Mets Daily Farm System Report 6/14 -- Base on Bisons, Harvey's Ks

by Pack Bringley on Jun 14, 2011 7:00 AM EDT

A performance unworthy of a mustache shot.

*All results from games played on June 13, 2011

Send all of your questions about the Mets farm system to AAProspectMailbag@gmail.com!

AAA - Buffalo Bisons (27-39)_______________________________________

COLUMBUS 8, BUFFALO 2 (Box) The 2010 Triple-A National Champions walked the bases to victory last night, like a tortoise outclassing a flutter-hearted, crappy hare. Dylan Owen began things by walking four of the first six batters (66.6%) and pitching it wildly passed his catcher, besides. From there, he settled, issuing only two more free passes before handing the game, with two out in the four, to Mike O'Connor, who surrendered a homer faster than you could say boo. The horrors would not subside. In the seventh, our old friend Dale Thayer walked former Yankees Shelly Duncan and Chad Huffman, sandwiching a reached-on-an-error by former Yankee Nick Johnson, and then, like a man without cult hero credentials, surrendered a no-outs grand slam home run. Shave that mustache, Thayer.

RF Fernando Martinez: 0-4, K
3B Michael Fisher: 0-4, K
DH Zach Lutz: 0-4, 3 K
2B Luis Hernandez: 2-3, 2B, R
CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis: On the 7-day DL (dating to 6/10 it seems) with a left shoulder injury.
RHP Dylan Owen: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 4 K, WP
LHP Mike O'Connor: 1.1 UP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
RHP Dale Thayer: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
RHP Ryota Igarashi: 1 IP, 0 across, 1 K

AA - Binghamton Mets (20-41)_____________________________________

DIDN'T ~~LOSE~~ PLAY.

Hi-A St. Lucie Mets (33-31)________________________________________

JUPITER 4, ST. LUCIE 7 (Box) Remember when you were ready to go to bed with Matt Harvey, no matter your preferences? It was those pheromonic ratios what done it, and in his last four starts Matt has struck out more than fourteen and walked less than two per nine innings pitched. Tonight that ratio was 8:2, good for five innings of one run ball that was well supported by the Mets fine bat-swinging. The hits began from the word go, when all manner of hopeful youths helped the Mets throw a five up on the board. Den Dekker, Marte, Flores -- all walked or hit -- and Puello capped a triumphal first inning with the long ball. In the second the Mets scratched out a scrappy add-on with a Zapata single and steal (viva!), and in the fourth, Den Dekker launched one. Things grew hairy as the game winded down, with the bullpen (Powers and Morel) surrendering two to many homers and Nick Carr summoned for the final .1. He got his man, though, and the St. Lucie Mets, in the morning's sober light, won't harsh the post-Harvey glow.

SS Wilmer Flores: 1-4, R, RBI, K
RF Cesar Puello: 1-4, R, HR(4), 2 RBI, E(6)
CF Matt den Dekker: 1-3, 2 R, HR(6), RBI, BB, K
3B Jefry Marte: 1-3, R, 2B, 3 RBI
LF Juan Lagares: 0-3, BB, K
2B Rylan Sandoval: 0-4, K
C Francisco Pena: 1-4
LF Pedro Zapata: 2-4, R, 2 K, SB (17)
DH Juan Lagares: 0-3, R, BB, K
RHP Matt Harvey: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
RHP Nick Carr: .1, 0 across

Lo-A Savannah Sand Gnats (36-26)__________________________________

ROME 1, SAVANNAH 2 (Box) The Rome Braves brought neither gladius nor tomahawk to the stadium tonight and were felled by two little bites from our malarial heroes. Gnat righty Ryan Fraser struck out five -- five more than he walked! -- in six nasty little innings, before Elmer Reyes vewy vewy quitwy scored an impotent run in the seventh. The Gnats, for their part, scored their more enchanting run on the strength of a Cory Vaughn lead off triple. Savannah's cavernous stadium may eat up his long balls, but...

3B Aderlin Rodriguez: 2-4, R, RBI, K
CF Darrell Ceciliani: 0-4, 3 K
RF Cory Vaughn: 1-4, R, 3B(2)
DH Albert Cordero: 1-3, K
SS Wilfredo Tovar: 1-3
SS Robbie Shields: 0-4, K
C Blake Forsythe: 1-3, 2 K
RHP Ryan Fraser: 6 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
LHP Angel Cuan: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Josh Edgin: 1 IP, 0 across

★ Beaming Star of the Night ★

Nothing hair-raising last night. Harvey's peripherals were damned fine but 5 IP won't often land you in this column. Fraser pitched an inning more, and didn't walk a soul, but gave up healthy number of base knocks and.... eh... I'm being hard on the kid. He scattered those hits, and probably had more to do with his team's victory than our hero Harvey. Anyway, none of the three batters with multi-hit games are attracting my fancy. Fraser it is. Fraser was a shut-er-down reliever in Brooklyn who's been given a starting role. What's his season line look like? 67 IP, 2.96, 23 BB, 40 K, 4 HR. He'll want to keep on striking out 5 and walking none.

