Baseball America ran a Scout’s View (Subscription required) feature on Fernando Martinez, getting two opinions on the young Binghamton outfielder. The first scout BA talked to was very, very down on the teenager, citing his awkward routes in the outfield, and poor arm strength and unusual hitting mechanics which feature a wide stance and minimal load, which has lead to his struggles against breaking balls. The second scout responds: "Did someone remind this scout that this kid's 18 years old and in Double-A?" “Bravo,” I say. Anyway, the second scout agreed that he’s not a CF, and also recommended eventually tightening up F-Mart’s stance, but praised his ability to “feed” on balls in. Martinez also earned a spot on this week’s Hot Sheet under the Not-so Hot category for his extra base hit-free June. It is no longer extra base free.
I’m still rather impressed by his .283/.353/.374 AA line with 17 BB and 40 K at age 18. I’ll always remember in my first year in baseball, one very good baseball executive telling me that game power is the last tool to develop. It sticks with me as one of the first of many quiet, enlightening conversations with baseball’s decision makers, who have taught me more than I could explain in one blog post. Also, hand injuries tend to sap a hitter’s power long even after a guy is medically cleared to return to the lineup. I’d say, F-Mart is so far ahead of the curve developmentally, we need to just relax and wait. Remember, he’s younger than many of the kids who will be taking the field in the short season leagues that include Brooklyn, Kingsport or the GCL firing up next week.
Bryan Evans of Baseball Prospectus points out (subscription required) that New Orleans’ Zephyrs Field has played as one of the most extreme pitching friendly environments in minor league baseball for the last few years. It’s a little more normal through the first half of this season, however.
Ambiorix Burgos has been “shut down,” with a sore right elbow and is in Florida for tests.
Bill Richardson’s visit on our Iowa
Cubs broadcast concludes this New Republic story (subscription
required?) by Ryan Lizza on the New Mexico governor. I get mentioned by name,
and labeled an “energy policy wonk.” I’m very flattered. I should probably email my thesis advisors
who helped me develop and sharpen the ideas that eventually became the catchy,
award-winning “Should the Federal Government Subsidize Biodiesel?” My answer at the time was NO. My answer in 2007 is a more emphatic no. Thanks, Ben, for calling me and alerting me to
the article.
Stars of the Day:
AAA: David Newhan
& Andy Tracy/Adam Bostick
AA: Fernando
Martinez/Carlos Muniz
A+: Deolis Guerra/Josh
Petersen
A: Francisco Pena
AAA –
Zephyrs 6, @ Round
Rock Express 2
David Newhan doubled home three runs in the top of the first inning, and the Z’s never trailed in front of a big crowd at the Dell Diamond. Andy Tracy helped out with a 3-4 night, driving home runs in the fifth and ninth innings.
Adam Bostick (3-5, 6.71) struck out seven while allowing two runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Steve Schmoll and Willie Collazo were both effective.
AA –
Reading Phillies 5, @
Mets 3 (14 innings)
Fernando Martinez’s three run home run (his third) in the sixth was the only Mets offense of the night. He’s going to be fine. Binghamton had just five hits in 14 innings of baseball.
Starter Jose Sanchez was ok over six innings. The bullpen then combined for seven scoreless frames before the Phils got two off Tim McNab in the fourteenth. Carlos Muniz dealt three stanzas, fanning two and walking one. St. Lucie’s closer a year ago, in 29.2 AA innings he’s whiffed 32 and walked just 11.
A+ -- St. Lucie (
@ Mets 7, Daytona
Cubs 3
Deolis Guerra yielded two runs, just on of which was earned on four hits in five innings in his third, and clearly his best start since returning from the DL. He punched out six and didn’t walk a batter to lower his FSL ERA to 3.54. This is very good.
The hitting star for St. Lucie was Joshua Petersen (.333/.378/.523 in 31 G) who homered twice, with his second, a two run shot, breaking a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning. As impressive as those numbers are, Petersen turned 24 the second week of the minor league season. Jose Castro added two more singles and two RBI to lift his average to .322.
A –
@ Charleston River
Dogs 5, Sand Gnats 2
On a night when the Gnats were four hit, Francisco Pena (.264/.330/.344), who was 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI, provided most of Savannah’s punch.
Only three of the five runs starter Tim Stronach gave up were earned thanks to four more Savannah errors.
Toby Hyde has written Toby’s Mets Minor League Report
since 2004. Please pass this along to friends, family, co-workers,
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