John From Albany - Mets Minor league playoff races to watch this week

One week left in the minor league season and two Mets teams who play in New York State have a legitimate shot of making the playoffs, The Brooklyn Cyclones and the Syracuse Mets. 

After 9 straight wins, Syracuse fell to Rochester last night, 6-2.  Even though the Syracuse Mets honored one of their former players who is now on the Rochester Red Wings with a video before the game (you really should look at this link), Rochester did not cut Syracuse any slack and scored 2 runs in three successive innings (3^rd, 4^th, 5^th) to take a 6-0 lead against Ervin Santana.  The Mets bullpen held the Red Wings scoreless from there featuring 1.2 shutout innings from Nick Rumblelow in his Mets debut and another 1.1 shutout innings from Matt Blackham who lowered his ERA to 1.35. 

Luckily, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre also lost fell to Lehigh Valley 7-3 on Saturday, leaving the Mets 1.5 games back.  After they wrap up their series with Rochester this week, The Mets are home for 4 games against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies affiliate) before heading to Rochester for 4 with the Red Wings (Twins affiliate).  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders (Yankees affiliate) travels to Pawtucket to play the Red Sox before heading home next weekend to play the Buffalo Bisons. 

The Mets have been 9-1 over the last ten games while the Rail Riders have been 5-5.  If this trend can continue, the Mets will make the playoffs.  However, with two of the Mets' best hitters this year, Rajai Davis and Rene Rivera, now in Queens, it could be tough.

PC - Ed Delany

My suggestion?  Bring up Patrick Mazieka and Andres Gimenez from Binghamton to join the other Rumble Ponies recently called up to Syracuse, Ali Sanchez, Sam Haggerty, and Jason Krizan.  This would give the Mets some reinforcements while also giving these players some pennant race experience.

The Brooklyn Cyclones have been one of the best and most exciting teams in the New York Penn League and the Mets Minor League system all year.  Highlighted by Wilmer Reyes, Yoel Romero, Jose Peroza, Jake Mangum, and solid pitching, Brooklyn has been right behind the Hudson Valley Renegades (Rays affiliate) for the division lead.  After last night's 6-5 loss to the Connecticut Tigers, Brooklyn remained one game out tied with the Aberdeen Iron Birds (Orioles affiliate).  

Brooklyn starts a three home game series with the Vermont Lake Monsters (A’s affiliate) this week, then goes to Aberdeen for three before wrapping up the season with 3 against the Staten Island Yankees. 

The crazy thing is that only 2 games separate all four teams in the McNamara division as the SI Yankees are in last place just a game behind the Cyclones and the Iron Birds and two games behind the Renegades.  Also, while the Renegades and Cyclones have been about .500 over the last ten games, the Yankees and Iron birds have each won 7 out of 10. 

This is Syracuse’s first year as a Mets franchise and it will be great to give that dedicated fan base a playoff series.  Brooklyn is trying to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years.  It is an exciting circumstance at any level.  Here’s hoping they can both make it happen.