Prince Fielder of the Brewers won Monday's Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He hit one of his homers more than 500 feet, but there were no Josh Hamilton-like runs similar to last year.
Did you think the Home Run Derby has lost a bit of its edge? Is it still fun to watch? Let us know what you think.
Be sure to check out our Monday Extra feature for my look at the second half of the MLB season. There's some amazing parity out there as 21 of the 30 teams hit th All-Star break with legitimate thoughts of winning their division or taking a wild card.
As we approach the July 31 trade deadline, the most interesting development to follow will be what happens to Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi let it be known last week that he'd be willing to listen to proposals for his ace and Toronto fans are not too thrilled. At minimum, Ricciardi needs to get a Bartolo Colon-type deal (Cleveland got Clff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillips for its ace in 2002), and you wonder if there's one out there.
There's no way the Jays are trading Halladay in their division. So I'm eliminating the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays. New York and Boston, frankly, don't want to mortgage prospects and would only get involved if they sensed the other one was serious. I'm counting all three teams out. I'll include the Mets because they could use him. But I don't think they're taking payroll and, get serious, we all know from watching the horrendous '09 Bisons that there aren't enough prospects to get a deal done.
So with that as background, make your pick below: Does Doc stay or does he go? And where to?
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
Nick Evans was sent back to the Bisons today by the Mets to allow Angel Pagan to come off the disabled list. Oh boy.
Some Mets fans out there have pointed out to me that I've been a little tough on Evans. OK, so maybe consistently referring to a 23-year-old as "ol' 7-for-75" might be a little harsh. But seriously now, the guy has success in the big leagues last year and just completely collapses when the Mets sign Gary Sheffield the last week of spring training?
And newsflash to all the Evans watchers: He was going to get sent down on the fifth day of the Mets' season anyway as soon as they need to use Livan Hernandez in the rotation. Evans became the poster boy for the Bisons' 2-17 start with the worst numbers I've ever seen for a player other than maybe Russell Branyan, circa 1999.
His 7 for 75 computed to an .093 batting average and he had three singles, a double and three homers. He had a slugging percentage of .227, an onbase of .218 and an OPS of .445. He was 1 for 22 with 10 strikeouts with runners in scoring position. Keep in mind this is a guy who spent 45 at-bats in the cleanup spot but it actually got worse elsewhere as Evans was just 2 for 30 with no home runs or RBIs when he was out of the No. 4 hole.
Evans went to extended spring in Florida, got his head together with a sport psychologist who told him not to think so much ("Don't think, Meat" in the immortal words of Nuke LaLoosh, reminding him what Crash Davis told him). Then he went and hit .276-3-9 in 25 games at Double-A Binghamton, including .381 against left-handers and .323 overall in June. Then it was back to New York (.256-1-6 in 14 games).
No disgrace in either place. So now Evans is back with the Bisons. And he better produce. No excuses. He can get a mulligan for those first 75 at-bats if he plays like the big prospect he's supposed to be. Evans is the biggest reason this team tanked early in the season. Hopefully, he makes up for it a little the next few weeks.
UPDATE: Evans' assignment to Buffalo was put off for a day because the Mets traded Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur just before Friday night's game. I'm betting Evans joins the Herd Saturday in Syracuse against Scranton once Francouer reports to New York
---Mike Harrington
---The Bisons were expecting a boost with the return of Argenis Reyes but he's been summoned back to New York because Fernando Martinez has been put on the DL with some inflammation of the knee. Hmmm. That's troubling. Following the pattern of other injured Mets and the way the team's medical staff has dealt with things, I'd fully expect some weird announcement in a few days that F-Mart is having surgery.
---Got a couple emails about last night's bizarre double play in the seventh inning at Coca-Cola Field. The Bisons actually ran into a double play after Jesus Feliciano stole second base because Cory Sullivan got into a rundown between third and home. Both Sullivan and Feliciano eventually ended up at third, with Scranton catcher P.J. Pilitierre tagging both and Feliciano getting ruled out. But Sullivan -- who had claim to the base as the lead runner -- stepped off the bag too and was quickly tagged for the inning's final out.
---Javier Castillo is batting .383 in a 12-game hitting streak that's one shy of Wily Mo Pena's season high of 13. He can tie Pena tonight in Pawtucket.
---Cory Sullivan got his average to .301 last night and has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games. Bisons media relations maven Brad Bisbing points out Sullivan has not had back-to-back hitless games since May 8-9.
---Mike Harrington
The Bisons are just 6-19 at Scranton's PNC Field since 2006 so they probably have no complaints about getting some games against the first-place Yankees out of the picturesque setting of Moosic, Pa. Looks like they're getting such a break.
