Q and A With Mack and... SS TJ Rivera

Mack:  Hey everybody. We're talking today with SS T J Rivera who played K-Port this past season. Hey T.J.! Are you back home?

Rivera:  Yes I have been home for about a week now. Just resting and spending some time with family and friends.

Mack:  TJ, let's go back to before this season started. You were undrafted out of, first, The Bronx, and then, Troy University. Tell us how you signed with the Mets and what it was like playing in your first professional game?

Rivera:  Yeah, I was undrafted out of college which was a little dissapointing at first but then I received a call to sign as a free agent a couple days after. I was really happy to hear I was getting a opportunity to keep playing ball.   My first professional game was exciting. Playing pro ball has been my dream since I was a kid and to be able to do so has been a great experience.

Mack:  One thing many fans don't realize is the grind of getting used to playing every day. Tell us what it was like for your in Kingsport this past year.

Rivera:   I believe that's the hardest thing to adapt to when entering pro ball. In college you play a three game series and then have a couple of days to rest and workout. In pro ball your constantly getting after it everyday and it puts a toll on your body. Taking care of your body and being able to focus everyday is how you make it through a long season.

Mack:   What are your plans for the off-season, TJ (is there a nickname for TJ?... joke)?
Rivera:  Ha ha,  maybe just "T". I have been home for a couple weeks relaxing and giving my body some rest. I will be heading back down to school very soon to start training and getting in shape for next season. I'm planning on working on all aspects of the game to improve on speed, range and a more consistant swing this off season.

Mack:  Sandy Alderson is on record saying that one of the weakest areas of the pipeline is middle infielders. There doesn't seem to be anybody in theway for you torun up the system. Has there been any indication that you might play for a full season team come April?

Rivera:  I honestly don't have any idea as to where I will be in April. I would love the opportunity to play for a full season team but I would be happy with any team that I'm assigned to.

Mack:  Yeah, that was a stupid question. I know you don't know. TJ, there's not much more to ask you at this point in your professional career. Is there anything you want to say to the fans out there that are reading this?

Rivera:   I would just like to thank all the fans that support us. They were great to us when I was in both Kingsport and Brooklyn. Hopefully, one day i can play in front of them at CitiField.

Other TJ Stuff:

8-12-11: - Stock Up – 2B T.J. Rivera – Rivera was signed this past June as an UDFA. The Lehman H.S. (Bronx) grad hit .290 for K-Port this season and is now turning heads in Brooklyn. Imagine being undrafted and then 4-5 for the Cyclones. On top of the world, Ma!

The Keepers: - #87 - CF - Travis Taijeron

87.     Travis Taijeron:

6-15-11: - link - Round 18: Travis Taijeron, CF, Cal Poly Pomona. Taijeron had a monster senior season for Division II Cal Poly Pomona, hitting .392/.534/.744 with 16 homers. He's a big, strong guy who has solid-average speed but figures to move to a corner at the next level. The bat certainly looks . He has a big, sweeping swing defined by excellent extension, and he brings a patient approach to the plate. The swing will cause Taijeron to be strikeout-prone throughout his career, but there's definite upside here. There's a good chance superior pitching will eat him alive, but there's a chance Taijeron makes something of himself.

7-14-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/11/2270752/mets-minors-road-report-binghamton-7-9-brooklyn-7-10 - Pronounced "Tyrone" apparently, which means I have been adding like a half dozen unnecessary syllables to it in my head up until this point. Division II pick from Cal Poly Pomona who raked this year in school and has been hitting well in the NYPL so far. Problem is he is a thickly built dude, and not really fast, so I don’t think he stays in CF as he moves up. Didn’t really see his arm or range tested at the game, but on the one ball he had to track down deep he took a weird route to and got turned around. Would be a small sleeper for me if he could stay in center.

8-3-11: - Stock Up – Taijeron (pronounced “Tyrone”) had two more hits today for Brooklyn raising his 2011 batting stats to: .303/.415/.598/1.104, 7-HR, 29-RBI. Travis was a home run machine out of Cal Poly and may be a diamond in the rough. We’ll keep an eye on him.

