Rumble Ponies 7 - SeaWolves 3

Press Release:

ERIE, PA – Levi Michael, Peter Alonso and Kevin Taylor all drove in runs in Binghamton’s five-run eleventh inning to send the Rumble Ponies to a 7-3 victory over the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday night at UPMC Park. Thrust into duty on short notice, Mickey Jannis tossed seven strong innings while three Ponies relievers combined for four innings of near-spotless relief to seal Binghamton’s sixth win in seven tries.

With the game knotted at two in the final inning, Binghamton filled the bases against Trent Szkutnik. Michael floated an RBI single into shallow right. His third hit of the night gave Binghamton their first lead. Alonso scorched a two-run single into left to cap his own three-hit game. Taylor salted the game away by poking a two-run single up the middle.

Binghamton’s eruption in the eleventh washed away a ten-inning stretch of offensive frustration. Prior to Michael’s hit, the Rumble Ponies were 2-for-18 with runners in scoring positon, including a stretch of nine hitless at-bats to start the game. The Ponies’ lone timely hit before extras came from Patrick Mazeika who delivered a two-run double to tie the game in the seventh.

Binghamton starter Jannis was tapped to take the mound a day earlier than expected after scheduled starter Scott Copeland was summoned to the New York Mets. On short notice, the knuckleball kept the SeaWolves in check over seven strong innings. He cruised through four scoreless frames before allowing single tallies in the fifth and sixth. The righty capped his day by striking out three of the final six SeaWolves he faced. Jannis finished with eight strikeouts.

David Roseboom entered in the eighth and stranded two before handing off to Joshua Torres for the final out of the ninth. Erie pushed the potential winning run to third with one out in the tenth, but Torres notched the final two outs to send the game deeper into extras. Following Binghamton’s five-run frame, Ryder Ryan fanned three in the bottom of the inning, his Double-A debut.

Torres (4-0) scooped up the win with 1-1/3 innings of spotless relief. Szkutnik (0-1) took the loss.

The Rumble Ponies (28-23) conclude their series in Erie with a morning tilt at 11:05 AM on Thursday. RHP Joseph Shaw takes the mound against RHP Kyle Funkhouser. 

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton is a season-best five games over .500…Binghamton improved to 3-1 in games decided in extra innings…the Rumble Ponies have won eight straight games at UPMC Park, dating back to last season

Roster Moves

Please note the following New York Mets minor league transactions.

Effective Wednesday, May 30, 2018

- RHP Briam Campusano transferred from Columbia to short-season A Brooklyn

- RHP Jeff Diehl transferred to Columbia from short-season A Brooklyn

Mack’s Apples - Cole Winn, Amed Rosario, Jeremiah Jackson, Marlin Chips, Two-Seamer

Baseball America’s  Top 500 Prospects –

        

   10 – (Last: 19):  Cole Winn   HS RHP  School: Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Committed/Drafted: Mississippi State

Scouting Report: In a down year in Southern California from a draft perspective, Winn made the decision to transfer from Colorado to Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High and play in the Trinity League—one of the nation’s best high school baseball conferences. The move has paid off, as Winn has separated himself from other Southern California arms and been one of the most consistent prep righthanders in the country, while also giving himself the opportunity to play at densely scouted events like the National High School Invitational and the Boras Classic South. Winn was on scouting directors’ radars long before his time with Orange Lutheran, however, after impressing at numerous events on the summer showcase circuit with three pitches, including a fastball reaching the 93-94 mph range and one of the more consistent curveballs in the class. This spring, Winn has been up to 96 mph with his fastball, which he can spot effectively to both sides of the plate. His best breaking ball is a plus, 12-to-6 curveball in the mid-70s that has powerful downward action, which he can spot in the zone or use to expand and create swings and misses. Winn also added a low-80s slider, seemingly out of nowhere, and while it’s behind the curveball, it has the makings of another average pitch. Winn is competing with a deep high school class, but he’s one of the few prep arms who has gotten better each time out and has had very few looks that raised questions.

