About ten games left in the minor league season. Where does the time go when it’s not around here (that’s a quote for all you BNL fans out there). Tropical Storm Isaac washed away the Lucies, and we send out best to all the people down on the Gulf Coast. Hang in there folks – and stay safe. Buffalo split a doubleheader, and as always, we remind you that twin bills in the minors are seven inning affairs. Onward!
Buffalo 1, Rochester 0 (Game 1)
Zach Wheeler picks up his first win at AAA, throwing a (truncated) complete game shutout while allowing only three hits and two walks against seven strikeouts. The lone run of the game was knocked in by Matt den Dekker, who didn’t strike out once. Good for him.
Rochester 11, Buffalo 9 (Game 2)
Things went a wee bit differently in the nightcap. Each team had three innings where they put up crooked numbers, and boy did CJ Nitkowski (1.1 IP, 7R, 7H, 1BB, 0K) put a dent in any potential plans to be a useful piece out of the Mets pen. He entered with a 5-3 lead in the fourth, and by the time he was pulled with one out in the fifth, it was 10-5 in favor of Ra-Cha-Cha. The Herd was able to cut the lead to a run before the Red Wings tacked on one more for insurance. The good news is that the Bisons had the long ball working: Fred Lewis and Val Pascuccui each had solo shots, while Zach Lutz and Matt Tuiasasopo each connected for two run homers. Check out the Bosons on SNY tonight at 7 if you have a chance.
Binghamton 5, Portland 3 (10 innings)
Wilfredo Tovar (4 for 4, run scored) delivered a two run single in the top of the tenth to put the B-Mets up for good, and Brad Holt threw a perfect inning to pick up his third save of the year as Binghamton outlasts the Sea Dogs. Greg Peavey got the start and was solid in getting a no decision (7IP, 3R, 6H, 2HR, 1BB, 4K) despite giving up two homers. Jeff Kaplan got the win in two scoreless innings of relief. Wilmer Flores went 3 for 5, Dustin Martin went 2 for 5 with a run scored, and Juan Centeno was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Rome 4, Savannah 3
The Sand Gnats cut the run to one in the bottom of the ninth, but Dustin Lawley struck out to end the game with Cole Frenzel on third. Marcos Camarena took the hard luck loss, going six innings, allowing three runs (two earned), on five hits and a walk while striking out three. The Alliteration Twins, Brandon Brown and Gilbert Gomez (two RBI) each went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Staten Island 12, Brooklyn 2
There was a time when the question was whether the Cyclones would win the division in the march to the playoffs, or just make the wildcard. With ten games to go, they are seven out of first and their wildcard lead has dwindled to two. A big reason is the hitting. I know the Mets are trying to instill a patient mentality in the new recruits, but Brooklyn is second to last in the league in hitting (.232). The pitching has been carrying them, but you can’t be that one sided and expect to be a playoff team. What if a pitcher has a bad day? Case in point: Julian Hilario only registered one out yesterday, but not before he gave up seven runs (five earned). The Yankees pounded out eighteen hits, ten of them for extra bases, but this game was over in the first inning. But hey, Brandon Nimmo hit a two run homer. BTW, he is by far the Cyclones most productive hitter. His batting average? .271
Pulaski 6, Kingsport 4
Persio Reyes allowed four run in just two innings, though he didn’t walk anyone. Carlos Valdez followed that up with two unearned and that was pretty much that for the K-Mets. They don’t hit that well either (.236 team average – dead last in the Appalachian League). Jeffrey Diehl was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Gavin Cecchini was 0 for 4.
27 comments
Stickguy
8/27/2012-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
flores still cranking along. He should be up next year. assuming they have a place to play him. Keep working hard at 2B Wilmer!
and wheeler, if he can look like this his last few starts before getting shut down for the year, and carry it over into next spring, he could be up like Harvey this year, probably by 7/1.