8-8-11: - http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/news/topstories/index.html?article_id=1204  - TRAVIS TAIJERON - The 18th round selection in the 2011 Draft out of Cal Poly Pomona has been one of the hottest players in the league over the last month. He currently ranks 10th in the NYPL in hitting (.302), third in RBI (33) and home runs (7), is tied for the league lead with 21 extra base hits, and leads the NYPL in slugging (.564). Taijeron has 23 RBI in his last 21 games and is hitting .354 (28-79) since July 17th.

8-10-11 – Stock Up – Travis Taijeron -  “Tyrone” just keeps on mashing the ball, this time was a grand glam eight home run of the season. He now leads the NY-Penn league with a .53 slugging percentage, which is 47 points more than the closest player in the ranking. It has to only a matter of days before he joins the Sand Gnats for their playoff run.

Draft 2012: - Clate Schmidt, Peter O’Brien, Lance McCullers, Addison Russell, Rhett Wiseman

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Clate Schmidt, Allatoona HS, Ackworth GA, 6’1 175, deceptive arm strength up to 92 on the day, fb was mostly straight and hittable, but has a lil giddy up on fb when in on RHH, quickness in arm action to show 3 pitches to be effective, cb and change still in development stage but can be a good one in time.

9-27-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/09/22/trey-williams-2012-draft-profile -

Player:  Trey Williams

 Position:  3B

 School:  Valencia HS, CA

 Date of Birth:  3/9/1994

 Height/Weight:  6’1/211

 Bats/Throws:  R/R

 Class Of:  2012

 Committed To:  Pepperdine

Scouting Report:

Trey Wiliams may be the top hitting prospect eligible for the 2012 MLB Draft.  Showing how much respect opposition coaches have for Williams’ bat, he was intentionally walked with the bases loaded in a game his sophomore year.  The son of former Major Leaguer Eddie Williams, he has had excellent coaching from day one and it shows.

People talk about the sound of the bat hitting the ball being different for a special few hitters.  Williams is one of those hitters.  He has an impressive swing with tremendous bat speed.  Williams has an upright stance, strong hands, and shows power to all fields.

While his bat is his ticket on draft day, Williams is strong at third base.  He moves well, has good hands, and displays a strong accurate arm.

A strong finish to his junior year (.500, 6 HR in final 11 games) and good showings throughout the summer have Williams’ looking likely to land near the top of the first round, with the top five a possibility

9-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6253 – Hey Kendall, love your college baseball reports. Any idea if Peter O'Brien of Miami will be cleared to get that waiver and be eligible this year? When is the deadline on that stuff? Who will replace Roger Tomas? Thanks K-Rog!   -  First of all, I was shocked Peter O'Brien didn't sign with the Rockies as a third-round pick to the Rockies this past summer. He's most certainly not going to sniff that kind of slot or money (at least in my opinion) in the coming season. With that said, I spoke to two sources inside the Miami program at length about a week and a half ago and they were cautiously optimistic Peter would get cleared as paperwork was just sent. You never know with the NCAA, and there's not timeline .... it happens when it happens.

9-27-11: - http://legendsoftomorrow.blogspot.com/2011/09/lance-mccullers-son-of-gun.html - Lance McCullers Jr. has pretty much hit the ground running. As a sophomore, he was throwing 96 on the radar gun, not unlike the self proclaimed messiah of baseball, Bryce Harper. Like Bryce, he's a two-way star, as he plays infield too, but its widely believed that McCullers will wind up a pitcher, like his father. Since going to Tampa Jesuit, McCullers has left behind a trail of awards and top amateur team selections. He was the 2009 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year, was named to several Perfect Game USA all star teams, played in the 2011 Baseball Factory Under Armour All American game at Wrigley Field as the only non-senior, and was named a Louisville Slugger All American Honorable mention. He's committed to pitching for the University of Florida, but don't expect him to go unless Scott Boras takes him under his wing, which is highly likely.

