Injuries and Call ups

El Duque was recently placed on the DL bursitis in his right shoulder and Jose Valentin is also headed to the DL with an ACL problem. The call ups are Chan Ho Park for tonight, then probably Jorge Sosa with his 1.13 era will get the next few starts to replace Hernandez. Ruben Gotay with his .256 batting average in AAA is reportedly being sent up to the majors instead of Anderson Hernadez to replace Valentin.

Wright, Zimmerman, and Upton

If you did not know, David Wright played with BJ Upton (Devil Rays) and Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) throughout his little league and AAU career. Wright and Upton were roommates on a traveling Amateur Athletic Union team, the Virginia Blasters, that also included Ryan Zimmerman. AAU News has more on the trio.

Bad News for Milledge

Omar Minaya told reporters after last night's game that Lasting Milledge will be out four to six weeks with sprained ligaments in his right foot. On thursday I wrote about if Carlos Gomez will now have a better chance of getting the call up now that Gomez is injured. I am absolutly crushed.

Standings

The New Orleans Zephrys (AAA) are in first place in the Pacific Coast League American South division with a record of 12-8.

The Binghampton Mets (AA) are in sixth/last place in the Eastern League Northern Division with a terrible record of 3-11.

The Port St. Lucie Mets (A) are in a three way tie for first place in the Flordia State League East division with a record of 10-8.

The Savannah Sand Gnats (A) South Atlantic League Southern Division are in seventh place with a record of 4-15.

Josh Thole

Josh Thole is playing on the A Savannah Sand Gnats. In 13 games this season for the Gnats, Thole is batting .359 with an on base percentage of .468. He has 6 runs and 3 rbis. Thole is 20 years old at 6 foot 1 weighing 190 pounds. He throws righthanded but bats lefthanded and is from Breese, Illinois. Thole is hitting very solidly, lets see if he can keep it up...

Prospect Updates:

(AAA)
2b Ruben Gotay has a .243 batting average along with 13 strikesouts, 2 homeruns, 11 runs and 12 rbis in 20 games.

ss/2b Anderson Hernandez continues to struggle with the bat. He has 18 strikeouts with a .224 batting average in 20 games.

OF Ben Johnson is still injured. In the 7 games that he played, he had a .238 average with just 2 rbis.

(AA)
1b Mike Carp is batting .250 with 3 rbis and 18 Strikeouts in 13 games.

OF Fernando Martinez is batting .213 with 2 rbis and a home run in 12 games.

P Kevin Mulvey, first pick of the 2006 draft for the Mets is pitching very poorly. In 4 games, Mulvey has a 6.06 era with 11 earned runs and 19 hits in 16.1 innings pitched.

(A St. Lucie)
P Deolis Guerra has a 2.18 era in 4 games with a win and a loss. He has 5 earned runs with 16 hits and 3 walks to 12 strikeouts in 20.2 innings and is still 18 years old.

P Jonathan Niese is 1-1 with a 2.50 era. He has allowed 5 earned runs with 18 hits over 18 innings.

(A Savannah)
C Francisco Pena is batting .278 with 0 rbis, 0 home runs, 4 runs, 1 double, and 11 strikeouts with 3 walks.

The Brooklyn Cyclones (A) and Kingsport Mets (R) both open their season on June 19.

Gomez's chances over Milledge

Carlos Gomez is having a pretty good season thus far in AAA New Orleans. He has a .299 batting average with 13 runs, 7 rbis and 9 stolen bases in 20 games. 6 foot 4 Carlos Gomez is 21 years old weighing 195 and is from the Dominican Republic. He is considered faster Jose Reyes with his long strides and in spring training Reyes and Gomez would race; Gomez would win the majority of the times.

Today, Lastings Milledge was placed on the DL. 22 year old Milledge is slightly older than Gomez, but has a lot more experience playing in the Minors since 2003. These two players could make the future Mets Outfield incredibly fast and solid defensively. The only problem is where someone that is faster than Jose Reyes bat would. Reyes in mind will continue to bat leadoff. I could not really see Gomez as a two hitter so he would be late in the lineup.

Does Gomez now have a better shot to get the call up now that Milledge is injured? No. Unless Milledge is out for an extensive period of time he will be the next outfielder called up. The Mets outfield is also playing sensational right now. Green and Alou are hitting better than expected which could delay Milledge’s call up and possibly Gomez. Also, Fernando Martinez is expected to arrive in the majors in a couple of years. He is playing AA Binghamton but is only batting .213 with 2 rbis and a home run in 12 games.

Pelfrey Headlines

There has been a bundle of Articles on Mike Pelfrey since he had that terrible start yesterday against the Rockies. Michael Morrissey at the New York Post along with David Lennon from the Hartford Courant talks about how bad pelfrey got rocked yesterday. John Rowe at The Record writes how Pelfrey is on thin Ice while Bill Madden at the New York Daily News sexplains that Willie Randolph will go another outing with Pelfrey and why.

Milledge On the DL

Lastings Milledge was placed on the minor-league disabled list today due to a strained ligament in his right foot. Milledge was batting .333 (13-for-39) with a double, home run and five RBI in 11 games at AAA New Orleans. Milledge flew back to New York and had further tests, including an MRI, on Wednesday.

The Compotation: Pelfrey, Humber, Vargas

In today’s start against the Rockies, Mike Pelfrey could simply not find the strike zone. He pitched 3 innings, giving up 8 hits, and 6 runs. Pelfrey said, "I didn't execute my pitches. When I missed, I missed over the plate, and they made me pay." In 3 games this season Pelfrey is 0-2 with a 7.90 era. He has given up 12 earned runs with 20 hits in 13.2 innings along with 7 walks to 6 strikeouts. So why should 23 year old Mike Pelfrey stay in the Majors if he continues to pitch poorly. In every start he has gotten worse going less innings and increasing by 2 more runs.

