Minors Stuff

The Herd:

Michel Abreu's two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning gave starter Nelson Figueroa all the support he needed as the Bisons knocked off the Indians, 2-1, Monday morning at Coca-Cola Field.

Abreu was not in the starting lineup but was forced into action when 1B Wily Mo Pena left the game in the middle of his at-bat in the fourth inning with an apparent leg injury.
After seeing one pitch and striking out against Jeremy Powell in the fourth, Abreu drove a 2-1 pitch off Powell over the wall in left-center, putting the Herd ahead by the final margin 2-1.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090608&content_id=5208366&vkey=news_t422&fext=.jsp&sid=t422


THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

The Bisons went 2-4 last week with one game canceled by rain to fall to 16-37 overall. They have the worst record in the IL and remain sixth in the North Division.

WHO'S HOT AND WHO'S NOT:

OF Jesus Feliciano has hit .382 with five RBis and six runs scored in his last nine games. ... OF Wily Mo Pena has batted .341 with three homers, eight RBIs and four runs scored in his last 10 contests. ... 3B Mike Lamb has hit .175 in his last 10 games. ... Herd catchers have struggled at the plate, with Rene Rivera (.200) and Robinson Cancel (.053) combining to bat .128 in the last 10 games.

NOT SO NICE FOR NIESE:

In his first five starts this season, LHP Jon Niese went 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA. Things couldn't get much worse, right? Think again. He lost his next three starts, allowing 26 hits, including five homers, and 20 runs -- 18 earned -- in 16 innings. Niese is 0-5 with an 8.05 ERA and .329 batting average against.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"It's very frustrating. You get a good crowd like that, they're pumped up and they watch us play the way we played. Frustrating and disappointing." -- Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell to the Buffalo News on June 6 after the Herd lost, 9-2, to Indianapolis before the second-largest home crowd of the season. Buffalo committed two errors, allowed six runs over the first four innings and didn't score after Wily Mo Pena's two-run homer in the first.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090607&content_id=5201998&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp


B-Mets:

I'm no scout, and one game wouldn't be an adequate sample even if I was, but I know that Thole has thrown out 34 percent of baserunners this year, the same rate as the Major League Mets. I recognize that's not nearly all that goes into defense behind the plate and that Double-A runners are probably more likely to be caught on the basepaths, but it's got to be a good sign that Thole's not embarrassing himself back there. At some point, it seems likely that the number of runs Thole's bat provides could outweigh the number of runs his defense costs. He doesn't hit with a ton of power, but his .419 on-base percentage and history of impressive plate discipline bode well for his future.

• I got a chance to speak to Ruben Tejada, with pitching coach Hector Berrios translating. After a rough year at the plate in 2008, Tejada has acquitted himself well in Double-A this season, hitting .280 with a .373 OBP. He hasn't hit for much power and, considering his generously listed 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame, he might not develop much.

What's most impressive about Tejada, though, is his age. He's 19 now and one of the youngest players at his level, and he doesn't look a day older. He primarily plays shortstop and is known as a slick fielder, though he played second base on Sunday and made a pair of errors (one of which likely wouldn't have been made if it weren't for his range).

http://web.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090608&content_id=5212486&oid=36018&vkey=31


Queens:

If it seems like the rivalry between the Mets and Phillies is a bit disorienting, that's because it's been turned upside down. Team coming off of a postseason appearance? Check. High-priced closer blowing games right and left? Check. Disappointing star? Decimated pitching staff? Poorly performing bullpen? Bumbling manager periodically questioning team's heart? No, not the 2007 Mets. The 2009 Phillies.

http://web.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090608&content_id=5207746&oid=36018&vkey=9


International:

Scouts say the Mets have shown strong interest in Jairo Kelly, a shortstop from Santiago in the Dominican Republic who could land a mid six-figure bonus. At around 5-foot-11, Kelly is a switch-hitter, showing more power from the right side and a line-drive swing from the left side, though scouts disagree about whether he's better swinging lefthanded or righthanded. "He's not a real toolsy guy," said a National League international scouting director. "He's got a short stroke with some rhythm, but not with much power." Kelly has a plus arm, though his accuracy is below-average, and most scouts say he is not a great runner. Some scouts have suggested that he would best fit at second base.

www.baseballamerica.com