Brooks Baseball on Amed Rosario –

       

    Amed Rosario has seen 1,142 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2017 and 2018.

In 2018, compared to how other hitters perform with similar pitches:

Against Fastballs (306 seen), he has had a very aggressive approach at the plate (-0.16 c) with an exceptionally high likelihood to swing and miss (28% whiff/swing).

Against Breaking Pitches (156 seen), he has had a steady approach at the plate (0.04 c) with an above average likelihood to swing and miss (36% whiff/swing).

Against Offspeed Pitches (39 seen), he has had a steady approach at the plate (-0.24 c) with an exceptionally low likelihood to swing and miss (14% whiff/swing).

Jonathan Mayo’s top 200 Prospects – Biggest risers:

       

    No. 58 -- Jeremiah Jackson, SS, St. Luke's Episcopal HS, Waco, Tex. (+20)

Jackson has one of the better offensive profiles of any prep middle infielder in this year's class, with the ability to hit for average and perhaps 15 homers annually. He's solid defensively at short, though some see a move to second base eventually. Either way, his bat should have him come off the board in the top three rounds.

          We talk about the Mets selling off Jake deGrom and Noah Syndergard and starting over by obtaining multiple chips for their services.

          The latest team to do this was Miami and I thought we should take a look at the boat load of minor leaguers they got for some real good talent with real big contracts:

          6-26-17:       Traded Adeiny Hechavarria to the Tampa Bay Rays. Received Ethan Clark (minors) and Braxton Lee.

             2018:      Ethan Clark:            A+:     2-G, 0.00, 0.80

                                                          Braxton Lee:            MLB:              .176

7-20-17:       Traded David Phelps to the Seattle Mariners. Received Brayan Hernandez (minors), Pablo Lopez (minors), Brandon Miller (minors) and Lukas Schiraldi (minors).

                                    2018:         Brayan Hernandez:  A-:   On DL

                                                      Pablo Lopez:            AA:     7-ST, 0.24

                                                      Brandon Miller:     A:        9-ST, 6.11

                                                      Lukas Schiraldi:      A+:     16-G, .046   

7-28-17:        Traded AJ Ramos to the New York Mets. Received Ricardo Cespedes (minors) and Merandy Gonzalez.

                                    2018:        Ricardo Cespedes:             Extended Camp

                                                     Merandy Gonzalez:  MLB:  6-G, 4.85

12-7-17:        Traded Dee Gordon and international bonus slot money to the Seattle Mariners. Received Robert Dugger (minors), Nick Neidert (minors) and Chris Torres (minors).

                                    2018:         Robert Dugger:      A+/AA:  9-ST, 2.98

                                                      Nick Neidert:          AA:     9-ST, 3.11

                                                      Chris Torres:            Extended Camp

12-17-17:     Traded Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees. Received Jose Devers (minors), Jorge Guzman (minors) and Starlin Castro.

                                    2018:       Jose Devers:            A:        .254

                                                    Jorge Guzman:       A+:     6-ST, 2.19

                                                    Starlin Castro:        MLB:    .295

12-14-17:     Traded Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals. Received Daniel Castano (minors), Zac Gallen (minors), Sandy Alcantara and Magneuris Sierra.

                                    2018:      Daniel Castano:     A+:     9-ST, 6.04

                                                   Zac Gallen:              AAA:  9-ST, 2.94 (PCL)

                                                   Sandy Alcantara:  AAA:    9-ST, 3.71 (PCL)

                                                   Magneuris Siera:   AAA:      .244

1-25-18:       Traded Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Isan Diaz (minors), Monte Harrison (minors), Jordan Yamamoto (minors) and Lewis Brinson.

                                    2018:     Isan Diaz:                 AA:        .201

                                                  Monte Harrison:    AA:       .242

                                                  Jordan Yamamoto:   A+:    2.51

                                                  Lewis Brinson:        MLB:    .159

So far, there are nine nice chips, all that are under team control, and an established young star in Castro.

See how this works?      

