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2/13/14

UPDATE - 2014 Mets Pen


Daisuke Matsuzaka… John Lannan… Kyle Farnsworth… and now Jose Valverde. All great pitchers from an era long gone. Sandy Alderson keeps talking about ‘kids’ like Jack Leathersich, but moves like these have Terry Collins written all over them. Collins has always been a field general that likes to surround himself with veteran ballplayers, especially if they are relief pitchers coming out of the pen.

I’m perplexed sometimes on what it takes to become a Met pitcher. Take closer artist Jeffrey Walters. He led the Eastern League with 12 more saves than any other pitcher in the league, but he’s 26-years old and still hasn’t thrown a single inning in AAA-ball. (Being placed on the 40-man and his chances of aking the team:

    “I hope so. I feel that’s why I’m here. I feel like I’m going to go out and do my best, and as long as I get some eyes on me, that’s all I can hope for. I can’t control any of that stuff. You can just go out and throw strikes, pound the zone, get outs and show them that I can get consistent outs.” (Adam Rubin)

 I know the Farnsworth and Valverde deals are ‘minor league only’, but don’t they always seem to find themselves in Queens, blocking the development of players like Walters, Leathersich, Jeurys Familia, John Church, and Adam Kolarek?

I’m sick of the past, especially the past seven seasons the Mets missed the playoffs. My 2014 pen would start from the back end first. Bobby Parnell would be my closer with Vic Black preceding him as the 8th inning specialist.

I would let my two lefties come after a healthy spring competition from Scott Rice, Josh Edgin, Jack Leathersich and Adam Kolarek.

Carlos Torres would be my long man Gonzalez Germen would be my wild card.


But that’s me…
on

3 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2014 at 5:28 PM

    RIGHT ON, MACK

    ReplyDelete
  2. Herb GFebruary 13, 2014 at 8:22 PM

    Mack -

    I don't think Matsuzaka or Lannan will get any consideration for the pen unless none of the true reliever possibilities show anything. As usual, I agree with your approach for building the pen, so therefore, I would say that Parnell, Black and Torres are locks. The front runners for the 2 lefty slots have to be Rice and Edgin, but Leather and Kolarek will get their looks, and could win spots with stellar showings. The remaining 2 spots should be an intense competition between Valverde, Farnesworth, Familia, Germen, Walters, and Reid. Long shots would be Church, Carreno (only because he isn't on the 40 man) and Socolovich.

    I think if Valverde can get his head on straight and put the 2012 post season battering behind him, he could be this year's Hawkins. I'm guessing Familia beats out Germen for the final spot.

    So, my prediction for opening day is: Parnell, Black, Valverde, Torres, Edgin, Rice and Familia.

    We really seem to have so many great options for the pen, it is hard for me to decide which ones to root for. Since I've been watching the young kids develop over time, I have a soft spot for Leathersich, Walters, Kolarek and Church. But the acquisitions like Reid, Carreno and Socolovich look good to me too, and I'd love to see them have some success. Such problems.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mack AdeFebruary 13, 2014 at 8:45 PM

    Rick Waits told me a few years ago that you can't have enough pitchers n camp under minor league contracts.

    According to him, it sets the tone for the camp and brings out the best

    ReplyDelete