Binghamton 9, Harrisburg 3

An ominous gray sky and a persistent drizzle dampened my spirits as I started an excursion to Binghamton’s NYSEG Stadium for the second consecutive day.  Saturday’s sojourn was for naught, nearly four hours driving in the car and no baseball.  The prospects of a double washout loomed.

Halfway to Binghamton, the clouds almost evaporated in the sky giving way to sunshine, blue skies and baseball.  I couldn’t help but think that this sudden weather transformation might signal an omen, an abrupt change of fortunes for the better for our New York Mets as their young minor league pitching arms begin to find their way to the big squad.

This spring, Cory Mazzoni raised some eyebrows in Florida when he threw 8 innings in spring training raking up a 3.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.  After a bout with elbow inflammation temporarily put Mazzoni on the sidelines, the power throwing righthander is back in the rotation at Binghamton. On Sunday afternoon, Mazzoni turned some heads logging an impressive outing as the B-Mets topped Harrisburg, 9-3, to earn a split in a doubleheader. On a strict pitch count, Mazzoni worked 5 2/3 innings and appeared headed for a shutout before Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez signaled that 80 total pitches was enough. Josh Edgin replaced Mazzoni with a runner on first and two outs but surrendered a two-run homerun to Josh Johnson on his second pitch.

Here are Mazzoni’s pitching numbers: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K

• Batter’s Faced:  19
• First Pitch Strikes: 11 of 19  58%
• Ahead After Three Pitches:  7 of 14  50%
• Total Pitches:   80       Strikes:  52 – 65%     Balls:  28 – 35%
• Strike Breakdown:   Called:  14-27%   Fouled:  16-31%    Miss:  8-15%   In Play  14-27%
• Full Windup:  Total Pitches – 66     Strikes: 42 – 64%    Balls: 14 – 36%
• FW Fastballs  Total Pitches -   52     Strikes: 34 -  65%   Balls:  18 – 35%
• FW Curveballs Total Pitches -    4       Strikes:   3 – 75%    Balls:   1 – 25%
• FW Sliders  Total Pitches -    5      Strikes:   2 – 40%    Balls:    3 – 60%
• FW Change-ups  Total Pitches –   5      Strikes:   3 – 60%    Balls:   2 – 40% 
• Stretch:  Total Pitches -  14       Strikes:   10 – 71%  Balls:  4 – 29%
• St. Fastballs: Total Pitches -  10       Strikes:   6 – 60%    Balls:  4 – 40%
• St. Curveballs: Total Pitches -    1       Strikes:  1 – 100%. 
• St. Sliders:  Total Pitches -    3       Strikes:  3 – 100%
• Fastball Range:  88-96 mph

Of Mazzoni’s 44 fastballs, all but 5 were 90+ mph and Mazzoni’s next to last pitch reached 96 mph. Mazzoni is a big guy with the good sized hips and the backside of many power pitchers.  His delivery is smooth and appears flawless. He works quickly and efficiently and had everything working well today. A huge early lead might have been comfort food for the B-Met starter. The B-Mets scored all 9 runs in the first two innings, plating 6 runners in the opening frame.

Wilfredo Tovar and Josh Rodriguez walked to open the Binghamton first. Tovar scored the games first run when Richard Lucas lined a single to left field that Senator outfielder Jose Lozado rushed and bobbled allowing the B-Met shortstop to score. After Alan Dykstra’s infield ground out advanced the B-Met runners to second and third, before the Senator’s shortstop misplayed Cory Vaughn‘s infield ground ball with Rodriguez scoring.

After Vaughn stole second, Blake Forsythe drew a base-on-balls to load the bases. Cesar Puello‘s ground single up the middle drove in Lucas and Vaughn putting the B-Mets in front 4-0.

Joe Bonfe‘s single to right held in the air just enough to slow down the B-Met baserunners loading the bases for Mazzoni. Mazzoni slammed an 0-1 fastball for what appeared to be a grand slam homerun. With Mazzoni in a homerun trot, the ball hit the top of the fence ending in a long, two-run single. Lopez argued that the ball had cleared the orange line striking an advertisement above the fence, the umpires huddled, but the long ball single stood.

