Paul Articulates - Spotlight on AA

The New York Mets achieved their goal at the trade deadline by trading away established, higher paid veterans for controllable minor league talent.  You can assess the value of the trades in many ways, and I am sure it will be debated for the rest of the season.

Regardless of how everyone feels about the trades, they are done.  The Mets have brought in a substantial haul of young talent that has now been distributed throughout their development system to grow and be evaluated.

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, AA affiliate of the New York Mets, has gained a large share of that new talent on its roster.  Those newcomers include:

• Jefferson Rojas, the new #1 prospect in the Mets' system.  Rojas is an infielder who was acquired in the Cubs trade for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor.
• Emilien Pitre, an infielder from the Rays organization that was part of the Peralta trade. Pitre is the #17 prospect in the new rankings.
• Gary Gill Hill, a pitcher who was also acquired in the Peralta trade.  Hill is now the #19 prospect.
• Gabe Davis, a pitcher who was acquired from the White Sox in the Brazoban deal.  Davis is now ranked #20.
• Billy Amick, an infielder acquired from the Twins in the AJ Minter deal.  Amick is not rated in the top 30 prospects but comes to the team on a power surge with 23 home runs in 86 games with AA Wichita.

The Rumble Ponies Roster already included several other internal prospects, including:

• Jacob Reimer, the #5 prospect who has just returned from the IL.
• Mitch Voit, the #6 prospect who was named Eastern League Player of the Week last week after his scalding hot AA debut.
• Chris Suero, the multi-talented many position player ranked #16

This team is now stacked with notable players, creating a competitive environment that should bring out the best in everyone.

I visited the stadium yesterday to see what this team looks like.  Here are my initial observations:

First of all, the team is heating up just as all the new prospects arrive.  They had struggled through the first half and into the second, but are now playing good ball on a three game winning streak including 6 of their last 10.  

RJ Gordon started the game tonight and appears to have figured something out.  He threw 6 innings of three-hit ball tonight, giving up one earned run and striking out ten.  In his last three outings, he has given up only 5 ER in 18 innings.  Gordon had a nice mix that kept hitters off-balance for a majority of the game.

Chris Suero proved to be one of the most versatile baseball players I have ever seen in professional baseball.  He has played several positions this season, but I must admit that I have never seen a catcher play center field.  He started there tonight and ran some balls down in the gaps to prove that this was not just a stunt.  The man can play wherever you put him.  He has to get his bat going again - has been in quite a slump recently and went 0-4 tonight.  I would love to see his power return.

John Bay is a name that few have heard of in this game of prospects, but I was very impressed with the way he tracked balls and effortlessly glided around left field.  He covered a lot of ground out there just like his predecessors in Binghamton last year - Benge, Ewing, and Morabito.  Bay is hitting .290 in 31 at-bats so far and added another hit tonight.

Carlos Guzman came in for an inning of relief.  He was mixing 94mph fastballs with 81mph changeups and a curveball that had a huge 12-6 break.  Not much contact made - two strikeouts and a lazy fly ball.

Emilien Petre looked smooth at second base and at the plate.  He stroked an opposite field hit in the left-center gap that looked like AJ Ewing swinging the bat.  Of all the new guys I saw tonight, he looked the best.

Billy Amick looks like he needs some work.  His big, weight-on-the-back-foot swing may lift some balls, but he does not appear to have the bat-to-ball skills to pull it off. His college stats would indicate that he is a better hitter, so he needs to get back to basics.  No need to chase Clifford's big red K record.

That's a wrap on last night's observations.  Stay tuned for more from the Ponies - this is going to be the team to watch in the Mets minor league system for the next couple of months.

Paul Articulates – Speaking with the Rumble Ponies’ new manager

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies held their media day on Tuesday so I had the opportunity to speak with their new manager Michael Collins and two of their top prospects.

Michael Collins came to the Mets this season after spending the past eight seasons in the Houston Astros organization.  He is a former player, having spent time in both Australian baseball and in the US with the Padres.  His most recent experience was as the catching coach for the Houston Astros. 

He has a diverse coaching background which includes managing in the minor leagues and coaching the Australian WBC team in three different tournaments including the recently completed 2026 event.  

Collins spent a few weeks with the Mets in St. Lucie during spring training and a few weeks with the WBC team.  He arrived in Binghamton just a few days ago filled with enthusiasm to start the season.  Here is his interview:

Q: Coming from another top development organization (Astros), what are your first impressions of the Mets’ organization?

Collins: My first impression is that this is an incredible opportunity coming in.  I saw the success they had as an organization last year. I am excited to join.  It is very much a player-first mentality.  We are trying to develop them as individuals as well as improving them as players.  I am excited to be part of that.

Q: As a follow-up, the Mets have some very impressive technology in St. Lucie.  Have they installed anything similar here in Binghamton?

Collins: Yes.  We have quite a lot of technology available here as well.  Just about everything they have in Florida is available here though maybe not as visible.  They are constantly monitoring to help the players in any way possible.

Q: What should the people from Binghamton know about you?

Collins: One thing you should know about me is I don’t like the cold. [laughter] Born and raised in Austrailia, in the US for the last 26 years.

Q: Having seen what this team has accomplished in the last couple of years, what’s your mindset as you begin this year with a new team?

Collins: Excited!  There is a great bunch of players here on a team that had incredible success last year.  They finished off last year winning a championship, so hopefully we can get off to a good start again this year.

Q: What similarities or differences do you bring to this organization?

Collins: I don’t see too many differences, so let’s speak about the similarities.  One thing I truly believe is that the game is about the players and we try to put their best interests first and hopefully watch their careers take off.

Q: What can you tell us about the team’s approach this year?

Collins: An exciting team with some opportunities to steal some bases and also enough power to drive the ball out of the ballpark.  It looks like a well rounded team with the opportunity to win in different ways.  It is important for these players to understand that at the major league level there are lots of different ways to win a ball game.

Q: Although the roster hasn’t yet been released, it looks like there are a lot of return players and veterans that will be here judging from who is on the Syracuse roster.

