Juan Centeno (Photo by Gordon Donovan)

We want to welcome notable photographer Gordon Donovan to our team. Gordon’s work is featured mostly on CBS News and various political sites, but he is also a die-hard Mets fan who follows the Mets minor leagues very closely and will be doing photo shoots all season long for each affiliate throughout the season. His photography is absolutely spectacular as you can see, and we are proud to be featuring his stunning images at MMO this season. It’s an honor to showcase his images on this site.

Portland 7, Binghamton 4

The B-Mets were held hitless through 6.2 innings, and finished with four hits in a 7-4 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs Monday night at NYSEG Stadium.

Portland struck first in the top of the second inning against B-Met starter Luis Mateo. After Peter Hissey singled, moved to second on a balk, and stole third base, he was brought home on an RBI single by Alberto Rosario. In the third, Portland took a 3-0 lead when Tony Thomas hit a two-run home run to right-centerfield.

In his Double-A debut, Mateo’s night ended after throwing just three pitches in the fourth inning. With a 3-0 count to Alberto Rosario, Mateo was removed from the game with an apparent injury. He finished his night giving up three runs on six hits.

LHP Sean Teufel came in for relief, and made his B-Met debut. He gave up one run in the fourth on a RBI single by Michael Almanzar, but came back to throw a scoreless fifth. John Church came in next and threw a scoreless sixth and seventh, his best outing so far this season.

After the B-Mets were held hitless through 6.2 innings, Juan Centeno ended the no-hitter and shutout with a two-run double off of Pete Ruiz. With a 4-2 advantage in the top of the ninth, the Sea Dogs tacked on three more runs on four hits against Chase Hutchingson. Binghamton showed life in the ninth, scoring twice on RBI doubles from Rhyne Hughes and Cesar Puello, but could not complete the comeback. Anthony Ranaudo earned the win after striking out six in five hitless innings. Mateo was given the loss in his Double-A debut.

The B-Mets (6-5) continue their series with the Portland Sea Dogs (5-5) Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM as RHP Logan Verrett will pitch against LHP Drake Britton.

Key Stats

Luis Mateo: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 4 ER, 2 K

Juan Centeno: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Cesar Puello: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

(Team Report)

Binghamton 6, New Hampshire 3

The B-Mets used the support of two home runs, including a three-run shot from Cory Vaughn, to beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6-3 at NYSEG Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Binghamton got the offense started right away against RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Allan Dykstra hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Darrell Ceciliani.

Blake Forsythe tallied another run the second as he hit a solo home run, his first of the year, over the right field wall. New Hampshire got into the scoring column in the top of the third with an RBI single by Kevin Pillar, but the Binghamton offense was back at it in the bottom half. Cory Vaughn‘s three-run blast to left field put the B-Mets up 5-1. Both teams picked up single runs in the fifth inning; Brad Glenn hit a solo home run for New Hampshire, but Cesar Puello got the run back with an RBI single.

Rafael Montero finished his day after five innings of two-run baseball. The right-hander gave up three hits and struck out six, before handing the ball to Mark Cohoon. Cohoon threw a scoreless sixth and seventh, but ran into trouble in the eighth inning. After giving up one run on two doubles, Jack Leathersich was called upon to end the threat. He retired the side without any further damage. In the ninth, Jeffrey Walters tossed a scoreless frame to record his second save of the season. Montero was awarded his second win in three starts.

The B-Mets (6-4) open up a three-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs at NYSEG Stadium on Monday. RHP Cory Mazzoni (0-0, 0.00) has the ball for Binghamton against RHP Anthony Ranaudo (0-0, 1.80) for Portland.

Key Stats

Rafael Montero: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 ER, 6 K

Cory Vaughn: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Rhyne Hughes: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB

Blake Forsythe: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

(Team Report)

Las Vegas 1, Fresno 4

Mets’ top prospect Zack Wheeler picked up the loss in last night’s matchup against the Fresno Grizzlies. He pitched 5.1 innings, and struggled with his command on his fastball, walking three batters and giving up eight hits. On a positive note, he managed to strike out six batters and hold the opposing offense to one earned run. However, it wasn’t enough, as Fresno starter Yusmeiro Petit kept the Las Vegas offense in check all night.

Wheeler is now 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 8.2 innings pitched with a 1.96 WHIP and it’s clear that he needs to work on his command issues before the Mets look his way. Both Terry Collins and Sandy Alderson have said that Wheeler would not get promoted unless he dominates in Triple-A this season.

The only run for Las Vegas came on a Josh Satin home run to the left field bleachers in the top of the second inning. It was his second home run of the year, and he raised his batting average to an even .500 on the night. Andrew Brown, Josh Satin and Juan Lagares all had multi-hit games in the loss.

Key Stats:

• Josh Satin: 2 for 4, HR, R, RBI
• Andrew Brown: 2 for 4
• Juan Lagares: 2 for 4
• Zack Wheeler: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Binghamton 1, Erie 2

The Binghamton Mets plated their only run in the first inning and were kept in check for the final eight innings in a 2-1 loss to the Erie Sea Wolves Tuesday night at Jerry Uht Park. The B-Mets went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, bounced into two double plays and had two runners nabbed on the bases.

