Boy,
the pen sure changed overnight, didn’t it?
There’s
some pretty decent pitchers throwing poor results this spring but everything
goes out the window on that first opening day in Washington.
For
now… Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Carlos Torres, Rafael
Montero, Alex Torres, and Jerry Blevens
are ready to go.
It
looks like Sean Gilmartin could be the third lefty going north until Vic Black comes off the disabled list.
And Bobby Parnell will return by Game 13 of the season.
And Bobby Parnell will return by Game 13 of the season.
The
Alex Torres for Cory
Mazzoni deal has changed everything. Boy, does this look like a great
deal on paper, if for no other reason than the fact that the Mets had no plans
on using Mazzoni in some future rotation role.
Then,
Sandy Alderson pulls another rabbit out of his
hat and Blevens fills the second lefty role out of the pen. This time it cost
the team a little better of a minor leaguer (Matt den
Dekker), but, like Mazzoni, wasn’t ‘part of the plan’ in the future.
I
have to tip the Mack hat to Alderson who changed this pen overnight from a lot
of questions to what looks like a solid group out of camp.
Hell
of a couple of moves on Montero Day.
9 comments:
Yep, pen just got a shot of B-12, this team is ready to rock.
A name not mentioned in your list is Dario Alvarez. He is surely headed to the minors for extra seasoning, but he had one really bad outing this spring...BUT 9 fine ones, in which he threw 7 1/3 scoreless, 3 hits, 2 walks, 9 Ks. Maybe no one else is impressed by that, but I am. Any other year prior to this one, he likely gets the chance out of spring with the Mets, but we are legit contenders this year, so no time for trying out the untested and unseasoned, no matter how good a spring he had.
Mets really have a shot this year. Everyone genuflects to the Nats but the Mets' offense has scored 167 runs this spring? The Nats? 112. 2 more runs per game. Why can't the Mets soundly outhit the Nats this year?
Alderson didn't acquire the shutdown lefties with control we all lusted after, but considering what he gave up, I have no complaints.
Now that he seemingly discovered how this "trade" stuff works, perhaps he can unclog the middle infield and the starting rotation, too.
As I've said on a previous post, I'm happy how the pen has worked out and I'm ready for the season to start.
I've seen reported a few places that arbitration-awarded salaries are not guaranteed. That's interesting as the Mets allowed Ruben Tejada to go to arbitration. Consequently he could theoretically be let go and they would only be on the hook for the salary up to the point of his release. There's an interesting way of making up the $1.9 million in salary they took on yesterday, huh? :)
Unfortunately my research refutes what Michael Baron and others have written. I have seen multiple sources stating the Mets settled with Tejada prior to arbitration, hence the non-guaranteed nature of arbitration awards doesn't apply.
I agree, Mack. The bullpen needed help and Sandy went out and get some. There's reasonable hope that Torres is a full inning pitcher, able to get out batters on both sides of the plate. Blevins against LH batters has been filthy in the past.
I also like that both are veterans; this is not their first rodeo.
I am genuinely surprised at how optimistic I am feeling about this team. They have a shot at the playoffs. After that, roll the dice.
James Preller
I'm going to post on this issue until the readers call for my head. Rafael Montero is better served for the team as a starter, not a reliever.
Not only is he the better starter than Gee, he earned it. He was put in a position battle and he outperformed his competition.
And why is no one addressing the possibility that Rafael Montero won't be good in the bullpen? He's a control pitcher who gives up a crap ton of fly balls. If he comes in with a runner on third and fewer than two outs (something that will happen plenty if he's relieving Gee), he will do his job, get weak contact through the air as he does regularly, and still allow an inherited runner to score (or advance).
And why are we so quick to jump to the conclusion that Gee can't be a reliever? Or traded? I hate that the default for Montero is the bullpen just because he's _____ (pick your favorite: short, never supposed to be good, the odd man out, young, not a top prospect etc. etc. etc.)
Hey, Stephen, you left out the most important piece perhaps...if Gee is making $5MM and is surplus, if he starts and does well, easier to make an advantageous trade Of the Gee man. No doubt he'll have to go this year, with 2 more starters (Matz, Thor) both ready by June's Super Duper 2.
Pros for trading Gee:
1.) We get a prospect/major league player back.
2.) Saves 4.2 million.
3.) Gives Montero, a better pitcher, his job.
4.) Takes Dillon Gee out of limbo
5.) Solves the problem now instead of waiting until April 17th when we'd have to go through this with Syndergaard anyway.
Cons for trading Gee:
......
I have nothing. Honestly just *maybe* that we don't get a good return for him right now. Thing is, he's not a particularly good major league pitcher and there's waiver fodder just as good as he is so why would a team give up anything of value for him anyway? Seriously there's a reason he has had no market for the past four months. Best thing you can hope for is that a team like Milwaukee trades us their competitive balance pick and money for Gee.
Post a Comment