The Minor League season is underway. The New Orleans Zephyrs are 2-0 with starts from Adam Bostick (Win, 5 innings, 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts) and Tony Armas Jr. (no decision, 5 innings, 9 hits, 3 runs, 2 strikeouts). In relief pitching, Willie Collazo has pitched 3.2 innings while allowing 1 runs and Carlos Muniz has 2 saves in 2 attempts while not allowing a run. Offensively, Anderson Hernandez is batting .333 with 2 rbis, 1 run, and 2 doubles. Caleb Stewart is batting is .125 with a double, run, and rbi.
AA Binghamton is 2-1. Both Jonathon Niese (5 innings, 1 hit, 5 strikeouts) and Jose Sanchez (5 innings, 3 hits) picked up wins while Bobby Parnell (3.2 innings, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts) snagged a loss. Both Joe Hietpas, Eddie Kuntz, German Marte, have pitched 1 scoreless inning in relief. Offensively, Mike Carp is batting .375 with a home run, and 3 rbis. 21 year old shortstop is batting .375 with a stolen base. Dan Murphy is batting .333 while F-Mart is batting .200. Finally, second baseman prospect Emanuel Garcia is batting just .125 with a stolen base and 2 runs.
Surprisingly, A St. Lucie has started out the year 0-2. Both the Dylan’s (Owen and Gee) have started for the Mets. After an amazing year for Brooklyn, Owen went 5 innings giving up 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts while taking the loss. Gee went 5 innings allowing 3 hits and a run while getting the no decision. Brandon Nall blew his only save opportunity. Hector Pellot is batting .154 with a double. Ruben Tejada has just 1 hit in 13 at bats and 4 strikeouts.
Finally, the A Sand Gnats are 2-0. Michael Antonini pitched 6 perfect innings in his start while Scott Moviel pitched 5 innings with 5 hits and a run; both received wins. Francisco Pena is batting .333 with 2 doubles and 2 rbis. Pena is the only player on the gnats to hit above .300 thus far in the season.
WHAT TO TAKE OUT OF THIS:
It is very early into the season but there have been some good performances. The AAA starters have pitched well and if Nelson Figueroa continues to pitch poorly (I say this because he has given up 2 runs in 2 innings) for the Mets, Bostick or Armas Jr will be called up. I think the smarter decision would be Bostick… It is good to see Niese continuing to pitch well even though Parnell did not. The relievers have also been solid and it is not out of the question to see Kuntz pitch this year and I would say Hietpas is a long shot chance if the bullpen really struggles and he pitches really well. Wow, Carp actually hit a home run; hopefully his power will start to come back after his power outage. I would continue to keep an eye on both Dylan’s because of there dominance last year in Brooklyn; will it continue? Ruben Tejada could develop into a serious prospect if he starts to hit. Finally, it is very important that Pena has gotten off to a decent start so hopefully he will rebuild his confidence and not struggle as much as last year.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Minor League Starts
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2 comments:
please define "pitch poorly" when referring to Nelson Figueroa so far for the Mets. He had a perfect first outing and today, had Willie not chosen to play the batter to pull, would have had another scoreless inning. Instead the outfielders were unable to get to a routine fly ball and two runs scored. Figueroa has pitched as well as any other pitcher so far since he was recalled just three days ago.
You wrote:
"if Nelson Figueroa continues to pitch poorly (I say this because he has given up 2 runs in 2 innings) for the Mets, Bostick or Armas Jr will be called up. I think the smarter decision would be Bostick…"
In his first inning he retired the Marlins in order: strike out, fly out, pop up.
In his second inning against the Braves, he allowed 2 runs on a two-out double to right center that got past Beltran who was playing left center.
To you, that's "continuing to pitch poorly"...you can't "continue" to do something unless you first started to do something. And Nelson Figueroa did not even pitch poorly today: his inning was not poorly pitched - not when one catch would have retired the Braves without a run.
It's rare to find a pitcher who can start, pitch long relief, and pitch short relief. I predict he will pitch at least seven innings next Saturday against the Brewers. Let's see what happens.
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