4/20/15

The Morning Report 4.20.2015 | Injury Updates, Familia's the Closer, Wally Backman in Miami?



Injury Updates- One day after I reported that Vic Black's velocity was severely down in his relief appearance for the Binghamton Mets, The Mets announced that he was being sent out for additional MRI testing due to soreness in his neck and shoulder areas. With Travis d'Arnaud and Jerry Blevins on their way to the 15 day DL for at least the next 6-8 weeks, the Mets are calling up top prospect C Kevin Plawecki as well as RHRP Hansel Robles to take their places. We all know Plawecki's story....but what about Robles? Well...ever since he converted full-time to the bullpen, he has been flat out dominant. In 12 (2014) appearances, Robles held opponents to a .159 AVG, posted a 1.80 ERA, and K'd 10.8 per 9 IP. So far in 5 (2015) appearances, Robles continues to roll on, holding batters to a .207 AVG having not given up a run this season and K'ing 11.7 batters per 9 IP.


Joe Trezza | MLB.com- 
Jeurys Familia has impressed Mets manager Terry Collins enough to remain in the closer's role, at least initially, when Bobby Parnell and Vic Black return from rehab assignments. "If Bobby Parnell and Vic Black show up tomorrow, Jeurys Familia will still close," Collins said. "Again, it's been a year since Bobby's been out there. If when he shows up, he shows the same stuff he showed us a year ago, we will try to get him back in the role that he's comfortable with."

(Chris Soto: Familia has been PHENOMENAL as the closer so far this season. Mets front office executives always felt that Familia had the best stuff between him, Parnell, and Mejia and that he would emerge as the closer of the future and so far they are right. He is tied for the league lead in saves, is holding batters to a paltry .160 AVG including a whopping 0! hits in 12 plate appearances against left handers, and made Giancarlo Stanton look silly trying to swing at his slider and sinker. We have the makings of a star here folks.)


Clark Spencer | Miami Herald- Reeling from a four-game sweep to the New York Mets that left the Marlins with the second-worst record in the majors at 3-10, manager Mike Redmond's job may be in jeopardy as the team heads to Philadelphia for a series with the Phillies that could dictate his fate. According to sources who have heard rumblings, Redmond is on the hot seat and the the organization is already bouncing around possible replacements. One possibility: Wally Backman, the Mets' Triple A manager.

(Chris Soto: KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OUR GUYS! The Miami Marlins were the popular pick to win one of the wild card spots all off-season long. However, as Brian Mangan and I pointed out multiple times....Miami has NO pitching! It doesn't matter how good your offense is if your pitching continues to give up multiple runs a game. Just look at this 4 game series.....Not a single Marlins starter went more than 5 IP. That kind of inefficiency has a ripple effect. It directly affects your bullpen as they get overworked....and it affects your offense's confidence as they press to come back all the time.)


Off Day Today! Get Some Rest Boys!

7 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Welcome, Hansel Robles and Kevin Plawecki. Let's keep the good times rolling.

I still remember when I first thought Familia would be something special...in winter 2013, he was coming off the elbow chips surgery, and was not good in winter ball - but in his last 4.1 innings, he struck out ELEVEN AND WALKED 1. Right there, I started to believe.

Tell pitching-poor Miami that somewhere, Sean Marcum is waiting for a phone call. We've left them choking in the dust. The best they could do was accidentally(?) hit d'Arnaud with a pitch and fracture a bone in his hand.

TP said...

Gents,
I ditto the kudos for Familia. However, I am already concerned about his usage. With Mejia gone until July, Black a huge question mark, and Bobby Parnell no where near ready, it is essential to keep Familia healthy. I know there have been save opportunities bunched together, but right now there is no one behind him to close out. We can't have his arm hanging in August.

Tom Brennan said...

TP - that (not wearing Familia out) makes this a huge and unexpected opportunity for Robles.

Steve from Norfolk said...

TP,

Surprisingly, TC seems to be taking care of Familia, at least so far. He rested him after three nights closing. That seems to be the standard routine for closers, If he doesn't use him when he doesn't have to, that should be OK. As we are all getting tired of saying, it's early in the season. We'll see how things are on, say, Memorial Day.

Tom Brennan said...

Steve and TP - the lower use of Familia also tells you right now they are concerned if one more domino falls in the bullpen, because with no Mejia, Black, Blevin, and Parnell in the near term, any more promotions needed if there are more injuries have a higher risk of struggling when they get here. So the last thing they'd need is to lose the anchor Familia is quickly becoming

Charles said...

What i didn't understand about Miami's off season was that they kind of took the opposite approach to what the Mets have done recently. And that is to trade some young power arms for offense.

Well, they trade Heaney and Eovaldi and now they have a rotation without any real fire power or upside. Until Jose Fernandez comes back,(and he's just one pitcher) they'll be in trouble.

I love that the Mets built up such great depth in their rotation and it's the reason I haven't gotten completely upset with all the injuries. You always have a chance when you have good pitching. The Marlins for some reason decided to trade away two high upside power arms. I just don't get it. Now, I'll honestly say I don't follow other teams so I don't know how those two pitchers are doing, but I bet they could use them right now.

Christopher Soto said...

Nathan Eovaldi looked great during Yankees camp but so far in the regular season he's been lackluster.

1-1 4.35 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 1.935 WHIP

Andrew Heaney is with the Angels now and was ranked as the #25 overall MLB prospect by MLB.com. So far

1-0, 4.70 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.2 BB/9, 1.174 WHIP