9-22-11: - http://www.pnj.com/article/20110922/SPORTS10/109220318/Addison-Russell-making-stops-Team-USA - The 6-1, 193-pound shortstop — who has verbally committed to play baseball at Auburn — already has developed relationships with most of the players, having spent pretty much the entire summer competing with and against them for the prestigious Team USA spots. "It was a grueling process," (Addison) Russell said. "They invited 144 draft-eligible kids to compete in a tournament. From there, they made cuts down to 40 players. Those 40 players got to stay for another week and we competed for another week to get down to 28 players. "They invited those 28 guys back a week ago, but because some of them were in football, we only had 21 kids come back. So we had 21 to get down to the final 20. The Saturday night was hectic. All they told us was to go back to our room and wait for a phone call. They called my room around 10:35 p.m. and told me to come down to their room. They told me 'Well, you're a good guy and we appreciate you coming down here, but I want to congratulate you for making the team.' I was so excited and relieved at the same time."

9-1-11: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - Rhett Wiseman, Buckingham Browne & Nichols Schools, Mansfield MA, 6' 195 L/R, gamer with some bat speed, stiff back when he hits and throws, runs better underway, lack of fluid actions bother me, but has strength in his swing and throwing arm to watch again. May just be a solid college player in the long run, but worth a follow.

Five options for short-term closer

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Frank Gray. I am a lifetime Mets fan and a writer since I can remember. I combined my love of sports and writing into a personal blog called New York Fan in South Jersey. I then took my love of the Mets and earned the title of Featured Columnist for the Bleacher Report Mets Community. I also am the creator of an outstanding New York Giants blog called Big Giants Boom. I keep busy.

Each week I will write a few posts here on Mack's Mets. One will be a "This week in Mets history" type of article and the other will be my own observations and opinions. I hope you enjoy it. I have a tendency to have an abnormal way of viewing things. It makes for a fun time.

Enough about me, let's talk about what we all log on here to read up on: the New York Mets. More specifically, I want to look at the closers for next year. Sandy Alderson went on the air in the middle of a telecast and basically stated they will shop free agency for a closer next year. For all of those who held on to the belief that Bobby Parnell is the man for the future, now's the time to let go.

The Mets will not be looking to fill this void for the next 10 years in one signing this off season, though. The team has several outstanding and young options to take the reigns of closer in the 9th inning for the next several years. They just need someone to handle nit for the next year or two. They have players like Dale Thayer, Rhiner Cruz, Josh Edgin, Nick Carr, Ryan Fraser and Jack Leathersich all coming up in the system in the next year to three years.

The Mets have options for the long-term. It's the short-term that they really have a problem with. After looking at the list of potential free agents and available veteran closers, I see five players that jump out at me. I must specify that this list is in no particular order.

Heath Bell: First up is the prodigal son. Bell came up with the Mets and played with them for three years until they unwisely traded him with Royce Ring for two no names in November of 2006. Bell had another great year with San Diego a midst trade rumors. He posted a 2

.44 ERA and had 43 saves.

He is 34 years old and will be hitting the age where closers begin to go into decline in and Alderson will be looking to save money. Especially if they re-sign Reyes to a huge deal. n a few years. This will be his last big contract. That works against the Mets. He'll be looking to cash in. If the numbers get lower and lower for Bell and the process takes longer and longer, he may debate a return to the team that dealt him.

He has long been known as anti-Mets. Wouldn't you be if they brought you up as an amateur just to trade you for a can on beans? I believe Alderson's ties to the Padres can help convince Bell that the Mets administration is different now and worth forgiving them for their past transgressions. Alderson also knows that a name like Bell would put fans in the seats in 2012 for what otherwise will be probably another building year.

Octavio Dotel: Like Bell, Dotel was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets. He joined the organization in 1993. He was dealt with a handful of players, including Roger Cedeno in December of 1999 to the Astros for Mike Hampton and Derek Bell when the Mets were building a World Series contender for 2000.

Dotel is another player that developed into a closer after leaving New York. He has been used more as a set-up man in recent years, but can close out games. Due to his age (38), he would be a cheaper option as well. He's not the sexy name like Bell or Papelbon would be, but in Queens, he would be a difference-maker at the ticket boxes.

