MiLB Random Thoughts

[Woy]

Oscar Taveras back in the line-up tonight after suffering a high ankle sprain three weeks ago.

[Villain]

Well, SNYs Kevin Burkhardt (soon to be NFL on FOX PBP guy) says the Mets will NOT call Wheeler up to pitch Friday at home. Rather, he'll debut in the following series, in Atlanta.

Wheeler's from Georgia and his childhood team was the Braves, so an extra bit of adrenaline for him to deal with in about 10 days.

The Braves, as awesome are they are as a team, strikeout like motherfuckers (only the Astros have a higher K%). That should be a nice matchup for a guy like Wheeler (9.6 career K/9 as a pro) as long as he doesn't get squirrelly with location since, obviously, the Braves hitters will fuck you up if you give them something good to hit. His 1.1 HR/9 in AAA this year is the highest of his career, but I wouldn't read too much into that since it's the PCLOL. I'm excited to watch his debut. MLBN better show it.

Anyways, I guess that I'm saying that the Braves give him the potentional of having a Strasburg-esque debut (read: a ton of strikeouts leading to a ton of hype), which would be fun.

I'm just glad that Wheeler isn't on the Giants.

[EmpireWF]

Down @ AA Binghamton, the Mets have a couple guys doing work in the 1st half.

RHP Rafael Montero, one of their Top 10 prospects entering the year, has been on fire. 72 SO to only 10 walks in 66.2 innings. Has not walked more than 2 batters in a start and has not allowed a run since May 13, that's not over his last 20 innings.

Has some thinking he could move up to Las Vegas, permanently (he had a spot start last month, he did well….6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 SO, 1 BB, 1 HR), after Wheeler is called up soon. There's good and bad in that scenario, with the Pacific Coast League being a hitters haven.

If he maintains this pace, he'll almost certainly get a look in September and theoretically, could fight for a rotation spot next spring.

Ceiling may only be a #2 or #3 starter at best and his frame is so damn small, so some are not totally sold on him.

----

Then there's RF Cesar Puello, a top 15 team prospect to start the year. Yes, he's the one minor leaguer embroiled in the Biogenesis controversy, so that's a cloud hanging over his head (he's on the 40 Man, so he does get some cover by the MLBPA). The 22-year-old Dominican has been crushing pitching this year.

.333/.408/.619 in 51 G…..13 HR, 46 RBI, 11 2B, 14 BB/44 SO, 17 SB

In the middle of a 6-game streak with multiple hits in each game with 6 HR and 15 RBI, too.

With the complete lack of outfielders in the big leagues, he may find himself given an opportunity late in the summer (the team just DFA'd Rick Ankiel and recalled Kirk Nieuwenheis to give him another look) in the majors…assuming nothing significant comes from the controversy during the season.

[Woy]

[EmpireWF]

Mets promoted LHP reliever Jack Leathersich to AAA. In his 114 innings in the minors so far, he has averaged 15.3 SO/9.

Concern for him are walks, over his last 70+ innings, he's averaged about 4.7 walks per nine innings.


And Wheeler will be making (what should be) his final minor league start later today.

[NAHSTE]

My mans XANDER moving up.

[EmpireWF]

Down @ AA Binghamton, the Mets have a couple guys doing work in the 1st half.

RHP Rafael Montero, one of their Top 10 prospects entering the year, has been on fire. 72 SO to only 10 walks in 66.2 innings. Has not walked more than 2 batters in a start and has not allowed a run since May 13, that's not over his last 20 innings.

Has some thinking he could move up to Las Vegas, permanently (he had a spot start last month, he did well….6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 SO, 1 BB, 1 HR), after Wheeler is called up soon. There's good and bad in that scenario, with the Pacific Coast League being a hitters haven.

Bingo, Montero called up to AAA.

[NAHSTE]

Might have reclaimed "3B of the future" status with his AA performance this year, he's finally putting it all together.

Love this fucking kid.

Last edited by NAHSTE; 06-21-2013, 10:31 AM.

[EmpireWF]

Mets #3 prospect RHP Noah Syndergaard has been promoted to AA-Binghamton today.

He's 20-years-old, & at High-A this year = 63.2 IP (12 starts), 9.0 SO/9, 2.3 BB/9, 8.6 H/9, 3.11 ERA

[Woy]

Carlos "Baby Pedro" Martinez in AAA tonight: 7.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K. Holds a 1.96 ERA between AA and AAA this year after missing all of spring training with visa issues, and has a 9.5 K/9 when you factor in his brief stint in the big league bullpen.

