IGT, Rochester at Norfolk, 5/2

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Norfolk Tides need your support more than the Mets right now. Their DH is generally the catcher they're not catching that day, which is usually a bad sign of a team's depth. The Mets also just stole their best pitcher, but didn't get Victor Diaz back to them in time to help this afternoon.

Rochester

=orange]Norfolk

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yup. Our number-three hitter is hitting .187.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Tides go in order in the first.

And second.

Scoreless tie in the third.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Zac Clements is a 26 year old catcher who was promoted to Norfolk after a terrible year at Binghamton last year. He's an atrociously bad non-prospect, from what I can tell from his stats and has done nothing to disprove that belief in 10 at bats this year, where he's managed 1 single and a walk.

He's 26, and over the past 4 years, he's put up the following:

574 AB, .233 AVG/.297 OBP/.305 SLG/.602 OPS, 17 SB, 14 CS.

Ugh. Presumably, he's advanced as far as he had because he's good defensively.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Meanwhile, 2B Ray Navarrete walks and Milledge doubles him in to give the Tides a rare lead, 1-0.

The 28-year-old Ray is a non-prospect from Jersey. He's had exactly one good season, and that was at the age of 24 in A+, and "good" means an OPS of .809 with 8 SB.

In 34 at bats, he's done the following this season: .176/.176/.265/.441 OPS. Over his career: .281 AVG/.323 OBP/.413 SLG/.736 OPS. Now, that doesn't look that bad until you consider the fact that he's been old for every league he's played in.

He probably doesn't belong in AAA.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Keppinger struck out to strand Milledge at second, and with one out, Garret Jones homered off LaVigne to tie it up at 1.

LaVigne got Tiffee to ground out, then struck out Rabe swinging to end the inning.

Bonser retired the side in order.

Heading to the top of the fifth now. Bonser with a one-hitter with a walk and 4 K's through 4. He's thrown 67 pitches.

LaVigne is out of the game after doing quite well in what I believe is his first start of the year: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. His ERA sits at 3.20.

The newly promoted William Vazquez replaces him. Vazquez pitched magnificantly in relief at Binghamton, posting the following line: 16.7 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 15 K, 4 BB.

This is the first time the 25-year old Vazquez has had any success. In his 6 years in the minors, he never advanced past A for Colorado, where he stayed without any advancement for 3.5 years.

Career line (through 2005): 161 IP, 4.70 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 10.23 H/9, 7.55 K/9, 3.75 BB/9, 0.95 HR/9.

As you can see, he's had decent peripherals, but has been very hittable.

I've no idea if his hot start is for real or what.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Ugh. Presumably, he's advanced as far as he had because he's good defensively.

Yeah, that's the line, but the Mets have no shortage of defense-first catchers.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Vazquez with a perfect 5th and a K.

After a Julio Ramirez strikeout, Clements singles, but Hietpas flies out to right and Navarette lines out to center.

Top of the 6th, tied at 1.

[Guest Rotblatt]

A little excitement in the 6th, with Vazquez pitching:

]Andres Torres flies out to left fielder Cory Aldridge. Jason Bartlett singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Cory Aldridge. Jason Kubel singles on a line drive to right fielder Julio Ramirez. Jason Bartlett advances to 3rd, on fielding error by right fielder Julio Ramirez. Coaching visit to mound. Garrett Jones grounds into double play, shortstop Chase Lambin to second baseman Ray Navarrete to first baseman Juan Tejeda. Jason Kubel out at 2nd.

Way to show some grit and execute, kid!

Still tied at 1 entering the bottom of the 6th.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Big moment here. Rabe on second, Tiffee a-huggin' third. Anderson Garcia on to replace Vazquez with one out and Shawn Wooten up.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Woo-hoo! Wotten lines to shorstop Lambin who throws to Keppinger and nails Tiffee at a-third! Double-play, side retired!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Rochester went ahead against Heath Bell in the ninth on a fielding error by Lambin, after which pinch-runner Jason Tyner came around to score.

Keppinger opened the Tide ninth by lining out softly.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Lambin flew out to Tyner, but Tejeda extends the game with a soft single to center.

Aldridge up.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Aldridge fans to end the game.

Help me, Michael Tucker. You're my only hope.

[Elster88]

When are we calling Keppinger up to give him his shot at second?

The grass is always greener wherever Kaz is not.

[Guest Edgy DC]

PECOTA is eating dirt on the Lambin prediction also.

Keppinger: .593 OPS.

Lambin: .515 OPS.