John From Albany: 10 Years Ago - Mets Shutout Padres as Mejia is suspended, 7/28/2015

Jenrry Mejia Topps Baseball Card

2015, the last year the Mets made the World Series.  This daily post will detail the game by game journey to the Fall Classic.  Click here for More Mets History and Calendar Classics.

Year: 2015; Game #100; Tuesday;  Jul 28, NYM 4  Vs. SDP 0; boxscore;  WP: Syndergaard; LP: Shields; Time: 02:20; NIGHT; Attendance: 26,034; Record: 52-48; Standings: 2; Games up/behind: 1; W;  

Curtis Granderson RF: 2 for 4; HR; 1 run; 2 RBIs; Rubén Tejada SS: 1 for 4; 2B,GDP; Daniel Murphy 2B: 1 for 4; 1 run; Lucas Duda 1B: 1 for 4; HR; 1 run; 2 RBIs; 1 K; Juan Uribe 3B: 1 for 3; Michael Conforto LF: 0 for 3; 1 K; Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF-LF: 0 for 3; GDP; Kevin Plawecki C: 1 for 3; 1 K; Noah Syndergaard P: 0 for 2; 1 K; Juan Lagares PH-CF: 1 for 1; 2B; 1 run; Noah Syndergaard, W (5-5): 8 innings; no runs; 3 hits; 9 Ks; Tyler Clippard: 1 inning; no runs; 1 hit; 

Thor and new Met Tyler Clippard (Mets debut) shut out the Padres as Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson each hit 2-run homers.

NY Post: Syndergaard not perfect, but masterful as Mets blank Padres. "Syndergaard went about the business of aiming for perfection as he mowed down 18 straight Padres before yielding a leadoff hit in the seventh. Syndergaard may have failed in his quest to join Johan Santana as the only Mets to pitch no-hitters but he settled for eight masterful, three-hit, shutout innings in a 4-0 victory over the Padres at Citi Field on Tuesday."

NY Post: Mets’ Jenrry Mejia banned 162 games after 2nd failed PED test. "The righty reliever likely has pitched his last game in a Mets uniform after testing positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs for the second time this season. The latest penalty, levied Tuesday by Major League Baseball, carries a 162-game suspension and puts Mejia on the brink of lifetime banishment from the sport." [Jenrry will never pitch in the Major Leagues again.]

Nationals fall to the Marlins as the Mets pull to just a game of 1st place.

NL East Standings 7/28/2015

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
WSN	52	46	.531	--	411	384	.531
NYM	52	48	.520	1.0	353	355	.497
ATL	46	54	.460	7.0	373	422	.444
MIA	42	58	.420	11.0	362	387	.469
PHI	38	63	.376	15.5	359	497	.355

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/28/2015.

John From Albany: 10 Years Ago - Uribe Walks it Off, 7/26/2015

 

NY Post Back Page, 7/27/2015

2015, the last year the Mets made the World Series.  This daily post will detail the game by game journey to the Fall Classic.  Click here for More Mets History and Calendar Classics.

Year: 2015; Game #99; Sunday;  Jul 26, NYM 3  Vs. LAD; 2; boxscore;  WP: Mejia; LP: Nicasio; Time: 03:27; DAY; Attendance: 36,093; Record: 51-48; Standings: 2; Games up/behind: 2; W-wo;  

Curtis Granderson RF: 2 for 5; 2B,SB; 1 run; Rubén Tejada SS: 0 for 4; SH; Daniel Murphy 3B-2B: 1 for 3; 2·IW; 1 run; 2 walks; Kelly Johnson 2B: 0 for 3; GDP; Juan Uribe PH-3B: 1 for 2; 1 RBI; 1 K; Lucas Duda 1B: 0 for 3; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Michael Conforto LF: 0 for 2; HBP; 1 RBI; 1 walk; 1 K; Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF: 1 for 3; HBP; 1 run; Kevin Plawecki C: 1 for 4; 2 Ks; Jacob deGrom P: 0 for 2; 1 RBI; 1 walk; Wilmer Flores PH: 0 for 1; 1 K; Jacob deGrom: 7.2 innings; no runs; 2 hits; 2 walks; 8 Ks; Jeurys Familia, BS (4): 1.1 innings; 2 runs; 2 ERs; 3 hits; 1 K; Jenrry Mejía, W (1-0): 1 inning; no runs; 1 walk; 1 K; 

NY Post: Uribe the walk-off hero after Mets nearly waste deGrom gem. “[Juan] Uribe helped by smashing an 0-2 cutter from Dodger closer Kenley Jansen off the wall in left to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning as the Mets, after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth, toppled the Dodgers, 3-2, Sunday at Citi Field.”  

