AAA – International League

Gwinett 3 | Buffalo 4

BATTING
2B: Adams, R (19, Martinez, Cr), House (8, Martinez, Cr), Jacobs (22, Gearrin).
TB: Jacobs 3; Cervenak, M; Adams, R 2; House 2.
RBI: Adams, R 2 (33), Jacobs (53), Padilla, J (13).
2-out RBI: Jacobs.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Perez, O 2; Adams, R.
S: Martinez, F.
SF: Padilla, J.
Team RISP: 2-for-12.
Team LOB: 6.
FIELDING
Pickoffs: House (Jones, M at 1st base).
a-Struck out for De La Torre in the 7th. b-Hit a sacrifice fly for Acosta in the 9th.

Shockingly Ollie P had a good game today.  He was able to go more than 6 innings, only walked 2 batters, and struck out a batter per inning.  He did give up a lot of hits, but the most important thing for Ollie is the walks. If he can ever manage to keep those down he will be more ‘successful’.

AA – Eastern League

Binghamton 5 | New Hampshire 1

BATTING
2B: Ratliff (11, Drabek).
HR: Satin (1, 1st inning off Drabek, 1 on, 1 out), Hubbard (7, 1st inning off Drabek, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Nieuwenhuis 2; Ratliff 4; Satin 4; Hubbard 4; Reyes, R; Coronado 2.
RBI: Satin 2 (15), Hubbard (36), Ratliff (24), Coronado (29).
2-out RBI: Coronado.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Coronado; Hubbard; Maldonado, B.
GIDP: Hubbard.
Team RISP: 2-for-7.
Team LOB: 5.

BASERUNNING
SB: Reyes, R (1, 2nd base off Drabek/Jeroloman), Nieuwenhuis (13, 2nd base off Drabek/Jeroloman).
CS: Nieuwenhuis (5, 2nd base by Everts/Jeroloman), Ratliff (2, 2nd base by Drabek/Jeroloman).

FIELDING
E: Nickeas (8, throw).
DP: 4 (Coronado-Satin-Hubbard 2, Fisher-Hubbard, Lujan-Coronado-Hubbard).

I know people don’t like to look at a pitchers wins for his success, but Josh Stinson is now 7-1 and that is very impressive in my book.  The ability to win like that and not lose is very impressive in my book.  While I would like to the walks come down a little bit I am okay with the strikeouts because of his ability to get ground balls, which has improved since he moved to the rotation.  It took 31 games, but Josh Satin finally went deep for Bingy.  He has continued to with a high average to go along with a BABIP, but I am not too nervous of his average to drop that much or if at all because he has shown an ability to maintain a high BABIP throughout his career.

HiA – Florida State League

Dunedin 1 | St. Lucie 5

BATTING
2B: Castillo, L (1, Page), Flores, W (7, Page).
TB: Valdespin; Castillo, L 2; Flores, W 4; Welch, S; Gronauer; Lucas, R; Pellot 3.
RBI: Flores, W 4 (15), Gronauer (9).
2-out RBI: Gronauer; Flores, W 3.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Fernandez, R; Castillo, L; Gronauer; Lagares; Flores, W.
GIDP: Fernandez, R.
Team RISP: 3-for-11.
Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING
SB: Flores, W (1, 2nd base off Page/Talley).

FIELDING
E: Pellot (3, fielding).
DP: (Flores, W-Welch, S).

Ollie and Brad Holt with good games on the same day?  This wasn’t a great game by any means for Holt but it is more in the mold of his starts back when he was dominating.  A lot of strikeouts and fly balls while keeping the hits down.  Wilmer Flores must not have liked be giving Rafael Fernandez props as he came back today with 3 hits and 4 RBI’s while returning to having the highest batting average on the team.

LoA – South Atlantic League

Greenville 4 | Savannah 2

Cesar Puello hit the magic 30 steals mark today.  Now if only he could get on base or hit for some power he would be in good shape.  It is shocking how low his SLG% given that he is not that small of a guy and you would expect at least 5 home runs by now

SSA – New York-Penn League

Brooklyn 8 | Tri-City 0

BATTING
2B: Nieves (1, Martinez, Da), Harrison (3, Martinez, Da), Brown (3, Martinez, Da).
HR: Brown (1, 6th inning off Chowning, 0 on, 0 out), Flagg (4, 9th inning off Sogard, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Nieves 3; Ceciliani, D 3; Vaughn 2; Flagg 5; Bonfe; Harrison 3; Brown 6; Centeno.
RBI: Ceciliani, D 2 (14), Brown 2 (9), Bonfe (11), Flagg (22).
2-out RBI: Ceciliani, D; Flagg.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Brown 2; Flagg; Holliday, C.
SF: Bonfe.
Team RISP: 4-for-11.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
SB: Nieves (4, 2nd base off Martinez, Da/Heath), Bonfe (2, 2nd base off Chowning/Heath), Vaughn (5, 2nd base off Martinez, Da/Heath).

