Minors Stuff

The Herd:

The Bisons, meanwhile, were pretty much status quo, which means they were again brutal in certain areas. A paid crowd of 4,881 saw the Herd fall a season-low 18 games under .500 at 10-28.

Starting pitcher Mike Antonini (0-1, 12.27 ERA) lasted just four innings in his second start since coming from Double-A Binghamton.

The offense collected 10 hits but went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position to drop the season average in that category to an unfathomable .169. Buffalo put the leadoff man on in six of the last seven innings and he scored just once. Three first-inning runs, two on a Javier Valentin homer, were unearned after an error by Columbus third baseman Andy Marte.

The ninth inning was utterly Bisonesque. Columbus lefty Rafael Perez, a disaster in Cleveland's bullpen this year (15.19 ERA), gave up singles to Michel Abreu and Mike Lamb. But Robinson Cancel twice failed to bunt and then looped a lazy fly to right field for the first out.

Cory Sullivan was used to pinch run so with only backup catcher Rene Rivera and newly acquired infielder Mark Kiger available, No. 9 hitter Jonathan Malo took his .183 average to the plate and grounded into a double play to end the game.
That gave Perez his second save and fifth straight scoreless outing since getting demoted

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/679211.html


B-Mets:


Friday, May 22 New Britain 7:05 pm RHP Tobi Stoner (1-0, 1.46) vs. TBA
Saturday, May 23 New Britain 7:05 pm RHP Ryan Coultas (3-1, 2.54) vs. TBA
Sunday, May 24 New Britain 6:35 pm RHP Dylan Owen (0-3, 6.18)) vs. TBA
Monday, May 25 New Britain 1:05 pm RHP Jose Sanchez (1-5, 6.59) vs. TBA


**Mets catching prospect Josh Thole was drafted in the 13th round in 2005, out of high school in Illinois. He hit .300/.382/.427 last year for St. Lucie in the Florida State League; I gave him a Grade C in the 2009 book, noting that I liked his contact hitting ability, low strikeout rate, and decent plate discipline, but was concerned about a relative lack of power, and mixed reports regarding his defense. He's off to a strong start this year for Double-A Binghamton, hitting .344/.415/.467. He has just one homer, but has knocked 12 doubles, and I like his 15/16 BB/K ratio in 122 at-bats. A left-handed hitter, he's hitting .450 in 40 at-bats so far against lefties, so right now at least it doesn't look like he'll have to be platooned. He still needs defensive polish according to the reports I have, and I remain concerned about the relative lack of power, but he's just 22 years old, makes contact, controls the zone, and plays a premium position. He's worth keeping an eye on definitely, and I would raise his grade to at least a C+ now.
http://www.minorleagueball.com

B-Mets diamond notes: The B-Mets had their three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night with a road loss at Connecticut. The B-Mets have won four of their last five games at NYSEG Stadium this season and are 10-7 at home this season. Josh Thole is batting .413 in home games this season. Who's hot: Heading into Wednesday's game, Julio De La Cruz hadn't allowed a run in his last three outings and had six strikeouts in his last five innings. Who's not: Sanchez hasn't won a start since April 10, losing five of seven games in that stretch.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090522/SPORTS02/905220366/1118/sports/B-Mets+scouting+report