so they get more experience and develop faster. For as long as Mejia is in the minors he’ll be a starter because he has plenty of developing left to do and he needs the innings after missing most of last year. If they feel he can be a major league starter then they’ll give him that chance when a need arises, if not he’ll go to the bullpen when he gets called up, but until then he’ll continue starting in the minors.
My feeling is that the organization is leaning more towards a bullpen role for him. Dan Warthen thinks his delivery is somewhat violent and so you don’t necessarily want a pitcher to do that 90-120 times every 5th day b/c the innings add up quickly. Also, he could go a long way in the bullpen with his fastball alone without needing his secondary stuff to be perfect. So my guess is he ends up in the Buffalo rotation and at some point joins the big league bullpen.
Prismo
5/10/2012-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
I agree TRS, he deserves more than a few attempts at starting after coming back from TJ surgery. Give him at least 10 or 15 before making a decision. I don’t see what the rush is at this point.
trs86
5/10/2012-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Like I said Bryan, I think that they should give him this season at least to see if he can be a starter.
Bryan
5/10/2012-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t see him being called up after just a few starts, so he should get plenty of starts in the minors to prove he can be a starter long term, and personally I think for this year he’s best utilized as depth for the rotation b/c you can’t keep Batista there forever and you can’t go back to Schwinden and Hefner is no guarantee. But ultimately I think he’s a reliever and a darn good one.
trs86
5/10/2012-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Hey, I just noticed that the Gnats are in town this weekend near me as well. The Bisons are in Charlotte so I am headed there all weekend but do you know what pitchers I am missing for the Gnats? Who is lined up for tonight?
Bryan
5/10/2012-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
I believe it should be Tapia tonight, Tyler Pill tomorrow, Michael Fulmer saturday, and Montero Sunday. In Charlotte, Harvey is line for Sunday and Familia for Monday.
trs86
5/10/2012-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I may not be able to make Monday’s
trs86
5/10/2012-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
Should be able to get some good pics too!
srt
5/10/2012-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
Good for Familia.
Havens struggling down there still. He doesn’t look to be on the fast track right now for a call up.
Stick
5/10/2012-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
never thought he was, since he really needs to get the reps in to nail down his timing. Hopefully if he can just play every day for 2 months, he wil get dialed in.
that will be the key time, when they may have to make a decision at the deadline, and Murphy may be in play.
Petey Pete
5/10/2012-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
Hey as long as Havens is on the field every day, I’ll take it, period. He may not be swinging the bat well right now, but with his recent injury history, how could anyone expect anything else? I would have been shocked if he has stayed hot like he was in his first game back. This is totally normal and to be expected. Havens will hit. He just needs to play.
Mr North Jersey
5/10/2012-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Just want to see Havens finally play a full season.
Mr North Jersey
5/10/2012-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
BTW. Welcome Petey Pete
trs86
5/10/2012-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
Welcome our MMO brother!
srt
5/10/2012-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
‘Havens will hit. He just needs to play.’
For your lips to Met fans ears, Petey.