Collins: Ultimately, good organizations have good players that get held back a bit, but everywhere you play there is an opportunity to showcase your skill set.

Q: Your roster should have strong starting pitching, include four of the top 20 prospects in the Mets organization right now.  Have you decided on a rotation yet and can you share it?

Collins: I can’t share it at this time.  I have not yet gotten confirmation as there are still players arriving here.  We will have to make sure everyone is here and healthy to go.  I’m not trying to hide anything, but we don’t want to jump past the release.  With all this talent, it is a very good problem to have.

My first impressions of Michael Collins are that he is very personable, very confident, and extremely enthusiastic about managing within the Mets' organization.  He has a player-first mindset, which is critical in building the relationships needed to teach young prospects how to best position themselves for success in professional baseball.  He should be a great fit for this team.

Tong, Williams, Brignac Win Eastern League Yearly Awards

Clifford, Wenninger, Orellana, Suarez also named to Double-A All-Star Team 

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Minor League Baseball announced Tuesday that RHP Jonah Tong was named Eastern League (EL) Pitcher of the Year, IF/OF Jett Williams was named MLB Top Prospect in the league, and Binghamton Rumble Ponies manager Reid Brignac was named Eastern League Manager of the Year, as part of the announcement of the Double-A All-Star teams. In addition, 1B Ryan Clifford, RHP Jack Wenninger, RHP Douglas Orellana, and RHP Joander Suarez were named to the EL All-Star teams at their respective positions.

Tong, 22, led Minor League Baseball (full season) in strikeouts (179), ERA (1.43), and average against (.148), making 20 of his 22 minor league starts with the Rumble Ponies. Tong, the Mets’ No. 4 prospect and No. 43 overall, made his Major League debut on August 29 and has made five starts with the Mets. The Markham, Ontario, native was selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Georgia Premier Academy. It is the second straight year a Binghamton pitcher has won the EL Pitcher of the Year award, as RHP Brandon Sproat was the 2024 recipient.

Williams, 21, the Mets’ No. 2 prospect and No. 29 in baseball, finished third in Double-A with an .867 OPS in 96 games with Binghamton. The Dallas native finished second in the EL in OBP (.390), tied for second in doubles (29), and fifth in slugging percentage (.477), average (.281), and XBH (44). He also hit 10 home runs, drove in 37 runs, and stole 32 bases with Binghamton before being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. Wiliams was selected by the Mets with the 14th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Rockwall-Heath High School. 

Brignac, in his fourth year managing the Rumble Ponies, has led Binghamton to its second Eastern League Championship Series appearance in the last three years after winning both the first and second-half regular season division titles. The team set a franchise record with 90 wins (90-46) in the regular season and was only one of two teams in Minor League Baseball to win 90 games. Over his tenure as manager (2022-2025), Brignac is the second-longest tenured and second-winningest manager in franchise history (286-257). This year alone, 15 players who played for Brignac at one point with Binghamton, made their Major League Debut. Brignac is the first Binghamton manager since Pedro Lopez in 2013 to be named Manager of the Year.

Clifford, 22, the Mets’ No. 8 prospect, led the EL with 24 home runs and was second in RBIs (75) in 105 games with Binghamton. The Raleigh native finished third in the EL in slugging percentage (.493), fourth in OPS (.848), and fifth in walks (63). Clifford was acquired by the Mets in the July 2023 trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros. He was initially selected by Houston in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Pro5 Academy in Apex, North Carolina.

Wenninger, 23, the Mets’ No. 13 prospect, was tied for second in Double-A with 12 wins. In the EL, Wenninger finished first in WHIP (1.15) and second in strikeouts (147), ERA (2.92), average against (.225), and innings pitched (135.2). He also finished tied for second in the EL with 26 games started. Wenninger was selected by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Illinois.

Orellana, the Mets’ No. 26 prospect, had just a 1.64 ERA over 25 appearances with Binghamton in his first year at Double-A. The 23-year-old finished with 46 strikeouts and only 13 walks. From Caracas, Venezuela, Orellana signed with the Mets as an international free agent in 2021.

Suarez, 25, had a 3.05 ERA in 20 appearances (15 starts) with the Rumble Ponies. He had 84 strikeouts and only issued 13 walks. From Cumana, Venezuela, Suarez signed with the Mets as an international free agent in 2018.

The Rumble Ponies play Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series on Tuesday night against the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park, with Binghamton down 1-0 in the best-of-three series. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. with pregame coverage getting underway at 6:20 p.m. on the WNBF Rumble Ponies Radio Network.

##Rumble Ponies##

1B Ryan Clifford Named Eastern League Player of the Week

 

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Mets, announced Monday that 1B Ryan Clifford was named the Eastern League (EL) Player of the Week for the week of July 21 – 27. 

Clifford, the Mets No. 7 ranked prospect, in six games this past week at Reading slashed .522 (12-23)/.645/1.130 with a 1.775 OPS with four home runs, 12 RBIs, 11 runs scored, eight walks, and six XBH. Clifford now leads all of Double-A in HR (21) and RBIs (66) and is tied for the fifth most home runs in Minor League Baseball. 

Clifford, 22, led MiLB (full season affiliates) this past week in OBP, OPS, RBIs, and runs scored. He finished second in the minors and first in Double-A in slugging percentage, and total bases (26). Clifford also finished tied for second in MiLB and tied for first in Double-A in hits, while finishing tied for second in MiLB and first in Double-A in XBH.

On Sunday, Clifford capped off his monster week finishing 3-for-4 with a career-high five runs scored. It is the most runs scored by an individual player in a game in franchise history. Carson Benge and Clifford also hit back-to-back home runs Sunday for the second time this week. It is the fifth time this season the Rumble Ponies have hit back-to-back homers, and Clifford has been a part of all of them. 

On Wednesday, Clifford was 3-for-4 with two home runs, his second multi-homer game this month. 

