8/22/12

Stuff – Josh Edgin, Batting Averages, Jenrry Mejia, Text Trading


Getting caught up…
Josh Edgin
I see that the Mets lost again on Monday and it was tagged on Eddie Kunz, err… I mean, Josh Edgin. Okay, before someone has a cow, you know I’m a big fan of Edgin, but I warned you about rushing relief pitchers in this game. As of last night, Josh has a major league ERA of 5.28 after picking up his first major league loss. Sure, it was an unearned run (his own errant throw), but we’ve been through this before. Elvin Ramirez got around 27 seconds this year to show his stuff. Last year, it was 23-year old Josh Stinson (6.92). In 2010, we’re talking 20-year old Jenrry Mejia (4.62). In 2008, we get back to 22-year old Eddie Kunz (13.50).
Look, every team jumps at the chance of developing a young reliever out of the system, but, in the case of the Mets, this is just bad management. This is the major leagues. You’re not throwing to a bunch of almost-players or AAAA retreads. These are the real dudes and you better have your stuff finely tuned.
Who’s next? Robert Carson? (guess who got promoted today…)
Bad medicine. 

Batting Averages
Let’s talk about something good.
As of close of business Monday, David Wright (.320) is ranked 4th in the National League in batting average. Ruben Tejada (.310) is ranked 10th and Daniel Murphy (.290) is 15th.

But, here’s the good news. Mike Baxter (.308) would be ranked 7th if he had enough at bats. It’s only 107, but it still comes out on paper to an .800+ OPS. Baxter will turn 28 in December, but his ARB1 year won’t kick in until 2014. He will not be eligible for free agency until 2017 which, in my book, is two years past the victory parade down 5th Avenue. 

Jenrry Mejia
This post will most probably post up on Wedneday, at 4pm EST. I’m sure we will know that Jenrry Mejia will replace Johan Santana in the rotation.
It seems bizarre writing about Mejia in the same post as Josh Edgin. Here, I just told you the Mets are rushing Edgin and now I reach into the minors for another quick fix.
Actually, I didn’t.
Mejia’s quick fix was in 2010. This time, it’s for real and under conditions where the team is going nowhere. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t see Collin McHugh join Mejia in the rotation as soon as the Mets figure out there aren’t enough opportunities left for RA Dickey to win 20.
I’d like to see Collin and let Chris Young play the long man for the rest of the season. Think 2014, guys… Harvey, Niese, Mejia, McHugh, Edgin, Carson, E. Ramirez… all good choices

(got my way... it's McHugh, not Mejia who has been called up).

Text Trading
There was an interesting story from MLB.com:


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120821&content_id=37067386&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb. It turns out that the trade that sent Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez to the Detroit Tigers and Jacob Turner and Rob Brantly to the Florida Marlins was done by Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski and Miami's president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest almost exclusively by text messaging. Text messages. Four human beings. A zillion dollars.

Maybe this is a good time.

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