*All results from games played on Thursday April 26th, 2012
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AAA - Buffalo Bisons (11-10)_______________________________________
OFF DAY - The Bisons will return home tonight to start a four-game series with Rochester, RHP Jeurys Familia will get the start off his best performance of the season. Additionally, OF Adam Loewen has been placed on the 15-day Disabled List with a stress fracture in the 2nd right metatarsal...aka he hurt his foot. He has not played since April 20th; he's currently batting .270 with 3 homers and 9 RBI's. RHP Jeremy Hefner took his place on the Buffalo roster.
AA - Binghamton Mets (10-9)_____________________________________
NEW HAMPSHIRE 16, BINGHAMTON 3 (Box)
Not a good night if your name is Greg Peavey. After retiring the first batter the sequence went single-single-homer-single-single-error...and it goes on like this. He allowed five runs twice in the first three innings. The B-Mets lineup went 0-for-7 with RISP but that didn't much matter. Best not to dredge this one up any more than we already have.
- LF Juan Lagares: 1-4, 2 K (.266/.347/.391)
- CF Matt Den Dekker:3-5, HR(3), E(2) (.308/.360/.538); His single in the seventh was just his third hit against a lefty in 2012
- 3B Jefry Marte:1-4, 2B, RBI, R, K (.358/.407/.491) Still no errors in 15 games, he's come a long way from the 49 he made in '09
- RHP Greg Peavey: L, 2.1 IP, 9 ER, 12 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR (2-1, 7.56, 16.2 IP, 26 H, 14 K, 4 BB, 3 HR); After going scoreless in his first 10 +IP, he's allowed 14 earned over his last six with a .347 opp. avg. (after posting a worrisome .289 mark in Hi-A last year)
- RHP Armando Rodriguez: 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP (0-0, 1.50, 12 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 12 K, 1 HR) Between A-Rod, Elvin and Edgin, suddenly there's a nice little wave of relief prospects not too far from helping
- INJURY UPDATE(S): 1B Allan Dykstra was placed on the Disabled List with a fracture in his right forearm suffered reaching for a throw from starter Darin Gorski. His estimated time of return is around five weeks. He's currently batting .227 with a homer and 2 RBI's in eight games. His would-be replacement at first Eric Campbell was also placed on the DL with a right shoulder strain.
Hi-A St. Lucie Mets (16-4)________________________________________
ST. LUCIE 1, JUPITER 0 (Box)
In his first start of the season after struggling with shoulder troubles in 2011, righthander Erik Goeddel was masterful over five scoreless innings. He once again tantalized with top tier stuff in what's been a frustrating game of cat and mouse between his potential and his health. Despite a nice 6'3" frame, his slight physique does give pause when you imagine him one day reaching 200 innings. But on this day no imagination necessary. Oh and four hitless relief innings helped too. Runs weren't any easier to come by on the other side, but you can credit Robbie Shields who anchored the single-sac fly-single, small ball method. PS - The 2011 St. Lucie Mets called and said, "Haw-haw, we were 17 & 3."
- CF Cesar Puello:0-3, K, SB(4), HBP(1) (.250/.311/.393)
- 3B Wilmer Flores: 2-4, CS(1) (.323/.355/.523); Hit streak to ten as he continues to hold up his end of the 'Just hit and we'll figure something out' development plan
- SS Wilfredo Tovar: 0-2, BB, E(3) (.310/.385/.397); I said, "...in my view there's no reason why [Tovar] can't become a player very much like Ruben Tejada, just a little slower/less aggressive on the development curve."...and apparently the Mets agree
- RF Cory Vaughn: 0-3, K (.258/.361/.435); .229 over his last ten
- CF Darrell Ceciliani: DNP (.346/.414/.615); After missing 11 games, DC re-injured the hamstring in just his second game back and his timetable for return is unclear...too bad as he was off to a very nice start
- DH Danny Muno: 0-4, K (.276/.353/.487)
- 2B Robbie Shields: 1-4, RBI, 2 K (.258/.299/.371)
- RHP Erik Goeddel: 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K (0-0, 1.13, 8 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR); 6:2 GB-to-FB
- REHAB ALERT - CF Andres Torres: DNP, likely on his way up to Bingo or Buffalo
- REHAB ALERT - RHP D.J. Carrasco: W, 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K; What does it say that I'm actually looking forward to his return to supplant Batista?
