The Tides Wait for No Man

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Mets, with a AAA team running away with their division, with a mix of big-league vets and ripe (if not top) prospects, might be able to find an advantage when rosters expand.

[duan]

when the rosters expand in September, does someone still have to get added to/be on the 40 for them to come up or can you pull up Johnny Pitching Prospect without putting him on the 40

[Guest Rotblatt]

I believe they have to be on the 40-man roster, which will make it difficult for someone like Scobie to get called up . . . Who, by the way, won his league-leading 14th victory yesterday.

[Guest Rotblatt]

While You Were Out: 8/3 - 8/22

The Tides went 12-7 and clinched their division. Pagan got injured or at least has been unable to play recently. Hernandez has been crazy hot, getting on base over 50% of the time in 59 plate appearances, but he only has 2 XBH in that time. Daubach is still killing the ball. Valent has stopped swinging and appears to be pretty much just looking to walk, which he does very successfully (he's walked 25% of the time in his last 80 plate appearances). He also led the team in K's over that stretch. Redman's been solid, Basak's in a deep, dark slump, and Lambin seems to be an all-or-nothing type player--over half of his hits went for extra bases. Hietpas is struggling to adjust to AAA pitching, striking out in 31% of his PA. That being said, his .623 OPS isn't atrociously bad for a recently promoted catcher.

Petit made his first AAA start and got knocked around a bit, Hamulack & Takatsu are making strong bids for September call-ups, Bannister, Musser & Scobie looked pretty dominant, with Junge not far behind. McGinley continues to surrender the long ball and has been in general pretty hittable, despite a nice K rate of 10.8/9.

Stats in that time

Pagan (56 AB): .375 AVG/.444 OBP/.500 SLG/.944 OPS, .88 BB/K
Hernandez (51): .510/.576/.549/1.125, .62
Daubach (56): .375/.485/.571/1.056, .80
Redman (54): .315/.362/.407/.769, .36
Lambin (51): .216/.272/.392/.664, .31
Hietpas (29): .241/.313/.310/.623, .30
Valent (60): .167/.375/.217/.592, 1.25
Nye (59): .203/.299/.254/.553, 1.00
Basak (57): .175/.230/.246/.476, .29

Bannister (21.2 IP): 2.49 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 11.21 K/9, 3.86 K/BB
Lavigne (11.2): 4.62, 1.80, 3.08 K/9, 0.570 K/BB
McGinley (11.2): 4.63, 1.54, 10.80 K/9, 14 K/BB
Junge (17.1): 3.64, 1.21, 8.31 K/9, 2.67 K/BB
Bell (13): 2.77, 1.23, 9 K/9, 2.6 K/BB
Hamulack (6.1): 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 11.37 K/9, 4.0 K/BB
Musser (19): 3.32, 1.16, 11.84 K/9, 4.17 K/BB
Scobie (22): 2.86, 1.23, 6.95 K/9, 4.25 K/BB
Ishii (11.1): 1.59, 1.41, 12.71 K/9, 4.00 K/BB
Takatsu (3.2): 2.45, 0.82, 12.26 K/9, 5.00 K/BB
Petit (6): 4.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 9.00 K/9, 2.00 K/BB

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

How about that Ishii kid?

[Willets Point]

="Rotblatt"] Pagan got injured or at least has been unable to play recently.

As noted in the Adopt a Prospect forum, Angel Pagan's father passed away and so Pagan left the team for a while to attend the funeral.

[MFS62]

The half full view.
I think Petit only gave up one run in the first five innings, then two in his sixth (and last) inning of pitching.

Later

[Guest Rotblatt]

Matthew Pouliot from RotoWorld thinks Petit is nifty, predicting a mid-2006 ascent to the bigs for him and suggesting he has a #2 starter ceiling:

