The Week that Was

Buffalo Bisons: Overall (68-56, 6 games behind Scranton for first in the Northern Division, 2 games behind Louisville for the wildcard) 5-2 on the week, won 4 in a row

Lucas Duda continues to be the story here for the Bisons, as he simply has not stopped hitting for the Bisons. This last week (8/13 to 8/20), Duda hit .321/.406/.643/1.049, going 9 for 28 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 7 RBI and 4 walks. He’s hitting .318/.389/.650/1.039 in Buffalo over 57 games, with 17 doubles, 2 triples and 17 homers in 217 ABs. The Bisons are 14-3 this month to get back into the playoff hunt, sitting 2 games out in the wild card race at the end of play yesterday.

Duda was drafted in the 7th round of the otherwise (mostly) horrible 2007 draft, 243rd overall out of USC and has slowly advanced through the system, not putting up spectacular numbers anywhere until this season. He started off in Brooklyn in 2007 (.299/.398/.462/.859), then spent 2008 in St. Lucie (.263/.358/.398/.755), 2009 in Binghamton (.281/.380/.428/.808), before opening 2010 back in Binghamton and exploding (.286/.411/.503/.914) and earning a callup to Buffalo, where he’s done nothing but oblierate baseballs and make opposing pitchers cry. Duda should be in line for a September promotion, since he’s got to be protected this winter from the Rule V draft (it’s 2006 HS and 2007 college this year).

Binghamton Mets: Overall (60-63; 14 games out of first place, 10.5 out of a playoff spot), 4-2 on the week, lost 1 in a row

Josh Satin, while not a prospect per se, has entered his name into the mix for a bench spot in 2011 with an outstanding 2010 split between St. Lucie and Binghamton. Much like Lucas Duda, Satin has improved after being promoted to the higher league, with a .323/.414/.493/.907 line in Binghamton (21 doubles, 5 homers), after a .316/.406/.459/.865 line in St. Lucie (15 doubles, 5 homers). Satin took it to the next level this past week, hitting .360/.452/.720/1.172 over the last 7 days, on 9 for 25. Satin can play 3b, 2b and 1b, and should be asked to go play outfield in the AFL this winter to further broaden his utility (that’s just my suggestion, not any inside info).

Satin was drafted (some would say overdrafted…namely me) in the 6th round of the 2008 draft and spent the bulk of his first season in Brooklyn, helping them win with a .280/.350/.462/.812 line. Despite this, he spent 2009 mostly in Savannah, due to the immortal duo of Hector Pellot and Greg Veloz “blocking” second base in St. Lucie. In Savannah, Satin his .284/.385/.418/.803 while mostly DHing. He opened this season in St. Lucie, before being promoted halfway through to Binghamton. Satin is someone to watch for to get a surprise look next spring at a bench job, or someone who will get an early callup from Buffalo.

St. Lucie Mets: Overall (55-68, 14.5 games out of first place) 3-5 on the week, lost 1 in a row.

The Mets hottest player over the last week has been Jeurys Familia, who has endured a horrific season for the Mets, coming into August his ERA was well over 6, but he has turned it around late. Officially, he’s only gotten one start this week, and it was a good one, he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits over 6.2 innings with 12 strikeouts for his 4th win of the season. Familia had an awful outing to open his month (5 earned in 5 innings), but his last 3 starts, he’s gone 20.1 innings, and allowed 16 hits and 6 walks with 30 strikeouts, and a sparkling 1.33 era.

Familia was signed as an International Free Agent during the 2007 season, and opened his career in the GCL as an 18 year old, where he went 2-2 with a 2.79 era in 11 starts (51.2 innings). Familia spent 2009 in Savannah where he posted a 10-6 record with a 2.69 era in 24 starts, spanning 134 innings.

Second to Familia is Richard Lucas, who basically jumped from Kingsport to St. Lucie, and has similarly struggled mightily there. However, in the last week, Lucas hit very well, with a .321/.387/.464/.851 line, on 9 for 28.

Savannah Sand Gnats: Overall (65-58, 5.5 games out of first place, were first half division winners) 4-3 on the week, won 1 in a row

Brooklyn Cyclones: Overall (40-20, 7 games up on Aberdeen in the McNamara division) 4-2 on the week, won 2 in a row

Kingsport Mets: Overall (24-31, 12 game out of first place) 1-5 on the week, lost 1 in a row?