The Herd's two games in Scranton Saturday night and Sunday afternoon have been moved to Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse due to ongoing problems with drainage in right field at PNC. The teams will play Saturday at 4 and Sunday at noon. The Yankees have had 11 postponements this season, and lost two games over the weekend on sunny days because the field at the 20-year-old stadium is swamped.
The parent New York Yankees sent their head groundskeeper in over the last couple of days to assess the situation. The drainage system needs to be replaced after the season but a temporary fix can be started now by moving Scranton's next four games. That would give the Yankees until July 16 before another home game is scheduled. Here is the team's official release on the move.
IL President Randy Mobley is not happy with the situation at all and made his feelings known to several Scranton media outlets, including this story in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.
Here's a video report on the situation from Scranton television station WNEP. Similiar strong words from Mobley in the piece.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
Memo to Mets fans: Good luck with Ollie Perez pitching tonight against the Dodgers. Memo to Bisons fans: I'm out of things to say about a 28-53 team that already has 32 home losses and is 2-16 at home in its division.
OK, officially the Bisons and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees meet tonight in Coca-Cola Field. Lance Broadway is on the mound for Buffalo as the Herd tries to snap its six-game home losing streak. Tyler Myers, the Sabres' 6-foot-8 defensive prospect just threw a ceremonial first pitch from the mound.
He looked about 7-foot-3 out there and the pitch was high -- with Buster Bison making a leaping sno-cone grab. Wonder if that will be the highlight of the night.
The Herd lineup:
Cory Sullivan, cf
Jesus Feliciano, lf
Chip Ambres, rf
Emil Brown, dh
Mike Lamb, 1b
Javier Castillo, 3b
Rene Rivera, c
Wilson Valdez, ss
Luis Rivera, 2b
One guy just back from New York and one guy close to getting the call there will be on the mound tonight in Coca-Cola Field. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Sergio Mitre, much discussed as a fill-in for the injured Chien-Ming Wang, goes against Ken Takahashi, who has pitched in relief all year for both the Mets and Herd.
Mitre is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in five starts with Scranton. He sat out a 50-game PED suspension at the start of the season after taking a supplement he purchased legally at a GNC store and that forced him to open at Class A Tampa to get his arm stretched out. Mitre has 52 big-league starts with Florida and the Chicago Cubs in a 78-game big-league career.
Rough news from the Mets today as the injury timetable was pushed back for all three of the injured core stars (Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado). I'm of the ilk that one of the few things left to watch here this season is if any of the three land in Buffalo on rehab.
Top Yankees center field prospect Austin Jackson (.319) is batting third tonight for Scranton. Fellow Triple-A all-star Shelley Duncan (.291-21-68) is batting cleanup. He's my first-half IL MVP. Here's the Buffalo lineup:
Cory Sullivan, cf
Jesus Feliciano, lf
Emil Brown, rf
Michel Abreu, 1b
Mike Lamb, dh
Javier Castillo, 3b
Rene Rivera, c
Wilson Valdez, ss
Luis Rivera, 2b
---Mike Harrington
They actually played baseball Monday night in Moosic, Pa. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees swept a doubleheader from Pawtucket that ended at 12:22 a.m. because the first game lasted 11 innings and went 4 hours, 4 minutes. But even though the Baby Yanks got those games in, there's still huge concern about conditions at PNC Field.
International League President Randy Mobley weighed in on the issue in this Scranton Times story by esteemed colleague Chad Jennings. Some of you asked in yesterday's post where the Yanks could play and this story seems to indicate the options are Syracuse, Lehigh Valley and Binghamton if games need to be rescheduled.
Reading Shelley Duncan's Twitter space, it looks like the bus didn't pull into the Adam's Mark until about 6:30 a.m. today Yeesh. Maybe an exhausted opponent is what the Bisons need to finally do something at home. We'll see how things go when they meet the Yankees tonight at 7 in Coca-Cola Field.
---Mike Harrington
We start our Monday musings with a pretty interesting ongoing story in Scranton. The condition of Scranton's PNC Field is nearly beyond repair after heavy June rains. The baby Yankees had their second straight sunny day postponement Sunday and you have to believe the parent Yankees are not pleased. GM Brian Cashman had little to say in this story in the Scranton Times.
Scranton lost a July 4 sellout crowd Saturday night but still invited people to the ballpark for a fireworks show. It will try again tonight and then come to Buffalo for games Tuesday and Wednesday. In a release on its official Web site, the Scranton front office admitted Saturday if may have to move home games if the situation persists.
The agreement with the Yankees and Scranton goes through 2010. PNC Field, opened one year after Coca-Cola Field debuted in Buffalo in 1988, already needs $13 million in repairs and it's hard to believe there's money for a new park. This could get interesting. With the Mets disaster ongoing, have to wonder how closely the Bisons are watching this situation.
---Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe gives it up to Red Sox knuckleballerTim Wakefield for getting his first All-Star nod at age 42. Sure is a long way from that 5-15 nightmare in the summer of '94 in Buffalo, isn't it?
---The Yankees have rotation issues just like the Mets. Bill Madden of the Daily News wonders what's wrong with Joba Chamberlain.
---The Mets start a series with the Dodgers at home Tuesday night and Oliver Perez pitches Wednesday. From what I saw here Friday night, good luck to them with that. The Mets are so bad that Mike Vaccaro writes in the Post that Sunday's game was over as soon as Jimmy Rollins touched Johan Santana for a leadoff home run.
---Mike Harrington
You can see the All-Star selection show Sunday at 1 on TBS and fans will then be told the candidates for the final roster spot on each team, which will be selected via an online vote.
In Sunday's Inside Baseball column, I make my picks. Some of them, obviously, won't match the fans choices (no Derek Jeter here), so we'll have some points to argue. Here's the recap of my choices for starters:
American League
1B: Justin Morneau. 2B: Ian Kinsler. 3B: Evan Longoria. SS: Marco Scutaro.
OF: Jason Bay, Ichiro Suzuki, Torii Hunter.
C: Joe Mauer
National League
1B: Albert Pujols. 2B: Chase Utley. 3B: David Wright. SS: Hanley Ramirez.
OF: Raul Ibanez, Ryan Braun, Brad Hawpe.
C: Yadier Molina.
What do you think? Where did I go wrong? Have your say in the comments section.
---Mike Harrington
Greetings from Coca-Cola Field, where we'll be providing live updates on Oliver Perez's rehab start as the Bisons host the Rochester Red Wings in front of what should be nearly a full house.
They've been working feverishly on left field all day and it's playable after Thursday's drainage fiasco caused a postponement. Playable but verrrrrry ugly. Looks like scorched earth after a brush fire out there. They tried to spray paint it green but no dice. Let's see how the footing is when the LFs have to trudge through that section of grass, especially after we had about 25 minutes of rain.
They're going to start tonight's game at 6:20, about 15 minutes late.
I'd bet Perez will go about six innings and around 90 pitches or so. After Tim Redding struggled yesterday in Pittsburgh, the prevailing theory is Perez will go back into the rotation Wednesday night against the Dodgers if all goes well here tonight. The game is on Time Warner Cable 13, and so are all four games over the next three days between the teams in Rochester's Frontier Field.
Here's the Buffalo lineup:
Cory Sullivan, cf
Jesus Feliciano, lf
Chip Ambres, rf
Emil Brown, dh
Mike Lamb, 3b
Javier Castillo, ss
Michel Abreu, 1b
Robinson Cancel, c
Wilson Valdez, 2b
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
---
Mid-1st: You've heard the phrase "Manny Being Manny"? In New York, they like to refer to the two shades of Perez as "Good Ollie, Bad Ollie." We just saw both. He quickly retired the first two hitters on last fly balls to left, then walked the next two on 10 pitches. He got out of the inning on Danny Valencia's fielder's choice grounder to second, which came on a 93-mph fastball that was Perez's hardest of the inning. Most everything was in the 90-91 range. Total: 19 pitches, 9 strikes.
End 1st: No score as Jesus Feliciano is thrown out at second trying to steal. Brutal call by umpire Manny Gonzalez but we're used to that. Not the best season for IL umpires.
Mid-2nd: A 1-2-3 inning for Perez with two flyballs to center and a strikeout. Took 15 pitches. Top velocity at 93. Everything consistently at 90-92. Total: 34 pitches, 19 strikes.
End 2nd: The game remains scoreless with Feliciano's first-inning single the only hit for either side. This place has pretty well filled in and that's unusual. On BPO night, you often don't see it too packed until the 7:30-8 p.m. range as people come for a little baseball but really want to see the whole concert/fireworks show.
Mid-3rd: Tougher inning for Perez, whose control has been iffy. He gave up an opposite-field double to left to Jason Pridie (90 mph fastball) and walked Alexi Casilla. But he got out of the inning by fanning Steve Tolleson on an 80-mph changeup and got out of the inning as Pridie was thrown out trying to steal third on strike three. Through three innings: 52 pitches, 25 strikes. 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K.
End-3rd: The Bisons take a 1-0 lead on Cory Sullivan's infield single between the mound and third that scores Robinson Cancel, who worked a one-out walk and went first to third on Wilson Valdez's perfect hit-and-run single over second.
Mid-4th: Perez escaped another inning on just one hit but the folks at Citi Field were probably holding their breath as he fell off the mound oddly on a delivery to Trevor Plouffe. Looked like Perez caught a spike but he was OK after that. Totals: 63-32. 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K. I'm underwhelmed.
End 4th: Herd still up 1-0. Rochester starter Jeff Manship escaped trouble with a self-preservation catch of Mike Lamb's liner near his eardrum and turned it into a double play, easily catching Emil Brown off second.
