Nice to be back! The Lucies were rained out yesterday by tropical Storm Debbie. For those of you who get the MLB Network, the Bisons are on at noon today. Let’s see what the rest of the schedule had to offer.
Durham 4, Buffalo 3
Matt Harvey had an uneven outing, not giving up huge hits, but enough of them to not be dominant in a see saw affair. In five innings, he allowed two runs of seven hits while walking two and striking out an impressive six batters. Justin Hampson took the loss in relief, giving up the two deciding runs in the sixth inning. After the game, Hampson was called up to Queens while Vinny Rotino has been DFA’d.
Binghamton 7, Erie 5
After spending most of the last three seasons as a shortstop at Hi-A, Wilmer Flores is enjoying the breakout year that many in the Mets front office had been waiting for from the 20 year old. The move to third base may or may not have much to do with this, but playing a position at which he is better suited – if not a standout – must be a psychological boon. He was also rewarded with a selection in this year’s Futures Game and a promotion to AA Binghamton. Appearing in the upper minors does not seem to faze him, as he went 4 for 5 yesterday with two RBI and a run scored to lift his average to a scintillating .471. Reese Havens was 1 for 4 with a solo homer.
Augusta 2, Savannah 1
The pitching by committee danced through the raindrops for the most part, allowing just two runs (both by Jim Fuller in his three innings of work) while allowing thirteen (!) hits. On the flip side, the Sand Gnats managed just three hits themselves.
Brooklyn 10, Aberdeen 5
The Cyclones slowly piled on the ruins and lead 8-0 by the seventh inning, but Gabriel Ynoa ran out of steam and Ernesto Yanez threw gasoline on the fire. Next thing you knew, it was an 8-5 ballgame, but Tyler Vanderheiden put out the fire and John Mincone locked down the save. Nelfi Zapata was 3 for 5 with a solo homer and three RBI, while Brandon Nimmo drew three walks and scored twice.
Kingsport 8, Greeneville 3
A solid effort all around by the K-Mets. Robert Gsellman went six strong innings, allowing an unearned run on five hits while walking nobody and striking out three. Brad Marquez, back from football at Texas A&M, was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, Gavin Cecchini was 1 for 5 with two runs and two RBI, and Jeyckol De Leon was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs. Senor Hyde had the night off.
15 comments
NJstuckinTX
6/25/2012-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
Nimmo is a walk machine.
Bryan
6/25/2012-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
You can say that again. It’s a small sample size but in 7 games he has 3 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Bryan
6/25/2012-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Small correction, Brad Marquez plays football at Texas Tech, not Texas A&M.
Peter Duffy
6/25/2012-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
RIGHT! Thank you
Stickguy
6/25/2012-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
any chance Harvey is actually working on his secondary stuff (say, the change), even using it at times he normally wouldn’t? If so, and it is improving, the uneven results make more sense and are less worrisome.
Really just curious as to how close to being as fully developed in the minors he is. At some point, they have pretty much gotten as much as they can out of a level, and need to move up to apply the finishing touches.
Though right now, there is no spot in the rotation for him. Which is a nice problem to have.
Stickguy
6/25/2012-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Nice to see Flores blossoming like this. A good example of why you can’t give up on a young guy with good tools too quickly. Even though it seems like he has been around forever, he is still younger than a slew of guys that were just drafted and are getting their feet wet in Brooklyn.
and if this keeps up, does it come into play with Wright? That is a big reason I wanted to see Flores get more time at 2B, at least enough to show it can be a viable option.
just say Flores really crushes the ball in Bingo all year, and plays a respectable 3B. Does that make it less likely the mets keep Wright? make Flores trade bait? Make him a FT 2B in winter ball?
I really dream about the 2B option. Could you imagine the kid coming up like DW did at 21 out of AA/brief stop at AAA, and raking, but doing it from 2B? Certainly will help balance out the all lefty OF!
Bryan
6/25/2012-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
I’m not sure the Mets should factor Flores into the equation when it comes to resigning Wright, but the dream would be to have Flores at 2B, unless you think David can make that move.
Stickguy
6/25/2012-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
I have thought a few times that wright moving to 2B made sense. Mostly when he was sidearming lollipop throws in the dirt to 1B. Not expecting it to happen, but who knows?
He could also likely do quite well in LF. He has speed.
But, hot prospects always get factored in when deciding what to do with an established guy. Phils traded thome (or let him go FA, forget which) for Howard.
not saying either that it means anything now. but come the off season, if Flores is handling AA say the way DW did, doesn’t it have to be considered when deciding how much to break the bank on a LT deal?
you pretty much would have 3 options. Roll the dice on Flores being ready, decide to move him to 2B and make it work (the Murphy plan), or trade him in the off season for something needed like a catcher.
Bryan
6/25/2012-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
I just think David means too much to the organization to not resign because you think Flores can be as good or better. I think you hang on to Wright and if he or Flores can’t move to 2B then I think ultimately Flores will give you plenty of value in a trade.
NJstuckinTX
6/25/2012-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
At the very worst, it gives Alderson a bargaining chip come negotiation time. And like you said, Flores at 2B until Wright goes out to pasture, then slide him over…
Stickguy
6/25/2012-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
well, Utley was a 3B until he got moved to 2B to make room for the immortal David Bell.
my theory also is, if you have the skill to play a decent SS (with Flores, it was about his speed, not the glove) and can handle 3rd, you can learn 2B.
though I guess the same could be said for Wright. He was a SS that moved to 3B too.
NJstuckinTX
6/25/2012-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
If Murph can play 2B, anyone can…
srt
6/25/2012-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Feels like I’ve been hearing about Flores forever and for awhile, sounded like his power was regressing as he got older. Keep forgetting he’s only 20 right now and good to see with the promotion so far to Bingo.
You never know the mindset with these young kids. Maybe he thought he should have moved up the organization like lightening and when that didn’t happen, he got discouraged. Don’t know but glad to be reading he’s doing well there right now.
gategem
6/25/2012-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
While you’re dreaming about 2nd base dream that Havens gets his act together and puts his career back into overdrive.
Stickguy
6/25/2012-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
I haven’t completely given up hope on that one, but I am pretty close to writing him off.
I actually think he will have a late bloomer decent career, maybe a couple of big years mixed in, but at this point it won’t be with the Mets.
still, if he can get into a groove soon and go on a power tear, you never know.