From The Desk...

Good morning.

Yesterday... 

Roster Moves – SP Jose Butto was promoted from Rookie-Kingsport to Low-A/Brooklyn. The 20/yr. old Butto went 3-0, 1.93, 1.16, in six starts for K-Port. He pitched in 15 games last year for the DSL-2 team, producing a 1.44-ERA. Butto will join a crowded Cyclone rotation that includes Jaison Viera, Briam Campusano, Nicholas Debora, Kevin Smith, Kyle Wilson, and Christian James. My hopes is that this move pushes Viera to Columbia…  OF Bryce Brentz continued to rehab (1-2, R) in a suspended GCL game… 3B Todd Frazier joined Brooklyn for today’s game.

Monday -  1B Peter Alonso finally got back on the Las Vegas horse last night 3-5, R, 2-RBI. .220. C Jose Lobaton (4-4, .384) and CF Kevin Kaczmarski (2-5, .357) continued to add to their case for a September call up… on the pitching side, starter Corey Oswalt was just miserable: 5-IP, 7-ER, 6.02. The bright start in Vegas was recently traded for closer Bobby Wahl 1-IP, 0-R, K, Save, combined AAA ERA Vegas: 1.69, 0.94… Joey Butto threw his first Brooklyn start: 6-IP, 3-ER, 4-K, 3-BB, 4.50… Yuedy Colon continued his dominance out of the Cyclone bullpen: 0.1-IP, 0-R, 0.51…

Sunday came and there was no trade.

I talked privately about this on Sunday with David Rubin as we both compared our sources notes. Everyone was telling us the same thing… you call one of the three acting GMs of the Mets and ask if a certain player was available for a trade, the Mets answer would be ‘talk to me’.

And this included every player on the Mets roster.

Does it mean that players like Jake deGrom and Noah Syndergaard will be traded? No, it doesn’t. But what it does mean is the Mets are approachable for either or both.

Where am I on this issue ‘today’?

Well, frankly, the team has been much more competitive since the All-Star break. I also like the addition of youth (Luis Guillorme, Jeff McNeil) be it slow.

The Mets have a great rotation and I hate to see it broken up, but Reese Kaplan is right when he always reminds us of the ack of lethal bats on this team. Yes, we won last night, but look at the box score.

If I was rooting for a progressive team, I would have confidence that they would clear salaries and execute insurance policies and go out in the free agency market and secure us two more great (healthy) bats. But this team won’t.

Hang on today… the ride could be bumpy.

Jon Heyman - Folks like RHP Franklyn Kilome, who came for Asdrubal. Good stuff. “Just needs to grow into his body.” Listed at 6-foot-6, 175 pounds

Mack  I truly believe that Kilome is one of those ‘rough diamond’ prospects that could go in either direction. If this guy pans out, Thomas Szapucki comes back in spades, and Anthony Kay, Justin Dunn, and David Peterson get their act together, we could have incredible top level prospects at this position.

Amazin' Weather - There seems to be a negative connotation with trading for international signing money and I don’t particularly get that. I say it’s better than getting a no-name prospect in most cases

Interesting article - Why Major League Pitchers Are Avoiding the Strike Zone - LINK

Beer Alert – My favorite draft target, Clemson OF/1B Seth Beer, was promoted again, this time to Houston’s High-A after hitting .348 in Low-A. His total pro stats so far this year are 40-G, .333, 7-HR, 23-RBI.  Oh… Jarred Kelenic is hitting .154 for Rookie-Kingsport.

Buster Olney - Mets will keep deGrom, Syndergaard through deadline b/c they don't want to rebuild--which is also part of reason why they aren't lowering price on Wheeler. They intend to contend next year, and will need to round out their rotation, and looks like Wheeler will be part of it.

Betsy Helfand - And finally, Tony DeFrancesco said last he had heard, Gavin Cecchini (foot) still hadn't started doing baseball activity.

Tom Brennan - TRADE DEADLINE, AND TOP PROSPECTS' PERFORMANCE

Tom Brennan - TRADE DEADLINE, AND TOP PROSPECTS' PERFORMANCE

So here we stand, once again.

Cellar dwellers at the sellers' window, as Pink Panther Peter Sellers might say, as the non-waiver trade deadline arrives today.

Ex-Mets stars Asdrubel Cabrera and Jeurys Familia have been summarily dismissed, exiled to toil for playoff contenders, primarily to cut Mets payroll. 

