"HEY!! THOSE HITTERS LOOK NERVOUS!”
Sometimes, 1st starts after being promoted to a higher level can be a bit rocky.
Nerves, and what-not.
And it was rocky indeed…for those opposing hitters who found themselves floundering and flailing against Jonah Tong.
Six innings, 9 Ks, no hits, no walks. Only one runner - on an error.
A very special night from what appears to be a very special young pitcher.
Remember the name.
Jonah Tong Terrific.
Elsewhere….
The “unbeatable” Braves got beat, and the “day off” Mets are back in a Wild Card tie with the Tomahawk Team.
Go get ‘em, Mets.
In the Mets minors:
A day after Blade Tidwell got lit up, so did Mike Vasil last night.
And on Saturday, Dom Hamel got lit up.
How badly?
The trio gave up 22 hits, 20 runs and a bunch of walks in 8.2 IP in those 3 starts.
Small strike zone? Well how did Brandon Sproat and Paul Blackburn combine for nearly 13 innings of one run ball in the same 6 day stretch?
Luke Ritter had 2 hits in the 11-5 loss, as did Acuna.
Ritter (.261) hit his 26th and drove in his 86th run.
Drew Gilbert (.186 in 46 games) was 0-5 with 3 Ks.
King Carlos Cortes (11) and JT Schwartz (7 AA/AAA HRs) went deep.
(Borrowed this pic from Reese's article. Readers see a pic and focus in)
Can I cut to the chase, and call Fujinami brilliant now?
Shintaro Fujinami retired both hitters he faced last night. Nothing new.
In his last 22.1 innings, he has allowed a measly 4 hits.
No walks in his last 3 outings.
He has walked just 4 in his last 13.2 IP, with 17 Ks.
Compare to Vasil, Hamel, Tidwell.
Me? I’m going with Shintaro, thank you.
The Mets may use Fujinami in the pen in 2025. Maybe in 2024?
Wyatt Young was red hot in AA in August, but since his AAA promotion, he's 0-18. Probably wishes he could face Vasil, Hamel and Tidwell.
St Lucie?
Carson Benge has cooled off, but Corey Collins (.333) had a hit and 3 walks in a 5-4 loss, where an undrafted (unnamed here) reliever made his Rocky pro debut, surrendering 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Welcome to the pros. Get ‘em next time.
Brooklyn?
Nick Morabito (.313) and Chris Suero each had 3 hits, and the Cyclone pitchers fanned 17.
(Nick had a single, double, triple. He probably cycled home after the game).
Two guys with 6 hits? 17 Ks? A Cyclonic win, right? Wrong.
Lost 8-4, hurt by 9 walks. The 5 run 7th off of 26 year old Luis Moreno (1.62 WHIP) didn’t help the cause.
So, the Braves lost to the road version of the White Sox. The Rockies have a 25% winning pct on the road. The DBacks lost to the Giants after Snell pitched only one inning. And, the Padres gave up a grand slam in the ninth inning to lose 4-3 on a 3-2 102mph fastball with two outs to a kid that had no power.
ReplyDeleteRedemption, and the playoffs, draweth nigh.
DeleteI can tell you why Blackburn and Spoat pitched better ... they are better pitchers
ReplyDeleteI would give Tidwell a sophomore chance again next Spring in the AAA rotation but I would move both Hamel and Vasil to their pen next season.
As for Ting Tong Walla Walla Bing Bang...
We have seen AA pitching dominance so many times before.
Target him for OD 2026
“Who he who ha ha!”, as the old song goes. Yep, AAA is the toughest league in pro ball. Majors are a breeze. Kidding aside, those 3 starters have massively underperformed in 2024. I wonder if Stearns could have foreseen that and traded them off last winter.
DeleteHey, it’s Jonah Reid Tin Chee Matthew Tong. Say it right!
ReplyDeleteMack, isn’t 40 games back from the IL enough for Gilbert to get the rust off? Baffling. And disturbing. Can he play in the Fall League again?
ReplyDeleteI agree
DeleteExpected more from him
Maybe injury rust
Actually, I guess Gilbert wouldn’t be going to the AFL “again”. He actually did not go last year. He and Jett should go.
ReplyDeleteI never am happy with the non prospects they send there
ReplyDeleteI agree. Send your best.Pete was smart. He went and played 159 minors and AFL games that year (2018). He proved how hungry he was. Send lower than top tier pitchers, though, unless a guy was hurt and needs the innings. Can’t think of anyone like that who is a minors starter. So maybe guys like Geber will go.
DeletePerfect for Morabito to go. Just stay uninjured, Nick. Send Clifford, too.
Delete