]Yusmeiro Petit - RHP Mets - Under different circumstances, Petit might have made his major league debut by now. The 20-year-old was terrific for Double-A Binghamton, going 9-3 with a 2.91 ERA, 90 H and 130/18 K/BB in 117 2/3 IP, and he made his first start for Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, allowing three runs in six innings. With Jae Seo around and Aaron Heilman also available as a starter if needed, the Mets have yet to have any use for Petit this season. That should change by mid-2006. Petit, signed out of Venezuela in 2001, established himself as a top pitching prospect while finishing second in the minors to Brandon McCarthy in strikeouts last year. He went 12-6 with a 2.20 ERA, 84 H and 200/41 K/BB in 139 1/3 IP at three levels, spending the majority of the season in the Sally League. There were still plenty of doubters then, mostly because Petit tends to work at 90 mph. Most believe now. Because he�s so hard to pick up, Petit would seem to possess No. 2-starter potential. Hitters believe he�s throwing harder than his typical 88-91 mph, and he usually gets a fair amount of movement on his fastball. His slider and changeup are effective secondary pitches, although not quite plus offerings. Along with the deception in his delivery, it�s his command that sets him apart. He�s about as good at hitting his spots as anyone in the minors. Petit already pitches as though he�s a 10-year veteran, so the Mets won�t be afraid to call him up when they need him. Because he generates a lot of velocity with his legs and he�s pretty efficient, he seems like a better bet than most to stay healthy. It�s possible that his fastball won�t result in nearly so many swings and misses in the majors, making him a third or a fourth starter rather than a No. 2. Right now, though, I see little reason not to be optimistic.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.asp?sport=MLB&column=19

In other news, the playoff-bound Tides are doggin it, having lost 5 of their last 6, including a 4-2 loss to the Mud Hens last night. Pagan is still in Puerto Rico & Nye has a bruised chest and is day-to-day. He's scheduled to receive an MRI today.

McGinley & LaVigne are being temporarily shipped down to AA to make room for Graves & Santiago, but they'll be back when the rosters expand.

Daubach went 2-3 last night with 2 doubles to raise his league-leading batting average to .343. Hernadez & Valent failed to reach base, while Basak & Redman each went 2-4 with 1 RBI apiece. Lambin & Hietpas also singled, rounding out the Tides' paltry offense. They each committed an error as well, with Lambin's leading to an unearned run in the 6th.

Musser was the hard-luck loser, going 7 innings, giving up 7 H, 2 BB, 4 R (3 earned) & K'ing 3. Aybar & Hamulack eached pitched perfect frames to end the game.

[Frayed Knot]

Danny Graves, btw, cleared waivers and has reported to Norfolk.
He made an appearance yesterday ... and promptly got hammered.

They've got an option on him for next year (essentially that was the price of picking him up) but I can't imagine that they'll pick it up. At best they'll invoke the buyout and maybe invite him back in the spring to sing for his supper.

[Guest Rotblatt]

The Tides have now won two straight, and look like they're recovering from their post-clinch hangover, in which they lost seven games in a row.

8/30/2005

Chase Lambin led the Tides to victory over the Durham Bulls, going 4-6 with two doubles and driving in Eric Valent with a walk-off single in the 13 inning last night.

Scobie started and was in and out of trouble through 6 innings, giving up 10 hits, including 1 home run, 1 walk, 3 runs, and striking out 1. Graves, Aybar, Takatsu & Ishii followed, combining for 7 scoreless innings in which they gave up only 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7.

Hernandez, Calloway & Daubach each had two hits in the 4-3 victory.


Rotblatt's Player of the Game, Chase Lambin

[Guest Edgy DC]

I see Norfolk is still working with the photography being done by the assistant clubhouse manager

[Guest Rotblatt]

8/31/05

Lambin Leads Comeback As Tides Win 3-2

With the Tides down 2-1, Chase Lambin started the 7th by launching a home run to left to tie it, then with the score still tied in the ninth, he worked out a walk and later scored on a single by Ron Calloway. Lambin, who went 1-2 with 2 walks, has now hit 24 home runs in the minors, including 10 at AAA in under 200 at bats. He is now at .286 AVG/.352 OBP/.520 SLG/.872 OPS at Norfolk for the year.

Angel Pagan went 2-3 with a double and a walk and was caught stealing, Hernandez had a single and a walk in 4 at bats, Calloway drove in 2 runs, going 1-5, Redman had 3 hits, including a double, and Valent & Nye had one hit each. Valent also walked once.

Santiago, who started for the Tides, was wild, walking 5 in 6 innings, but effective, allowing only 4 hits and 2 runs, while striking out 4. Ring relieved, going three strong innings, only allowing one hit while striking out 2.

This is the third consecutive victory for the Tides, who are now 77-62 on the year. The have 5 games remaining.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: I see Norfolk is still working with the photography being done by the assistant clubhouse manager

Or the person who takes the license pictures for the Motor Vehicle Bureau.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Tides force a game five by doing everything the Mets haven't the last week --- clutch hitting and inventing new ways to double peeps up.

On the other hand, Anderson Hernandez making two errors on one play... that's not cool!

Tides win wild game to force game 5

September 10, 2005 - Brian Daubach doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning, and the Tides used an unconventional double play in the bottom of the ninth to knock off the Toledo Mud Hens 3-2 Saturday night.

