Figgy, Humber, Cervanak... and Carlos Guzman

Nelson Figueroa:

I had this response to an earlier post about Figgy;

Why is Nelson Figueroa in your projected rotation at Buffalo: "Dillon Gee, Mike Antonini, Nelson Figueroa, Eric Niesen, and Ryan Coultas"?

Is it because of his 4.1 shutout innings against the Cardinals in long relief when Niese was hurt? That was the game Figgy hit a 2-run triple.
Or is it because of his performance after he took Santana's spot in the starting rotation in mid-August? After all, he was only 2-6. It probably doesn't matter that the Mets scored a total of 11 runs in his six losses. Or that in his 8 starts his ERA was 3.38.

Or is it because if you take away one bad start, in 7 of those 8 games he had a 2.23 ERA?

Or is it because he averaged over 6 innings per start, pitching into the 7th inning?

Or maybe because he averaged over 105 pitches per game?

I know why! It's because he was the only Mets pitcher to throw a complete game shut out at Citi Field.

Or maybe because he had more strikeouts in September than any Mets pitcher?

You're right. Why would Jeff Wilpon offer a Mets contract to a pitcher on his 40-man roster who can start as well as pitch in long relief and short relief and has proven he can be an innings-eater?

So what if in his August-September postgame interviews he made it clear thay he'd like to pitch for the Mets in 2010 and beyond?

My advice? Sign him to a 2010 Mets contract with performance bonuses and an option for 2011 and let him try to make the starting rotation for the Mets. Let's see who pitches better in Spring Training: Figueroa or Perez or Maine or Niese.

Mack: Very intelligent response.


I happen to believe that the Mets are drastically in need of an innings eater, and Figyy would be perfect in the role of either long man or SP5. Averaging over six innings a start is what this team needs and Figueroa consistently delivers that. The average ERA of an SP5 in baseball is well over 5.00, which is nowhere near what Nelson has proven he can do.


The Mets need to concentrate on finding an SP2. They already have an SP5.

Phil Humber:

BA printed the Mets’ top ten draft picks of the decade:

1. David Wright

2. Jose Reyes

3. Scott Kazmir

4. Aaron Heilman

5. Brian Bannister

6. Mike Pelfrey

7. Mike Jacobs

8. Kaz Matsui

9. Matt Lindstron

10. Carlos Gomez

Best pick: David Wright

Worst Pick: Phillip Humber

Mack: Boy… is this really the top ten Mets draft picks in the last ten years? You tend to get tunnel vision when you this every day and you forget just how bad the Mets have drafted over the last four General Managers… we’re talking 500 draft picks and the 4th best was Aaron Heilman? Unbelievable.

Mike Cervenak:

Good hitter, doesn't strike out much and doesn't walk much. He hit .311 and .305 the last 2 seasons with the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs and is currently hitting .359 in the Mexican Winter League. He had his wrist broken by a Tommy Hanson fastball last May but was back in the Ironpigs lineup about 4 weeks later. He's a better hitter than anything the Buffalo Bisons put on the field last year and that's where he'll likely be playing in 2010

http://macksmets.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-met-1b3b-mike-cervenak.html#comments

Mack: this came from one of the Macksters that left a comment on Cervenak’s post. The Mets are obviously trying to strengthen their depth at AAA, but, as you will see this week when I start listing all the players in the Mets minor league camp, by position, there simply is nowhere to play this guy…

Carlos Guzman:

I talked with Carlos this afternoon about his current conditioning program, what his goals are for the 2010 season and whatever else he wanted to share.


“My body feels great”, said Guzman, “I'm hitting on an everyday basis and running three days a week. I also hit the gym twp days a week.


Guzman added: “My personal is to have another successful year... to keep improving on my game. And who knows, get a shot to play in the big leagues. And if that worked out, try to stick there.”


I happen to think Guzman will make it the Bigs, simply on desire and energy. This is a guy that has worked his ass off to prove to the draft world that he should have been recognized. He hasn’t had a bad professional year, and though I’m sure he’d love to get there in 2010, 2011 looks more realistic.

Sorry Carlos... I just love this picture of you "back in the day"...