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New York Mets Daily Farm System Report - 4/6/12: Opening Day!

By Rob Castellano
'...well <em>I</em> thought you were brave.'
'...well I thought you were brave.'

That's right, your favorite daily Mets minor league recap is back for it's third year! Like last year I'll be joined by Jeff, Pack and Steve to help bring you guys all you need to know from the wonderful world of Mets prospects. We hope you'll check back every morning for your daily dose of scores, wraps and general prospect craziness as we embark on yet another great season!

And don't forget to send all of your questions about the Mets farm system to AAProspectMailbag@gmail.com to see them answered here!

*All results from games played on Thursday, April 5th

AAA - Buffalo Bisons (0-1)_______________________________________

BUFFALO 2, PAWTUCKET 4 (Box)

Pretty anti-climactic huh? Matt Harvey battled himself throughout this one and after dancing around some wild pitches and errant throws in the first couple, he paid for his transgressions in the third, fourth and fifth before he was yanked. Not the way we all wanted him to start the season but what are you gonna do. Byrdak understudies Herrera and Olson calmed the tide, but unfortunately the damage was done on a night when the Bisons bats managed just five hits. Josh Satin and Val Pascucci share were the hitting stars as they both knocked their first homers of the season. Say goodbye to the Captain who very well may not be back.

AA - Binghamton Mets (0-1)_____________________________________

AKRON 4, BINGHAMTON 0 (Box)

Hopefully none of you guys showed up for this one as the B-Mets certainly didn't. The Bingo lineup managed just three singles all day and put only two men in scoring position. Again, this lineup is going to have their fair share of cold streaks; hopefuly Havens gets back quickly. On the bright side the pitching wasn't bad as 2011 breakout performer Collin McHugh was solid in his 2012 debut and blast from the past Kevin Mulvey made a successful return. You may notice that longtime Mets farm hand Jose De La Torre pitched three scoreless innings of relief in this one, notching the victory for the Aeros.

Hi-A St. Lucie Mets (0-1)________________________________________

ST. LUCIE 2, BRADENTON 3 (11) (Box)

2011 second rounder Cory Mazzoni certainly didn't disappoint in his 2012 debut as he weathered a couple of unearned runs early and still needed just 38 pitches to dispatch the Marauders over five strong innings. Unfortunately, in keeping with this night's trend the offense was mostly quiet, managing just a couple of extra-base hits and striking out 11 times. Interestingly enough, Wilmer Flores finally began the migration from shortstop and also knocked in one of their only two runs with a single in the first. You may also notice that former Mets minor leaguer Stefan Welch went 1-for-4 with an RBI in this one.

  • RF Cesar Puello: 1-5, 2B, R, 3 K; Will he get any reps in center with DC around? He absolutely should
  • 3B Wilmer Flores: 1-5, RBI; And so begins the 'Flores at third' era...meaning 'more power' is no longer just a nice-to-have
  • CF Darrell Ceciliani: 1-5, R, BB, K, 2 SB(2)
  • SS Wilfredo Tovar: 2-4, 2B, BB
  • RF Cory Vaughn: 1-4, BB, 3 K
  • 2B Danny Muno: 0-5, BB, 2 K
  • 3B Richard Lucas:1-3, BB, K, E(1): After quietly bouncing back in 2011, this rushed '07 fourth rounder could get back on the map this year if his big power plays in the FSL
  • RHP Cory Mazzoni: 5 IP, 0 ER (2 unearned), 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, Balk; 29 of 38 for strikes (76%)
  • RHP Ryan Fraser: .1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 IBB, 0 K, 1 HB, E(1); A rude welcome back to the bullpen

Lo-A Savannah Sand Gnats (1-0)__________________________________

AUGUSTA 2, SAVANNAH 3 (Box)

Savannah broke the winless streak last night and did it in style, walking off on an RBI single from OF Charles Thurber in the bottom of the ninth. However, the star of this one was starting pitcher Logan Verrett, who allowed a single unearned run on just two hits over five excellent innings.

★ Star of the Night ★

On a rough Opening Day for the system, I think our first star of the year is a pretty easy call in 2011 third rounder Logan Verrett, as he went five strong allowing no earned on just two hits. Verrett, along with Tyler Pill, will lead a very talented Savannah starting rotation into what should be an extremely interesting 2012 season on the mound out at Historic Grayson Stadium.

Goat of the Night

Our first goat of the season is going to be St. Lucie's Ryan Fraser -- letting Aderlin Rodriguez off the hook -- after he allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the 11th inning in his return to the bullpen. It was the process as much as it was the result: Single > sac bunt > intentional walk > throwing error on pickoff attempt > intentional walk > hit batsman > game over. Fraser was dominant in 2010 as the Cyclones closer and after a rather pedestrian season in the Gnats rotation in 2011, it seems that the organization (rightly) sees him as a long-term reliever.

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