Bingo Blues

[HahnSolo]

@AdamRubinESPN Scout watching Zack Wheeler says he's ready for Buffalo. "94-95 mph with usable offspeed stuff. He overmatched these guys."

[Edgy MD]

Mets likely to stay in Binghamton.

[Edgy MD]

B-Mets in Bowie tonight with yours truly in attendance after sitting out a 90-minute delay at the start.

Saw the Beamers fall behind 4-0 after one after a series of seeing-eye hits, and then chip back with the benefit of two well placed shots by DH Mike Baxter.

Bottom of the third, Josh Barfield, slumming from his big-league days, manages to do what I thought a righthanded hitter couldn't do, pull a liner liner over the far end of the third-base dugout. I was in row B and gloveless, with the ball whistling for a spot vaguely between my eyes. Nowhere to go, I had time for a micro-second assessment of my life, a quick prayer (the contents of which was "B..."), and to note the distinctive J with which Eastern League Commissioner Joe McEacharn signs his name. I dove for cover, certain that it was the last of my many undignified acts on this planet. But somehow I heard the clank of the ball striking an iron rail behind me, and slowly emerged from my wife's cleavage, shocked but certain that the ball had somehow vaporized and passed through my skull only to materialize on the other side. (It was Superhero Night.)

Dozens of Baysox fans --- already wearied by my expatriate New Yorker act but not wishing me so much harm as all that --- stared gape-mouthed at my still-shaking body. What could I do? I got to my feet and yelled, "I HATE, you, Josh Barfield!" and moved back ten rows.

It was already a late night, the rain was picking up, and we have morning plans, so we cut out (rather pathetically) after the third inning. On our way out, I had more or less the same conversation three times.

"Aren't you the guy that almost got hit?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"How did that ball miss you?"
"I'm still not sure it did."

Bingo down 7-4 after seven. Gonzalez Germen was lifted after the first, but among the parade of relievers that followed was C.J. Nitkowski with a scoreless inning.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I hope those morning plans include breakfast, because it'll probably taste delectable.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Edgy DC wrote: Mets likely to stay in Binghamton.

I'm pleased about this only from the point of view when i turned up to their stadium to get buy a cap on a non-gameday, their front office people were not only nice enough open to the merchandise store for me, they also offered to give me a tour of the stadium when I told them where I was from.

[bmfc1]

Edgy--two years ago, I was sitting in the same section you were and I saw a guy a section to the left get hit in the eye with a foul ball. I'm glad you're OK.

[Edgy MD]

Erik Turgeon released from AA and saying public goodbyes on the Twitter.

1h Erik Turgeon ?@ETurg38 Want to thank all my Mets fans out there for all your support. Might b in a different uniform but I will always be the same guy. Thank you t 1h Erik Turgeon ?@ETurg38 To my teammates for everything. Never forget you guys. Always friends even if im across the field. Much love 1h Erik Turgeon ?@ETurg38 @nymets945 its all good. On to a new team and new challenges! 1h Erik Turgeon ?@ETurg38 "@Collin_McHugh: @ETurg38 hands down best teammate I've ever played with! #Fact" thanks buddy miss you man 1h Erik Turgeon ?@ETurg38 Being released is not always a bad thing. Ask 90% of players ...hah. blessing in disguise!

[Edgy MD]

Nitkowski brought on with one out in the ninth today and two lefties coming up. Struck 'em both out on six straight pitches.

Francisco threw a scoreless seventh.

[Edgy MD]

Turgeon lands with Pittsburgh.

[Edgy MD]

Binghamton announces four-year extension of affiliation agreement with Mets.

[MFS62]

Good news.
And based on the young talent that will be moving up the chain, that will be a fun 4 years.
Can't wait to see them again when they visit New Britain.
Thanks.
Later

[Frayed Knot]

The AA Eastern League agrees to move a team to Ottawa in time for the 2014 season.
However they're not saying which team that will be, or even if they yet know themselves.

FWIW the Binghamton ownership continues to deny both that they have been sold and that they are even for sale.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Turns out, Nolan Ryan is still pissed off.

