A blog dedicated to the New York Mets with some other baseball thrown in.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Movin' On Up

When it comes to prospects, I want to see them succeed an move up as fast as anyone, but I have fooled myself into believing that I am rational when it comes to the topic of promotions. If a player is not ready, then I would never advocate moving them up. When it comes to Mike Pelfrey and Henry Owens, I do think now is the time to give them a promotion for the way they have been performing.

Mike Pelfrey's numbers:
         IP  H/9  HR/9   K/9  BB/9  K/BB  WHIP   ERA
High-A 22 6.95 0.41 10.64 0.82 13.0 0.86 1.64
AA 41.3 9.58 0.22 10.23 3.48 2.94 1.45 2.83
Pelfrey's first four games in AA were inconsistent as he traded good starts and bad starts, then he threw a short .2 innings outing in which he gave up no earned runs, and then he gave up three earned runs in his last nineteen innings.
           IP   H/9  HR/9   K/9  BB/9  K/BB  WHIP   ERA
1st four 19.2 12.46 0.0 9.97 3.74 2.67 1.80 4.15
2nd four 21.2 6.41 0.46 10.53 3.20 3.29 1.07 1.37
I was listening to WFAN last night and a caller had phoned into the Kevin Burkhardt show and had a wealth of information on Mike Pelfrey. I did notice Mike DiFelice on the Binghamton team the other day was I was doing the Minor League Recap for Metsgeek.com, but I thought nothing of it. Apparently Mike DiFelice was sitting home retired and was called up by the Mets to come and play for Binghamton to help along in Mike Pelfrey’s development.

Apparently the guy had gone to Pelfrey's last start, which was a gem, and said his fastball has tremendous movement. He also was messing with Pelfrey and throwing him some jabs in fun and Pelfrey took them in stride and had thrown some back. But the real big thing is that he was talking to DiFelice thoughout the game and he had asked Mike DiFelice if he was ready for the next level (assuming the bigs), and Mike said definitely. The jump from High-A to AA is not as tough as the jump from AA and AAA and should provide a nice challenge for him with some retreads from the bigs that might a tougher out. The Mets do not need him right now and might not need him this year at all, but better to have him in AAA than AA should the need arise and he looks ready.

As for Henry Owens, there is nothing to say but straight filth. He started pitching when he was 22 in 2001 in the Pirates organization and was a work in progress. He was converted from a catcher to a pitcher and it looks like things are fully clicking for him at this point. in 17.2 innings, Owens has allowed a measly five hits for a sick 2.55 H/9, struck out 39 batters for a 19.87 K/9, has a 1.09 ERA, and has a 0.57 WHIP. The guy is mowing people down to say the least. I do not think AAA will even pose much of a problem for him but he might as well progress and take steps towards the bigs instead of beating up on over matched kids.

* * *

  • Billy Wagner is ready to take what is coming to him from the Phillies fans.

    "No, not until you pitch in front of them," said Wagner, who saved 59 games in his two seasons as a Phillie. "I'll take my beating."

  • Willie lays down the smack down on Brian Bannister.

    "Bannister and all of those guys have to work their way back into pitching shape," Randolph said. "Especially, with Bannister. It's like starting with Spring Training again. If the guys are doing the job up here, then what are going to do? Take someone out to put someone in who has three [actually five] starts in the big leagues?."

    There is no way Bannister cracks back into the rotation with the way things are going, but it will be comforting to know the Mets have some depth again there.

  • The odds were that Pedro was finally going to get a win again and he did it in a big way. The Mets beat up on the Diamondbacks and cruised to a 15-2 victory. The Mets started this road trip 6-1 and increased their lead to 6.5 games. Carlos Beltran inched closer to .300 while driving in four more runs and Carlos Delgado looks to have woken up from his slump with a 3 for 4 night. Jose Reyes picked up an incredible three walks and Heath Bell struck out two in his one inning of work to lower his ERA to 3.27.

    "It's pretty scary how potent we can be when everything's clicking," David Wright said.