Binghamton grabbed the lead with a two-out rally in the first against Erie starter Kyle Lobstein. Richard Lucas bounced a single up the middle and scored when Rhyne Hughes bounced a double off the top of the right field wall.

In his second start with the B-Mets, Rafael Montero cruised through his first five innings. The righty never faced more than four batters in any frame and allowed just one runner to reach second base.

Hughes’ RBI double was the only blemish in the game for Lobstein. The lefty settled in and finished his night with four scoreless innings, exiting in the top of the sixth for reliever Michael Morrison.

Montero’s smooth stretch came to an abrupt end in the sixth when the Sea Wolves plated their first run on a pair of doubles. Tyler Collins started the rally with a double to left and Ramon Cabrera tied the game by zipping a two-bagger to right.

Montero had to settle for the no-decision after the B-Mets failed to score in the seventh. The righty allowed one run on six hits in six innings of work. He struck out seven and did not issue any walks.

Erie grabbed the lead against reliever John Church in the seventh. James Robbins greeted the righty with a double to left, moved to third on a ground out and scored the go-ahead run on Marcus Lemon‘s sac fly.

Morrison returned for the eighth and worked around two singles to post a scoreless frame. Wilfredo Tovar led off with a single, but was picked off first by catcher James McCann. Alonzo Harris followed with a hit and stolen base, but was doubled off second to end the inning.

Justin Souza made quick work of the heart of the B-Mets order in the ninth, putting together a perfect inning to collect his second save. Morrison (1-0) allowed three hits over 2-1/3 innings for the victory. Church (0-1) suffered his first loss.

The B-Mets (4-2) wrap up their three-game series against the Sea Wolves Wednesday afternoon at 12:35 PM. RHP Cory Mazzoni (0-0, 0.00) gets the ball for Binghamton against RHP Patrick Cooper (0-1, 13.50).

Key Stats:

• Richard Lucas: 3 for 4, 2B, R
• Cesar Puello: 2 for 3,
• Rhyne Hughes: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, RBI
• Rafael Montero: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 7 K

Binghamton Mets (0-0) at Akron Aeros (0-0)

RHP Rafael Montero vs. RHP Danny Salazar

2012 IN REVIEW

In their 21st season, the 2012 B-Mets went 68-74 and finished 5th in the Eastern League Eastern Division, trailing first-place Trenton by 11.0 games. Four players who played in Binghamton last year made their Major League debuts with the New York Mets later in the season: LHP Josh Edgin, RHP Collin McHugh, RHP Elvin Ramirez, and LHP Robert Carson.

BINGHAMTON STARTING PITCHER

RHP Rafael Montero gets the ball on opening day for the B-Mets. Last season he split time between the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low-A) and the St. Lucie Mets (High-A). In Savannah, he allowed three earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 starts before being promoted in mid-June. He picked up 5 more wins in St. Lucie and finished the year with a combined 11-5 record and a 2.36 ERA. Montero also showed excellent control, finishing with 110 strikeouts and only 19 walks. Montero is ranked the #5 prospect in the Met’s system by Baseball America prior to the season. Rafael signed with the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in January 2011.

OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER

RHP Danny Salazar starts his first full season in Double-A. He was promoted to Akron in early August last year after 16 starts with the Carolina Mudcats (High-A). In just one month in Akron, Salazar went 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA in six starts. After giving up four earned runs in his first start against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, he allowed only three earned runs in his last 29.1 innings pitched. Salazar was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2006.

MEET THE METS

This year’s B-Met squad brings back 9 players that saw time in Binghamton last season. 15 players will be making their AA debut this season, all of whom ended 2012 in St. Lucie. Rhyne Hughes, who was signed as a free agent in February, played with Bowie last season. Hughes and Josh Rodriguez are the only two players on the Opening Day roster with MLB experience.

LOPEZ LEADS PUERTO RICO

B-Met manager Pedro Lopez led Criollos de Caguas to a 24-16 record and a Puerto Rico Winter League Championship during this past offseason. The championship allowed Lopez to manage Puerto Rico in the 2013 Caribbean Series in early February. The team finished 2-4 in the series.

OPENING DAY HISTORY

2013 is the fourth consecutive season that the B-Mets face off against the Aeros on Opening Day. Akron has a 2-1 edge during that stretch, with Binghamton winning 1-0 in 2011. Last year, the B-Mets were defeated in a 4-0 shutout at NYSEG Stadium. In their 21-year history, Binghamton is 13-8 on Opening Day.

SOUTHPAW BULLPEN

The B-Mets bullpen holds four left-handed pitchers. Mark Cohoon and Chase Huchingson have both converted from starting roles in 2012. Cohoon is starting his fourth year as a B-Met, going 8-11 with a 3.62 ERA last season. Huchingson tallied eight wins last year with the St. Lucie Mets in their rotation. Adam Kolarek made a brief appearance in Binghamton last year, but was primarily used in the back end of St. Lucie’s bullpen, converting on 18 save opportunities. Jack Leathersich combined for 38 games out of the pen for Savannah and St. Lucie last year.