NY Post: How fluky Mets denied Zack Greinke his bid for history. ” After 45 ²/₃ innings pitched without being scored upon, the Dodgers ace finally gave up a run…In the third inning, Greinke hit Kirk Nieuwenhuis leading off, allowed a single to Kevin Plawecki and then opposing pitcher Jacob deGrom hit a chopper toward first base. Adrian Gonzalez came home with the ball, but Nieuwenhuis slid around catcher Yasmani Grandal’s tag…The second Mets run came in the sixth, when Greinke plunked rookie Michael Conforto with the bases loaded.” 

NY Post: The Mets’ MVP is suddenly a concern. “Familia blew his second straight save since the All-Star break, wasting Jacob deGrom’s brilliant performance Sunday by allowing two ninth-inning runs.”

Jenrry Mejia with a scoreless 10th gets the win.  His last ever win in his Major league career.

Mets gained a game on Washington as the Pirates beat the Nationals 3-1.

NL East Standings 7/26/2015

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
WSN	52	45	.536	--	410	380	.535
NYM	51	48	.515	2.0	349	355	.492
ATL	46	52	.469	6.5	369	413	.449
MIA	41	58	.414	12.0	358	386	.466
PHI	37	63	.370	16.5	356	495	.354

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/26/2015.

2017 Winter Leagues | Final Report on Venezuela Winter League

Pitchers

RHP Wilfredo Boscan: 4-5, 5.89 ERA, 4.9 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, .333 Average Against

• 2017 is a certainly a season to forget for Boscan. After struggling through the rigors of the Pacific Coast League where he posted a 4-13 record with a 5.44 ERA, Boscan returned to los Aguilas de Zulia to be the staff ace of a club he's had success with for the last 6 seasons. Unfortunately, His poor luck followed him to Venezuela as he posted Foreign League career worsts in Hits and Earned Runs allowed. At one point in the season, after a string of poor performances, the club actually pulled him from the rotation to try an sort himself out. Boscan returned to the rotation in December, but was still ineffective posting only 1 quality start in his final 6 games started. At only 28 years old, Boscan should probably still be able to find work as organizational filler in the MiLB system, but, to date he has not been signed off of Minor League Free Agency.

RHP Jonathan Albaladejo: 5-6, 4.91 ERA, 5.2 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, .325 Average Against

• Albaladejo was the king of tip-toeing into and out of danger this year in the LVBP. Considering he allowed 98! total hits in only 73 IP and still managed to stay below a 5.00 ERA is quite amazing when you think about it. On top of that, the 35 year old did show signs of aging as his fastball velocity was reportedly down and the K/9 rate he posted was the lowest he's ever produced in any Foreign League or organized stateside season. As was expected, he was granted MiLB free agency after the Mets signed him from the Independent League to fill out the Las Vegas rotation. To date he has not received a minor league contract offer and could very well head back to the Bridgeport Bluefish if he wishes to continue his career. 

LHP Kevin Canelon: 0-0, 1.94 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 0.0 BB/9, .242 Average Against

• Chalk this one up as a player the Mets just let get away. Coming off of a successful season in (A+) Port St. Lucie, Canelon chose to declare MiLB free agency and to play Winter baseball to showcase his skills to other clubs in hopes of signing with an organization that would allow him to progress faster than the Mets were willing to allow him. Not only did Canelon pitch well.....he dominated the LVBP. In 13 appearances for los Tiburones de la Guaira, Canelon only allowed 1 ER and limited teams to 0 baserunners in 7 of those 13 appearances. Sure enough, after he declared free agency, only 1 week progressed before Canelon had himself a new contract with the Cincinnati Reds. 

