MFS62

My kid's got a good arm: http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=28805187&topic_id=18601616 Later

In case anyone happened to see it. Later

Snippets of what BA wrote on Puello (they mentioned the Biogenesis case but didn't go farther than one sentence): Just a few years ago, right fielder Cesar Puello stood as one of the organization’s brightest prospects at any position. His intriguing combination of physicality, speed and arm strength contributed to a No. 3 ranking among Mets farmhands entering the 2011 season. So while trouble turning his tools into production, managing the strike zone and staying healthy caused him to slide to the fringes of the prospect radar, the 22-year-old Puello has enjoyed a stunning resurgence at Double-A Binghamton this season, finally making good on the power potential that led to him being so highly touted. ------------- Puello advanced to Double-A to begin the 2013 season, and with his April performance he showed signs of improvement when compared with his previous two years. He hit .280/.357/.420 in 15 games—though he didn’t hit a home run—but then something seemed to click for Puello the following month. On May 3, he hit a home run off Harrisburg lefthander Ian Krol. He went three days before hitting another one off Trenton righthander Jose Ramirez. The day after that, Puello blasted two home runs off Trenton lefty Nik Turley. So began Puello’s prodigious hot streak. Since that first homer, he has hit .341/.404/.659 with 15 homers and 46 RBIs in 47 games. Puello had another two-homer game on June 6, again against the Thunder. As of July 2—six years to the day since he signed as an amateur—Puello leads the Eastern League with 15 home runs and a .602 slugging percentage. The homers haven’t been chip shots, either. One, hit off Altoona lefty Nate Baker, was drilled to dead center so hard that it was over the batter’s eye before the center fielder made it to the warning track. ------------------------------- New Approach, New Mechanics While Puello finally is tapping into the power that his sturdy frame affords him, those numbers don’t quite tell the whole story. His walk rate hasn’t dramatically increased this season, but according to his Binghamton coaches, Puello’s plate discipline, working in concert with mechanical adjustments and improvements, have keyed his resurgence. Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez said Puello has been more selective in terms of what he swings at and has refined his perception of the strike zone, picking pitches he can consistently drive rather than falling behind in the count and having to settle for less-desirable offerings. ‘The plate discipline, for me, it’s the No. 1 thing,” Lopez said. “In the past, he would get himself out . . . He would swing at way too many pitches over his head, down and away and stuff, and that didn’t allow him to get good pitches to hit. I mean, no pitcher would throw him a strike if he would keep swinging at those pitches.” But now that Puello has refined his idea of the strike zone and has cut down on helping pitchers out, his coaches have seen him drive both fastballs and offspeed pitches out of the park and into the gaps. Binghamton hitting coach Luis Natera said Puello has raised the pre-swing position of his hands this year to above his head, and the action of driving his hands down through the strike zone has helped Puello get more backspin on the ball and drive it farther. Natera also said Puello has made adjustments to draw more power from his lower half. “Power is the last thing to come,” Natera said. “You have to be a hitter first, and then you let it go. And right now, I think he’s a better hitter.” ------------------------------- If Puello has a second half to match the first, then the Mets could have first-division-caliber corner outfielder on their hands. The man at the top, general manager Sandy Alderson, has taken notice. “He’s always been a five-tool guy, a five-tool projection, but not necessarily five-tool performer,” Alderson told Mike Francesca of New York’s WFAN on June 10. “This year he’s put it all together and has been phenomenal over the last couple of weeks.” Later

Here y' go: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=matz--001ste Later

Swan Swan H wrote: My man Noah bumped up to Bingo, starts today vs. Erie. Very successful first start at AA. 6-5-2-1-7. Later

Another rocket heading toward Area 51. Later

Keep your hands offa' my kid. Later

Nice to know I'm not the only person who wondered about this. Thanks, Later

He's given up 4 runs all year, and they were all in the same game. He has not been scored upon in any other appearance. Amazing. Later

Saw a long coming attraction for Man of Steel in the movies, so I didn't see if these trailers were different. It takes Clark from a scruffy young man(stubble, backpack and all) to Superman. I usually wouldn't want see it. But since I have a tough beard, I really want to know what kind of razor he used to cut his. Late

