The Mets and Royals swapped AAA second baseman with the Mets sending Jeff Keppinger to the Royals in exchange for Rueben Gotay.  The 23 year old Gotay was hitting .264/.322/.404 with 16 doubles, 2 3B, and 9 HR in 87 games for Omaha while the 26 year old Keppinger was hitting .300/.353/.359 with 13 2B, and 2 HR in 87 games in Norfolk.  Unless there’s something I’m missing, this looks like a steal.  The Mets got the younger player with more potential and more pop and one who could actually be a legit MLB secondbaseman in a year or so.  What’s not to like?

            If you’re feeling down about the big Mets, let a terrific day in the minor league system brighten your morning.  In AA, Carlos Gomez extended his hit streak to 12.  In St. Lucie, Philip Humber was dominant as was the Suns’ Jon Niese in Lexington where Fernando Martinez returned to the lineup after his six-week DL stint.

            Why I love my job, part 318:  I interviewed Gerry Hunsicker, Senior VP of Baseball Operations for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, today for my pre-game show.  He was more than generous with his time.  After we were done with the interview, we sat in the dugout in Modesto talking baseball for the better part of an hour.  I kept expecting him to get up and go, but he kept talking.  We talked, well, mostly he talked, and I listened and asked questions, about the DRays, 1990s Mets, draft philosophies and player development.  He was incredibly honest, and I was impressed.  He’s now one of my absolute favorite people in baseball.  Watch out for the D-Rays in 2008 or 09. 

 

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Chris Basak

AA: *Carlos Gomez & Michel Abreu

A+: ***Philip Humber/Jesus Flores

A: **Jon Niese/*Fernando Martinez

SSA: -

R (APP): Brahiam Maldonado/Emmanuel Garcia
R (GCL): -

 

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

@ Indianapolis 5, Norfolk 2

 

            The Bats scored four times in the bottom of the eighth against the Mets bullpen of Steve Schmoll and Royce Ring.  Ring scooped up his second blown save. 

            Jeff Keppinger was 1-2 in his final game as a Mets farmhand.  Chris Basak, who took over for Kepp was 2-2, wit ha solo HR so the second base position was responsible for 3 of the Tides 5 hits. 

           

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

@ Trenton 4, Binghamton 3

 

            Carlos Gomez doubled twice and has now hit safely in 12 straight games to improve his season line to .261/.325/.390.  Over his streak he’s raised his batting average from .225 to .261 and has doubled six times.  Michel Abreu was 3-3 with a double and a pair of walks while Ambio Concepcion and Jorge Padilla added a pair of hits each.  The Mets left 11 men on.

            On the hill, the Thunder rattled Michael Devaney for three runs on six hits in four innings.  He walked three, but struck out five.  Returned to AA by the Mets, Henry Owens returned to his AA ways with two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. 

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

@ St. Lucie 4, Lakeland 1

 

            Yes, yes, yes.  Philip Humber dealt five shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out nine without issuing a walk.  I’ve heard nothing but glowing reports on Humber from scouts I’ve talked to and apparently, the same is true for Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus, who wrote this on Wednesday morning, before Humber’s start:

 

            Righthander Philip Humber has returned from Tommy John surgery and earned some rave reviews. "He has two big power pitches with the fastball, which is 90-94 mph, and that curve which is just a hammer and a real out pitch," said one National League scout about the third overall pick in the 2004 draft. "He also has a power changeup--and I love those--it's not a touch/feel pitch; its velocity is in the 80s so it gets there with some speed and just bottoms out." Having just returned after missing nearly a year, Humber still struggles with his location, but the scout didn't see it as a long-term concern. "It's really going to depend on command and control with him," the scout added. "It has to improve, but that's always an issue for guys coming back from TJs--there's no reason it shouldn’t improve."

 

            Jesus Flores led St. Lucie’s offense with a 2-3 that included a solo HR in the first inning. 

 

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

Hagerstown 9, @ Lexington

 

            Fernando Martinez returned to the Suns lineup for the first time since June 10th, after a six week stay on the DL, and picked up where he left off going 3-4 with a 3 run HR in the third that began the Suns’ onslaught.  Will Vogl added a 2-5 as well. 

            Jon Niese dealt a three-hit complete game with nine strikeouts to lower his ERA to 3.51.  The southpaw faced just four batters over the minimum in a commanding performance.  It’s a very nice rebound from a tough start his last time out against Hickory when he allowed seven runs.  In 97.1 IP, he’s now fanned 106.

 

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

Oneonta 6, @ Brooklyn 0

 

            The Tigers touched Nelson Portillo for three runs in six innings.  He struck out three cats. 

            The Brooklyn offense was held to just three singles.

 

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

@ Kingsport 6, Johnson City 2

            Brahiam Maldonado (.284/.365/.568 in 22 G) tripled and homered.  Emmanuel Garcia (.317/.404/.390), Baseball America’s #16 prospect in the Mets system was 2-4 with a double from the top of the lineup.  The 20-year old Canadian hit well in GCL last year in 45 games. 

            Duane Privett allowed one run in five innings for his first win.  He struck out six. 

           

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

@ GCL Dodgers 10, GCL Mets 8

 

            The Mets scored 8 runs on five hits?  The news was not good for any of the Mets pitchers.  John Holdzkom took the loss in exchange for allowing three runs on three walks and two hits in 0.2 IP.