Around the Minors (Week 4) ~ Apr. 26th – May 2nd

Prior to the Met's weekend blunders in Philly, the team was hotter than a fat kid, drinking Tabasco in a baby sauna (awesome analogy, I know), but they weren't the only team catapulting themselves into first place this week, as three of the four affiliates were on their own collision courses with the top of the division as well.  The Bison of Buffalo were stampeding their way over the competition in the International League.  The B-Mets were the buzz of the town in Binghamton and the Savannah Sand Gnats were insect things or something like that, that fly over sand and stuff.  It doesn't really matter what they were doing, what matters were their results.  So if this week's results are any indication of how the rest of the season will play out, then the Mets brass and their fans should be very excited.

Week four brought us walk off homeruns and games where 27 consecutive opposing batters were sent back to the pine seats in a row.  Reese Havens, another Met's Top 10 prospect made his Florida State debut and all the while, everything is right in Metsville after a sluggish start.  Except for the struggling rotation in St. Lucie, the other three teams were all able to climb to at least 5 games over .500 on the year, just as the Mets were able to do with their 9-1 homestand.  This leads me to the age old question, does success with the major league team lead to success in the minors?   Answer:  absolutely not, just a stupid coincidence, but still fun nonetheless to watch it all go down at the same time.  Let's take a look at a more in depth glance at the week that was for the young fellas.

BUFFALO BISONS
(Triple A, International League)

RECORD:  Overall – (15-9) 1st place in Northern Div. — Week 4 – (5-2)

BATTING RANK:  3rd out of 14 teams

PITCHING RANK:   7th out of 14 teams

The Bisons have made the most of their opportunities since waving their hankerchiefs goodbye to Ike last week.  After losing the final game in Pawtuckett, Buffalo returned home to take 3 of 4 from the Int. South leading Durham Bulls including an unbelievable pitching performance from veteran knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey.  Dickey gave up a single to the first batter of the game and then crusied through the final 27 batters in order.  For a big league team who is one of three in the majors to have never recorded a no-hitter, this was and unprecedented achievement.  Perhaps RA can a rub a little of that off on Ollie or Maine next time he's in the city.  Mike Jacobs has done an admirable job after taking over Ike's spot at first base, now batting .314 in 8 games for Buffalo.  I'll give him credit for continuing to battle through what must be a tough spot for him after playing 4 years in the bigs.  He's got to continue to produce and cut back on those K's if he wants a chance to get back to the bigs.  Jesus Feliciano continues to impress and is now leading the league with an batting average of .362.

MVP of the Week:  This is an easy one this week as he was not only the best player in Buffalo, but in the entire International Leaague.  Mike Hessman was named the IL Offensive Player of the Week on Monday and for good reason.  The third baseman tore up his opponents smacking 4 homeruns this week along with 15 RBIs, hitting at a .322 clip.  Mike is now leading the league in RBI's with 28.  Congrats to Mike for a great week.

Pitcher of the Week:  1 Single then 27 up and 27 down.  RA wins it for the 2nd week in a row.  I really think they need to give a pitcher a mulligan on the first batter of the game, plus he looks like Will Ferrell.

Week in Preview:  Buffalo will finish up the final two games of an 8 game homestand against Aroldis Chapman and the Louisville Bats.  Thursday is an off day and then they travel for a four game set against the Indianapolis Indians.

BINGHAMTON METS:
(Double A, Eastern League)

RECORD:  Overall – (14-9) 2nd in Eastern Div — (Week 4) -  (4-1)

BATTING RANK:  1st out of 12 teams

PITCHING RANK:  10th out of 12 teams

The B-Mets are playing some great ball right now and are on a 4 game win streak launching themselves into the upper echelon of the Eastern Division, now only 2 games behind the 16-7 New Hampshire Fisher Cats.  Amazingly they have gone on this streak missing one of their top players, Nick Evans, who has been sidelined since April 25th.  Evans is scheduled to return to the lineup on Monday night.  Along with Evans, Lucas Duda and Zack Lutz continue to provide the power and consistency in the middle of the lineup that winning teams seem to preserve.  Duda – (6 HR) and Lutz (25 RBIs), both lead the league in their respective categories.  Shortstop Luis Hernandez continues to play extremely well and is now batting .351 on the year with 9 runs on the year.

The team pitching moved up one spot this week although they are still sitting in the basement dangling a baby ruth in front of Sloth.  Their team ERA of 4.42 is not good but it's getting better.  Of the 4 wins this week, three starters including Scott Shaw, Mike Antonini and even Eddie Kunz earned victories.  Although not a stellar performance from Kunz, he was able to limit his damage to only 3 runs in 5 innings pitched with 3 walks.  It may be a baby step, but it's a step nonetheless.