In return for more questionable (will the newcomers, or won't they, help the Mets down the road) talent.  

"Not so easy" come, "very easy" go, I'd say.

I join in the constant refrain: 

Which is, would having contributed, say $15 - $20 million towards last season's 5 veteran salary dump trades and the two trades above have been wise monetary investments?  

Would the added investments have brought back stronger players, real major leaguers-to-be, instead of so-so ones whose ceiling might be the likes of players like Matt den Dekker or Manny Acosta?

So far, only Drew Smith seems like a smile-inducing trade get.  Time will tell on the rest.

My guess is the answer to the question, would adding in lots of cash have helped get future impact players, is yes...you, the readers, can respond with specific examples if you'd like, of where, had the Mets paid down salaries, in any of these deals, they could have nabbed difference-maker prospects instead of 2nd tier guys.

MY TOP 15 PROSPECTS, REVISITED

How are the guys I listed as my top 15 prospects (see right hand column of this website for my list) doing?  Let's see:

1. Jeff McNeil was promoted to the mutha ship, if you hadn't noticed...and he's doing quite well, too.

2. Andres Giminez - the 19 year old was promoted to AA and was 3 for 3 with a walk Sunday, and spent the night googling Las Vegas to start learning about his next promotional destination.
 

3. Peter Alonso - slumped after reaching AAA, then un-slumped.  Just .220 in 37 AAA games...but...a BIG BUT: 

As in 9 homers and 38 RBIs in those 37 games, giving him 24 HR and 90 ribbies through July 30.  WOW.  WOW.

(Amazingly, he is just 6 for 63 for Vegas with the bases empty - is it a focus thing?)

It won't be long until he joins joy-inducing Jeff McNeil in Queens, is my guess.  Batman and Robin will be reunited.

4. Justin Dunn - he was doing so well in 2018 until his last start, the kind we don't want to see from a fella we all hope will be dominant soon - hopefully it was just an aberration.

5. Jarred Kelenic - happy 19th birthday to Killer Kelenic.  He was killing in the GCL but has hit some real headwinds in the Appalachian League since promoted - but he continues to walk a lot, and is 9 for 9 in steals.  Learn what you can this debut year, Jarred, and hit the ground sprinting in 2019.

6. OF Raul Beracierta - OK, maybe I got a little (or a lot) too enthused when he was on base 52% of the time in his first near 20 games this season.  He is only 5 for 33 since, so he is due for a "price adjustment" back out of the Brennan Top 15.  Let's move torrid Luis Santana in to the top 15 instead.  Despite his swoon, Raul is still at .309/.420/.489 after 26 contests, nonetheless.
 

7. IF Ronnie Mauricio - still 17 (until next April!!), he is smoking the GCL at .333/.345/.529 in 33 games with 27 RBIs.  A case could be made, probably prematurely, that he is the Mets' # 1 prospect now.  

Fair and balanced, Ronnie is just 1 for 5 in steals.  He confidentially said he is losing speed as he ages (not really, if you believed that, perhaps you are slowing down yourself).

8. Anthony Kay - the lefty has come a long distance in his first healthy season, but he, like Dunn, got whacked in his last start.  So he is not on a straight up, rocket thrusters firing trajectory - yet, anyway. But a solid season is unfolding.

9. Mark Vientos - the 18 year old started slowly, but is on fire now in Kingsport - in 31 games, 6 homers and 28 RBIs. Sans the speed aspect, I still hope he is our future, steroid-free (of course), A ROD.

10. Nabil Crismatt - he has been way off lately.  Way off, as in 41 earned runs in 51 IP over his last 10 outings...ouch!

He has dropped out of my top 15 until proven otherwise. Far too  early to real say, but maybe new 2018 draft reliever Rylie Gilliam (6 shutout innings, 9 Ks for the Cyclones) or Columbia Fireflies newcomer Luc Rennie (last 3 starts, no runs, 20 IP, 29K) deserve the Top 15 more that Mr. Crismatt.

Or, perhaps (and more likely a top 15er) fireballer Gerson Bautista, who has been pretty stellar in AAA relief (and who was acquired in that Addison Reed trade with the Red Sox in 2017). 

Of course, newly acquired fireballer Franklyn Kilome is supposed to be top 10 material - we'll soon find out.  But, to me, it is odd that a fireballer in the minors has only fanned 42 in his last 61 innings over his last 10 outings.