Kid doesn't turn 22 until September. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the big league rotation within the next month.

[Villain]

The YOYERS first two picks in the 2013 draft made their debuts last night. Click link for full write-up, including video:

Dodgers' top two picks dazzle in debut

Anderson, the 18th overall pick by the Dodgers in this year's Draft, recorded five of the six outs he got via the strikeout, and he allowed one hit over two scoreless innings. Windle, Los Angeles' second-round choice, also threw two shutout innings, giving up only a walk while striking out two.

Anderson struck out the first four batters he faced. Between the two pitchers: 4IP, 1 hit, 7 Ks, 1 BB.

[NAHSTE]

Interesting. I always assumed the bat meant Baez was more valuable, but Lindor is hitting very well in high-A. .307/.377/.407 with identical K and BB rates (9.6 %) through 311 plate appearances. Also has 18 SB to just 4 CS.

Baez has the obvious power potential, he's already at 16 home runs, but he also carries much more all-or-nothing production. Very few walks and striking out 24% of the time.

[EmpireWF]

Future's Game Final Vote

U.S. - OF Tyler Austin, Trenton Thunder (NYY), OF Nick Castellanos, Toledo Mud Hens (DET), 3B Gavin Cecchini, Portland Sea Dogs (BOS), Courtney Hawkins, Winston-Salem Dash (CHW), OF Brandon Nimmo, Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM)

Hawkins, btw, is hitting .184 with 14 HR. He has 30 total hits this year and only 9 are singles.

WORLD - SS Javier Baez, Dayton Cubs (CHC), 1B Ji-Man Choi, Jackson Generals (SEA), SS Carlos Coerrea, Quad Cities River Bandits (HOU), 3B Renato Nunez, Beloit Snappers (OAK), 2B Rougned Odor, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (TEX)



U.S. Roster
LHP Jesse Biddle (PHI)
RHP Archie Bradley (ARI)
RHP Eddie Butler (COL)
RHP Kyle Crick (SF)
RHP Taylor Guerrieri (TB)
RHP Tyler Jordan (WAS)
RHP Jimmy Nelson (MIL)
RHP Anthony Ranaudo (BOS)
RHP Noah Syndergaard (NYM)
RHP Taijuan Walker (SEA)

C Austin Hedges (SD)
C Josh Phegley (CHW)
1B C.J. Cron (LAA)
2B Delino DeShields (HOU)
3B Matt Davidson (ARI)
3B Joey Gallo (TEX)
SS Brad Miller (SEA)
SS Addison Russell (OAK)
2B Kolten Wong (STL)
1B/OF Joey Terdoslavich (ATL)
OF Byron Buxton (MIN)
OF Billy Hamilton (CIN)
OF Joc Pederson (LAD)
OF George Springer (HOU)
OF Christian Yelich (MIA)


World Roster
RHP Miguel Almonte (KC)
RHP Carlos Contreras (CIN)
RHP Rafael De Paula (NYY)
RHP C.C. Lee (CLE)
RHP Rafael Montero (NYM)
RHP Andre Rienzo (CWS)
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (BAL)
LHP Enny Romero (TB)
RHP Yordano Ventura (KC)
RHP Michael Ynoa (OAK)

C Jorge Alfaro (TEX)
C Christian Bethancourt (ATL)
C A.J. Jimenez (TOR)
1B Jordan Lennerton (DET)
2B Dilson Herrera (PIT)
3B Miguel Sano (MIN)
3B Maikel Franco (PHI)
SS Arismendy Alcantara (CHC)
SS Francisco Lindor (CLE)
SS Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
OF Yeison Asencio (SD)
OF Gregory Polanco (PIT)
OF Jorge Soler (CHC)
OF Oscar Taveras (STL)
OF Henry Urrutia (BAL)

[Villain]

AA All-Stars:

The Southern League All-Star Game will have a decidedly Dodgers flair, as Joc Pederson and Zach Lee are among the eight players from Double-A Chattanooga named to the North roster. Joining those two are starter Ross Stripling, relievers Yimi Garcia, Hector Nelo and Luis Vasquez, and infielder Rafael Ynoa.

If you're counting, that's 7 players. The eighth is SP Rob Rasmussen, who has been promoted to AAA. Rasmussen was (understandably) overshadowed in college by teammates Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole and reached the Dodgers this winter through a trade for Jon Ely (Astros).

[NAHSTE]

In A-ball news, Kyle Wren (son of Frank) laid down a bunt to test ARod's hip right off the jump. Reached safely.