Joe Nathan: A name that baseball fans know but haven't heard in a few years, Nathan has 261 career saves. He missed all of 2010 but recorded 14 saves this season on his road to a comeback. The Twins will most likely not be paying him the $12.5 million to pick up the option on him, thus making him a free agent.

The Mets can get an experienced closer at a cheap cost in a incentive-laden contract while he proves his health. Sound familiar? Nathan is this off season's Jason Isringhausen. That worked out well for the Mets last year. This is the type of deal Alderson usually seems more comfortable with. He's a winner either way.

One way, Nathan succeeds and the team does well, the other way, Nathan is not himself or doesn't recover well enough and it's not much money spent. Like Izzy, it's a chance worth taking for the Mets in a short-term situation.

Matt Capps: The former Pittsburgh Pirates standout was less than outstanding in a limited role this year for the Minnesota Twins. He posted a 4.25 ERA with 15 saves in 65.1 Innings pitched. He will be looking to rebound from these numbers, but he will not get the deal he would like as a result of them.

He is still young at 28 years old. He will be needing a small contract where he can do well in order to earn a larger contract a year or two later. That is the perfect scenario for the Mets. They underpay for a talented pitcher at the back end of their bullpen. When his contract is over, they go even younger and more dominant. It's a win-win for Alderson.

Ryan Madson: The Phillies reliever has only known one team in his career. He will be commanding a lot of money for his services next year. He has shown he can pitch middle relief, set-up and close out games too. This season alone, he did all three for the Phillies. His 32 saves after Brad Lidge went down will bring him a closer's ransom in the off season.

If Alderson wants to make a statement this off season, he would be a good start. That's not Alderson's style, but Madson has said good things about the Mets and wants to test the market. While there will be interest from several teams, the Mets could land him in the right scenario. Other closers like Papelbon, Broxton and K-Rod (remember him?) will be dominating the market early on for those teams in need of a good closer.

Madson will have to wait for his contract. That can play well into the Mets hands and help the contract be a lot less than Madson would want. That would most likely force him to settle for a one or two year deal just to have somewhere to play next season, thereby giving the Mets a steal on the market.

Mets Lost $70mil in 2011

Here (from Eric Hudson) are the high... err... lowlights of an article in New York :

Then consider the $200 million that the Mets thought, until earlier this month, they'd be receiving from David Einhorn...

None of that money had been earmarked for Picard.

It was expected to cover this season's losses, estimated at $70 million, a $25 million loan due back to Major League Baseball, and upcoming expenses such as the $22 million debt payment due on Citi Field.

So a best-case scenario still has the Mets in need of more than $300 million in the relatively near term.

That doesn't cover any subsequent reversals that increase their exposure with Picard, nor does it begin to cover the $500 million in loans that the team is due to pay by June 2014, the loans of around $450 million to the affiliated SNY network due back a year after that, or the roughly $600 million still due in debt payments on Citi Field.

Pay Reyes?

Are you kidding me?

Press Release: - Tim Heiman Named Voice of B-Mets

For Immediate Release
Date: September 30, 2011 

Heiman Named Voice of Binghamton Mets

BINGHAMTON, NY — TheBinghamton Mets are proud to announce the hiring of Tim Heiman to serve as theteam’s Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the upcoming 2012season. Heiman becomes the ninth lead broadcaster in the 20-year history of theclub. He replaces Matt McCabe who served as the team’s voice for three years.

“Fans enjoyed listening to Tim as he filled in forMatt throughout the season and they really enjoyed his broadcast style,” B-MetsGeneral Manager Jim Weed said. “Although he has big shoes to fill, we areconfident he will do a great job and we are excited to have him take over.”

Heiman served as the B-Mets No. 2 broadcaster andmedia relations throughout the 2011 season. It marked his second year inaffiliated minor league baseball. He was the broadcast voice of the AuburnDoubledays of the New York Penn League in the summer of 2010. The 23-year-oldis a 2010 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where he earned a Bachelorof Science degree in mechanical engineering. While attending RPI, he served asa student broadcaster for WRPI and was the station’s sports director fromOctober 2009 until his graduation.