Mid-5th: The Wings get on the board off Perez on Rob Macri's first-pitch home run to left on an 89-mph offering. Perez gets out with another walk and strikeouts. He's at 81 pitches, 40 strikes. 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K. In other news, the BPO is going to announce a 5-year extension after the game through 2014 and I have spies out there telling me the concession lines are again a "joke" this year. The Bisons HAVE TO BE BETTER as I said earlier today.
Top-6th: Figure this is Ollie's last inning as Kyle Snyder is up in the bullpen. And two batters in, that's it as back-to-back doubles to left-center by Justin Huber and Danny Valencia put the Wings up, 2-1. Perez steps back off the mound and waves at manager Ken Oberkfell but there's no choice here. Perez is out. He pounds the ball in the glove and jogs off the mound, doffing his cap to the fans behind the dugout. 92 pitches/46 strikes. Yuck. Left with his runner at second. Final line to come.
Kyle Snyder gives up David Winfree's RBI single to make it 3-1 and give Perez a final line of 5+ innings, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K...
Mid-7th: Rochester still leads, 3-1, at the seventh-inning stretch. Apologies in advance if the live blog goes quiet for a spell. Oliver Perez will be made available to the media in the next 10 minutes before the end of the game, kind of like is done in big-league spring training. So I will have to go downstairs to get his comments before returning for the final couple innings hopefully.
The word from Ollie: The Wings lead, 4-1, in the bottom of the eighth. Perez seemed oddly satisifed with his outing and pronounced himself ready to go if the Mets, in fact, want to start him Wednesday. he wasn't fazed by throwing the same number of strikes as balls (46).
On the outing in general: "The most important thing is I'm feeling real good and I'm not thinking about my knee. I was feeling really strong. I think I'm ready. I was a little wild but more important I feel strong.
"Today the key was not thinking about the knee but thinking about a real game. I tried to feel the pressure and make it feel like a big-league game. I feel really good. I showed emotion because I don't like to lose."
On starting Wednesday: "That's not my decision. I threw almost 100 pitches and I'm ready to go but i don't know what they're going to decide. You tell me to go tomorrow, I'm ready to go tomorrow."
On the road back since April: "I'm really excited and happy with everything I've been doing. That's not easy being hurt and seeing your team having problems. Today it's 7-0. It's one of those times you want to get there and help. I don't like to lose. When I'm here and Port St. Lucie and I see them lose, I feel bad because I'm part of the team. I felt real aggressive. I didn't like when somebody gets hits. I liked this game and I like to show I like to compete."
Perez added that he was happy to use his changeup much more than he has in the past, giving up another weapon to go with his fastball and slider.
But seriously now, he couldn't throw strikes against the Rochester Red Wings. What's going to happen against Manny & Co.? You wonder if he's going to be at Citi Field Wednesday or back here against Wednesday against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Heading to the bottom of the 9th: Another mind-numbing game as the Herd trails, 4-1. A crowd of 17,380 had the misfortune to see it.
It's mercifully over: The Bisons lose, 6-2.
The Bisons can't catch a break. It's been bright and sunny for the last three hours here at Coca-Cola Field but as we hit 5 p.m., just an hour before the scheduled first pitch, the clouds have rolled in, the wind has picked up and the rain has started. They have just covered the infield.
And more water is exactly what the scarred section of left field doesn't need after yesterday's postponement. Frankly, there doesn't appear to be a big blotch of rain on the radar so maybe this is a passing shower. No one has said anything about a delay yet so we're still looking at a 6:05 first pitch unless otherwise noted.
5:20 update: The rain has, in fact, stopped and the skies are brighter as I look over the skyway. Still looks like a 6:05 first pitch can happen.
5:25 update: I take it back. It's raining again.
5:30 update: It's stopped again. Get the ushers some towels. Sponges won't work with all this water!
5:37 update: The tarp is coming off the field and the skies are definitely brighter. We might make 6:05 and any delay would probably be only 5-10 minutes max. Good news. Check back at 6 for our live blog on a fresh post.
5:45 update: The first pitch will be at 6:20.
---Mike Harrington
Be sure to join us later this evening for our live blog off the Bisons-Rochester game, expected to be played in front of close to a full house in Coca-Cola Field. For now, enjoy a look back at some of the moments that stand out on past Independence Eve with the BPO nights in Coca-Cola Field:
1997 -- High winds cancel the postgame fireworks after a loss to Louisville so the team reschedules that part of the show for July 14. Lured mostly by the pyrotechnics, a crowd of more than 19,000 shows up on a Monday night and is rewarded with Jeff Manto's memorable three-home run game against the Iowa Cubs.