FIELDING
DP: (Flagg).

A.J. Pinera was much better in this start than in his first start an earned his first professional victory.  The offense was clicking on all cylinders tonight with the Cyclones scoring runs in five consecutive innings. J.B. Brown had a good game with 2 extra base hits (a home run and double) and every starter except Cody Holliday had a hit tonight.

RK – Appalachian League

Kingsport 6 | Johnson City 7

BATTING
2B: Lora (2, Whiting), Schafer (8, Whiting), Zapata, N (5, Whiting), Rodriguez, Ja (6, Benes), Van Gurp (3, Nadeau), Rodriguez, A (10, Patterson).
3B: Semel (2, Whiting).
HR: Farrell (1, 4th inning off Whiting, 2 on, 0 out).
TB: Van Gurp 3; Schafer 2; McQueen; Rodriguez, A 2; Rodriguez, Ja 2; Zapata, N 2; Farrell 5; Lora 2; Semel 3.
RBI: Lora (3), Farrell 3 (3), Van Gurp (10).
2-out RBI: Lora.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Semel; Rodriguez, A; McQueen; Farrell; Schafer 2; Zapata, N 2; Van Gurp.
S: Semel.
GIDP: Rodriguez, A.
Team RISP: 2-for-18.
Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING
SB: McQueen (8, 2nd base off Nadeau/Stanley).

FIELDING
E: Zapata, N (4, fielding), Rodriguez, A (7, fielding), Schafer (5, fielding).
PB: Zapata, N (10).
Outfield assists: Semel (Ruiz, Ro at 3rd base).
DP: (Semel-Rodriguez, A-Van Gurp-Schafer).

a-Struck out for Van Gurp in the 11th.
1-Ran for Lora in the 11th. 2-Ran for Rodriguez, A in the 12th.

Everyday this offense puts up runs, but 3 errors and a passed ball helped contribute to 5 unearned runs scoring and allowing this game go into extras where the team lost in the 12th.  This team can sure hit, but their defense is awful, which is fully expected of kids at this level.

Buffalo Bisons vs. Rochester Red Wings – 1:05 pm.

New Hampshire Fisher Catas vs. Binghamton Mets – 1:00 p.m.
B.J. LaMura (2-3, 3.94) Mark Cohoon (1-0, 4.91)
Gameday | Boxscore

St. Lucie Mets vs. Charlotte Stone Crabs – 5:35 p.m.
Brad Holt (1-2, 5.79) vs. Matt Moore (4-8, 4.60)
Gameday | Boxscore

Savannah Sand Gnats vs. Asheville Tourists - 7:05 p.m.
TBD vs. Wes Musick (6-6, 4.47)
Gameday | Boxscore

State College Spikes vs. Brooklyn Cyclones - 5:05 p.m.
Angel Cuan (1-0, 2.35) vs. Tyler Wilson (0-2, 5.71)
Gameday | Boxscore

Johnson City Cardinals vs. Kingsport Mets - 7:00 p.m.
TBD vs. Lanchlan Hodge (0-2, 10.38)
Gameday | Boxscore

Binghamton Mets vs. Altoona Curve – 7:00 p.m.
Mark Cohoon (1-0, 5.06) vs. Tim Alderson (7-4, 4.63)
Gameday | Boxscore

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs. St. Lucie Mets – 7:00 p.m.
Shane Dyer (4-4, 2.45) vs. Oliver Perez (0-1, 6.00)
Gameday | Boxscore

Rome Braves vs. Savannah Sand Gnats - 7:05 p.m.
Caleb Brewer (2-1, 2.92) vs. Collin McHugh (3-6, 3.48)
Gameday | Boxscore

Brooklyn Cyclones vs. Jamestown Jammers – 7:00 p.m.
TBD vs. TBD
Gameday | Boxscore

Kingsport Mets vs. Grenneville Astros - 7:00 p.m.
Brett Mitchell (1-1, 1.86) vs. Ricardo Batista (0-1, 9.00)
Gameday | Boxscore

Wow sorry I thought I posted this earlier, but I just saved it as a draft.

