Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Portland Sea Dogs @ Binghamton Mets

Dates: May 26-28, 2015

Current Record: 24-20, 2^nd Place, 4.5 Games behind New Britain

Probables

All times are EST

Tuesday at 6:35 PM

Joe Gunkel (1-0, 4.32 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 30 K%: 12.5 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Gabriel Ynoa (2-2, 4.35 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 14.1 K%: 9.2 BB%, 0.65 HR/9)

Wednesday at 6:35 PM

William Cuevas (5-2, 3.24 ERA, 2.60 FIP, 23.1 K%: 9.3 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Dillon Gee (Rehab)

Thursday at 10:35 AM

Justin Haley (1-5, 6.03 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 18 K%: 12 BB%, 0.57 HR/9)

@ Luis Cessa (3-3, 3.58 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 17.6 K%: 6.1 BB%, 0.24 HR/9)

Last series for B-Mets

Split 4 with Akron: W 3-2, W 5-4, L 4-2, L 6-1

Top prospects for the Boston Red Sox with Portland

Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Carlos Asuaje, 23, LHH 2B/3B/OF

Ranked #25, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

            At 5’9”, Asuaje is not going to break out with more homerun power anytime soon, so he’ll have to continue to show gap power and an ability to hit for a high average. Defensively, he’s serviceable at 3B, but better suited for 2B or LF according to BA, which seems like an unusual mix. Without any standout tools, he looks like more of a future utility guy at the highest level, but he’d be valuable in that role if he can keep hitting like he did in 2014.

            He’s having a strong season so far, with a 13.8 K%: 13.8 BB%, and a .160 ISO.

Joe Gunkel, 23, RH SP

Ranked #26, BA Grade: 50, High risk

            Gunkel comes at batters with a low arm slot from the right side, and a low-90’s heater. He also throws a slider and changeup, but struggled against advanced lefties last year. He had better team results in his second AA start, but walked 4 batters. He has made more relief appearances than starts in 2015, and has as many saves as wins (2 each). His future is likely in the pen, but the Red Sox are likely using him as they need right now.

Justin Haley, 23, RH SP

Ranked #28, BA Grade: 45, High risk

            Haley got a late season promotion to Portland last year and dominated the EL over his 6 starts (1.19 ERA/3.73 FIP), but has not had nearly as much success to start 2015. His control, which had been an issue in 2012-13, is worse than ever, with his BB-rate up to 16.3%. Haley’s best pitch is probably his fastball that sits in the lower 90’s, touching 94. He surprised people with his performance in 2014, which earned him a spot in the BA top-30 with ‘potential number 5’ upside, but he’ll drop right back off the list if he doesn’t turn it around soon.

            Haley has been very wild this year, so the patient B-Mets bats should have a field day.

Henry Ramos, 23, SH OF

Ranked #29, BA Grade: 50, Extreme risk

            Ramos was off to a 4-18 start for Portland before landing on the AA DL, although I didn’t see what injury sent him there. He was having a breakout season with Portland through 48 games in 2014, hitting .326/.368/.431 with 13 extra base hits before fouling a pitch off his left knee and missing the rest of the year – hopefully that’s not what knocked him out this year. BA really liked his defense in the OF, saying, “His plus range, plus arm and average speed in RF suggest a player who could fill an extra outfielder role in the big leagues.” One NL evaluator was quoted as saying, “If he hits at all, he’s a starter.”  Get healthy soon Mr. Ramos.

            Ramos hasn’t played since 4/15.

Pat Light, 24, RH RP

Ranked #30, BA Grade: 45, High risk

            It’s been an uneven start for Light in his AA career, as he has an impressive 32.7 K%: 5.5 BB%, but has allowed 3 homeruns in just 13.1 IP. Homeruns were an issue for him in 2013 too, but he was starting back then, and they weren’t an issue in 2014. This is his first season as a full time reliever, and his numbers look good other than the SSS HR-rate (two homeruns were allowed in his first appearance). His fastball has reportedly touched triple digits in short bursts, but he topped out at 94 MPH as a starter, so the Red Sox are wise to try him out in the pen. If the triple-digit velocity is real, he could potentially be a pen option for the Red Sox at some point this year, depending on the state of their relief depth.

            Light has been very strong out of the Portland pen (30.9 K%), but prone to giving up the long ball (1.17 HR/9)

Recent Injuries/Transactions

            Recent Indy-league import David Cooper has announced his retirement from baseball. Still waiting for Brandon Nimmo to return. :(

Storylines

            Vic Black and Bobby Parnell continue their rehab assignments with Binghamton this week, and Black is scheduled to pitch for a second straight game Tuesday night. Black looked very good Monday night, and is likely much closer to returning than Parnell. Parnell has been seeing his velocity slowly creeping up throughout his rehab process, and is apparently happy to be finally moving on from St. Lucie.

            Dillon Gee is scheduled for a surprise rehab start Wednesday, which is an advantage the B-Mets need to capitalize on, as Gee is ready to be back in the majors. Gabriel Ynoa has seen his numbers take a big step backwards in his return to Binghamton this year, and is coming off one of his worst starts, allowing 5 runs in 5 IP. Luis Cessa is coming off his second start with a double-digit hit total allowed this year, and hasn’t been as effective lately, although he’s been getting a lot of groundballs still.

            Gavin Cecchini has been hot most of the year, but has two homeruns in the past week (30 PA), after only two in his first 111 PA. Eudy Pina has been trending upwards recently, improving his K-rate, BB-rate, and ISO over the past two weeks, and starting to drive the ball more. Jayce Boyd is on fire the past two weeks, with a .976 OPS, including 7 XBH (6 2B, 1 HR). Gilbert Gomez will be trying to build on his best series in AA yet, as he went 4-11, with a double and a homerun, and 1 K: 2 BB. Jared King has been ice cold over the past two weeks, going 9-57 with no extra base hits at the top of the B-Mets lineup.

League Leaders

Top-20 EL, qualified only

R: Josh Rodriguez, t-7^th (25)

H: Jayce Boyd, 15^th (47)

2B: Boyd, 1^st (15); Dustin Lawley, t-5^th (13)

3B: Eudy Pina, t-5^th (3)

HR: J Rod, t-2^nd (8); Gavin Cecchini, t-17^th (4); Lawley, t-17^th (4)

RBI: J Rod, t-8^th (27)

AVG: Boyd, 14^th (.311); J Rod, 19^th (.299); Brandon Nimmo, 20^th (.297)

OBP: J Rod, 10^th (.396)

ISO: J Rod, t-5^th (.231); Lawley, 11^th (.192); Cecchini, 16^th (.177)

BB%: J Rod, t-7^th (13.2%)

K%: Boyd, t-3^rd (9.2%); Cecchini, t-3^rd (9.2%)

wRC+: J Rod, 4^th (164); Cecchini, t-19^th (134)

Saves: Paul Sewald, t-4^th (7)

ERA: Seth Lugo, 8^th (2.56); Matthew Koch, 20^th (3.57)

FIP: Lugo, 5^th (2.70); Luis Cessa, t-6^th (2.90); Koch, 9^th (2.99 FIP); Rainy Lara, t-19^th (3.55)

K%: Lugo, 4^th (24.1%)

BB%: Koch, 2^nd (2.8%); Lugo, 9^th (4.4%); Cessa, 15^th (6.1%); Lara, 18^th (6.5%)

AVG: Lugo, t-15^th (.242)

Weird Supernova Sheds Light on Gamma-ray Bursts http://t.co/HvNRNLilc5 pic.twitter.com/Lr0Q4Vd4yr

— CosmosUp (@CosmossUp) May 24, 2015