1998 -- One night after blowing an eight-run lead but still pulling out a 17-16 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Bisons post an 8-7 win over the Red Barons. That gives them a franchise-record 37 runs over three games, a mark that still stands.
2001 -- The Bisons are blown out by Rochester, 11-1, in a game more memorable for Jaret Wright's outburst against fans behind the Buffalo dugout as he was pulled to a chorus of boos after allowing nine runs in 2 2/3 innings.
2004 -- The Bisons overcome a seven-run deficit for the fourth time in their championship season as they stun Syracuse, 9-8. The win is secured in a three-run eighth that featured Grady Sizemore's RBI triple and run-scoring doubles by Jhonny Peralta and Russell Branyan.
2005 -- Jeremy Guthrie pitches seven innings of three-hit ball in a 10-1 rout of Ottawa.
2006 -- Ben Francisco extends his hitting streak to 19 games, Guthrie goes seven innings again and gets support from a five-run first in a 7-1 win over Rochester.
2008 -- The Bisons and Red Wings battle for 4 hours, 29 minutes before Rochester finally pulls out a 7-6 victory on Trevor Plouffe's solo home run in the top of the 13th. Buffalo scores four runs in the bottom of the ninth to wipe out a 6-2 deficit and make it a long night for fans, fireworks watchers and musicians alike. The fireworks show doesn't wrap up until 11:58 p.m.
---Mike Harrington
For 15 years, July 3 has had special meaning at Coca-Cola Field and I'm betting on another full house for tonight's 6:05 game against the Rochester Red Wings, followed by the annual BPO concert and fireworks show. Here's some random thoughts I have for the big night:
1). Fans: Use your heads and don't pile to the stadium will-call windows at 5:30 expecting to be in your seats by 6. The Bisons have given you fair warning for a couple of days. Get to Tops by 1 to have your ordered tickets printed or get to the ballpark box office early. And if you don't have a four-pack, use the print-at-home option too!
2). Concession workers: MOVE YOUR FANNIES. For the last several years, I keep getting emails about how long it takes to get a hot dog, to get an ice cream. Yes, it's a huge crowd. Yes, workers aren't used to it on an everyday basis anymore. But they have to step up the pace behind the counter and, most important, stop the chit-chat. Far cry from the days when the Bisons had spies in line with stopwatches. Maybe if you're just ordering staples, try the stands upstairs on the club level for some shorter lines. A fan caveat here: Have your order and your money ready when you get to the front of the line. Same as the workers. Stop gabbing and get in ordering mode.
3). Grounds crew: They could use some wind and sun because they're not getting a lot of warmth. Left field was a swamp yesterday and it caused a postponement on a day we should have been playing baseball. There is absolutely, positively no excuse for the field to not be ready tonight at 6:05.
4). Team: Please don't no-show this game. The Bisons lead all of professional baseball with 30 home losses. Yes, I said 30. There will be many, many first-timers in the house tonight and here's hoping they're not force-fed what we've seen since April.
5). Oliver Perez: The Mets' $36 million man will start tonight on rehab so that will be an interesting subplot to watch. Will be much more of a major-league atmosphere for him to work in so that should be good.
6). BPO: Break a leg (or whatever good luck phrase you say to musicians).
---Mike Harrington
The Bisons have postponed Thursday's game against Rochester due to unplayable conditions in the Coca-Cola Field outfield, mostly in left. It will be made up Aug. 10 with a doubleheader and not Friday night, which will remain a single game as scheduled at 6:05 followed by the BPO concert and fireworks show.
I know it seems like we've been living in Seattle this summer but this one really stinks. It's a partly sunny day downtown. There's been one brief 3-minute shower since noon but left field is just a mess. From the naked eye all the way up in the press box, it looked terrible when I got here at 11 a.m. and I knew there might be a problem. It was more than 90 minutes after the 1:05 start when the decision was announced.
These kind of postponements just can't happen. They give the entire organization a black eye. Now, it's not entirely a bad thing to not have to watch the Bisons play (sorry, couldn't resist). But there were perhaps 2,000 people here and many weren't happy when the announcement was made
The Bisons weren't trying to pull a fast one on anyone by selling a few extra hot dogs. They were doing everything they could to get left field playable but they really need some wind - and some summer sun like we all do -- to get the job done.
But this happened once last year too. A clear day and no game. It just can't happen. Once and for all, the team needs to fix the drainage in the outfield when the season ends so games aren't needlessly lost and fans aren't needlessly inconvenienced.
3:05 UPDATE: OK, so now it's raining pretty hard. That won't help things in the outfield. If they have to pull a Mike Billoni special and get the helicopters in here to dry the outfield for tomorrow night, they better do it.
3:30 UPDATE: They put a square tarp over the offending area in left field. Yes, a tarp. You know how they say you always see something new at the ballpark? Never seen a tarp on the outfield since this place opened 21 years ago.