With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning, Brian Daubach lined a two-out double into the right field corner, scoring Anderson Hernandez from second base and putting the Tides up 3-2. Daubach, who came into the game 1-for-12 in the playoffs, finished the night 3-for-5.

Toledo mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, but was turned away on a wild play to end the game.

Tides reliever Royce Ring walked Gookie Dawkins to lead off the inning, and Dawkins moved to second on a single by Ryan Raburn. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Norfolk summoned Virginia Beach native Tim LaVigne to come on in relief.

Toledo pinch-hitter Don Kelly grounded a 1-2 pitch from LaVigne to Daubach at first base, and Daubach looked Dawkins back to third before stepping on first for the second out of the inning. Daubach then fired a throw behind Raburn at second base, and Tides shortstop Anderson Hernandez swiped a tag at the feet of Raburn, completing the double play. Hernandez, unaware that umpires had ruled Raburn out at second base, then fired a throw home in an attempt to retire Dawkins at the plate, but Hernandez' throw sailed high and Dawkins crossed the plate safely, thinking he had scored the tying run. Because the Tides had already recorded the third out of the inning, however, the run did not count, and the Tides escaped with a 3-2 win and a tie of the best-of-five series.

Toledo had taken a 1-0 lead in the 7th inning on another crazy play. With two outs and Dawkins on first, Raburn grounded a ball that went through the legs of Hernandez at short. The ball trickled into shallow left, and Dawkins raced for third. Hernandez threw to third to try and retire Dawkins, but his throw sailed into the third base dugout, giving the Mud Hens a 1-0 lead.

Norfolk tied the score in similar fashion in the top of the 8th inning. With two outs, Rodney Nye grounded a ball to Dawkins at shortstop. The ball went through the legs of Dawkins, and pinch-runner Wayne Lydon scored from second base to tie the score at 1-1. Ron Calloway then lined a single to right field that scored Chase Lambin to give the Tides a 2-1 lead.

The Mud Hens tied the score in the bottom of the 8th inning on a two-out RBI single by Mike Hessman off of Manny Aybar.

The Tides and Mud Hens will square off in the finale of their best-of-five series Sunday night from Fifth Third Field in Toledo. Jose Santiago is set to take the hill for the Tides against Mud Hens lefty Wil Ledezma. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Tides are eliminated, and the dreams of counltlss 'Folkers die with them.

On another note, who comes up?

[Willets Point]

Let's all join in for one last cheer for the team:
WE DON'T DRINK,
WE DON'T SMOKE,
NORRRRRRRRRRRRR-FOLK!!!!!

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Edgy DC wrote: Tides are eliminated, and the dreams of counltlss 'Folkers die with them. On another note, who comes up?

Bring up Joe Hietpas. Let him get an at-bat this year.

[Valadius]

NOW we can see Hernandez.

[seawolf17]

I think it should be a Met tradition to allow a random minor-league catcher to get one inning behind the plate in the last game of the year.

Or Roberto Hernandez. Whoever.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Neither Hietpas nor Hernandez are currently on the 40, so both would take some juggling to bring up.

Meanwhile, this displaced Sheveporter has suddenly appeared on the 40.

Promises to bring odd headlines. From the Shreveport Times:

Self claimed by Mets

Louisiana-Monroe and Southwood High School product Todd Self was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on Friday.

In 21 games with the Astros this season, Self hit .200 with one home run and four RBIs. At Triple-A Round Rock, the 26-year-old first baseman had a .298 batting average to go with eight homers and 47 RBIs this season.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Further checking shows this to have the appearance of a revenge claim of sorts. Self was claimed off waivers where he was put after a DFA, initiated because the 'Stros needed to activate Scott Strickland, claimed by the Astros under the same circumstances.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ken Oberkfell, manager of the year.

Pretty cool, in that it's been 22 years since a Mets manager has won it.

On the other hand, the last one to win it has waited all this time before finally getting a big-league shot.

Historically, outside of Buck Showalter, few of the past winners have had substantial big-league careers.

