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May 4, 2006
  
Minor League Recap

AA Binghamton Mets

  • The Binghamton Mets lost to the Akron Aeros 5-3. The Aeros had top pitching prospect Adam Miller going up against Evan MacLane. Miller came out on top giving up one earned run in five innings. Evan MacLane dropped to 3-1 as he gave up five earned runs on seven hits while striking out six. Carlos Gomez went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, Andy Wilson went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a walk, Michel Abreu went 2 for 5, Bobby Malek went 1 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI, and Jay Caligiuri went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Mike Pelfrey should be on the hill for the B-Mets in their game against Akron today.

Low-A Hagerstown Suns

  • In the only other Met affiliated Minor League game, the Hagerstown Suns beat the Lake County Captains 10-3 behind a strong day at the plate by Fernando Martinez and Jose Castro. Martinez went 3 for 6 with his second homerun on the year, two runs scored, and two RBIs to bring his average up to .349 and Jose Castro went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs. As for the rest, Hector Pellot continues to draw a lot of walks and went 1 for 4 with two runs scored, one RBI, and two walks, Jonathan Sanchez went 3 for 6 with a double and an RBI, Nick Evans went 1 for 4 with two runs scored, Leivi Ventura went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, Jonel Pacheco went 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI, and Drew Butera went 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. Jon Niese picked up the win despite having a rough outing. Niese went five innings giving up three hits, three earned runs, four walks, and struck out four. Jon is now 4-0 with a 3.42 ERA.

30 Responses to “Minor League Recap”

  1. Comment posted by Emad on May 3, 2006 at 10:24 pm (#36614)

    Martinez went 3 for 6 with his second homerun on the year, two runs scored, and two RBIs to bring his average up to .349

    It’s clear Low-A is beneath Fernando. Can he see St. Lucie already?

  2. Comment posted by Teufel on May 4, 2006 at 12:12 am (#36627)

    Callis from BBall America said twice this week that FM is the real deal. Regardless of whether he moves up, in, out, whatever…that is a huge chip. As many baseball people believe that is the bible

  3. Comment posted by Emad on May 4, 2006 at 12:25 am (#36628)

    Regardless of whether he moves up, in, out, whatever

    No, no, no…

    Fernando should move forwards not backwards, upwards not forwards, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.

  4. Comment posted by Jesse on May 4, 2006 at 12:44 am (#36632)

    Fernando should move forwards not backwards, upwards not forwards, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.

    Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.

  5. Comment posted by robert griffin on May 4, 2006 at 1:11 am (#36636)

    I say leave him in Hagerstown and learn how to play some 1B as by the time he comes up CF and one of the Corners will be taken by Milledge, and if Nady continues to play this way he will lock up the other Corner Position, Wouldn’t he just fit in as the Delgado twilight days still to shine and fade however you want to put it. Fernando could move up the ranks a lot faster playing 1b then in the outfield the way the Mets are top heavy in the outfield thruout their minor and big league teams.

  6. Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 4, 2006 at 1:26 am (#36638)

    Cue the sour grapes.

    Jered Weaver is doing well.

    Stephen Drew is doing okay too.

    Some guy named Phil Hughes is having a nice season for the team across town.

    Glad we took Humber.

    In good news, however, Baseball America is basically drooling over Fernando Martinez. Check it:

    Martinez signed for $1.4 million out of the Dominican Republic last summer. Though he was a free agent then and would be restricted to negotiating with one team in the draft, he’d do better this June.

    In a draft crop that’s very thin on position players and is getting the worst early reviews since the 2000 bunch, Martinez would be coveted. Realistically, he’s at least three years away from the major leagues, so that might keep him from going No. 1 overall, but he’d likely be one of the first five or 10 picks. He’s better than any high school position player available, and you could argue him against the top college position players. Martinez has a higher ceiling than Long Beach State third baseman Evan Longoria, and scouts believe he’s a safer bet to hit than Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs.

    Martinez already is an advanced hitter and he also has above-average power potential. With solid speed and a strong arm, he projects as a quality all-around right fielder. For the sake of comparison, he’s outperforming the other 17-year-old phenoms in the South Atlantic League, Braves shortstop Elvis Andrus (.221/.279/.284) and Yankees outfielder Jose Tabata (.329/.342/.452).

    They also mention that Pelfrey has similar talents to Justin Verlander, although Verlander is better. In my opinion, Verlander is probably the second best young pitcher in all of baseball right now, with only Felix Hernandez to look up to.

  7. Comment posted by Andrew Hintz on May 4, 2006 at 1:33 am (#36639)

    Cue the sour grapes.

    Jered Weaver is doing well.

    Stephen Drew is doing okay too.

    Some guy named Phil Hughes is having a nice season for the team across town.

    Glad we took Humber.

    When Humber becomes a better pitcher than both Weaver and Hughes I’m going to laugh and giggle. But what I won’t do is rub it in your face, I promise.

  8. Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 4, 2006 at 1:52 am (#36642)

    When Humber becomes a better pitcher than both Weaver and Hughes I’m going to laugh and giggle.