Binghamton added three more runs in their second at bat, the big hits a pair of doubles by Forsythe and Bonfe with Bonfe’s blast knocking home two runs.

Bonfe, Forsythe and Mazzoni all had two hit games. Puello went 1-2, drew a walk, was hit by a pitch and scored 2 runs.

Josh Edgin struggled in relief pitching 1 1/3 innings and surrendering two earned runs on three hits and two base-on-balls.  Edgin closed the game leaving the bases loaded.

Key Stats

Cory Mazzoni: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K (2-for-3, 2 RBI)

Josh Edgin: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 ER, 1 K

Joe Bonfe: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Cesar Puello: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

Blake Forsythe: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

Cory Vaughn: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R

Harrisburg 3, Binghamton 1

Mark Cohoon didn’t have his best stuff yet turned in a gritty performance which was good enough to win, but good fortune simply didn’t come his way. Cohoon is a thinking pitcher who maximizes his stuff to out smart opposing hitters. Pitch location is a huge part of the winning Cohoon pitching formula, but the B-Met lefty had difficulty spotting his pitches early in the contest. Even so, Cohoon carried a shutout into the Harrisburg fifth.

Senator shortstop Ricky Hague led off the fifth working a 7-pitch at bat lining the final pitch, a 2-2 off speed delivery, just inside the right field foul line into the corner for a triple. Jerad Head pinch hit and lofted a lazy fly to B-Met rightfielder Cesar Puello, which was not deep enough to plate Hogue. The Senators took a 1-0 lead when Brian Goodman grounded a single just past the B-Met infield. In what turned out to be a critical defensive lapse, Cohoon had Goodman picked off, but the B-Mets allowed him to escape a rundown and reach second base. Unnerved, Cohoon caught Sean Nicol looking on a 73 mph curve for the second out.

Lopez used a double switch, lifting Cohoon, who had thrown 92 pitches, in favor of reliever John Church. Anthony Rendon, the Senator’s second baseman, took Church’s third pitch out of the park for a two run dinger that would prove to be the game winner.

Binghamton scored their only run of the game when Richard Lucas, who had entered the game in the double switch, led off the fifth with a double. He later scored on Danny Muno’s infield ground out, the RBI a team leading 19^th for the B-Met second baseman. The B-Mets slammed four doubles in the contest with Josh Rodriguez getting two and Francisco Pena and Lucas one apiece.

Check out Cohoon’s pitching stats: 4.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K

• Batters Faced: 20    
• First Pitch Strikes: 14 of 20 – 70%
• Ahead After Three Pitches: 12 of 19 63%
• Total Pitches: 92    Strikes: 57 – 62%     Balls: 35 – 38%
• Strike Breakdown:  Called: 24 – 42%  Fouled: 14 – 25%  Missed: 7 – 12%  In Play: 12 – 21%
• Full Windup: Total Pitches: 55   Strikes: 35 – 64%    Balls: 20 – 36%
• Stretch:  Total Pitches:  37     Strikes: 22 – 57%    Balls: 15 – 43%

Cohoon is more difficult to chart. His fastball range was 86-90 mph, but he only touched 90 on one pitch. Cohoon’s curve ball bites in the low 70′s. He delivers another off-speed pitch the registers in the low 80′s either a change-up or perhaps a slider. With a small differential between this pitch and his fastball, sometimes it makes me think Mark is simply varying the speed of his fastball. The pitch appears to tail at times, but I’m not exactly sure what it is.

I love watching Cohoon pitch. When he’s locked in he delivers pitches with a surgeon’s precision moving knee high pitches along the corners on both sides of the plate.

