Call Up's

After last night’s win, the Mets activated Guillermo Mota and sent down Ambiorix Burgos to Triple-A.

In seven games for Triple-A New Orleans, Mota had a 7.04 ERA, while giving up 11 hits and five walks, in 7.2 innings.

Prior to last nights game, the Mets called up Ben Johnson placed Shawn Green on the 15 day DL.

Organization Leaders

Average: Caleb Stewart, Binghamton, .341; Corey Coles, Binghamton, .325; Fernando Martinez, Binghamton, .309; Leivi Ventura, Savannah, .305; Jose Castro, St. Lucie, .288; Carlos Gomez, New Orleans, .286; Brett Harper, Binghamton, .281; Mark Kiger, Binghamton, .280; Andy Tracy, New Orleans, .272; Dustin Martin, St. Lucie, .270.

Homers: Andy Tracy, New Orleans, 12; Brett Harper, Binghamton, 7; Caleb Stewart, Binghamton, 7; Ricky Ledee, New Orleans, 6; Fernando Tatis, New Orleans, 6.

RBI: Andy Tracy, New Orleans, 36; Brett Harper, Binghamton, 30; Caleb Stewart, Binghamton, 30; Daniel Murphy, St. Lucie, 28; Ricky Ledee, New Orleans, 26.

Steals: Carlos Gomez, New Orleans, 17; Hector Pellot, Savannah, 16; Greg Veloz, Savannah, 8.

ERA: Tim McNab, Binghamton, 1.70; Bobby Parnell, St. Lucie, 2.84; Greg Mullens, Savannah, 3.09; Kevin Mulvey, Binghamton, 3.33; Matt Durkin, Savannah, 3.35; Tobi Stoner, Savannah, 3.88.

Wins: Philip Humber, New Orleans, 4; Tim McNab, Binghamton, 4; Kevin Mulvey, Binghamton, 4; Jorge Sosa, New Orleans, 4.

Saves: Carlos Muniz, Binghamton, 7; Lino Urdaneta, New Orleans, 6; Eddie Camacho, New Orleans, 5; Ryan Meyers, Savannah, 4.

Strikeouts: Bobby Parnell, St. Lucie, 55; Philip Humber, New Orleans, 46; Tobi Stoner, Savannah, 42; Kevin Mulvey, Binghamton, 38; Chan Ho Park, New Orleans, 38.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2007/05/stewart_racing_through_met_ran.html

Reminder

With June a couple days a way, I thought I should remind everyone that the Brooklyn Cyclones (A short season) and Kingsport Mets (rookie) both start there seasons on June 19.

Fun Fact

The only players in the Mets Minor League Organization that have a batting average over .300 with more than 15 games played are (AAA) Sandy Alomar Jr, (AA) Corey Coles, Caleb Stewart, Fernando Martinez, (Upper A) Ryan Coultas, Joshua Petersen. There are no players with an above .300 average in A Savannah. On May 14, there were only 3 players with a batting average over .300

Outfield Status

The Mets could promote AAA outfielder Ben Johnson, depending on what happens with Green, Alou and Gomez. Johnson joined the Mets on Sunday in Miami, but wasn't activated. Johnson has only returned from injury about 10 days ago.

Update on Ranks:

Top Prospect Alert recently updated their 2007 New York Mets Top 10 Prospects. The new list is as followed:

#1 Carlos Gomez -- Preseason Rank: 2
#2 Fernando Martinez -- Preseason Rank: 3
#3 Mike Pelfrey -- Preseason Rank: 1
#4 Joe Smith -- Preseason Rank: 8
#5 Deolis Gurerra -- Preseason Rank: 5
#6 Philip Humber -- Preseason Rank: 4
#7 Mike Carp -- Preseason Rank: 10
#8 Robert Parnell -- Preseason Rank: NR
#9 Tobi Stoner -- Preseason Rank: NR
#10 Kevin Mulvey -- Preseason Rank: 7

The most notible changes are Carlos Gomez moving up to #1, Fernando Martinez #2, and Joe Smith to #4. I guess everyone is getting on the Gomez train after his stint in the big leagues. He has shown he could become a pretty god player. Fernando Martinez has been playing very solidly AA Binghamton. Any player at age 18 who is in AA must be pretty damn good. Joe Smith will not be considered a prospect for much longer because of his ongoing success for the Mets. Gotta love pitchers who throw sidearm.

Update:

RotoWorld recently gave an update on Fernando Martinez:

Double-A Binghamton's Fernando Martinez went 3-for-5 and hit his second homer Wednesday.Martinez is batting .371 this month, giving him a .299/.369/.417 line in 127 at-bats. For an 18-year-old in Double-A, that's outstanding.

Starting

Tonight Brian Lawrence is schedule to start for AAA New Orleans. Lawrence was recently signed to a minor league contract after he refused assignment by the Colorado Rockies.

Gomez Playing Well

In his first three major league games Outfielder Carlos Gomez is 4-for-9 with two doubles, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. He is also in todays lineup against the Cubs.

