Daily Mets Minors Report – 7-15-12

Date: 7-15-12

MLB:

Nate McLouth, Norfolk -  (.320/.406/1.040, 7 G, 8-for-25, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB, 3 K) - McLouth joined the Tides on June 8 after being designated for assignment by the Pirates, where he'd spent the first two months of the season. The former National League All-Star hasn't exactly raked in the IL -- he's batting .233 with a .317 on-base percentage -- but five of his eight hits this week left the park and he's driven in 14 runs in his last eight games. The Tides won five of seven games during the week with the 30-year-old McLouth driving in or scoring 16 of their 39 runs.

St. Louis has reinstated 1B Lance Berkman from the 15 day DL

Placed OF Giancarlo Stanton on the 15 day DL

MLB - Mets:

Wheeler as 2012 Reliever? - The more intriguing possibility is Zack Wheeler. The Mets’ best prospect is on the brink of a promotion from Double- to Triple-A earned with stellar first-half work. Still, the Mets prefer Wheeler finish 2012 at Triple-A, because he already is 92 ²/₃ innings into a season with a cap of around 150. While the organization maintains long-term perspective and does not want to rush such important future pieces as Harvey or Wheeler, they also want to take a real shot at launching into the playoffs. That long shot gets way longer if the Mets suffer any more rotation setbacks. -  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/staff_empty_qgP6HgHIVI2pXtJn7dbhzO#ixzz20cARuMJ3

The 11-BB issued by the Mets yesterday was the 5^th highest in any Mets game… ever.

AAA – Buffalo:

Chris Schwinden will make his first start for the Bisons since May 27 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. From June 1 to July 10, the righty was designated for assignment five times, starting with the Mets after his third big league promotion this season. From there he was claimed and DFA’d by the Blue Jays, Indians, Yankees and Mets again. Since rejoining this Bisons, Schwinden has made two scoreless relief appearances (2.2IP).

Mets’ OF Jason Bay has joined the Bisons on an MLB injury rehab assignment. Bay suffered a concussion in a game with the Mets on June 15. He joins the Herd from St. Lucie (A) where he was 0-6 with two walks in a pair of rehab games. Bay is a three-time MLB All-Star, including 2009 with Boston.

Tonight –

W, 8-2

It was good see both SP Chris Schwinden back and the double bonus was a QC – 4.0-IP, 6-H, 1-R, 4-K, 2-BB, 77-46, 3.38.

RP Jennry Mejia – 1.2-I, 1-R

DH Jason Bay 1-4

AA-Binghamton:  

CJ Nitkowski‏ - I haven't pitched in AA in 17 yrs but you take an opportunity when it presents itself & run with it. This is it, last shot. Thank you Mets

“Zack Wheeler was maybe the most polished-looking pitcher I saw in this game. His delivery is very clean and smooth, and he was delivering 97 mph heaters with very little effort. The Giants are going to deeply regret that trade for the next decade.” – http://chenmusicbaseball.blogspot.com/

RHP Zack Wheeler (8-4, 2.62) makes his 16th start of the season and third against the SeaWolves. The righty earned the win in his last start against the Richmond Flying Squirrels on July 5. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out six over 7.1 innings. Wheeler represented the New York Mets at the All-Star Futures Game on July 8 in Kansas City. He retired both batters he faced in the US Team’s 17-5 win. In two starts versus Erie this season, Wheeler has gone 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA.

RHP James Avery (9-6, 4.40) takes the mound for his 18th start of the season and fourth against Binghamton. Avery took just his second no-decision of the season in his previous start against the Akron Aeros on July 5. He allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings in a game the SeaWolves would win by an 8-6 score. The native of Canada has allowed 35 hits in his last starts and has allowed the most hits in the Eastern League (117). In three starts versus the B-Mets Avery has gone 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers as a minor league free agent in January 2012.

Tonight –

W, 1-0

Quite a game… the only run was 2B Reese Havens’ 7^th HR.

This just has to be the last AA outing for Zack Wheeler

                        9.0-IP    CG    0-R    7-K    1-BB

A+ - St. Lucie: -            

Tonight -

C Kai Gronauer activated from disabled list and transferred from Binghamton (AA) to St. Lucie (High-A)

2B Danny Muno came off his 50-game suspension.

QS by SP Angel Cuan -  W, 7-1, 7.2-IP, 1-R, 5-H, 7-K, 1-BB, 3.29

Two Mets had 2-hits or different reasons; 3B Aderlin Rodriguez because he recently arrived, and C Kai Gronauer who is probably pissed for just getting demoted.

A – Savannah: -

Tonight –

L, 1-8

25-yr. old SP Jim Fuller… 3.1-IP, 8-R… come on, guys.

LF Greg Pron (.224)  3-3

A-Low – Brooklyn:

Tonight –

W, 6-3

More Luis Mateo - 7.0-IP, 1-H, 0-R… that’s right… one hit… for the year, the man-child now has a stat line of

4 starts

23.2-IP

30-K

2-BB

Remember, this isn’t some 19-year old that needs grooming He will turn 23 in March… yes, the Mets pitched  a 25-year old tonight in Savannah and a 23-year old in Brooklyn, who might be 25.

Get this old man out of the Coney…

CF Brandon Nimmo -  2-3, 2,R, 3B, 1-RBI, .230

Rookie – Kingsport:

Tonight –

L, 3-11

LF-CF Eris Peguero  2-5, .349

That’s about it here.