    The Mets just look amazing right now and are primed to go 8-2 on his road trip while only .5 games back from having the best record in the Major Leagues. The Mets should feel really comfortable right now with a 39-23 record and being sixteen games over .500 at this point is extremely impressive.

    "If I were the other team, I'd be worried right now," Pedro Martínez said.

  • Endy Chavez continues to play solidly.

    Chavez has the speed to get to balls, and his strong left arm has thrown out seven runners on the bases, including Craig Counsell at the plate to end the first inning of yesterday's 15-2 mauling of Arizona.

    "That was probably the play of the game," starter Pedro Martinez said. "It took their momentum away."


  • Pedro is banged up.

    "I'm OK," Martinez said. "I won't say I'm 100-percent healthy, but I'm good enough to go out there."

    Martinez, 34, has a sore hip and an aching right big toe. On Tuesday, the Dodgers ripped him for seven runs in five innings.


  • Joel Sherman says A-Rod does not have IT.

    TOM Brady and Adam Vinatieri have IT. Peyton Manning and Mike Vanderjagt don't.

    You don't have to be one of the greatest players to have IT. Sam Cassell, for example, has IT and so does Robert Horry. Meanwhile, Patrick Ewing most definitely did not, and Stephon Marbury would not know IT if IT hit him upside the skull.

    David Ortiz, as if he needed to prove the point any more, showed again yesterday at Fenway Park that he is a master of IT with a two-out, three-run, ninth-inning walkoff homer to lift Boston to a 5-4 victory. Meanwhile, 200 miles away, Alex Rodriguez once more was the Big un-It.
  • 16 Comments:

    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Mike,

    I totally disagree on Pelfey. At this point msot of the premier talent is in Double A and not triple A. Is Pelfey ready, probably, but a mid july call up to AAA before a spot start on the MLB team in September to give Pedro some extra rest sounds more like an acurate timetable. Owens on the other hand should be sent to AAA whenever he feels healthy.

    I'd like to see Pelfey work on his secondary pitches for a little while in the minors. before the sept call up where he can learn from glaving, pedro and RP.

    10:55 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Speaking of IT... I don't think there is a single player on this Mets team that doesn't have IT!

    11:12 AM

     
    Blogger Toasty Joe said...

    Joe: now that Zambrano, Julio and Kaz are off the team, it's hard to disagree.

    11:27 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I just hope Henry Owens isn't just a fastball.
    I'm really hoping that his breaking pitch really is developing and will become useful.

    The mets kick ass... it's that simple.

    I hate Stephon Marbury. I don't like basketball and don't care about it but I will say that as long as the Knicks have Marbury they're not going to win anything. The guy is a loser.
    I would channel surf in the winter, come across and Knicks game and usually the game would be like 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter and would really look forward to seeing the Knicks finding" a way to lose no matter how much they were up.
    I still find it amazing for as shitty as the Yankees have been they're ony 1 game back, wtf!

    11:45 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I still find it amazing that just last week the Yankees had the same record as the Mets... what gives?

    Does Trachsel have any trade value? Could we get a second baseman? Would we consider making a move? Maybe Trachsel + Floyd or Nady?

    Just something I haven't heard discussed, not necessarily something I'd consider.

    1:07 PM

     
    Blogger ossy said...

    did u hear the idiot on that show last night bring up the trade of traxx and woodward for dontrelle willis? that was the funniest shit EVER

    1:35 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Robb, your statement is contradictory. Why move Owens and not Pelfrey? I agree that there is more raw talent at AA, but with the AAAA players, top prospects like Upton and Garko who are a step away and Major League retreads like Michael Tucker and Jose Offerman, there is a more cerebrial approach to hitting. I think Pelfrey needs that more. He can overpower people, but he needs to learn how to not rely on his fastball more and I think AAA has that more than AA.

    Joe...no. Even fucking Valentin has IT apparently.

    Benny, we know that Matt Meyers said his slider is coming along. If he didn't have anything but a fastball, it's hard to dominate like he has with only heat. Joselo Diaz had straight heat and that did not do him any good.

    Star-bury is a loser.