Go See the Two-Seamer Before It’s Gone –

       

    In 2010, two-seam/sinker usage was at its peak of 22.5%, according to Pitch Info data. Four-seam fastball usage was at a pitch-tracking-era low of 34.8%. This season, two-seam/sinker usage is at a pitch-tracking-era low of 17.8%, its sixth consecutive year of decline. Four-seam usage is up to 37.6%.

Additionally, more teams — teams like the Astros, Blue Jays, and Yankees — seem interested in adding spin instead of subtracting it. The Pirates represent an outlier for their efforts in targeting and teaching low spin.

Over the past three years, no team has exceeded a 50% ground-ball rate, after the Pirates averaged a mark about 50% from 2013 to -15 — the product of a two-seam-heavy philosophy intended to induce grounders into defensive shifts. While shifts are still popular, teams seem less focused on trying to create ground balls off the mound.

Reese Kaplan -- The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

A victory is a good thing, considering how seldom they happen for this ballclub, yet at times when you’re winning there are some troubling things happening for the long term good of the team.  Just as when you’re losing there are sometimes encouraging signs as well.  Sunday we saw a little of each.

First the Good

Can’t we just phone the scientists who worked on Dolly the Sheep and clone Jacob deGrom?  Wow, not since the days of Tom Seaver and early Doc Gooden have you seen such consistently dominating pitching?  That gutty performance on Sunday called to mind The Franchise in his prime. 

How about Kevin Plawecki?  All of the sudden the Mets are enjoying the efforts of not one but two competent catchers.  What a way to return with a flourish – three hits, a walk and an RBI.

Wasn’t it just recently I bemoaned the notion that you wouldn't know whether or not Luis Guillorme could succeed at this level unless he actually played?  Well, he got the starting nod in the first game and went 2-4.  Then in Sunday’s nightcap and went 2-5 with 2 RBIs.  He’s up to .267 with 4 RBIs in just 30 ABs.  By contrast the other substitute SS/infielder, Jose Reyes, is at a robust .156 with 3 RBIs in more than double the number of these ABs.  One of these things is not like the other…

Michael Conforto is showing signs of life, too.  He had three hits in the nightcap and his batting average, though still just .241 it was around the Mendoza line just a week or so ago. 

Amed Rosario is both hitting and starting to steal bases.  .253 is nothing to write home about, but if he can play solid defense while contributing baserunning he’s a far better option than the likes of Ruben Tejada who was given a starting role for WAY too long. 

Jeurys Familia delivered a two inning, 3K, no walk, no hit performance to get the save on Sunday late night.  After his recent meltdown it was good to see him return to All Star form. 

Jacob Rhame has quietly strung together some good performances.  He’s arguably the last man in the bullpen yet over his last six appearances stretching 6.1 IP he’s given up just 2 runs and those came in one game in Milwaukee.  Maybe he’s the first of the 2017 selloff who amounts to something.

Now the Bad

Hansel Robles returned to the Mets from his DL and rehab assignment and provided 3 IP with no runs allowed and two hits.  That’s enough false hope to net him another month on the big club.  Unfortunately for those of us following the Mets longer than has Mickey Callaway we are not going to be taken in by a flash of competence which will give way to neck strain watching balls rocket over the fence. 

P.J. Conlon wasn’t fooling anyone with 8 hits and 4 runs in just 2 IP.  Right now he’s neck and neck in the dubious ERA battle being waged with the $16 million man, Jason Vargas.  Conlon is at 11.86 and Vargas is leading with 10.62.  Woo hoo!  It’s going to be a photo finish!

Jay Bruce is still lost at the plate.  He’s got a line of .228/3/15 and is looking both lost at the plate and frankly a bit pudgy.  I know it’s hard to exercise properly when you have a foot problem but he is a professional and needs to ensure he’s doing all he can to prepare for the game.  Theoretically you would think that there’s less pressure on his feet at 1B than there would be in LF but surprisingly Adrian Gonzalez is UP to .256 so until Yoenis Cespedes returns there will likely be no long term change in that regard.  Then it’s a matter of deciding if the club is better off with Brandon Nimmo in the lineup every day, Jay Bruce or Adrian Gonzalez.

