Tom Brennan – WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT – METS MINORS

 

Tom Brennan – WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT – METS MINORS 

Instead of looking at who's hot, who's not by player, as I have in past weeks, I thought I'd briefly recap how the full season teams have progressed and then add a few hot/not thoughts about some players. 

The 4 full season teams were slightly past the halfway point through Monday. So how were the teams doing overall? 

LAS VEGAS - AAA: 

Record: 43-32, behind Oklahoma City at 49-26.

RANKINGS (out of 16 teams):

Offense: .285 (#2); 435 runs (#1)

Pitching: 4.18 ERA (#9); 525 Ks (#11) 

Combine a better than average hitting squad with a favorable hitting environment, and it is no surprise that the offensive output is tops. Pitchers Steve Matz, Noah Syndergaard, and Duane Below (all now elsewhere) helped ameliorate the team ERA (Note: Dillon Gee is NOT helping the team’s ERA one iota).

 

BINGHAMTON - AA: 

Record: 38-36, behind the Bowie Baysox at 42-31.

RANKINGS (out of 12 teams):

Offense: .254 (#8); 300 runs (#8)

Pitching: 4.09 ERA. (9th); 504 Ks (#7) 

Binghamton has played slightly better than perhaps their raw stats would project. With Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo both playing, it is likely that the team's record will improve soon.  Michael Fulmer (as Mack Mets uber-writer Stephen Guilbert noted on Tuesday) has been terrific his last 4 starts. Paul Sewald has been superb out of the pen, which has been shaky otherwise overall.

 

ST LUCIE - FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE - A: 

Record 37-37 (4th in south conference), behind Charlotte 46-28

RANKINGS (out of 12 teams):

Offense: .262 (#3), 317 runs (#1)

Pitching: 3.28 ERA (#6); 538 Ks (#6) 

Based on the stats, the team's record should be better.  Perhaps it is the youthfulness of this team.  Aiding the strong offense has been Jeff McNeil, leading the league in hitting (.337) by a wide margin, Dominic Smith cooking at #5 (.305), and about 40 games of pre-promotion bopping by Michael Conforto.  Amed Rosario has been solid and steady at the age of 19.  Akeel Morris was great in the pen pre-promotion, and Robert Gsellman and John Gant terrific in their stints here in Lucie Land.

 

SAVANNAH - S. ATLANTIC LEAGUE (A) 

RECORD: 39-33 (#1 southern division) behind Hickory 45-27 

RANKINGS (out of 14 teams):

Offense: .256 (#5); 305 runs (#10)

Pitching: 3.34 ERA (#2); 622 Ks (#2) 

After a horrid 7-16 start, the Gnats have gone 32-17, a fine turnaround.

Hitters doing well included Luis Guillorme, Jonathan Johnson, and Wuilmer Becerra.  Pitching excellence led by Casey Meisner in the rotation and delightful David Roseboom out of the pen. 

Overall, these teams have not performed to  the level of 2014, when the Mets' top 4 farm squads had the best-in-baseball aggregate wins and losses, but nonetheless at a combined 21 games over .500 they have collectively done well. 

That’s it for this week on “Hot/Not”.

Hope you’re having a Hot Week yourselves, folks.  If you get the chance, take the extra base.  If you’re in a department store, remember to pay for it.