Binghamton Mets 2014 Season Preview

The 2013 Binghamton Mets posted the Eastern League’s top record with an 86-55 mark.  They captured the Eastern Division flag by a 12 game margin over the second place Trenton Thunder.

In the opening round of the post-season however, Trenton had their way with Binghamton, sweeping them in three games.

Apr 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; General view of baseballs before a game between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Binghamton’s 2014 regular season is off to a mixed start.  With a victory Sunday, the BMets salvaged a split in their opening four game series versus the Akron RubberDucks.

Early Highlights:

• Reliever Jack Leathersich has 7 strikeouts in just 2.1 innings pitched, and despite blowing a save, was the winning pitcher in Sunday’s game.

• Hansel Robles pitched brilliantly in 5 innings of work Sunday, allowing no runs, and just a pair of hits.  He yielded one walk, and fanned 8 batters.

• Matt Clark is wielding a hot bat, with 4 hits (3 doubles) in 12 at-bats.

Next Up:

The Binghamtom Mets will host the Erie SeaWolves for three games.

Binghamton Mets Season Preview:

Despite the promotions of Noah Syndergaard and Jeff Walters to Las Vegas, Binghamton’s pitching staff remains strong.  They will benefit from familiarity, as seven pitchers; Darin Gorski, Tyler Pill, Greg Peavey, Chase Bradford, John Church, Adam Kolarek, Jack Leathersich; return to the fold.

The starting rotation will be manned by holdovers Darin Gorski, who pitched the opening game, Tyler Pill, and Greg Peavey.  Two key additions bolstering this year’s starting rotation will be Port St. Lucie graduates, Rainy Lara and Hansel Robles.

In the bullpen, Chase Bradford, John Church, Adam Kolarek and Jack Leathersich return to form a very effective and reliable quartet.  Joining them this season, and making their AA debuts, will be Matthew Bowman and T.J. Chism.

To round out this year’s relief corp., the organization scouted the independent leagues.  Right-hander Cody Satterwhite will get his first crack at AA since 2009, when he still pitched in the Tigers organization.  Jon Velasquez, 28, is a second right-hander similarly reclaimed from non-affiliated baseball.  He is a Bronx, New York City native, who topped out at A+ with the Philadelphia Phillies organization, and has spent the last three seasons participating in the Canadian/American League, and Atlantic League.

Entering his third season with the organization, catcher Kevin Plawecki, 23, takes over behind the plate.  He split last season between Savannah and Port St. Lucie, and posted a combined quadruple slash of .305/.390/.448/.838, with 8 home runs and 80 RBI, in 449 total at-bats.

Matt Reynolds is entering just his third season.  He is the starting shortstop, while Wilfredo Tovar, a traditional shortstop, moves over to second base this season.  Tovar is the only Binghamton player on the Mets 40-man roster.

At first base, Jayce Boyd split the 2013 season between Savannah and Port St. Lucie.  He combined to post an impressive quadruple slash of .330/.410/461/.871 in 458 total at-bats.

Binghamton’s top four outfielders are Darrell Ceciliani, Dustin Lawley, Cory Vaughn, and Travis Taijeron.

Drafted out of high school, Ceciliani, 23, should plan on a second full season with the BMets.  He needs to make marked improvements from last year’s .268 average, and .322 OBP.  While he stole 31 bases, and certainly adds an element of speed to the top of the order, 105 strikeouts and just 29 walks in 418 at-bats is somewhat unacceptable for a lead-off hitter.

Cory Vaughn, who will soon turn 25-years old, is at a crossroads.  What started out so promisingly for him in 2010 has seemingly stalled to a large degree.  In his first pro season with the Brooklyn Cyclones, he posted triple crown numbers.  In three seasons and 1,241 official at-bats since, he has failed to hit above the .300 mark.  He’ll also be looking to recapture the power he displayed in 2012, when he his 23 home runs in 456 at-bats for Port St. Lucie.  This will be his second season with the BMets.  Last year was interrupted by injury.

Although Dustin Lawley made 6 appearances for Las Vegas last season, this will be his first full season with Binghamton.  In 2013, Dustin posted 25 home runs and 92 RBI for Port St. Lucie.  He batted .262 last season in 449 total at-bats, and only posted a .313 OBP.  This year, he needs to improve his overall plate consistency, and OBP.

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