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Vargas Punching Ticket to NY
by Andrew Canulette, Times Picayune
May 3, 2007
For some minor league pitchers, it's not a matter of "if" the
big-
league club will come calling, but "when" it will seek their
services.
Jason Vargas certainly seems to be one of those pitchers.
Vargas, a 24-year old left-hander, was selected by the Florida Marlins
in the second round of the first-year player draft out of Long Beach
State in 2004. He then made a quick run through the Florida
minor-league system before cracking the Marlins' starting rotation in
July 2005, where he had a 4-5 record and 4.14 ERA.
Traded to the Mets after the 2006 season, Vargas has looked impressive
with the AAA Zephyrs to start 2007. He is 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA and is
scheduled to start tonight in the series finale against the Round Rock
Express.
Vargas, who hails from Apple Valley, Calif., said he's fairly pleased
with his performance to start the season and credited it to one thing
pitchers often speak of when assessing their outings.
"It's been command (of pitches)," Vargas said. "It's getting
ahead in
the count and not letting it get away from you. The last couple of
starts, we let it get away from us, and we paid for it. But before
that, we were executing throughout the count, and it worked pretty
good."
When Vargas says "we", he's talking not only of himself, but
his
battery mates, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Mike DiFelice -- a veteran duo
with more than two decades of major-league experience between them.
Their wisdom isn't lost on Vargas.
"It's awesome working with them," he said. "It takes so
much thinking
out of the process while you're on the mound. They put (a signal)
down, and that's what we're going to throw."
Not that Vargas is without experience of his own. He said his time
with the Marlins in 2005 and 2006 was invaluable.
"It was a whirlwind, that 2005 season," Vargas said. "When
they gave
me a chance to go up there and I ended up staying, I think what I took
most from that is that I can play there. It's just a matter of being
consistent. Now that you've got that knowledge, it's just a tremendous
advantage knowing you can be there and succeed."
Zephyrs pitching coach Mark Brewer is relishing his time working with
Vargas. Like most, he realizes that if his young charge strings
together a couple solid starts, the Mets will probably want Vargas in
New York.
"His strength is his ability to absorb and to work on the side,"
Brewer said. "We're trying to get consistent with the use of his
legs
so he can execute on a consistent basis. . . . We're on the right road
right now. He's had a few forks in the road, but we're headed back to
New York, hopefully."
Vargas would like nothing more than another chance in the majors.
"That's what we're all here for," Vargas said. "I like
my chances over
here. I've got a good liking for this organization, and it seems to be
the same the other way. I've always had fun in New York and had fun
playing against the Mets. It would be an awesome opportunity to play
for them."
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