Published: September 28, 2008 11:27 pm      

BASEPATHS: Evaluating the Mets-to-Buffalo swap

When the Bisons landed the Mets as their baseball partner through 2010, fans and media around Syracuse were too startled to cry “foul” on anyone but themselves.

A month ago, the Salt City seemed a lock to link with New York’s National Leaguers, sticking the Bisons with Toronto.

As it turned out, Buffalo got the Mets, Syracuse affiliated with the expansion Washington Nationals and Toronto was banished to Las Vegas.

Even modern-day bible Baseball America was caught with its prophets down. The BA currently on newsstands foresees Syracuse in orange-and-blue. They hadn’t figured on the close relationship between the Bisons and Mets ownerships.

The Syracuse community had lusted after the Mets and as the ink was drying on the Buffalo deal, dumped all over Chief Operating Officer Tex Simone. An editorial-page cartoon showed him swinging five times and missing. The last whiff: “Losing the Mets to Buffalo.” The caption: “Shouldn’t he be out?” Classy columnist Bud Poliquin described Syracuse’s long ride with Toronto as “the passenger seat of a vanilla sedan.”

Although late getting around on the Mets, Base Paths nonetheless hazards some forecasts and opinions on their outlook around here:

Leading off

The Mets may jump through hoops to impress Buffalonians next summer. To that end they’ve laid out $25,000 to help the Bisons develop baseball in city schools. That’s big money, a whole week’s salary for a major league utility infielder.

In the long run, though, look for the Mets to send at least some rehabilitating major-leaguers to the proximity of Binghamton, at least as long as that attendance-troubled franchise remains in place.

Road trips

For fans who like to follow the parent club, this was costly. Border hassles aside, Toronto’s a daytrip and dear departed Cleveland not much further. Five hundred miles away with a new stadium, the Mets will be a tough ticket.

As for seeing prospects on a lower level, the ballparks at Akron (Cleveland’s AA affiliate) and Binghamton are practically equidistant from Dunn Tire Park. Akron has a better ballpark but Binghamton’s a prettier drive.

Steady as she goes

Cleveland’s Buffalo affiliate had 34 pitchers with at least one decision, a formula for chaos. The Mets’ team in New Orleans had 21.

Tall tale

The Mets have a 6-11 pitcher, Scott Moviel, at Class A. Won’t it be fun to watch HIM bat, which brings us to ...

Death to the DH

In at least 44 games, Herd hurlers will take their turn at bat. Base Paths loves the strategy and the concept of the “good-hitting pitcher.” It makes for faster games, too, with fewer inside-the-inning pitching changes.

Bottom line

Met affiliates have been all over the map over the past decade, with some of the best teams in recent AAA history, and some of the worst. Look for a fast start and eventual disenchantment. See ya in April.

Signal Base Paths at pollyndoug@hotmail.com