Milledge the Artist

MetsBlog.com reported that Mets Outfielder Lastings Milledge is the CEO of Soul-ja Boi Records, and will soon release his label’s first CD by Immanuel Dent, a.k.a. Manny D, a childhood friend to Milledge. On the album, which will be released later this summer, Milledge, calling himself L Millz, guest stars and raps on a song titled Bend Ya Knees, using non-traditional language deemed unacceptable by most Americans.

Interview:

Last week, Anthony De Rosa of MetsBlog interviewed Carlos Gomez. Gomez was called up on sunday. He was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and a stolen base in his major league debut.

Who Now?

As you know, Mike Pelfrey was demoted to AAA New Orleans yesterday. That has made many people wonder who will pitch instead of Pelfrey. Orlando Hernandez has been on the DL with bursitis in his shoulder for the last three weeks. Yesterday, the Mets reported that Hernandez will not be ready to start on Thursday. On April 25, I said that the Mets next best option instead of Pelfrey is either Phillip Humber or Jason Vargas. Now, it really looks like either Humber or Vargas will be called on to make the next start instead Pelfrey/Hernandez. Exciting!

Fun Fact

The only players in the Mets Minor League Organization that have a batting average over .300 with more than 15 games played are (AAA) C Mike DiFelice .307, (A) ss Ryan Coultas .339, and (A) 3b Leivi Ventura .302. There are no players above .300 in AA Binghamton.

Johnson Is back

Outfield prospect Ben Johnson returned to the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs’s last night. He 2 for 5. Johnson missed four weeks after injuring his shoulder, diving for a fly-ball. That would have been Johnson on the Mets instead of Gomez if not for the injury.

Wow

Yesterday I went to the Mets game. As they announced the Mets Starting lineup I heard that Carlos Gomez will be starting in right field. At first I thought Moises Alou who got hurt the other night was placed on the DL. I later found out it was Pelfrey. After hearing that Gomez was starting I was jubilent. I was so excited to see Carlos Gomez make his Major League Debut. Before the game I kept hearing people all over the stadium ask, "Whose Gomez, I've never heard of him." I was a little supprised that people did not hear of Gomez because he is considered one of the best outfield prospects. All that matters is Gomez did play, and boy did he. Gomez was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and a stolen base. He made a nice diving play in right field only because he had a terrible jump on the ball. The entire game Gomez got late breaks on all the fly balls to right, but thats only because he's been playing center field at AAA. It was a great day, great game, and hopefully when we look back at the career of Carlos Gomez Mets Fans what a first game, and I can say I was there.

Called Up

The New York Mets called up 21 year old outfield prospect Carlos Gomez from New Orleans (AAA)of the Pacific Coast League and optioned righthanded pitcher Mike Pelfrey to the Zephyrs.

Gomez, 21, was hitting .286 (40-140) with 24 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 13 RBI, 17 stolen bases with 15 walks and 23 strikeouts in 36 games this year with New Orleans. Gomez is leading the PCL in stolen bases. Carlos batted .222 (2-9) with one run scored and two RBI in 10 spring training games for the Mets.

Mike Pelfrey was 0-5 with a 6.53 ERA in six starts for New York. Thursday's starter against the Cubs is to be determined.

Article:

Mets Fever writes about there opinions on the futures of Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, and Fernando Martinez.

Once it Goes Wrong

Has anyone else noticed that everytime something goes wrong for Aaron Heilman he gets lit up. Tonight he made an error which allowed a baserunner. The next batter hit a 2 run homer. 3 weeks ago when the Mets lost to the Nationals, Shawn Green misplayed a ball and then Heilman gave up a homerun. I dont know if I'm being paranoyed but this is definetly developing into a trend; a miscue or a bad call and then a bad outing from Aaron Heilman. I hope it's just me...

Green Note:

Since having his haired cut off, Shawn Green is hitless in his last 23 at bats. Maybe the hair really did help him. Over at Mets.com Marty Noble writes about how Green feels about his hair now that it is gone.

Wright as #2

David Wright continues to bat second in the batting order. Paul Lo Duca is batting solidly in the 7th hole. It seems like this might continue for a while. On march 29, I asked who would be the better player to bat in the 2 hole.

"I believe Lo Duca should be in the 2 spot. He was very capable and successful last season so why change a good thing. If Willie Randolph put Lo Duca in the 7 spot and Wright in the 2 spot, Lo Duca would be less valuable in that spot then Wright in the 5. Thus, Wright should be in the 5 spot this season and Lo Duca should remain as the number 2 hitter."

Sub .500

As of now, all 4 of the Mets Minor League affilates that are currently playing have a loosing record. The New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA) are 15-17, the Binghamton Mets (AA) are 8-18, the St. Lucie Mets (A) are 14-17, and the Savannah Sand Gnats (A) are 7-23. Sad....

News and Articles:

Tom Verducci at Sports Illistrated, writes about the top ten baseball players under 25. Reyes comes in at number 3 and David Wright comes in at number 9.