Key Stats

Josh Rodriguez: 2-for-3, 2 2B

Francisco Pena: 1-for-3, 1 2B

Daniel Muno: 0-for-3, 1 RBI

Richard Lucas: 1-for-1, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB

Mark Cohoon: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 5 K

John Church: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 HR, 1 ER, 1 K

Shawn Teufel: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K

Binghamton 6, Harrisburg 1

The Binghamton Mets launched a season-high three home runs and struck out a season-high fifteen Harrisburg Senators in a 6-1 victory at Metro Bank Park on Sunday afternoon. Binghamton used a ten-hit attack to secure their third series win of the season.

B-Met third baseman Josh Rodriguez set the tone early. After Danny Muno worked out his team-leading 21st walk of the season in the first against Harrisburg starter Caleb Clay, Rodriguez blasted an 0-2 pitch into the left field seats, giving Binghamton a 2-0 lead.

Binghamton starter Mark Cohoon flirted with danger in his second start, but came out unscathed. He allowed seven baserunners through his first four innings, but used six strikeouts to escape. Harrisburg stranded five runners with Cohoon on the mound and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. He capped his day with two more strikeouts in a perfect fifth.

Binghamton added to their lead in the sixth against Clay. Alonzo Harris started with a bunt single, stole second and came home on a single by Muno. Richard Lucas capped the inning by blistering a solo homer to left center, his first round-tripper of the season.

Chase Huchingson took over in the sixth and struck out two in a shutout inning. The southpaw returned for the seventh, but exited after allowing two singles. Sean Nicol greeted reliever John Church with an RBI groundout, cutting Binghamton’s lead to three.

Anthony Rendon singled to right to bring the tying run to the plate in Jerad Head. Church easily dispatched of Head and ended the threat, striking out the centerfielder on three pitches.

Binghamton put the game out of reach with two more runs in the eighth against reliever Pat McCoy. Harris launched his fourth home run of the season to left and Cesar Puello extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single.

With a comfortable five-run advantage, Church posted a scoreless eighth inning and Jack Leathersich fanned three in the ninth.

Cohoon (3-0) collected his third win and first as a starter in 2013. The southpaw struck out a season-high eight over five shutout innings. Clay (3-1) was tagged for four runs on six hits in seven innings of work in his first loss of the year.

The B-Mets (16-14) continue their roadtrip and start a three-game series against the Trenton Thunder Monday night at 7:05 PM.

Key Stats

Alonzo Harris: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB

Daniel Muno: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

Josh Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R

Richard Lucas: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

Mark Cohoon: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 0 ER, 8 K

Chase Huchingson: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 K

John Church: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Jack Leathersich: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K

(Team Report)

Efficient. The term popped up in my brain with the regularity Logan Verrett pounds the strike zone as I watched Verrett confuse and befuddle Akron Saturday in Binghamton.

Verrett managed his pitching workload with laser life efficiency throwing two-hit ball over eight innings as the B-Mets toppled Akron, 7-2.

If making good first impressions is a valued introductory tactic, Verrett hit a home run with me. The B-Met righthander was terrific. In fact, about now Verrett might be wondering what all the fuss is about the legendary daunting jump from A to AA ball. The B-Met win leaves Verrett 4-0 on the young campaign with a 2.52 ERA.

I treated my good friend Glen Reynolds, my fantasy baseball partner, to the game. He’s a huge Cleveland Indian fan and was anxious to catch up with the progress of the Tribe’s prospects. Instead, like me, Glen came away singing Verrett’s praises.

Verrett is all business on the hill and works quickly. It would be hard to lose your focus playing behind Verrett with the crisp, down-to-business attitude he takes to the mound. Verrett showcases fluid, repeated mechanics in a compact pitching delivery.

Over eight innings, Verrett pitched to just three batters beyond the minimum. I charted his performance and his statistics are eye-popping. Take a look.