11. David Peterson - essentially in his first year, having thrown just a few innings in 2017, so it is not completely surprising that he has experienced recent difficulties, but one could hope for greater dominance from a first rounder - just 2-5, 6.00 in 7 starts in St. Lucie after his promotion.

12. Anthony Dirocie - after his smoking hot start for Kingsport, AD has settled in at a slower pace in Brooklyn. 

Still, .327/.430/.535 after 30 contests, and his K rate is about half of 2017's rate.

13. Jaison Vilera - 46 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, none earned in his last four starts in Brooklyn.  56 Ks, just 23 hits.  What to say?  Dude is on fire.  He deserves to be ranked higher.  And promoted.

14. Nick Meyer - in truth, fellow catcher Tomas Nido belongs here - he has been red hot of late and likely close to being a valid MLB contributor, not the early season overmatched fella Nido was, but Nick is amazing in  terms of contact in Brooklyn with just 7 Ks in  21 games - time will tell if he can sustain his strong pro debut.  

I would be remiss as well if I did not say that Ali Sanchez (.267/.297/.388) has shown major improvement with the stick and could turn out to be better long term than either of them.  

All three are strong defensive catchers. It will be interesting to see who hurtles the highest amongst them.

15. Drew Smith - just back with the Mets, after Familia went to Oakland - let's see if he can stick around.  

 

If I had to replace the promoted Smith with another reliever in my Top 15, I might try the Boomer, Dave Roseboom who, after a brief AAA clobbering early this season has a 1.93 ERA in AA in 30 outings.

But trades are what folks care most about today. 

 

See you the other side of the deadline, people.

Las Vegas 51s 10, Memphis Redbirds 8

Press Release:

The 51s defeated the Redbirds, 10-8, in the finale of the four-game series (split the series) and the seven-game homestand before a Smith’s Value Menu Monday crowd of 4,075 at Cashman Field. Las Vegas completed the homestand with a 4-3 record.

Memphis, the defending PCL champion, built a 7-1 lead after 4 ½ innings. Las Vegas then took advantage of five Memphis errors (8 total unearned runs) and rallied for 9 unanswered runs to take a 10-7 lead after seven innings.

51s catcher Jose Lobaton was 4-for-4, walk, two doubles, 4 RBI, run scored; first baseman Peter Alonso was 3-for-5, double, 2 RBI, run scored and center fielder Kevin Kaczmarksi was 2-for-5, walk, RBI, run scored.

Las Vegas right-hander Corey Oswalt pitched 5 innings in the no decision, He allowed 9 hits, 7 runs, walked 2 and struck out 3 on 82 pitches (53 strikes).

The PCL has a scheduled off day on Tuesday, July 31.  The 51s will then embark on a seven-game “Midwest” road trip beginning on Wednesday, August 1 at Omaha, Nebraska against the Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals (August 1-3).

Nicolas Debora Mutes West Virginia; Righty Spins Six Dazzling Frames out of the Bullpen

Press Release:

Box Score

COLUMBIA, SC – Columbia was trailing West Virginia by four runs when right-hander Nicolas Debora took the mound in the fourth inning on Monday. Six frames later, Debora had silenced a hot offense. The reliever allowed just one earned run over six innings but he and his team still lost the series opener to the Power, 6-1.

Debora spun another dandy at home. The Dominican owns a 2.27 ERA at Spirit Communications Park over 11 outings (31.2 innings). On Monday, Debora struck out four and scattered just four hits.

Columbia (15-21, 49-54) trailed West Virginia (16-20, 53-49), 5-1, when the reliever took the mound, though, and did not muster any other offense the rest of the evening. Nevertheless, Gio Alfonzo did extend his hit streak to eight games with a seventh-inning single.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top 1 – Raul Hernandez drives in a pair with a double … Robbie Glendinning singles home Hernandez. WV 3, COL 0

Bottom 1 – Scott Manea’s sac fly scores Edgardo Fermin. WV 3, COL 1

Top 2 – Oneil Cruz homers (13). WV 4, COL 1

Top 3 – Hernandez homers (1). WV 5, COL 1

Top 4 – Lolo Sanchez sacrifice fly scores Kyle Watson from third. WV 6, COL 1

From The Desk...

Good morning.

