MACK ON: - Youth, Jenrry Mejia, Scott Moviel, and Ernesto Yanez

I think Mets fans are learning something this month. All year long, fans and bloggers have demanded for “the kids” to be sent to Queens and to replace the “old guys” who have been starting every night. They got their wish, only to find out that you need a lot more than youth to win professional baseball games. Yes, the bats of Jason Bay, Jeff Francouer, and Carlos Beltran are at fault here, but the rushed bats of Ruben Tejada, Ike Davis, and Fernando Martinez didn’t solve anything either. Jerry Manuel said last night that he would be sitting Josh Thole and playing Rod Barajas during this “pennant race”. Beat reporters took a few extra gulps after hearing that, but, make no doubt about it. Jerry Manuel is playing for the pennant. And, it is the last time he will do that. He’s going under the bus, no matter who you think is driving it.

We’re running out of superlatives involving Jenrry Mejia’s current return to an SP role in Binghamton. He easily had his best minor league outing on Wednesday night, going 7.0-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 8-K, 2-BB, with a 1.77 ERA. Even more important, Dylan Owen, who seemed lost this year as a starter, seems to be reinventing himself as a successful reliever, going 2.0 hitless innings and lowering his seasonal ERA to 3.57.Okay, Owen’ reliever ERA (4.55) is still higher that the six outings he started (2.70 ERA)… so why the relief role? I’m getting confused. Back to the main issue… Mejia is game ready which is very good news for the Mets.

I don’t know if you noticed, but once-prospect Scott Moviel got back on the horse Thursday night and threw four scoreless, one-hit innings for St. Lucie. The Mets haven’t been too lucky with second round picks in the 2000s. Remember Matt Durkin? Anyway, Moviel rose as high as #7 on some of the prospect lists and simply has never come back properly from knee surgery. The Mets are far from giving up on the 6-11 righty, if for no other reason than, how many times do you get your hands on a seven foot pitcher? Numbers so far for the season at Lucy: Only 22-years old… 23-G, 2-6, 5.78, 1.70, 80-K, 95.0-IP, 52-BB.


And lastly, I’ve been writing about Ernesto Yanez since he first started pitching for the VSL mets in 2009. He had a hell of a year and I predicted he would make his way to Florida for the 2010 season. He did, but as a reliever, probably waiting his turn for a spot start. Going into last night, he had one start and 13 relief appearances; however, he got another starting shot and made the best of it: 5.0-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-BB, 4-K. Yes, he was pulled throwing a no-hitter. The 19-year old is now sporting a 3.86 ERA and is definitely someone to keep an eye on the Keepers list.