    If Humber puts together a single season better than Hughes or Weaver, I’ll buy you a ticket to Shea to see him. Don’t hold your breath.

  9. Comment posted by Andrew Hintz on May 4, 2006 at 1:59 am (#36644)

    If Humber puts together a single season better than Hughes or Weaver, I’ll buy you a ticket to Shea to see him. Don’t hold your breath.

    I am absolutely holding you to this. Give him four years — he will be a righthanded Barry Zito, and guys like YOU! will be sheepishly remembering when they were so down on the guy.

    I want a hotdog while I’m there too.

  10. Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 4, 2006 at 2:41 am (#36649)

    Give him four years — he will be a righthanded Barry Zito, and guys like YOU! will be sheepishly remembering when they were so down on the guy.

    Yeah, you’re probably right on that comparison. The question is, can right-handed Barry Zito actually get anyone out? Even left-handed Barry Zito has been having a problem with that.

  11. Gravatar
  12. Comment posted by JK47 on May 4, 2006 at 3:20 am (#36654)

    We basically got a free first-round pick with Martinez. Better than any high school position player available… sweet. They should just leave him down there and let him put up a big stat line. He’s only 17, and this minor league season is really like his high school senior season.

  13. Comment posted by udamnwright on May 4, 2006 at 9:20 am (#36666)

    Let Fernando play in Hagerstown this year, so he can get used to country have a chance to succeed and if he slumps he will be in familiar surroundings. He is 17 or just 18 if he is this good he can start at the PSL next year and finish it a Binghamton. Leave him alone for a while it has been one month.

  14. Comment posted by Adam from Chicago on May 4, 2006 at 10:08 am (#36669)

    Humber gets a free pass this year. He won’t be back until June and then it usually takes a few months for pitchers to get back to normal. So this year could already be graded an incomplete for him.

    And can we see Fernando at least play in Binghamton before we call him a future superstar?

  15. Comment posted by Danny on May 4, 2006 at 10:11 am (#36670)

    We basically got a free first-round pick with Martinez.

    That’s what makes Omar smart. He signs big-ticket free agents, but then supplements the loss of those early draft picks by plucking your best Latin American prospects, who are not subject to the draft and are essentially free agents. See Deolis Guerra and Fernando Martinez.

    And once the Mets maybe don’t have to bring in a big-ticket free agent, Omar will get high draft picks and highly coveted Latin players.

    And then GMs will be racing to the phones to try and find the next Latino GM…

  16. Comment posted by Danny on May 4, 2006 at 10:38 am (#36672)

    And then GMs will be racing to the phones to try and find the next Latino GM…

    That should read: And then Owners

    Although the line is much funnier the first way.

  17. Comment posted by Andrew Hintz on May 4, 2006 at 11:00 am (#36677)

    And can we see Fernando at least play in Binghamton before we call him a future superstar?

    Hey, Albert Pujols played only three games over A-Ball and he turned out all right! And, just because I brought up the Pujols comparison:

    Pujols’ numbers in 2000 A-Ball (age 20) = .324/.389/.565 - 17 HRs, 37 2B’s in 395 at-bats.
    Fernando’s numbers in 2006 A-Ball (age 17) = .349/.421/.554 - on pace for 9 HRs, 33 2B’s in 395 at-bats.

    Not saying he’s a future Pujols by any means, all I’m saying is it bodes well for the future.

  18. Comment posted by garrybl on May 4, 2006 at 11:10 am (#36678)

    re post 6 on this thread.
    Is there really a baseball player called Eva(n) Longoria??
    Boy will he have been coming in for some stick over the last few years!

  19. Comment posted by Danny on May 4, 2006 at 12:40 pm (#36687)

    re post 6 on this thread.
    Is there really a baseball player called Eva(n) Longoria??
    Boy will he have been coming in for some stick over the last few years!

    Let’s see if I can figure out this link thing. Best part of this:

    If Evan met Eva: “I would hope for extra bases. Definitely not a home run.”

  20. Comment posted by Michael Oliver on May 4, 2006 at 2:22 pm (#36701)

    I am absolutely holding you to this. Give him four years — he will be a righthanded Barry Zito, and guys like YOU! will be sheepishly remembering when they were so down on the guy.

    I could watch his curve every day, all day. The thing is just silly. Throw on top he hits 97 and works in the 92-94 range and is more or bulldog than Zito in terms of attacking hitters, he could be better. Yeah, yeah, he has not pitched yet, but I said could be. He has really, really good stuff.

  21. Comment posted by Andrew Hintz on May 4, 2006 at 2:29 pm (#36703)

    I could watch his curve every day, all day. The thing is just silly. Throw on top he hits 97 and works in the 92-94 range and is more or bulldog than Zito in terms of attacking hitters, he could be better. Yeah, yeah, he has not pitched yet, but I said could be. He has really, really good stuff.

    Exactly! The guy is a terrific pitcher. People are down on him now because a.) he was considered a “safe” pick and b.) he pitched his only season injured. But don’t mistake a “safe” pick as being a bad one — all that means is that the guy was supposed to be major-league ready quickly, not that he was any less talented than the rest of the pool. A-Rod was a “safe” pick. Josh Beckett and Ben Sheets were both “safe” picks.