LHP Alberto Baldonado: 0-1, 5.14 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 5.8 BB/9, .240 Average Against

• Don't let the stat line above fool you....Baldonado was one of the best RP this season in the LVBP. Of his 17 appearances this season, Baldonado held his opponents to 0 ER in 14 of them. As a matter of fact, if you take away this 1 appearance from November 26th, Baldonado would have posted a 1.35 ERA this season. The Chicago Cubs recognized the strong performance that he was showing in Venezuela and offered him a new minor league contract WITH an invitation to MLB camp. This could potentially set-up Baldonado with the opportunity to make his MLB debut sometime in 2018. Not bad for an unheralded international signing from Panama, a country that hasnt produced an MLB pitcher since Manny Acosta.

RHP Darwin Ramos: 0-2, 7.53 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, .383 Average Against

• Ramos returned to his native Venezuela to participate in his 2nd Winter League season with los Navegantes del Magallanes. For the 2nd year in a row though, Ramos did not have much success as he was knocked around pretty frequently. Of his 13 appearances, Ramos only held opponents to 0 hits in 2 of them. He also allowed at least 1 ER in 7 of those 13 appearances as well. Ramos found himself deactivated by the club mid-way through November after only half a season. 

RHP Jenrry Mejia: 0-1, 3.86 ERA, 4.8 K/9, 11.6 BB/9, .242 Average Against

• Being suspended is tough. Not only does it prevent you from playing in the MLB, but you also cannot play baseball in the MiLB, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, or most US based Independent Leagues. Suspended players are allowed to participate in the Caribbean Winter Leagues though which is exactly what Mejia did.......IF a team is willing to take them. The LIDOM based Tigres del Licey, who own Mejia's winter contractual rights, refused to let him play so instead Mejia had to travel to Venezuela to play for los Navegantes del Magallanes. In the 6 appearances he made, Mejia had major control issues, walking 12 batters in 9.1 IP, however, according to reports, his velocity looked pretty good (sitting between 90-93mph) and the movement on his pitches were just like the Mejia of old.

Hitters

OF Wuilmer Becerra: .194 AVG, .488 OPS, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 32.4% K Rate, 2.7% BB rate

• After an extremely disappointing 2017 in Port St. Lucie (A+), we were all excited to see if Becerra could bounceback after 2 months of rest and recovery. We got even more excited after Becerra went deep in his debut for los Tigres de Aragua on November 5th and followed up with 2 more hits the next start he got. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there as Becerra posted a .143 Avg with a .310 OPS the rest of the way and called it quits after Thanksgiving. Becerra's career is at a cross-roads right now; he is 23 yrs old now, he has lost his spot on the 40 man roster, no one claimed him in the Rule 5 draft, he is approaching MiLB free agency, and he is now likely to be forced up to (AA) because of the college OF talent behind him. 2018 is likely his last chance to show that he can be any sort of future MLB contributor. 

2B Walter Rasquin: .083 AVG, .167 OPS, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 41.6% K Rate, 0.0% BB rate

• Rasquin was an interesting addition to the foreign ranks after playing 5 seasons in the lower levels of the Mets organization. With a very new IF roster for los Leones del Caracas, there was some thought that Rasquin could garner some part-time work. Instead, Rasquin mostly saw appearances as a pinch runner or as a throw in sub for blow out games. On the rare occasions that he did get ABs, he was clearly over-matched by the level of pitching that was present in the league this year. Granted, it's tough to get any sort of rythem going when you only appear in 9 games, with a month long break (did not play from 10/19 - 12/11) in between game appearances.

3B Kenny Hernandez: -- AVG, -- OPS, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0.0% K Rate, 0.0% BB rate

• Dear los Tigres de Aragua, Thanks for the tease.....lol. The #14 overall International Free Agent prospect from the 2014 class has been handled with kid's gloves so far in his career; having never appeared in a game above the Rookie ball level. So, to see his name pop up on a Venezuelan league roster in early October was an incredible surprise considering the league carries the talent equivalent of approximately a  (AA) team. Alas, the surprise was short lived as Hernandez only appeared in 1 game, scoring a run as a pinch runner on October 11th. 