The old saying goes “you can never have too much pitching”, but I still don’t see a D-Train in New York even if it is on a minor league deal.  The Mets have an abundance of starters right now just like Dontrelle.  There is Jon Niese and Fernando Nieve competing for the #5 spot on the Mets rotation. New comer Hisanori Takahashi turning heads and then there is Nelson Figueroa and Tobi Stoner.  And I would probably take all 5 if not definitely at least 4 of them over D-Train.

The only way the Mets need to bring in a starting pitcher is if he is an established #3 or better.  Plus despite the gaudy ERA D-Train’s command has been a bit erratic with 5 walks and 2 hit batsmen in just 10 innings.  Sorry we already have enough erratic lefties with past success on this team(I’m looking at you Oliver Perez). Let’s take a pass on this one.

In an exclusive to New York Baseball Digest, a source with intimate knowledge of the results has confirmed that Meet the Mets is the runaway winner in the 2009 Eighth Inning Sing-a-Long Contest. While official vote totals and results cannot be released at this time, pending their certification by the New York Mets Board of Elections, we can reveal that Meet the Mets easily defeated second-place finisher Twist and Shout. Curly Shuffle finished just behind Twist and Shout, with Mama Said Knock You Out, inexplicably, a strong fourth.

The Ropolitans – Oliver Perez’s Balls and Strikes

This is a simple pie chart of Oliver Perez’s balls and strikes from his start on July 8, 2009.  I guess this is where the seven walks stems from.

When David Wright stood up and admitted after Tuesday’s game, “We stink right now,” it seemed out of place and out of character for the face of the franchise.It seemed right on target, but unlike what the politically-correct face of the Mets franchise usually would espouse, even under the worst of circumstances. So it caused you to wonder, had the frustration finally boiled over in Wright?“Last night wasn’t frustration,” Wright said before Wednesday night’s 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. “That was the truth.”

This week, Sports Illustrated magazine has come out with their annual “Where Are They Now” issue. There are two articles in the issue that are so good, I feel the need to comment on them. Article number 1 deals with the most special of all the Met teams, the 1969 World Champions. In the article there is a picture of Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan wearing Mets jackets (Ryan even has a Met on). Maybe I’m just a sentimental old fool, but there’s something about seeing the Franchise wearing Mets blue and orange that gives my the goose bumps.

Former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra has sought bankruptcy protection in Los Angeles, citing more than $31 million in debts. Federal court documents show Dykstra filed for Chapter 11 status on Tuesday. He listed assets of $50,000 or less and liabilities of between $10 million and $50 million. Dykstra, whose lifestyle included a lavish house, a jet and a Rolls Royce, says he owes millions of dollars to his 20 largest creditors, many of them banks. His filing follows at least two dozen lawsuits over his business and financial dealings.

Metsblog.com – Buzz: D-Back’s Will Make More Deals

Yesterday, the D-Backs traded reliever Tony Pena to the White Sox for 23–year-old infield prospect Brandon Allen. In a post to his Twitter page, SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the D-Backs love Allen, ‘and can see him as their starting first baseman next year.’ …if the D-Backs like allen for first next season, i wonder what the future holds for 29–year-old 1B-3B Chad Tracy, who has struggled three seasons, complete with all sorts of injuries…

NY Baseball Digest – Please Don’t Stop the Music

I get the inability to put a fixed timetable on the return of Jose Reyes, of Carlos Beltran, of Carlos Delgado. They are individuals looking to recover from injuries. But how are the Mets unable to put a fixed timetable on their own eighth inning sing-a-long contest? Now, more than ever, Mets fans need music to help them through this difficult time. But the status of the eighth inning singalong is murkier than Jose Reyes’ diagnosis. Think music doesn’t matter? My wife is convinced the current postseason drought is directly related to an absence of any updates to Lucas Prada’s Mets version of And She Said…, one of the first songs to ever name drop Cliff Floyd.

Mets Today – Six Million Dollar Man Sequal

For those as old as me, you may remember Steve Austin, astronaut, who after a terrible accident was rebuilt to become the “Bionic Man”. Tonight at 7:10 PM the sequel to that great 1970s TV series arrives. Due to inflation, it is now “The 36-Million-Dollar Man”. But the plot is essentially the same. Except, instead of an astronaut, it’s a baseball pitcher.