8 Innings Pitched, 2 Runs, 2 Earned Runs, 2  Hits, 1 BB, 7 K

Total Pitches: 93 – Strikes: 67 (63%) - Balls: 26 (37%)

Full Windup
Fastball: Strikes 34 (67%) – Balls 17 (33%)
Slider: Strikes 10 (100%)
Change: Strikes 15 (62%) – Balls 9 (38%)

Stretch
Fastball: Strikes 5 (100%)
Slider: Strikes 2 (100%)
Change: Strikes 1 (100%)

First Pitch Strikes
16 of 27 (59%)
Verrett threw first pitch off-speed pitches 9 of 27 times, 8 of 19 after the first two innings.

Velocity
Fastball: 87 – 92
Sliders: 83 – 86
Change: 80 – 83

Admittedly, I struggle delineating the break on the slider, old eyes I guess. It really doesn’t matter. The critical point is Verrett uses his off-speed pitches effectively to disrupt opposing hitter’s timing and from behind the plate all Verrett’s pitches appear to be delivered from the same arm slot with a similar delivery. Throughout the first two innings, Verrett established his fastball mastery of the strike zone. As the game wore on, especially when he pitched to Aeros power hitters in the middle of the line-up, the B-Met ace threw more and more off-speed stuff.

Akron’s only runs came via the long ball. Catcher Chris Wallace opened the second inning with a line drive that just cleared the wall in left field. A Ronny Rodriguez triple with one out in the fifth set up the Aeros second run. Rodriquez scored on Giovanny Urshela‘s sacrifice fly.

Pitch selection to Urshela was my only confusion throughout the game. In his first at bat, Verrett made Urshela look bad, striking out waving feebly at three straight sliders. With a runner on third and one out I expected Verrett to milk the same pitch, but he served up two fastballs, the second the sac fly to center.

The B-Mets scored single runs in each of the first four innings then busted the game open with three runs in the sixth. After far to many strikeouts on Friday night, the B-Mets fanned only three times and pounded out 13 hits.

Binghamton centerfielder, Alonzo Harris, got off to a sizzling start blasting a leadoff homerun and never stopped cooking. Harris delivered a quality at bat almost every time he stepped to the plate. In his second plate appearance, Harris sent a screaming line drive up the middle that was slowed down when it glanced off pitcher Matt Packer‘s shoulder just enough for Areos second baseman Jose Ramirez to backhand the ball and catch Harris at first by a whisker. Harris walked the third time he batted then the speedy outfielder legged out and infield single on the tenth pitch of his fourth plate appearance. Harris hit into a first pitch fielders choice in his final at bat.

Harris’s contributions weren’t limited only to his bat. He made six fly ball putouts in centerfield, tracking down one blast to make a running grab in left-center. A B-Met note; Harris is hitting .287 with 10 stolen bases at the top of the B-Met batting order.

Darrell Ceciliani, the Binghamton rightfielder who bats second, went 3 for 5 with a double, stolen base and an RBI. The stolen base was Ceciliani’s 7th, giving the B-Mets promising base running speed to set the table for the power guys.

Richard Lucas had two hits, stole a base, and made a slick bare handed pick-up on a well placed Tyler Holt bunt down the third base line.

B-Met catcher Blake Forsythe stayed hot going 2 for 4 with a double and sacrifice fly.

Binghamton showed great plate discipline at times. Cory Vaughn showed patience when Aeros pitchers nibbled. Vaughn walked three times. Daniel Kuno walked twice, one free pass at the end of a ten pitch at bat.

Wilfredo Tovar probably should have used a bit more patience when he came to the plate with the bases loaded, no outs and the game tied 1-1 in the second. Packer was struggling allowing back-to-back singles to Forsythe and Francisco Pena then walked Daniel Muro. The Aeros starter entered the game with a 1.70 WHIP putting the pressure squarely on Packer’s back. Tovar hit a hard first pitch ground ball into a 6-4-3 double play plating a run but killing the chance for a big rally. Tovar later redeemed himself with a hard double to the gap in left-center and made a sterling diving defensive stop, springing to his feet to just get a speedy Tyler Holt at first.

