LAST GAME: The B-Mets and Altoona Curve made it to the top of the seventh inning tied at six before torrential rain forced a suspension at NYSEG Stadium last night. The B-Mets held a five-run lead before watching the Curve put up back-to-back three-run innings in the fifth and sixth. After Eric Niesen al-lowed two runners to reach in the top of the seventh, Rhiner Cruz was summoned from the bullpen. Before he could com-plete his warm-up tosses, the downfall accelerated and the tarp was pulled on the field. Following a delay, the contest was suspended. The game will restart with Cruz to face Tony San-chez at 6:05pm tonight. Following its completion, the B-Mets and Curve will play their regularly scheduled game.
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Tobi Stoner makes his first start with the B-Mets in 2011. Stoner went 6-8 with a 3.71 ERA in 22 starts with Binghamton in 2008 and 2009. Stoner began the season on the Buffalo Bisons disabled list with a shoulder impingement. He went 1-1 with a 7.80 in three starts with St. Lucie (High-A) before being moved up to Binghamton.
LHP Jeff Locke will make his tenth start of the year. The New Hampshire native allowed five runs on six hits over five innings in a loss to the Bowie Baysox on May 23. Originally a second-round draft pick by the Braves in 2006, Locke was traded to the Pirates along with RHP Charlie Morton and OF Gorkys Her-nandez for OF Nate McLouth on June 3, 2009.
SUSPENSION TIDBITS: Last night’s contest was the 25th sus-pended game in B-Mets’ history and the first of 2011. The last suspended Binghamton game came on Opening Day against the Akron Aeros last year (April 8) when heavy thunderstorms forced a stoppage in the middle of the fifth inning. The game was restarted the following day with the B-Mets falling 7-6.
REYES GOES DEEP: Raul Reyes’ solo home run off Aaron Thompson in the fourth inning last night was his first homer of 2011. The B-Mets outfielder hit eighth dingers with Bingham-ton last year, with his last coming on 9/2/10 against Portland.
NICE WHILE IT LASTED: Jon Malo’s fielding error on Jeremy Farrell’s ground ball in the sixth inning last night snapped three-game errorless streak for the B-Mets. Binghamton had gone 30 straight innings without a misplay in the field. Josh Satin’s fielding error at third base against New Britain on May 24 was the previous error.
HOW ABOUT THIS WEATHER?: Through 44 scheduled games this season, the B-Mets have had seven postponements, three games cut short, and one suspension.
Okay, Friday night was Harvey’s 10th start in A+ and the league has seen enough. He put up seven more shutout innings while striking out ten and it’s time for him to join his pitching bud, Jeurys Familia, in Binghamton. These two guys, plus a fully healed Jenrry Mejia, represent the future of the Mets beginning in 2013. Some still have their doubts, while others think they could see Queens next year. I really believe at this point that both these guys are for real, but neither should be rushed in 2012. Let them finish 2011 in Binghamton. Bring them to camp with the big boys in 2012, and start them off in Buffalo on opening day. Mejia should be pitching there by June and the Binghamton staff will feature Greg Peavey, Matt Barnes, and Josh Osich.
Familia didn’t have as great a night as Harvey (3-ER in 5.0-IP, 7-K), but the strikeouts are still there, and his AA ERA is still 2.25. That comes to 10 starts in A+/AA, 60.1-IP, 12-ER, and 57-K while only 17-BB. I have no problem with these numbers.
Did you ever notice that when one positional player steps up, others playing the same position on another franchise team begin to produce more? Case in point is Allan Dykstra (B-Mets) and Stefan Welsh (St. Lucie).
Dykstra has raised the bar the past month, hitting a career high .500-SLG going into Friday’s game. At the same time, Welsh went into Friday night’s game hitting .314//429/.486/.914 in the past 10 games, and had three more hits last night, including his 6th home run of the season.
We all tend to forget that the Mets committed sign up money last year to draft one of the top catchers available in the draft. Here’s what I said the day after the Mets drafted Blake Forsythe:
Forsythe went into Friday night’s game hitting only .233, but that includes going .290/.390/.419/.810 in the past ten games. (Oh yeah… Gibbs is batting .275 for A-Peoria and Rupp is hitting only .217 for A-Lakewood)
Let's not forget that Blake put up first round numbers in his sophomore year. We'll keep an eye on his progress this season.
The St. Lucie Mets made it two in a row with a 4-2 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays Friday night at Digital Domain Park. The 4-2 win puts the Mets at 28-21 on the season and are now a half game ahead of the Ft. Myers Miracle for first place in the FSL South Division.
Matt Harvey got the start for the Mets and received instant offense early in the game. Stefan Welch singled in Matt den Dekker with the first run of the game giving the Mets a 1-0 lead after the first inning of play. Den Dekker singled in Cesar Puello in the second inning making it a 2-0 lead for the Mets. Den Dekker would score in the fourth inning on a fielding error giving the Mets all the run support they would need for Harvey.
Harvey was lights out tossing seven shutout innings allowing only three hits while striking out ten batters en route to his sixth win of the season. Estarlin Morel and Jeff Kaplan accounted for the eighth and ninth innings respectively each allowing a run but holding on for the win. Kaplan danced around trouble in the ninth getting the final out with runners on second and third base. It was Kaplan’s ninth save of the season.