It is the second EL weekly award Clifford has received this year, as he also won the award for the week of May 6 – 11. This is the ninth EL award received by a member of the Rumble Ponies this season. 

Clifford, an 11th round pick by the Houston Astros in 2022 out of Pro5 Academy in Apex, North Carolina, joined the Mets organization with Drew Gilbert in August 2023 as part of the trade-deadline deal that sent Justin Verlander to Houston. 

Binghamton Rumble Ponies Clinch Spot in 2025 Eastern League Playoffs

Press Release from the Binghamton Rumble Ponies communications office:

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. –  The Rumble Ponies have officially won the first half Northeast Division title and clinched a spot in the 2025 Eastern League Playoffs.

It is the 13^th playoff appearance in franchise history and second in the last three years. Binghamton has won three Eastern League championships in its history (1992, 1994, 2014) and last reached the Eastern League Championship Series in 2023.

The Rumble Ponies are 23-4 over their last 27 games en route to their first division title since the playoff format changed to first half and second half division champions in 2019.

Paul Articulates - Discussion with some of the AA prospects

During the Binghamton Rumble Ponies' media day, several local reporters were able to spend some time with three of the teams' top prospects and ask about their preparation for this coming season.  Many thanks go out to Binghamton media director Jacob Wilkins, Matt Levine, and the rest of the Ponies' staff for the opportunity.

I was fortunate to join in the fun and see what they are thinking about.  Of course, all the players that make it to this level have been well trained to avoid controversial or news-breaking statements, and these gentlemen did well with that training.  The transcript of these interviews follows:

Jett Williams interview – April 2025

Q: Healthwise, I know last year did not go like you wanted it to, but how are things this year coming in to the season?

A: Things are great.  I’m ready for a full healthy season.

Q: When you were down in Florida, what was it like spending time with the big league players?

A: It was great.  You talk to them, pick their brains about things. You learn a lot about what they do, and how they go about their business, what they do on an every-day basis.

Q: What have they told you about the positions you will play this year?  Infield/Outfield?  What do you want to do?

A: It doesn’t matter, as long as I’m on the field whether that is at short, second, or in center field?  They told me I am going to get more reps in center.

Q: Last year you played in the spring breakout game and they came to Binghamton.  This year you were able to do the same.  Are you going to approach anything differently this year?

A: I think it is going to be about staying healthy and working towards the big goals ahead.  Come in every day and try to get better.

Q: Anything in particular that the coach?

A: They have not specified.  Just getting more reps at all three positions, getting at-bats, staying healthy.

Q: Who is going to steal more bases this year, you or Nick Morabito?

A: I think we are going to bring out the best in each other.  I think we have a really good lineup.  It’s a great bunch of guys that will push each other and have a lot of fun.

Q: Do you plan to use one of the torpedo bats?

A: I don’t know.  The bat companies have asked me to use one, so I am sure that I will have one around to try out.  Either way, you still have to have a good approach and hit the ball.

Q: As someone who has been here at this level before, how do you plan to take a leadership role in your time here?

A: I have already been talking to some of the guys who will be spending their first year here about how to get through the cold, how the pitchers throw a little differently here and at AAA.  I’m trying to help everyone as much as I can with what I have experienced.

Ryan Clifford interview – April 2025

Q:  You hit that home run and win the MVP in the spring breakout game.  How did it feel to go out and compete with those guys?

A: Feels good.  There were a lot of names in those lineups that have been playing for a long time.  Some pretty good arms out there. I was glad we were able to put up the numbers we did and come away with a win.

Q:  You have been listed in the top prospects for the Mets along with five or six other guys that you have come up here to Binghamton with? What is it like being with these guys coming up together?

A: It is a good group.  I have been with some of them for a while now and we also have some new faces this year.  It is just a great group of guys looking to push each other to be our best.  It is going to be fun to compete out there with them.

Q: What are the things you have worked on in the spring that you think you will be a little better at this year?

A: For me, I think just working on hitting the top of the zone, especially trying to hit the fastballs up.  I think if I can cover that then everything else will just come naturally for me.

Q: What are your goals for this season in general?

A: I’m trying to pick up the ball better, trying to be more consistent in my hitting.  Defensively, I am going to play a lot of first base for the first month, then transition to the outfield from there and become more versatile.

Q: Following up on that, on the big club there are some positions locked up by the big stars and some aren’t.  Do you think there is an opportunity for you to get up there quicker in the infield or the outfield?

A: I think it is all subjective.  Sure, some of the stars are locked in but there will be days when they are not “feeling it” and there will be opportunities.  I’m trying to stay versatile – it doesn’t matter to me where I play – I just want to do the best that I can to get the opportunity to get on the field.

Q: Do you plan to use one of the torpedo bats?

A: I have seen them.  I am not sure it is the best fit for me but it is working for some guys, so down the road who knows what will happen?  I go to swinging a no-cut bat and I like having more weight at the end of the bat.  I want to be able to hit balls hard even if it is out at the end of the bat.

Nick Morabito interview – April 2025

Q: With you being a newcomer to Binghamton, what have you been told so far about competing here in AA?

A: I am very grateful for this opportunity to be here in Binghamton – it is a big jump from high to AA but I’m prepared to take it on.  It’s a little colder here; I haven't played in cold since high school, but I’m excited and ready to embrace it.

Q: Have you received any advice from the top prospects in the organization about making the jump from A to AA?

A: I am close with the guys here, so I have been able to talk with them. Obviously I know the competition is going to be a little better, but I’m ready to get started

Q: How are you feeling as you prepare to go into this season?

A: Most importantly I’m healthy, my spring training routine has been consistent, and I look forward to going out there every day and working hard, staying healthy.

Q: What were some of the things you have been working on in spring training?

A: I worked pretty hard on my defense in spring training.  I have been working center field, a lot on my first step reactions and my overall range getting to balls.  Defense has always been something I take pride in.

Q: When you were in St. Lucie, did you run into some of the big stars like Lindor and Soto?