MVP of the Week:  This week's honor goes to Zach Lutz who had a 6-15 week (.400) including 1 HR and 5 runs as well as 5 RBIs.  Over the week he has also drawn three walks while only striking out once.

Pitcher of the Week:  Over the course of 12.2 innings this past week, Mike Antonini (3-2), gave up 3 runs while allowing only 1 walk.  He's seen his ERA drop down to 4.33 after a very shaky start.  MIke is now (3-0) on the road with 3.33 ERA.

Week in Preview:  The B-Mets look to continue their streak with 4 more games on the road against Erie.  After that, they will return back to Binghamton for a 3 game set with the division leading Fisher Cats.  The division will be up for grabs baby!  Let's go Mets.

ST. LUCIE METS:
(High A,  Florida State League)

RECORD:  Overall – (9-14) last in the FSL South Div — (Week 4) – (2-5)

BATTING RANK:   7th out of 12 teams

PITCHING RANK:  12th out of 12 teams

As the Mets and their merry band of affiliates tromp through the winning forest this week, they seem to have left the Little Lucies back at the riverbank searching for fool's gold.  I've noted in the last few weeks in this column, that St. Lucie's pitching staff has a ton of upside and will be an exciting aspect of this team to watch.  So far, I've been incredibly wrong.  The team is last in the league in ERA and amazingly saw it drop even further this week down to 5.03.  Again, it is only 1 month into the season so far and their is ample, ample, ample time for St. Lucie's staff to turn it around, but they need to find some consistency.  One exciting note from the week was the return of Reese Haven's to the Met's lineup.  In 3 games since being back, Reese is 3-13 including a double and a triple.  He has 2 RBIs but has struck out 5 times.  Havens was recently moved to 2nd base during the Spring and it will be interesting to see if the same move is reciprocated in the FSL considering the lack of 2nd base prospects in the organization behind Ruben Tejada.

MVP of the Week:  Although there has not been much excitement this week in St. Lucie, 1B, Eric Cambell has been the constant factor in the lineup.  Currently on a 6 game hitting streak, Campbell has now raised his average to .308.  He has two homeruns and 5 RBI over the streak, while only striking out once.

Pitcher of the Week:  Scott Moviel had an ERA in the teens last week.  After this week he has dropped that number down modestly to 7.03.  Moviel has pitched 11.2 innings over the past week giving up 4 earned runs and 10 hits.  Nothing outstanding, but it's enough to earn him the top spot this week.

Week in Preview:  The Mets conclude their home trip with 3 games against the Charlotte Stone Crabs before hitting the road for 5 games against Ft. Myers and Brevard County.  Hopefully the road will be kind as they desperately need to get back on track.

SAVANNAH SAND GNATS: 
(Low A, South Atlantic League)

RECORD:  Overall – (16-8) 1st in the South SAL div. — (Week 4) – (4-2)

BATTING RANK:  9th out of 14 teams

PITCHING RANK:   1st out of 14 teams

Unlike the rest of the minor league teams, the SALLY Gnats are doing it mostly with their pitching.  They've jumped to the top spot in the league with a fantastic team ERA of 2.64.  The team as a whole is batting .255, however they are third in the league with 134 runs scored.  The combo of pitching and timely hitting has propelled them to the best record in the league.  Perhaps it has something to do with the new Landshark Landing bar they are building at the stadium?  Beer is good.  Although they started off the week with two losses to the Hickory Crawdads, they then invited the Lexington Legends into Savannah and promptly swept the four game set.  3B prospect Jefrey Marte has begun to heat up since returning to the lineup and is currently on a 6 game hitting streak.  Guys like Juan Lagares and Cesar Puello continue to be productive in the outfield after starting the year very cold.  Wilmer Flores, is well, Wilmer Flores.  He is now batting .327 on the year with 3 homeruns and 21 RBIs.  Pitcher James Fuller had his worst outing of the year giving up three runs in 5 innings, however young power arm Armando Rodriguez earned his first victory of the year giving up 1 ER in 6.2 innings while fanning 7.

MVP of the Week:  No one was phenominal this week in hitting terms, so I'll give the edge to Jefrey Marte who is currently on a 6 game hitting streak as noted before.  After missing most of the first month with an injury and starting the season off with a BA of under the mendoza line, he has raised his average up to .245.  Hopefully this is the start of something good from Marte.

Pitcher of the Week:  Taylor Whitenton is a starting pitcher for the Gnats, however this past week he was given 4 innings of relief work and did not allow a run.  In his one start of the week, Taylor went 6 innings and again did not give up a run.  He has allowed 3 hits in his 10 innings of work and struck out 14 while giving up two walks.  At 22, this a kid to keep an eye on.

Week in Preview:  After sweeping the 4 game set with Lexington, the Gnats head out on the road for 8 games against the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Lakewood Blue Claws. 

As always come check out the Mets Minor league section of the Mets paradise forum for all the Affiliate updates.

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