He pitched well, but lost 2-1. He left with a 1-0 lead, but Josh Edgin gave up hits that allowed the two runners to score. That was the second straight time Edgin has inherited runners from Montero and allowed them to score. He did it in Montero's last start in Binghamton. What's Spanish for "keep that guy out of my games?" Later

Last night: 3/4 2 2B RBI. He's now up to .320. Later

He was brought up to Las Vegas for a "spot start" last night, but the game was rained out. I hope he starts for them tonight. Later

Well, you're in the Bigs, kid, and will be making good salary and meal money. But there are other youngsters who need nurturing. So, (with a gentle push on the tush)out you go! Glad we helped. Later

Frayed Knot wrote: MFS62 wrote: Carl Furillo was interviewed by Steve Sommers on WFAN last night. Erskine. A conversation with Furillo at this point would be, as Major Strasser once said about one with Ugarte (Peter Lorre), a trifle one-sided. Oops. Tuned in during the interview. Steve kept calling him Carl, so I put 2 and 2 together and got 5. But Oisk did make the comments about the difference between Jackie and Roy. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Maybe a baseball-first guy wouldn't have made the best pioneer, too focused on advancing his own dream to see the bigger picture. Who knows? I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'd like to comment on that comment. Carl Furillo was interviewed by Steve Sommers on WFAN last night. Carl said that was the biggest difference between Jackie and Roy Campanella. (I paraphrase, but not too far off.) Jackie realized the significance of being in the Major Leagues while Roy just wanted to be a winning baseball player. Later

From Rubin on his ESPN blog The 20-year-old Syndergaard made his official Mets debut Sunday. He tossed four scoreless innings for Class A St. Lucie, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out five at Jupiter. He sports a fastball that sits at 94-95 mph as well as a solid curveball and changeup. “My first inning was a little shaky,” Syndergaard said. “I just had a little pregame jitters. Once I settled down, in the second, third and fourth inning, I felt a lot more comfortable on the mound. I’m always nervous before a game until the first pitch is thrown, but being with a new team and a new organization, even being at a higher level, I had a little bit more anxiousness.” Syndergaard tossed only four innings because he was slowed during spring training by a lat muscle pull and has not yet fully ramped up for a starter’s workload. He should be permitted to go five innings Saturday at Bradenton, in his second regular-season start. “The second bullpen of the year I felt a little something in my lat. It turned out it was just a little pull,” Syndergaard said. “I’m back at it now, and I think I’m at full strength.” : Later

Here's a stat for you. Through last night's game: Career starts: 34 Career walks: 32 Later

Since my adoptees Lutz, Duda and Davis have moved up to the majors and out of my house, there is now room at the dinner table for another kid. So we're giving a home to a forgotten kid, the "other" player obained by the Mets in the R.A. Dickey trade - outfielder Wuilmer Becerra. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=becerr000wui Welcome to the family. Make us proud. Later

Heard Sandy say on WFAN today that Montero will most likely start the season at Binghamton. Later

I'm adopting Juan Centeno. The 23 year old catcher is built like a fireplug, throws out almost 40% of would-be base stealers and has hit for high averages with little power (including AA last year). I'm not saying he will replace Travis, but I think he will find some power at Las Vegas this year and move up to be a very good major league backup catcher at some point. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=centen002jua Welcome to the family, kid. Later

Sounds like Dave Schneck to me. Later

As a right handed hitting outfielder, he does fill a platoon need as the current roster is constituted. As I said, he had injuries during the year. He was flirting with .300 most of the year, then when he came back from a late season injury, his average took a 10-15 point drop. He has played all three outfield positions including substantial time in center. There, he would be the occasional righty when Kirk is sat down against a lefty starter. Barring a trade, he is the only righty hitting outfield prospect in the organization who has played at AA or above. So he has a shot. Later

He had nagging injuries during the year, but still did ok in 2012: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lagare001jua If he gets off to a hot start, I'm hoping he could find his way to the Mets as a platoon player this year. Later

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Jack Leathersich ‏@LeatherRocket Can't wait to get out of this #brutal art class so I can wash my car. Hope everyone has a great day! He's taking an art class in the offseason? That seems very unjocklike. Jim Bouton designed and made cosume jewelry. Ya never know what interests them. Later