A: Not a lot – only played in one big league game because I was dealing with a little “wrist thing” in spring which is all good now.  It was pretty cool just being around those guys.

Q: What do you think you can bring to the Rumble Ponies lineup this year?

A: Hopefully do well in center field, steal some bases.

Q: Who’s going to steal more bases this year, you or Jett?

A: I don’t know – I am going to get as many as I can.   Hopefully he will get many too.

Q: Many of today’s hitters focus on power hitting in the leadoff spot.  You bring speed to the game.  Does that give you an advantage?

A: Yeah, having guys that can steal bases in the top of your lineup is an exciting part of the game – fans love to see it.  That’s what I like to give to the fans.

This is going to be a fun group to watch this year.  There will be an exciting brand of baseball played in Binghamton with a combination of speed, power, and pitching.  If you can make it to the stadium, it will be well worth the price of admission.

Paul Articulates – Back in control

I have an affinity for watching the Mets’ AA affiliate the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.  To me, the AA ballplayer represents one who has overcome the challenges of adjusting to professional baseball, has risen above the crowd of aspiring ballplayers and is now playing alongside a good number of talented guys that will someday make the “show”.

There have been many that wore the Orange and Blue at Shea Stadium or Citi Field that have passed through the tunnel of the stadium in Binghamton which is now branded as Mirabito Stadium.  There will be many more.  

We have been blessed recently with a number of future stars in the much stronger Mets development system, and based on what we are reading this week from Mack on the draft there will be many more.

One player I would like to focus on today is Tyler Stuart.  Stuart has been a standout prospect in the organization since being chosen in the sixth round of the 2022 draft by the Mets.  The first thing you notice about Tyler is his size.  Six feet, nine inches, broad shoulders, square jaw – an imposing presence standing on the mound only 60’6” away.  

His mid-90’s fastball gets on the batter very quickly.  The second thing you notice is his confident, focused way of answering questions about his progress in the minors.  His eyes are fixed on the goal and he works hard to achieve it.

In 2023 he started 14 games last year for the single A Brooklyn Cyclones where he went 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA before being called up to AA Binghamton.  His combined 2.20 ERA was the best in the minor leagues last year among qualifying starters.  In the spring of 2024, Tyler was selected to pitch in the Spring Breakout Game this year and delivered a scoreless inning, throwing only eight pitches to induce three consecutive ground ball outs.  He was on a fast track.

Something happened at the beginning of the 2024 AA season that set him back.  He opened with a reasonable 3.45 ERA in April, but he was giving up a .306 average to opposing batters which seemed like a warning sign.  In May, the batting average dropped to .244 but his ERA bumped up to 3.98.  Then in June things really fell apart.  He registered a 7.90 ERA with a 1.83 WHIP and a .339 opponent batting average.  This was the first real test of how he would deal with adversity which every player eventually faces.

This post is not about his failures, but to predict that he is working his way through it.  Promising signs lately foretell a different Stuart on the mound in the second half of the AA season.  

It all started on June 18th, when Tyler Stuart picked up a win against Akron, yielding two earned runs in five innings with 2 walks and four strikeouts.  A solid outing compared to his earlier June starts, and a foundation to rebuild from.  Then on June 23rd he gave up only one ER in four innings with no walks and four K’s.  

The first of July signaled his return: 7 innings pitched, four hits, 2 ER, 1BB, and eleven strikeouts.  He followed that with two more stellar outings with one earned run and zero walks in each game.  Five solid starts, renewed control of the strike zone, and renewed confidence I am sure.  In those starts, he totaled 26 innings with 7 earned runs, 3 walks, and 27 strikeouts.

Watch for his next appearance, which will probably be on July 24th against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.  It should be a good one if this trend continues.

For more on Tyler Stuart, read his pre-season interview or listen to his chat with Matt Levine down in St. Lucie in March.

Joander Suarez named Eastern League Player of the Week

 

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Mets, announced Monday that RHP Joander Suarez has been named the Eastern League (EL) Pitcher of the Week for April 29 – May 5.

Suarez threw six and a third perfect innings in relief in the Rumble Ponies’ 2-1 win over Hartford Thursday night at Mirabito Stadium. He retired all 19 batters he faced and struck out seven. Suarez threw 54 of his 74 pitches for strikes, a 73% strike percentage.

The 24-year-old has started out the season with a 2.60 ERA over five appearances, four of them starts. He started his Double-A career throwing 23 and a third consecutive scoreless innings.

Suarez also threw a no-hitter last season in a seven-inning game on September 7 at Dunkin’ Park, the eighth no-hitter in franchise history. This is Suarez’s third EL Pitcher of the Week honor over his first eight Double-A appearances.  

The Rumble Ponies go for a fourth-consecutive victory when they open a six-game road series with the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox Double-A Affiliate) Tuesday night. Pregame coverage gets underway at 5:45 pm on the WNBF Rumble Ponies Radio Network.  

The Rumble Ponies return home on May 14 to play a six-game series against the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles Double-A Affiliate). Fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.bingrp.com, calling (607)-722-FUNN (3866), or in person at the Visions Federal Credit Union Starting Gate Box Office at Mirabito Stadium.

Tylor Megill rehab start in Binghamton

Tonight, Tylor Megill pitched a rehab game for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies as part of his path back to the NY Mets.  Megill pitched 2 2/3 innings giving up 2 hits and one earned run with 4 strikeouts and no walks.  His next rehab start will be in Syracuse.  See the post-game interview courtesy of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies here.

 Tylor Megill Post Bing Rehab_05.02.24.mp4

Binghamton Rumble Ponies to be sold

In a surprise announcement yesterday, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies announced that current owner David Sobotka has agreed to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH). Binghamton is currently the New York Mets' AA affiliate and has been home to the Mets' AA entry for over 30 years.

Sobotka, who purchased the team in late 2021, has made a very positive impact on the club in just a few years.  He has made significant investment in the club and its facilities, and has partnered with local and state representatives to use government funding as a force multiplier to his investments.

