The Mets Triple-A minor league inaugural season in Syracuse NY is underway. The first weekly report from down on the farm follows…
For the Mets Triple-A farm team in Syracuse, excitement and anticipation remained high prior to the opening of the season. A Facebook Group Page was formed and its membership now totals over 800. The Mets themselves scheduled a day to bring the big league club to Syracuse just prior to the opening of their season with more than 3,000 fans in attendance.
Excitement grew when it was learned the Mets had promoted Tim Tebow from Double-A Binghamton to Syracuse, where it was believed and hoped by many, Tebow would be making his last stop before joining the Mets at Citi Field at some point during the 2019 season.
Competition in the North Division of the International League is keen with entries from the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, and Minnesota Twins. When play begins on Monday, the standings show the Syracuse Mets with a record of 6-5, 2 1/2 games behind the Phillie’s Iron Pigs:
Historically, Triple-A minor league teams exist at the behest of the major league club, and as such are susceptible to pushes and pulls on the active roster, especially when the big club is hit with an injury or they have a need for a spot starter here and there.
Thus, manager Syracuse manager, Tony DeFrancesco, will find himself at times with a need to be a master juggler of lineups and pitching usage. It comes with the territory and the entire roster will get used to it. After all, high fives and congratulations that come with a promotion are the hope of every player on the Syracuse team.
Individually, second baseman Dilson Herrera and outfielder Travis Taijeron have gotten off to hot starts, with each having a team-leading seven RBI. Chris Flexen leads the Mets pitchers with 18 strikeouts in only twelve innings pitched (1-1 and a not so impressive 5.25 ERA).
Last Thursday’s opener garnered 8,823 in attendance on a cold and blustery day. All indications are the city of Syracuse will remain loyal to its team, especially given the close proximity to Citi Field where the Mets play.
For the record, Tim Tebow is off to an inauspicious start to the 2019 season, batting .161 with only two extra-base hits. Corey Oswalt picked up a victory in his only start and is destined to be one of those players hopping on the short flight from Syracuse to LaGuardia whenever the New York Mets need a spot starter.
For fans interested and able to make the trip, there are a variety of ticket plans afforded to fans, including single-game tickets, of which I’ve taken advantage making the three-hour drive for Sunday afternoon games from Catskill, New York.
The Syracuse Mets – A Commitment By The New York Mets
The New York Mets have been much-maligned, and rightfully so, for the neglect of their minor league affiliated teams, as well as for the development of the players they have signed in the MLB annual amateur draft each June.
Mets General Manager, Brodie Van Wagenen, has signaled a new and energetic transformation that places an emphasis on scouting, analytics, and player development. In theory, the New York Mets have a team in Syracuse that could replace the big league club on a moment’s notice.
While we know that is not true for the Mets or any other major league club, the recognition of the need to reach for that goal remains significant.
As the season moves along, there will be more “meat” to these weekly reports, plus profiles on players who emerge as up-and-comers. So, stay tuned, and I’ll do my best to keep everyone in touch with the Syracuse Mets…
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
