5/27/10

Jason Vargas, Figgy, Bryce Brentz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis... and Ike Davis

Jason Vargas:


According to the qualifications set up by Detroit Free Press sports writer John Lowe, inventor of the “quality start” measurement, for a pitcher to earn one he must throw six innings and allow fewer than three earned runs. Under those parameters, Seattle left-hander Jason Vargas didn’t get one in the Mariners’ 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. Vargas pitched five innings, allowing a Magglio OrdoƱez two-run homer, seven hits, two walks and a hit batter. It snapped a string of seven straight quality starts for Vargas, second most in the American League. But manager Don Wakamatsu still found some quality in Vargas’ effort, even if it didn’t measure up to Lowe’s qualifications. “I thought he pitched a good ballgame,” Wakamatsu said. “Two runs in five innings isn’t necessarily a quality start, but he battled and he kept us in the ballgame - link




Figgy:

Phillies reliever Nelson Figueroa said in his two years with the Mets, he gave the team "blood, sweat, tears, my heart and my soul." Now he wouldn't give them the time of day. After being shocked by his release from the Mets in early April and landing with the defending NL champ Phillies, Figueroa last night painted the Mets as a petty, often dysfunctional outfit that worries too much about the other guys and not enough about themselves. And if you wonder if Figueroa is motivated against the Mets, his answer is simple. "Absolutely."  - link








Bryce Brentz:

7. Mets - Bryce Brentz (OF) - Middle Tennessee State - New York has been out in force to scout Brentz in recent weeks, including a trip by Omar Minaya to see the outfielder. They still like Zack Cox in this spot and would love a shot at Pomeranz or Chris Sale. - link

Kirk Nieuwenhuis:

Stock up: Nieuwenhuis has quietly been putting together a decent year in AA, but there just wasn’t that home run pop we got used to last season at St. Lucie. Well, that’s not true anymore. Kirk hit #7 of the young year last night, which is his third in the past five games. His slugging percentage is up to .500 and his OPS is .837. It will be interesting to see what the Mets do with him next season. They gave him a taste over Fernando Martinez at ST and I can speak firsthand about how much he enjoyed being part of the Mets locker room with the Queens boys. Martinez will obviously not be ready to play centerfield at Citi Field, but Nieuwenhuis is earning playing CF in Buffalo, over F-Mart. As I said, interesting decision coming up for the Mets.

Ike Davis:

The Mets resisted the temptation to open the season with the 23-year-old Davis, who had never played above Double-A, as their first baseman, but it took just 11 games of Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis (plus one of Frank Catalanotto) for them to cave. Davis, the 18th overall pick in the 2008 draft and the son of former Yankees and Twins reliever Ron, arrived on April 19, went 2-for-4 in his first game, and hasn't stopped hitting since. That Davis, who was Leake's teammate at ASU, is hitting is not a huge surprise. That he has done most of his damage against lefties (.440/.481/.760 compared to 244/.376/.390 against righties) is and is a great indicator for his continued success. - link

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