Tom Brennan - When You Downgrade, Be Equally Prepared to Upgrade

Dominic Hamel needs an immediate upgrade.

We in effect all mentally downgraded Hamel when he had an ERA of 6.30 in May and 6.17 in June. “Another faltering prospect?”, we thought

But we should be equally prepared to quickly upgrade a player when he reversed course and goes on fire.

Which Hamel has.

Against the hard-hitting Somerset Yanks, in the AA playoffs, he went 7.2 innings, allowed 3 hits, no runs, and recorded 8 Ks last night. Wow.

That was after his prior 3 starts, in which he threw 14 scoreless and fanned 24.

Brilliant 4 game stretch.

Prior to that were 6 starts: 

- His three “bad” recent starts in those prior 6 games, he allowed 9 runs in 15 innings. Not so bad at all, actually.

- In his 3 other “good” starts amongst those six, he allowed just 1 earned run in 18 innings, and fanned 23.

So, in those 10 starts, 10 earned runs in 55 innings, fanning 69.

Overpowering. Superb.

I’m upgrading him back into the top 10.

He may in point of fact be ready to start for the NY Mets early in 2024.

Meanwhile, Binghamton won 2-0, with superb giant beast righty Paul Gervase picking up the save, recording the Yanks’ final 4 batters, all outs, 2 Ks. 

- Paul WILL pitch for the NY Mets in 2024. Beasts rise fast.

Hayden Senger homered, singled, gunned down a base stealer, and caught a Hamel gem. Great game.

In AAA, meanwhile, Mike Vasil fanned 8 and gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in 4 innings where he threw 85 pitches. 

Born again lefty Anthony Kay threw a 1-2-3, with 2 Ks, and added 3 more Ks in a scoreless 9th to get the win. A two run 9th inning rally, capped by a game winning Suozzi single, and the S Mets won 5-4.

In Philly, Vientos homered again fot the Mets. The HR Machine is crushing baseballs and is victimizing major league pitchers. 

Mets lost, 5-4, though, as the bullpen and David Peterson both basically failed again. The Phillies, to be fair, are tough. The Mets, meanwhile, seek that high draft pick. 

Jeff McNeil did have 3 hits. .314 over his last 30 games.  Squirrel stuff.

And he is 17 for 17 in steals from 2021-2023. Nice.