The Mets promoted two pitchers, Mike Pelfrey and Henry Owens from Binghamton to NYC Thursday.  Owens (2-1-11, 1.08) had been essentially unhittable giving up runs in only two of his 23 appearances and striking out 51 batters in 25 IP.  I like this move a lot.

            Pelfrey is more complicated.  I’ve changed my mind on this and, although still lukewarm, like the move.  For months, I’ve been writing that I didn’t see Pelfrey as the magic bullet to the Mets pitching problems.  I still don’t.  However, other pitchers have had their opportunities to help solve the Mets problems and they’ve all tried, or been hurt while Pelfrey keeps betting better in the minors.  The fact that it’s Lima time again, makes it clear how short the Mets are on arms right now.

            Pelfrey leaves AA with a 4-2 record and a 2.71 ERA in 66.1 IP.  On May 20^th, Pelfrey had his shortest outing as a pro, lasting only .2 IP, walking three.  Since that start, he’s been a different man.  In his last 7 starts, Pelfrey is 4-1, with a 1.84 ERA.  The Eastern League has hit .206 against him and he’s struck out 52 while walking just 14 in his last 44 IP.  I simply didn’t anticipate, and wouldn’t allow myself to hope, that Pelfrey would be this good, this fast.  I kept trying to tone down my own expectations.  Of course he’s being treated differently because he’s a first-rounder, but he’s also pitched his way into this promotion.  The National League is a long way from Binghamton, Erie, Scranton, Altoona and the rest of the Eastern League so Pelfrey’s success might not, and probably won’t, translate immediately.  By all recent accounts, he has a plus big league fastball in his arsenal.  People who’ve seen him throw like the way he competes while acknowledging that the breaking stuff lags behind.  Will that be enough?  I doubt it, but it’s worth a look, and given the circumstances, Pelfrey is the Mets best choice for this weekend. 

            The Mets simply don’t have a lot of other options due to all of the injuries.  At this point, the starters in AAA are Willie Collazo, Evan MacLane, Yusaku Iriki, and then Mitch Wylie and Blake McGinley who have each made spot starts recently.  Although MacLane was good on Thursday night in Norfolk, he had been struggling recently, and Pelfrey’s peripheral numbers are simply far superior.  With all of the injuries, Saturday comes down to Oliver or Pelfrey.  Pelfrey gives the Mets the best chance to win that game.  Surviving as a rookie in a big league rotation is hard: just ask Maine, Bannister or Soler.  New York adds an extra layer of difficulty

            The timing works in the Mets favor here with the All-Star break.  The Mets have said they’ll treat Pelfrey in the same way they did Milledge and this is a get to know you session.  When the other guys come back, Pelfrey does down.  If he’s pitching well enough to stay, he stays.  That would be huge. 

            On the downside, there is a real danger that that Pelfrey gets hit hard, and his confidence suffers.  I hope he’s strong enough that that doesn’t happen. 

            One more arm I wonder about is Royce Ring.  He’s been throwing very well in Norfolk and seems MLB ready.  I’ve wondered about whether the Mets would promote Ring, and move Heilman into the rotation?  No, I know, I’ve been disappointed by Heilman too this year but it’s just a thought.    

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Evan MacLane/Michael Tucker

AA: Ambio Concepcion & Michel Abreau/Miguel Pinago……Michael Devaney

A+: Mike Carp/Jesus Flores

A: Nick Evans

SSA: Jacob Ruckle/Jonathan Schemmel

R (APP): Junior Contreras
R (GCL): Rain

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

@ Norfolk 1, Ottawa 0

            Michael Tucker’s HR in the bottom of the ninth provide a thrilling win for Norfolk who had only five hits all night. 

            Evan MacLane dealt seven shutout innings allowing just two hits, but he walked 5 and struck out two.  Anderson Garcia and Steve Schmoll each followed with scoreless innings. 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

Binghamton 3, @ Bowie 1

Binghamton 3, @ Bowie 0

            In game one, Ambio Concepcion doubled home two runs in the fourth inning to put the B-Mets in front.  Concepcion finished 3-3, with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.  Michel Abreu added a 2-3 game with a solo HR in the sixth for insurance.

            Miguel Pinago was strong over five innings holding the Baysox to one run on two hits.  Matt Lindstrom nailed down the 1.2 inning save.

            In game two, Michael Devaney threw a seven inning complete game two-hitter.  He struck out six and walked one.  One scout recently described the righthander as a “trickster.”  In his last start in the FSL, before his promotion, he threw over 60% curveballs.

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

@ Daytona 4, St. Lucie 3

            Mike Carp led the way offensively with a 3-4 night with a double and an RBI.  Jesus Flores added a 2-5 with a double.  Jose Sanchez took the loss for allowing three runs in five innings.

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

@ Hagerstown 8, Lakewood 2

            The Suns evened their second half record at 7-7 and improved to 35-49 with their fifth win in six tries.  Nick Evans had a big day: 4-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. 

            Bobby Parnell improved to 3-6, 4.37 ERA with seven innings of two run ball.  Brandon Nall finished it off with two scoreless innings where he struck out three.

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

@ Brooklyn 1, Staten Island 0

            Jacob Ruckle came within an out of a complete game one-hitter, but had to settle for 8.2 innings with five strikeouts.  The 20-year-old didn’t walk a batter.  The draft and follow in 2004 was a GCL All-Star a season ago.

            Joe Holden was 2-4 at the top of the order and Jonathan Schemmel, who drove home the only run of the game was 2-4 with a double.

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

Kingsport 9, @ Bluefield 1

@ Bluefield 3, Kingsport 2

            In game one, Junior Contreras continued his dominance with a 2-3 outing that included 2 doubles and an RBI.  Dude’s hitting .571/.640/1.143 in his six games.  That’s 12-for-21 with 3 doubles and 3 HR. 

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

GCL Nationals @ GCL Mets

            Postponed due to rain.  Thank god.  I gotta get up and go to work in a few hours.