Nimmo, he is interesting. really coming on strong, and holding his own. Hopefully he moves fast and handles the higher levels, Needs to get a 2-fer one year (say start at Savannah, end at PSL) and he could be arriving a lot sooner than many people expected.
also goes to show, HS ball is highly overrated.
srt
8/27/2012-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
This patient mentality at the plate is starting to get to me on the big club. Waiting for a pitch to hit is fine but dang…….it’s starting to be a little ridiculous. No one is hitting anything.
Who will be pitching tonight for Buffalo? I’ll probably be tuning in with the Mets off day.
Stickguy
8/27/2012-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
BRING BACK HOJO! HACK AT EVERY PITCH!
oh wait, that might not be a good idea…
blame the players. Not the “system”. Wright seems to be doing just fine.
the real problem is when guys are not good hitters (torres, bay, etc.) They can try and work out a walk/get into a good count and fail, or be aggressive and not make contact.
Pretty sure hitters like Pujols would do just fine with any “philosophy”
Sylow59
8/27/2012-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
I think hitters like Pujols are not subject to any philosophy except theirs.
Bryan
8/27/2012-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
Should be Jenrry Mejia starting for Buffalo, hope you’re in the mood to watch a lot of ground balls.
I do think they need to preach patience and discipline, but patience with a purpose. The goal is to swing at the best possible pitch in each at bat, so you can’t be so patient that you let that one good pitch go by.
TRS86
8/27/2012-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
From day one Hudgens has never said anything about waiting, not on the MLB level.
If you go back and read the quotes from spring training it has always been be “hunters”.
““Hunt your pitch,” he tells his players.
“We want to do damage in the middle of the plate.”
“If he doesn’t give you that pitch? We’re walking to first base.””
So the Mets players taking pitches that are right down the middle would be the opposite of what he is teaching them.
“In the process, the team established the sort of offensive identity lacking in years prior. The misconception about improving on-base skills is the process relies on passivity, on cowards willing to pass on pitch after pitch in search of the almighty walk.
Hudgens shakes his head at that notion. He traffics in aggression. His players verify this.
“We never sat down and had this ‘Moneyball’ discussion, like we’re going to walk and we’re going to take,” outfielder Jason Bay said. “It was never brought up.”
Instead, Hudges looked to train hunters. One day recently, a reporter mentioned the practice to second baseman Daniel Murphy.
“Hunt? Is that what you said?” Murphy’s eyes almost twinkled. “That’s a very good description.””
Hazmet
8/27/2012-8:18pm at 8:18 pm (UTC -4)
The booth had the discussion about the approach a couple of weeks ago to get Keith’s opinion and Keith is all in. Paraphrasing: he’s a big advocate for what he’s teaching but if guys don’t swing at the pitch he’s telling them to work the count to get to then what do you want him to do. Keith was on the money, how many good pitches have we seen them take. Hudgens doesn’t want them to take them either but there’s only so much he can do. He can get’m to be disciplined but he can’t be making them swing too. The player’s gotta be in tune to recoginze the opportunities when they present themselves.
Oh Mejia getting lit up in the third.
Stickguy
8/27/2012-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
Mejia? Watching BBs, not GBs, tonight.
entirely possible he just pitched his way out of a few September starts for the mets.
But, Flores just keeps raking. Another HR tonight.
just send him to winter ball to do nothing but play 2B, trade murphy, and let him rip next year! What the hell, if you are going to suck, might as well suck with style!
Hazmet
8/27/2012-8:49pm at 8:49 pm (UTC -4)
I’m in. If it’s sucking towards building less sucking I’m good with that. I think we know what Murph is and he’s been better at 2B then I would have thought this year but if we can get something and slide Flores in what the heck. No one is untouchable outside of the young pitchers.
Trs86
8/27/2012-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
Stick I just don’t see the point in trading Murphy for some middle reliever just to watch Wright walk. Even if he doesn’t then trade Murphy then. Otherwise, it’s not like he’s gonna help build anything with trade value. A Murphy and Vspin packaged together most likely gets you some one else’s Murphy and Vspin.
Stick
8/27/2012-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
who says you can only get a MR for a .300 hitting 2B?
and I have absolutely no desire to see him as a replacement at 3B. If Wright goes, they need to rebuild with one of the many MiL 3B (flores most likely, or marte or Lutz) and keep Murphy the hell away from there.
kingman 26
8/27/2012-9:35pm at 9:35 pm (UTC -4)
Pssst–Murph is hitting .283, not .300. Career .289.
