I spent my weekend watching the New Orleans Zephyrs beat up the Iowa Cubs outscoring their hosts 52-24 in taking three of four games.  The series was one for the record books, setting or tying numerous marks.  For example, those 52 runs scored in a four-game set are the most the Iowa Cubs have ever allowed.  The Zephyrs tied a franchise record with an 18 run Friday night, only to set a new record with a 19 run Saturday.  Even amongst the prolific offensive production, the two best performances from a prospect perspective still belonged to Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber with Pelfrey the more impressive of the two.  Given the current shape of the New Orleans roster, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

            David Newhan was not with New Orleans in Des Moines, taking his full 72 hours to report, but will join the Z’s, live and in the flesh today.  I’m not sure when Ben Johnson will join the club in Round Rock, TX.

 

Stars of the Weekend:

AAA: EVERY DAMN BAT/Mike Pelfrey & Philip Humber

AA: Bobby Parnell & Kevin Mulvey/Mark Kiger

A+: Jon Niese/Dustin Martin

A: Matt Durkin

 

AAA – New Orleans (Pacific Coast League)

Friday: Zephyrs 18, @ Iowa Cubs 8

Saturday: Zephyrs 19, @ Iowa Cubs 4

Sunday: Zephyrs 9, @ Iowa Cubs 3

 

 

Saturday, the Zephyrs set a new club record for runs (19) and hits (25).  Jake Gautreau (.339/.339/.661) was in the middle of everything going 6-7 with four doubles, a home run, five runs scored and eight RBI.  The eight RBI and five runs tied a franchise while the four doubles set a new mark.  Pelfrey, who didn’t allow a hit until the fourth, striking out a season high seven, was impressive over six innings, breaking bat after bat with his heavy two seam fastball.  He allowed just three hits in six innings.  He broke off some really pretty good sliders, and left some spinners that didn’t do much up in the zone.  The Cubs hitters were so far on their heels, he wasn’t hurt on the pitches he missed with.  He threw very few changeups.  As a third pitch, it looked like he was working on a cut piece that he threw a few times at 88 mph that split the difference velocity wise between his fastball, which sat at 94 mph and his slider at 81-84.  A scout in attendance thought that he looked, “very close” to ready, and all he needed to achieve big league success was more time in the show.  I think that’s right, but he could use a touch more polish at this level.  Besides, there isn’t an open spot in the rotation right now, but next time there is, you know who’s coming back.  His fastball (velo + command) was the best to roll through Principal Park this year, and he was clearly overmatching many of the Cubs hitters in a lineup depleted by injuries and roster moves.  It appeared to me that he was clearly making an effort to throw his slider, using it more than was optimal if his only goal was getting batters out.  However, when he got into a minor jam in the fourth, he went back to relying on the heater.  As a final positive, he maintained nearly all of his velocity right up to 100 pitches, and was still throwing hard before he departed after the sixth inning.

Humber never trailed on Sunday after Anderson Hernandez’s (.262/.309/.356) leadoff home run that just barely cleared the wall into the short Principal Park skyboxes in left.  His line is revealing: 5.1 IP, 13 hits, three runs, no walks, four strikeouts.  He mixed all three pitches fastball, curveball and changeup right from the start.  His fastball was around 88-90 early with a little more when he really wanted it.  His curve was as advertised with a sharp two plane break 74-77 or so, and the changeup was nice third pitch at 80-82.  He worked quickly and threw inside regularly and with great effectiveness.  However, he seemed to fatigue relatively early, losing velocity on the fastball and bite on the breaking ball as the game progressed.  Like Pelfrey, he can cut his fastball (in to lefties) or make it run.  Hernandez finished Sunday 3-5 with a double and home run.  His double-play partner, Jason Alfaro, (.273/.289/.453) who also homered in the first, was 3-4 with a double, home runs, two runs scored and two driven home.  Hernandez took some wild hacks at breaking balls, but also showed the ability to shorten up and go the other way into right field.  I’ve met some people who still think he will figure it out, and will be an effective big league hitter. 

Friday, the Z’s pounded Neal Cotts, down from Chicago to stretch his arm out as a starter for nine runs on six hits in 1.2 innings to begin the rout.  Brian Lawrence was touched for six runs on seven hits in seven innings working with a variety of pitches ranging from soft to softer. 

