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All winter long Western New York baseball fans have been buzzing with anticipation over what the Buffalo Bisons on field product will be like as the Herd enters the season as the new Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.

Judging by what the team looks like on paper fans should be quite pleased when the new season kicks-off at 3:05 p.m. Thursday April 9 against the Pawtucket Red Sox.

At first glance the 2009 edition of the Bisons looks like a classic National League style team that will rely on strong pitching, solid defense, small ball and speed on the bases.

Pitching:

Rotation:
Though the majority of focus will be on Opening Day starter left-hander Jonathon Niese who is ranked by Baseball America as the 3rd best prospect in the Mets’ organization. It won’t take fans long to appreciate Dillon Gee.

Ranked as having the best control and best changeup in the system, the Mets are very high on Gee.

“He almost made the Major League staff so this kid he’s going in the right direction and he’s going to bring some excitement here,” said Buffalo manager Ken Oberkfell.

Gee, who turns 23 on April 28 went a combined 10-6 last season with Double-A Binghamton and Single-A St.Lucie.

The rest of the rotation will feature veteran Casey Fossum, Nelson Figueroa and Brandon Knight. No word on when or if Mets property Freddy Garcia will be in Buffalo this April.

Playing in the Pacific Coast League, which traditionally favors hitters, Niese should really shine in the more pitcher-friendly International League.

“He’s got a nasty breaking ball. His last couple of outings in the spring he threw real well for us,” said Oberkfell. “I’m counting on big things from him Thursday. I think he’s the type of pitcher that’s going to go out there keep us in the ball game give us an opportunity to win. If he’s got command of his pitches he’s going to be pretty tough.”

Bullpen:

Eddie Kunz, the 10th best prospect and former first-round pick comes in as the Bisons closer.
Picking up 27 saves last year in Binghamton, Kunz is a classic groundball pitcher with a nasty sinker and bite on his slider.

Ed Camacho and Connor Robertson will be key faces out of the pen as well.

Infield:

Nick Evans is the most eye-catching name in the Bisons infield; which will have Robinson Cancel at catcher and Michel Abreu and Argenis Reyes in the middle infielder positions.

The 9th best prospect in the Mets system, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Evans is a highly regarded power hitter with great bat-speed and an absolute killer of left-handed pitching.

A late season call-up, Evans batted .257 in 109 at-bats with the Mets last season. Initially a front-runner to start the season with New York, the Mets signing of Gary Sheffield dropped Evans back in the depth chart.

Outfield:

Despite early talk the top prospect center fielder Fernando Martinez would remain in extended spring training as he mends from an arm injury that he suffered during the Caribbean World Series Oberkfell said Martinez is in Buffalo and ready to play Opening Day.

“He’s here. He’ll be DH’ing Thursday,” said Oberkfell. “He’ll be DH’ing until his arm is a little better. When we play our first National League game (April 30) against a National League (affiliated) team he should be ready to play the outfield.”

Jason Cooper is back as part of an outfield that will feature veteran Bobby Kielty, Cory Sullivan and Jesus Feliciano.

Probable Opening Day lineup:
1B-Nick Evans
2B-Michel Abreu
SS-Argenis Reyes
3B-Rob Mackowiak
OF-Cory Sullivan
OF-Jason Cooper or Feliciano
OF-Bobby Kielty
DH-Fernando Martinez
SP-Jonathon Niese

Jonathon Niese is coming off a successful 2008 where he was named the Mets’ Sterling Organizational Pitcher of the Year Award as the top pitcher in the Mets’ Minor League system.

Niese went a combined 11-8 with a 3.13 ERA in 29 starts between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A New Orleans last year.

Earning a September promotion, Niese went 1-1 in three starts with the Mets with his best outing coming on Sept. 13 when he threw eight scoreless innings in a victory over Atlanta.

Initially in the running for the fifth spot in the Mets rotation, Niese was sent to Triple-A to sharpen his game.

“Spring was fun I got a lot of work in and just prepared me for the season,” said Niese. “It was a good opportunity to compete for the fifth spot. Obviously I came up short so I’ll be working hard here to get up there.”