13
2012
Mets Farm Report: Flores Settling In At 2B, Den Dekker Hits The Ground Running In Buffalo
An article by 
Hey Incredibles, how about giving me a hand here?
Bisons 8, Norfolk 7
By Andrew O’Brien
The Norfolk Tides committed three errors in the seventh inning and the Buffalo Bisons plated three runs en route to an 8-7 victory on Tuesday night.
Buffalo jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning when Sean Kazmar hit a two-out double to score Josh Satin and Valentino Pascucci. Then, in the bottom of the third inning, Satin launched a two-run homer to left field.
But the Tides battled back and scored two runs in the top of the fourth and sixth innings. Buffal trailed 6-5 before the error-filled seventh inning.
Norfolk plated one run in the top of the ninth but Fernando Cabrera was able to close the door to get his International League-leading 15th save.
Garrett Olson started for Buffalo and lasted only 4.1 innings. He gave up five hits, four runs while striking out three and walking two.
The bullpen was able to hold down the fort, though. Josh Edgin, Pedro Beato and Justin Hampson pitched a combined 2.2 scoreless innings.
Mets outfield prospect Matt den Dekker went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored in his first game with Triple-A.
Herd Rumblings: Fernando Cabrera recorded his IL-leading 15th save of the season Tuesday night. He is a perfect 15-for-15 in save opportunities. Mets prospect Matt den Dekker in his Bisons debut played center field, led off and went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Dustin Martin was transferred from Buffalo to Binghamton to make room for den Dekker. Garrett Olson lasted 4.1 innings, making him the fourth Bisons pitcher in the past five games to pitch 4.2 innings or less. Buffalo (37-29) is off on Wednesday before opening up a four-game set with Pawtucket 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
Binghamton vs Reading PPD
By Tim Burns
The first game of the Binghamton Mets and Reading Phillies series was rained out on Tuesday night in Binghamton. This being the R-Phils only trip to NYSEG Stadium this season, the two teams will play a double header starting at 5:30 on Wednesday night.
Game one will feature Mark Cohoon (3-5, 3.92) against the Phillies Jonathan Pettibone (5-5, 3.79). Game two, scheduled to start approximately twenty minutes after the conclusion of the first game, will pit the B-Mets Collin McHugh (5-4, 2.48) against Reading’s Austin Hyatt (1-0, 3.09).
The rubber match, to be played on Thursday morning at 10:35, will feature the top prospects in each organization facing off against each other on the mound as Zack Wheeler (6-2, 1.66) takes on Trevor May (5-4, 4.95).
Weather over the next two days in Binghamton looks to be sunny and in the 70’s, so it will be perfect for sitting at the ballpark.
B-Mets Buzz: After Matt den Dekker was promoted to the Buffalo Bisons on Monday, Dustin Martin was reassigned to the Binghamton Mets. Martin was batting .257 in 28 games as a member of the Bisons. Martin was originally a Mets draft pick in 2006, and had just returned to the organization at the beginning of this season after spending the previous four and a half seasons in the Minnesota Twins ranks playing in Fort Myers, New Britain, and Rochester.
Palm Beach 7, St. Lucie 6
By Clayton Collier
Following two extra inning victories in the past few days, the St. Lucie Mets only needed 9 innings today to fall to the Palm Beach Cardinals 7-6.
In only his second start since getting the promotion from Savannah, Tyler Pill was roughed up tonight by the Cardinals bats. He started off well, surrendering only a base hit on a weak grounder, but ran into trouble in the third, giving up a run on Starlin Rodriguez double. He then pitched another two scoreless frames before ultimately melting down in the sixth. After allowing back to back one-out singles, Chris Edmondson put Palm Beach on top with a three-run bomb, his fourth of the year. Pill walked Ildemaro Vargas before being relieved by John Church who ended the inning with a double play. Pill’s final line for the evening was 5 1/3 innings pitched, surrendering four runs on eight hits while walking two and punching out one.
Things got dicey in the next inning as John Church walked the bases loaded before handing the ball over to Jim Fuller, who proceeded to walk in a run and allow a two-run double before retiring the side.
