Mack Attack: July 8, 2008

By John Mackin Ade
Posted Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Phils: 42 losses - Marlins: 43 – Mets: 44 - Braves: 48 – Nats: 56

“First of all, Johan Santana’s strikeouts are still “down.” While 109 strikeouts in 121 innings is nothing to sneeze at, it’s well down from Johan’s rate over the last several seasons (the last time Johan struck out less than a batter an inning was way back in 2001). This is even more troublesome given the fact that Johan is now pitching in the National League, and thus gets to face the pitcher (or a pinch hitter) three or four times a game, as well as generally weaker competition (as evidenced by the American League’s domination in interleague play).

Additionally, Santana’s walk rate is up (albeit slightly). He has walked 2.38 per nine this season, after walking 2.14, 1.81, and 1.75 per nine in each of the last three seasons, respectively. This is not a huge jump, but considering the drop in strikeouts and move to the easier league, it is not a particularly good sign for Santana.
Perhaps of more concern is Santana’s velocity, which is down. This season, according to Fangraphs, his average fastball velocity is 91.2 MPH. Last year his fastball averaged 91.7, and in the previous two seasons it averaged 93.1 and 92.4 MPH. Interestingly, Santana’s changeup velocity has also decreased from 81.9 and 81.8 MPH over the previous two seasons, to 79.9 MPH this season. Additionally, the velocity of Johan’s slider is down, and he is using it less frequently than in the past. “- BeyondTheBoxScore

The Mets have lost six consecutive games started by former Twins ace Johan Santana. Santana is 0-4 during that stretch, but his ERA is an excellent 2.48, with 38 strikeouts in 40 innings. The Twins' longest losing streak during Santana's starts came in 2000, his first year, when they went 0-5 in his five starts, though three of the starts came in April and two in September. The Twins were 2-28 in games Santana pitched that year. -- Star Tribune

Another Option for Spot Starter:

Brandon Knight - SP - New Orleans Zephyrs - 6-0 195 L R 10-1-75

3-1/1.71 30Ks/26.1 IP 5 BB

Zephyrs:

New Orleans Zephyrs left-hander Willie Collazo has been tabbed the Pacific Coast League's starting pitcher for the Triple-A All-Star
Game in Louisville on July 16, the league announced Monday.

Collazo is 4-6 with a 4.07 ERA and two saves in 25 games for the Zephyrs this season. He was thrust into the starting rotation on May 13 in an emergency start against Sacramento, and went on to make nine more starts for New Orleans, posting a 3-5 record and a 4.33 ERA.

The 28-year-old southpaw, in his third season in the New York Mets organization and eighth season of professional baseball, also represented the Zephyrs at last year's All-Star Game in Albuquerque. He worked a perfect fifth inning in that game, and recorded two strikeouts.

Collazo replaces outfielder Chris Aguila, promoted to the New York Mets last week, as the Zephyrs' All-Star representative. Collazo becomes the second Zephyr to appear in two Triple-A All-Star Games, joining Daryle Ward, who appeared in 1998 and 1999, the latter being the game held at Zephyr Field where his three-run home run earned him Most Valuable Player honors.

The New Orleans Zephyrs fell to the visiting Memphis Redbirds on Monday by the score of 11-4.

Memphis relief pitcher John Wasdin (6-6) got the win after shutting out the Zephyrs in 1.1 innings of play, giving up only two hits.

Memphis was led offensively by third baseman David Freese, who drove in three runs, two off of a second inning home run.

Former LSU Tiger Nick Stavinoha, now a right fielder for the Redbirds, went 4-6 in the game and drove in two runs.

The offensive highlight for the Zephyrs was Abraham Nunez, who hit a solod homer run in the sixth inning, his third of the season.

Zephyrs starter Brian Stokes (8-8) recorded the loss after giving up eight runs on seven hits in only two innings of play.

B-Mets:

Don’t look for B-Mets pitching standouts Jon Niese or Parnell to move to New Orleans anytime soon. Mets VP Tony Bernazard wants to keep the B-Mets team intact, while other team officials worry about moving the young pitchers to a non-winning Triple-A environment with predominantly older players – Adam Rubin

The Binghamton Mets jumped ahead early, but the Akron Aeros scored four unanswered for a 4-2 win at NYSEG Stadium Monday. Akron swept the four-game set from the B-Mets.

The B-Mets (48-41) went ahead in the first when Fernando Martinez hit a leadoff triple off Kevin Dixon and scored on Daniel Murphy’s groundout. Binghamton’s lead grew to 2-0 in the fourth, thanks to doubles by Nick Evans and Caleb Stewart, the latter scoring Evans. After Stewart’s double, Dixon (7-5) retired 12 of the final 13 he faced, working 7 1/3 innings.