Seth Lugo was ready to be anointed the man to replace Jason Vargas in the rotation or the man to replace Jeurys Familia in the pen.  Well, he did look like Familia the way he did in his last outing, blowing a lead for a walkoff victory.  Once again it was clear when he served not one, not two but three hits and a walk en route to losing that Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland either aren’t paying attention or have absolutely zero confidence in anyone else to get the job done when they let a pitcher who’s obviously having a bad night get creamed.

And the Ugly

Oh, did I mention that Jose Reyes got yet another starting assignment, this time due to Wilmer Flores’ trip to the DL and the club's idiotic decision to farm out Phil Evans and not replace him on the major league roster with another infielder?  He did get a hit which is a rarity – and his 1-5 performance (.200 for the day) raised his season’s batting average.  He also struck out twice.  What do Gavin Cecchini and Jeff McNeil have to do to get noticed?  If they were any more invisible their names would be Tim Peterson.

Well, at least Tim Tebow is making things interesting in Binghamton.  That’s more than can be said in Queens. 

Binghamton 2 - Erie 1

pic by Ed Delany

Press Release:

ERIE, PA – Binghamton starter Nabil Crismatt fired 7-1/3 innings of one-run ball to guide the Rumble Ponies past the Erie SeaWolves, 2-1, on Tuesday night at UPMC Park. Relievers Daniel Zamora and Joshua Torres combined to strand the potential tying run on third in each of the final two innings in Binghamton’s fifth win in six games.      

Crismatt found his groove after allowing a sacrifice fly to Danny Woodrow in the third inning. The drive cut Binghamton’s lead to one, but opened a stretch of seven straight batters retired by the Colombian righty. From the third inning through the seventh, Crismatt set down 15 of 17 Seawolves, racking up four strikeouts during the run.

He exited with one out in the eighth after surrendering a hit to AJ Simcox. Will Maddox rolled an infield single against reliever Zamora to put runners at the corners. With the tying run at third, Dominic Ficociello skipped a chopper to short, Joey Wong speared the bouncer and fired to first to end the inning.

Erie had one last gasp in the ninth against Zamora. Josh Lester pelted a leadoff triple off the wall in left-center and was replaced on the bases by Sergio Alcantara. Zamora bounced back to fan Chad Sedio and Kody Eaves before handing off to Torres. The Rumble Ponies righty struck out Jake Rogers, keeping Alcantara on third, to claim his first career Double-A save.

Binghamton’s two-run first inning against Erie starter Sandy Baez was enough. Baez opened the game by plunking Levi Michael with an 0-2 pitch before walking Peter Alonso. With two outs, Kevin Taylor laced a double to the left-field alley. His eighth two-bagger of the season brought home two.

Baez cruised into the seventh inning after his hiccup in the first. The SeaWolves righty mowed down 19 of the last 20 Rumble Ponies he faced, capping his night by retiring the last 13 hitters.

Crismatt (6-2) allowed one unearned run on three hits and struck out five to claim his fourth win in five starts. Baez (0-4) was handed the tought-luck loss.

The Rumble Ponies (27-23) continue their three-game series in Erie on Wednesday at 6:05 PM. RHP Scott Copeland takes the hill against RHP Spencer Turnbull. 

POSTGAME NOTES: Nabil Crismatt’s 7-1/3 innings were the most by a Binghamton starter this season…Binghamton improved to 9-4 in one-run games this season…Joshua Torres has stranded 13-for-14 inherited runners

Las Vegas 4 - Tacoma 3

The Reyes de Plata defeated the Rainiers, 4-3, in the finale of the brief five-game homestand (Tacoma, 3-games-to-2) on Tuesday afternoon at Cashman Field.

