Mets Daily Farm System Report - 7/20/12: Cyclones Twirl 15-Inning Masterpiece

*All results from games played on Thursday, July 19th

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News & Notes

Let's get started with BP's Kevin Goldstein who had some ugly things to say about Wilmer Flores in his recent Top False Trade Values piece:

"In the world of finance, it's called a “dead cat bounce.” A small, brief uptick in what is an otherwise declining stock. While a .305/.350/.489 line has brought (Flores') stock back as a hitter, he continues to slide the wrong way on the defensive spectrum. Until the year began, he was a shortstop, then he began the year as a third baseman, and now he's been seeing some time at first base since his promotion to Double-A. He's the ugly combination of being both slow and poor defensively, and if the Mets can find a team that believes in him as a left-side infielder, it's time to sell."

Wow, never good to get the old dead cat comp. I like KG as a prospect analyst because he's realistic; he doesn't sell every guy as a future All-Star. However, sometimes it comes off as sort of negative and in this case I think he's harshing a bit on the 20-yr old Flores. Say what you will about BABIP, the fifth youngest player in the EL is batting .326 with a nearly .900 OPS in a league full of highly advanced pitching.

I get that the article is more formulated on defensive expectations vs shortcomings -- which clearly places Flores directly in the crosshairs. However, I just felt that I should balance out the overall negative tenor of the quote with the fact that if he continues to hit at this rate -- which is no longer so ridiculous to say now that he's in Double-A -- it won't matter (as much) what position he plays.

AAA - Buffalo Bisons (51-48)_______________________________________

TOLEDO 8, BUFFALO 9 (Box)

Quite the back and forth affair in this one as neither pitching staff had much success keeping the hitters at bay. And things looked particularly dire for the Bisons in the top of the ninth as journeyman reliever Fernando Cabrera allowed four Mudhens to score -- and tie things up -- on one swing. Fortunately, Buffalo's bats were up to the task as a Brad Emaus double paired with a Raul Reyes single had them walking home.

• CF Matt Den Dekker: 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R, K
  
• 1B Zach Lutz: 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 K, E(4)
  
• DH Josh Satin: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, K
  
• RHP Chris Schwinden: 5 IP, 2 ER (1 unearned), 8 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 WP
  
• RHP Elvin Ramirez: 2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K
  

AA - Binghamton Mets (46-51)_____________________________________

BINGHAMTON 4, BOWIE 3 (Box)

The B-Mets took the baton from Buffalo and ran with it in this game. After fighting back numerous times, they were able to tie it up in the ninth on a Juan Centeno single, then pull ahead for good in the tenth on an Allan Dykstra double. Starter Mark Cohoon continued to prove he knows how to handle Double-A hitters, while Robert Carson bevenged his walkoff balk with 1.2 scoreless to close things out.

• DH Wilmer Flores: 2-4, RBI
• 3B Jefry Marte: 2-5, 2 R
  
• CF Juan Lagares: 0-5, K
• 2B Reese Havens: 3-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, K
• LF Eric Campbell: 0-5, K
  
• C Juan Centeno: 1-4, RBI, K
• 1B Allan Dykstra: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
  
• LHP Mark Cohoon: 7.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K
• RHP Brad Holt: 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K, E(1), 1 WP
  
• LHP Robert Carson: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K
  

Hi-A - St. Lucie Mets (11-18 // 60-38)________________________________________

ST. LUCIE 2, DUNEDIN 5 (Box)

Not a ton to say about this one. Starter Erik Goeddel continued to be frustratingly hittable as his stuff just seems to continue regressing. A move to the bullpen seems imminent. Meanwhile the offense was merely meh.

• CF Alonzo Harris: 1-4, K, SB (21)
  
• RF Cory Vaughn: 1-4, RBI, K
  
• 3B Aderlin Rodriguez: DNP
• LF Travis Taijeron: 1-4
  
• 2B Danny Muno: 0-3, BB, K
  
• RHP Erik Goeddel: 6.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 8 K; 1.36 ERA on June 1st, 6.51 ERA since
  
• RHP Jeffrey Walters: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
  

Lo-A - Savannah Sand Gnats (11-16 // 52-42)__________________________________

ROME 2, SAVANNAH 1 (Box)

Starter Michael Fulmer continued to show us why he's one of the top pitchers in this system, holding the Braves bats in check over six very strong innings. After a rocky April where he posted a 4+ ERA, he's had a 2.29 ERA since. Additionally, you've got to love that .196 opponent average, the fourth lowest mark in the SAL from one of it's youngest players. Unfortunately, he was one-upped on this night on a joint effort by a Rome staff which featured Peter Moylan.

• DH Cam Maron: 1-3, SB(2)
  
• SS Matthew Reynolds: 0-4, 3 K
• C Albert Cordero: 0-0, 3 BB; Odd, but not entirely unwelcome
  
• CF Gilbert Gomez: 0-4, RBI
• RHP Michael Fulmer: 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K; And a nice 5:2 GB-to-FB rate

Short Season A - Brooklyn Cyclones (20-11)__________________________________

BROOKLYN 1, STATEN ISLAND 0 (Box)

Incredible pitching effort by the Cyclones staff in this one as they held the Yankees bats scoreless for fifteen, count 'em, fiteen innings. Seriously, look at al those zeros:

And just four hits to match. Thankfully the 'clones bats validated their efforts in the 15th as 3B Dimas Ponce doubled and was eventually brought in on a 2B Robbie Rodriguez sac fly.

• CF Brandon Nimmo: 0-4, BB, 4 K, HBP
  
• SS Philip Evans: 2-7, 2B, 3 K
  
• DH Kevin Plawecki: 0-6, K
  
• RF 1B Jayce Boyd: 2-5, BB CS(2)
• RHP Gabriel Ynoa: 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Appalachian League (R) - Kingsport Mets (6-19)__________________________________

POSTPONED - Rain

Lupo-Watch - For anyone keeping track, OF Vicente Lupo bashed his seventh homer of the season last night for the DSL Mets(2). He's now pushed his average up to .361 and features an 1.136 OPS. Oh and just for good measure he's got 20 walks versus just 19 K's.

Star of the Night

This one goes to the entire Brooklyn pitching staff on a night when they allowed just four hits over 15 innings. Incredible.

Goat of the Night

2012 second round selection Matt Reynolds is still new to this but he should know than an 0-for-4 with 3 K's is frowned upon around here. He earns his first set of horns for that effort. The 21-yr old from the U. of Arkansas is batting .210 with one home run through his first 17 games as a pro.