“Tim is equipped to be a top-notch broadcaster inthe Eastern League and beyond,” McCabe said. “His work ethic and desire to succeedwill drive him to bring his best to the fans of Binghamton night in and nightout. I enjoyed working with him immensely and believe that he will bring theB-Mets organization notoriety for his skill set and professionalism.”

McCabe served as the voice of the B-Mets from2009-11 after interning with the team in 2007. He is leaving the team to pursuecareer interests outside of sports.

“Matt has done an excellent job for us inbroadcasting B-Mets games and in taking care of all of our media relations,” Weedsaid. “He will truly be missed and we wish him great success in his futureendeavors.”

Binghamton has a history of producing successfulbroadcasters dating back to the days of the Binghamton Triplets. RetiredAtlanta Braves broadcaster Pete van Wieren served as the Triplets broadcasterfrom 1967-73. More recently, the B-Mets have had a run of successful voices.Don Orsillo, who served as the team’s broadcaster from 1993-95, is currentlythe television voice of the Boston Red Sox on NESN. Josh Whetzel, whobroadcasted B-Mets baseball from 2000-02, is the voice of the Rochester RedWings and recently broadcasted a Minnesota Twins regular-season game. McCabe’spredecessor, Robert Ford, is a broadcaster on the Kansas City Royals pre- andpost-game shows.

BinghamtonMets Radio Broadcasters

Rob Evans           1992
Don Orsillo          1993-95
Dave Schultz       1996-99
Josh Whetzel       2000-02
Joe Hecht            2003
Matt Park            2004
Robert Ford         2005-08
Matt McCabe       2009-11
Tim Heiman         2012-

The B-Mets open the 2012 season April 5 at 6:35 PMagainst the Akron Aeros at NYSEG Stadium. Season tickets for the team’s 21stseason are currently on sale. For information, call the team at (607) 723-METS(6387).

Cutnpaste: - Jose Reyes, Mike Baxter, Angel Pagan, Chris Schwinden, J.J. Putz

Here's why I have no problem with what (Jose) Reyes did: SNY, for a little over a month, gave us Jose Reyes Batting Race Updates before and after every single game. Met fans wanted this. It was the only thing to look forward to at the end of another disaster of a season. Everybody who has a personal/professional stake in the Mets wanted this to happen. So when Reyes does something to ensure this happens, he gets killed for it? Met fans turn on him and root for Ryan Braun? Is this serious? I get that people were upset that they couldn't say good-bye to Jose Reyes one final time, but we knew his departure was possible for months now and had plenty of time to cheer for him. And if this was such a big deal, then were was the giant walk-up crowd for tickets? Tell me. - http://www.metstradamusblog.com/2011-articles/september/the-jose-reyes-manifesto.html

Mike Baxter — Baxter slammed his first major league home run in the team's final game of 2011, but that's not what makes his story special. He's a local kid, who grew up in Whitestone and attended Archbishop Molly High School in Queens. He even helped the Stanners win the Catholic High School Athletic Association city title in 2002 at Shea Stadium. Baxter is living proof that dreams do come true. -  http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9174449

Alderson did not offer a ringing endorsement of outfielder Angel Pagan, who is a candidate to be non-tendered. After two strong campaigns, Pagan floundered in 2011. His .694 on-base plus slugging percentage was nearly 100 points below his average from 2009-2010. His defense regressed, according to advanced metrics such as Ultimate Zone Rating.  Plus, Pagan’s injury woes resurfaced. After completing his first full big-league season in 2010, he played in just in 123 games this year. In all, he left the front office unimpressed. - http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2011/09/mets_constant_rash_of_injuries.html

