Gnats Gnews 2010

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Mets' Class A South Atlantic League team needs a correspondent -- and some help! With both my adopted prospects (Doyle C, Harris OF) are currently down there, looks like I can provide updates. I apologize if someone else was already on this story, didn't see much.

The Sand Gnats won the first-half championship in the Sally, then as usual with the start of short-season teams, had a major roster shake up. Eight players were promoted, including five of the Gnat's six Sally All-Stars.

All-Stars SS Wilmer Flores, LF/CF Juan Lagares, C Kai Gronauer and RHP Brandon Moore were promoted to St. Lucie and LHP Mark Cohoon all the way to AA Binghamton. Non-All-Stars RHP Erik Turgeon, INF Michael Fisher, and OF Rafael Fernandez were also promoted to St. Lucie.

Joining the Gnats in their places are SS Wilfredo Tovar, INF Ryan Mollica, C Juan Torres and RHP Marcos Tabata from St. Lucie; OF R.J. Harris from Brooklyn; and 1B Travis Ozga, RHP Gabriel Zavala and RHP Luis Rojas from Kingsport. LHP Brandon Sage, who had been placed on the temporarily inactive list, was also activated.

The Gnats are off to a, um, slow start in the second half. A just-completed 5-game series with Asheville saw them lose by shutout 4 times (2-0, 5-0, 9-0, 2-0) and win by shutout once (9-0).

This guy and his web site watches most of their games, a recent take on the 2nd half outlook is here:

http://scoutingthesally.com/2010/06/savannah-vs-asheville-matzek-the-sequel-a-bunch-of-sand-gnats-moves/

[MFS62]

(Posted before I read the linked article)

Other than Wil Tovar (.400+), who is supposed to be a real prospect, the current Nats lineup sports batting averages that look like the IQs at a MENSA convention. But, man, can that team PITCH. Marc Cohoon had pitched three consecutive complete game shutouts before his promotion. Most of them are stil around. If they can find even a little offense, they'll be in the second half race, too.

Later

[seawolf17]

???

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/08/06/2010-08-06_mets_singlea_team_savannah_sand_gnats_to_have_fan_light_stuntman_ted_batchelor_o.html

[ashie62]

seawolf17 wrote: ??? http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/08/06/2010-08-06_mets_singlea_team_savannah_sand_gnats_to_have_fan_light_stuntman_ted_batchelor_o.html

Do that to the Wilpons on fan appreciation day pleez.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Cool line for Gnats starter Taylor Whitenton Saturday night.

IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
5.0	1	0	0	0	2	11

A crowd of 3,064 was on hand --- not to watch Taylor, but rather this guy.

[ashie62]

I'd like to see Castillo circle the bases on fire...