Up Along First

Morning Links: 7.18.12

News:

• Source: Mets looking at Broxton- ESPN New York
• Mets seek pen help but view K-Rod and Huston Street as too pricey- CBS Sports
• Miguel Batista to start Saturday, not Harvey- MetsBlog.com
• Zack Wheeler will not pitch in MLB in 2012- MetsBlog.com
• Gee says he’s sympton-free, calls blocked artery ‘very scary’- New York Daily News
• Gee hopeful for 2012 return- ESPN New York
• Alderson: Bullpen help is focus as Deadline nears- MLB.com

Opinion:

• Mets hot topic: Should Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler or Miguel Batista be 5th starter?- NJ.com
•  Matt Harvey or Miguel Batista?- Patrick Flood
• Mets Trade Rumors: Kelly Shoppach Would Be An Upgrade At Catcher- Amazin’ Avenue
• Jose Who? The Blossoming of Ruben Tejada- Daily Stache

Original Article

Morning Mets Links: 7.16.12

News:

• Mets outfielder Lucas Duda to be examined for hamstring tightness- NJ.com
• Mets continue to search for bullpen help, backup catcher- MetsBlog.com
• Wheeler dominates, goes the distance- MiLB.com
• TC praises Wheeler … but says no way- ESPN New York

Opinion:

• The Sound and the Fury: The fall and rise of the first all-sports talk station, WFAN- Grantland
• Could Liriano Be A Solution?- MetsMerized Online
• Mets prospect Matt Harvey faces key audition with next Triple A start- NJ.com

Original Article

Morning Mets Links: 7.15.12

News:

• Zack Wheeler could pitch in big leagues in 2012- MetsBlog.com
• Bay return close; Baxter to begin rehab- ESPN New York
• Duda has a hamstring problem, to lose playing time- MetsBlog.com
• Batista or Harvey could be Mets’ fifth starter- MLB.com
• Mets may target Kelly Shoppach- CBS Sports

Opinion:

• Comparing Pelfrey to Harvey first call-up- Mets
• Five keys to Mets success in the second half- Mets 360

Original Article

Watch Wheeler, Flores In Tonight’s MLB Futures Game

Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores will both take part in tonight’s MLB Futures game in Kansas City. Both will be making their second trip to the game. Wheeler was selected for the USA team in 2010 with the Giants organization and Flores was selected at just 17 years old in the 2009 game.

Wheeler, 22, is 8-4 on the season with Double-A Binghamton to go along with a 2.62 ERA in 92.2 innings pitched. He likely won’t pitch in the game, as he last pitched on Thursday, tossing 7.1 innings.

Flores, just 20 years old, is having a breakout season in the minors. Flores hit .289 with ten homers and 42 RBI in 64 Florida State League games before getting the call to go to Binghamton. Since being called up, Flores is hitting .390 in 59 at-bats.

You can watch the game on ESPN2 or on MLB.tv. First pitch is at 5 p.m.

Original Article

Morning News: Mets Sign Picks,

Here is this morning’s Mets news:

• Johan Santana put together another spectacular performance last night, tossing eight shutout innings in a 5-0 Mets victory over the Dodgers. According to SNY, Mets starting pitchers have a 2.57 ERA since May 22.
• The Mets signed six more draft picks to contracts yesterday, including their second, sixth, and 11-round picks.
• Zack Wheeler had a rough start for Double-A Binghamton last night, allowing seven runs in 6.2 innings. He walked three and struck out just five, dropping to 7-4 on the season.
• The Mets look to sweep the Dodgers tonight at 8:00 on ESPN as Dillon Gee takes the mound against Clayton Kershaw.

Original Article

Mid-Season Minors Review Part Three: Binghamton Mets

[caption id=”” align=”aligncenter” width=”480”] Wheelin’ through the Eastern League…[/caption]

We are just a little more than halfway through the year for the Mets’ full-season minor league affilliates, so now would be a good time to take a look at how the season has gone so far for each team. We reviewed the Sang Gnats and the St. Lucie Mets. Now it’s time to review the first half of the Binghamton Mets.

The B-Mets may not have the record they wanted this season, as they’re currently six games under .500. However, Binghamton has been a big stepping stone for some big-time prospects this year.

Armed with some new callups from St. Lucie, the B-Mets will be a fun team to watch in the second half as well.

Top performers (Stats are as of 6/30):

• Matt Den Dekker- .340/.397/.563, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 58 G, 10 SB
• Jefry Marte- .276/.345/.402, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 71 G, 44 SO
• Zack Wheeler- 7-3, 2.29 ERA, 78.2 IP, 77 SO, 32 BB
• Collin McHugh- 5-5, 2.41 ERA, 74.2 IP, 65 SO, 17 BB

The positives:

• It’s been great to see Zack Wheeler really have his first great minor league season. He is currently fourth in the eastern League in strikeouts with 77 and has vastly improved with his walks this season. He will be up in Buffalo very soon.
• Matt Den Dekker had a breakout first half with Binghamton as well. The fleet-footed center fielder missed the cut for the Mets roster in Spring Training, but that gave him another year down in the minors to work and improve. He has impressed so much that now he’s in great shape to possibly make the big league roster out of the gate in 2013.

The negatives”

• Reese Havens, the oft-injured second baseman with a great bat, has finally been healthy this year with the B-Mets. However, he’s having his worst pro season at the plate in his career. Havens is batting just .201 and could find himself out of the organization by the end of the year.
• 2010 sixth-round pick Gregory Peavey, after going 11-6 between St. Lucie and Savannah in 2011, has been awful this year in Binghamton. The righty is 3-5 with a 5.57 ERA over 72.2 innings pitched.

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Morning News: Subway Series Begins, Mets FO To Be Patient, Futures Game

Here are today’s top three Mets stories, as well as news and notes from around Major League Baseball.

The Mets begin a three-game series with the crosstown Yankees at Citi Field tonight at 7:10. Andy Pettitte will go up against Jonathon Niese in what will certainly be the beginning of a very exciting series.

The Nationals won last night, so the Mets are now 3.5 games back.

Buster Olney reported via Twitter yesterday that the “ Mets, like a lot of teams, are going to wait a few more weeks before digging into trade market stuff. Waiting for more info to develop.”

The rosters for the 2012 Futures Game were released yesterday. The two Mets chosen to play in the game were Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores.

Wheeler and Flroes have both had breakout seasons this year. Both were already considered top prospects, but are now rising even higher on top prospect lists each week. Wheeler, 22, has been stellar for Binghamton, going 6-3 with a 1.88 ERA and 73 strikeouts. Flores, 20, recently earned the call to Binghamton. He was hitting .289 with ten homers and 42 RBI in 64 games down in Port St. Lucie.

The game will take place Sunday, July 8 at 5:00 p.m. and will be on ESPN2 and MLB.TV.

In other baseball news- Rays pitcher Joel Peralta was suspended by Major League Baseball yesterday for having pine tar on his glove in Tuesday night’s game against the Nationals. Peralta is appealing the suspension and will continue to pitch.

Troy Tulowitzki had successful groin surgery in Philadelphia yesterday. He is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

David Ortiz told reporters yesterday that he’s fed up with the way the Red Sox clubhouse is being portrayed by the Media. The 36 year-old DH is having a monster season so far, hitting .310 with 18 homers and 49 RBI on the season.

Original Article