C Natanael Ramos: Did Not Play

• Despite being an opening day addition on the Tigres de Aragua roster, Ramos never came off the reserve squad. He also declared MiLB free agency in November and is probably done with the Mets organization as a whole.

C Jose Garcia: Did Not Play

• Same as his teammate up. Opening Day inclusion on the Tigres roster. Never made an appearance. However, Garcia is still property of the Mets organization for at least 1 more year as he is not eligible for MiLB free agency until AFTER the 2018 season.

Winter League Results from the Weekend | Uriarte Gets Starting Job, Mejia Control Issues Continue, Lots of Rain in Dominican Republic

November 17th

Arizona Fall League

- No Games Scheduled

Mexican Pacific League

- Tomateros de Culiacan 5 - 3 Charros de Jalisco
- Yaquis de Obregon 3 - 6 Naranjeros de Hermosillo

- Venados de Mazatlan 8 - 2 Caneros de los Mochis

• C Juan Uriarte: 0 for 2, K [Juan Camacho and Sebastian Valle have both been deactivated by Los Mochis thrusting Uriarte up the depth chart from #3 Catcher to the everyday starting catcher.]

- Aguilas de Mexicali 0 - 1 Mayos de Navojoa

• C Xorge Carrillo: 0 for 3, 1 SB Allowed, 1 Runner Thrown Out

Venezuelan Winter League

- Caribes de Anzoategui 4 - 5 Aguilas de Zulia

- Tigres de Aragua 3 - 4 Leones del Caracas [10 innings]

- Cardenales de Lara 9 - 1 Navegantes del Magallanes

• RHP Jenrry Mejia: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB [11 strikes, 14 balls]

- Tiburones de La Guaira 3 - 4 Bravos de Margarita

• LHP Kevin Canelon: 0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 Inherited Runners Scored, Blown Save(1) 

Dominican Winter League

- Aguilas Cibaenas vs Leones del Escogido [PPD- Rain]
- Tigres del Licey vs Gigantes del Cibao [PPD- Rain]
- Toros del Este vs Estrellas Orientales [PPD- Rain]

November 18th

Arizona Fall League Championship Game

- Mesa Solar Sox 2 - 8 Peoria Javelinas

Mexican Pacific League

- Tomateros de Culiacan 4 - 6 Charros de Jalisco
- Yaquis de Obregon 7 - 0 Naranjeros de Hermosillo

- Venados de Mazatlan 8 - 0 Caneros de los Mochis

• C Juan Uriarte: 0 for 2, 1 SB Allowed, Error(1) [Throwing]

- Aguilas de Mexicali 2 - 3 Mayos de Navojoa [10 innings]

• C Xorge Carrillo: 2 for 4, K, 4 SB Allowed

Venezuelan Winter League

- Caribes de Anzoategui 3 - 6 Aguilas de Zulia

- Navegantes del Magallanes 5 - 4 Bravos de Margarita

- Leones del Caracas 3 - 2 Tigres de Aragua

• RHP Alberto Baldonado: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER

- Cardenales de Lara 8 - 4 Tiburones de La Guaira

• LHP Kevin Canelon: 0.2 IP, 1 H

Dominican Winter League

- Leones del Escogido 6 - 1 Gigantes del Cibao
- Aguilas Cibaenas 0 - 2 Toros del Este
- Estrellas Orientales 7 - 2 Tigres del Licey

• SS Gustavo Nunez: 1 for 4, R

November 19th

Arizona Fall League

- Season Completed November 18th

Mexican Pacific League

- Tomateros de Culiacan 2 - 5 Charros de Jalisco
- Yaquis de Obregon 3 - 6 Naranjeros de Hermosillo