Personally, I will miss David as an owner.  He had a hands-on approach to managing this franchise, which has created a very tight knit team that cares very much about the future of Binghamton baseball.  Sobotka was always at the ballpark, and rather than sit in a pampered executive box, he was more likely to be seen bartending on the party deck in right field or chatting with fans between innings.

Sobotka and local political leaders have assured the community that a primary condition of the sale was that the club would remain in Binghamton as an affiliate of the Mets.

The full announcement is available on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies' site here.

SNY to Broadcast Minor League Games on Television in 2024

Great news was released yesterday for all you prospect lovers.  The Mets' minor league affiliates will have some of their games broadcast over the SNY network - both live TV and streaming.  See the press release below.

SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse Mets will be on television in 2024 with at least six games scheduled to air on SNY as part of a new partnership. The first televised game will be Thursday, April 11th when Syracuse hosts the Worcester Red Sox at 6:35 p.m. Coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The broadcasts will be produced by the Syracuse Mets video production crew that also creates broadcasts for all 75 Syracuse home games online at MiLB.tv. Syracuse Mets broadcasters Michael Tricarico and Evan Stockton will provide play-by-play and color commentary for these television games on SNY.

The scheduled televised dates and air times are:

- Thursday, April 11th vs. Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A Boston Red Sox) – 6:30 p.m.

- Thursday, April 25th vs. Columbus Clippers (Triple-A Cleveland Guardians) – 6:30 p.m.

- Saturday, April 27th vs. Columbus Clippers (Triple-A Cleveland Guardians) – 1:00 p.m.

- Thursday, June 20th vs. Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A Washington Nationals) – 6:30 p.m.

- Saturday, August 10th vs. Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A Boston Red Sox) – 6:30 p.m.

- Sunday, August 25th vs. Durham Bulls (Triple-A Tampa Bay Rays) – 1:00 p.m.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Mets, are pleased to announce that SportsNet New York (SNY), the flagship television home of the New York Mets, will be carrying at least eight Rumble Ponies games this season. 

The full list of games that will air on SNY are below:

Thursday, April 18 – Binghamton vs. Reading - 6:05 p.m. 

Saturday April 20 – Binghamton vs. Reading - 1:05 p.m. 

Sunday April 21 – Binghamton vs. Reading – 1:05 p.m. 

Saturday May 4 – Binghamton vs. Hartford– 1:05 p.m.

Saturday May 18 – Binghamton vs. Bowie– 1:05 p.m. 

Thursday June 27 – Binghamton vs. Portland – 6:35 p.m. 

Thursday August 1 – Binghamton vs. New Hampshire – 6:35 p.m. 

Saturday August 24 – Binghamton vs. Reading - 6:07 p.m. 

Thursday September 5* – Binghamton vs. Somerset - 6:35 p.m. 

* - Game may possibly air on SNY

"The Rumble Ponies are delighted to team with SNY to bring the excitement of games from Mirabito Stadium to the wider SNY audience across the northeast region,” said Binghamton Rumble Ponies President David Sobotka. “It's a great opportunity for fans to check out future inhabitants of Citi Field."

Rumble Ponies broadcasters Jacob Wilkins and Matt Levine will announce the games, which will be produced by the Rumble Ponies production crew that creates broadcasts for all 69 Rumble Ponies home games.

TNEW YORK – April 15, 2024 – SNY, the official television home of the New York Mets, today announced the network has added live Minor League Baseball games to the network's schedule. The Syracuse Mets, Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Brooklyn Cyclones games will air on SNY from April through September.

The games will be produced by each of the clubs and will feature their play-by-play announcers and analysts.

The Minor League games will also be streamed live to SNY subscribers on the SNY App. The SNY app is available for download on iOS, Android, tvIOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku.

May 23rd vs. Hudson Valley

June 6th vs. Aberdeen

June 7th vs. Aberdeen

August 21st vs. Jersey Shore

Paul Articulates – Get to know Reid Brignac

Recently I had the privilege of being part of a media day interview with Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ Manager Reid Brignac.  Reid is starting his third year as manager of the Mets’ AA franchise.  He has made a name for himself in this role with a great playoff run last year that brought the team into the Eastern League championship series.  Reid was also selected to manage the team in the inaugural Spring Breakout Game against the Washington Nationals’ top prospects.  He has already had five former players move up to the majors, and we expect that there will be several more.

The following questions were posed by a variety of writers and news crews with Reid’s answers documented below.  Once again I offer my thanks to Jacob Wilkins and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies for making Reid available for the interview.

Question: How do you deal with balancing all the big name prospects?

Brignac: We have to take it one day at a time, have our staff attack their development needs to get them ready for the major leagues.  Obviously everyone’s time table is different but it is our responsibility to make sure they get the work that they need to be prepared.

Question: I am sure it would be nice to be in 80 degree weather in Florida, but how does it feel to be back in Binghamton again?

Brignac: We’re excited to get the season started. There is a lot of momentum from last year.  We had a really good run and we are going to have some familiar faces on the team again so we hope to get off to a good start and have a great season again.

Question: Where does the team stand at this stage in comparison to the team you had last year?

Brignac: The team changed so much last year.  We had some guys that contributed early go up to AAA, and then in the middle of the year we added Gilbert, Acuna, and Jeremiah Jackson – they paid dividends in the second half.  We had some pitchers that have moved up so we probably won’t see them this year but we have added exiting new pitchers like Joander Suarez and Tyler Stuart this year, Cameron Foster and some other new faces as well that we are excited about.

Question: How do you balance the urgency to win with addressing the development needs of the players?

Brignac: A lot of our practice is for the development side of their games.  We work on the skills that will make them better, but when the game starts, we challenge them to go out and compete in the games.  We want them to just go out in the games and play without worrying about their mechanics too much so they can be free and easy and play good fundamentally sound team baseball.  We are all pulling for each other and we want this team to win ballgames.

Question: During spring training you were able to meet some of the new staff at the major league level.  How were the conversations with Carlos Mendoza?

