Ryota Igarashi, Francisco Rodriquez, Jon Niese, Luis Castillo... and Four Questions For Mets Fans

Ryota Igarashi


Born 5/28/1979 (30 years old) - RHP, NYM - A stocky right-handed specialist who spent most of his career with NPB's Yakult Swallows before moving to America, Ryota Igarashi is the proud owner of a lifetime 3.26 ERA and 1.07 in Japan, almost all of it in relief. Though most frequently a setup man or middle reliever, he also closed 37 games for the Swallows in 2004. In 2010, he'll provide depth in the bullpen for the Mets, who signed him to a two year deal during the offseason. - link

Francisco Rodriquez:

New York Mets—Closer Francisco Rodriguez. Others: J.J. Putz

The Mets enter 2010 with a reasonably secure closer situation, as K-Rod followed his record-breaking ’08 season with another decent campaign in 2009. If Rodriguez got injured, the position would probably pass to J.J. Putz, who has experience closing games. The Mets’ organization has no rookies who appear likely to bolster their bullpen in 2010. - link

Jon Niese


Born 10/27/1986 (23 years old) - LHP, NYM - A wiry left-hander with a deadly curve, Jon Niese is a dark-horse pitching prospect who has a shot at the Mets rotation in 2009. A graduate of the same high school as Chad Billingsley, Niese looked strong in AA last year, but was shellacked when he dipped his toes into the majors. Still, he has the maturity and guile to recover quickly. Niese features a nice fastball and a heavy sinker, but he needs another year, really, to refine his other pitches. If the Mets can be patient enough to let him develop a bit more, he might be a front-of-rotation starter, though they may be tempted to plug him into the bullpen or back-end immediately instead. - link

Luis Castillo:

Can you believe that Luis Castillo has won the starting 2nd base job for the 2010 New York Mets? He is the last man standing. He was a huge underdog to win the job. But he persevered. He beat out Orlando Hudson, Adam Kennedy, Felipe Lopez, Brandon Phillips, and any other 2nd baseman that might have been available through trade or free agency.


Luis might have won the job by default but he still deserves the credit. Last year when he dropped the pop up, he courageously faced the media and the fans wrath. He will undoubtedly be there to face the media and all their redundant questions again this spring. I expect him to confidently say that he is in great shape and plans on playing even better than last season. And he intends to prove his detractors wrong. - link

Four Questions For Mets Fans:

It is a quiet morning and I have a few stub-thoughts but nothing that would be more than a 5 word post.

As I tweeted, I wish the Yankees would let Mike Emrick take over as their radio announcer (great job yesterday) – and that led me to appreciating our guys, which made me realize I have four quick things on my mind which I thought I’d ask you:

1. Howie Rose or Gary Cohen?

2. 90.5 wins: over/under

3. Reyes and the FBI: nothing or something?

4. The name of the Mets manager on September 1, 2010?  -  link