Stefan Welch had three hits on the night for the Mets including his team leading sixth home run of the season. Welch drove in a pair and scored once to lead the Mets offensively. den Dekker had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run in the win. Harvey improves to 6-2 on the season. His six wins ties him for the FSL lead with Daytona Cubs pitcher Nick Struck.
The Mets continue their series with the Dunedin Blue Jays Saturday night at Digital Domain Park. Armando Rodriguez is listed as the probable starter for St. Lucie. This will be Rodriguez’s first appearance of the season as he has been sidelined with an injury to this point of the year. Rodriguez received an invite to New York Mets Spring Training this season before landing on the disabled list. Last year for the Savannah Sand Gnats, Rodriguez finished with an 8-9 record and an ERA of 3.08 in 27 starts. He struck out 152 while walking 46 with opposing batters hitting .214 against him in 146 innings of work.
Augusta, GA – In a game delayed for more than an hour in the third inning by rain, the Savannah Sand Gnats pulled ahead in the sixth inning to win a battle of the bullpens by a 5-2 score on Friday night on Bark at the Park Night in front of 3,007 fans at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
What started out as a pitchers’ duel between Seth Rosin and Taylor Whitenton turned into a bullpen game as play was halted with one out in the top of the third inning by a one hour, 17 minute rain delay. When play resumed, the GreenJackets struck first with a Bobby Haney sacrifice fly that brought home a run in the third to give Augusta a 1-0 lead.
Savannah tied things in the fifth on their third hit of the inning – a Robbie Shields RBI double. In the sixth a Blake Forsythe sacrifice fly and an error brought home runs for the Sand Gnats to give Savannah a 3-1 lead. With the bases loaded on an error and two walks from Tom Vessella in the seventh, Savannah stretched the lead to four on a two-run Rafael Fernandez double to make it a 5-1 game.
The GreenJackets gave runs away and failed to capitalize off of scoring opportunities all night. The Augusta defense committed four errors – three of them in the sixth and seventh – while the GreenJackets left 12 men on the basepaths offensively.
Hamilton Bennett (1-0) threw 2.1 scoreless innings of one-hit relief for the Sand Gnats to get the win while Vessella took the loss, allowing four runs – three earned – in 1.1 innings. After an Adam Duvall RBI single in the ninth made it a 5-2 Savannah lead, Josh Edgin came on to strike out the last two hitters of the game to earn his seventh save.
Rosin struck out five – one shy of a career-best – in just 2.1 innings while Whitenton walked two but didn’t allow a hit in two scoreless frames for Savannah.
The GreenJackets send Taylor Rogers (3-5, 2.58) to the mound on Saturday night, looking to avoid being swept for the first time this season. Savannah opposes with righty Ryan Fraser (2-3, 3.21) as the GreenJackets close in on their one-millionth fan under Ripken Baseball ownership. That lucky fan will win a trip for four to Disneyworld, courtesy of Augusta Vascular Center, and will probably pass through the gates Saturday night. It’s also another Sparkling Saturday, with postgame fireworks courtesy Kicks 99 and MCG Health. First pitch will come at 7:05 with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing online at http://www.greenjacketsbaseball.com/ .
from team press release
BINGHAMTON, NY – The B-Mets and Altoona Curve made it to the top of the seventh inning tied at six before torrential rain forced a suspension at NYSEG Stadium tonight.
The B-Mets held a 5-0 lead before watching the Curve put up back-to-back three-run innings in the fifth and sixth. With the game tied at six in the top of the seventh, Eric Niesen allowed two runners as Jordy Mercer reached on a fielder’s choice and Jeremy Farrell walked.
B-Mets manager Wally Backman made the call to the bullpen and brought in righty Rhiner Cruz. Jose Coronado went to short as part of the double switch.
Before Cruz could complete his warm-up tosses, the downfall accelerated and the tarp was brought on the field. Following a delay, the contest was suspended.
The game will restart tomorrow with first pitch set for 6:05pm and gates scheduled to open at 5:30pm.
The Altoona Curve will have runners at first and third with one out and Tony Sanchez batting against Rhiner Cruz in the top of the seventh inning.
In accordance with Rule 4.12(a)(Rule 9) of the Major League Baseball rulebook, tomorrow’s second game will be a nine-inning affair. RHP Tobi Stoner will make his first rehab start for the Binghamton Mets. He will be opposed by LHP Jeff Locke.
from team press release
Buffalo Bisons (20-27, 5th(-8.5), North) vs. Gwinnett Braves (24-21, 2nd(-0.5), South)Friday, May 27, 2011 (Game 1: 5:35 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field
RHP D.J. Carrasco (1-2, 4.85) vs. RHP Erik Cordier (NR)
RHP Chris Schwinden (3-2, 2.36) vs. RHP Steven Shell (0-0, 3.00)
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, WGR Sportsradio 550 AM, bisons.com
TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Gwinnet Braves in the first two games of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (G1: 5:35 p.m.). The teams will play a pair tonight because of last night’s rainout. Buffalo is 13-13 at home this season, having split all four series they’ve played at Coca-Cola Field.