Brignac: Mendy was great.  I’m really excited for his future.  There is no doubt in my mind he is going to get things turned around up there.  He is doing a great job building relationships with the players and that is the first thing you need to do as a new manager.  He is invested in our minor league system as well.  He wants to have success and he will do everything in his power to do so.

Question: As a follow-up to that, how does the culture and the message from the regime at the top level trickle down to the players at this level?

Brignac: The whole mindset is we are getting better every day.  Mendoza was great with the players, and that is a big part of who we are as an organization and our emphasis is on getting our guys ready as soon as possible to play for the major league team.

Question: How proud are you to see your former players doing so well at the major league level?

Brignac:  It is the most satisfying thing as a minor league manager to see your players succeed at the higher level. That is why we do this job and take time away from our families to develop these guys for that future.  It is very humbling and prideful thing for us as coaches to see them succeed.

Question: Reid, congratulations on being selected to manage the prospects team at the Spring Breakout game this year.  How was that experience?

Brignac: It was great.  The Nationals had some great young prospects and so did we.  It was exciting for the fans and for the organization to put that many talented players on one team to go out and play a game.  It was fun! 

Question: What does your team have to do to win this year?

Brignac: We win if we are together; if we pull for each other; if we have each others’ backs. We need to take care of the baseball and we need to pitch well.  That is the big thing because if you are in it late, you have chances to win ballgames.  Pitching and defense are first and foremost and obviously some timely hitting would be great too.  We have a combination of speed and power, we have people that can draw walks and get on base, so we expect to have a lot of congestion on the bases on a nightly basis and we look forward to seeing some guys come up with clutch hits and our pitchers dominate the strike zone.

Paul Articulates – Get to know Tyler Stuart

Recently I had the privilege of being part of a media day interview with Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ Pitcher Tyler Stuart.  Tyler is the Mets’ #18 prospect in 2024.  The 6’9” 250lb right hander was selected by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2022 draft out of Southern Mississippi.  He started 14 games last year for the single A Brooklyn Cyclones where he went 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA before being called up to AA Binghamton.  His combined 2.20 ERA was the best in the minor leagues last year among qualifying starters.  Tyler was selected to pitch in the Spring Breakout Game this year and delivered a scoreless inning, throwing only eight pitches to induce three consecutive ground ball outs!

The following questions were posed by a variety of writers and news crew with Tyler’s answers documented below.  Once again I offer my thanks to Jacob Wilkins and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies for making Tyler available for the interview.

Question: Coming off a big season, what have you been working in the off-season to continue that production?

Stuart: Refining my strikes definitely, trying to pitch up in the strike zone as a target that I worked on in my bullpens, stretching out the pitch count again being consistent with everything.  Another thing, I added a cutter; something I am excited to use this year.

Question: What are some of the things you have talked to the organization about in terms of goals for yourself this year?

Stuart: Being consistent; I think that is the biggest thing along with adding the cutter to build upon last year’s success.

Question: I saw an interview you did earlier this year with Ernest Dove where you described trusting your stuff more and not worrying as much about the batters.  Tell us more about that.

Stuart: Obviously confidence is a big thing in this game – if you don’t have confidence in yourself on the mound and trust your stuff, then no one else is going to.  That’s one of the things I took away from my college coach – he told me to trust my stuff and believe in myself.  It has made me better.

Question: What is the relationship between yourself and Kevin Parada and some of the other catchers?

Stuart: It is awesome.  We have been talking quite a bit this spring on and off the field.  It is amazing when you are on the mound and thinking you haven’t thrown your change-up in a while and the catcher is calling the same pitch.  We’re just on the same page and it’s huge.  I think the whole pitching staff is on the same page with him.

Question: During spring training did you spend time with Jeremy Hefner and some of the big league pitchers?

Stuart: I was over there a few times and it was awesome. I didn’t get over there last year so this was the first time.  We had an awesome conversation and he instilled a lot of confidence in me.  He told me what to expect out there and what to use.  Like we were talking about earlier, he also told me to trust my stuff.

Question: Was there someone in the organization that was there to teach you the cutter?

Stuart: Grayson Crawford the AAA pitching coach approached me on the first day of camp in January.  I had never talked to him before and he said, “Let’s go work on a cutter”.  I had tried it before without success but he showed me a few things and I started to throw it and after just a few pitches it started cutting.  Now I am starting to get a feel for it.

Question: How to you adjust in this first week, going from 83 degrees in St. Lucie to 38 degrees in Binghamton?

Stuart: It’s just a mindset.  I am used to it – I was here last year so I knew what to expect.

Question: Last season the team made the playoffs.  What did you take away from those high-leverage situations that you will carry into this year?

Stuart: Being in those moments against good hitters and knowing what to expect.  The only thing that matters is to win, so we learned to handle that and compete.  That incredible game against Sommerset was a great experience.

Question: How excited are you and the staff to be getting some live ABs now, ready for the season?

Stuart:  We are super pumped.  There is a great bunch of guys in there and we are all ready to go. We have a good vibe in there.

Any Mets fan that wants to see Tyler Stuart in action can do so during one of his starts for the Rumble Ponies - but don't delay.  Based on his progress so far he might not be there for long!

Paul Articulates – Get to know Kevin Parada

Recently I had the privilege of being part of a media day interview with Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ catcher Kevin Parada.  Kevin was the 11th overall pick in 2022 out of Georgia Tech and the Mets’ first pick of that draft year.  Kevin began the year in St. Lucie, moved up to Brooklyn, and finished the season with Binghamton last year for the playoff run.  He will be starting the season in AA this year.

The following questions were posed by a variety of writers and news crews with Kevin’s answers documented below.  I was very impressed with how articulate he was.  This is a guy who will not likely be fazed by the media as he moves up in the system.

Question: You caught some innings in Binghamton last year with Hayden Senger who won the Platinum Glove award last year in the Mets minor league system – what have you been able to learn from him?

