Extended Camp:
New York Mets reliever J.J. Putz took the first step in his recovery from June 9 surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow on Friday.
Putz threw for the first time since he was shut down almost six weeks ago. His workout lasted only about a half an hour, — including stretching — and Putz was pleased with the progress.
He is the latest major league arrival at Tradition Field Sports Complex, joining shortstop Jose Reyes, first baseman Carlos Delgado — who came in earlier this week — and pitcher John Maine.
“The first couple throws were a little awkward, but I kind of expected that,” Putz said. “Once we kind of got into it, about 10 throws into it, I really started feeling good.”
The 32-year-old setup man plans to throw again Saturday and add in some upper body lifting before taking Sunday off to see how his body reacts.
Bisons left-hander Jonathon Niese dominated the Toledo Mud Hens Saturday night at Coca-Cola Field, pitching a two-hitter in the Herd's 1-0 victory in the first game of an International League doubleheader.
Niese needed just 87 pitches, 56 of them strikes, to dispose of the Mud Hens in a brisk 1-hour, 24-minute game. The 22-year-old prize prospect of the New York Mets, had only two strikeouts and two walks but only three of the putouts were in the outfield. The Mud Hens were beating the ball into the ground the whole game. Fifteen of the 21 outs recorded by Niese came on ground balls.
Toledo was hitless until Brent Dlugach opened the fifth inning with a broken-bat single on a ground ball just out of the reach of Buffalo shorstop Javier Castillo. The other hit came in the ninth, when Don Kelly, the only left-handed hitter in the Toledo lineup, dropped a single to left with one out. Niese got Dlugach to hit into a force play. First baseman Nick Evans made a nifty backhand stop on Brent Clevelen's grounder to end it.
The evening opened with the welcomed sight of all-star catcher Josh Thole returning to the field for the Binghamton Mets. And for the home team, it just got better from there. Right-hander Brad Holt logged his second straight sterling start, Lucas Duda extended his hitting streak to 16 games by hitting a home run over the scoreboard in right field and the B-Mets won for the fourth time in five games, topping Erie, 4-2, on Saturday. "We were able to put all the ingredients together," B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said. "Holt was outstanding again. (He's) showing signs why he's a top prospect here. Very aggressive. Did a great job. And now we're getting some timely hitting, mixed with defense, and the bullpen was outstanding too." Holt, who missed three weeks in June with a sprained ankle, went 6 2/3 innings in his fifth start back, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out seven. That followed his seven shutout innings Monday against New Britain.
Savannah pitcher Eric Beaulac is slowly becoming the ace of the staff in the second half of the season. The 22-year-old pitched five and 2/3 innings of no hit ball, striking out seven while walking just two, helping the Sand Gnats (12-11) snap their two game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Hickory Crawdads Saturday night at Grayson Stadium. The win for Beaulac, (6-5 2.63 ERA) was his third in four games since the second half began on June 25th. In that span, he's struck out 32 batters while walking a mere eight in 24 2/3 innings, and he says he owes his hot start to the coaching staff. "My pitching coach Marc Valdez is terrific," Beaulac said. "He gets us both mentally and physically ready to go out there every fifth day and try and help the ball club." The Sand Gnat bats struck big in the first inning off Hickory starter Wilfredo Boscan. After a Jefry Marte reached on his 16th double of the season, 17 year-old shortstop Wilmer Flores brought him home with a two-out RBI single.
The Cyclones won their 20th game of the season by pounding the Doubledays with a four-homer barrage — including two by John Servidio — and some solid pitching. Although Auburn scored first, the Cyclones answered back with two in the fourth inning. First, Sam Honeck got the team’s first hit of the evening, and Dock Doyle knocked him in. Tyler Vaughn later followed with an RBI of his own. The Doubledays got one run back in the fifth, but the Clones added three more on Honeck’s bases-loaded double. In the sixth, Vaughn and Servidio homered to pretty much put it out of reach. But the Cyclones weren’t done. In the eighth, Servidio slammed another homer, this time a two-run dinger. And Andy Green added a solo shot.
New York Mets - Injuries have given the Mets minor leaguers all sorts of opportunities. Fernando Martinez could not overcome his injuries, got an opportunity but couldn’t stay healthy and joined the veterans on the disabled list. Jon Niese pitched twice in the majors with a 5.19 ERA. His AAA numbers (4.12) don’t scream callup, but the Mets have to lose patience with Livan Hernandez at some point.
http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?m=200907
One of many memorable scenes from Bull Durham is when minor league lifer Crash Davis is studying the promising, yet erratic Ebby “Nuke” LaLoosh and notices his shoes have fungus on them. “You’re shower shoes have fungus on them”, Crash says. “You’ll never get to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes… If you win 20 in the Show you can let the fungus grow back on your shower shoes and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win twenty in the Show, however, it means you're a slob.
By the same token, if Mike Pelfrey ever becomes a fixture in New York, we will look back at him slamming his fist in the dugout last night the same way Yankees fans reminisce about Paul O’Neill. We’ll talk about his competitiveness. His fire. His intensity.
Right now, however, that looks like a pipe dream following his abysmal outing last night. Pelfrey continues to be plagued be his propensity to issue balks and is unable to find a rhythm on the mound. As a result, Pelfrey, at best, is the young hurler unable to control his emotions. At worst, he is immature. Bad makeup. Slow.
http://www.flushinguniversity.com/moxie/columns/a-look-at-mike-pelfrey.shtml
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