Down 7-2, the Mets bats decided it was time to stage a comeback. Come bottom eight, and it appeared as if that was going to happen. It started with a leadoff walk to ZeErika McQueen, which was followed by an Alonzo Harris triple and a Wilmer Flores double to score two. With Flores on second and two down, Cardinals reliever Iden Nazario issued two walks and threw a wild pitch to score yet another run, making it a 7-5 ballgame before coming out for Scott Schneider who ended the threat.
Onto the bottom of the ninth, Francisco Pena got things started with a leadoff walk in which he came around to score on an Alonzo Harris knock. Then came the play that I didn’t understand at all. Wilfredo Tovar, one of St. Lucie’s better hitters who was already 1-3 with a walk on the evening, bunts down a run in the ninth inning to get Harris into scoring position for Flores and Vaughn, who both failed to get a hit to end the ballgame. I understand wanting to get Harris into scoring position, but to hand the other team an out in a one run game in the ninth inning? Come on.
Lucie Logistics: Wilmer Flores went 1-4 with an RBI double and a sac fly to reach 40 RBIs on the season. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the call to Bingo. Alonzo Harris had himself one heck of a game, going 3-4 with two triples, two runs, a walk and two RBIs, proving once again to be a sparkplug for this St. Lucie offense. Harris, Tovar and Flores were the only Mets to collect hits in the game, batters 4 through 9 took 0-fers. The St. Lucie Mets will look to rebound tomorrow for the second game of the series against the Cardinals starting at 6:30pm.
Bits and Pieces from Joe D.
Pedro Beato continues to dominate in Buffalo. Last night he pitched another 1.2 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit that was rubbed out on a double-play grounder, and then he struck out three batters. Beato picked up the win and how about Fernando Cabrera who earned his 15th save in 15 opportunities last night.
According to a couple of reports, Jenrry Mejia’s stint in the Buffalo bullpen will last no longer than two weeks tops. Basically the Mets want to be sure he can work on back to back days, so that’s what his mission will be with the Bisons. He’s in good hands with Wally.
For the third straight game, Wilmer Flores started at second base and has looked and played the part very well. Last night he stroked a two-run doubled and his batting average is at a robust .304 to go with a .489 slugging percentage for the season. Flores will make it easier on the Mets to promote him if he sticks at second base where the Mets could use some help more so than third base right now. This could be a prelude to a promo to Bingo.
I thought she got fired, what the hell is she doing here?
About the Author: Satish Ram
I am a Senior Writer and Editor here at MetsMerized - where I specialize in Minor League coverage. I have been on the staff since 2007 and I am currently in my third semester of college in New York City. You can find me at www.facebook.com/SatishRam or @SilverHeatMMO. Feel free to message me - I love talking about the Mets or baseball overall with anybody.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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Adam Rubin had a interesting article on Den Dekker this morning that spoke of what Den Dekker has done to get better this season.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/48455/farm-report-den-dekker-now-aaa-threat
Great article to read. I hope he continues to have the same success at AAA as he did in AA. I cant wait to see him and Captain Kirk together in our outfield. Our defense will get such a boost in addition to our lineup. Not sure though if Duda is part of the longterm plan or where Nimmo fits in.
Nimmo is at the very bottom of the chain. Years and years away at best. so who knows about that far down the road!
Duda, i don’t see him going anywhere in the near term, other than LF when Bay is dumped. Unless Ike never gets out of the 170s and he taks over 1B!
but next year, DD and Kirk for CF and RF, with a couple of RH bats to share time vs. LHP (not all of it, but at least some) could make for a very strong OF. Defensively for sure.
The real question to me is, who does Flores look at 2B? Can he possibly be the answer we are looking for? Huge value jump if he can make that his position to develop at.
Very true, I am not sure he would factor in until 2014 but you might be able to squeeze another year out of Murphy and company there.
Interesting that Flores is going to 2B when most thought he would go to 3B…
I wonder if that tells us anything about how serious they are about resigning Wright?
It could be bad news for Murphy or Ike in two years if Ike doesn’t snap out of it. If he does then Murphy is a man without a position.
I can’t see Murphy ever taking over the starting 1B job. temp fill in maybe. More likely, he gets squeezed out of the 2B job into a utility role, or traded.