- Venados de Mazatlan 4 - 1 Caneros de los Mochis

- Aguilas de Mexicali 2 - 4 Mayos de Navojoa

Venezuelan Winter League

- Caribes de Anzoategui 6 - 5 Aguilas de Zulia
- Tigres de Aragua 1 - 4 Tiburones de La Guaira
- Leones del Caracas 4 - 1 Cardenales de Lara

- Navegantes del Magallanes 1 - 6 Bravos de Margarita

• RHP Jenrry Mejia: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, [5 strikes, 9 balls]

Dominican Winter League

- Gigantes del Cibao vs Estrellas Orientales [PPD- Rain]
- Toros del Este 0 - 1 Leones del Escogido
- Tigres del Licey 1 - 10 Aguilas Cibaenas

11/15/2017 Winter League Results | Jannis Battles Through Final AFL Start, 2 Hit Day for Carrillo, Dominican Republic Rained Out

Arizona Fall League

- Mesa Solar Sox 5 - 2 Surprise Saguaros

- Salt River Rafters 4 - 5 Glendale Desert Dogs

- Peoria Javelinas 4 - 1 Scottsdale Scorpions

• SS Luis Guillorme: 0 for 3
• RHP Mickey Jannis: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 K

Mexican Pacific League

- Yaquis de Obregon 1 - 6 Mayos de Navojoa

- Naranjeros de Hermosillo 9 - 7 Venados de Mazatlan

- Caneros de los Mochis 2 - 3 Charros de Jalisco

- Aguilas de Mexicali 1 - 3 Tomateros de Culiacan

• C Xorge Carrillo: 2 for 4, K

Venezuelan Winter League

- Cardenales de Lara 3 - 1 Bravos de Margarita
- Caribes de Anzoategui 8 - 4 Tigres de Aragua

- Tiburones de La Guaira 5 - 6 Leones del Caracas [11 innings]

- Aguilas del Zulia 10 - 12 Navegantes del Magallanes

• RHP Jenrry Mejia: 0.1 IP, 1H, 1 BB

Dominican Winter League

- Estrellas Orientales vs Aguilas Cibaenas [PPD- Rain]
- Leones del Escogido vs. Tigres del Licey [PPD- Rain]
- Gigantes del Cibao 6 - 4 Toros del Este

Roberto Clemente Puerto Rican League

Side Note: Regular Season will start January 8th, 2018.

11/11/2017 Winter League Results | 2 Hit Games for Kaz and Carrillo, Win #4 for Albaladejo, Mejia's Command Settling In

Arizona Fall League
- Salt River Rafters 2 - 16 Mesa Solar Sox
- Peoria Javelinas 11 - 10 Surprise Saguaros
- Glendale Desert Dogs 12 - 7 Scottsdale Scorpions

• LF Kevin Kaczmarski: 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 K
• SS Luis Guillorme: 1 for 3, RBI(3), BB

Mexican Pacific League

- Charros de Jalisco 1 - 3 Yaquis de Obregon

- Mayos de Navojoa 2 - 7 Naranjeros de Hermosillo

- Tomateros de Culiacan 4 - 5 Caneros de los Mochis [14 innings]

- Venados de Mazatlan 5 - 4 Aguilas de Mexicali

• C Xorge Carrillo: 2 for 4, RBI(7)

Venezuelan Winter League

- Cardenales de Lara 6 - 5 Leones del Caracas

- Bravos de Margarita 6 - 9 Caribes de Anzoategui

- Navegantes del Magallanes 5 - 8 Tiburones de La Guaira

• RHP Jenrry Mejia: 1.1 IP, 1 H
• RHP Jonathan Albaladejo: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 K, Win(4-2)

- Tigres de Aragua 0 - 1 Aguilas del Zulia

• LF Wuilmer Becerra: 0 for 3, 2 K

Dominican Winter League

- Gigantes del Cibao 5 - 4 Tigres del Licey
- Estrellas Orientales 8 - 6 Toros del Este

• SS Gustavo Nunez: 2 for 5, R, 2B

- Leones del Escogido 3 - 6 Aguilas Cibaenas

• LF John Mora: Defensive Replacement

Roberto Clemente Puerto Rican League

Side Note: Regular Season will start January 8th, 2018.