The Binghamton Buzz: Stumbling Into The Second Half

Ramblings From Henry and Fayette Streets

The Week That Was: July 16th – July 22nd

The Binghamton Mets first full week back after the All-Star break was not kind to them as the team was able to only scratch out one win in seven games.  To begin the week, the Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees – the Trenton Thunder – visited NYSEG Stadium for a three game series.  Binghamton lost all three games, the first two by a one run margin, the rubber match by six runs.  The bright spot in the series against the Thunder came at the gate, not on the field, as the B-Mets drew over 5,000 fans two out of the three games, and eclipsed 4,000 for the middle game of the series.  From there, it was off to Bowie, Maryland where the B-Mets would earn their only win of the week, a win that took an inning of free baseball to get.  The B-Mets scored the go ahead run in the top of the tenth, and Robert Carson came into the game in the bottom of the frame, closing out the BaySox and earning his first win of the season.  For the remainder of the Bowie series, the starting pitching for the B-Mets was shaky as Zack Wheeler allowed eight earned runs, a career high, in three and two thirds on Friday night; Gonzalez Germen only pitched one inning on Saturday night, the shortest start of his career, and allowed four earned runs; and Darin Gorski gave up four earned runs over four innings while issuing a career high six walks on Sunday.  At the plate, Eric Campbell hit safely in all but one game during the week.  Reese Havens also collected at least one hit in all but one game last week; his hits included two doubles and a home run.  Mike Baxter appeared in three games for the Binghamton Mets on a rehab assignment from the big club.  In two of the three games was the designated hitter, and in the third game he played the outfield.  Baxter was 3-for-10 at the plate, with a run scored, one RBI, one walk and two strikeouts.  Looking at the team stats, Eric Campbell still holds the top spot in average (.316), OBP (.417), and slugging (.465).  Reese Havens and Jefry Marte are tied for the team lead in home runs with eight, and Marte leads the team in RBI’s as well with 45.  On the mound, Zack Wheeler’s name still sits in the top spot for most pitching catagories, with the number one ranking on the B-Mets in ERA (2.99), WHIP (1.11), wins (9), and strikeouts (101).  Robert Carson still leads all relievers in the saves catagory with eight.  

Standings

Weekly Stat Snapshot

Here’s where the current Binghamton Mets stack up against the rest of the Eastern League

Batters

Eric Campbell – 3rd in BA (.316) and OPS (.883), 2nd in OBP (.417)

Juan Lagares – T-7th in runs (54) and doubles (22), T-5th in hits (107)

Pitchers

Zack Wheeler -1st in WHIP (1.11),T-2nd in wins (9) and strikeouts (101), 6th in ERA (2.99)

Mark Cohoon -T-5th in WHIP (1.19)

Not So Fast…

With all of the negative press during the off season about the fate of the Binghamton Mets, one supposition that many of the Monday Morning Quarterbacks liked to discuss was ‘where’ the Mets would place their Double A affilate ‘when’ the franchise was sold and moved to Ottawa.  The Ottawa rumor is all but dead for the time being, and now the rumor of the Mets potentially going to New Britain, Connecticut with their Eastern League affiliate is too with the following press release from the Rock Cats last week.

New Britain, CT- The Double-A New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club (Eastern League) and the  Minnesota Twins have extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) for another two years. This long lasting relationship will keep the Rock Cats and Twins together through 2014, their 20th season.  The Rock Cats have been developing players for the Minnesota Twins since 1995, the fifth longest continuous working relationship with a major league affiliate in the Eastern League.

Did You Know?

In the current Eastern League, only the Reading Phillies (with the Philadelphia Phillies since 1967), Harrisburg Senators (with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals since 1991), and Canton/Akron Indians/Akron Aeroes (with the Cleveland Indians since 1989) have been affiliated with their parent club longer than the Binghamton Mets.  This season marks the 21st season that the B-Mets have served as the New York Mets Double A affiliate.