Nolan Ryan, sons eye Ottawa baseball stake Star power expected for Double-A ownership group Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Nolan+Ryan+sons+Ottawa+baseball+stake/7479542/story.html#ixzz2AyvjBf8X Ottawa�s new professional baseball team could have a legendary Hall of Fame pitcher as one of its owners. Nolan Ryan�s company, Ryan-Sanders Entertainment, which already owns minor league franchises at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels, is believed to be negotiating through Beacon Sports Capital Partners to own a minority share in the Eastern League (Double-A) franchise poised to set up shop in Ottawa in 2014. The Ryan-Sanders group consists of the all-time Major League Baseball strikeout leader, who is also principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers, sons Reid and Reese (Reid a former minor leaguer and Reese a former collegiate pitcher) and former Houston Astros part-owner Don Sanders. The group owns the Triple-A Round Rock Express, near Austin, Tex., and the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, also in Texas, and has had great success promoting minor league baseball and events at the respective stadiums. The Corpus Christi facility, Whataburger Field, was voted top minor league venue in both 2008 and 2009. It is thought the Ryan-Sanders Group will play a key role in revitalizing Ottawa Stadium, once home to record-breaking International League crowds when it first opened in 1993. The Ottawa ownership negotiations are nearing the 11th hour in order to be ready for Ottawa City Council to make final approval next month. Rebecca Gustafson, special assistant to Reid Ryan, directed any ownership inquiries to the Eastern League. �It�s a policy of the Ryan-Sanders people not to comment on ownership issues,� said Gustafson. But Richard Billings of Beacon Sports Capital, the firm in charge brokering the deal between a present-day owner of an Eastern League franchise, the city, and the new prospective owners, while tight-lipped about who the new owners would be, said he was confident the credentials of the group would impress sports fans in Ottawa. Billings said his people are working �around the clock� to be in a position to formally announce the deal with the City and introduce the ownership group around Dec. 1. That date is important because baseball�s Winter Meetings are scheduled for Dec. 3-6 in Nashville, and it�s just before the stadium renovation plan and stadium lease go before a committee and then council for approval. Any sale agreement will be subject to final approval by the other Eastern League owners. The ownership group is also expected to have a local component as well. �I strongly believe that the City, the Eastern League, and the Ottawa community will be extremely pleased with the final outcome of what has been nearly 18 months of work by everyone involved,� said Billings. �While this has taken longer than everyone had hoped, I believe that the City and the Eastern League�s best interests have been served by the deliberate and careful approach that has been undertaken to ensure the success of this project over the long term. �As I have indicated publicly, if we successfully get to Dec. 1, I believe that the baseball fans in Ottawa will be very pleased with both the plans for the stadium and with the baseball operator who has signed on to own and run the team. However, there is still a great deal of work to accomplish if we are to meet the Dec. 1 date.� David Gourlay headed the Champions for Ottawa Baseball ticket drive and is confident that when the ownership group is made public, it will capture the attention of baseball fans. �I can confirm it�s going to be a very exciting ownership,� said Gourlay. �These are professional people with a great understanding of professional baseball. These are very exciting individuals.� Once the ownership issue is settled, attention will shift quickly to which Major League Baseball affiliation comes with it. Eastern League president Joe McEacharn said in early September his league will bend the rules to allow members to renegotiate their existing contracts with major league teams ahead of the expiry dates, currently set for the end of the 2014 season. That could open the door for the Toronto Blue Jays, who re-upped on a two-year affiliation deal with the Manchester-based New Hampshire Fisher Cats, to make a change if they wanted to in time for 2014. That news came after Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson heralded the return of professional baseball after the city reached an agreement in principle with Beacon to move forward on landing a franchise, a deal that also calls for a massive retrofit of the Coventry Road stadium. Beacon plans to reduce the capacity of the stadium from 10,000 to about 8,000 to accommodate terrace areas and restaurants. Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Nolan+Ryan+sons+Ottawa+baseball+stake/7479542/story.html#ixzz2AyvCtWhu

[Edgy MD]

How has Nolan Ryan thus far resisted political office? He's perfect. He's famous, famously married, ambitious, Texan, and people are dying to give him money.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wasn't he a lobbyist for the Cattlemen's Association, or something? He knows that Washington thing well.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: How has Nolan Ryan thus far resisted political office? He's perfect. He's famous, famously married, ambitious, Texan, and people are dying to give him money.