Parada: We got to work together a lot the last couple of months and also when we were in Binghamton last year.  Obviously he is doing things right behind the plate.  I watch what he does and try to apply it to my game in ways I can and we bounce different questions off each other to learn what we can because it is part of the development process.

Question:  Talk about your relationship with the pitching staff and how you are gelling with them this season.

Parada:  Last year we had a great pitching staff.  This year we will be just as good.  We have a lot of talent. Some of the guys moved up this year, some are still here, and some new guys have gotten a shot to move up.  I have caught some of them already this year and it has been a good time.  We are all doing this together, getting ready to go.

Question: How valuable was it to be on the big league diamond with the major leaguers in spring training?

Parada:  It is so valuable.  That is the level you want to be at one day - hopefully sooner than later.  You need to experience things at that level and see how they go about their business because they have had those experiences.  I am just trying to learn from them as much as possible. I think the biggest thing was just learning from different guys on how to handle a game.  Questions come up during the game about a situation you have not handled before and also things they do as players to refine their tools.  The guys that are in the big leagues are there for a reason, so try to emulate what they do in ways you can.

Question: Everyone’s goal is to get to the big club and play in Citi Field.  How do you set objectives throughout the season whether it is here or along the way?

Parada: The biggest goal is to get to the big leagues; as we go up through the different levels you have to take certain steps.  Part of it is to take the steps one at a time.  Right now I’m assigned to Binghamton so I need to be in Binghamton now so I have to keep my feet on the ground and stay in the process.  You have to enjoy it while you can – it goes fast.  You are going to have good and bad days and ugly days as it is just part of the game we play.   As long as I keep moving in the right direction, I have faith that my talent and the hard work I put in will take over.

Question: Francisco Alvarez came through Binghamton and moved up very quickly to the major leagues.  What type of motivation does that give you as you are here in the Mets’ organization?

Parada: We have a new regime in the front office.  We are still learning about each other and how things are handled.  If you play the game right they may move you along quickly, maybe not.  You just need to play the game in the right way and stay healthy which is one of my biggest goals. If I can stay healthy then no matter what happens I will go at the pace I need to so just enjoy the process.

Question: Now that the team has been assembled in Binghamton, what is the mood in the clubhouse?

Parada: We are excited about the season.  You play a lot of games in spring training that don’t count against stats although they are important for your development. Now it really matters and we are ready to go.

Question:  What did you learn from your experience with playoff baseball with the Rumble Ponies that will help you prepare for this season?

Parada: That is real baseball.  As much as every game in the regular season matters, it is in the playoffs where all that matters is winning.  No matter how beautiful or ugly the game is, getting the feeling of needing to win is very important to prepare for the big leagues where every game is critical.  You don’t play the game to lose – do everything in your power to win.  

Question: Speaking of the playoffs, the whole community got behind the team as they went to the playoffs.  How was your personal connection to that?

Parada: It is always nice to have the fans excited.  To get those fans behind us is just as important as years down the road getting the New York City fans behind us.  It helps keep the morale up in the dugout as well.

<Many thanks to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and their media director Jacob Wilkins for interview access to the Mets' AA players>

Paul Articulates – Meet the 2024 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies have been the AA franchise for the New York Mets for many years.  Last year was a very successful season, as they rode a crop of top prospects all the way into the Eastern League Championship series.  This year one could expect more of the same with seven of the top 30 Mets’ prospects on the opening day roster.

Minor league teams tend to have very dynamic rosters, so nothing is a given, but this year’s opening roster has solid talent in the infield, outfield, and pitching staff.  With more top talent in AAA, these players may stick around a little longer and show off their skills in Binghamton’s loyal fan base.

Let’s start with the pitching staff because it is going to be a noteworthy group.  

Starting pitcher Blade Tidwell returns after playing an important role on the run to last year’s championship series.  Tidwell is the #10 prospect for the Mets to begin the 2024 season.  He compiled a 3-3 record in 8 starts with the Ponies after being called up last year.  He features a high 90’s fastball and a sweeping slider and an above-average change-up.  Blade is an athletic pitcher with a strong competitive drive, so he will undoubtedly be an exciting player to watch.

Starting pitcher Tyler Stuart (#18 prospect) also pitched in the Spring Breakout game for the Mets in March and had a very strong inning.  Stuart is an imposing 6’9” 250lb hurler with a mid-90s fastball and excellent control.  His 2.20 ERA and 1.1 WHIP were among the minor league leaders for qualified starting pitchers, and batters have even more to worry about in 2024 because Stuart has learned to throw a cutter to complement his other pitches.

Starting pitcher Joander Suarez returns to the Binghamton staff this year as a two time Eastern League pitcher of the week award winner.  His first came after Joander no-hit the Hartford Yard Goats in September.  That game was part of a 17-inning span over three games in which Suarez did not surrender a hit.  For those that think the Mets have never been a player in the international player market, Suarez was signed for $10k as an 18-year-old out of Venezuela in 2018.  Suarez is scheduled to start opening day.

The Rumble Ponies also expect to get some quality starts from Luis Moreno who pitched well for them down the stretch in 2023.  Junior Santos, who we wrote about last month, is a returning pitcher on the staff that started 15 games last year.  I am hoping they convert him to a reliever this year because he is capable of dominating hitters over small stretches.

In the pen, the Rumble Ponies have several good arms.  The most notable of the group is Paul Gervase, a 6’10” right-hander in his third year out of LSU.  Gervase spent most of 2023 in Brooklyn, where he was honored with selection to the post-season all-star team in the South Atlantic League.    There he posted the league’s lowest ERA (1.72) and hits-per-nine innings (4.60), and highest strikeouts-per-nine inning ratio (14.55) for pitchers with at least 45 innings.

All those strong arms will be throwing to one of two very talented catchers.  This year’s AA roster includes #9 prospect and top 2022 draft pick Kevin Parada and last year’s minor league Platinum Glove award winner Hayden Senger.  Parada will likely be the primary starter due to his prospect rating.