Yesterday’s results…  18/year old 11^th round pick, Franklin Parra of Copiague, NY, threw his first professional inning (GCL-Mets). It was scoreless… St. Lucie starter, Anthony Kay, did not fair well: 3.1-IP, 6-ER, 6-BB, ERA down to 3.14… SS Andres Gimenez’s AA batting average continues to rise: 2-4, .296… Recent acquisition, SP Franklyn Kilome, didn’t fair as well 7-IP, 3-ER, Loss, 4.21… Vegas starter, Nabil Crismatt, continues his AAA implosion. Stat line: 4.1-IP, 12-H, 8-ER, 9.41. I have no choice but to remove him from my prospect list… SP Chris Viall’s start in Columbia was suspended after pitching four innings. Sad part is he will never get credit for this game after throwing four scoreless innings… we can’t throw many more superlatives on Brooklyn starter, Jaison Vilera’s game. Once again, a beauty: 7-IP, 2-H, 0-R, 8-K, WIN, (5-1), 0.78. RP Ryley Gilliam backed him up with another scoreless inning (0.00)… come on Mets, get these guys on a plane to South Carolina.

New York Mets prospect, 3B Mark Vientos, seems to be getting his game on track. The 18-year old hit a batting average low of .226 on July 21^st, but he has bounced back, finishing Saturday with a .256 average, that included a Friday two home run, seven runs batted in performance. My guess is Vientos will be fast tracked next season, like some of the other young prospects (Gimenez, Kelenic) and will open next year in full season Columbia.

Quick guess. Who has the top batting average in Binghamton? It’s no longer Jeff McNeil (.327) who has moved on to the Mets. It also is no longer Peter Alonso (.314) who was bumped to Las Vegas. That leaves SS Levi Michael at .308… no… wait… he’s gone to Vegas to. Who’s next? Well, it’s our old friend, catcher Tomas Nido (.293), who we left for dead a couple of months ago. Nido is hitting .400 in his last 10 games and, considering the lack of star talent at this position in Nevada (Colton Plaia, Jeff Glenn), the Mets might wat to consider having Tomas join Peter and Levi in the dry heat.

I have to tell you that I thought the trade of SP prospect Caleb Frare by the Yankees to The Chicago White Sox for $1.5mil worth of International money was excellent. Frare really stood no chance of moving past all the great Yankees prospect starters in the system. Hell, John Sickles didn’t even rank him in his top 20 prospects. Per Jesse Sanchez/MLB, the Yanks intend to use this money to sign both RHP Osiel Rodriguez (#9 Intl. prospect) for $600K and SS Carlos Verdecia for $325K. The beauty of this deal is the fact that the Yankees get more international money than the Mets got in the Jeurys Familia deal. Typical Ricco.

Reese Kaplan -- The Summer of 2017 Deja Vu

In mid-July I took a 2-week trip to Scandinavia, cruising around the Baltic in Noah Syndergaard’s ancestral homeland.  Unfortunately I didn’t stumble across any new 100-mph pitchers while there, but apparently a number of changes transpired in my absence.  With Internet access on the ship running about $30 per day, I was offline until very recently.  Help me see if I’m all caught up.

Jeff McNeil finally got his long overdue call up to the majors.  Apparently the Three Stooges decided that a .400 hitter with power might be a better bet to fill in than Ty Kelly.  They’re a little slow on the uptake but overdue is better than never, I suppose. 

When Yoenis Cespedes made his token appearance against the Yankees he then revealed he had had calcification issues in both heels that will require surgery, thus ending not only his 2018 season but perhaps the lion’s share of 2019 as well.  Not only is this news not a revelation, but apparently it was part of the medical review before signing him to his 4-year deal.  Ummm…does anyone else think that Sandy Alderson was asleep at the wheel once again to hand out that kind of contract to someone with known major health risks.  Wait, I’ve seen this movie before…except that time it starred David Wright.

So to address the potential void in the outfield, the Mets parted ways with Matt den Dekker and now are planning to give at-bats to Norichiki Jackson (or is it Austin Aoki?)  Rather than use the balance of the season to evaluate other outfield options, they again go back to the veteran minimum wage scrap heap to pick up the twice released outfielder…there’s the slow learning referenced earlier once again rearing its ugly head.

