Prospect right-hander Brad Holt goes again tonight for the B-Mets here in Erie. It sure would be sweet if the Holt of old showed up tonight…ya know that one that dominated the New York-Penn League with Brooklyn and the Florida State League with St. Lucie. We really have only seen flashes of how good he can be. He had his moments last year in a Binghamton uniform, but overall was largely inconsistent.

Holt immersed himself in a rigorous offseason workout program to insure he came into STEP Camp and Spring Training as strong as possible. He did. However, he came out with a minor right wrist injury to open the year in Binghamton, forcing him to miss his first three turns in the rotation. Tonight is his third go around and he should be able to throw around 50 pitches if all goes well. At Akron April 30, he was roughed up for five runs in just a third of an inning. It’s not the first time he’s had a start like that at Canal Park. He did the same thing June 27 of last year on that very mound.

Outside of Holt, what can you say about the way these B-Mets are playing? Unbelievable start to the year for these guys! The clubhouse is a perfect mix of veterans and youthful prospects. Mix in an uptempo manager in Tim Teufel and two great coaches in Mark Brewer and Luis Natera and you have a recipe for success. Try 16-9 and a six-game winning streak on for size. Fits pretty good I think. Binghamton is now 9-3 on the road. I for one have never slept better away from home, knowing that with everyday these B-Mets will play the game the right way and have an excellent chance at putting a W on the board!

Don’t miss us when we’re back in Binghamton this weekend. We’re only in town for three games with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who currently lead the B-Mets by two games for first in the Eastern League East. We’ll see about that when we get to the weekend. The two teams have split eight meetings so far in 2010, but I’ve got news for ya…You can’t split a three-game series! Somebody’s gotta lose. Check out BMETS.com for all the details on the fun-filled homestand! I’m pretty jazzed up about the “Bellies and Baseball” commemorative jerseys that the team will wear Saturday. Can someone say Mother’s Day gift? I don’t know how my mom would react to me buying her a baseball jersey…but look out bidders, I’m going to weigh in and maybe take one of those bad boys home if the price is right! Considering that the proceeds of the auction go to United Health Services Fundraising efforts, I’m not too worried about price. Get your tickets now!

 

Here’s a couple neat notes for all you baseball junkies:

GRADING GUZMAN: Outfielder Carlos Guzman got off to a slow start in 2010 and was out of commission for a week’s time with a right knee strain April 19-26. Since coming off the Disabled List he is hitting .385 (10-26) and has recorded hits in six straight games.

 

WINNING WAYS CONTINUE: The B-Mets have had two lengthy winning streaks so far in 2010. Binghamton won five straight contests April 12-16 and is in the midst of a six-game streak entering play tonight. The current stretch of wins is the longest string of victories since the B-Mets won six in a row May 11-17 in the 2008 campaign. At no point last year did Binghamton win greater than three consecutive games.

 

DE LA TORRE DEALING: RHP Jose De La Torre faced just one hitter last night, Cale Iorg, who he struck out to end the eighth. The Puerto Rican righty has not allowed a run in his last 14 innings, covering eight straight appearances. He allowed a single run in his first relief outing of the year against Akron April 10. Since then, he has been stingy.

 

 

I know it’s been awhile since I wrote an entry about your B-Mets. Sometimes the day-to-day grind of the game forces the fun of writing a blog to the backburner. Hopefully, by the time this season is over, I’ll be more regular in writing these things.

Anyways, first things first, the B-Mets just finished their first winning month since April 2009 with a 12-9 mark in 2010′s opening month. Last season, April proved to be the only winning month, but this year seems poised to perform differently. Yes, the offense has been ever present, but I have a feeling the pitching is beginning to turn the corner. The bullpen has been the real key over the past three wins. There are more experienced arms in this year’s pen than in year’s past and even the younger pitchers are contributing. Take Josh Stinson for example. The young righty from Louisiana has functioned as both a long man and as a late-inning option. Three times this season, Stinson has tossed four or more innings. Considering how the starting pitching has struggled, the bullpen deserves a big pat on the back for Binghamton being four games above .500.

