New York Mets Daily Farm System Report: 8/27/12- The Future Is Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

*All results from games played on Sunday, August 26, 2012

Check out the 2012 Amazin' Avenue Pre-Season Top 50 Mets Prospects! And send all of your questions about the Mets farm system to AAProspectMailbag@gmail.com to see them answered here!

News & Notes_________________________________________________

In this morning's 'Future Shock' column over at Baseball Prospectus, Kevin Goldstein once again riffs on the long-term defensive home of one Wilmer Flores:

"On the surface, at least on a statistical level, Flores has had an impressive rebound season. With seven hits and 12 total bases over the weekend, the 21-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .317/.368/.484 in his first 58 games at the upper levels of the Mets system, but his stock really hasn't risen that much as a result. Finally off of shortstop, Flores has split time between second base, where he just doesn't have the athleticism to play, and third base, where he's below average, but acceptable, yet just doesn't have the power to profile. He's certainly better, and certainly still very young, but he's turned into a bit of a square peg trying to fit into a round hole."

His point is still sound, I just remain a little surprised how negative a tone KG continually has when speaking about the fifth-youngest position player in the EL posting an .850+ OPS while answering all questions about his long-term power potential.

AAA - Buffalo Bisons (64-73)_______________________________________

GAME ONE

BUFFALO 1, ROCHESTER 0 (Box)

First-round draft pick Zack Wheeler and he-of-the-4.66-ERA-in-the-Major-Leagues Esmerling Vasquez locked horns in an excellent, old fashioned pitchers duel, with both men going the distance. Wheeler needed 98 pitches to make it through the agreed-upon 7 innings of regulation baseball, shutting out the Red Wings and giving up only three hits in his complete game effort. The lone run of the game came in the 4^th, when Matt Den Dekker hit a sac fly that scored Adam Loewen.

• 3B Zach Lutz: 1-3
• 2B Josh Satin: 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K, CS (4); Satin still showing off his wheels, or lack thereof
• SS Josh Rodriguez: 2-3
• CF Matt Den Dekker: 1-1, RBI
• RHP Zack Wheeler: 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K

GAME TWO

ROCHESTER 12, BUFFALO 9 (Box)

Since Game 1 was a pitcher’s duel, the two teams decided to do something completely different for Game 2, and combined for 21 runs. Unfortunately, the Red Wings had a greater share of those scored runs than the Bisons, and Buffalo dropped the second game of the doubleheader as a result. Starter Dylan Owen didn’t look too hot himself, allowing three earned runs in only 1.2 innings of work, but C.J. Nitkowski’s performance for the night really took the cake. The Suger Land, Texas native gave up seven hits and seven earned runs in his 1.1 innings of work. The Bisons, very obviously, were not able to overcome that hurdle.

• 3B Zach Lutz: 1-3, HR (10), 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• DH Val Pascucci: 1-3, HR (17), 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• LF Fred Lewis: 2-5, HR (11), 2 R, RBI, 1 K
• RF Matt Tuiasosopo: 2-4, HR (11), 2 R, 2 RBI
• CF Matt Den Dekker: 1-2, RBI, 1 BB
• RHP C.J. Nitkowski: 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, WP

AA - Binghamton Mets (65-69)_____________________________________

BINGHAMTON 5, PORTLAND 3 (Box)

It took them 10 innings, but the B-Mets triumphed over the Portland Sea Dogs, splitting the four game series (and also winning 13 of 19 meetings with then over the course of the season. Both teams struck early, and often: Portland scored one in the 1^st and two in the third, and Binghamton scored two in the 2^nd and one in the 4^th. Binghamton came close to scoring in the 6^th, but Jeremy Hazelbaker (who scored three of Portland’s runs on two home runs) made a terrific play in left, denying Reese Havens of a hit and gunning down Wilfredo Tovar trying to advance to third. In the 10^th, the B-Mets gained the lead on a strange set of events: Sea Dog pitcher Michael Olmsted walked Allan Dykstra. Dustin Martin hit a dribbler to first, and would have been out, but the covering pitcher failed to step on the bag. Juan Centeno walked, and the bases were loaded with one out. Wilfredo Tovar lofted a bloop single to shallow center that scored Juan Lagares (who was pinch running for Dykstra). Martin also scored on the play, when the throw from centerfielder Shannon Wilkerson that was intended for a play at the plate hit him, and bounced off into left field.