The bullpen has apparently been a disaster area with pretty much everyone other than Seth Lugo throwing gasoline, napalm or kerosene on the fire when summoned to extinguish whatever conflagration has engulfed them.  Surprisingly, Anthony Swarzak has put in a three consecutive solid outings.  Baby steps…

Let’s talk about the trades that the Three Stooges have consummated thus far.  Jeurys Familia’s move to Oakland for Bobby Wahl, a mediocre hitting third baseman by the name of Will Toffey  and $1 million in international bonus pool money is not awful.  Obviously the refusal to pay down any salary waters down the level of return to be expected in any rental trade.  However, Wahl has the potential to be a closer if his sore arm doesn’t do him in prematurely.  The strikeout numbers are sick – over 14 per 9 IP in AAA, so you have potential closer material there since they are not willing to let youngsters like Drew Smith get a shot at it.  You also have Jenrry Mejia coming back next year to fulfill some kind of role.  The third baseman is a radical departure for the team philosophically as he plays solid defense and is more of a contact hitter than an all or nothing slugger.  However, his production thus far in his career doesn’t suggest much potential to improve.  The key to this deal is the $1 million of pool money.  Not only didn’t they once again spend down but they also received money to get more low-cost talent from overseas.  There’s probably a 27^th shortstop waiting to be drafted and signed.  Not spending and getting money is a Jeff Wilpon wet dream.

Then there’s the Cabrera deal.  This one is much harder to justify.  Yes, Franklyn Kilome is high on some prospect lists and you can’t teach velocity.  However, you would think that you can teach control and thus far the Phillies failed the 23-year old in this regard.  He’s averaging 4.5 walks per 9 IP and that’s a tough way to try to earn a living.  Perhaps that’s why, despite formidable speed he’s not registered notable strikeout totals nor great WHIP numbers.  For his minor league career he’s only fanning under 8 per 9 IP and he’s also laboring with a 1.386 WHIP.  His 3.51 ERA for his career is pretty good but his recent AA number of 4.24 is not.  If he’s not striking people out and he’s giving up nearly a hit per IP, then to me he doesn’t look to be a great prospect.  As the club learned after last year’s disastrous fire sale, hard throwing is not a guarantee of success.  The Mets saved $5.9 million in salary between these two deals yet you’d be hard pressed to find people celebrating the returns.  Once again the stubborn refusal to pay down existing salaries is eerily reminiscent of 2017 and the returns parallel that era as well.

Noah Syndergaard's bizarre hand, foot and mouth disease put him again on the DL after returning for just two starts when his 7 week sabbatical for a finger injury kept him out of the rotation.  He did accomplish one thing – pretty much assured himself that he’s going to remain on the Mets and not be traded away as he hasn’t shown other clubs he’s healthy enough to assist them in their post-season push. 

Then there’s the Twilight Zone fate of poor Corey Oswalt who in his last 4 starts gave up 2, 3, 1 and 2 runs, earning the win against the Padres in his last start, so of course the Mets decide they’re better with him pitching in AAA in the hell of Las Vegas than in the rotation in Queens to see if he’s for real or doing it with mirrors.  Only the Three Stooges could think this move makes sense. 

Apparently both Phil Evans and Luis Guillorme once again have made their way to the big club until T.J. Rivera is ready and then one of them hits the road.  Todd Frazier has started rehab games and Rivera after a setback is scheduled to begin them again next week as well.  Jay Bruce (remember him?) is also set to begin rehab soon alongside David Wright. 

They're once again likely repeating the David Wright mistake of having no money and no depth, so instead of trading a player at his peak to restock the farm system, they're intending to keep Jacob deGrom at whatever high cost he's going to command and play out the string with a lineup of has-beens and never-was types.  

The roster right now still includes Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista is in the lineup nearly every day.  Devin Mesoraco's contract is expiring yet he's still here. That’s how you build for the future in a lost season, right?  I have seen this movie before, too…it was last summer’s blockbuster smash. The Three Stooges need to be put on the last train to Clarksville ASAP. 

Did I miss anything (other than Amed Rosario and Michael Conforto showing signs of life and Wilmer Flores once again demonstrating he should have been in the lineup all along)?

Stone Crabs cruise to 10-2 win over Mets

\PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (July 29, 2018) – The Charlotte Stone Crabs powered past the St. Lucie Mets 10-2 on Sunday at First Data Field.

Luis Carpio led off the first inning with a solo home run for the Mets but the lead did not last. Charlotte scored three runs in the third inning, four in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth inning.

