4/24/09

Minor Stuff - April 24, 2009




The Herd:


1B Nick Evans and RHP Dillon Gee of the Buffalo Bisons will appear at the McKinley Mall’s Barnes & Noble and meet with children to discuss the importance of the Center for Screen Time Awareness’s National TV Turnoff Week. - Friday, April 24 (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)

B-Mets:


The B-Mets loaded the bases twice with one out in the seventh and eighth innings, but failed to score against the four New Hampshire relievers, falling 3-2 at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium Thursday night. Binghamton (7-5) starter Jose Sanchez gave up three runs over 4.2 innings to take the loss, including a two-out two-run single in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference in the contest. Brian Dopirak, who scored the Fisher Cats first run in the game after doubling in the second, brought in two with a bases-loaded single to right in the last of the fifth, making the score 3-1. In the top of the sixth, the B-Mets got a run back against New Hampshire (10-4) starter Marc Rzcepczynski when Caleb Stewart broke an 0-11 slump with an RBI double down the left field to score Carl Loadenthal from second, getting the B-Mets within a run at 3-2. That was as close as Binghamton got, however, as four relievers combined to stymie the Mets’ hitters with 3.1 innings of shutout relief. Leon Boyd picked up his fourth save of the season throwing the final 1.1 innings. Rzcepczynski (3-1) picked up the win going 5.2 innings surrendering two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Josh Petersen went 1-2 with two walks for the second straight game and Mark Kiger and Matt Bouchard pounded out doubles in the loss.


From local article about Wednesday night’s game:

The B-Mets also got a great start out of Dylan Owen, who struck out six in 5 2/3 innings, and another fantastic outing from their bullpen. Edgar Alfonzo (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief to get the win in his first appearance of the season, and Roy Merritt pitched the final two innings for his sixth save in as many chances. "It was very nice to see Alfonzo come in and do a good job," B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said. "And Mr. Merritt ... that's a legit save." Owen, who gave up six runs in just three innings in his last start, was solid from the get-go. His six strikeouts were more than he threw in his first two starts. Of 96 pitches he threw, 61 were strikes.


It’s good to see Owen throw a dominant game. I’ve been moving him down the prospect list because I just can’t figure out where to slot him and if he has the stuff to make it to the bigs.



Lucy:


From MiLB.com:


THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Mets opened the season by splitting four games with Sarasota, but have since fashioned a four-game winning streak against Fort Myers and Charlotte.


WHO'S HOT:


Southpaw Angel Calero got a taste of the Florida State League last season, but didn't distinguish himself in four starts for the Mets. That appears to have changed in the early going this year, as he is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA through two starts. He's fanned 10 and allowed only one earned run in 11 innings. ... RHP Emary Frederick is beginning his second season with St. Lucie in fine fashion, going 1-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA through eight innings in five appearances. ... OF Seth Williams, a 40th-round pick last year out of North Carolina, is hitting .333 (7-for-21) with two RBIs. ... RHP Scott Shaw is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA after two starts.

THIS AND THAT:


RHP Brad Holt rebounded from an abysmal first outing (nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings against Sarasota) to toss six shutout innings against Charlotte, during which he fanned seven and allowed only four hits. ... 1B Ike Davis, the 18th pick in last year's draft, is off to a mediocre start. He's hitting .256 with two RBIs through 43 ABs. He hit .256 with 17 RBIs in 215 at-bats last season for Brooklyn.


Gnats:


From MiLB.com:


THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Sand Gnats were riding a five-game winning streak before running into Charleston on Tuesday morning. Still, they are 8-4 as they ready for a three-game set with Rome.


SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION: RHP Chris Schwinden is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts against Augusta. He has seven strikeouts in 11 innings. He was born in Visalia, Calif. which is where the Mets had a California League affiliate for eight years in the late 60s and early 70s.


WHO'S HOT: RHP Jeff Kaplan hasn't earned a victory yet but he's allowed only one earned run in 10 innings over two appearances -- one start. ... RHP Eric Beaulac, meanwhile, has earned a win and hasn't allowed a run in nine innings over two appearances. ... SS Wilmer Flores, who won't turn 18 until August, was hitting .349 with seven RBIs through 43 at-bats. ... 2B Josh Satin, a sixth-rounder out of Berkeley in 2008, was hitting .371 through 35 at-bats

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THIS AND THAT: Less than a week after getting pounded by Augusta, LHP Robert Carson returned the favor, one-hitting the GreenJackets over six innings Saturday night. Carson, a 14th-round pick in 2007, had a no-hitter through five. He struck out three and walked one as the Sand Gnats cruised, 18-3. It was the highest Savannah run total in five years. ... The Gnats had the third-lowest ERA in the league [2.18] and the second-highest batting average [.285] heading into Tuesday.

Queens:


Gary Carter is just down the Long Island Expressway now as first-year manager of the Long Island Ducks. But don't expect the Mets former Hall-of-Fame catcher to be lobbying for the Flushing job if Jerry Manuel's club tailspins. Carter, managing the independent Ducks as they open their 10th anniversary season tomorrow in Maryland, has learned his lesson. Last year he created a firestorm, expressing interest in the Mets' job as Willie Randolph twisted in the wind. Carter, a former Expos teammate of Manuel, still sends Christmas cards to the Mets skipper. "If it was viewed as politically incorrect what I said about my interest, I would say yes it was a mistake," Carter said during Ducks' media day at Citibank Park in Central Islip, 45 miles from Flushing. "I wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes or undermine anyone. My intentions were sincere, certainly not malicious by any means. I've learned from it. It won't happen again. I'll tell you that." -- NY Post




Mets Alumni:


Deep-in-debt ex-Met star Lenny Dykstra has been thrown another curve. His wife, Terri, 49, has called it quits on their rocky 23-year marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences" with the former gritty outfielder known as "Nails." She also asked for joint custody of their youngest son, Luke, 13. Divorce papers were filed on April 16 at Ventura County courthouse in California, although the three-time All-Star has yet to be served with them. He moved out of the family's $18 million mansion and into the Westlake Village Four Seasons Hotel. His wife declined to name properties she wants divvied up. They include their Thousand Oaks estate -- the former home of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky -- which faces foreclosure. There's also a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Gulfstream II jet, which has been seized for nonpayment. -- NY Post

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