Daily Mets Minors Report – 7-28-12

Date: 7-28-12

MLB –

It’s always pitching… you want to win? Have a rotation of Greinke, Haren, Weaver and Wilson.

Brewers Designate George Kottaras For Assignment

Nats announce they've unconditionally released OF Rick Ankiel.

Miguel Batista has been signed to a Minor League contract and will be sent to Triple A Gwinnett Braves

MLB - Mets:

GM John Ricco. He projects Mets making a "small" move by 7/31.

Matt Harvey was 4-for-20 with one homer and no other extra-base hits as a minor leaguer.

TC on Harvey:

            "Electric stuff, for sure. Obviously, due to the velocity, the first four innings you could tell he was pretty juiced up. I haven't seen a 98 [mph pitch] out of a starting pitcher in quite some time. And I saw several out of him today. He's lived up to exactly what everybody has talked about. Now I want him to go out the next time and be a little more comfortable and pitch as effectively as he did today."

AAA – Buffalo:

LF Mike Baxter rehabbing tonight…

Adam Rubin - The Mets are prepared to imminently move top prospect Zack Wheeler to Triple-A Buffalo. The primary remaining organization debate is whether it would be best for Wheeler's promotion to be delayed until the Bisons return home, a team insider said. Wheeler making his debut in Buffalo would help the tenuous relationship between the Mets and their Triple-A affiliate. Wheeler last pitched Wednesday with Double-A Binghamton at New Britain.

Friday – Loss, 1-3

A good game overall. RP Robert Carson debuted at the AAA level with two scoreless innings… both teams only have five hits each…RF Lucas Duda got his first AAA hit and LF Mike Baxter went 1-4 in his rehab game, CF Matt den Dekker (0-4, .201) just can’t get out of the Bisons’ gate.

AA-Binghamton:  

LHP Robert Carson had his option transferred from Binghamton (AA) to Buffalo (AAA)

LHP Adam Kolarek transferred from St. Lucie (High-A) to Binghamton (AA)

RHP Erik Turgeon was released

Friday – Win, 2-1

CL Frank Francisco notched his first Double-A save in five years

SP Cory Mazzoni hadn’t started for nine days, but got back on the horse on Friday:  6.0-IP, 4-H, 1-R, 5-K, 2-BB. Mazzoni currently slots in as the #2 prospect starter in the system (based on availability) between Zack Wheeler and Michael Fulmer. ETA – opening day 2014

DH Reese Havens 1-2, RBI, BB, .230…  LF Eric Campbell 1-3, K, .317…  2B Wilmer Flores  1-3, K, .286

A+ - St. Lucie: -  

Friday – Win, 6-4

SP had another of his middle-of-the-road outings… 3-ER in 5.1-IP. I wish they would begin the process of Angel going to the pen because it’s the only chance he will ever have getting to Queens

SP Logan Verrett was promoted to St. Lucie from Savannah.

3B Aderlin Rodriguez  1-4, 1-R, HR, 1-RBI, .226

RF Cory Vaughn 1-3, RBI, .244

It will be interesting to see if Vaughn gets more pitches hitting before the lethal bat of A-Rods.

A – Savannah: -

 No. 5 DOMINGO TAPIA, RHP – METS - Team: low Class A Savannah (South Atlantic) - Age: 20 - Why He's Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 8 SO, 2 BB, 1 HBP - The Scoop: A six-man rotation configuration has agreed with young Sand Gnats pitchers such as Michael Fulmer and Rafael Montero, but perhaps none has shined brighter than Tapia, who turned in his finest start of the season on Sunday. He struck out eight Rome batters in seven innings while allowing a run on one hit and two walks. Tapia's peripheral rates all have moved in the right direction this season—he's striking out batters more frequently (7.6 per nine innings), he's held his walk rate in check (2.6) and he hasn't allowed a home run in 14 starts thanks to a devastating power sinker/changeup combination. http://ht.ly/1lGedS

Friday, Loss, 3-13

Hitting star – 1B Brian Harrison  2-4, 2-R, double, RBI, .269

In a very sad display, SP Jim Fuller was left in for 11-R in 3.0-IP. Sometimes this is just because the bullpen is tapped out and the starter has to hang in there. Sometimes it’s the last game the player plays. We’ll see

RP Brandon Sage was activated after spending the entire season on the DL.

A-Low – Brooklyn:

Friday – Loss, 0-2

Big pitchers battle won by Batavia.

Only three Brooklyn hits, none by CF Brandon Nimmo (.221), or SS Phillip Evans (.226).

SP Luis Cessa – 5.0-IP,1-ER,3-K,2.78

Rookie – Kingsport:

Steven Matz, Mets' top pick in 2009, has now made 3 straight scoreless 6-inning starts. He's allowed 5 hits in those 18 IP with Kingsport.

No. 6 STEVE MATZ, LHP – METS - Team: Rookie-level Kingsport (Appalachian) - Age: 21 - Why He's Here: 2-0, 0.00, 12 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 17 SO, 6 BB - The Scoop: Had he not signed with the Mets out of the second round of the 2009 draft, Matz would have headed to Coastal Carolina and in all likelihood would have put off his pro debut until this season. That's effectively how things shook out for Matz, who signed late in 2009, had Tommy John surgery early in 2010 and then missed all of last season with lingering elbow soreness, delaying his pro debut until June 20 this year. So while he's the same age as a college junior, Matz's first crack at the Appy League—he's thrown six scoreless innings in each of his last three starts, notching 23 strikeouts and eight walks—suggests he could be ready to get back on track next season. http://ht.ly/1lGedS