The infield will feature #1 prospect Jett Williams at short, though Jett is being developed into a multi-position player with spring training reps at short, second, and center field.  Williams will certainly draw some attention as he has moved up quickly in the organization, succeeding at every level along the way.  

Alongside Williams on the left side will be Jeremiah Jackson, received in a steal of a trade for Dominic Leone last year.  Jackson has also shown some multi-position versatility, but will likely see a lot of time at third base with the Rumble Ponies.  Jackson hit .264 last year with the Ponies, recording a .801 OPS.

JT Schwartz will begin his second season with the Rumble Ponies at first base.  Schwartz missed a couple months last year with a quad injury, but came back strong, batting .348 with a .921 OPS over his last 39 regular season games.

Second base will be contested by Wyatt Young and Jose Peroza.  Both of these players have shown flashes of brilliance in their minors careers, and consistency may be the attribute that wins the playing time in Binghamton.

The Binghamton outfield will feature some future stars this year.  

Rhylan Thomas is back this year, with his defensive player of the year trophy on the mantle and 12 more pounds of muscle on his athletic frame.  Thomas hit .328 last year across three levels of ball, including .353 with the AA Rumble Ponies.  He will be a legitimate threat this year.

He will be joined by Alex Ramirez, who was touted as a top prospect two years ago before having an off year in Brooklyn in 2023.  The organization is still high on Ramirez, so look for him to showcase his #16 prospect ranking with a strong arm and plenty of speed.   

Speaking of speed, Brandon McIlwain will also be in the Binghamton outfield.  Brandon stole 20 bases between Binghamton and Syracuse last year.  He is electric on the base paths, so don’t turn around for that hot dog vendor or you will miss his circuit around the diamond.

There is so much more to say about this roster, but so little space to say it.  Suffice to say that the hardest challenge in Binghamton this year will be with manager Reid Brignac, who will have to figure out how to get innings for all this talent.  As Reid would say, “Go Ponies”!

Paul Articulates – First in my mind

There are always many topics to discuss as spring training winds down.  The players have had several weeks now to round into baseball shape, refine their swings or throwing mechanics, and renew their competitive spirits.  The player development and coaching staffs have almost wrapped up their evaluation phases, and are ready to make the final roster adjustments from the majors down through the minors.

Until the dust settles, there are always many articles written speculating about what choices the management should make, and there are opinions, and that is a lot.  The choices that come to my mind first are the one that involves the first base position.  Here is what the Mets are faced with:

Pete Alonso is entering his final season of team control under a $20.5M contract that was agreed upon prior to arbitration earlier this year.  We have all heard the rumors about whether or not he has received an extension offer from the Mets or not, have heard directly from David Stearns that he “Hopes Pete makes his job harder by having a great season”, and heard all the negativism about Pete’s agent Scott Boras.  

We will never really know what is going on behind the scenes, but we do know that if Pete has a monster season, it will take a boatload of cash to keep him in Flushing.  

I think everyone in the Mets organization wants him around (as I do) but things get very tricky when there are bidding wars going on.  So unless there is a surprise announcement within the next three days, Pete will enter the season without an extension, forcing the Mets to choose to either trade him at the deadline for a generous reward of prospects or go to the auction house with everything they have to sign him for life.

Jose Peroza , Luke Voit, and Daniel Palka played the majority of games with the AAA Syracuse Mets at first base last year.  Peroza and Palka chose free agency at the end of the season so they are no longer with the team.  I don’t expect Voit to be around either after batting just .118 with two extra base hits in spring training as of yesterday.  That leaves the position open to a few key prospects to vie for the heir apparent position if Pete leaves town at the trade deadline.

Mark Vientos has played some first base with the big league club, and seemed slated for the DH role this year until the late signing of JD Martinez which got Mark assigned to AAA.  One would expect that he would get most of the reps in Syracuse to be the insurance policy against injury or trade because frankly the Mets don’t have a backup first baseman right now.

Ryan Clifford came over to the Mets in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros last year.  There was so much buzz about Drew Gilbert that not much was said about Clifford, but upon a deeper look Ryan could be the sleeper in that trade.  Clifford is currently ranked as the Mets’ number 4 prospect (two spots behind Gilbert) in the MLB 2024 prospect rankings.  

Ryan has shown some serious power with an .848 OPS in his minor league career, belting 24 home runs in A ball last year.  He impressed the scouts in the Spring Breakout game as the starting first baseman and could soon be moving quickly up the ranks if the reports are accurate.  Ryan recently spoke with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ Jacob Wilkins at the Mets’ spring training complex – click on the interview below to see what he has to say.

 Ryan Clifford Spring Training Interview.mp4

JT Schwartz is a talented hitter and an outstanding defensive first baseman in the Mets’ system.  Schwartz played almost the full season last year with the AA Rumble Ponies and despite missing weeks with a quad injury he put up some very good numbers, slashing .302/.383/.437 and being a big piece of their playoff run.  Schwartz also had the opportunity to play in the Arizona Fall League last year where he was selected to the all-star team.  I have written about Schwartz before, calling him John Olereud without the batting helmet which is some pretty high praise.  

Unfortunately Olereud played when it was acceptable for a first baseman to be hit first, power second.  Current thinking is that 1B is a power hitting position so for Schwartz to break into the majors he may have to put some more lift in his swing.  Can he do it?  At 6’4” 225lb I think he can.  Let’s watch how this plays out.  Here is his interview with Jacob Wilkins below.

 JT Schwartz Spring Training Interview.mp4

So the many decisions are upon the Mets’ player development and coaching staffs as well as the front office.  Do we keep Pete and roll the dice on having the most attractive FA bid at the end of the year?  Do we trade him at the deadline for another haul of prospects?  If so, do we elevate Mark Vientos to the MLB first base job or would Schwartz or Clifford be ready for that spot?

Time will tell, but for now this is the toughest set of choices for the Mets’ organization.

<By the way, do you like these prospect interviews that have been shared with us by the Binghamton Rumble Ponies?  If so, I have posted all of them on the side bar for your viewing and listening pleasure.>