A few chosen minor leaguers will begin (or have begun in the past day) their trek of finishing off the 2009 season on a high note at a higher level. The 3 main players to note are catcher, Josh Thole, centerfielder, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and third baseman, Zach Lutz.

-Josh Thole was added to the New York Mets active roster today on the final leg of the road trip in Colorado. Thole is not in the starting line-up tonight (due to Rockies' southpaw, De La Rosa) but will get playing time against opposing right handed pitchers. The Mets have been very high on Thole especially since Thole flew under the wings of Brian Schneider this Spring Training. Jerry Manuel is very pleased, yet not surprised by Thole's offensive success at the plate saying, "I always thought he'd hit because of his approach." When the Mets return home to Citi Field this weekend to take on the Cubs, it will not be Thole's first time playing in the new stadium, however, I'm sure being in the starting line-up at home during the regular season will taste a whole lot sweeter than a 3 inning appearance in the Mets, Red Sox pre-season game earlier this April.
-Kirk Nieuwenhuis was added to the Binghamton Met roster August 31. The B-Mets are hoping that Nieuwenhuis can give them enough offense to keep from suffering their worst record in Binghamton history. This task is right down Kirk's alley seeing that he crushed 16 homeruns and drove in 71 RBIs with the St. Lucie Mets over the course of this season as well as went 3-5 in his B-Met debut last night.
-Zack Lutz will get a shot at the AA level this September being added to the Binghamton roster along with Nieuwenhuis. Lutz had a nice year with the St. Lucie Mets hitting .284 with 11 homeruns and 62 RBIs. Zack Lutz did go 0-5 last night in his B-Met debut but will look to bounce back tonight against Bowie.

A couple players in the Mets minor league system will not be called up to the big leagues just yet, but will instead represent their countries in the 2009 IBAF World Cup. Ike Davis will join the USA team while Davis's B-Met teammates, Shawn Bowman and Jonathan Malo, join the Canadian national team. The first round of the World Cup begins September 9th.


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Ahh September. The month that has given every Met fan nightmares over the past two seasons. However, this year don't fret. For the first time since 2005, the Mets don't find themselves in first place in the beginning of September. Ironically enough, the Mets were also in 4th place in 2005...but with a 69-64 record and only 6.5 back of the Atlanta Braves. The roles have changed and now it will be the Mets who look to do some spoiling. 19 games this month will be against teams in playoff contention (Colorado- 3, Atlanta and Florida- 6 each, Philadelphia- 4) and those games will certainly decide the fate of not only the NL East, but of the Wild Card.


In the meantime however, the first task at hand is the Colorado Rockies. Historically the Mets do not fair well at Coors Field. Although they are 15-3 vs. the Rockies at home since 2005...on the road they are a mere 4-8 including 1-5 in the past couple of seasons. In this injury ravaged season there is some good news however. The beloved David Wright will make his triumphant return tonight. He's expected to get the night off Wednesday before playing again on Thursday. Also, Carlos Beltran ran the bases in Port St. Lucie and is expected to have a rehab assignment for the Brooklyn Cyclones on Wednesday. This series will also feature on Thursday the anticipated debut of Josh Thole, a 22 year old catcher that had been playing the majority of the season over in Binghamton. The young fella will wear #30...last worn by the immortal Raul Casanova last season.

Pitching Matchups for the Series:

Tonight- Mike Pelfrey (9-9 4.80 ERA) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (12-9 4.76 ERA). The Big Pelf looks to rebound from a poor outing in Florida last week in which he surrendered 5 runs on 11 hits in 5.2IP in a 5-3 loss. Career-wise versus the Rockies he has odd statistics. Although he is 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four career appearances (all starts), his WHIP is 1.43 and the Rockies have managed to hit .282. On the road this season, Pelfrey has been dreadful as he is 4-6 with a 6.11 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and .304 BAA in 11 starts. Meanwhile, De La Rosa has been hot lately. Though he lost his last outing 3-2 to the LA Dodgers where he allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 7IP, he is 7-2 in his last 10 starts. De La Rosa careerwise versus the Mets is 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and .189 BAA in 7 appearances (1 start). At home this season, De La Rosa has been aided by run support as he is 7-6 with a 5.17 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and .265 BAA in 15 games (14 starts).

Wednesday- Tim Redding (2-4 5.94 ERA) vs. Ubaldio Jimenez (12-10 3.33 ERA). Since his return to the rotation, Redding has been solid, allowing 3 ER (all in his last start, a 10-3 win) in 11.2IP to the Phillies and Marlins. In seven career appearances (5 starts) versus the Rockies the Red Dog is 1-2 with a 4.20 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and .246 BAA. The road hasn't been kind to Redding either as he is 1-2 with a 5.77 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and .304 BAA in eleven appearances (6 starts). Meanwhile, Jimenez is another Rockie who has been red hot lately. Though he lost his last outing 2-0 in San Francisco where he allowed 2 ER and 7 hits in 7IP, he is 6-2 in his last 10 starts- all of which have been quality starts. Jimenez career-wise versus the Mets is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and .211 BAA in three starts. In 12 home starts this season Jimenez is 7-4 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and .234 BAA.

Thursday- Pat Misch (0-1 3.40 ERA) vs. Jason Marquis (14-9 3.60 ERA). Misch looks to build off the best outing of his career versus the Cubs- where he went 7IP and allowed just 1 ER on 6 hits. He was in line for his first career MLB victory but Brian Stokes fell apart in the 8th inning of a 5-2 Mets loss. In 5 career appearances (2 starts) versus the Rockies, Misch is 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and .321 BAA. He has no decisions in his 10 road appearances (1 start) with a 2.35 ERA but 1.76 WHIP and .310 BAA. He will once again oppose an NL-All Star, this time in Marquis; who if he were to win this start would tie a career high in wins for a season. The Giants were able to get to him in his last start where he took the loss, allowing 5ER and 9 hits in 6IP in a 5-3 loss. In 22 career appearances (15 starts) versus the Mets, Marquis sports a 6-6 record with a 4.22 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and .283 BAA. In 12 home starts this season Marquis is 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and .256 BAA.

This September as Mets fans, we're not expecting a miracle playoff run. All we ask for is for the players to give it their all, steal a few games and give teams a taste of their own medicine from the past couple of seasons. Just to get to .500 the Mets would have to go 22-9 down the stretch which is too much to ask, especially considering our weak August...but a good September/early October for once would give some optimism for next season.
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