VS. THE BRAVES: Tonight’s games are the Bisons first contests against the Gwinnett this season. Buffalo won the season series, 5-3, last year and is 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Braves dating back to 2009. Buffalo has a win and three splits over Gwinnett in the two years of the franchise’s existence.
HEY MR D.J.: RHP D.J. CARRASCO will be making his sixth start with the Bisons tonight. The veteran has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his previous five outings. Carrasco is coming off a loss on May 20 in Indianapolis in a game he allowed just three runs in six innings of work. Carrasco has worked six innings in each of his past two outings.
SCHWING AND MISS: RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN will make his team-high ninth start of the year in game two. The righty brings a 2.36ERA into the matchup -the 5th best mark in the International League. Schwinden also leads the Bisons with three wins and 41 strikeouts. He is 1-1 with a 2.78ERA in his first four starts at Coca-Cola Field this season.
OUR PAL, VAL: OF VALENTINO PASCUCCI has 20RBI in 20 games this month. The slugger is hitting .302 (19-63) with five doubles, three home runs and six runs scored this May. Pascucci leads the Bisons with 24RBI on the season. His .408 on-base percentage is just two plate appearances shy of qualifying as the fourth-best mark in the International League.
BISONS BITS: The Bisons have played two doubleheaders this year, both against the Rochester Red Wings. The Wings won two on April 19 with the Herd sweeping a pair on April 21...The Bisons are the only team in the International League that has yet to allow a passed ball...LHP JUSTIN HAMPSON has retired the first batter he has faced in 14 of his 15 outings this season (93% success rate).
METS UPDATE: The Mets (23-25) lost to the Cubs at Wrigley Field yesterday by a 9-3 score. Former Bisons RHP R.A. DICKEY left the game after 2.2 innings of work with a heel injury. Former Bisons INF DANIEL MURPHY had three hits in the loss. The Mets will host the Phillies tonight at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.
38. Josh Satin
Satin was drafting in the 6th round of the 2008 draft by the New York Mets.
Satin was drafted at 23 years old, so he’s moving as fast as he can. After signing in 2008, he played for Kingsport (.583/.615/1.000/1.615… okay, it was only 12 at bats) and Brooklyn (.280/.350/.462/.812).
2009 brought Savannah (.284/.385/.418/.803 in 440 at bats, 7-HR, 60-RBI) and a taste of St. Lucie (.364/.464/.591/1.055).
His 2-year professional totals are: .292/.384/.446/.830
Forecast: It’s obvious that Satin was a good draft pick and the kid can definitely get on base. We should see a little more power this year, but his biggest problem is the fact that Reese Havens is currently being converted to a second baseman in the Winter Leagues. Havens looks timed perfectly for the end of the Luis Castillo contract, which leaves Satin where?
I wrote on Feb 10: - Josh Satin – I didn’t spend much time with Josh last year in Savannah (hell, I didn’t spend much time with anyone there…). There’s no rush for Satin, who will settle into various minor league levels for a couple more years. He was tagged early on as a poor defensive infielder which just isn’t true.
5-27-11: - 2B/1B Josh Satin was asked to play AA this spring so he could get more time in the field. Seems the club had been enjoying his time as a DH in the system, but a boy does have to field in the majors, right? Josh said fine, and went back to where he hit .308 last season, has hit .305 so far this season, and has only committed seven errors playing both first and second. Reese Havens should be done with his St. Lucie rehab sometime this week and Satin needs to pack his backs for Buffalo. He deserves it.
The St. Lucie Mets returned home to Digital Domain Park after a tough road trip in which they dropped seven of eight games. The Mets kicked off a four-game series with the Dunedin Blue Jays Thursday night and kicked things off on the right foot taking game one of the series 5-1. The 5-1 win snapped the Mets four game losing streak and puts them at 27-21 on the season and are tied for the FSL South Division lead.
The Mets got an outstanding start from pitcher Darin Gorski. Gorski kept the Blue Jay hitters in check lasting well into the eighth inning. St. Lucie gave Gorski all the run support he would need in the first inning. Matt den Dekker doubled followed by a walk to Wilmer Flores and Stefan Welch doubled the two in to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead. Welch would score again in the fourth inning on a wild pitch making it a 3-0 game. The Blue Jays cut the lead to 3-1 on a solo home run off of Gorski n the seventh, but the Mets answered right back plating two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Rylan Sandoval and an RBI triple by den Dekker giving the Mets the 5-1 win.
Darin Gorski got the win tossing 7.2 innings allowing only one run on three hits while striking out 13 batters to advance to 2-0 on the season. Stefan Welch led the Mets offensively with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Matt den Dekker and Pedro Zapata each had two hits in the victory.
The Mets continue their four-game series with the Dunedin Blue Jays Friday night at Digital Domain Park. Matt Harvey gets the start for the Mets. Harvey comes into the game with a record of 5-2 and a 2.87 ERA in nine starts this year. Harvey has tallied 52 strikeouts to 17 walks while holding opposing batters to a .243 batting average covering 47 innings.
from team press release