He has no power, he is slow, he cannot field, and he is “tired.”
We all must disabuse ourselves of all illusions that the overwhelming majority of players on this team are anything but 3rd rate losers.
Sorry.
Reality is my addiction.
Murphy sucks.
Stick
8/27/2012-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
I guess we will find out soon enough what some of the players are worth.
darknova306
8/27/2012-10:27pm at 10:27 pm (UTC -4)
Murphy may be one of the more overrated players I’ve seen fans slobber over. For everyone’s love of his work ethic and determination, they seem to treat him like the second coming of Chase Utley sometimes. He’s a slap hitter that sometimes gets some doubles, has no speed, plays mediocre defense, but “he’s so awesome!!!”. Let’s see how he finished the year, I guess. Maybe he can bump that trade value up above just a middle reliever…
Trs86
8/27/2012-10:35pm at 10:35 pm (UTC -4)
Not likely with him injured…again.
darknova306
8/27/2012-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
Good point. With that rotator cuff pain, he’ll be completely powerless the rest of the way.
Trs86
8/27/2012-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
Baseball says that you are only getting a middle reliever. Sad but true.
Stickguy
8/27/2012-10:34pm at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
If it can at least be a good one, what the hell, it is a major upgrade.
Trs86
8/27/2012-10:38pm at 10:38 pm (UTC -4)
They aren’t trading him for a middle reliever. Hell Ramirez was a heck of a good risk and look how that turned out. I keep saying his best values still to the Mets. Holding 2b until something better comes while he is still relatively cheap.
Stick
8/27/2012-9:30pm at 9:30 pm (UTC -4)
actually, there is another reason to do it. Even if you are getting equivalent talent (which after all, is what most trades are, right?), it makes sense to trade surplus for need.
so if you have a spare 2B, find someone with a spare C or OF but no 2B and make a trade.
Trs86
8/27/2012-10:17pm at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
Thats just it though. We don’t have a surplus there yet. My point with Murphy was to leave him at second and the Flores at 3rd until the Wright delimea is solved. Once that is solved you may not need to trade Murphy because you will have traded Wright….
Hazmet
8/27/2012-8:51pm at 8:51 pm (UTC -4)
Random: So enjoyed seeing the worlds best golfers getting their arse kicked about a mile from my house this past weekend. They’re actually lucky Bethpage played softer the first day.
Stick
8/27/2012-9:57pm at 9:57 pm (UTC -4)
http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/08/bayonne_schools_lower_passing.html#incart_river_default#incart_hbx
darknova306
8/27/2012-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
So, is it too early to say that Wright’s “resurgence” is over? I know his first half was awesome and we all said “he’s back”, but his second half OPS so far is .771 (just like his full 2011), and his K-rate has doubled. Kaptain K may well have returned from his slumber…
Stickguy
8/27/2012-10:34pm at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
his overall #s are still strong. Of course, it would be nicer if he could get them with less of a roller coaster look to the season.
if he continues at this pace through September, then yes, it makes the decision to keep him harder (or maybe easier, if you are being objective!)
darknova306
8/27/2012-10:44pm at 10:44 pm (UTC -4)
His overall numbers are strong because of an April and May that had him with .400+ BABIP, and he declined quickly and steadily from there. His OPS has gone from 1.004 in the first half to .771 in the second half, and it’s been a steady decline month by month. He’s starting to make the decision to let him walk really easy (granted he could pull a Reyes and do the “career walk year” thing in 2013).
Stick
8/27/2012-10:53pm at 10:53 pm (UTC -4)
well, the trade offers they get will have a lot to do with it also.
if they are on the fence (“flexible”) about keeping him, and they get offered a kings ransom, they likely grab it and run.. But, if the trade offers for a 1 year gig are underwhelming, they might as well keep him and see what happens.
I am curious to know what they really think about him (not necessarily the same as what they say publicly of course!)