We’re winding down the minor league season, but the farm looked pretty strong. Even Kingsport turned in a valiant effort. St Lucie was rained out and Savannah observed the Sabbath by taking the day off. Let’s take a look!
Buffalo 9, Pawtucket 3
Jenry Mejia continues to flourish since being put back in the rotation for Buffalo. I’ve gone on record saying the Mets should stop jerking him around, but if the rotation is working then leave him there for the remainder of the season. Jenry allowed just two unearned runs in five innings of work, surrendering six hits and a walk against two K’s. Lucas Duda looks like he is shaking off the “I Got Demoted” blues, going 3 for 5 with three runs scored. Josh Rodriguez went 2 for 5 with a solo homer. The Herd touched up Mark Prior for two runs in 1.2 innings. That just depresses me.
Binghamton 7, Harrisburg 2
2B Wilmer Flores (run scored), C Juan Centeno (three RBI) and SS Sean Kazmar (three runs scored) both went 3 for 5, Allen Dykstra went 2 for 4 with three RBI, and Raul Reyes added a 2 for 4 effort of his own with a solo homer. So the bats carried this game. Cory Mazzoni picked up the win, going five innings allowing a run on six hits and three walks while striking out two.
Brooklyn 10, Vermont 5
The Cyclone bats continue to heat up down the stretch, just in time for a playoffs run. Brandon Nimmo went 2 for 5 with a run scored (upping his OPS to .823), Dimas Ponce was 3 for 5 with a solo homer, two RBI and three runs scored, Phillip Evans went 1 for 5 with a run, and Kevin Plawecki was 3 for 4 with a run scored and two driven in. And that was just the first four batters! Alexander Sanchez also added a 3 for 4 night with three RBI and a run. Rainy Lara was a little shaky (5IP, 4R, 7H, 1BB, 6K) but was good enough to earn his league leading seventh win.
Danville 6, Kingsport 5 (13 innings)
Well, can’t win ‘em all. The K-Mets rallied for three in the seventh to tie the game, but the Braves were able to scratch one out in the top of the thirteenth to eke out the win. Akeel Morris went five scoreless innings of relief, striking out nine! Of course, there is a reason he is in the pen. That effort lowered his ERA to 9.19. Gavin Cecchini went 3 for 7 with two RBI.
17 comments
Stickguy
8/13/2012-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
more pitching the better.
some hitting is nice to see on occasion too though.
Mejia will be staying in the rotation the rest of the year. Only way he is going to get a decent amount of innings.
srt
8/13/2012-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
Glad to see Mejia doing better back in the starting rotation. Would be great if that’s where he eventually has his success.
Flores…..does this organization really see him at 2nd base? I’m still thinking 3rd. Too bad he’s not fast enough for the OF.
SNY is airing the AAA game tonight with the Mets off day. Is that Familia on the mound?
Go NImmo!
Stickguy
8/13/2012-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
from reading about him, I don’t suspect they really think that is his future (though they did steam ahead with the Murphy experiment, so who knows?). More like they were not sure he would be able to stick at 3rd (either handling it, or being blocked at the ML level), so this was a way to give him some time at other positions to see how he looks.
keep in mind that he was always a SS, so if they are set on moving him from there, they certainly need to try out all the other options before (hopefully) settling on the best fit.
of course, and they know it, if that ends up being 3B and they sign DW to an extension, he is trade bait.
srt
8/13/2012-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
If 3rd base will wind up being his best position – and DWright is extended – and Flores stays here – wonder if they’ll consider moving Wright to another position to make room for Flores?
NJstuckinTX
8/13/2012-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
Trade Ike and move Flores to 1B!
Stickguy
8/13/2012-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
package him with Spin and Familia?
NJstuckinTX
8/13/2012-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
Amen brother!
Stickguy
8/13/2012-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
Mejia? Odd. I know that the pen and starting are different, but guys move back and forth all the time (especially in the minors). I just can’t understand how he can have such radically different results in the same season.
darknova306
8/13/2012-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Could just be that he’s a lot more comfortable with the regular routine of being a starter, and he gets mentally thrown off quite a bit by the uncertainty of a reliever’s role. Who knows, but it is a rather stark jump in performance between the roles for him.
gategem
8/13/2012-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
Stick did you read Metsie’s comment about Moneyball at MMO? Based upon the few articles and comments he has made I had classified him as a moron. But this comment reveals he is far from being a moron. Even at my old age you live and learn.
gategem
8/13/2012-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
What I meant to say was “Based upon the few articles and comments he has made that I have read forced me to classify him as a moron.”
Anyway he touched upon areas that go beyond the typical discussion of statistics among baseball fans.
Bryan
8/13/2012-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
It will be Collin McHugh starting for Buffalo tonight.
srt
8/13/2012-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
Thanks.
Not that I don’t think McHugh has talent. Would have just preferred to see Familia since I don’t ever get to see these prospects until they’re called up – or in spring training.
wanny
8/13/2012-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
flores is not playing 3b every day at aa because of the presence of jeffrey marte, also a 3B and still with some shine as a prospect.
apagano
8/13/2012-8:43pm at 8:43 pm (UTC -4)
I live in Harrisburg and attended the B-Mets game. Cory Mazzoni is a bulldog on the mound, but he’s way too hittable. He got himself into and out of jams every inning. Low 90s fastball, solid curve and changeup. Leaves too many pitches out over the plate. Wilmer Flores looked good at the plate and seemed fine at 2B in the few chances he had.
Bryan
8/14/2012-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
Interesting stuff. I really don’t see Mazzoni as more of a bullpen guy that pitches the 6th or 7th inning or perhaps a long man. I also think by mid-season next year he could be ready to make a big league appearance. I’d really like to see Flores at 2B in person to see how he does. I do think he’d work better at 3B, but if David resigns and you want to keep Flores, that may be the only place for him. It’s really a tough call b/c up the middle defense is very important and even Flores gets to his peek defensively at 2B I can’t imagine him being more than average defensively. I’m not surprised that he can make routine plays there, but what about his range? What about turning double plays? Also, his strong arm is kind of wasted at 2B.
Stickguy
8/14/2012-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
keep in mind that he is used to working around the bag, having been a SS for so long. Different angles and such, but not alien territory like with Murphy.