May 31st 2014 -- Mets 5, Phillies 4 (14)

Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, David Wright singled home Ruben Tejada in the top of the 14^th, the Mets beat the Phils in another marathon affair 5-4. Jacob deGrom  started and was lights out for  the first 6 innings and Ruben Tejada had his best day at the plate in years.  As is becoming their M.O., the Mets jumped out to a first inning lead on an RBI single by the rejuvenated Bobby Abreu and an lined RBI double to right by Lucas Duda to make it 2-0 Mets.  In the 4^th Tejada hit his first homer (1) in over 500 at bats to make 3-0.  In the 6^th, Tejada’s rocketed a RBI single to left scoring Abreu for his 3 hit and it was 4-0 Mets. In the bottom of the 6^th deGrom became human. Jimmy Rollins singled, Chase Utley walked and then Ryan Howard clubbed a three run homer (10) to make it 4-3.  Josh Edgin and Daisuke Matsuzaka retired the last two batters of the 7^th inning.  Dice-k then got the first 2 outs of the 8^th and with 2 out and a runner on 1^st and 3^rd Scott Rice struck out Ryan Howard to end the threat.  In the 9^th, the Phils got to Jeurys Familia. Marlon Byrd hit a ground rule double, Dominick Brown then singled to tie the game at 4. The unsung hero of this game is brand new Met Buddy Carlyle.  He relived Familia and tossed 3 scoreless picking up his first win as a Met. Carlos Torres  had runners on 1^st and 2^nd with no out but danced through raindrops and retired the Phillies in the bottom of the 14^th for this 2^nd save on the year.  Tejada went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI, Abreu and The Captain each added 2 hits apiece. deGrom went 6 1/3 he allowed just 3 hits 3 runs (all earned) he walked 1 and struck out 11. He gets yet another no-decision in search of his first major league win. Antonio Bastardo takes the loss. The Mets are now 26-29 on the year and 13-12 on the road. The Mets lead this 5 game set 2 games to 1. Sunday is the 4^th game of this series. Jonathon Niese (3-3  2.74) goes for the Mets, Cole Hamels (1-3 4.43) goes for Philly.

Justin Twine, Carson Sands, Bradley Zimmer, Mac Marshall, Mike Papi

5-11-14 - Justin Twine, SS/RHP, Falls City HS (TX) - A two-way standout in both baseball and football, Twine is a great athlete who has been a one-man wrecking crew for Falls City this season. At the plate, he is hitting .544/.672/1.196 over 16 games with six doubles, six triples, four home runs and has stolen 18 bases. He has drawn 16 walks to five strikeouts, showing a patient approach. On the mound, he has 49 K/8 BB over 21.1 innings, allowing just seven hits. At 5’-10” and 200 pounds, he has more upside as a position player where his speed (6.52/60) and strong arm will allow him to play at several positions. He is considered raw as he has split his time between sports, but he has all the tools and the power is already coming. Committed to TCU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-26-14 – TTF – 10 high school players on the rise — third edition – Carson Sands, RHP, North Florida Christian HS (FL) - In a huge match-up between Alex Destino of The First Academy, Sands was brilliant allowing one run on one hit over 6.2 innings, striking out 11 to one walk in a 7-1 win. Kiley McDaniel at Scoutingbaseball.com tweeted that he was hitting 92 mph with his fastball with plus life. For the season, he now has 45 K/11 BB over 24.2 innings, allowing 10 hits. The 6’-3”, 215 pound southpaw has a low-90s fastball with arm-side run and there is still room for more velocity as he matures. He has great mound presence and looks like a polished pro. He also shows two solid secondaries in a change-up and curveball. Committed to Florida State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise-third-edition/42098#CmrUPUJfBWKiV2MO.99

3-21-14 - Dan Kirby ‏@DanMKirby  - Bradley Zimmer hitting .424/.473/.706 over 20 G with 5 2B, 5 HR, 9 SB. Cubs have to be looking at him at 4, best power/speed combo in draft.

Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (GA) - With a fastball that sits in the low-90s, an upper-70s curveball that shows plus potential, and an upper-70s change-up with a good feel, Marshall is one of the better southpaws available in the 2014 MLB draft. He is the best pitcher for one of the best programs in the country and is a big-game pitcher. Through 55.2 innings, he has 80 K/25 BB and has allowed just two runs on 24 hits. He could sneak into the first round and should be gone in the top-40 picks. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-19-14 – TTF – Mike Papi, 1B/OF, Virginia (54) - When projected first-round pick Derek Fisher went down with a broken hamate bone in a series against Duke, Papi let the team know he could carry the load by responding with his bat. In the next game against James Madison, he went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in a 13-2 win on March 11. Already a gifted hitter with a great approach from the left side, the 6’-3”, 215 pound junior is showing off the power most thought would come with his size. Through 18 games, he is hitting .338/.470/.600 with five home runs and has drawn 16 walks to 11 strikeouts. He is starting to gain late-first round attention. Fisher is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-5/41905#JeRjl1lAwHFUPJlv.99

Draft Profile - LHP - Kyle Freeland

One of the more underrated players in the draft, Freeland has had an absolutely phenomenal college season in 2014, sporting a 1.90 ERA in 99.2IP and a K/BB ratio of 128/13. Had a few 15k games this year, which is impressive. Fastball tops out at 95, which he hits on occasion even late into games. Easy plus slider (85-86) that a ton of batters bite on and swing and miss. He stands at 6'4", weighing in at 190lbs. Has a good changeup and above average curveball that he rarely uses. Scouts complain about his delivery, calling it Chris Sale-esque, but it's not quite as bad. I remember seeing someone complain that he spins too much towards 3B after his delivery, but he's corrected it because I didn't really notice it later in the season. He hasn't been worked to death unlike other college arms like Rodon. Possibly the most major league ready arm, with one scout saying that he could come out of the bullpen this year. Whatever team gets him is going to be very, very happy. Draft Position:5-12

http://beisbolsblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/mlb-first-year-draft-2014-preview-i.html

2015 Draft Profile - LHP - Nathan Kirby - University of Virginia

5-20-14  -  Nathan Kirby, LHP, Virginia - Obviously, this would make me very happy. Taking the bias out for a fellow Kirby, however, he has some of the best stuff in his class, and his upside as a power arm from the left side makes him a legitimate candidate for 1.1. The 6’-3”, 190 pound southpaw has a plus curveball, a fastball that sits in the low/mid 90s with late life and movement, as well as a change-up that is rapidly getting better. He has great command of his stuff and can be unhittable at times, as evidenced by his April 4 outing against Pittsburgh in which he struck out 18 in a no-hitter. After posting a 6.06 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 37 K/13 BB over 32.2 innings as a freshman, Kirby dominated the New England Collegiate Baseball League, striking out 81 over 54 innings with a 2.32 ERA. Through 13 starts this season, he is 8-1 with a 1.58 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 91 K/20 BB over 85.1 innings. He is holding opponents to a .180 BAA and has allowed just eight extra-base hits. Kirby was also named to the 2014 Collegiate National Team. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2015-mlb-draft-25-players/42946#KfGGhgC2ZcQbdBfh.99

4-5-14  -  On Friday night, lefty Nathan Kirby of the University of Virginia (no. 3 in the lastest Baseball America rankings) not only twirled a no-hitter against Pitt but also struck out 18 of the 29 batters he faced. Those 18 strikeouts are one shy of the ACC record. The Cavaliers won the game 4-0. Kirby's lone blemishes were a walk and a reached-on-error. His ERA on the season now stands at 1.03, which, you'll note, is good. If the following quote from Kirby is any guide, then he enjoyed a few called strikes on the night (source: VirginiaSports.com): "It was one of those nights where the umpire and I were on the same page."

 http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24514539/u-of-virginias-nathan-kirby-no-hits-pitt-strikes-out-18

INJURY UPDATE - CF - Juan Lagares

right rib cage spasm.