---Mike Harrington
The tarp is still on the field 25 minutes before the scheduled first pitch at Coca-Cola field. While the sun is out against a mix of non-rain clouds, the storms of the past few days have taken its toll on the field and the grounds crew is having difficulty draining patches of left and center field.
The Bisons and Rochester open a two-city, six-game series today at 1 in Coca-Cola Field and they'll be getting to know each quite well the rest of the way. The teams have met exactly one time in the first three months of the season (it was back in April in Frontier Field and the second game was rained out).
That means that 15 of Buffalo's final 68 games are against the Red Wings. Great scheduling by the IL as usual. Finish the entire IL South but play the team an hour away one time in the first 75 games? Yeesh.
Anyway, the Wings are pretty mediocre again and keep thinking they're on the fringe of the IL playoff race (they're not). About the most exciting thing happening in Roch-cha-cha this year is that the Wings are the subject of a PBS reality show being filmed entitled "Minor League." It's going to air next year and that should be interesting.
Couple schedule notes on the series: Friday, of course, is BPO night in Buffalo. You'll hear this a lot in the next two days -- don't dilly-dally at the box office trying to get tickets at will call. You might face long lines. Pony up and use the print-at-home option, people.
Sunday in Rochester is a makeup day-night doubleheader. Two games. Two tickets. 1:05 and 7:05. Each nine innings. Picnic on the Frontier Field plaza between games. If you're so inclined. Love the place. If you've never been, you'll have plenty of chances to see the Bisons the rest of the season.
---Mike Harrington
June had been pretty good to the Bisons until they dropped the last four games to Charlotte, including Tuesday's 4-3 headscratcher that wasted Jonathon Niese's continued brilliance.
The Herd is off Wednesday. The record is 26-49 overall, 14-30 at home.
Yes, 30 home losses before July 1. Wow. Still, June was much better. Let's compare:
April: 2-17, .197 team batting average, 2.5 runs per game, 4.25 team ERA
May: 12-18, .251 BA, 3.4 rpg, 3.96 ERA
June: 12-15, .268 BA, 4.0 rpg, 3.93 ERA.
Bisons were fourth in the IL in batting in June. Think the change of hitting coaches from Luis Natera to Bill Masse had some impact? You bet.
Hey, the Bisons were better than the parent Mets in June (9-18) and the Double-A Binghamton Mets (8-21), who had the worst month in their history.
Holy Shea, this organization is a mess!!!
---Mike Harrington
Maybe the Bisons won't need the bullpen tonight with Jonathon Niese on the mound trying to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Charlotte Knights. We can only hope after last night's 12-run arson squad act over the final three innings.
Niese, on the other hand, has allowed just one run over his last three starts and is suddenly squarely back on the Mets' radar. You wonder if he's on other teams' radars too. What if the Mets get so desperate for a bat that they become willing to part with him? Interesting thought.
Still can't believe the Bisons lost last night with seven runs on 16 hits. That was a week's worth of offense in April but this team is third in the IL in June in batting at .271. Pretty big improvement after that .197 April. Here's tonight's lineup:
Cory Sullivan, dh
Jesus Feliciano, lf
Chip Ambres, cf
Emil Brown, rf
Michel Abreu, 1b
Javier Castillo, 3b
Rene Rivera, c
Wilson Valdez, ss
Luis Rivera, 2b
---Mike Harrington
New low for the Bisons Monday night. They had a 5-0 lead through seven innings against the Charlotte Knights and had given up three hits. They lost, 12-7, in 10 innings and gave up 19 hits. I kid you not. I was there.
The umpires were a disgrace -- again -- in the ninth inning, especially plate umpire Damian Beal. He squeezed the Bisons and then called every Charlotte low ball a strike. But come on. Even Herd manager Ken Oberkfell said you can't blame umpires when you give up 12 runs in three innings.
TIm McNab (2-2), who had a 1.24 ERA in 17 outings, saw his figure more than double to 2.70 by giving up five runs in the 10th. Eddie Kunz's went from 2.43 to 3.41 after a four-run ninth. Kunz was a terrific closer last year at Double-A Binghamton with a franchise-record 27 saves. He'll get more chances here with Elmer Dessens in New York. He has to get the job done.
Back to a season-high 22 games under .500 (26-48). A 2-7 rut after a 7-2 stretch. A 14-29 record at home, where it seems this team might actually lose 50 (they're 12-19 on the road).
This season just keeps getting weirder by the day. Thanks for nothing, Mets.
---Mike Harrington
Oliver Perez rejoined the Bisons tonight after pitching on rehab last night at Class A Brooklyn. If form and weather hold, Perez would be on turn to make a rehab start here Friday night against Rochester in the annual Independence Eve bash featuring the postgame BPO concert. So that would add a little extra kick to a night that always has a lot anyway with a big crowd in the house.