Akron (56-33) didn’t get to B-Mets starter Jonathon Niese until the fifth. Brandon Pinckney opened the scoring with an RBI single before Bronson Sardinha’s sacrifice fly scored the tying run. Niese (5-7) allowed a go-ahead two-run homer to Wyatt Toregas in the sixth.

Luis Perdomo got the final five outs for Akron, earning his first save.

Gnats:

The Sand Gnats (7-10) made some roster moves over the weekend, losing one pitcher to St. Lucie and adding two pitchers and an outfielder. RHP Nick Carr, who was sent down from St. Lucie in mid-June, was recalled to High-A on Saturday.

Joining the Sand Gnats are right-handed pitchers Rhiner Cruz and Junior Guerra. Cruz started the ’08 campaign in Brooklyn while Guerra was on a rehab assignment in Kingsport.

Cruz, 21, made six relief appearances during his short stay in Brooklyn, posting a 0-0 record with a 3.72 ERA. He struck out 13 batters in 9.2 innings worked. Last season, the Santo Domingo, D.R. native played for the DSL Mets, GCL Mets and Kingsport. With the K-Mets, Cruz was 1-1 with a 0.71 ERA in 11 outings.

Guerra, 23, was making a rehab assignment in Kingsport at the time of his call up. In three appearances he had no record with a 2.25 ERA. Originally signed by the Braves in 2001 as a catcher, he was converted to a pitcher in 2006 before being released by the Braves in 2007. The Mets signed him in October of 2007. At three different levels in 2006, Guerra was 0-2 with a 6.59 ERA.

Rejoining the Sand Gnats is outfielder/second baseman Michael Parker.

Parker spent a majority of the first half in Savannah, playing in 34 games and hitting .198. The Boston, Mass. native will provide depth in the Sand Gnats infield with the departure of Jake Eigsti to Brooklyn. In four games with the Cyclones, Parker hit .071.

The visiting West Virginia Power (13-5) used a three-run first inning to catapult themselves to a 5-2 victory over Savannah on Monday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. R.J. Seidel (6-4) was efficient over 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs on 5 hits for West Virginia.

Sand Gnats starter Josh Stinson (2-5) ran into trouble early in the first as he allowed a leadoff double to Lee Haydel. Stinson hit Eric Farris to put two on for Eric Fryer, who singled to right to score Haydel. After a groundout and another hit batsmen, Steffan Wilson singled in both Farris and Fryer to make it 3-0, Power.

Savannah (7-11) would cut the lead to three in the fourth when Greg Veloz and Casey Craig used back-to-back singles to start the frame. With Juan Lagares at the plate, Power catcher Anderson de la Rosa tried to pick off Craig at first but the throw went into right field. Veloz and Craig each moved up 90 feet. Juan Lagares hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Veloz.

West Virginia added one more in the sixth while the Gnats tacked on one more in the seventh. Stinson lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts. Junior Guerra made his first relief appearance with Savannah, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing 1 run on 1 hit. Steve Cheney pitched the final two frames without allowing a hit.

Veloz led the Gnats with two hits; he was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. With the hits, the 20-year-old extended his team-best hitting streak to 13 games.

Minor League Bios:

Nate Field RP R R 6-2 200 12-11-75 Fort Hays State University

Field was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Expo in 1998. He was released by the Expos in 2000 and was signed by the independent Sioux City of the Northern League.

Field was purchased by the KC Royals later in 2000, was claimed by the Yankees in 2002, and then granted free agency by the Yanks. He eventually was signed into the Rockies organization (2005), followed by a 2006 signing with the Florida Marlins.

He has spent time in each of the last 6 seasons in the Majors, going a combined 4-5, 5.13, 1.59).

Field was signed by the Mets in the winter Rule V draft.

Ex-Mets:

Mike Jacobs reached base 3 times, scored 3 runs, and drove in 2 more to lead the Marlins to a 10-5 victory over the Rockies

Ty Wigginton had 3 hits, including a grand slam, for Houston

Brian Bannister insists he's not in denial. He knows the numbers aren't good -- a 6.18 ERA in his last 15 starts -- even as he strives to find positives while working to adjust his style. "This is the first time in my career," he said, "when I've gone more than a couple of weeks without having success at the big-league level. I've been taking the necessary steps to improve my game. As a result, there has been inconsistency. I'm optimistic about the direction I'm headed." The recent trend isn't good. -- KC Star