out of lineup

Draft Profile - RHP - Aaron Nola

#10 Aaron Nola Position: Right-handed Pitcher Bats: Right Handed Throws: Right Handed Height: 6'1" Weight: 196 lbs. Class: Junior Experience: 2 Letters City/State: Baton Rouge, La. High School: Catholic HS Major: Sports Administration Born: 06/04/1993

Like Max Pentecost, Nola has been rising up the board late after a late season surge and the death of Jeff Hoffman's arm. At 6'2" and 170lbs, Nola is probably the second most refined arm in this year's draft. He possesses the second best curve in the draft (behind the wild Touki Toussaint), which sits at around 77-80 and has resulted in a quite a few swing and misses for Nola this year. Fastball tops out at 95 and sits in the mid-low 90s (93-94). Was throwing 93-94 in the eighth last week. Potential plus changup at 82-85. Like Freeland, possesses great command. Has shown the ability to recover from rocky starts. Very minor mechanical concerns. Pitch count issue is nowhere near as bad as Rodon's. He'll be up in the majors fairly quick. Draft Position:3-9

http://beisbolsblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/mlb-first-year-draft-2014-preview-i.html 

MLB Draft Insider - Mock

No. 01: Houston Astros
Name	Position	School	Slot
Brady Aiken	LHP	Cathedral Catholic HS (San Diego)	$7.9221M
I have gone with Aiken in five of my six mocks — all but the very first one — and I’m not changing now. He’s the best player on my board, and though I haven’t heard anyone with Astros say it, I think they feel the same way. The fact that they might be able to cut an under-slot deal and attack with their other day one picks isn’t a bad little bonus, either.

No. 02: Miami Marlins
Name	Position	School	Slot
Carlos Rodon	LHP	NC State	$6.8218M
Would I take Rodon with the second pick? I don’t think so. Do I understand why Miami is very likely to if Houston doesn’t? You better believe I do. I’ve also heard Alex Jackson and Tyler Kolek connected with this pick.

No. 03: Chicago White Sox
Name	Position	School	Slot
Tyler Kolek	RHP	Shepherd HS (Texas)	$5.7125M
I wouldn’t call this a lock, but if the draft went this way, I would be stunned if Kolek wasn’t a member of the White Sox organization. If it doesn’t, I think they’d probably go Aiken over Rodon, with Aaron Nola a non-zero possibility.

No. 04: Chicago Cubs
Name	Position	School	Slot
Aaron Nola	RHP	LSU	$4.6212M
I’ve heard all sorts of names attached to the Cubs: Max Pentecost, Kyle Freeland, Michael Conforto, Bradley Zimmer, Nick Gordon, etc. At the end of the day, I think they go with the pitcher, but to say that I’m not sure is quite the understatement.

No. 05: Minnesota Twins
Name	Position	School	Slot
Nick Gordon	SS	Olympia HS (Orlando)	$3.851M
The only other name I’ve heard associated here is Nola, and in this scenario he’s gone. If one of the “big three” fell they’d jump all over it, but the Twins have done as good a job as any team of recognizing value in the draft, and Gordon is very, very valuable.

No. 06: Seattle Mariners
Name	Position	School	Slot
Alex Jackson	C/OF	Rancho Bernardo HS (San Diego)	$3.5759M
If this was to play out like this, the Mariners would likely be thrilled, as I’ve been told he’s the top name on their board. If he’s not there/the Mariners sour on Jackson for whatever reason, Sean Newcomb, Nola, and Grant Holmes could all be targets here.

No. 07: Philadelphia Phillies
Name	Position	School	Slot
Sean Newcomb	LHP	Hartford	$3.3009M
I think this is a slight reach, but Newcomb has been outstanding over the last past few weeks, and he’s definitely a fit for the organization. I think they’d also consider Bradley Zimmer here, and if Nola is still on the board I’d be stunned if he wasn’t the selection.