And with this Buffalo team wallowing away the summer simply trying to avoid its first 90-loss season in 44 years, things could certainly use an extra kick downtown.
This just in from New York: There's fears Carlos Beltran may need microfracture surgery on his ailing knee, which would certainly end his season and force the Mets to overpay for an outfielder on the trade market. You wonder if Bisons reliever Eddie Kunz would be involved in a package for a big-league bat.
As for tonight, Tobi Stoner makes his third Triple-A start, and first at home, in game three against the Charlotte Knights. Stoner went 1-1, 7.27 on the team's road trip, giving up three runs in six innings at Charlotte but getting touched for four runs on four hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings at Gwinnett.
The Buffalo lineup tonight:
Cory Sullivan, cf
Jesus Feliciano, dh
Chip Ambres, lf
Emil Brown, rf
Mike Lamb, 1b
Javier Castillo, 3b
Robinson Cancel, c
Wilson Valdez, ss
Luis Rivera, 2b
---Mike Harrington
The Mets slipped to .500 at 37-37 with Sunday's loss to the Yankees and the heat is rising in the clubhouse over GM Omar Minaya's inactivity on the trade market. The big problem here is how the Bisons and Double-A Binghamton both stink.
Daily News columnist John Harper is right on it this morning, pointing out there's no way to make a good deal if you have no chips to package. Post columnist Kevin Kernan bangs on Minaya too. Well deserved. And who on the Bisons is another team going to want? Jonathon Niese and Eddie Kunz for sure. Don't know who else.
Good friend and St. Bona grad Mike Vaccaro wonders what kind of shape the Mets' season will even be in when they return from this road trip to Milwaukee and Philly, with a makeup game thrown in Thursday at 12:30 in Pittsburgh. And when they get home, the Dodgers will be waiting. Yikes.
More Mets-Yankees coverage from today:
Fernando Martinez could be returning to Buffalo soon with his .169 average in New York.
Big night for Mariano Rivera, as his first career RBI (on a bases-loaded walk from K-Rod) and 500th career save capped the Yankees' sweep. Great Rivera appreciation shown here by the Post's Joel Sherman.
Look for $36 million man Oliver Perez to make another rehab start with the Bisons sometime this week after he looked strong Sunday night for Class A Brooklyn. How about Friday night on BPO night? That would add some sizzle for what should be the usual full house.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
AP Photo: K-Rod can't believe he walked Rivera.
For game two of their series against Charlotte today in Coca-Cola Field, the Bisons will be facing Knights right-hander Carlos Torres (6-4), who is fifth in the IL in ERA (2.28) and fourth in strikeouts (82). Two starts ago, Torres pitched a five-inning perfect game at Pawtucket, posting a 5-0 win in a game called by rain.
It was the first rain-shortened no-no or perfecto in the IL since 1995, when a then-unknown Yankee farmhand blanked Rochester. His name? Mariano Rivera.
Buffalo's Lance Broadway threw the first pitch today at 1:41 p.m. after a 36-minute rain delay. Here's the Bisons lineup today:
Cory Sullivan, cf
Jesus Feliciano, lf
Chip Ambres, dh
Emil Brown, rf
Mike Lamb, 1b
Javier Castillo, 3b
Rene Rivera, c
Wilson Valdez, ss
Luis Rivera, 2b
---Mike Harrington
Pretty incredible Little League home run posted Saturday night by Angels shortstop Erick Aybar in the sixth inning at Arizona. Classic play that shows why the D-Backs are better than no one in the NL other than the Nationals. Click here to see the incredible video.
As for other items on my mind today, tonight's Yankees-Mets game (8, ESPN) is going to be a defining moment for Chien-Ming Wang. At 0-6, if he can't be the Bison-filled Mets lineup, you wonder what the next step with him will be. As for the Mets, they've got one run in their last three games against the Yankees. If they can't score on Wang, you wonder what happens to them.
Looks like the selloff has opened in Cleveland. Mark DeRosa traded late Saturday night to St. Louis for Chris Perez and a player to be named. Mets could have used DeRosa for sure. Wonder if the Tribe might have been tempted with an offer of, say, Bisons flamethrower Eddie Kunz?
(Bisons-Charlotte first pitch, by the way, scheduled for 1:40 but it's still pretty dark here in Coca-Cola Field).
---Mike Harrington
Bad omen as the Bisons and Charlotte Knights open a four-game series in Coca-Cola Field: Singer heads near the mound for the national anthem -- and the batteries in the wireless microphone are dead. Can't sing a note and team has to proceed on with a recorded organ version. Some poor marketing intern is probably paying the piper for that one.
Here's hoping the Buffalo offense isn't as silent after a 4-4 road trip. The Bisons have not played a home game in nearly two weeks, since their June 14 win over Durham. Their last 11 have been on the road and they went 6-5 in that stretch. Both home games scheduled in that time, June 17-18 against Syracuse, were rained out.