The defensive players of the game though were Jose Ramirez and Holt of Akron. Ramirez flashed some awesome leather that even left B-Met fans amazed. He robbed Harris of the second inning screamer up the middle, turned a potential run scoring Allan Dykstra ground single to a 4-1 putout, then in Binghamton’s last at bat used a backhand stab to take a hit away from Lucas near the second base bag.

Holt made a stunning running grab on Forsythe’s sacrifice gapper, killing a big B-Met rally when he doubled Lucas off second base in the third inning. The following inning, Holt snared Tovar’s smash in the opposite gap with a bare hand denying the Binghamton shortstop a triple.

But, the day belonged to Verrett as he continues to prove that great pitching isn’t all about velocity.

Akron 4, Binghamton 0

So Rafael Montero is human after all…

The Binghamton Mets struck out a season-high 16 times, and were shut out for the second time in 2013, in a 4-0 loss to the Akron Aeros Friday night at NYSEG Stadium.

Danny Salazar carved through the B-Met batting order, matching a career-high with nine strikeouts in his five shutout innings. The righty allowed just three base hits, and erased two of them with double-play balls in the win. The Akron offense did just enough against Rafael Montero to support Salazar’s effort. With runners on the corners in the top of the third, Tyler Holt beat out a potential double-play ball which scored Ronny Rodriguez. Two batters later, Holt came around to score as Jesus Aguilar tallied his league-leading 23^rd RBI with a single into centerfield.

Montero’s night ended after five innings; he gave up the two runs and struck out eight. Adrian Rosario walked two of his first three hitters in the sixth, and allowed them both to score on a two-run double by Roberto Perez to give Akron a 4-0 lead.

The combination of Austin Adams and Bryce Stowell picked up where Salazar left off for Akron. Adams struck out four in his two innings on the mound, and Stowell punched out three more in the last two frames.

The B-Mets (11-10) continue their three-game series with the Aeros (9-12) Saturday afternoon at 1:05 PM. RHP Logan Verrett (3-0, 2.55) will start for Binghamton against LHP Matt Packer (0-2, 3.15) for Akron.

Key Stats

Alonzo Harris: 1-for-4, 1 SB (10)

Allan Dykstra: 1-for-3, 1 BB

Richard Lucas: 1-for-2, 1 BB

Rafael Montero: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 8 K

Adrian Rosario: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 1 K

Chase Huchingson: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 1 K

Jack Leathersich: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 3 K (0.00 ERA)

(Team Report)

New Hampshire 6, Binghamton 1

The B-Met pitching staff issued nine walks on the way to a 6-1 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Saturday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium.

Starting pitcher Erik Goeddel walked four hitters in 4.1 innings before being removed from the game. Manager Pedro Lopez then looked to the bullpen, but they fared no better.

After allowing the inherited runner to score on an Amadeo Zazueta single in the fifth, B-Met reliever Adrian Rosario ran into trouble in the sixth after issuing a bases loaded walk to Ricardo Nanita. John Church then came in, and surrendered two more bases loaded walks. For the inning, the Fisher Cats scored three runs on just one hit.

Binghamton took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against starting pitcher Ryan Tepera. After Alonzo Harris led off with a single, stole second base, and advanced to third on a fielder’s interference call, he scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Richard Lucas.

After the rough first inning however, Tepera breezed through the Binghamton lineup for the next five innings. He allowed no more than four B-Mets to come to the plate in an inning, and turned it over the bullpen in the seventh. Tepera threw six innings, gave up one unearned run, and allowed three hits.

Fernando Hernandez threw the final three innings for New Hampshire, and earned his first save of 2013. The B-Mets were able to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn’t push a run across.

The series finale between the B-Mets (5-4) and the Fisher Cats (6-4) is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 PM. The game features two Opening Day starters, as Rafael Montero (1-0, 1.54) takes on Austin Bibens-Dirx (1-1, 0.69).

Key Stats

Richard Lucas: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 SB, CS

Alonzo Harris: 1-for-4, 1 R, SB, CS

Erik Goeddel: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 2 ER, 7 K

(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

Usually at this time of year, the stretch run, is prime time for the Cyclones, who in past seasons, were on cruise control and observing the rest of the McNamara Division of the NY Penn League, from their rearview mirror. Not so this year, as the Clones find themselves 28-23, and mired in 2nd place in the division, 6.5 games behind the evil Staten Island Yankees. The NY Penn is a short season league, whose season extends from the middle of June to the first week of Sept, so the season is now entering it’s final month. To win a division crown will be very difficult, but there is a chance at a wild card, as the Cyclones find themselves in a battle with at least three other teams, and possibly five. Currently they sit tied for third with Jamestown, 2.0 games behind Mahoning Valley and 1.0 game behind Williamsport, in the wildcard. The odds are long, but a strong stretch run could sneak them into the first round of the playoffs. The big story for the Cyclones so far in 2011, have been all about individual performances. Let’s take a closer look at who’s been hot…..

Hitting

As a team the Clones are first in the league in walks, and second in the league in HR’s. They are third in the league in OBP, BA, SLG and OPS. There have been three stunning hitting performances at Brooklyn thus far, two rookies, and one veteran.

Travis Taijeron (pronounced Tyrone) OF – this 6’2″ 200 lb RH slugger is the Mets 2011 18th round draft pick out of Cal Poly Pomona. He is off to a torrid start in his first professional season, leading the league in SLG and OPS, he is 3rd in the league in RBI’s and tied for third in HR’s. Here’s his complete line: In 149 AB’s, he has 19 runs, 45 hits, .302 BA, 10 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR’s, and 33 RBI’s. 19 walks and 39 strikeouts, give him an OBP of .401, a SLG of .564, and an OPS of .965. Wow. All this while playing all three OF positions.

Danny Muno SS – Wow. The Mets’ 2011 8th round draft pick out of Fresno State, has been lighting the league on fire this season. The nice thing about Muno is that he is a BASEBALL PLAYER. He has a well rounded game and so far has been doing just about everything. He has been batting lead-off for the Cyclones, and happens to be also leading the league in OBP at a staggering .450 clip! He is also third in the league in hitting at .338, and is second in the league, behind teammate Taijeron, in OPS at .950.

Richard Lucas 3B – Many wrote Lucas off last year as dead in the water after he posted a .212 avg in 434 AB’s at single A St Lucie. What a difference a year makes! The 6’1, 205 lb Lucas, the Mets 4th round draft pick in 2007, out of Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Fla., has been terrorizing NYP pitching this season. He is tied for first in the NYP in runs scored, 4th in the league in hits and total bases. 5th in the league in batting average and SLG, and sixth in the league in OBP and OPS. Here are his numbers in 171 AB’s, 36 runs, 55 hits, .322 BA, 14 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR’s, and 25 RBI’s. 24 walks and 44 strikeouts and his OBP is .410 with a .503 SLG for an OPS of .913.

Four players have contributed to the Cyclones offense with regularity this season:

Javier Rodriguez OF – Development has been slow for the 2008 2nd round draft pick out of high school in Puerto Rico. He has been manning the corner OF spots at brooklyn and is playing reasonably well although it’s time to start seeing something more out of this guy to keep him from hanging a “bust” label around his neck. His line so far this year: 181 AB’s, 28 runs, 45 hits, .249 BA, 16 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR’s, 30 RBI’s, and an OPS of .757.

Brian Harrison 1B/3B/OF – 6’2″ 180 lb, the Mets’ 2010 13th round draft pick out of Furman University, can still put up some numbers this year if he starts to hit with some consistency. In 159 AB’s he’s hitting .264 with 2 HR’s and 26 RBI’s.

Brandon Brown 2B/SS – The Mets took Brown in the 22nd round of the 2010 draft, out of the University of South Alabama. Brown is putting together a consistent season with the bat, and showing a little pop too. In 104 AB’s, he is currently hitting .308 with 5 HR’s, 10 RBI’s and an OPS of .828.

Charlie Thurber OF – The 6’4″ lefty swinger out of Tennessee was the Mets 2011 39th round draft pick. In 142 AB’s he is hitting .282 with an OPS of .688.

Pitching

The Cyclones pitching staff is first in the league in fewest walks given up, third in the league in ERA, and fourth in WHIP. One player is in a tie for first in the league in strikeouts, and his name is…..

Eduardo Aldama RHP – This 6’1″ righty from Venezuela was signed by the Mets as an IFA in July of 2006. In 10 GS this year he is 2-3 with an ERA of 4.50. In 46 IP he has given up 44 hits and 22 walks while striking out 52. The league is hitting .253 against the 21 year old.

Carlos Vasquez LHP – The diminutive southpaw from Mexico was signed as an IFA in July 2008. In 10 starts, he has a record of 2-2 and a 3.45 ERA. In 47 IP he has surrendered 51 hits (only 3 HR’s) and 11 walks while striking out 38.

Jeff Walters RHP – The 2010 7th round draft choice has what you call a “live” arm. The only thing for him to find at this point is fastball command. If and when he finds it, will determine the next step for the 6’3″ 170 pounder out of the University of Georgia. Inconsistency has been the catchphrase to describe Walters this year as he has gone 2-5 in 10 GS over 45 IP. He has been touched for 40 hits, while walking 16 and striking out 33. The positives are that he has only given up 3 HR’s and opponents are hitting a measly .237 off him.

Marcos Camarena RHP – This 6’3″ righty from Mexico was signed as an IFA in Sept. 2007. In his 9 GS this year he has gotten very little run support which would explain his record of 1-3 and ERA of 3.86. But the Mets love his power arm.

Chris Hilliard LHP – made 5 starts early on for the Clones but for some reason he has not appeared in a game in nearly a month, despite being listed as “active”. He was originally taken by the Mets in the 38th round of the 2008 draft out of Itawamba Community College. In the five starts he made this year for Brooklyn he went 3-1 with an ERA of 3.60. He was replaced in the rotation for four starts by 2011 27th round pick out of South Florida……

Randy Fontanez RHP – Despite being the closer at South Florida this past year, Cyclones manager Rich Donnelly has been trying Fontanez in the rotation. In 7 games and 4 GS Fontanez is 0-1 with a 2.20 ERA.

Just added to the rotation for the stretch run is 2010 12th round draft pick out of Minnesota State University-Mankato, Bret Mitchell. The 6’2″ righty has made one start since being called up from Kingsport and gave up only 1 ER in 4.2 IP.

Cory Mazzoni RHP – The 2011 2nd round draft pick had a cup of coffee with Brooklyn, logging 6 quick innings before being shipped off to St Lucie, high A, last week.

Tyson Seng RHP – The 2011 33rd round draft pick out of Oklahoma, has been one of the Clones’ two best relievers in 2011. In 16 games he is 3-1 with 0.64 ERA. In 28 innings he has 29 strikeouts and 5 walks, while notching 2 saves.

The other is T.J. Chism LHP – The Mets 32nd round pick of the 2009 draft out of La Salle University. In 19 games Chism is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA. In 23 IP he has given up 16 hits and 7 walks, while striking out 21. He has not allowed a HR and the league is hitting only .190 against him.

Orlando Tovar LHP – The 6’3″ lefty from Venezuela has gone 4-1 out of the pen for the Cyclones this year.

Todd Weldon RHP – the 6’4″ 2010 27th round draft pick out of Wayland Baptist (Texas) University, has chipped in a 3-0 record and a stingy 0.98 ERA.

Jack (The Rocket) Leathersich LHP – The 2011 5th round draft pick out of Massachusetts Lowell, has flashed some scintillating stuff in 5 outings this year. In 5 IP, he has given up 2 hits and a walk while striking out 11. Wow.

Can’t wait to see…. Tyler Pill RHP – the 2011 3rd round pick out of Cal State Fullerton has only appeared in 2 games so far throwing only 2 IP.

Let’s Go Cyclones!

Next Up – Kingsport Mets