Las Vegas rallied from a 3-1 deficit to record its second straight victory. The Reyes de Plata scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning a FC/RBI by first baseman Dominic Smith (1-for-3, walk).

Catcher Jose Lobaton was 2-for-2, walk, two runs scored.

51s right-hander Drew Gagnon pitched 6 innings in the no decision. He allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, walked 2 and struck out 8 on 97 pitches.

Right-hander Anthony Swarzak, on a ML rehab assignment, pitched a scoreless 7^th inning to record the victory.

Columbia 3 - Charleston 2

Press Release:

CHARLESTON, SC – It seems as though every game between and Columbia and Charleston in 2018 is tense, competitive and close. That didn’t change on Tuesday and the Fireflies defeated the RiverDogs, 3-2, in the series opener at Joe Riley Park. Six of the nine games between the Mets and Yankees South Atlantic League affiliates have been decided by one run and the nine tilts have been decided by just 14 total runs.

The Fireflies rode the right arm of Briam Campusano (W, 1-0) to victory. The right-hander pitched five nearly flawless innings out of the bullpen, surrendered just five hits and one unearned run and struck out five while walking none. Campusano was particularly sharp pitching in and out of trouble in the eighth and ninth innings. Tuesday was Campusano’s first win of the season and first since August 7, 2017 (GCL Mets). Columbia (27-22) has also now won five of its last six games.

It was Charleston (23-27) who took a lead first in the second inning on Tuesday. Dermis Garcia drew a leadoff walk and then scored on Pablo Olivares’ screaming double into the right-field corner.

Columbia starter Jake Simon settled down and soon after retired seven straight batters. He was lifted in the fourth frame but allowed just the one run in his first start back off the disabled list.

The Fireflies tied the score in the top of the fifth. Hansel Moreno started the merry-go-round by fist ripping a base hit. He then moved up to second base after Edgardo Fermin reached on a fielder’s choice. Later, Blake Tiberi walked and the bags were full. Charleston called upon Dalton Higgins (L, 1-1) out of the bullpen and one of the right-hander’s first pitches was hurled to the backstop. Moreno scored on the wild pitch and the game was knotted up at 1-1.

The visitors then took a 2-1 advantage the following frame. With one out, Matt Winaker bounced a grounder towards RiverDogs second baseman Wilkerman Garcia. He mishandled and Winaker reached on the error. A Quinn Brodey base hit enabled Winaker to whiz all the way to third. The next batter, Giovanny Alfonzo, torpedoed a line drive into centerfield. Olivares dropped the ball on the fly, which allowed Winaker to score from third. Winaker reached and scored on two Charleston defensive mistakes in the inning and Columbia pulled ahead.

A monumental insurance run was added in the top of the eighth. Winaker belted a double and jogged to third base when Brodey singled. Alfonzo then bounced a grounder to shortstop Kyle Holder. Winaker scored as Holder retired Brodey at second base. None of Columbia’s three runs on Tuesdayscored on base hits.

Campusano yielded a run in the bottom of the eighth, but watched as Ali Sanchez threw Holder out attempting to steal second base that ended the inning and any further Charleston threat.

Raphael Gladu finished with a pair of hits (one of which a triple) on Tuesday, extending his franchise-record hit streak to 14 straight. The Canadian is hitting .367 during the streak.

ROSTER MOVES

C Kevin Plawecki activated and joined the MLB-Mets

RP Joesph Zanghi transferred from A+-St. Lucie to AAA-Las Vegas

SP Blake Taylor transferred from A+-St. Lucie to AAA-Las Vegas

AAA-Las Vegas SP Andrew Church has retired.

RP  Gerson Bautista recalled from AAA-Las Vegas

RP Anthony Swarzak began his rehab program at AAA-Las Vegas

IF Wilmer Flores was placed on the 10-day DL

RP AJ Ramos was placed on the 10-day DL

3B Todd Frazier began his rehab assignment at AAA-Las Vegas

INJURY - P - Noah Syndergaard

SP Noah Syndergaard was placed on the 10-day DL for a strained ligament in his finger.