Do they test you for PEDs when you run for office?

[Edgy MD]

The little-sung Logan Verrett gets within one out of a complete game, striking out nine, walking one, while yielding just five hits and a lone run.... because he's merciful!

Offense comes from Cesar Puello with two punds of Kaboomage.

[Edgy MD]

Bingo particularly blue tonight, no hit by Harrisburg Senators Paul Demny and Ian Krol. They did manage to score one on a walk, an error, and a double-play groundout, but went down 6-1 to the AA Nationals.

[Edgy MD]

Two homers including the game-winner today for Cesar Puello. That's five homers in the last four days.

Cesar, it's been an honor watching you cheat. Now enjoy your suspension.

[MFS62]

As they say in Law, a suspicion is not an arrest, an arrest is not an indictment, an indictment is not a conviction.
Has he failed any tests?
Let's see what happens.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I'd really rather not have any lectures. I'm not his juror.

[MFS62]

No lecture intended. Just saying to be patient until this all works out.
Later

[Edgy MD]

I'm plenty patient.

[Edgy MD]

Infielder Josh Rodriguez has hit safely in 23 consecutive games, the longest hitting streak in the Eastern League since 2005.

[Edgy MD]

Eastern League All-Stars: Allan Dykstra, Josh Rodriguez, Cesar Puello, Logan Verrett, Jeff Walters.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Not pictured: Darrel Ceciliani.

[Edgy MD]

When you need to spark a rally, look to a big league ringer on a rehab assignment to get you started.

We go to the ninth with the Mets down 3-1.

Binghamton Top of the 9th
Pitching Change: Matt Hauser replaces Ryan O'Rourke.

• Alonzo Harris grounds out, shortstop Danny Santana to first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez. One out.
  
• Daniel Muno strikes out swinging. Two out.
  
• Justin Turner singles on a fly ball to right fielder Evan Bigley. Runner on first. Two out.
  
• With Josh Rodriguez batting, wild pitch by Matt Hauser, Justin Turner to 2nd. Runner on second. Two out.
  
• Josh Rodriguez walks. Runners on first and second. Two out.
  
• Allan Dykstra singles on a fly ball to left fielder Daniel Ortiz. Justin Turner scores. Josh Rodriguez to 2nd. Runners on first and second. Two out. =#0000FF]New Britain leads, 3-2.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Wilfredo Tovar replaces Allan Dykstra.

• Cesar Puello walks. Josh Rodriguez to 3rd. Wilfredo Tovar to 2nd. Bases loaded. Two out
  
• Rhyne Hughes singles on a ground ball to right fielder Evan Bigley. Josh Rodriguez scores. Wilfredo Tovar scores. Cesar Puello to 3rd. Runners on first and second. Two out. =#0000FF]Binghamton leads 4-3.

Pitching Change: B. J. Hermsen replaces Matt Hauser.

• Blake Forsythe grounds out, third baseman Miguel Sano to first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez. Three out.

Deft move by Pedro Lopez, pinch-running for Dykstra, there, as Tovar ended up scoring the go-ahead run. But we still have a bottom of the ninth to play.

New Britain Bottom of the 9th

Wilfredo Tovar remains in the game as the designated hitter.
Pitching Change: Jeff Walters replaces Chasen Bradford.

• Miguel Sano flies out to center fielder Alonzo Harris. One out.
  
• Nate Hanson flies out to center fielder Alonzo Harris. Two out.
  
• Reynaldo Rodriguez singles on a line drive to left fielder Darrell Ceciliani. Runner on first. Two out.
  
• Daniel Ortiz pops out to shortstop Justin Turner. Three out.

Phew. Big win for the B-Mets.

[Edgy MD]

Binghamton clinches tonight and is heading for the post-season for the first time since 2004, when Wright went .363 / .467 / .619 // 1.086.

Guess Dykstra has to stay down now.