9-30-11: - With the season over for the Mets, (Chris) Schwinden's offseason began Thursday as he flew back home to Visalia. He's been instructed by the New York Mets organization to not play winter ball and was told to rest during the offseason. He said he'll be in contact with the Mets' brass throughout the offseason and will follow the workout plan that he was given by the team's strength coach. "I reached and went over my innings pitched, so they're just going to have me relax and have me prepare for the offseason," he said. "The big thing, though, during the offseason is fine tuning my mechanics and getting my body in shape.  - http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110930/SPORTS/109300333

J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks -- The D'backs meteoric rise to the MLB Posteason resulted in a thorn in Mets' fans sides finally being dislodged. With Arizona KOing any chance for the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants to repeat, it means this 2011 postseason will be the first since the Collapse of 2007 in which Guillermo Mota will have nothing to do over the next few weeks. Putz didn't exactly win the hearts and minds of the Shea Faithful with an injury-plagued and sub-par tenure, but it was the comments following his departure about his handling by the team's medical staff that finally made the media focus in on what Mets fans knew what a glaring problem under Minaya. That's more than current teammates and Mets expats Xavier Nady and Henry Blanco as well as current D'Backs hitting coach and former Mets bench coach Don Baylor ever contributed, and for that, we thank him. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs

Q and A With Mack and... P Tyler Pill

Mack:  Morning folks.  Today we are talking to the Mets 4th round selection in the 2011 draft, Cal State Fullerton RHP Tyler Pill. Hey Tyler... you and I haven't taked since, what, the loss to A and M?  How's pro life treating you?

Pill:   Yes that is correct. Pro life has been great so far, I'm meeting tons of new people both players and coaches. Pro life is a whole new experience than college and I like that because not only will it help me grow as a player but also as a person

Mack:  Okay, I have to ask you the same question I ask all you bonus babies. What's the first thing you bought when you cashed the check?

Pill:  Well to be honest I haven't gotten anything so far. Right now there's nothing I really want but I'm sure something will come up

Mack:  For the record, most buy a truck. Tyler, take us back to August 2nd and that first professional inning thrown for Brooklyn. Walk us throughit please.

Pill:   My first inning in Brooklyn was sweet. There were a ton of fans like always at that location and I was scheduled to throw one inning late in the game. I was really excited and pumped up like always when coming in late. The first batter hit a dribbler to me for an out, the second guy flew out to right I think, and then the third batter struck out

Mack:  Tyler, you came out of Covina High School in California and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 38th round of the 2008 draft. Are you happy with your decision to play college ball instead of turning pro then?

Pill:  I am very happy to went to college. I think at that point I was too immature and didn't know as much about pitching as I should have. Going to college got me prepared for professional ball, helped me mature a lot more, and learn a ton about baseball whether it be the advanced things or just small things. College in my opinion got me to where I felt I needed to be before entering professional baseball

Mack:  Well, ya know what... we're happy you went to college too. :) I, for one, am thrilled you're a Met ,especially since you and I have "good history". You wasted little time impressing the pitching coach at CSF, going 11-3 as a freshman. We're your goals always to be a starting pitcher?

Pill:  Ha ha well, I'm glad you're happy I'm a Met because I am too. Yes my goals were always to be a starting pitcher. Being a starter means you control the game and that feeling is awesome. I love being able to go late in games and figure out hitters, its great. I was told once that every start is like putting together a puzzle, meaning that you have to see what hitters cant hit, what's working for you that day, and so on. I've always liked that saying because its true, every start will be different and you have to figure things out as you go. So I have always loved starting and shutting down the other team for a whole game or if things get tough
Mack:  The reason I asked that question is, in 2010, you hit .354 in 55-G, with 7-HR and 42-RBI. You sure they're playing you at the right position?
Pill:  Ha ha,  that's true. I do love hitting but they figured my arm is more valuable. The good thing is that in AA I'll be able to hit again so I'll enjoy showing them what I can do with the stick.

Mike S.: -  Hey Tyler, this is Michael Scannell. I also write here at Mack's Mets.  I've got a question... do you read the common scouting reports on yourself and if so, do they affect the way you approach your training and preparation?