Anthony DiComo at Mets.com writes about how good Jose Reyes is on the Basepath while figuring out what its like to be Reyes.

Marty Noble at Mets.com writes about how Joe Smith is a man of Rituals.

While Marc Hulet at Baseball Analysts believes Joe Smith is being over used. Smith is on pace to have 94 appearances. Personally, I disagree with Marc. Smith is being used a lot, but it is usually only for a batter or a single out. He is not constantly being used to work full innings and thus not being over used.

Jorge Reyes Out for 100 Games

Jorge Reyes was suspended today for 100 games by the commissioner's office after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Jorge is the 12th player to be suspended for violating the minor-league drug policy and the first to draw a 100-game suspension for a second violation. A 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, Reyes made one start this season for Class-A Savannah of the South Atlantic League, allowing no runs on four hits in five innings.

Martinez Continues to Play Well

Fernando Martinez made this weeks BaseBall America Prospects Hot Sheet. "After a .261/.329/.362 April, Martinez, 18, found his stroke in the EL, going 12-for-25 (.480) with four multi-hit games and four doubles last week."

MLB Draft to be Televised

For the first time in its history, the baseball entry draft will be aired live on ESPN2. Coverage will begin on Thursday, June 7th at 2 p.m. ET from Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The broadcast will end at 6 p.m. ET. Each team's first round pick will be televised and all clubs will have a maximum of five minutes to make their selections. If you live in conneticut go see Matt Harvey pitch. He lives in Groton CT and goes to Fitch High School. He is projected to go 4th overall in the draft.

Injury

Mike Carp will miss the one month with a broken finger. Injuries!!!

I Can Not Hate Damion Easley

When Damion Easley stepped to the plate in the tenth inning with 2 outs, down by a run to the Rockies, I stood up out of my seat out Shea Stadium and thought the game was over. But no, Easley battled back in the count and had the game tying home run. I said Easley could strike out every at bat the rest of the season and I would not care. Last night easily did it again, hitting the game clinching 3 run home run in the top of the 9th down while down by a run to the diamondbacks. Now, there is nothing Easley could do for me to hate him, unless he screws up in the playoffs…

Kind of Ironic

On January 3, I wrote about the future of Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman.

About Heilman I said, "...are going to be so important to the Mets success the next season and future seasons. I believe that Aaron Heilman will definitely not be traded."

About Milledge I said, "Lastings Milledges future is still vague. I do not believe he will be traded."

Boy is that different now. Heilman has pitched poorly this season. He is 1-2 with an era of 4.09 while giving up 8 runs, 11 hits, in 11 innings. He just doesnt seem right and his arm does not seem completly healed. Milledge is out for about 4 to 6 weeks with a sprained ligament in his right foot.

I have been thinking if the Mets will finaly package Heilman and Milledge together because Heiman will probably not re-sign with the Mets and the outfield depth in the Mets farm system. But, we hear this almost every year that Milledge might get traded. Will this be the year?

Good News

Today, Major League Baseball anounced that the National League NL Player of the Month was Jose Reyes while John Maine earned NL Pitcher of the Month. Jose Reyes had a .356 batting average while scoring 26 runs with 17 stolen bases and 5 triples. John Maine lead the Major Leagues with a 1.35 ERA, and went 4-0 in the. On January 4, I wrote about the role of the yong guns this season. So far John Maine has really steped it up and Olly Perez has been pitching pretty solidly.

Story:

In this weeks magazine of Sports Illustated, Ben Reiter writes a piece about the three red-hot shortstops in the NL East and how they are redefining the position. The three dominating Shortstops are Hanley Ramirez of Flordia, Jimmy Rollins (boo) of Philly, and our Jose Reyes.

When asked who they would pick to start a MLB Franchise, Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden said, "I love Hanley Ramirez, I love Jimmy Rollins, but Jose Reyes is the guy I would pick of the three. He has the highest upside."

Rank

SI.com recently rated the top closers in the MLB. Billy Wagner was rated in the top 4 along with Joe Nathan, Papelbon, Francisco Rodriguez.

Guess Not

I dont know what all that talk was about Alou being injured. He seemed fine tonight. I guess all that talk was for nothing...

Big News for Gomez

Adam Rubin at the Daily News reports that if Moises Alou is put on the DL with his bad shoulder than the Mets are considering promoting 21-year-old outfielder Carlos Gomez from Triple-A New Orleans.

On April 26 I wrote an article about the chances Carlos Gomez has to pass Lastings Milledge, due to his injury, and become the next young Mets outifelder.

More Injuries

MetsBlog announced that Following last night’s game, Willie Randolph told reporters that Mets OF Moises Alou jammed his shoulder running toward the outfield wall, and so he pulled him from the game. The team has announced that Alou has a sore right shoulder and will undergo an MRI today. According to Alou, though, while talking reporters after the game, the shoulder has been bothering him since the team's three-game series against the Nationals.

What a bad time... Milledge is injured so he cant get called if it is serious. Hello Ricky Ledee or hopefully Carlos Gomez.