I wondered the same thing about the future blockage at 3B. But, it is not just DW. He should move up to AA soon, and they already have Marte there (who they seem to like). So going to 2B could allow them both to be in Bingo (though of course, unless he goes to AAA, doesn’t do much for havens!) But of course, as soon as Wright signs an extension, and 3B prospect immediately needs to find a new position or become trade bait.
Make no mistake here Stick….Wright may be the team Leader but it is Murphy who is the main component to the never give up attitude that this team has had that wins them games and gets all those runs with 2 outs!
This all started the second Ike went down, Murphy played everyday and Turner took over the 2B position when Reyes got hurt. Tejada moved to SS and Turner seemingly drove in a run per AB.
Terry gets some credit for instilling the attitude but it was Murphy and Turner who actually implemented it and it has spread like wildfire!
I know people cringe at Murphy’s glove but he brings much more to this team than what you see on the field!
Murphy is as good as gone anyway if/when Valdespin turns it on at the plate. I’d say he’s dealt during the offseason.
So, is the Reese Havens era over? He had a lot of potential when he first came here to Bingo, but injuries have certainly stalled his progress. I remember when he first came to the B-Mets thinking at that time he was on the fast track to be the starting second bagger in Flushing, maybe even arriving there as early as late this season, but it seems like Flores moving to second is a sure sign that the Mets have shifted in their thinking. I guess the other question then is – what happens when Flores gets to AA (which will probably be this season). Where do they put Havens, and what happens with Josh Rodriguez at that point too (if they moved Havens over to SS to make room for Flores).
Nope…May be over for the Mets but not Havens himself…
I predict he will be part of a trade and make a club and have a fine career. Maybe even one good enough to have some fans cite the trade as a mistake in 4 or 5 years.
There simply is no room for him here.
Between Murphy, Valde and now Flores a lot will have to happen and a lot of injuries to occurr before he has a place to play here.
Thats fine though because thats the kind of guy who makes a good trade chip for something you do not have!
Reese just may move up to Buffalo. He should have been there anyway, if he hadn’t been coming back from such a long layoff. Besides, they are giving starts to Emaus, so not like the position is blocked!
I still fail to see what they like about Emaus…
he was available when they ran short of MIs at Buffalo, and was willing to take a MiL salary to spend the summer in buffalo. pretty much it! at this point, no one sees him as a viable ML option of any sort, but you still need to field a team in the minors.
Well why put him at AAA where he is taking up reps from a guy we might actually call up if needed?
If he is just filler then Fill AA where he might learn something that will make him a better player from AA and worth bringing up?
We have too many left handed bats in the organization. We should move Ike & Murphy as soon as their bats heat up to obtain optimum trade value, and obtain right-handed hitting OF prospect such as Giants Gary Brown or Toronto’s Jake Marisnick. I’d throw in Familia to get it done. Then, move Duda to first base.
In 2013, we could have OF of den Dekker, Niewenhuis, Brown or Marisnick. An IF of DW, Tejada/Qunitanilla, Valdespin/Flores & Duda. Bench would be Quintanilla, Flores, Turner, Baxter & Rob Johnson. If Brown or Marisnick isn’t ready, sign someone like Cody Ross for a year or two as a bridge. By 2015, Nimmo will be knocking on the door.
My major point is that we need to balance our hitting attack from both sides of the plate. From an organizational standpoint, we are way too light on right-handed hitting prospects.
Assuming all are major league ready, here’s a SAMPLE prospective line-up that might work:
Niewenhuis – rf
Flores – 2b
den Dekker – cf
Wright – 3b
Duda – 1b
Marisnick – lf
Tholes – c
Tejada
In the 1980′s, Davey Johnson was the master of balancing and rotating his line-up, you’d think he worked for Goodyear. I’m NOT SAYING that the sample line-up above is the end-all, but we need to achieve that kind of balance from both sides of the plate, with a healthy mixture of balance and speed.
Just a suggestion.
What is the obsession with Jake Marisnick? Besides, Anthopoulos is not going to trade him.
I think the Mets directly addressed the plan for Mejia. He’ going to pitch 10 games in 14 days.
1 game. 1 day rest for a little while, then they will have him pitch 2 days in a row. If he’s able to do that, he’ll be called up in 2 weeks. Collins said he wants to make sure he can pitch on back to back days.