All Good Things Must Come To An End
The IronPigs 8-game winning streak came to an end on a cold, cold night at the old ballpark. Rains mostly held off, but conditions were probably part of the story. The pitching match-up of prospects Mick Abel and Brandon Sproat did materialize, with three scoreless innings apiece to start the game and only on unearned run to damage Mick Abel’s fourth. Sproat only pitched to one out in the fifth and was at 75 pitches when he was pulled. Meanwhile, Abel owned his fifth, but yielded a three-run double to our old friend Joey Meneses as his velocity dipped and control waned. Abel threw 95 pitches in his five full innings. Not much to say about Sproat. He looked good, but his velocity dipped a bit as well. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened over his next 20 pitches, but that’s not how the Mets have handled him all along. The national media fawning after the game was a bit excessive all things considered. It’s his second pro season, for sure, but he’s a year older than Abel because of his years at the University of Florida.
With the loss, the IronPigs now trail the Jacksonville Shrimp by 1/2 game in the overall standings headed into today’s doubleheader.
The Adventures of Otto Kemp
Kemp at third this game made a couple nice plays with his glove. To be honest, those are not plays we saw him make last season in Reading where I may have referred to him as “a butcher” once or twice. However, although he was only given one error on the evening, there was another throw which was ill-advised and off target, as well as a ball which bounced off his glove, which didn’t help his pitchers much.
The Mick Abel Checklist
If you’ve read the column from last week, you know we’ve got some things around here that we are watching to help explain Mick Abel–just for our own analysis of who he is as a pitcher and where he is as a prospect.
- Velocity: He opened the game with mostly 97 and a few 96 in the first inning. He was mostly 95 in the second and third innings and struggled to touch 94 with a fair few 90-93 pitches in the fifth. As the game wore on, he began to alternate sinker and four-seam, depending on how much you trust the stadium board analysis. Given the weather conditions–45 and breezy with an occasional mist–it’s probably not as concerning as it might seem on it’s face. Still it should be noted, and one in our party is ready to send him to the bullpen right away–probably a bit hasty for the 23 year old.
- Pitchability: In the article, his ability and willingness to mix pitches and the coaches taking the training wheels off. It was good. The slider was a real weapon the first time through the order, then the change, which had been a show-me pitch the first time through got used a little more. The curve started getting used the second time through the order, and as above, the fastballs started to mix. it was good, overall, and the change probably needs work.
- There were four walks and the pitching totals suggest inefficiency, but overall he was throwing strikes and commanding his pitches through the first three innings for sure and mostly in the fourth. And while it was in the fifth when he had two walks, that things started going sideways, still, he had two outs when the damage was done.
- Thinking about navigating the lineup a second or third time, things were adequate save for the velocity dropping and the control starting to suffer.
- Home and Away? Well he started really well so my theory about the first inning and preparation isn’t really anything.
Conclusion: Just like last week’s stellar start wasn’t a sign that he’d arrived, this one isn’t a disaster on the other end of the spectrum. The velocity was there. The command and control were there early on. It was a miserable night to pitch up and down multiple times. It’s all part of it, let’s build from here, and we’ll monitor his endurance down in Georgia next week.
In a parallel universe, RHP Griff McGarry had another outstanding day pitching for AA Reading. Also, something to build on.
Player Updates
Some bad news prior to the game, column-favorite 1B Carson Taylor, who had been on the injured list with “shoulder impingement” was transferred to the 60-day Injured List with “labrum tear.” Depending on the severity of the tear, it can be treated with rest, medication and physical therapy, or, surgery. We wish Taylor well and hope for a healthy return at some point.
C Payton Henry was added to the Injured List with a hand contusion.
The IronPigs are currently rolling with two healthy bench spots, with Taylor, Arroyo, Henry and Kroon all on the shelf. If they can’t get someone back, look for them to perhaps add someone from somewhere (Reading, Extended Spring, Jersey Shore) for the trip to Gwinnett just for adequate depth.
The roster post has been updated.
Printable roster: 041225 LHV Roster
Two For The Price Of One
Doubleheader day today at the ballpark and the weather should be more reasonable. Two seven-inning games are on tap, with a single admission ticket date 4/13/25. Here’s how the day stacks up:
First Pitch, Game One: 12:35PM
All Gates: 11:30AM
Does The Club Bar Have Bloody Mary Mix?: Yes
Buffets: Served 12:30PM to 3:00PM
Second Game: Starts 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game
Promotion: Superhero Day
Also: Masters party club level
Post-Game: Kids Run The Bases
Pitching:
IronPigs Game 1: RHP Nabil Crismatt (1-1, 6.00)
Syracuse Game 1: RHP Jose Ureña (Season Debut)
..
IronPigs Game 2: RHP Kyle Tyler (1-0, 2.79)
Syracuse Game 2: LHP Brandon Waddell (0-0, 2.16)
Series preview with notes on Syracuse Mets
See you at the park,
@Kram207
Featured Image by Jack Mitroka. It has been edited for the space.