FANTASY FURNACE

As most of us are preparing for, or already enjoying the long Holiday weekend, we thought we would sneak in some players for you to ponder over your Barbeque & Pool parties. The All-Star break is approaching so between the holiday & the A.S. Break this could be your chance to gobble up some hidden little owned N.Y. Mets talents who are on the waiver wire.

Jeremy Hefner-SP,RP-Mets– 5% owned- Very quietly Hefner has turned in some real nice performances during his last half-dozen starts. He has not allowed more than one earned run in five of those starts boasting a 1.70 ERA since June 4th.

Now in his second major league season, Hefner has recorded quality starts in seven of his last eight games while garnering a 2.20 ERA going back to May 24th. On the season Hefner’s 71K/27 ratio is impressive as well. He’ll make the perfect streamer in mixed and N.L. only leagues as he’ll go up against the punchless Milwaukee Brewers next.

#53 Jeremy Hefner has had a nice run, a low ERA & a serviceable K/BB ratio over the past six games. Photo:Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images North America

Josh Satin-1B-Mets-1% Owned- Satin was a  late round pick of the Mets in the 2008 draft, (he was picked by the Mets in the sixth round -194th over all- 176 selections after the Mets chose Ike Davis). He has spent the bulk of the past five years in Triple-A and when Ike Davis was sent down on June 11th, Satin had finally be given the opportunity to play everday and show the club why he shouldn’t be sent back down once Davis returns.

Recent call-up Josh Satin who has reached base in the last 13 games, is shown here doubling in a run in Tuesday’s game vs the Diamondbacks. Photo: Barton Silverman/The New York Times

The way Satin has been hitting it will be hard for Terry Collins, who worked with Satin on his swing back in 2010, to let him go as the Mets have been struggling offensively all season. Satin meanwhile has been on a modest 8-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Because he walks so often (10 in 41 ABs) as well as hits (16) his OPS is up there at a respectable 1.071 while his .390 batting average is more than the club expected from the 28 year old.

We can’t predict that Satin will sustain this kind of productivity given that he has only played in 32 major leagues games in his career, but why not be part of the ride he’s on? Satin could certainly be that ‘silver lining’ for those in deeper leagues and N.L. only leagues at least until Davis’ imminent return and possibly beyond.

Have a safe and happy Fourth!!!