    Yankees can hold their head high. They have played well with a lot of players down and bad pitching. I'll give them credit, but something has to give.

    Traschel has NO value unless he rips of five straight gems between now and the deadline.

    If you throw Nady or Floyd in there, a Traxx deal has merrits because you do get a decent starter as well to give you some solid starts.

    Ossy...I heard that. I BUSTED OUT LAUGHING...My girlfriend was amused at my reaction. I was driving her home and I was like "I can't wait to hear this"...and then Kevin (the host) said the same thing and the dude did not dissapoint.

    2:22 PM

     
    Blogger Toasty Joe said...

    Trax shouldn't be traded - we may face the Giants in the first round, and he turns into Sandy Koufax against them.

    2:44 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    If we moved Floyd to Detroit like some have said, any chance the deal would include Omar Infante, their young backup second baseman? Or do they like the kid? Or would we ask for one of their many young pitching talents?

    2:55 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Screw the Giants. They are done. The Dodgers are have too much depth to lose out. Billingsley is on the way with Izturis and Navarro as MLB ready trading chips. They'll be at top when all is said and done.

    Joe, I think you can get Infante. I do not thing that is unreasonable at all.

    2:59 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    with pelfey it is about refining his pitches. Milledge can hit the fastball and pelfey can throw the fastball. It's being able to use a secondary pitch that makes a difference. Since AA hitting can't really hit the slider or curve or whatever he is throwing it becomes about using that pitch in situations instead of trying to get a hitter out. In double AA he can see if he can throw his secondary stuff and not get knocked around thereby building confidence. With Owens, I want to see if he is a AAAA type or legit and the offerman's of the world can help you with that assesment. We know pelfey can be elgit, it's just a matter of pitching as opposed to throwing. It becomes one of those: if you get to 0-2 don't throw another fastball and lets see if you can get these guys out type of situation.

    3:00 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    the tides rotation will soon be bannister, pelfrey, mclane, maine and i guess the loser with the orange hair. pretty good depth if nothing else...

    trading nady would be reasonable if we knew we could sign c lee for next year. but i guess they should just send lastings down.

    what was the best news from the weekend of glory? i vote soler.

    3:16 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Since AA hitting can't really hit the slider or curve or whatever he is throwing it becomes about using that pitch in situations instead of trying to get a hitter out.

    I think they can hit is fastball pretty good too when all is said and done. He cannot survive on fastball alone there so he has to mixing some other stuff in. At least in AAA, they are better at hitting those secondary pitches and making him work harder all around.

    It becomes one of those: if you get to 0-2 don't throw another fastball and lets see if you can get these guys out type of situation.

    The guy on WFAN last night was talking about his breaking stuff on 0-2 on a few occassions, so he is using it.

    Yeah, that AAA rotation is not too bad. In fact, it is better than the Royals rotation.

    Soler no doubt...We know the rest had it in them, Soler's was a pleasant surprise besting Webb.

    Ryan, you've been added.

    3:43 PM

     
    Blogger Count Choculitis said...

    Not sure why people want to send Milledge down. He's young, yes, and Nady certainly played well before he went down, but I think Milledge possesses skills that can win you games, whereas Nady is more of a "nice" player than anything else. Plus, and I know this cannot be the determining factor, Milledge has quickly turned into a fan favorite, and generates excitement (and probably additional ticket sales) at the park.

    4:05 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Well, Nady was playing well and I think him on the bench is pointless. I'd rather see Milledge go down and play everyday than see Nady sit on the bench. If you want to keep Milledge starting, then trade Nady.

    Nady went down with nine homers and was what, 2nd or 3rd on the team in dingers? I think the world of Milledge, but Stephen Drew is not up because of Craig Counsell. If there is not room, there is no room. Nady figures to help greatly in 2007 and certainly did not do much to lose his position with the team.

    4:10 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I think getting Kaz and Zambrano off the team (even though Zambrano had to disqualify himself before Omar would´ve dropped him) really is a huge step in the right direction. Addition by subtraction.

    6:54 AM

     

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