Pitching was the name of the game last night (though isn’t it every night?). Top prospects all around, let’s see how they did. Oh, and Binghamton was rained out, because someone has to be these days apparently.
Pawtucket 5, Buffalo 0
Matt Harvey deserved a better fate. The right-hander, who took a no hitter into the sixth, went seven innings, struck out 10, kept the walks in check (two), and gave up only three hits. Unfortunately, one of those was a three run homer to Ryan Lavarnway in the sixth. In a chat for ESPN yesterday, Adam Rubin noted that scouts felt Harvey needed to develop his changeup, but is reluctant to use it in games once it starts getting hit. This it doesn’t develop. Word is he used it more last night to better effect. Regardless, the PawSox completely shut down the Bison offense, so he had very little room for error.
Binghamton 8, Reading 5
The B-Mets rallied for two in the seventh and three in the eight to decisively tilt this see-saw affair. Eric Campbell and Dustin Martin (one RBI and one run scored each), and catcher Juan Centeno (one RBI and two runs scored) each went 2 for 4. Zach Wheeler started and did not have his best stuff, but still went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts (his lowest tally for any game this year). Edgar Ramirez got the win with a scoreless seventh, and Robbie Carson notched the save with the tying run at the plate.
Savannah 6, Rome 0
Ahh…a pitching prospect that had everything go well. Michael Fulmer breezed through the Braves lineup, going 7.1 scoreless, allowing just three hits while walking two and striking out three. Would like to see a few more K’s but that’s really nitpicking. The fifteen hit barrage was led by Dustin Lawley who went 4 for 6 including a solo homer, and TJ Rivera who added a 3 for 6 effort of his own with two RBI and a run.
20 comments
NJstuckinTX
6/15/2012-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
I can’t tell if it is you writing this in a way that is slanted towards the pitchers, or this organizations young pitchers are just proving to be that good. Even though Harvey lost, it reads like he pitched really well while working on a pitch. Seems really promising.
Bryan
6/15/2012-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think it’s slanted writing, there really is a lot of good young pitching in the organization. Both St. Lucie and Savannah are loaded with guys have real good seasons.
NJstuckinTX
6/15/2012-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
I didn’t think it was either. It’s just a fantastic thing to be experiencing.
srt
6/15/2012-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
Just read an interesting article on MMO about the draft from the past 3 years. Specifically on passing up Chris Sale in favor of Matt Harvey with our first round pick in 2010. Sale went to the ChiSox.
Don’t really remember that and didn’t much pay attention but Sale started in the MLs 2 months after being drafted. He’s had a nice record last 2 years out of the BP and a very good record this year in the starting rotation.
Not saying I think the Matt Harvey pick was wasted – not by a long shot…..just wondering why they passed on Sale. I can only assume they never saw him as a SP and not many are taking a reliever with the first pick, even if he is ML ready.
NJstuckinTX
6/15/2012-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
I read that as well (don’t worry, you won’t see me post there ever again). I do remember the draft and most people thought it was a reach to get Harvey at that time and I do remember people talking about Sale. I can’t remember if he was represented by Boras or not. Sale is the real deal, and I wish this team had taken him, but Harvey seems to be coming along as well. No use crying over spilled milk.
Time will tell, but for now, advantage Chi-sox. Also, you have a general manager in Chi that is not afraid to take risks. And when it doesn’t work, he blows it up (and quickly) and then starts over. Omar… not so much. And Sandy… I can’t put my finger on him. Nimmo one year, Cecchini the next. Does seem odd. Also seems smarter to take higher risk/reward guys, but BA had the Cecch at 1 slot below Hawkins, so at that point, does it really matter?
srt
6/15/2012-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Makes sense. Thanks for the response.
I forgot Omar was still here for that 2010 draft…..
Stickguy
6/15/2012-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
I would say you also need to look at the bonus’s paid, but IIRC Harvey was not super cheap? Or I could be confused. But, there had to be something they liked about him.
The whole Cecc/Hawkins debate seems overblown to me (with a lot of Sandy is the worst GM in the history of the world, any sport) mixed in.
a few spots different in extremely subjective rankings, comparing apples to pomegranates? judgement call. Is 14 higher than 18? Yes. Is the difference material? no.
Not like they took some un-ranked guy #12 (Jeff Lagerman still available?). And so what they mixed organizational need/philosophy in a bit, along with expected floor.
Not like Hawkins was Harper coming into the draft. And maybe the Mets have enough big swing, not great D OFs already?
