One day not too long ago, I was thinking back to a footnote on a transactions page from early May that I saw and it was still troubling me. I don’t like unsolved mysteries, and I couldn’t understand why a guy who went 3-1 with a 0.90 ERA, two saves, and a 32/5 K/BB ratio in his professional debut, would retire six games into his second pro season? So I asked him. Tyson Seng was [...]

I woke up this morning and realized I hadn’t perused the minor league transactions in a couple of days, and that’s just not like me. Usually the minor league transaction sheet is a snooze. Rarely is there a move of significance, just guys bouncing around a level here and a level there, or somebody going on the D.L. But I noticed some interesting names being activated in the last couple of days. Who am I [...]

I asked Brandon Nimmo if he had a few minutes to spare at some point before the game against the Hudson Valley Renegades on Sunday. He said, “when?” I said, “you tell me, anytime your available.” He turned around and caught the eye of his hitting coach Bobby Malek who simply nodded, and Nimmo turned back to me and said, “I have time now.” Here’s the rest of what transpired: Petey:  I’m talking to Brandon [...]

The Brooklyn Cyclones do warm-ups on an already hot day in the H.V. (click any photo to embiggen) Just got back to The Dutch, otherwise known as Dutchess Stadium in scenic Wappingers Falls, New York. I’m gearing myself up for tonight’s grudgematch between the 1st place Brooklyn Cyclones and the 1st place Hudson Valley Renegades. That’s no misprint, both teams are tied atop the McNamara Division of the New York Penn League with identical 9-4 [...]

On Tuesday I spent the day and night meeting up with the Brooklyn Cyclones who were in Hudson Valley to play the Renegades. I came, I saw, I left. I even beat the crowd out of the stadium parking lot without running anyone down as they scurried for their cars. The game may have left the home crowd thrilled and elated, but it left me feeling disappointed and deflated. The Clones were unable to hold [...]

With the mid-season mark for the minor league long-season leagues fast approaching, I wanted to release a Who’s Hot update to cap off the season’s first half. These statistics do not include Wednesday’s games, but are accurate through Tuesday June 19th. Two out of three players here are pitchers, which makes sense considering pitching is presently the biggest strength in the farm system. About half of these players have been listed on the hot-list before [...]

With the Mets obvious need for quality relief pitching, especially in pressure situations, what would you say if I told you there was a guy who could step in and step up, and do a fantastic job for the Mets right now? What if I told you he wouldn’t cost anything, not in salary or in players or compensation, but would merely have to be added to the 40-man ML roster? What if I told [...]

In the 2011 MLB Draft, the Mets used their sixth round selection on a high school outfielder from Pennsylvania named Joe Tuschak. Tuschak is a speedy left-handed hitter with some pop, and a talented defender. With the Rookie League season starting up today, I wanted to get this interview posted since I actually spoke to Joe two weeks ago, but was too busy to finish up the transcription. At the time we spoke Joe was [...]

                Now that Jenrry Mejia has been moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen at AAA to be groomed for a relief role at Citifield in the not-too-distant future, there are presently only four starters in the Buffalo Bisons rotation: Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, Garrett Olson, and Dylan Owen. In a TV interview last night with Bisons broadcaster Ben Wagner, the Herd’s manager Wally Backman stated that [...]

When I came to, the pounding in my head started. Like a jack-hammer inside my skull, and my mouth felt as if it were stuffed with cotton socks. I could feel the cords cutting into my wrists, and my shoulders ached from having my arms wrenched behind my back for what had probably been hours, maybe even days. There was some kind of burlap sack over my head keeping me from seeing my surroundings, and [...]