• 2B Reese Havens: 0-6, 2 RBI
• 3B Wilmer Flores: 3-5; No extra base hits, but Flores continues his hot hitting and really has reestablished his value as a Mets top prospect
• SS Wilfredo Tovar: 4-4, 1 R, 1 BB
• RHP Greg Peavey: 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
• RHP Bradley Holt: 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, SV (1)

Hi-A - St. Lucie Mets (30-30 // 79-49)________________________________________

NO GAME (RAIN)

The game was postponed on account of- you guessed it- inclement weather, and the decision was made not to reschedule it, because of timeline constraints in relation to the end of the season. Apparently, a Tropical Storm is bearing down on Florida. I did not know that.

Lo-A - Savannah Sand Gnats (25-37 // 66-63)__________________________________

ROME 4, SAVANNAH 3 (Box)

After being swept in a doubleheader, Savannah made it official and lost for the third time against the first place Rome Braves, and got swept for the series. Marcos Camarena didn’t make it easy for them, allowing only three runs (two earned) during his six innings of work. The Savannah offense had problems against Rome starter Alex Wood, but got to the Braves’ bullpen, including a run in the bottom of the 9^th. Unfortunately, they were unable to complete the comeback. In the loss, the error by Yucarybert De La Cruz in the first inning that allowed a run to score is big. If that unearned run does not score, the Sand Gnats tie it up in the 9^th on Albert Cordero’s line-drive to left, and who knows what happens afterwards.

• CF Gilbert Gomez: 2-4, 2B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K
• SS Yucarybert De La Cruz: 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, E (11)
• 3B Dustin Lawley: 1-4, RBI, 1 K, SB (14)
• LF Gregory Pron: 0-4, 3 K
• C Albert Cordero: 1-4, RBI, 2 K
• RHP Marcos Camarena: 6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Short Season A - Brooklyn Cyclones (39-27)__________________________________

STATEN ISLAND 12, BROOKLYN 2 (Box)

A day after a Brooklyn slobbernocker, the Staten Island Yankees returned the favor, slaughtering the Cyclones 12-2 and winning the rubber game of the Ferry Series. Julian Hilario has had a decent season- nothing to get excited and write home about, like some of the other members of the rotation, but nothing to be ashamed of, either- games like this can erase all of the confidence that a season like his has established. Hilario lasted just a single out, allowing five doubles and three errors, and allowed seven runs in the first inning (five earned). Down 7 nothing in the second inning, Brooklyn didn’t stand much of a chance- especially when Staten Island kept adding to their lead. The lone bright spot of Brooklyn’s offense (which managed only four hits all day) was in the top of the 5^th, when Brandon Nimmo hit a home run to right field.

• CF Brandon Nimmo: 1-3, HR (5), 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB
• SS Phillip Evans: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K, E (11)
• DH Kevin Plawecki: 1-2, 1 BB
• RHP Julian Hilario: 0.1 IP, 7 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 0 K; That adds up to a 135.00 ERA for the night. Oliver Perez finds that line impressive.

Appalachian League (R) - Kingsport Mets (23-30)__________________________________

PULASKI 6, KINGSPORT 4 (Box)

Kingsport fell to the Pulaski Mariners to kick off their last series of the season. The Mariners put up a four spot in the 2^nd inning, and tacked on another two in the 4^th. Those two insurance runs proved very important, as Kingsport mounted something of a comeback, scoring two runs in the 3^rd inning and another two in the 6^th inning.

• DH Gavin Cecchini: 0-4, 2 K
• 3B Jorge Rivero: 1-4, 3B, 1 R, RBI
• CF Maikis De La Cruz: 0-4, 1 K
• RF Jeffrey Diehl: 3-4, 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI
• C Tomas Nido: 0-3, RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Persio Reyes: 2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Star of the Night

A lot of choices, for tonight. Brandon Nimmo hit a home run, Wilfredo Torvar had a perfect night going 4-4, Wilmer Flores continued his torrid hitting, and Zack Wheeler had a complete game three-hit shutout. In the end, I think Wheeler's performance was most dominant, and most important, so he is the SotN.

Goat of the Night

Jullian Hillaro, with his 135.00 ERA for the night, was pretty bad. Nine times out of ten, that kind of performance is your GotN. Tonight, CJ Nitkowski just narrowly pushes him aside, though. Buffalo could of swept the doubleheader, but Nitkowski screwed the pooch. Hard.