NJstuckinTX
6/15/2012-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
To me, that was the big thing. Need up the middle at SS, and not a Flores playing SS type projecting to play elsewhere.
oleosmirf
6/15/2012-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
disagree. You don’t draft based on need in baseball, especially a HS kid. It’s all about value. The Mets philosophy is to take the best available player at the position with the least amount of depth in the draft.
Finding a good CF, SS, C in the later rounds (and in FA/trades) is a lot harder than the corners or a pitcher that doesn’t project to be an ace, so grabbing one of them early is a lot more important, than grabbing a “higher ranked” RF, 3B or projectable arm.
I am 99.99% certain the new management would have passed on Harvey in favor of someone with a higher ceiling. Not that Harvey is a bad pick, but you look for Justin Verlander, not Matt Garza when you have a top 10 pick.
NJstuckinTX
6/15/2012-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I’m not saying I agree with what they did. I’m saying that it is what they did. The organization was week at C and SS, so they drafted the best SS and C they could at the spots they did. Again, not defending it, just saying that it is what they did. I also think the $$$ was an issue, especially as they try to figure out how the new system played out.
You mention the Mets philosophy of taking the best available player at the position with the least amount of depth in the draft. Isn’t that a silly philosophy? Wouldn’t it make sense to just take the best talent, regardless of position?
srt
6/15/2012-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
I had no problem with the Mets picking Cecchini. Liked what I’ve read about him so far.
oleosmirf
6/15/2012-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
you can say that about every team in every round…
Mr North Jersey
6/15/2012-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
So I’ll ask this here as well. Should we expect T.J. Rivera to get a promotion anytime now?
Bryan
6/15/2012-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
Well, Rivera isn’t viewed as much of a prospect, so a promotion isn’t really a priority, but after the FSL ASG this weekend Wilfredo Tovar should be moving to AA, so that would free up a spot in St. Lucie and one would assume Rivera would be the guy to take that spot.
Mr North Jersey
6/15/2012-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Bryan thx for the reply. Let me ask a follow up question if I may. If Rivera isn’t viewed as much of a prospect what will it take to change that view in your opinion cause all he has done since signing with the Mets is hit the heck out of the ball?
Bryan
6/15/2012-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
He really just needs to keep performing the way he has and keep moving up the farm system. Last year he was a 22-year old in short season ball and this year he’s a 23-year old in the South Atlantic League, so he should be performing well. If he can keep doing what he’s doing at the higher levels he’ll start to draw more attention. He’s not super toolsy so the way to get on the radar is to put up impressive stats, which he’s done, he’s just got to keep doing it at a more age appropriate level.
Mr North Jersey
6/15/2012-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Bryan.
Mr North Jersey
6/15/2012-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Off Topic: Catching up a bit with what is going on down on Philly and came across this article. An interesting read. Here are a few excerpts.
“Thanks to the stocked cupboard Pat Gillick left him, Amaro’s regime has been more about reloading than rebuilding, but player age and underperformance are threatening to test him like never before – not to mention the potentially sticky issue of fitting in a nine-figure payroll slot for Hamels.”
“Amaro was promoted to GM soon after the Pat Gillick-constructed 2008 team won the World Series. His two signature moves to date are the acquisition of Roy Halladay and the trade of Cliff Lee to Seattle. Bringing Lee back to great fanfare might rank third. Still, his strategy to load up on starting pitching has not drawn the team closer to a championship.”
http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/phillies-talk/Its-up-to-Amaro-to-fix-the-floundering-P?blockID=723954
Stickguy
6/15/2012-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
I hate the phils. But you are right, he pretty much fell into the golden ticket (much like Cashman), and now the tough workadecisions are coming due.
but whatever they do, I hope like hell they botch it!
gategem
6/15/2012-5:17pm at 5:17 pm (UTC -4)
Actually Cashman worked his way up through the ranks and was the lone sane voice of the sea of confusion that Steinbrenner created with front offices both in Tampa Bay and New York. Eventually Cashman won out and has done a fine job in restocking the system. The initial building of the club was a joint effort behind “Stick” Michaels. However, Cashman has his team once again poised to make the playoffs this year and they will be a strong franchise for the foreseeable future. He’s an extremely intelligent GM that relies heavily on stats and believes in a strong minor league system. Teams, writers and fans easily become spoiled. The Yankees are in the playoffs almost every year and as a fan you can’t ask for anything more.
As for the Phillies their present run that seems to be ending was more successful than the Mets run in the mid to late ‘80’s. Anyone that criticizes that run is an idiot.