More Stuff

Extended Camp:

Carlos Beltran (30 DXL)Everything I've read about Beltran heading to Vail has had a decidedly negative aspect to it. Yes, having Beltran in the home of microfracture surgery is certainly not something you'd want if given a choice, but the knee problem was already extant; worse, it was already recurrent. When he went onto the DL, this was always a possibility. What's making this so negative is that people are speaking about it as if it's an inevitability rather than just a possibility. Both Beltran and (to some extent) the Mets are speaking with some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world about a procedure that could help one of their best players get back on the field. There's not much of a track record of microfracture procedures in baseball—the demands aren't the same as in basketball or football—but it has been reasonably successful. The questions now become if microfracture would in fact help Beltran, and then whether or not it can be delayed until the offseason. I'm still not reading too much into this yet, as I want more information.

Oliver Perez (60 DXL)Tim Redding (0 DXL)With the Mets having injury problems all over the place, it's interesting to see that the team is speaking about a creative solution to one issue. Jerry Manuel mentioned "piggybacking" Perez and Redding once Perez is back from his rehab assignment. Piggybacking is more commonly referred to as "tandem starters," and has been used in the minor leagues. Essentially, the two pitchers would be expected to go four innings each. The upside is that they shouldn't be fatigued, and it could limit the use of the bullpen, while keeping hitters from seeing either pitcher more than three times. The downside is that a tandem system doesn't make a pitcher perfect; either could still get roughed up and come out early, putting more pressure on the other guy or forcing the bullpen into action. Most tandem systems have been paired four-man rotations, and Manuel didn't speak of any other changes to his rotation, so much of the value of this arrangement would be in squeezing some value out of two pitchers who haven't been that good on their own. I'm not sure about the idea, but I'll give the team some credit for thinking outside of the box.

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9151


B-Mets:


Mets fans have been starved for good news lately, but a pair of their mound prospects were involved in a couple of fine pitcher’s duels Monday night. Double-A Binghamton righthander Dylan Owen had one of the best night’s of any prospect, going 7 2/3 shutout innings against Akron and giving up only four hits while striking out seven and walking one. Owen was going toe-to-toe with Akron righthander Jeanmar Gomez—he of the perfect game on May 21. Gomez lasted six innings, allowing no runs on five hits. Neitther starter was rewarded for his efforts, as the two bullpens kept the game scoreless until the 10th inning, when the B-Mets scored the first and only run of the night on an RBI single by DH Josh Thole.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=5210



Completing the worst month in team history proved to be potentially the second worst thing about Tuesday night for the Binghamton Mets. Josh Thole, the team's catcher and best hitter, left in the third inning of the B-Mets' 3-2 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at NYSEG Stadium with a dislocated left thumb. Thole, who came into the game second in the Eastern League with a .341 batting average, suffered the injury catching a pitch from B-Mets starter Eric Niesen. "Hopefully, it's nothing serious," B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said. "He'll have an X-ray on it (today), and he should be OK."

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090701/SPORTS02/907010369/1118/Sports/Loss+ends+B-Mets++worst+month


Gnats:


In Savannah, low Class A Charleston lefty Manny Banuelos and Sand Gnats righthander Jeurys Familia kept putting up zeros themselves. The Futures Gamer Banuelos pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings while allowing seven hits and fanning three. Familia was arguably better through six innings, allowing only two hits on the night and keeping the game scoreless until the seventh, when Charleston plated the game’s only run on an RBI fielder’s choice. Banuelos got credit for his sixth win of the season and fifth in six decisions, while lowering his ERA to 2.26, the third best in the SAL.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=5210


International:

The Pittsburgh Pirates may soon find out if an investment of $20,000 can produce a couple of million-dollar arms.

Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, their two India-born pitchers who had never seen a baseball game before being the top two finishers in a TV reality show designed to find potential major league arms, are nearly ready to make their professional debuts.

Neither had picked up a baseball, much less thrown one, until little more than a year ago. Aspiring cricket players, they had no idea that American athletes could make so much money playing a sport they knew nothing about.

Now, after a busy year crowded with TV show appearances, basic baseball instruction, fitness workouts, constant throwing and adjusting to a pro athlete’s life in a new country, they are about to take the mound for the Bradenton Pirates of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League.
“It’s going to be fun,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said.

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/nbc_sports_baseball_rookies_from_india_near_pro_debuts