Mack Attack, May 29, 2008

By John Mackin Ade
Posted Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mets News:

Experts in the field of concussion management strongly criticized the Mets on Tuesday for their handling of Ryan Church, saying that he has been put at significant medical risk by continuing to play through dizziness, lethargy and headaches. -- NY Times

The results from Ryan Church’s MRI show no brain damage and he is resting at home.

The Mets signed 32-year old RHP Brandon Knight, who had been pitching for the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic league (2.56 ERA 50Ks/38.2 IP).

Brandon Michael Knight P L R 6-0 170 10-1-75 Ventura College

Knight was drafted 3 times, first in the 55th round of the 1993 draft (Colorado – unsigned), then in the 51st round of the 1994 draft (Colorado – unsigned), and lastly, in the 14th round by the Rangers in the 1995 draft.
Brandon played 5 years in the Rangers organization, and, on 12-13-99 was traded (with Sam Marsonek) to the Yankees for Chad Curtis. He played 3 years in the Yankees organization, rising to the parent team twice (0-0, 10.71). He was released by the Yankees and signed on with Nippon of the Japanese League for the 2005 season. 2006 was spent in Altoona (AA-Pittsburgh) and he’s been in Somerset beginning with the 2007 season.
At the time of his signing with the Mets, Knight was the Atlantic League leader in strikeouts this season with 50. He was also among the league leaders with a 2.56 ERA in 38.2 innings pitched over six games started

 

It seems like everyone wants to play the blame game these days. Blame Bud Selig and the other MLB big wigs for allowing performance-enhancing drug use. Blame Alex Rodriguez for the Yankees’ post-season woes. Blame the umpires for not having eagle-eyesight and missing a call. Blame Willie Randolph for his team’s ability to be consistently average with a $138 million payroll. The most popular version of The Blame Game, however, is Blame Billy Wagner. Blame him for being outspoken and not sugarcoating his opinions, for expecting more out of his teammates, and for sticking up for Randolph. Wagner has made controversial comments on three different occasions and has been roasted by the media and bloggers alike. In none of those instances was he wrong. – baseballdigest

 

“Randolph isn’t a very good tactical manager, and it was his inability to manage a high-maintenance bullpen last year that cost the Mets games not in September, when no one was pitching well, but in May, June, and July, when some better choices in-game could have put the division away.” - bookblog

 

Mack’s Facts:

 

Free Agents in 2012: Scott Kazmir, Prince Fielder, B.J. Upton, Ryan Zimmerman, Grady Sizemore and Russell Martin.

 

Of the 31 runs that Mike Pelfrey has allowed this season 24 have come with two outs and runners in scoring position. In addition, opponents have a .973 OPS against Pelfrey when there are two outs in an inning – metsblog

 

Mets Top 10 Draft Picks:

1996:

#1 OF Robert Stratton – traded… poof
#2 LHP Brendan Behn – 2 years in minors - poof
#3 LHP Ed Yarnall – traded - poof
#4 LHP Jerome Lovingwood – disappeared – poof
#5 OF Patrick Burns – 6 years in minors - poof
#6 OF Tom Johnson – no, not the Doobie Brother… poof
#7 LHP Tony Milo – never signed - poof
#8 C Rafael Lopez – 7 years in minors - poof
#9 RHP Willie Suggs – 3 years in minors - poof
#10 LHP Scott Comer – 5 years in minors - poof
(absolutely nobody drafted this year did nuthin’)

 

Zephyrs:

Zephyrs starting pitcher Adam Bostick underwent season-ending microfracture knee surgery on Tuesday and will be out for the year after being placed on the Disabled List. Bostick is expected to make a full recovery but will not be able to resume baseball activities for 4-6 months. The surgery was performed in New York. Bostick, 25, was 2-2 in 10 starts for the Zephyrs and posted a 6.04 ERA. He had a 3.83 ERA in 9 games (8 starts) before being roughed up for 13 runs in 4.2 innings of his last two starts. He played for the Zephyrs in 2007 as well and went 6-7 with a 5.66 ERA in 20 starts.