Here's the Buffalo lineup tonight:
Cory Sullivan, cf
Jesus Feliciano, lf
Chip Ambres, rf
Emil Brown, dh
Mike Lamb, 3b
Michel Abreu, 1b
Javier Castillo, ss
Robinson Cancel, c
Wilson Valdez, 2b
Brandon Knight, p
---Mike Harrington
Lou Piniella is a fiery guy in his own right but when he's sick of temper tantrums, you know there's a problem. Longtime powderkeg Miltron Bradley is quickly wearing out his welcome in Chicago, as he was sent home during yesterday's game at U.S. Cellular Field for a dugout meltdown that included quite the shouting match in the runway with Piniella.
Bradley, who accused umpires of conspiring against him earlier this season, will never get it. He needs professional help to channel his anger. At this point, baseball should be secondary with him. Even his teammates get sick of him.
---Mike Harrington
Derek Jeter turns 35 today as the Yankees and Mets open Subway Series II in Citi Field (loud cheers expected for any popups caught by Luis Castillo). Bet that makes you feel old!
Here's the schedule and probable pitchers:
Tonight at 7 (SNY and TWC 13): CC Sabathia vs. Mike Pelfrey
Saturday at 7 (SNY and YES): A.J. Burnett vs. Tim Redding
Sunday at 8 (ESPN): Chien-Ming Wang vs. Livan Hernandez.
---Mike Harrington
Go here for a funny video piece from SNY on the Bisons' experience in Coca-Cola Field. Matt Cerrone of the always entertaining MetsBlog and Ted Berg of SNY talk to the K-Man and the Conehead, as well as Buster Bison (women and children alert: Buster does the interview without his head on, which is a big no-no in Bisonland). They even make the requisite trip to the Anchor Bar. Not the best wings, Matt? Where then, I ask?
Seriously though, nice cross marketing. Think SportsTime Ohio ever came to Buffalo for a piece like this when the Indians were here? Nope.
The Tribe was a much better and more organized parent club on the field but really flubbed marketing in this town. Love watching Mets games on SNY and we still can't see the Tribe home or away. Boo.
---Mike Harrington
It looked like either Oliver Perez or John Maine -- or perhaps both of them -- might be pitching for the Bisons this weekend. But the Mets have called an audible and are having both of them work this weekend at Class A Brooklyn of the New York-Penn League. Maine will throw Saturday and Perez Sunday.
Both have thrown in the Citi Field bullpen for Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen and let's see where they are after those outings. If they're ready to go, do they come to Buffalo for a start or go back to New York? And do they claim their starting spot immediately? That will be tough with the way Fernando Nieve has taken New York by storm.
Speaking of the Mets, nice home run last night for Nick 7-for-75 Evans. Yeesh.
---Mike Harrington
Mets GM Omar Minaya was on WFAN Radio in New York Tuesday afternoon (I was watching the simulcast on the YES Network) and admitted the stretch of injuries that has befallen the Amazins' is unlike anything he's ever seen in baseball.
The Mets have nine players on the DL, including three-fourths of their big-ticket core (Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran). It's caused plenty of shuffling in the minor leagues and plenty of callups from a Buffalo team that has been the worst in the International League most of the season.
Said Minaya: "We're going to have go out and play perfect baseball because when you look at the lineup right now, some of them were not even backups. They were the third line of defense. Fans should be expecting us to be considering a move. We should be talking to clubs but fans should expect us to make a move that makes sense. It's not one player, one issue that we have. It's a couple of issues. ... Right now, these guys are going to have to get the job done for us up until we get our reinforcements."
I'm still thinking there's going to be a deal soon that may involve the Bisons in some way. But the only real young prospects left in Buffalo that I figure teams are asking about are pitchers Jonathon Niese and Eddie Kunz. Doesn't sound like Minaya is too interested in parting with them.
"Teams are looking for premium chips right now but we have to be savvy and try to find a trade like a [Gary] Sheffield. Is there something we can bring in and hold beyond when the other guys are coming? If you're trading young players to try to catch up, that's kind of dangerous. I'm going to be aggressive but it just has to make sense. Right now, the way we look at it is...if you tell me my reinforcement is going to be Beltran, Reyes and Delgado, that's pretty good reinforcement."
Chimed in host Mike Francesa: "If you're still standing when they come back."
Replied Minaya: "The key is to try to stay standing. We're going to look for guys that may help us. If you play that game where you're going to bring in guys who are better, you better be sure they're better."
Francesa ended the chat by asking Minaya pointedly if he was going to go trade for a big bat. Minaya's answer: "The reality is right now I couldn't tell you there's a big bat on the market."
---Mike Harrington
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