On Monday, the Mets World found out that Dillon Gee had a blood clot in his throwing shoulder and would be forced to the disabled list because of the injury. At first it was thought to not be as serious and like many assumed a Miguel Batista or Jeremy Hefner would be good enough for a spot start or two until Gee returned.
However, Gee did require surgery and will likely miss the remainder of 2012 which sent the once calm and peaceful Mets World abuzz once again as to whether Matt Harvey should be called up to the Majors. I am here to provide several pros and cons and an abbreviated version of “Down on the Farm” following.
Matt Harvey, RHP, 6’4″, 225 lbs., 2010 First Round Pick from the University of North Carolina
-I find myself in the minority when it comes to calling Harvey up just as many others who follow the Mets minor leagues on a consistent basis. It’s not because I don’t feel he can do it, it’s more of a question of is he ready after only 18 starts at Buffalo this year, with a decent body of work with a 3.39 ERA.
Has Harvey been better of late compared to his rough start? YES, but Harvey has struggled his first handful of starts in his last two stops in Binghamton halfway through 2011 and Buffalo to open up 2012. I understand the concept of ‘Win Now’ but is putting a 23 year old against Major Leaguers the best thing for his confidence?
Then a day or two ago rumors began swirling about the next pitching prospect Zack Wheeler who is pitching in Binghamton, and how he may become an option for the Mets fifth starter spot against the Dodgers this week.
Zack Wheeler, RHP, 6’4″, 185 lbs. 2009 First Round Pick from East Paulding High in Georgia
-This news got me even more flustered as Wheeler would skip Triple-A and be sent right to the majors. To me it’s a highly questionable move especially with Harvey ahead of him already in Buffalo, if Wheeler were to get the call what would that do to the mindset of Harvey, he’s not oblivious to the fact that people are murmuring his name in Queens.
Wheeler to me has still got some growing to do, he’s only 185 pounds to Harvey’s 225 on the same 6’4 frame which albeit that shouldn’t be a major deciding factor. Wheeler has been on a very fast track since being drafted by the Giants but I would much rather see a stop in Buffalo for at least six starts before we see Wheeler at Citi Field. The move to Buffalo is coming after his impressive outing yesterday.
-I may not be in favor of Harvey of Wheeler coming up right now just because I am looking at the big picture rather than a short-term answer right now. It’s untested waters for the Mets and Mets fans since they haven’t had such high end pitching prospects since the mid-1990s, no offense to Jon Niese or Dillon Gee but neither came with this type of hype. My solution on the short-term level is to bring Hefner back up from the minors and go with him for a few more starts, then I would revisit the Harvey situation and move him up in early August.
-And now for your regularly scheduled Down on the Farm after the break-
Buffalo Bisons (49-45; 4 GB)
-Don’t look now but the Bisons are on an eight-game winning streak as they look to climb their way to the top of the division. The team has outscored opponents 55-27 over that stretch with every game thus far coming away from Buffalo. The team has one more game at Pawtucket today before returning home to face Toledo and Charlotte.
-In the Triple-A All Star Game which took place in Buffalo on Wednesday Matt Harvey won MVP honors in a two-inning outing during a game that saw very little excitement. Fellow Bison Val Pascucci went 1-for-1 with three walks as the International League fell by the score of 3-0. Pascucci also won the Home Run Derby hitting 22 home runs including six in the final round.
Binghamton Mets (44-48; 7 GB)
-The B-Mets are also on a winning streak of three games entering today’s series finale against Erie before welcoming in first place Trenton for three games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The most recent win, yesterday, came of a 1-0 variety as Zack Wheeler threw a complete-game shutout against Erie, as Reese Havens homered for the only Mets run.
-Infielder Eric Campbell won Eastern League All Star Game MVP honors as he hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Eastern Division All Stars the victory. Jefry Marte also went 1-for-1 with an RBI. While Armando Rogriguez pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
St. Lucie Mets (10-13; Clinched Playoff Berth)
-Despite the slow start to the second half the St. Lucie Mets are clawing their way back to .500, as the team went 3-3 this week to stay at the same place they’ve been at. The team opens up a four-game series with Brevard County today as the team also welcomes Mike Baxter who begins his rehab assignment on Sunday.
Savannah Sand Gnats (9-14; 4 GB)
-Like St. Lucie, the Gnats went 3-3 this week as they hold steady in their race for a second half crown. The team has three more games in Lakewood, New Jersey against the BlueClaws as for some reason a team in New Jersey is in the “South Atlantic League.” After a day off on Wednesday the team returns home for four games against both Rome and Kannapolis.
Brooklyn Cyclones (16-10; 1 GA)
-Despite a little mishap on the bus trip from Norwalk, Conn. to State College, Pa. see the team bus have a minor accident with a tractor-trailer the team made it to central Pennsylvania on time for their game against the Spikes, a 6-3 victory. A nice high note to end the week which saw the team go 2-4, after finishing up in State College, the team plays a few odd home-home-and-home series with both Hudson Valley and Staten Island.
Kingsport Mets (4-17; 9 GB)
-An already shortened week was made shorter by rain as the team only played three games this week and lost in all three. The team finishes up their road trip with two more in Johnson City against the Cardinals before returning home to take on Bristol beginning on Tuesday. A pair of outfielders have been the lone bright spot for the team as Maikis De La Cruz and Eris Peguero are both hitting over .340.
