May
10
2012

Mets Minor Rumblings: Nimmo, Wheeler & Flores Updates, Familia & Harvey Splits

An article by Joe D

12 Comments

Last night, Ben Wagner tweeted a cool piece by our friend Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.

Check out these Home/Road splits on Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia:

Harvey Home: 2 starts, 0-0, 8.22 ERA, 7.2 IP, 9H, 7 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
Harvey Away: 5 starts, 3-1, 2.86 ERA, 28.1 IP, 27H, 9 ER, 11 BB, 27K

Familia Home: 4 starts, 1-1, 6.88 ERA, 17 IP, 17H, 13 ER, 19 BB, 17K
Familia Away: 2 starts, 1-0, 1.86 ERA, 9.2 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 12K

Those are some pretty wild variances, but for those of you thinking the weather had something to do with it like I did, Mike says:

“It’s been cold in Buffalo at times, but not really much worse than any other Northeast city. The whole thing is hard to figure out, especially when you talk about a Buffalo team that’s 19-13 overall and 10-6 at home.”

Good stuff, Mike…

Speaking of Harvey and Familia, Adam Rubin of ESPN posted some quotes from Triple-A Buffalo pitching coach Mark Brewer who offered some keen insights on both Familia and Harvey as well as reliever Josh Edgin during a pre-game radio show. Regarding Harvey, Brewer said:

Matt did a good job last night without his best stuff, and without the use of his changeup that he’s going to have to throw a little more often. But he got through those six innings and put up six zeroes, and it was good to see for us and for him. But there’s some things that he needs to work on. And we’ve talked about it, and he’s capable of taking it to the next level, for sure. But he’s got to become more efficient and threw less pitches in six innings.

Check out Rubin’s post for more.

Photo Credit: Petey Pete, Mets Merized Online

Zack Wheeler (1-2, 1.75 ERA) has officially been activated from the DL, and is scheduled to start tonight for Binghamton. We reported on Tuesday that Wheeler pronounced himself ready to take his regular turn in the rotation this week.

I was told that third baseman Wilmer Flores “will get promoted” to Binghamton once some logistics are worked out and they move some people around. Additionally, what has the Mets more excited about Flores than anything else, is “his contact rate” and that “the kid is striking out only once per eleven at-bats.”

That’s great, but I’m more excited about the fact Flores leads the team in batting, hits, total bases, RBI and that he is one of the keys to St. Lucie’s 26-7 record – the best mark in professional baseball.

Flores is currently in the top ten in over a dozen offensive categories in the FSL including home runs, total bases, batting, slugging, base hits and just about everything except OBP. At 20, Flores is also one of the youngest players in the FSL and is mixing it up with players that are 2-5 years older than him.

I want to thank Laura Murphy (@joychica) for sending in this picture she took of Brandon Nimmo signing autographs at St. Lucie. Yesterday, we heard that Brandon Nimmo had gotten off to a slow start swinging the bat at Extended Spring Training in St. Lucie, but that he has recently shown some signs that he is coming out of it and is now getting some good swings at the plate. Come on Brandon, we’re all pulling for you…

A couple of more cool pics Laura emailed us….

Cory Vaughn digs in.

Danny Muno takes a turn at bat.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

12 Comments + Add Comment

Dan Valis May 10, 2012 at 1:49 pm

very cool Joe, a lot of interesting stats. I am very excited to see so many of our young kids performing well early in the season, mainly the position players.

Last season many of our top hitting prospects such as Vaughn and Flores struggle at the dish and it’s great to see them rebound in such a strong way to start 2012
Seligman May 10, 2012 at 1:58 pm

Great stuff. Glad Wheeler is back and that we can all exhale now. I love reading about our baby Mets.
Squidoo May 10, 2012 at 2:27 pm

Joe, I just want to point out that in the lower levels, things like contact rate, walk rate and strikeout rate are very important in determining a young players development and growth. Their actual performance is important too but it’s weighed more in the upper levels. But thanks for sharing the info on Flores who may be back on the top five of the Mets prospects if he keeps this up. Very good to see.
- trs86 May 10, 2012 at 2:30 pm
  
  Agreed, high contact rate and low strike out rates are great as they show that with added strength the player will develop more extra base potential. Walk rate is just showing their plate discipline and that they will not get themselves out at a high rate.
  - stick May 10, 2012 at 3:05 pm
    
    sometimes it in an indication that they have the tools (iow potential) and that production comes from finally figuring out how to use them.
    
    some guys don’t really even show the tools. they don’t tend to make it!
- Metro69 May 10, 2012 at 2:42 pm
  
  This.
Petey Pete May 10, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Great job Laura! Love the pics!!
Mr North Jersey May 10, 2012 at 8:15 pm

With not much to see 2nite been listening to Wheeler’s start since his DL and after 5 innings his line is 6/H, 2/R, 2/ER, 1/BB, 7/SO. He sounded pretty good tonight. 1 of the runs scored on what appeared was a bad call by the ump after calling the runner safe at the plate due to the catcher bobbling the ball. BMets manager got ejected arguing the call. 3rd time thru the order the Fishercats seemed to start getting to him with Wheeler giving up 3 hits and 1 walk in the 5th resulting in 1 run scoring on a sac fly before wheeler got a strike out to end the inning. Last I saw Tapia hasn’t allowed a hit thru 4 innings. I think Wheeler is done for the night gonna check out Tapia’s outing.
- Mr North Jersey May 10, 2012 at 8:57 pm
  
  Interesting game down in Savannah. Tapia leaves the game in the 6th with a no-hitter intact but having gived up 1 unearned run via 2 walks and a throwing error. Final line for Tapia was 5.2/IP, 0/H, 1/R, 0/ER, 3/BB, 6/SO.
  
  Gnats have a no-hitter thru 6 so far.
- Joey D. May 11, 2012 at 12:31 am
  
  Hi North,
  
  Zach’s line score for the night:
  
  5 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 1 walk, 7 strikeouts.
  
  First time he was really belted around but this time he gave up just the one lone walk. While one performance doesn’t tell us anything, I’m wondering if by learning how to control his wildness are batters also getting better pitches to swing at as well? Again, way too early to indicate anything but I wonder if controlling his wildness might mean he is also taking something off some of his pitches. Not a knock – just something we have to look out for and something he can also learn to deal with as well.
  - Mr North Jersey May 11, 2012 at 12:38 am
    
    I got to listen to the game and he had the Fishercats in control till the 5th inning as he was going into the 3rd time thru the order and his pitch count was nearing 90. Half the hits and the 1 walk he gave up came in that inning. The hits were not hit hard there was one that fell just over I forget which of the fielders heads and a groundball just past Havens. The out for the sac fly was though hit well into the outfield for the out.
    
    I am going to guess it was a combination of 3rd time thru the hitters getting a better look combined with him maybe tiring.
Mr North Jersey May 10, 2012 at 11:34 pm

Looks like 2morrow’s MMO Farm Report will be a rather good one.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	23	18	.561	-
Nationals	23	19	.548	0.5
Phillies	20	22	.476	3.5
Mets	16	23	.410	6.0
Marlins	11	31	.262	12.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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