    Once Humber gets healthy, there’ll be a whole lot of people eating crow.

  22. Comment posted by PDNH on May 4, 2006 at 2:42 pm (#36706)

    Pelfrey got rocked this afternoon. My universe is crumbling!
    IP H R ER BB K
    4.0 13 5 5 1 3

  23. Comment posted by Michael Oliver on May 4, 2006 at 3:01 pm (#36707)

    Exactly! The guy is a terrific pitcher. People are down on him now because a.) he was considered a “safe” pick and b.) he pitched his only season injured. But don’t mistake a “safe” pick as being a bad one — all that means is that the guy was supposed to be major-league ready quickly, not that he was any less talented than the rest of the pool. A-Rod was a “safe” pick. Josh Beckett and Ben Sheets were both “safe” picks.

    That being said, as much as I like him too, I would have taken Drew in retrospect. I think he fits perfectly long term with this team if he was playing 2nd base.

    Pelfrey got bitched up big time. Ouch. Thirteen hits is a lot…

  24. Comment posted by Jose Reyes, RBI Machine on May 4, 2006 at 3:52 pm (#36713)

    A-Rod was a “safe” pick.

    A consensus #1 isn’t a safe pick. A safe pick is taking a guy w/ a limited ceiling because you’re too afraid to take the guy with the higher upside. Sometimes taking a safe pick is a good idea. Taking Humber wans’t. Jered Weaver could be considered a safe pick too because he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he’s better than Humber at least.

  25. Comment posted by Andrew Hintz on May 4, 2006 at 4:02 pm (#36714)

    A consensus #1 isn’t a safe pick. A safe pick is taking a guy w/ a limited ceiling because you’re too afraid to take the guy with the higher upside. Sometimes taking a safe pick is a good idea. Taking Humber wans’t. Jered Weaver could be considered a safe pick too because he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he’s better than Humber at least.

    No no no, a “safe” pick is a pick you make because it fills a need you have, will get to the majors relatively quickly, and will perform to the expectations you have set. Taking Humber, as you will one day see, was a good pick. He won’t ever be a number one, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will be three times the pitcher Weaver is.

    AND YOU DON’T GO CRYING TO YOUR DADDY WHEN I WIPE IT UP WITH YOUR FACE, JRRM!

  26. Comment posted by Victor on May 4, 2006 at 4:16 pm (#36715)

    $1.4 mln is not cheap for a “first round pick.” many things can happen between now and when FM makes it to the big leagues, how many can’t miss prospects have we seen miss. In fact, the better way to look at it is how many have actually made it, even more remote, how many have met or exceeded expectations. I honestly can’t think of any that have lived up to the NY hype machine. Wright comes close but he has was supposed to be an MVP by now, at least according to the NY media.

  27. Comment posted by Michael Oliver on May 4, 2006 at 4:29 pm (#36716)

    Jered Weaver could be considered a safe pick too because he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he’s better than Humber at least.

    Absolutely wrong. Weaver was safe yes, but he was safe because he was so refined and close to the bigs. Humber’s ceiling is widely considered higher as many people will say Weaver is a #3/back-end guy at best. As for Humber, he can be a #1 or #2 and has dynamite stuff.

    Both good prospects, but Humber has a higher ceiling by far.

  28. Comment posted by Michael Oliver on May 4, 2006 at 4:38 pm (#36718)

    $1.4 mln is not cheap for a “first round pick

    Jim Callis said that F-Mart, was he eligible for the draft this year, could be considered the top position prospect. That being said, he’s a top ten pick mose likely if he was in the draft and would have most assuredly gotten more than $1.4 million. The Padres actually offered more, but he came the Mets…that’s the story anyway.

    $1.4 was actually a bargain.

    As far as the NY hype machine, Baseball America and John Sickels don’t subsribe to the hype machine of the NY media. They do their own scouting and based on their assessments, FM is the real deal. Now I’m not saying he will flame out, but saying the is three years away is quite a testament to this player. He is 17. 17…18…19…20. He could be in the bigs by 20. Scary thought. This kid has as much talent as anyone.

  29. Comment posted by Emad on May 4, 2006 at 4:50 pm (#36720)

    Maybe the Mets can trade Pelfrey for Stephen Drew before they ultimately ruin another “stud” pitching prospect.

    TINSTAAPP

  30. Comment posted by Constnza81 on May 4, 2006 at 7:14 pm (#36723)

    Re: Pelfrey’s start … of those 14 hits, only two were for extra bases (2 doubles) so it’s not like it was batting practice out there.

  31. Comment posted by SyracuseMetsFan on May 4, 2006 at 11:42 pm (#36736)

    All I need is FM to get promoted to Binghamton and I’ll have it all - Pelfrey, Soler and FM for my jaunts down I-81 to see the B_Mets.

    Fortunately, Norfolk comes to play the Syracuse Chiefs later in May - maybe a chance to catch Lima Time!? I promise to represent the Mets twisted Blogosphere by rooting for Norfolk while booing Lima Time! all at once.

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