AAA

Fernando Martinez has returned to active duty for the Buffalo Bisons, sending Connor Robertson (0-3, 5.46) down to AA.  Robertson had 23 K and 10 BB in 28 innings while giving up 32 hits. The Mets also claimed LHP Arturo Lopez from the San Diego Padres.  Lopez had a 2.77 ERA in 20 games with the Portland Beavers.

AA

Ready?

RHP Conner Roberston from AAA.

C Mike Nickeas off AAA DL and sent to Binghamton.

RHP Julio De La Cruz (0-4, 5.97 in AA) on Binghamton DL.

RHP Ryan Coultas transferred to Kingsport (R).  (Surely a paper move for a few days)

LHP Eric Niesen transferred to Kingsport (R).

RHP Jake Ruckle promoted from St. Lucie.  Ruckle had appeared in two games with St. Lucie, yielding three runs in his five innings of work.

RHP Emary Frederick promoted from St. Lucie.  Frederick was 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 20 relief appearacnes with 21 strikeouts and 14 walks in 28.2 IP.

These last four moves just increase the number of available arms for Binghamton’s doubleheader today.

A

LHP Robert Carson (4-5, 2.63) has been added to the South Division All-Star team for the SAL All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 23 in Charleston, WV.  Carson sports a K/BB ratio a tick above 2 (48/23) and a gb/fb ratio of 2.10.  OF Sean Ratliff will participate in the SAL homerun derby Tuesday night.

Monday, the SAL named LHP Jimmy Johnson, RHP Jeff Kaplan, OF Sean Ratliff and 2B/1B Josh Satin to the Southern Division All-Star team.  The game will be played on June 23rd, at the home of the West Virginia Power.

Satin (.310/.409/.411) is tenth in the SAL in batting average and third in OBP.

Ratliff (.304/.346/.487) is tied for fourth in the league with 16 doubles.

Johnson and Kaplan, who are now both pitching for St. Lucie will miss out on the festivities.

On the New York Baseball Digest Blog Talk Radio Show, Howard Megdal of the New York Observer named Mets Minor League Blog the Mets Blog of the Year.  You can listen to the complete show here.  Howard and his co-host Mike Silva hand out the hardware right near the end.

I’m thrilled by the honor.  Thank you Howard.

Here are actual quotes from Howard, and yes, these will find a way onto my resume:

On Toby:

The man knows the minor leagues ….. and is just a tremendous baseball mind. … He has a tremendous handle on being able to project minor leaguers to the major leagues.

On the site:

Absolutely tremendous.

Of course, I owe a big thank you to SNY and Matt Cerrone for bringing me into the SNY.tv blog network in the first place.

Even more importantly, thank you to you readers who take time out of your day to read, comment and challenge me to be better everyday.  And of course, I like it when folks help me out by sending links my way.  Your feedback absolutely helps make the time I spend on MMLB worth it!

MinorLeagueBaseball.com named Fernando Martinez the 32nd best prospect in baseball in their rankings.

Statistically speaking: Talk about a split. During the 2008 season, F-Mart had 106 at-bats against left-handers and 246 vs. righties. Martinez, a left-handed hitter, hit just .217 with a .665 OPS against southpaws while the numbers jumped to .317 and .819 vs. right-handers.

Scouting report: ….many still believe Martinez will hit for average and power as he matures. Reviews are mixed, but most still like his bat speed from the left side. He’s got a good arm and played good defense in center this past season.

Upside potential: The sky is still the limit. He’ll play at age 20 in 2009 and still has the tools to be an All-Star caliber outfielder.

They said it: “The main thing for him, he needs to stay healthy. … Slowly but surely he’s playing how everyone is expecting him to be.” — Binghamton Mets manager Mako Oliveras

I’d say Oliveras nailed it with his first sentence.

He said it: “I work for that moment. Every day, every night. I think, ‘Wow, when will I be there in New York?’” — Martinez at the 2008 Futures Game

Entering Tuesday’s play, Martinez was 4-for-his-last 24 in the DWL for an overall line of .323/.377/.552 in 96 AB.  He’s sixth in the league in SLG and 8th in OPS.

Minorleaguebaseball.com announced the Topps AA All-Star team.  was the only Met to make the squad.  From MiLB.com:

Eddie Kunz (22) of Portland, Ore., recorded 27 saves in 30 opportunities for the Binghamton Mets, before being summoned to the big leagues in August. The right-hander made four appearances for the New York Mets and ended his year in Triple-A. Kunz was drafted in the second round in 2007 out of Oregon State University.

In AA this year, Kunz was 1-4 with a 2.79 ERA.  In 48.1 IP, he gaveup just 39 H for an opponents’ batting average of .222.  He walked 25 and struck out 43.

RHP Eddie Kunz, C Josh Thole and 2B/LF Daniel Murphy will be on the American Division Roster for tonight’s AFL All-Star game, known as the Rising Stars Showcase.

You can follow all of the action here.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 MST.

DSL: Gonzalez Germen RHP
DSL: 5-2, 1.34 ERA, 15 G, 74 IP, 41 H, 21 R, 11 ER, 15 BB, 70 K, 1.47 gb/fb

6’1” 175 lbs. b. 9/23/87

VSL: Jhonathan Torres LHP
5’11” 170 lbs. b 3/20/90

VSL: 5-2: 3.39 Era, 13 G, 63.2 IP, 63 H, 30 R, 24 ER, 13 BB, 42 K, 1.43 gb/fb