 

AA – Binghamton (Eastern League)

Friday: @ Connecticut Defenders 8, Mets 2

Saturday: Mets 5, @ Connecticut Defenders 3

Sunday: @ Connecticut Defenders 2, Mets 1

 

            Fernando Martinez, (.283/.353/.374) who was out of the lineup for the last week with his recurring hand problem returned Saturday with a 1-4 performance and followed that up with a 2-4 Sunday. 

            Friday, the Defenders hit Marcos Carvajal hard.  Corey Coles briefly raised his AA average to .400 wit ha 2-3 night that included a triple. 

            The news was better Saturday, as the B-Mets recovered from a 3-1 deficit with a four run ninth.  Wilson Batista began the uprising with a solo home run to bring Binghamton within a run.  After consecutive singles from Martinez and Caleb Stewart, Mark Kiger (.281/.403/.422) drilled his third home run of the year to win the game.  Bobby Parnell was pretty good in his first AA start yielding three runs, two earned on six hits in five innings.  He fanned four and walked one.  Corey Coles 0-4 snapped his seven game hit streak. 

            Sunday, the Mets wasted another good start from Kevin Mulvey (5-5, 3.49) who lasted seven innings allowing just one run on six hits.  He struck out three without issuing a walk to push his strikeout to walk ratio almost all the way to three (48 K/17 BB).  He’s having a very good 2007, and at this rate will end the season in New Orleans, but I’d like to see him missing a few more bats.  Tim McNab gave up the walkoff home run to the Defenders’ Travis Ishikawa leading off the ninth. 

 

A+ -- St. Lucie (Florida State League)

Friday: @ Mets 3, Sarasota Reds 2

Saturday: @ Mets 6, Sarasota Reds 4
Sunday: @ Mets 4, Daytona Cubs 2

 

            Friday, Eric Brown (4-3, 4.91) tossed six two-run innings, but the real story on the mound was Ricardo Morales who was demoted from Binghamton a week ago, but didn’t allow a hit in three innings, striking out six. 

            Saturday, St. Lucie used a four-run sixth to overcome a 3-2 deficit.  Three different St. Lucie players, Sean Henry, Dustin Martin and Nick Evans had two hits.  Henry tripled and Martin doubled and scored twice.  Martin added in a hit Sunday to run his hitting streak to 10 and push his season totals to .301/.379/.453.  One note of caution: 64 strikeouts in 60 games.  To be clear, although I do believe in the sabrmetric orthodoxy that at the big league level strikeout totals aren’t terribly important because an out is just an out, the same is NOT true in the minors.  Often, high strikeout rates at the A-ball levels indicate a swing that can be exploited at the higher levels. Joseph Leaper started, but former catcher Joe Hietpas (1-0, 4.26) scooped up his first win of 2007 with two innings of work.

            Sunday, Jon Niese (5-3, 5.31) delivered his best and longest outing of 2007.  He dealt seven innings whiffing six and walking one and allowing two runs on four hits. 

 

A – Savannah (South Atlantic League)

Friday: @ Augusta Green Jackets 3, Sand Gnats 1

Saturday: @ Augusta Green Jackets 16, Sand Gnats 2

Sunday: @ Augusta Green Jackets 9, Sand Gnats 4

 

            After a rough weekend at Augusta, the Gnats have lost six in row to fall back to 18-45. 

            Friday, Matt Durkin (2-3, 3.08) allowed two runs in the first inning, and then settled in after that, finishing six innings.  He struck out one and walked two, but at least he’s taking the ball every fifth day, and that’s very good news.  Juan Lagares, (.217/.269/.344) who was 2-3 committed his 25th error of the year contributing to a three-error Gnat evening.  This was the highlight of the weekend. 

            Saturday, Greg Mullens didn’t record an out in the first inning and the rout was on.  Sunday, a tough start from Josh Stinson had the Gnats in a 6-0 hole after two frames.

 

 

Toby Hyde has written Toby’s Mets Minor League Report since 2004.  Please pass this along to friends, family, co-workers, enemies and most importantly Mets fans.  To subscribe to the email newsletter, sign up here: http://groups.google.com/group/mets-minors?hl=en.  Archives are available at http://metsminors.metsblog.com.