Tristan Gray and Jake Fraley hit RBI doubles off of Mets starter Anthony Kay in the third inning to put the Stone Crabs up 2-1.

Robbie Tenerowicz clubbed a two-run double in the fourth to make it 5-1. The Crabs added two more runs in the frame, including one on a wild pitch.

Jeremy Vasquez hit a RBI double for the Mets in the home fourth to cut the deficit to 7-2.

After a 51 minute rain delay, Kevin Padlo hit the first pitch thrown for a three-run homer to up the Charlotte advantage to 10-2. The teams would go scoreless over the final three innings.

Carpio added a double and single to his day. He went 3 for 4 and finished a triple short of the cycle.

Mike Paez went 2 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Padlo also wound up a triple shy of the cycle.

The Stone Crabs drew nine walks.

Jose Disla shut out the Mets for three innings after the rain delay to get the win.

Kay allowed six runs (five earned) over 3.1 innings and suffered the loss. It’s the first of his five starts that was not a quality start.

Charlotte took three of four in the series.

Fireflies and GreenJackets Suspended In Fifth Due To Rain

Press Release -

ALTOONA, PA – Binghamton infielders Andres Gimenez and Will Toffey combined for four hits, but the Rumble Ponies could not overcome stranding 13 runners in a 4-3 defeat to the Altoona Curve on Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Franklyn Kilome struck out five over seven innings, but took the loss in his Mets organizational debut.

Despite getting seven runners aboard against Curve starter Luis Escobar, the Rumble Ponies were limited to one run over the first four innings. Binghamton loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but could only scratch across one tally on Toffey’s infield single.

Binghamton’s frustration continued against Altoona’s bullpen. The Ponies put two aboard against Logan Sendelbach in the fifth, but were turned aside as Joey Terdoslavich was nabbed at home on a grounder to first. In the seventh, southpaw Sean Keselica filled the bases without allowing a hit, but escaped the inning unscathed.

On the mound for Binghamton, Kilome pushed past Altoona’s game-opening tally in the first inning and fell into a strong groove. Making his first start with the Ponies after being acquired from the Phillies, he retired 11 straight Curve hitters, pushing into the fifth inning.

Altoona broke the tie game with a three-run sixth inning. With two aboard, Bryan Reynolds stroked an RBI single to right. The Curve added to the lead on a sacrifice fly by Will Craig and an error by Kilome.

Binghamton pushed late, but fell one run short. Gimenez poked a two-run double down the left-field line in the eighth to cut the deficit down. Toffey doubled with one out in the ninth against Tate Scioneaux, but was left aboard as the Ponies dropped the finale.

Kilome (0-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out five in his Rumble Ponies debut.

POSTGAME NOTES: Andres Gimenez went 8-for-16 in four games against the Curve…the Ponies are winless in their last five series finales…the Rumble Ponies went 2-5 on their week-long road trip to Bowie and Altoona

Fireflies and GreenJackets Suspended In Fifth Due To Rain

Press Release:

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC – Sunday’s game between the GreenJackets and Fireflies has been suspended due to rain. Columbia held a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when heavy rain started to fall which stopped action. Because the contest was not through five full frames, it does not act as a completed regulation game (page 49 in Media Guide). These two teams will pick up this game on August 31^st at SRP Park and also play a regularly scheduled nine-inning affair the same day.

Chris Viall tossed four scoreless innings and struck out four batters on the mound for the Fireflies. The righty threw 74 pitches and his final pitch, a ball to Logan Baldwin, was the first and only one thrown in the bottom of the fifth before rain forced a suspended game.

Columbia plated its two runs in the top of the first inning. Hansel Moreno reached first on a dropped third strike and then advanced to third after catcher Rob Calabrese airmailed the throw down the first-base line. Before the second batter in the frame (Matt Winaker) saw a pitch, Augusta starter Garrett Cave balked and Moreno scored. Winaker resumed his at-bat and doubled. Scott Manea knocked in Winaker with a double of his own. The visitors took an early 2-0 advantage.

Memphis Redbirds 9, Las Vegas 51s 4

The Redbirds defeated the 51s, 9-4, in game three of the four-game series before a crowd of 3,003 at Cashman Field. Las Vegas is 1-2 in the series and 3-3 on the seven-game homestand.

