Usually, I avoid bs stories, but I wanted to run through this one involving first round pick Ike Davis. Justin Rodriguez at his blog at the Times Herald-Record in the Hudson Valley took Davis and his Cyclones teammates to task Wednesday for their treatment of a female reporter in the locker room. He claims the Cyclones made catcalls at Mira Wassef as she entered the locker room. Later, he also described the interview Davis gave the reporter as, “full of attitude.” Who cares? He gave the interview. As for the catcalls, a Cyclones rep claims that it was toward Davis, not the reporter. This might sound hard to believe, but it’s possible. I’ve seen this exact routine in minor league clubhouses. When a reporter ignores everyone else and goes straight for the big-name guy, his teammates will start chirping.

Mark Healey at Gotham Baseball tears up Rodriguez. He notes that Rodriguez edited the original entry multiple times, and in doing so removed parts that simply weren’t true and removed some of the epithets he hurled at Davis.

THIS SHOULD BE A NON-STORY.

I’m bummed I even wrote about it. I’m more bummed I’m spending time writing about it on a night when Davis made his professional debut.

Fernando Martinez will represent the Mets on the International side in this year’s All-Star Futures Game, played Sunday, July 13^th at 12:30 PM on ESPN2. Also, Brian Moritz reports that Martinez is expected to report to Binghamton Friday after spending over a month on the disabled list. In what was hopefully his final game in the GCL this year, Martinez was 2-3 with a double and run scored Wednesday. In four games in the GCL, he was 6-for-13 with a double and triple.

Binghamton (AA – Eastern League)

@ Binghamton Mets 5, Altoona Curve 2

The B-Mets did all of their damage in the bottom of the first in support of Bobby Parnell (pictured). Parnell (7-4, 4.14) was strong over seven innings, tying a season high. He yielded just a run on five hits. He struck out six and had two of Binghamton’s ten hits.

1B Nick Evans was 2-4 with an RBI, while SS Jonathan Malo was 2-4. LF Mike Carp, enduring his worst slump of the year, was 0-2, but did walk twice. He’s now 3-for his last 32 and 8-for his last 46.

St. Lucie (A+ – Florida State League)

@ St. Lucie Mets 3, Sarasota Reds 0

Dillon Gee (6-5, 3.19) was masterful over seven shutout innings. He allowed just three baserunners, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. Stephen Clyne punched out three in the final two innings without allowing a runner for his first FSL save.

CF Ezequiel Carrera scored twice, but SS Ruben Tejada was 2-4 with a double. After hitting .373/.424/.482 in June, Tejada won’t want to see the calendar flip to July. In addition to the high batting average, he’s controlling the strike zone very well: 7 walks, 7 strikeouts in the month at age 18. DJ Wabick was 2-3.

Savannah (A – South Atlantic League)

Rome Braves 8, @ Savannah Sand Gnats 5 (13 innings)

After using up four bullpen arms, Gnats skipper Donovan Mitchell turned to catcher Tony Maccani in the 13^th with predictable results as the Gnats dropped their fourth straight.

However, some good things happened in the loss. Brant Rustich started his second game of the year. While he wasn’t great, he was effective, which is a far sight better than his opening salvo as a starter. In four innings, he gave up an unearned run on two hits, walked two and struck out three.

3B Jake Eigsti set a new career high with four hits in a 4-6, SB, 1 RBI night. Juan Lagares was 3-6 (good) but was caught stealing twice (bad).

The Gnats left a season-high 18 runners aboard.

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

@ Hudson Valley Renegades 1, Brooklyn Cyclones 0 (12 innings)

Scott Shaw has made two professional starts, and still hasn’t allowed a run. Wednesday, he tossed five scoreless innings, striking out six without giving up a walk. He allowed only three hits. Chief Illiniwek would surely be proud, if he were still around. Chris Schwinden followed with four bagels of his own, fanning three. Wendy Rosa worked the 10^th and 11^th without incident, but gave up the game’s only run in the 12^th.

The Cyclones bats were largely silent. Only John Servidio, who was 2-5 had more than one hit. Luis Alen, took the collar again, and is still looking for his first hit with Brooklyn after three games.

Brian Moritz called the brawl in Binghamton on Tuesday night “ugly.” Both the B-Mets and the Altoona Curve emptied dugouts and bullpens which led to punches and other mayhem. The spark? A physical confrontation between managers. Wednesday, the Eastern League suspended B-Mets skipper Mako Oliveras indefinitely before handing out any other punishment. There are times and places for mangers to be ejected – supporting a player or making a point, for instance, but instigating a brawl is embarrassing.