No. 08: Colorado Rockies
Name	Position	School	Slot
Kyle Freeland	LHP	Evansville	$3.1908M
The Rockies would not be thrilled with how this draft played out, as their top targets would be off the board. They’ve been linked highly with Freeland though, with Newcomb and Zimmer also possibilities.

No. 09: Toronto Blue Jays
Name	Position	School	Slot
Trea Turner	SS	NC State	$3.0808M
They get two, and I think with one of those two they’ll take Turner. I’ll talk about the other options in pick No. 11

No. 10: New York Mets
Name	Position	School	Slot
Michael Conforto	OF	Oregon State	2.9708M
After taking high school players with their past few first-round picks, I’ve heard mostly college names attached, including Conforto, Turner, Newcomb and Zimmer. the rest of the mock...  http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/05/the-mock-2014-volume-vi/

Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (30-23) at

New Britain Rock Cats (23-29)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins)

RHP Matt Bowman (3-2, 4.24) vs. RHP Virgil Vasquez (2-2, 3.40)

Saturday, May 31, 2014 • Game #54 • Road Game #24

New Britain Stadium • New Britain, CT • 6:35 PM

LAST GAME: The Binghamton Mets matched a season-high by striking out 14 times and went hitless after the fourth inning in a 4-0 loss to the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday night at New Britain Stadium. The B-Mets went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine aboard in their fourth shutout loss of the year. Rock Cats starter Sean Gilmartin stranded two men in three consecutive innings on the way to his fifth win of the season. Angel Cuan was tagged four runs, all in the fourth inning, in his second loss. Mike Kvasnicka delivered the major blow, a three-run double off the left-center field wall.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Matt Bowman takes the mound for his ninth start and faces the Rock Cats for the first time. Bowman tossed two scoreless innings in his last start against the Fisher Cats on Tuesday, May 27 before rain suspended play. The righty out of Princeton looks to snap a five-game winless streak that includes a pair of losses. His last win came against the SeaWolves on April 26. Bowman was picked by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2012 draft.

NEW BRITAIN STARTER: RHP Virgil Vasquez makes his seventh start of the year and second straight against the B-Mets. The veteran righty allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits over six innings in a loss to Binghamton on Monday, May 26. Vasquez was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2003 draft by the Tigers out of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has spent time in the Pirates, Rays and Angels organizations.

WE “MAY”DE IT: Despite going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Friday night, catcher Kevin Plawecki has still compiled one of the best months by a B-Met in recent memory. The Indiana native has batted .374 with ten doubles, five home runs, 27 RBI and 13 multiple-hit games. Over 25 games, he’s compiled a .626 slugging percentage and hit safely in all but four contests. He drove in a career-high five runs on Tuesday versus the Fisher Cats.

AT THE HOT CORNER: Due to injuries to several B-Mets infielder, Nelfi Zapata has made back-to-back starts at third base. A catcher by trade, Zapata had never played third professionally before Thursday’s contest against New Hampshire. He played third base in high school before converting to catcher in his senior year. Zapata committed an error last night on a ground ball.

BIRTHDAY BOY: B-Mets starter Matt Bowman makes his ninth start of the season and also celebrates his 23rd birthday today. It is the first time in his professional career he has pitched on his birthday.

WELCOME BACK: After missing nine games with a right hamstring strain, Brian Burgamy delivered a three-hit game on Thursday versus the Fisher Cats and a two-hit game on Friday against the Rock Cats.

BOSSES IN THE BULLPEN: Excluding Tyler Pill”s relief appearance Wednesday, the B-Mets bullpen has compiled a 2.42 ERA in the last 22 games. During that span, they’ve struck out 71 and walked only 19 over 67.0 innings. Binghamton’s overall bullpen ERA for the season is down to 3.19.

AND THE WHIFF…: Binghamton matched a season-high with 14 strikeouts on Friday night, a mark set against the Akron RubberDucks on April 28. Despite the rough night, the B-Mets still have struck out the fourth fewest times in the league.

ROAD STRUGGLES: Friday’s loss marked Binghamton’s sixth straight on the road this season. They’ve gone 10-13 away from home in 2014.