Did everyone forget that there is another first round draft pick in AAA who is actually pitching well. His name is Phillip Humber and he was the Mets first round draft pick in the 2004 draft. 24 year old Humber has not lived up to his potential at this point because he has had constant arm injuries. This season Humber is playing with AAA New Orleans. In 4 games, Humber is 2-1 with an era of 3. He has given up 7 earned runs with 16 hits, along with a 6 walks to 17 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. Humber was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week for April 16-22. Humber has shown he is capable of pitching in the majors by his dominance in AAA thus far this season.

Jason Vargas has also had success this season in AAA. Lefty Jason Vargas was acquired from the Florida Marlins along with LHP Adam Bostick in exchange for RHP Henry Owens and RHP Matt Lindstrom. Vargas is 2-1 with a 3.42 era in 4 games. He has 9 earned runs with 22 hits along with 5 walks to 19 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched. The Mets really did not give Vargas much of chance to make the team in spring training with pitchers like Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa, and Mike Pelfrey as the main contenders. It doesn’t matter much right now because 24 years old Vargas is pitching very well right now.

Phillip Humber and Jason Vargas are both pitching pretty evenly for the Zephyrs. Both Humber and Vargas are extremely similar in era, strikeouts, walks, earned runs, hits, and innings pitched with the same amount of wins, losses, and games started.

But who will the Mets call up if they send Pelfrey back down. It is hard to say because Humber has so much potential, but Vargas also has potential to become a solid lefty pitcher. The New York Mets have a hard task to first decide the fate of Mike Pelfrey. He has only had 3 starts but they have been gradually getting worse. Pelfrey says his bullpen sessions are going well but during the game things change. Pelfrey had this to say about today’s start. “I don’t know if I missed a spot in the bullpen. I felt great. Then I get across the lines and, you know, maybe when I step across the lines the adrenaline kicks in and I’m trying to do too much, and instead of backing off and letting my ability take care of itself.” If the Mets do decide to replace Pelfrey it will be very interesting and exciting to decide who they choose. Personally, I feel the Mets organization likes Humber more than Vargas and will end up choosing Humber over Vargas if they decide to send Pelfrey down. But hey, they might not even send pelfrey down.

Rookie under Pressure

Anthony DiComo at MLB.com wrote and article about Joe Smith getting his first major league win. Smith said, "They're showing more confidence in me every day. Every once in a while, I start shaking, but that's just nerves of the situation. Every time, I feel more confident."

Remember, Smith was drafted in the 2006 draft, and only played in A Short Season. Now, smith is dominating with his sidearm delivery in the big leagues. I profiled Joe Smith and his journey to the Majors on April 2, the day after his first Major League start.

Injury

Lastings Milledge missed last night’s game in New Orelans with a bruised right foot. He has been sent to New York to have the injury examined by a team doctor.

Article:

David Lennon at Newsday writes about why Scott Schoeneweis was stayed in the game and Steve Popper at The Record talks about the shaky bulpen, and Ian Begley at the Daily News writes about Shawn Greens costly error.

Small recap

(AAA) Jorge Sosa is 2-0 with an 0.95 ERA in three starts for Triple-A New Orleans. (AA) 1B Mike Carp doubled twice on Saturday, extending his hitting streak to five game while (A) Francisco Pena was 3–for-4.

Lastings Milledge Tear

Adam Rubin writes about how Lastings Milledge is tearing it up in AAA. "He’s been on a tear ever since. Milledge extended his hitting streak to six games with the Zephyrs. He was a combined 9-for-13 with a homer, four RBI and four steals during a four-game series against Memphis."

I am very glad to see this out of Lastings Milledge. The only problem is Shawn Green is hitting which is delaying the time until Milledge is back in the big leagues. Lastings Milledge showed it in spring training and is showing it now in AAA, that he can hit. He isnt playing in the Majors because Shawn Green is hitting right now with a .338 batting average, 10 rbi's, and 3 home runs. It will be intresting to see how long this will last. This is very difficult for me becuause I am such a strong Lastings Milledge fan. I want Shawn Green to play well, so the Mets win, but I want Lastings Milledge to be the starting right fielder, but then Green has to play poorly. What am I supposed to think?

Article:

Ted Berg at SNY writes about Lastings Milledge and how he is hitting again. He also says how different Milledge is from Victor "Miny Manny" Diaz. "I should have realized that Milledge is and always has been a much bigger prospect than Diaz, and though his attitude has been questioned, his drive has not. Milledge rebounded from his early slump with a huge game today, going 4-for-4 against the Memphis Redbirds -- the Cardinals' affiliate -- in New Orleans. He homered in the effort, stole two bases, and scored three runs. "

News:

Carlos Gomez was on this weeks Hot List from Baseball America. Baseball America had this to say about Gomez, "No sense in waiting until the second half this year. The precocious Gomez is hitting .375/.405/.575 and leads the PCL with six doubles and six triples."

This would be very intresting if Gomez continued to hit like this. Gomez is 21 years old. This could hurt Lastings Milledge chances if this kid continues to play like this. Remember, Gomez is faster than Reyes, and Jose Reyes had 64 stolen bases last year. Since being demoted, Milledge is 1 for 11 with 5 strikeouts in AAA New Orleans. Hopefully it's just rust because he sat on the bench with the Mets for 2 weeks and only recieved 2 at bats. I will have more on Gomez and the effect it will have on Milledge tommorow.

Also, Ben Johnson sprained his throwing shoulder diving for a ball on Thursday and was placed on the DL. He is expected to be out for a couple of weeks. In case you have yet to hear.