The Star Ledger – From the disabled list, New York Mets’ struggles are hard for Carlos Beltran to watch

In the two weeks since he was placed on the disabled list, center fielder Carlos Beltran said he has watched all the Mets’ games. But it hasn’t been very enjoyable. “I go to the basement,” Beltran said, “and I let my wife be upstairs.” The team has floundered without Beltran, shortstop Jose Reyes and first baseman Carlos Delgado — who are all on the disabled list — picking up its fourth straight loss and ninth in 11 games Tuesday night against the Dodgers. The games have gotten more and more difficult for Beltran to watch and, with news Tuesday that his next MRI will be during the All-Star Break and his return is not imminent, the All-Star wonders where the team will be at when he does suit up again.

Oliver Perez has rejoined the Mets in advance of his activation, for what’s confirmed as a start on Wednesday against the Dodgers. Here’s the lineup for Saturday’s matchup with the Phillies:

Amazin’ Stories – F-Mart is Out

Fernando Martinez is out of action with pain behind his right knee.  He said he experienced similar pain two years ago and it cost him six weeks. But he insisted this should just be a couple days. He will be examined by team doctors Monday in New York.

Metsblog – News: Redding Out of Rotation

Oliver Perez will make the start against the Dodgers at Citi Field on Wednesday, replacing Tim Redding in the starting rotation.Redding will be moved to the bullpen.

The Star Ledger - New York Mets’ David Wright won’t have much time to rest during All-Star break

David Wright is a virtual lock to be named the starting third baseman on the NL All-Star team Sunday, which is both good and bad for the Mets. Good because it reflects the fact that Wright has stayed healthy and played well during a first half of the season in which the Mets have lost most of their best players to injuries. Bad because, after playing in all but one of the Mets’ 79 games so far, Wright could use a few days’ rest as much as any player in baseball.

Mack’s Mets – Mets 2009 Draft Stats Update

Nefli Zapata – C – 18-yrs old – GCL – .391/.483/.565/1.046

Travis Ozga – 1B – 22-yrs old – GCL – .143/.217/.190/.408

Cody Hoiliday – LF – 21-yrs old – GCL – .125/.300/.188/.488

ZeErika Hall – OF – 21-yrs old – GCL – .000/.333/.000/.333

Daniel Carela – RP – 21-yrs old – GCL – 0-0, 6.00, 1.33

**Ike Davis Update: Davis found his power stroke in May at St. Lucie, bringing his numbers there up to .288/.376/.486, very nice numbers for the Florida State League. Promoted to Double-A last week, he’s hitting .400/.538/.550 through six games at Binghamton. He’s 8-for-20 with three doubles, five strikeouts, and six walks so far. The fact that he’s maintained the walk rate at the higher level is a good sign. He will likely need some consolidation time at this level and if I were the Mets I wouldn’t consider a promotion to Triple-A until August at the earliest, if he’s hitting well. Nevertheless, he’s exceeded the expectations I had for him in the book and has calmed concerns about his bat.

NY Post – What the Mets Should Do

I think one really dumb thing that is getting repeated over and over again is that the Mets shouldn’t make any moves because they have so much wrong with them that no one move would help. If your house is flooded, you start one room at a time to clean it up, though all the other rooms remain flooded when you are working on that first one. If the Mets truly believe that they are going to get back major pieces from injury starting in about 1-2 weeks with Oliver Perez, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and others, then they[...]

Mets Merized ed Online - Is the Mets Organization Falling Apart?

It seems to me that the Mets are in a lot of trouble.  I’m not talking about the fact that the Mets are now in 3rd place and are now under .500.  I’m talking about the 9 baseball players that are currently on the disabled list or that their salaries equal almost 70 million dollars.  The organization itself seems to be in disarray.  The organization from top to bottom seem to be throwing each other under the bus to preserve themselves.  Last winter we all know that Manny Ramirez was a free agent.  Before it was revealed that Manny used performance enhancing drugs there was a lot of people who wanted Manny to be part of the Mets.  Omar Minaya we all know had been trying to get Manny to become a member of this team since he became the general manager.[...]

Long Island Met Fan – Below .500 Oh Joy

Now we can spend the day saying , oh if we win we are back to .500. Does it matter. I mean we have Argenis Reyes batting lead off. We have Fernando Tatis playing second in a double switch. Brian Stokes giving up a grand slam to the guy who just gave us life the inning before. Then of course David Wright getting another meaning less hit in the 9th inning to drive in a run. Now for the last week everyone is like the Mets need to make a trade. Of course though with every loss the price goes up.

Mets Fan Forever – What More Can I Say?

I am officially running out of things to write about the Mets. What can I add that hasn’t been already mentioned nationwide by people who are now treating our team as a laughing stock. The fact that they are only 3 games out is amazing in itself to me. I just hope that we can hold it together until Delgado, Beltran and Reyes come back but I have my doubts.