Memphis, the defending PCL champion and holder of the best record in the 16-team league at 68-39 (.636), built a 5-0 lead after 1 ½ innings.

Right fielder Adolis Garcia was 3-for-6, double, HR, 3 RBI, two runs scored; center fielder Lane Thomas was 3-for-6, double, triple, stolen base, 2 RBI, two runs scored and catcher Carson Kelly was 3-for-4, two walks, double, 2 RBI.

51s right-hander Nabil Crismatt suffered the loss. He pitched 4.1 innings and allowed 12 hits, 8 runs, walked 3 and struck out 6 on 98 pitches (59 strikes).

51s second baseman Christian Colon was 2-for-3, walk, double.

From The Desk

Good morning.

Stuff from Saturday.

One last thought on the departure of infielder Astrubel Cabrera. I feel sad. Sort of like I felt when Curtis Granderson left the clubhouse for the last time. Cabrera was one of the good guys that would do anything to make this team win or game or promote them in the community. The only thing this guy brought to the table negatively was his public comments on wanting to play a certain position. You can say this, but it should be done privately behind the closed doors of the manager’s office. I already miss this guy but I’m excited that we have begun to move on to the future of this team. Which leads me to…

Luis Guillorme was recalled to fill the void in the world of Mets infielders. I’m not sure if this move was done out of choice, but I’ll take it anyway. Remember… Ty Kelly was just sent down. Guillorme can play a decent third base so he could be slotted in as the current third baseman until Todd Frazier returns (Frazier is played a rehab game last night for St. Lucie). Will Jose Reyes finally be released? I still think the Mets retain his service in hopes of him playing one more game this year next to David Wright.

3B Will Toffey, obtained in the Jeurys Familia deal, has done well so far as a Met. In 17 at-bats, he has hit .294 including the 2-3 he hit on Friday.

OF Brice Bretz is rehabbing this weekend for the GCL team.

Josh Norris, of Baseball America, said this about GCL-Mets starter Michel Otanez: “showed a live arm but rusty command...sat in the mid-90s...and touched as high as 97 mph with a FB that featured heavy sink and tail. His secondaries—a SL and CH—were inconsistent, but his arm was intriguing”. So far this season, Otanez is 1-4, 5.54, 1.42.

Franklyn Kilome – “First of all I thank God for everything and thanks to the Phillies for all this time that I have been part of the organization, thanks to each one of the staff that helped me in the course of my career in the organization I thank you very much and thanks to each of my teammates it was a pleasure to have played with all of you I will never forget those moments and thanks to the Mets for the opportunity they have given me to be part of their organization.. New team same dream.”  Note: Binghamton announced that Kilome will start today

RP Josh Smoker was DFA’d by Pittsburgh and then claimed by the Detroit Tigers.

Jon Heyman -  Asdrubal Cabrera can really hit. But I’m still not sure why he’s the right fit for Phillies. He becomes their 3rd good-hitting infielder whose best position is 2B. They still don’t really have a starting SS, either. Also, hearing some good things about Will Toffey, the young 3B and key piece Mets got for Familia. said to control the strike zone very well. the question is power, but he's been playing through dislocated shoulder. he will likely have surgery before the year's up.   Mack:  What? Did we know about this before the trade? Late reports said the Mets knew about this before the deal was completed. Can we do anything right anymore?

2B-SS-CF Levi Michael has been promoted from AA-Binghamton to AAA-Las Vegas. He hit .308 in 360 at-bats this year in New York State and I assume the promotion came to fill the slot left open when fellow middle infielder Luis Guillorme was promoted to Queens.

Last night in the pipeline – 17/yr. old DSL-2 starter, Robert Colina, continues to put up good numbers after being lit up earlier in the season. His last four starts have turned in 20-IP with only 2-ER. Yesterday, six scoreless innings with six strikeouts for his third win of the year… OF Bryce Brentz went 0-3 in his GCL-Mets rehab assignment yesterday… he was joined by SP Logan Taylor, who threw up two more scoreless rebab innings… SS Levi Michael’s AAA debut went well: 2-4, R, .500… Peter Alonso (2-4, .212) continues to get his stoke back… SS Andres Gimenez went 3-3 for Binghamton and has raised his AA batting average now to .261… it was a rough night for SP Justin Dunn (7-ER, 5-IP)… Columbia SP Luc Rennie continues to be unhittable (6-IP, 0-ER, 0.65)…