Shuffle off to Buffalo 2012

[Edgy MD]

Adam Loewen in his four games at Buffalo since coming off the DL has two doubles and two homers, and is smacking to the tune of .467 / .579 / 1.000 // 1.579.

[Edgy MD]

Big shot in Buffalo.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Matt Harvey a AAA All-Star Game "Top Star" for his 2 scoreless (0 hits/walks, 2 K). Val! Pas-COO-chee! went 1-1 with a ringing double and 3 BB.

[Edgy MD]

Bloody brilliant.

[MFS62]

And let's have some props for Buffalo Val, who won the AAA home run derby yesterday.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Mejia moving back into the rotation with the Buffs.

Duda started out in right, but he's expected to see more time in left and first, which is good.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy DC wrote: Duda started out in right, but he's expected to see more time in left and first, which is good.

I wonder to what end? Are the Mets finally taking concrete steps to phase out Jason Bay? Or do the Mets intend to trade one of either Duda or Davis? And has any of this been decided already, or do these potential moves depend on Duda's future performance at Buffalo? I suppose this is all in flux. Jason Bay could suddenly catch fire. In theory.

Questions. Questions. Questions.

Personally, I don't think that Duda's defense in LF will be meaningfully better than in RF. The only saving grace that I foresee is that in LF, the harm Duda does will be minimized because most often, the lead runner will have a harder time taking third base, given the shorter throw Duda would need to make from left after he's done chasing down his flub.

[G-Fafif]

Collins suggested yesterday on the FAN that Duda will play first in Buffalo only as a last resort of him sucking irredeemably in RF and LF, where he'll be stationed exclusively at first. The goal is to get him comfortable enough defensively in the OF so that he doesn't take his defense with him to the plate and get back to being a dangerous hitter. The organization knows he's all right with the confidence (or CAHNfidence) at first, so, per Collins, it sees no point in giving him time there, since he's not likely to be playing any first in the majors, given Ike's apparently satisfying presence in the Met scheme of things.

Or so they say until minds are changed if and when balls are dropped.

[Edgy MD]

I see playing him in left and first gives them leverage to cover multiple holes come offseason no matter what decisions they come around to make. Or give him X% more value in the trade market.

And yeah, stationing him in left reduces the amount of defensive liability. Like George Foster before him, Bay gets the veteran's privilege of staying in the same corner he'd always played, even if they had more ideal defensively poor candidates for left, be they Duda or Kingman.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Duda started out in right, but he's expected to see more time in left and first, which is good. I wonder to what end? Are the Mets finally taking concrete steps to phase out Jason Bay? Or do the Mets intend to trade one of either Duda or Davis? And has any of this been decided already, or do these potential moves depend on Duda's future performance at Buffalo? I suppose this is all in flux. Jason Bay could suddenly catch fire. In theory. Questions. Questions. Questions. Personally, I don't think that Duda's defense in LF will be meaningfully better than in RF. The only saving grace that I foresee is that in LF, the harm Duda does will be minimized because most often, the lead runner will have a harder time taking third base, given the shorter throw Duda would need to make from left after he's done chasing down his flub.

The idea being, the way Collins has described it the couple of times he's mentioned it, is it's simply about getting Duda going offensively. They'll worry about where to play him if/when he comes back and Jason Bay is hitting. (or other/all/some outfielders)

I don't imagine his defense will me much better in LF. I think his arm is sorta okay, so either it's good enough to work there, or it's minimizes the difference switching makes. Of course, people think Valdespin is a second baseman despite being a disaster at short. I'm not sure what the difference is, as the ball isn't exactly traveling any different to second than short and it's not really an arm strength thing that didn't work at short. The other thing, and this isn't a real thing, is that he'll "look" better on defense in left because he'll be compared to other left fielders and generally that's the weakest spot of the outfield. But just because he looks less bad comparatively there (and you know people will cite his 'improved, slightly" defense if this happens next year) doesn't mean he's costing the Mets less runs, just less runs compared to a different subset of players.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I got a vibe the other day that we'd seen the last of Duda. He might be worth more as a AAA first baseman than a MLB right fielder.

[Edgy MD]

Lucas Duda 1-12 with a single, no walks, and two whiffs since his demotion.

Nickeas 1-5, with a double, a walk, and a strikeout. He looks sad.



Buffs beat Indanapolis today, 3-2, with all three runs being driven in by catcher and eighth-place hitter Lucas May (who is no longer the only Lucas on the team). Chris Schwinden gave up one run over seven innings for the win. Rob Carson, recently bounced up from Bingo, came on with first and third and two outs in the eighth, and got the four-out save.