Pill:  Hey Michael. To be honest with you I dont. I have obviously heard some reports on me but I have never really thought to change anything because there are so many out there. I also think the best way to to approach your training and preparation is to just stay with your routine and remember what type of pitcher you are and what you are capable of because you're the one who knows yourself the most.

Mack:  Tyler, this is Mack.  I'm going to let you go with one last question. Do you have anything you want to say to your many fans here at Mack's Mets?

Pill:   Just that I want to thank you for interviewing me and that I'm very glad and thankful to have your support.

More Pill Stuff...

4-17-11 Interview:

Mack:  How’s the season going?

Pill:  I think that after the last weekend at LSU and that loss to A & M the team and the coaching staff didn't really know what hit us. Not the fact that we lost four in a row but at how bad we played. In my opinion we should have took 3 out of 4 of those games. Fridays game was a good team victory, we did everything we usually do. Our hitting, pitching, and defense were all solid. It was a great bounce back from the previous games. We got some confidence but we know there is still more work to do in becoming what we want to be.

4-18-11:

Pill:  As far as the game goes we played pretty well. It was a huge come from behind win. We just need to duplicate what we did in the ninth inning every time were up to bat. My season so far has been going pretty well. Our team is pretty strong defensively so all I have to do is make quality pitches and throw strikes and the defense and offense will take care of everything else. It's been a fun year so far and I look forward to the rest of the year with my team.

Tyler Pill helps Cal State Fullerton feel much better. The junior strikes out 11 in eight innings and drives in two runs in the Titans' 10-4 victory over Illinois in NCAA baseball regional opener - http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/03/sports/la-sp-0604-fullerton-regional-20110604 

May 11, 2010 - Fullerton, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton baseball received some uplifting news Tuesday evening as noted orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum found that there is no structural damage to sophomore Tyler Pill's right elbow following an examination and MRI last week. The Titan right-handed pitcher and right fielder had been dealing with elbow soreness and arm fatigue after throwing from both the mound and the outfield, leading to the initial visit with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim team physician. - http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=45&f=2231&t=5940728 

Tyler was 7-4 with a 2.01 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings as a high school senior, while batting .463. He was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the 38th round of the 2008 amateur draft but continued on to college. As a college freshman, he went 11-3 with a 4.06 ERA and only 13 walks in 102 innings. He split Big West Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors with Noe Ramirez and Baseball America picked him as second-team Freshman All-American. He set a school freshman record for wins, one shy of the Conference lead. He appeared in the 2009 College World Series. Pill fell to 4-4, 3.36 as a sophomore in 2010 but hit well in a regular role (.354/.411/.535, 43 R, 42 RBI in 55 G, 10 steals in 16 tries). - http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tyler_Pill

8-28-11: - #47 - SP Tyler Pill – Pill is another of the good college arms that was drafted this past June.Pill has been on the prospect sheets since his high school days, but all scouts had to put his name on hold in May 2010 when he injured his right elbow. He bounced right back and finished the 2010 season: 17-G, 15-St, 7-1, 2.28, 110-K, 98.2-IP. Pill led the team in innings pitched and there’s no reason for him to stay back in camp come April 1st. I’ve got him in Savannah – ETA:  TBD

The Keepers: - #88 - OF - Charlie Thurber

88.     Charlie Thurber

8-8-11: - http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/news/topstories/index.html?article_id=1204 - CHARLEY THURBER- Selected in the 39th round out of the University of Tennessee, Thurber seems to be the steal of the draft. Since July 4th, the outfielder is hitting .315 (34-108) and has hit in 22 of 28 games. Always Mr. Clutch for the Cyclones, Charley is also hitting .359(14-39) with runners in scoring position.

8-9-11: - Stock Up – Charlie Thurber -  I mentioned earlier this season that Thurber might be the steal of the draft. The 6-4 21-year old was the 39^th draft pick out of the University of Tennessee. Baseball America had him as the 191^st high school player available and he had a horrible junior year, going .230/.304/.327/.631. This is what scouting is all about. Something was obviously wrong but was the player? Well, so far this season with Brooklyn: .282/.327/.359/.685.