Stinking Goat of the Night

Dale Thayer. Walk, error, walk, grand salami. That's like getting two hickies and a titty twister before someone full on kicks you in the balls.

Honorable mention: my boy Darrell.

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Comments

These rundowns always look better when Binghamton has the night off.

by FrancoTAU on Jun 14, 2011 7:56 AM EDT reply actions

Harvey

6 H in 5 IP, that seems a bit high for him. Maybe he is getting bored. Kind of like that smart kid in grade school who acts out because they are smarter than everyone else. If this is the case, Harvey needs to be promoted. Actually, would like to see a bunch of movement between A and AA, cause AA is not fairing too well these days. Still cannot believe they did not lose last night.

by CCE718 on Jun 14, 2011 8:21 AM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't worry about it

St. Lucie’s defense is pretty bad, especially on the infield, and all his other component ratios are strong. He had a .329 BABIP coming into the game, which seems a bit high. I’d say it would improve as he goes up, but Bingo’s infield isn’t exactly Tinkers to Evers to Chance either. As long as the K/BB/HR rates stay strong, I wouldn’t worry about the hits too much.

the artist formerly known as TeufelCat
@jeffpaternostro

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jun 14, 2011 8:29 AM EDT reply actions

Low Level Offensive Prospects

None of our highly regarded IFA low level offensive players are hitting at all. Almost everyone is performing signficantly worse than my expectations coming into the season.

Flores, Puello, Marte (not as much), Rodriguez

It’s still so early for them but it’s kind of depressing that ALL of them are MEH this year.

by DannyMetsGeek on Jun 14, 2011 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

I think the big one is really Flores

Most people (I think at least) were expecting him to take a step forward to some degree this year, and if anything he’s taken a step backwards.

by Balagast on Jun 14, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Flores

His underperformance hurts the most because he was the most highly regarded, but all of those guys had a chance to elevate their prospect status to elite and none of them have done it. It’s really hurt our system.

The pitching has taken a step forward with Familia and Harvey taking elite steps and guys like Gorski and Peavey showing promise. But what meaningful bats have improved or even improved their stock from last year? It’s been a bad year in that regard.

by DannyMetsGeek on Jun 14, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm actually pretty encouraged by Marte's season.

His totals look similar to where they’ve been but his plate discipline seems like it’s gotten better this year. Also, den Dekker has been impressive at times and we can’t forget what Nieuwenhuis and F! have shown in AAA (and I guess Duda too, proving last year wasn’t a fluke). And even though they’re probably a level too low at this point, you have to be impressed with Cory Vaughn and Robbie Shields.

Beyond that, yeah…there hasn’t been much offensively to be that excited about.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!
Follow me on Twitter: @_mistermet

by Steve Schreiber on Jun 14, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

People forget what Juan Lagares has done this year

a less powerful Den Dekker, but huge improvements from what he has done in that past – with respect to both power and patience. And Pedro Zapata is older but showing he belongs in AA too. Speaking of older, future reserves Fisher and Satin have impressed, and Satin might finally be adding HR power that would go a long way towards him being more than a reserve.

other positives, Lutz has hit when healthy, and he and Reese are back healthy

I LIKE IKE!

by astromets on Jun 14, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Lagares

I like Lagares’ toolset as much as the next person, and obviously I’m pleased that he has shown a pulse this year, but it’s really taken a while for him to show anything. I think he’s still too far away and I bet we’ll lose control of him at some point in the Rule V draft to someone who could use a toolsy OF and can afford to stick him at a higher level.

I also couched my statement to only include our young IFAs, because those are the guys I’m most disappointed in this year.

by DannyMetsGeek on Jun 14, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

hard to argue with anything you said. flores’ performance has been disheartening considering he didn’t have a ton of tools to begin with and the one seemingly special one (hit tool) isn’t really showing up at all.

nearly as disappointing has been puello whose stock blew up late last year and he hasn’t really backed it up at all. he’s shown a bit more home run power yes, but seemingly at the expense of average and plate discipline. and the surprising speed he showed last year is falling back into line with what you’d expect for someone with a solid build. he’s still young but how many guys are we going to say that about?

as for lagares, you’re right, he’s showing a lot this year but it’s hard not to be wary about a kid who spent a lot of years to get going. i will say that he has excellent athleticism and his significant improvement in K/BB is giving me reason to believe. keep in mind that lagares is right up there with any of omar’s disastrous minor league rush jobs.

by Rob Castellano on Jun 14, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

that last line is exactly what I was going to add to my earlier post

he started at A ball at 18 and has mostly been playing over his head and bouncing around different leagues since. He is still only 22, about the age of someone we would have drafted this or last year out of college.

I LIKE IKE!

by astromets on Jun 14, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed on the rush job

You look at him now and it definitely seems like his progression was retarded by some amount of time due to getting rushed. I had already given up on him before this year.

