Mets Daily Farm Report, 8/8/2014: The curious case of Cesar Puello

*All results from games played on Thursday, August 7^th, 2014

Triple-A - Las Vegas 51's (66-54)_______________________________________

ALBUQUERQUE 6, LAS VEGAS 2 (Box)

Nice to see Puello playing for the third game in a row. I know we've beaten the Puello story into the ground at this point but the new thought that I floated earlier this week--and discussed with Jeff on the podcast--is that the Mets should promote Puello. It's actually hard to argue against it after you consider all of the facts. First, Puello is out of options. This means that the team will be forced to either add him to the 25-man, trade him, or, basically, let him walk by the end of spring training next year. There is a decision point approaching and the Mets need to figure out what they have with him.

Second, it's unlikely Puello will be much worse than what the Mets are currently rolling out as their third outfielder. It's probably time to put Chris Young and his .205/.283/.346 on an ice floe. Ditto for Eric Young's .224/.306/.296. At the very least, it seems likely Puello will be able to do damage against left-handed pitching, as he's done throughout his minor league career. Despite his struggles this year he's currently slashing .338/.427/.584 against lefties. Last year he hit .421/.483/.842 (!) against southpaws.

And, finally, the Mets are now seven games under .500. They're nine games back in the division and seven and a half out of the wild-card with a bunch of teams ahead of them. They're not good. There is no good reason to continue playing washed up veterans--who probably won't be with the team next year--over a young, developing player who you need to make a decision on before the start of next season. Promote Puello and play him every day. Let's see what we've got.

• CF Matt den Dekker: 2-3, 2 2B, BB, K
  
• SS Matt Reynolds: 2-4
• 1B Allan Dykstra: 1-4, K
  
• RF Andrew Brown: 0-3, BB
  
• 3B Josh Satin: 0-3, BB
  
• C Kevin Plawecki: 1-4, R, 2B
  
• LF Cesar Puello: 2-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB
  
• 2B Daniel Muno: 1-4, RBI
• RHP Noah Syndergaard: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K; Command was off all night. Walked the pitcher on all fastballs after being ahead 0-2, for example.
  

Double-A - Binghamton Mets (70-47)_____________________________________

BINGHAMTON 3, RICHMOND 0 (Box)

Who needs Nimmo and Herrera when you have pitching like this? Matthew Bowman, Hansel Robles (who is, finally, so hot right now), and Cody Satterwhite combined on a five hit shutout to complete the sweep and give Binghamton their sixth win in their last seven games.

• SS Wilfredo Tovar: 1-5, R, 2B, K
• CF Brandon Nimmo: DNP; Sat out his third straight game nursing that sore hand.
  
• 2B Dilson Herrera: DNP; Herrera, too, got the night off a day after leaving the game after hurting his hand sliding into a base. Neither injury is thought to be serious.
  
• 3B Brian Burgamy: 3-4, R, 2B, BB
  
• LF Dustin Lawley: 1-4, 2B, BB, K
• 2B T.J. Rivera: 1-5, RBI, 3 K
• CF Darrell Ceciliani: 1-3, R, BB, K
  
• 1B Jayce Boyd: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
  
• RF Kyle Johnson: 0-2, 2 BB, K
• RHP Matthew Bowman: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K
• RHP Hansel Robles: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Advanced-A - St. Lucie Mets (23-20 / 63-49)_____________________________________

FORT MYERS 6, ST. LUCIE 2 (Box)

• 3B Jeff McNeil: 1-2, BB
  
• IF Phil Evans: DNP
  
• DH Jared King: 1-4, R, HR, RBI
• C Cam Maron: 2-4, 2 RBI; That OBP is dangerously close to .400.
  
• SS Gavin Cecchini: 1-4, R, HR, RBI; A day after going 3-3 with three singles, Cecchini pops a homer. Stay hot, my friend.
• RF Eudy Pina: 0-3, BB
• CF Gilbert Gomez: 0-3, BB, K
  
• RHP Michael Fulmer: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 7 K; Seven strikeouts and one walk in five innings is a step in the right direction for Mr. Fulmer.

Low-A - Savannah Sand Gnats (29-18 / 73-40)__________________________________

CHARLESTON 10, SAVANNAH 9 (Box)

• SS Yeixon Ruiz: 1-6, R, 2 RBI, 2 K
  
• CF Champ Stuart: 1-5, 2 R, 3 K
  
• 1B Dominic Smith: 2-5, K
  
• DH Matt Oberste: 1-5, R
  
• RHP Logan Taylor: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K

Short-A - Brooklyn Cyclones (28-25)__________________________________

BROOKLYN, MAHONING VALLEY (Box

• CF John Mora: 2-5, R, 2 K
  
• SS Amed Rosario: 1-5, R, K
  
• 3B Jhoan Urena: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI
• LF Michael Conforto: 2-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI
  
• RF Michael Bernal: 1-4
• 1B Tyler Moore: 0-2, 2 BB, K
• RHP Martires Arias: 6 IP, 2 H. 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K

Rookie - Kingsport Mets (22-25)__________________________________

GAME ONE

KINGSPORT 8, BRISTOL 7 (Box)

• SS Luis Guillorme: 0-2, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SB
  
• 3B Eudor Garcia: 1-3, 2B, RBI, K
  
• RF Wuilmer Becerra: 3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Really blossoming into a full blown prospect.
  
• CF Ivan Wilson: 0-4, 2 K; Yeesh.
  
• LHP Blake Taylor: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

GAME TWO

KINGSPORT 3, BRISTOL 2 (Box)

• SS Luis Guillorme: 2-3, BB
  
• RF Wuilmer Becerra: 2-4, R
  
• CF Ivan Wilson: 0-4, 2 K; Jeeeeez.
• RHP Andrew Church: 6 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 5 K; Nice night for Church who's now strung together consecutive strong outings.

Rookie - GCL Mets (23-19)__________________________________

GCL MARLINS 3, GCL METS 5 (Box)

• LF Arnaldo Berrios: 2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
• RF Enmanuel Zabala: 1-3, RBI, BB
  
• 1B Dash Winningham: 0-3, K
  
• RHP Tyler Badamo: 5 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 5 K; Great outing from Tyler in his first start of the year. Playing in DII, he may have flown a little under the radar but the Mets may have something here.

Star of the Night

Five for eight with two home runs? Yes, please. Wuilmer Becerra is our Star of the Night. Those homers were hit in July. Instead, let's go with Matthew Bowman.

Goat of the Night

Oh for eight and four strikeouts? Step on down, Ivan Wilson. Although, I should mention that John Mincone blew a six run lead for Savannah, allowing six runs in just two thirds of an inning.