 

B-Mets:

Eric Brown allowed two earned runs over 6 1/3 innings, but the Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Binghamton Mets 3-1 at Hadlock Field Wednesday. The loss is Binghamton’s fourth in a row. Portland (32-19) didn’t trail after a two-run first. After leadoff man Jeff Corsaletti reached second on a dropped fly ball by leftfielder Ambiorix Concepcion, Tony Granadillo drove him in with a double to left-center before scoring on Zach Daeges’s base hit. Binghamton (24-27) was unable to score against Portland spot starter Daniel Haigwood (2-0), who allowed two hits and struck out six over five shutout innings. Salomon Manriquez led off the sixth and was hit by a Miguel Ascensio pitch before being forced out on a fielder’s choice that allowed Emmanuel Garcia to reach second. Garcia took third on Josh Petersen’s single before scoring on Jonathan Malo’s sacrifice fly, cutting Portland’s lead to 2-1. Brown (2-4) was chased by John Otness, who singled in a run in the seventh. Reliever Tim Lavigne followed by retiring all five Sea Dogs he faced. The B-Mets picked up two hits in the ninth off Carlos Vasquez, but the lefty held on to earn his first save in as many chances.

 

Lucy:

Add P Pedro Martinez to roster – ML Rehab

 

 

 

 

VSL:

The 11-3 VSL Mets beat the VSL Mariners 5-1. Adrian Pirela homered for the Mets. Jhonathan Torres picked up the win: 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 8 Ks/0 BB.

 

Minor Mets Bios:

Cole Abbott P R R 6-2 175 7-14-88 Weber High School (Utah)

The Mets selected Nicholas "Cole" Abbott in the 25th round (783rd overall) of the 2007 amateur draft out of Weber High School in Utah. Regarded as an early-round talent, Abbott's signability was in question with his committment to BYU. However, the Mets were able to sign him quickly after the draft.
From Baseball America: “Abbott was rivaling Tanner Robles as Utah's top prep pitcher despite having a much lower profile. Known more as a basketball player in his prep career, Abbott started getting more attention last summer when he pitched in the Area Code Games. He's athletic and loose-armed, with a projectable 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. Quick-armed and athletic, Abbott topped out at 92 mph early in the spring, settled in around 88-91 mph with his fastball and has more velocity in him for the future, as he does it easy and repeats his delivery well. Most impressive, he's shown the ability to spin a breaking ball-—at high altitude--consistently for strikes. While Abbott considers it a slider, it's a slurve right now with some depth, and with more repetition and instruction it could become a true power curveball. His commitment to Brigham Young could cloud his signability, and if he and Nevada's top prep, righty Taylor Cole, both showed up at BYU, the Cougars could be a national force in the next three seasons.” In 2007, Abbott pitched for the GCL Mets (0-3, 7.31 in 10 games, 2 starts, 1.88). He remains on the Extended squad until early June assignments to Brooklyn, Kingsport, and the GCL Mets.

Ex-Mets:

Cliff Floyd reached base 4 times, homered, drove in 2 runs and scored 3 more for Tampa Bay.

Mike Cameron hit a walk-off sacrifice fly as the Brewers rebounded to nip the Braves, 3-2.

 

This Day In Mets History:

1959 - Gus Bell goes 5-for-5, including three consecutive home runs, helping the Reds beat the Cubs, 10-4.

1981 - The Mets trade relief pitcher Jeff Reardon and outfielder Dan Norman, who was obtained from the Reds in the 1977 Tom Seaver trade, to the Expos for Ellis Valentine

1990 - A's Rickey Henderson theft of third base in the sixth inning of a 2-1 loss to Blue Jays breaks the 62-year old American League stolen base record of 892 held by Ty Cobb.

And lastly:

"The Browns are unable to beat their way out of paper bag with a crow bar." -BRANCH RICKEY, as the St. Louis Browns' owner.