Buffalo Bisons (26-17, 1/2 GB)
-Buffalo had a very hot week winning six of seven games to put them only 1/2 game back in the division. The Bisons won their final two games in Charlotte before coming home and dropping the first of their four-game set from Gwinnett, which they took the rest of. The team is currently in the midst of a four-game set with Indianapolis and took the first game yesterday by the score of 11-6. If the Indians continue to put the team they had on the field yesterday, Buffalo should have no problem sweeping since their best hitter is hitting .284 and their leadoff hitter is at .091.
-Vinny Rottino had a big game yesterday with five RBI which puts him second on the team with 25 driven in, behind only Val Pascucci who has 32 RBI. In terms of batting average, that title is now held by Fred Lewis (yes the same one who was Barry Bonds’ replacement in SF) after the departure of Bobby Scales for Japan, Lewis is hitting .324 in 74 at bats. Meanwhile in terms of pitching, Jeremy Hefner who was recently called up had a 2.72 ERA before heading to Toronto, while prospects Matt Harvey (4-1, 4.31 ERA) and Jeurys Familia (4-1, 4.35 ERA) are still adjusting to AAA Baseball.
Binghamton Mets (20-20, 4 1/2 GB)
-The B-Mets got back to .500 with a 4-2 week which includes taking two of three from the Trenton Thunder or as the B-Mets publicize them as…the AA-Yankees. The Mets continue their roadtrip with one last game in Portland today before traveling to New Britain for four games and a return home next weekend to take on New Hampshire.
-In yesterday’s 6-5 win over Portland all nine starters had at least one hit including the 4-7 hitters who each had a pair of knocks. The biggest story took place on the mound as Jenrry Mejia threw three innings allowing one run on six hits, then Darin Gorski came on in relief and struggled allowing three runs in 4 1/3 innings to bump his ERA up to 4.28. Former starter turned reliever Brad Holt picked up the win allowing a run over 1 2/3 innings as he tries to resurrect his career after being moved to the bullpen midway through last season.
St. Lucie Mets (34-8, 12 1/2 GA)
-This team is perfect, I don’t know what to say about them the next closest team in their division has 12 more loses than they do. The big test this week comes in the form of a four-game set with the Daytona Cubs, the team that knocked the Mets out of the Championship Series last season. The Cubs aren’t the same team they were last season as they are 16-24 entering Sunday and are 10 games back in the North Division of the FSL.
-Darrell Ceciliani is still leading the team in hitting at a .346 clip with only six RBI, next on the list in Wilmer Flores who’s hitting .318 entering today with six homers and 24 RBI, both of which lead the team. Some of the other big name players on St. Lucie are as followed; Wilfredo Tovar (.294, 14 RBI), Cesar Puello (.282, 10 RBI), Robbie Sheilds (.257, 14 RBI), Blake Forsythe (.239, 18 RBI). On the mound Erik Goeddel is back and pitching to a 1.57 ERA through six starts, meanwhile Chase Huchingson has a 2.68 ERA through 40 1/3 innings this season.
-Then there was Danny Muno, earlier this week he was suspended 50 games for the use of performance enhancing drugs. I will admit I was very high on him as I have been following him since being drafted from Fresno State last season, he had a fantastic rookie season with a .355 average last season and was hitting .283 this season with five homers and 23 RBI. Will the Mets allow him to come back after this? Probably but he’ll definitely have some competion since his return will come a month after this year’s draft.
Savannah Sand Gnats (25-16, 3 GB)
-The Gnats had a .500 week this week going 3-3 after Sunday’s game was cancelled because of rain. The team finishes up their seven-game homestand on Wednesday before heading on the road for seven straight as we push towards the end of the month of May. Yesterday Savannah snapped a three-game skid with a 7-4 win over Augusta as first baseman Brian Harrison had a big day with four RBI.
-Bronx, N.Y. native T.J. Rivera is leading the team in hitting right now with a .338 average with five homeruns and 17 RBI as well. Meanwhile 2011 draftee Travis Taijeron continues to impress hitting for both power and average at .281 with eight homruns. Taijeron is tied for the team lead in RBI as well with 27, tied with 3rd baseman Aderlin Rodriguez. Tyler Pill leads the pitching staff with a 2.29 ERA in 39 1/3 innings during his first full season in the Mets minor league system, Alex Panteliodis (3-2, 2.94), Rafael Montero (2-2, 3.05 ERA), Michael Fulmer (2-2, 3.94 ERA) and Domingo Tapia (3-2, 4.25 ERA) round out the very impressive starting rotation for Savannah.