[Frayed Knot]

Familia smacked around Friday night by Syracuse (5 runs on 5 hits with 3 BBs & 0 Ks in just 2.2 IPs) -- but avoided getting hung with a loss as the Buffs eventually won 13-7

Help came in the form of:
- 2.2 scoreless & hitless 2-K relief from Beato
- HRs from Duda (3 for 4), Nickeas (2/4) & Satin (4/5 incl 2 2Bs) all while those still on the big club were having a 'singles night' out in SD

[Edgy MD]

Yabbut... tell the rest of the story.

Wally Backman gets a three-game vacation after going head to head with Syracuse Chief manager Tony Beasley over allegations of sign stealing.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: Yabbut... tell the rest of the story. Wally Backman gets a three-game vacation after going head to head with Syracuse Chief manager Tony Beasley over allegations of sign stealing.

The good ol' argument, fight, and suspension trifecta, eh?.
Or, as Wally calls it, Friday.

[ashie62]

Duda got demoted? Man I missed that..Is he rehabbing hammy?

[Frayed Knot]

No, he's rehabbing his bat.
And hopefully his glove too.

[Edgy MD]

Seriously though, sign stealing? Change your signs, shut up, and maybe try your own counterintelligence.

[ashie62]

I thought stealing signs has been part of the game (not by video) for like 100 years or so?

[Edgy MD]

Buffalo wins 1-0 as Schwinnie, Rob Carson, and Fernando Cabera shut out Syracuse on 10 hits. TEN! Chiefs also got two walks a reach-on-error, but couldn't push anybody across the plate. Hitting coach George Greer managing the team in Wally Backman's alleged absence.

[MFS62]

One of those "death by a thousand cuts" games for Wheeler today.
Second inning: Single-K-wild pitch-single-single-single-sac bunt-single-ground out.
4 runs 5 hits.


Later

[Edgy MD]

Bisons clinch sixth and last place in the International League North yesterday with a dis-spiriting 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Pigs Made of Iron. Three hits were all they could manage against 12 strikeouts.

Fred Lewis was named MVP. Despite not joining the club until April 25, following his release from the Indians, Lewis led all qualifiers on the team with a .294 batting average, tied for third with 13 homers, and drove in 45, fifth on the team. Lewis led the team easily with 25 steals (den Dekker was second with 11). He also leads the team in Matt Lawton DNA shared, being a first cousin of the former Met.

Matt Harvey was named the Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher, going 7-5, 3.68 in 20 starts and 110 innings for the team. Harvey struck out 112 and walked 48, but you what? If I'm Chris Schwinden's mother, I'm demanding a recount. Schwinden went 8-6 with a 2.70 ERA, starting 19 games and relieving in two more in 106.2 innings over two tours of duty with the team. (He also had five disastrous starts with three other AAA teams while cycling through DFA Hell for a couple of weeks mid-season.) Schwinnie struck out 92 and walked 30 for the Herd.

Fernando Cabrera pitched the eighth last night to set a modern Buffalo record with his 57th pitching appearance. Cabrera easily led the team with 22 saves (Justin Hampson was second with four), but his 4.10 ERA couldn't get the Mets attention long enough for them to give the 30-year-old a call, despite their ongoing bullpen problems. Cabrera had some of his best seasons pitching in the mid 2000s for Buffalo while they were affiliated with the Cleveland organization.

Not to be lost in the shuffle is the recently recalled Zach Lutz. Limited to half a season due to injuries, the 26-year-old put up a campaign to be proud of, slashing to the tune of .299 / .410 / .496 // .905. Lutz homered 10 times and drove in 35, and put himself in a good position to get a look as a replacement for David Wright should Mex get his wish and see Sugarpants get traded. He certainly looks like a good candidate for a bench job in 2013, but he hasn't played outfield and he's probably too slow, so he'd be likely limited to third and first.

Lucas May, Rob Johnson, and Jean Luc Blaquiere all put up sub-.600 OPS years for Buffalo, so that's a strong argument as any for Kelly Shoppach. Mike Nickeas actually hit the snot out of the ball in the 22 games after getting sent down, so look at any appearances he makes the rest of the year as him wrestling with the non-tender angel. The angel is winning.

Lastly, top prospect Zack Wheeler posted a 2-2 / 3.27 coda onto his impressive AA season, getting six starts and 33 International League innings, ZW puts himself in a good position to get at least a serious look by the Mets come spring training.

[Frayed Knot]

Baseball America's Top 20 Int'l Lg Prospects:

1) Matt Harvey
14) Jeurys Familia
17) Jenrry Mejia


I predict the Mets will have no players on this list next year.