LAST YEAR v. AKRON

The B-Mets went 5-9 against the Akron Aeros in 2012. All-time the B-Mets have gone 119-151 against Akron. In 1992 the B-Mets defeated the Canton-Akron Aeros in the Eastern League Championship to earn their first title. This season the B-Mets take on the Aeros 14 times over four series; in Akron from 4/4 to 4/7 and 8/22 to 8/25, and at NYSEG Stadium from 4/26 to 4/29 and 5/13 to 5/15.

NEXT GAME PREVIEW

The B-Mets continue this four-game series against the Akron Aeros tomorrow night at 6:35 PM. RHP Cory Mazzoni (0-0, —-) will start for the B-Mets against LHP T.J. House (0-0, —-).

As GM, Alderson’s job description entails building for the future, and while Collins has nothing guaranteed to him beyond this season, it doesn’t mean the two perspectives can’t co-exist.Collins’ extension will be assured if the Mets have a winning season, but even if they don’t – very possible considering their holes – he could be back in the dugout in 2014, when the spending is supposed to begin.

“Well I think there are two things upon which a manager is evaluated,’’ Alderson said. “One is wins and losses, and the other is the improvement of the players on the team. And regardless of whether you have a veteran-dominated team or a younger team, players have to improve.

“And more importantly, they have to be motivated to improve, and that’s really partly where the manager comes in. I think that Terry will be evaluated on both of those bases, with the understanding that the wins and losses are not an absolute – to some extent they are relative to the talent that we have.’’

And, that talent level is thin, with a patchwork bullpen, questions at all three outfield spots, a new catcher and questions throughout the rotation, including a heavy dependence on Matt Harvey, who has but ten starts in his career.

A lot has to happen for the Mets to surpass last year’s 74 victories. Several times Alderson has spoken on changing the Mets’ culture and it has evolved since the dark days of the Jerry Manuel-Omar Minaya era.

At one point last season the Mets were eight games over .500, but Alderson did nothing to upgrade the franchise at the trade deadline and the summer spiraled out of control as the offense collapsed in the second half.

Collins deserved some responsibility, but in fairness he had little to work with to turn the team around. Alderson takes some of the blame for that, and admits he waited too long.

Even so, Collins can’t afford to lose things this year. He has to maintain the teaching along with motivation.

“So part of this whole analysis is having a good feel for the talent level that we have and the success that we have and how those two correlate, as well as some of the other less tangible aspects of leading a team over 162 games,’’ Alderson said.

Those tangible aspects include keeping the Mets focused and motivated, regardless of how much they skid. If he does that, we’ll see Collins again next year.

On a side note, not too many GM’s are as open and forthcoming with the media as this one is. After our conference call, Joe D. said something to some of us who participated that nobody disagreed with.

“Say what you want about, Sandy,” Joe said. “But one thing I respect him for is that he always gives us a thoughtful, well-detailed and analytic response to our questions.”

Thinking back to the last three general managers the Mets have had before Alderson, Joe is right.

February 23 – The Mets have announced they’ve signed first baseman Rhyne Hughes to a minor league contract and that he will report to minor league camp.

Hughes, 29, played 75 games for Double-A Bowie in the Baltimore Orioles system last season. The left-handed hitting Hughes batted .278/.370 OBP/.504 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs and 51 RBI in 313 plate appearances. His only sip of coffee in the majors came in 2010 when he batted .213 in 14 games with the O’s.

Initially drafted in the 50th round of the 2003 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hughes declined to sign with them and was drafted the following year in the 8th round by the Tampa Bay Rays.

He has played some right field in the minors, 73 games, and that could be why the  Mets were interested  But it would take a parting of the Red Sea for him to be anything more than just minor league filler at this point.

* * * * * * * *

February 22 – The Mets announced that they’ve signed right-hander Andy Wells and outfielder James Roche to minor league deals on Wednesday. Both played in the independent Atlantic League last season and will report to minor league camp. Wells went to Staten Island’s Wagner College os it’s a good bet that he knows what a knish is. Other than that, I know absolutely nothing about these two, and I’ll try and dig something up later today.

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February 22 – In more significant news, the Mets have agreed to a minor-league deal with left-handed reliever Justin Hampson who I’m personally glad to see back. The 32-year-old had a solid campaign with Triple-A Buffalo last season, tossing 65 innings in 51 appearances, while posting a 2.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and an 8.1 strikeout rate. In a brief appearance with the Mets, Hampson posted a 1.80 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 15 appearances out of the pen. He’s going to be useful working with our youngsters in the minors and will provide some quality depth for the Mets bullpen once fatigue and injuries set in – and you know they always do. Welcome back, Justin.

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February 22 - Wally Backman is always thinking ahead. Yesterday he told Jared Diamond of The Journal that he’s concerned about keeping his players on the straight-and-narrow while playing in Sin City. “Guys are going to go out, go to the casinos and lose their money,” Backman said. Their money might not be the only thing they lose in Vegas. (I know, bad joke, so shoot me.)