New Orleans (AAA – International League)
New Orleans Zephyrs 9, @ Salt Lake Bees 5
LF Chris Aguila (.303/.383/.566) homered twice and drove home three to lead the Zs to a comeback win in Salt Lake Sunday. 2B Andy Green and CF Jesus Feliciano, who homered, each added two hits apiece as well.
Starter Tim McNab only lasted three innings in which he gave up four runs. Eddie Camacho tossed 2.1 scoreless to earn his first triple-A win.
Binghamton (AA – Eastern League)
@ Akron Aeros 2, Binghamton Mets 1
Bobby Parnell (9-6, 4.32) pitched very well, but was still charged with his sixth loss of the year. Parnell walked the lead off man in the eighth, leaving the runner for Edgar Alfonzo who retired the next two hitters before giving up a single to Matt LaPorta that plated that go-ahead run. Parnell’s final line: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
Manny Garcia (.250/.317/.333 for the season and .308/.349/.385 in July) was 3-4. The 22-year old Garcia’s OPS by month:
April: .557
May: .570
June: .766
July: .733
Dan Murphy was back at third again and was 1-4 with a double and a stolen base. Murphy has not played second base in a week.
St. Lucie (A+ – Florida State League)
St. Lucie Mets
Off. The FSL Mets visit the Brevard County Manatees beginning Monday.
Savannah (A – South Atlantic League)
@ Savannah Sand Gnats 5, Asheville Tourists 2
Starter Julio Polanco was solid over five innings, yielding two runs for the win, but reliever Junior Guerra was dynamite over the final four frames. Guerra was perfect over four innings, striking out five of the twelve hitters he saw. It was the longest of Guerra’s five Savannah appearances, so I suspect he’s being extended to assume a starting role. In 13.1 innings in the SAL, the 23-year old has been untouchable: he’s allowed just five hits, one walk and struck out 19.
1B Jeffries Tatford doubled twice. DH Sean McCraw was 2-3 with three RBI and LF Darren Clark was a similar 2-3.
I’m really hoping Parnell’s still a B-Met next week.
Heck, I’m hoping Parnell is a New York Met sometime in August. He’s shown enough improved control that I’d like to see him get a chance in the ML bullpen.
I read the Mets have been really hesitant to trade Parnell despite the fact that other teams are asking for him…..
Yeah, I’ve also read that Jon Niese and Eddie Kunz are “untouchable.” Omar’s really been punching up the afterburners on the last minute hype machine.
Parnell’s the guy I’m most interested in keeping out of the guys in Bingo. Aside from Fernando, honestly.
Hope the organization didn’t decide Murphy at 2b was a lost cause.
Any info why Nelson Figueroa was scratched from his scheduled start yesterday? I would hope the Mets are looking at Claudio Vargas as the next 5th starter over Figgy. Z’s are lucky to even be in that game yesterday using long relievers on short rest.
Rustich and Moviel havent pitched a long time, any word on what is up with those two? Actually, Sal Aguilar hasnt pitched in a while either.
Rustich had a blister problem that forced him to miss a starts. The Gnats were rained out on Moviel’s last start I think.
In Rustich’s case two weeks have gone by since…
In Moviel’s case he would have been pitching on short rest to be in one of those rainouts. I was expecting to see him on Friday after the Gnats had an off day.
Stinson, Cohoon/Oliveras, and Polanco have started Savannah’s last three games. Seems counter productive unless there is an injury.
Look, personnaly, I don’t think any prospect is truly untouchable. It’s just a matter or how you use them. For instance, trading prospects to get a player like Johan Santana? Good. Trading prospects to a get a player like Victor Zambrano? Bad.
That said, I would hold on to Fernando Martinez because there isn’t a player that warrants his inclusion on the market right now.
(1) I’m not a huge Ibanez fan and truly think the Mets best play is to make a hard run at Jason Bay. is Bay a franchise player? No, not on a good team at least. But here he’s only going to be asked to be a #5 or #6 hitter.
(2) He solves a problem for the Mets for next year because he’s under contract through 2009, so the Mets’ left field question is answered. I don’t think Fernando Martinez is ready for the Show next year. I give him one more year in the minors, so getting Bay as a stopgap is a solid idea.
(3) From all accounts Bay is a hard-nosed player and a good clubhouse guy.
(4) I would not hesitate offering the a combination of (i) Niese OR Parnell, (ii) Evans, Carp OR Murphy, AND (iii) Eddie Kunz. That a fair offer. The Pirates seem to want more, but that’s a fair offer from the Mets.
Again, if the Mets resign Perez, then the Mets only need in the rotation is a 5th starter, who can be easliy found by late signees left on the market (i.e., like Lohse this year), so giving up Niese or Parnell is that dramatic.
The Mets can afford to give up a Evans, Murphy or Carp. My guess it’s Murphy, but where would Murphy really play on this team? He’s not playing third. He’s not playing left if you trade him for Bay. And he doesn’t have the power to play first (besides I’d love for the Mets to go hard after Texiera in the offseason).
As for Kunz, the Pirates need a new reliever after trading Marte. Personally, I think relievers are the least valuable commodity in the minors, but I’ve heard some scouts like Kunz, so maybe the Pirates take him as a 3rd player in a package.
Such a trade helps in 2008 and 2009.
I’m with you in that I’m more excited about Bay, with a terrific contract for 09, than Ibanez on a rental. The packages you brought up sound fair.