I don’t want to sound unappreciative of his progression this year, I just fear the timing may come back to bite us later in terms of protection, unless he gets a second-half promotion to AA and rocks it. But until I see that, I’m going to remain skeptical on Lagares, but very hopeful at the same time. We need something to go right offensively at the lower levels, that’s for sure.

by DannyMetsGeek on Jun 14, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

good point

the timing is a good point and a very real issue should lagares continue to progress. it almost feels like one of those weird anomalies that will eventually answer the question ‘and how the hell did we let that guy go again?’

by Rob Castellano on Jun 14, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

i think it just means he is slightly higher on the depth chart

for an emergency call up

I LIKE IKE!

by astromets on Jun 14, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Marte

A lot of that is propped up by a really hot April. He had a .674 OPS in May and has a .585 OPS so far in June. He doesn’t turn 20 for another week, so there is reason to still be optimistic, but he hasn’t hit for much power, and pretty clearly isn’t a 3b.

I still like him the best out of the toolsy international Hi-A guys, but I’ve always been much higher on him than most.

the artist formerly known as TeufelCat
@jeffpaternostro

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jun 14, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Upcoming catcher promotions/demotions?

It seems to me that Juan Centeno deserves to go to AA, and that Camden Maron should start his season in Savannah. Albert Cordero, if his last 10 games are more than a SSS fluke, suggest that he should be promoted to St. Lucie. If Cordero is not ready for Hi-A, then that would leave Savannah with four catchers who are not on the DL. My guess is that Patrick Farrell is the odd man out. St. Lucie would need another catcher, so I can see Jean Luc Blaquiere getting demoted.

So here is what I’m guessing will happen with the full season teams:
AA: Juan Centeno promoted from Hi-A
Hi-A: Jean Luc Blaquiere demoted from AA
Lo-A: Camden Maron promoted from Rookie (extended spring training), Patrick Farrell demoted or cut

Thoughts?

__________________________________________________
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Jun 14, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

I'm not familiar with Maron...what's his prospect status?

Also I’ve heard of Centeno but never thought of him as more of org depth. Would he be considered any sort of legitimate prospect?

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!
Follow me on Twitter: @_mistermet

by Steve Schreiber on Jun 14, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Maron was a late round draft pick in 2009

Camden Maron is from Lawn Guyland and grew up a hard core Mets fan. He has played in the GCL in both 2009 and 2010. Here are Maron’s numbers:
2009 | 49 PAs | .293/.408/.415 | .403 wOBA | 156 wRC+ | 14.3% BB | 17.1% K
2010 | 59 PAs | .313/.411/.438 | .402 wOBA | 151 wRC+ | 11.9% BB | 16.7% K
It’s not the biggest sample size in the world, but the kid is now 20 and I believe that he deserves a shot at the next level.

Juan Centeno may be little more than organizational depth, but he is hitting (with little power) in Hi-A. I think that he also has earned a chance to play at the next level. Here are Centeno’s numbers:
2011 | 70 PAs | .306/.333/.387 | .338 wOBA | 106 wRC+ | 4.3% BB | 12.9% K

__________________________________________________
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Jun 14, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Maron

He probably starts at Brooklyn, there is just no way to get him enough playing time at Savannah with Forsythe there, even if they promote Cordero.

the artist formerly known as TeufelCat
@jeffpaternostro

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jun 14, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay, Zapata is starting Brooklyn

Which probably means Maron starts in the Appy League.

the artist formerly known as TeufelCat
@jeffpaternostro

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jun 14, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

catchers

i don’t really see the catching shakeup you talk about, cordero certainly isn’t ready for hi-a and why push centeno to double-a? i pretty much see everyone staying where they are with most of the younger guys going to kingsport, brooklyn and the gcl.

good call on maron though, he’s one of my low level guys that i’m watching for as short-seasons break later this month. i’ve had the same feeling that he’s pretty much put in his dues for a real shot, more like kingsport or maybe brooklyn. obviously that all depends hows he’s looking in XST…

i mentioned him briefly in the affiliate season in reviews last fall:

Huntington, LI native C Camden Maron, who was drafted in the 34th round in 2009, spent another summer mostly in instructs but once again showed some interesting tools when he did play in games. The athletic nineteen year old backstop hit for some power and for the second straight year flashed a nearly 1:1 BB-to-K ratio, albeit in a small sample.

another under the radar guy i see in a very similar light is ’09 9th rounder jeffrey glenn. another athletic prep catcher, glenn will likely be in that same mix around gcl/kingsport.

as for centeno, he is more along the lines of org. filler having never played in more than 44 games in 5 minor league seasons. but hey, a .371 avg in 32 games with savannah at age 20 was nothing to sneeze at in 2010. and he seems to be following it up with another solid line at st. lucie this season. the guy has got almost zero home run power and he’s been boosted by high BABIPS but he seems to have developed a knack for putting bat on ball; maybe a future mike nickeas?

by Rob Castellano on Jun 14, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions