Wheeler rebounds, but now needs to show consistency. (Photo: Michael Baron)

Wheeler rebounds, but now needs to show consistency. (Photo: Michael Baron)

Last Night’s Quick Scores

Prospect Pipeline

  • I think Zack Wheeler impressed across the board with his start yesterday, as he rebounded from a tough one his last time out. In my opinion, I would like to see about three more of these starts in a row before I even consider talking about promoting him again. Rushing young players has become such a phenomenon… Let this kid pitch and have his ups and downs for a little while so he can improve and hopefully show some consistency. Two bad, one good, two bad. one good is not the consistency I’m talking about either.
  • Perhaps one of the most important things to take away from yesterday’s start was the mere one walk that Wheeler allowed – and it was in the seventh inning, as he was nearing his end. There was a nice piece on Wheeler yesterday here, where he himself talked about a mechanical issue he was having in his rotation. “I was lifting my leg and rotating my shoulders and when we looked at the video, we realized I was rotating too much instead of keeping my shoulders square to the plate,” Wheeler explained. I don’t know how much you can credit his success to fixing said mechanical error, but if he is able to string together a second start of ace-like quality, I’ll be the first one to buy into the idea.
  • So working off Mets prospects being mentioned in articles. John Sickels had a little to say about Wilmer Flores yesterday. “Through 23 games he is hitting .273/.323/.398, which includes a .300/.327/.480 mark at home but just .237/.319/.289 on the road. He also has a sharp platoon split: .321/.375/.500 against lefties, just .250/.299/.350 against right-handers.” He, of course, notes the issue here with a small sample size and also states that he expects that Flores’ hitting will pick up as the season progresses. I agree with him, because I have learned to believe in the offensive capabilities of Wilmer Flores. Sickels also notes that Flores is STILL just 21 years old, which is so hard to believe considering how long we’ve been discussing the young man.
  • Rafael Montero (3-1, 1.95) takes the mound for Binghamton at 6:35 tonight and you all know how high Mitch and I are on the young hurler. He looks to return to what was utter dominance in AA as he showed flashes of humanity in his last start. Of course, a bad start for Montero was allowing two earned runs and two walks over five innings, while striking out eight.
  • Andrew Brown doubled and drove in three runs yesterday, as he continues to make a case for an MLB call-up. His .355/.436/.581 line, even if you were to adjust for park factors, is definitely worth a look at the major league level. Especially with Collin Cowgill flailing and Marlon Byrd tumbling back to earth. (Joe D.)
  • With a new month, let’s hope for Brandon Nimmo to get back on track. Although he is in the midst of a slump, as a 20-year old hitter, he is bound to go through ups and downs at the plate. Two weeks ago, Nimmo was leading the Mets minor league system in batting. Today, it looks like this: Kevin Plawecki .391; Jayce Boyd .385; Andrew Brown .355; Josh Satin .330; Brandon Nimmo .322. (Joe D.)
  • With Tyler Pill on the shelf due to a sore shoulder, Mark Cohoon was tabbed to start in his place yesterday and gave his team four scoreless innings while walking none and striking out three. He faced merely one over the minimum as he was pretty effective. (Joe D.)
  • Daniel Muno had an awesome day in support of him, as he had three hits including a double, and even stole a pair of bases. Muno is on a tear after a slow start and is batting .323/.462/.484 in his last ten games. (Joe D.)
  • Blake Forsythe, 23, continues to rake and was 2-for-4 with a double and a homer last night bringing his slash to a phenomenal .333/.404/.644 for the season. He’s a solid defensive catcher, but what he’s doing now at the plate is new. Will it last? As always, time, the great equalizer, will tell. (Joe D.)

Stat Line of the Day

Zack Wheeler: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 8 K. 65/108 pitches went for strikes

and…

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

Transactions/Injuries

  • OF Jonathan Clark joined the St. Lucie Mets as a call up from Brooklyn.
  • As of this point, there has been no update on Hansel Robles, who was placed on the 7-day DL yesterday. Robert Gsellman took his spot in the rotation two days ago.
  • Right-hander Michael Fulmer, returning from surgery to repair a meniscus tear, tossed two innings Monday in extended spring training.
  • Cory Vaughn who left Monday’s game as a precaution is day-to-day and will not go on the DL. He’ll be back in the lineup by the weekend.
  • SP Alex Panteliodis will make his season debut and be activated from the DL to start for St. Lucie on Thursday. Last season for Savannah, Pants went 5-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 22 starts for the Gnats

Quote of the Day

Right-hander Logan Verrett, 22, is now 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts for Double-A Binghamton this season. Adam Rubin spoke to him about his success to which the Mets prospect had this to say:

“What’s been successful for me all through my career — college and my first [pro] year — was the ability to throw strikes,” said Verrett. “What I’ve improved mostly on is the ability to do that with all four of my pitches (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup) — not just two, or three if it’s a good night.”

“All four of my pitches have been pitches that I can throw in any count, and for a strike if I need to. That’s been a huge deal for me this year — being able to change speeds like that in any given count with any given pitch and keeping the hitters off-balance. It’s kind of allowing them to get themselves out earlier in counts, which keeps my pitch count down and allows me to go deeper into games.”

Photo of the Day

Which one of you Met farm hands are ready for The Show?

Which one of you Met farm hands are ready for the show?