11/16/11

Mack’s 25-man: RP Manny Acosta

I really like Acosta. And, I can’t believe the Braves let him roam. This was obvious case of a deeper talent pool for the pen which, I believe, will pay off big for the Mets.

He has the stuff… a mid90s range fast ball… a plus curve… and change-up split.

Yes, he walks too many batters but I’m assuming he’s working on that. He als was basically unhittable in the second half of the season and finished the year with a 3.45 ERA.

He will turn 31 in May which is baby-years for a mid-reliever.

It’s no big secret that the Mets will probably bring a handful of relievers to camp in the spring. We all know the closer situation, but frankly, the pen needs a lot more than that. Acosta would be one of the last members of the current team that I would cut. He turned the corner around the all-star break and has finally begun to pitch the way all those scouts said he would someday. Yes, he needs to pound the plate a little more and, yes, he needs to throw a different first pitch than a fastball every time, but rmember… most of pitches are thrown to end up outside of the zone. The Mets pitching coach need to work on his strike maintenance for the fastball. He has to get that one in.

That’s 18 down, 7 to go.


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