As far as the hitters, minor injuries have hampered Marshall Hubbard, Mike Nickeas and Luis Hernandez. Hernandez returned today after five days off and produced his best offensive game of 2010 with a 4-5 showing, including a double and two triples. Hubbard has returned and has been in the lineup the past few days and I would imagine that Nickeas will return to the active roster in the next few days as he completes the rehab process on his right hamstring.

What is impressive is that the B-Mets have continued to hit the ball well despite the injuries. That is without doubt a tribute to those men and to hitting coach Luis Natera and manager Tim Teufel, who have these guys swinging the sticks with a lot of confidence.

Binghamton is now 6-3 away from NYSEG Stadium and the team seems as though they are comfortable wherever they play. There haven’t been many games that the B-Mets have not had a chance to win. Anything can happen in the late innings, this team doesn’t seem to be phased by early deficits. That’s a refreshing mentality and the way the game should be played. It’s a nine-inning marathon with numerous lead changes and momentum swings.

The road swing continues tomorrow with the finale with Akron. It looks like it may be tough to get the game in with looming weather, but the way the B-Mets are playing now, this team wants to play regardless of weather. Regardless of whether the game is played tomorrow, the team will head to Erie tomorrow night for four with the SeaWolves. Erie is a much different team compared with when the B-Mets swept them April 12-14 at home. Erie is above .500 now and are swinging the bats. Plus, anything can happen at Jerry Uht Park. It’s a bandbox. The ball flys and the unique size of the ballpark can play tricks on a pitcher’s psyche.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the season so far. Stay tuned for more from the blog.

Hey everyone! With the recent advent of facebook, twitter and…yes BLOGS, I figured it was about time that I caught up with the Jones’ and created a blog of my own to chronicle the goings on of the season with the B-Mets and the New York Mets. You’ll have to forgive me if this starts off slow. I’m learning about this blog stuff with each passing day, primarily from B-Mets Director of Marketing Heith Tracy-Bronson. Let’s put it this way, for someone who is supposed to be technically versed in all these new modes of media, I’m a little bit technologically challenged. Just wanted to get that to the forefront.

Now on to the meat and potatoes portion of today’s entry. Your B-Mets are off to a rip-roaring start. The team leads the Eastern League in almost every offensive category and has won four straight games. Get this…the last time the B-Mets won four consecutive games was June 4-8, 2008. For those of you who missed last season, at no point last year did the team win more than two games consecutively. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. We truly are in uncharted waters!

The B-Mets took a bite out of another opponent last night, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Nick Evans continued his torrid start to the season with a pair of hits, including a three-run homer in the fourth inning that put Binghamton ahead for good. Nick now has three homers and 10 RBI this season to lead the Eastern League.

Today, however, April weather has finally reared it’s ugly face. Needless to say, it’s about 40 degrees out here in Manchester, NH and the rain just keeps coming. This morning as I was writing my game notes, I couldn’t help but look out the window of my hotel room and think that winter had returned. Either ways, let’s cross our fingers and hope the B-Mets can play tonight because as new B-Mets manager Tim Teufel would say, “The mojo is rising!”

Teufel has this team playing well together and the clubhouse chemistry is dynamite. There’s an ideal mix of veterans and young players on this team that has created a synergy that was absent in 2009. It really has been fun to watch as an interested bystander. If the main cogs of this team can stay intact, 2010 has potential to be a special year for the fans of Binghamton.

Well, here’s to new beginnings with this blog. Don’t forget about the team’s next homestand coming up Thursday of next week. All the details are at the new bmets.com. Get your tickets now, because I have examined the extended forecast (which I just made up) and it calls for sun and unseasonably warm temperatures! Hey…I can dream can’t I?

And since I was watching the movie The Rain Man last night, I leave you with this…Enjoy!