- ROSTER UPDATE(S): The club released '08 ninth rounder RHP Eric Beaulac this week. I always liked his potential as a sinkerballing relief prospect but he just couldn't stay healthy. Additionally, they welcomed RHP Kyle Allen and 2011 late season surprise OF Gilbert Gomez back to Hi-A. I ranked Gomez the club's 48th best prospect coming into 2012 based almost entirely on his superb September with the team last year...that and his excellent athleticism. Finally, in a bit of sad news, OF Sean Ratliff decided to hang up the spikes after his return from that catastrophic eye injury last spring just wasn't working out. Ratliff was 3-for-22 with ten strikeouts so far this season.
Lo-A Savannah Sand Gnats (11-10)__________________________________
SAVANNAH 4, WEST VIRGINIA 9 (Box)
Just as we prepare to welcome Domingo Tapia into the top tier of Mets piching prospects with open arms, this happens. The talented 20-yr old -- who had struck out 17 men over his last 12+ IP -- retired just four batters last night, while allowing eight runs on eight hits. Oh and a balk for good measure. I know he's young and figuring stuff out and this doesn't mean much in terms of his long term development...but damn it's annoying. Like in Bingo, Gnats batters weren't good with RISP (1-for-9), but that didn't really matter.
- 3B Aderlin Rodriguez: 0-3, BB, K (.200/.269/.388); Of course I love the plus power but I'm starting to wonder if his hit tool will ever even be passable...walks are up a tick but so are the K's, ceiling here is starting to resemble Wily Mo Pena
- C Cam Maron: 0-5, K, PB(2) (.224/.324/.259)
- CF Travis Taijeron: 0-3, 2 K, HBP(4) (.250/.395/.438); Lots of K's aren't surprising, lots of BB's are (HBP's too)
- DH Dustin Lawley: 2-4, HR(4), K (.286/.364/.506); 23-yr old 2011 19th rounder can definitely hit some and if he picks up the catching gear -- as he did this spring -- he instantly becomes interesting
- RHP Domingo Tapia: L, 1.1 IP, 8 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 0 K, Balk (1-1, 6.16, 19 IP, 21 H, 20 K, 3 BB, 0 HR, 6.20 GB:FB); At least all but two hits were just singles...clearly he's still got a lot of learning to do though
- ROSTER UPDATE: 2011 Kingsport reliever RHP Chasen Bradford was added to the Savannah roster this week. The 23-yr old was a 35th rounder out of the Univ. of Central Florida who posted well over a K/IP with the K-Mets last season.
★ Star of the Night ★
Got to be Goeddel tonight who dazzled in his first start of 2012. As always I'll keep my fingers crossed that he stays healthy, knowing that if he does he could join the upper echelon of Mets pitching prospects. And if you were wondering, yes that is his brother Tyler who is currently crushing for the Rays Lo-A affiliate. He too was drafted in the first round (last summer) after committing to UCLA. Good genes.
Peavey, Peavey, a million times Peavey.
I must say that his initial success surprised me a bit because I'm more than a little concerned about his ability to succeed at the highest levels. First and foremost he just doesn't leave many hitters guessing; a .289 opponent average against A-ballers was not a bellwether of good things to come. And so, not surprisingly, things have gotten worse against Double-A hitters this year - and that's not a good sign from a kid without dynamic stuff. Good to see the K-rate up a little bit but I'm still pretty pessimistic about his chances.
Dishonorable mention to Tapia