1981--Ed Nottle, Tacoma (Athletics)
1982--Eddie Haas, Richmond (Braves)
1983--Bill Dancy, Reading (Phillies)
1984--Sam Perlozzo, Jackson (Mets)
1985--Jim Lefebvre, Phoenix (Giants)
1986--Brad Fischer, Huntsville (Athletics)
1987--Dave Trembley, Harrisburg (Pirates)
1988--Joe Sparks, Indianapolis (Expos)
1989--Buck Showalter, Albany (Yankees)
1990--Kevin Kennedy, Albuquerque (Dodgers)
1991--Butch Hobson, Pawtucket (Red Sox)
1992--Grady Little, Greenville (Braves)
1993--Terry Francona, Birmingham (White Sox)
1994--Tim Ireland, El Paso (Brewers)
1995--Marc Bombard, Indianapolis (Reds)
1996--Carlos Tosca, Portland (Marlins)
1997--Gary Jones, Edmonton (Athletics)
1998--Terry Kennedy, Iowa (Cubs)
1999--John Mizerock, Wichita (Royals)
2000--Joel Skinner, Buffalo (Indians)
2001--Jackie Moore, Round Rock (Astros)
2002--John Russell, Edmonton (Twins)
2003--Dave Brundage, San Antonio (Mariners)
2004--Marty Brown, Buffalo (Indians)

[Frayed Knot]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/05league20s/int.html

No Tides on BA's list of Top-20 International League prospects.

On-line chat at 1PM today if anyone wants to log in and ask why future superstuds like Jeff Keppinger and Andy Hernandy were so blatantly overlooked.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]No Tides on BA's list of Top-20 International League prospects.

Which has got to be part of the reason that Oberkfell won.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Pittsburgh has the makings, it seems, of a good young pitching corps for whoever takes over for them.

Not that they haven't been through that before.

[Guest SI Metman]

I laugh when I look at the '92 and '93 winners back to back.

Irony at its finest.

[Guest Edgy DC]

How about four future Red Sox managers winning in a row? Almost as if the owners use Baseball America to select their managers from.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I wonder of Tim Ireland is hoping for the Red Sox to get swept, so that he can take his turn.

[MFS62]

="Edgy DC"] Almost as if the owners use Baseball America to select their managers from.

Edgy, that might not be as outlandish as it seems. I remember reading that when Ned Irish was an executive with the NY Knicks, he was rumored to have shown up at the NBA draft with a copy of Street and Smith's College basketball annual, and would flip through the pages and draft the first high profile players he could find. (There were more rounds to the draft in those days)

The story is most likely not true, and apochrycal at best. (I hope I used that correctly)
But at least it is in keeping with your comment.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

From BA's Q&A:


Q: Mike from NYC asks:
Hello Chris i am very angry, why isn't Jason Scobie of Norfolk not considered a top prospect, he is 15-7 with 3.34 ERA and an ALL STAR, yet the Mets did not even put the guy on their 40 man roster. I know he doesn't strike out many hitters, but he is winning his games. Why is Scobie being disrespected?

A: Chris Kline:
Sorry you're ticked off, Mike. But Scobie was a little older than the guys on this list, despite the success and the all-star appearance. He has average stuff across the board, but is a workhorse. I know the coaching staff in Norfolk felt he deserved a promotion, but the Mets never came calling. In their defense, it was Scobie's first year in Triple-A after coming off an injury in 2003. He was there all year to eat up innings and prove he was healthy.



Q: Al Green from Motown asks: [try to 'Stay Together' Al]
Had Jeff Keppinger not gotten hurt and countinued to play the way he was, BA .330+ would he be even considered for top 20 or top 30?

A: Chris Kline:
Keppinger had a nice year at Norfolk, but the thing that impressed me most was his defense at second, short and third. He's a good player, but probably not much more than a utility guy in the big leagues.




Q: Mike from Chico, CA asks:
Was Anderson Hernandez close to the top 20? Do you believe that the Mets will give him the 2B job in '06 (providing that they don't trade for Alfonso Soriano)?

A: Chris Kline:
He was, and he got some support from several managers around the league. Hernandez is a nice player, good range, decent arm, turns doubleplays well fundamentally. He's a spray hitter and won't hit for much power. I don't see him in Shea next year unless it's as a utilityman. And even then, I like Keppinger better.




Q: Todo Yamaguchi from Tokyo asks: {Iron Shinjo?}
Yusmeiro Petit and Brian Banister, who is better and can they both be in top 20 next year? Who would have more success in majors?

A: Chris Kline:
Petit is better. Bannister is likely a middle reliever in the big leagues, whereas Petit has the ceiling to be a No. 4 or 5.




And - just because he comes up in our discussions so often ...

Q: Francisco from boston,ma asks:
What do you see happening with Kelly Shoppach in the future and what type of player will he be in the majors?

A: Chris Kline:
Shoppach doesn't have much else to prove in Triple-A, that's for sure. He's a great leader, handles a staff well and has good game-calling skills. He'll never hit for a high average, but he's got all the ability to be an everyday catcher at the next level. The question is where.