Happy June, everyone! The bats were touch and go last night, but there’s a lot of interesting pitching notes. And I mean ‘interesting’ in a good way. Let’s take a look.
Columbus 3, Buffalo 0
Chris Young is making a good case that he is ready to help the big club. In six shutout innings, Young allowed just two hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He is due for one more tune-up before the Mets decide what to do with him (and I can’t see any other scenario where he is not plugged into the Mets rotation immediately). Chick James got roughed up in a third of an innings, allowing three runs, and Pedro Beato went 1.2 scoreless innings. Josh Thole, playing in a rehab game before he arrives back in Queens, went 1 for 4. No one else did much with the bats.
Binghamton 8, Reading 1
Ah, Zach Wheeler. First off, Happy Belated Birthday (it was Wednesday). Something tells me the Giant swill live to regret trading him. In seven spectacular innings, Wheeler allowed a run on three hits while walking none and striking out eight. For the season he is 5-2 with a 1.88 ERA, 53IP, 21 BB, 60K. In other news, LF Pedro Zapata was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Josh Rodriguez was 1 for 5 with a three run homer
St Lucie 8, Palm Beach 3
The Lucies let loose with a thirteen hit barrage on the Cardinals, with the charge led by center fileder Alonzo Harris (4 for 5, 3 RBI, 2 runs), and catcher Blake Forsythe (2 for 3, three RBI). IN addition, Wilmer Flores was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He is now the proud owner of a .330/.371./.543 slash line. On one hand, that’s great for a twenty year old in Hi A. On the other, this is his third go round in the Florida State League. Lost in the shuffle was Robbie Shields, who managed to go 0 for 6. Yohan Almonte got the win, going five shutout innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out five. Jack Leatherstich went three innings of relief and allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out six.
Greensboro 2, Savannah 0
Michael Fulmer had a solid, if not superb, outing. Though he took the loss, he did go five innings allowing a run on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. For a nineteen year old in his debut season at Low A, he is 2-3 with a 3.74 ERA and a K/BB ratio 32/13 in 33 innings. As for the ‘offense’, the Sand Gnats managed just four hits and were handcuffed all night long.
15 comments
NJstuckinTX
6/1/2012-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
Good day for the pitching. The future is looking bright, and also not looking all that distant.
Mr North Jersey
6/1/2012-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
Mettle the Mule?
SRT Gategem do you remember this?
http://metspolice.com/2012/06/01/when-the-mets-had-mettle-nytimes-com/
Stick
6/1/2012-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
how long was he around?
I went to plenty of games back then (more so in the early 80s I guess), and certainly must have watched on TV, but I honestly have no recollection of him.
maybe it was too much tailgating before the games? or just beer in general?
How the heck long did he last?
now, I do remember such exciting things as the snappy golf carts to bring in the RPs, with the helmet tops for all the teams. I always did think it was silly that a pitcher could not walk in from the OF. Well, maybe Lolich couldn’t, but most of them should have been able to make it!
gategem
6/1/2012-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
A number of teams brought their relief pitchers in using a golf cart. The idea was to speed up pitching changes.
gategem
6/1/2012-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
You had to remind me of this embarrassment to NY baseball. I felt sorry for the ground crew having to clean up the mess on the field. It’s a good thing none of the players slipped on the Mule’s residue.
Homer the Beagle usually sat next to Miss Rheingold so it wasn’t as bad.
Stick
6/1/2012-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Wheeler and Mchugh are certainly making a case that they deserve the promotion to AAA. Colin has pitched plenty of innings, and wheeler looks like he also needs more of a challenge.
so, very reasonable to move them both after the mid-season break. And by then, young should be up.
but, that would leave a Buffalo rotation of Harvey, Familia, Wheeler, Mchugh and Mejia.
light years different than the usual journeymen, has beens and never will bes that are usually kicking around in AAA for the Mets!
and there could be one hell of a compitition in ST next year for rotation spots out of that group. With some extra BP reinforcements from the guys that lose out.
Then also the guys that are done with Savannah can move to PSL, with a couple of those arms going to bingo (and possibly a AAA demotion that got squeezed out).
TRS86
6/1/2012-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
What you run the risk of going in that direction is what happens if Young gets injured again or one of the other starters? Are you then forced to go to one of your kids before they are ready? That is why guys like Hef, Schwin and Miggy are around.
NJstuckinTX
6/1/2012-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Mejia would be the next up though, so that isn’t completely a bad situation. Honestly, he’s almost ready, so if it goes that Young is up (and subsequently breaks), you either rehash the MigHefSchwinny 3 headed monster or flip Mejia the game ball.
TRS86
6/1/2012-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
I agree you can go back to the three headed monster but that means they need a spot in AAA which was basically my point.
Stick
6/1/2012-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
well, the logic would be that some of the guys would be ready for a call. Plus there will be some veteran support that might be in the pen, taking spot starts, or even a 6 man rotation.
Most likely, there would only be 4 of those guys in the rotation, along with a veteran spare part type, but if the numbers don’t work, then you adjust.
also, if they have a batista/hefner in the ML pen, that is your emergency spot starter.
but, in my scenario, they could call up Mejia. Or even Mchugh (though he might be a 40 man issue) before even getting to say Harvey.
gategem
6/1/2012-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
It’s difficult to micro-manage the minor league teams from afar. Short term success does not mean a player is physically or mentally ready to make the jump to the next level. The final jump from the minor leagues to the majors is huge probably more so from a maturity level than a physical one. Fortunately, it appears the present FO does not react to pressure from the fans and the media. My gut feeling is the potential problem is and will always be Jeff Wilpon. He reminds me so much of Jim Dolan.
Stick
6/1/2012-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
except I really can invision Sandy just telling him No, and locking him in the basement if needed.
it seems pretty clear that Jeffy must have strutted around acting like the BMOC with Omar, but I doubt you pull that crap on Sandy.
Bryan
6/1/2012-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
Wheeler will get promoted mid-July earliest, but McHugh should be promoted as soon as there’s an opening in the AAA rotation.
Stick
6/1/2012-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
this I agree with. Wheeler can finish fine tuning his control and secondary pitches in AA just as easily, and I don’t think moving to AAA will make much difference. Could probably be just as successful going straight to MLB after a full year in AA.
Mchugh, he has more than finished with AA and should be ready for the next level to cement his prospect status.
once Young goes up, it makes sense to move him then.
Prismo
6/1/2012-4:50pm at 4:50 pm (UTC -4)
Mets fans seem to be more on “pins and needles” about promoting startings in the minors than any other fanbase.
Strasburg had like 10 minor league starts (or so) before he came up, heck Pelfrey had 33!
Wheeler already had 44 starts and people think he needs another FULL YEAR, or more!
If he’s ready, he’s ready! Send the man up to AAA, if he dominates the rest of this season, he deserves a legit shot at the rotation next year.
All this pu**yfooting makes me sick. Limit their innings, they need 5 years in the minors, 150 starts. Blah blah blah. I hate it!!
All the babying doesn’t help anyone, there are PLENTY of examples of pitchers who were babied and still flopped or had significant injuries.