Tom Brennan – WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Tom Brennan – WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

When opportunity knocks, ya gotta be ready.

The blurry caption in the picture says, " When you walk up to opportunities' door, don't knock it, kick that b...ch in, smile and introduce yourself."  Or...

"Hello, I'm Hansel Robles, and I'm Kevin Plawecki, we're sorry about the busted door, get someone to fix it - we're here to play ball."

On Sunday, Jerry Blevins, who had been brilliant since the Mets picked him up, gets drilled on the pitching arm by a liner, and just like that, an unwanted multi-week "vacation" starts for Blevins.

Sucks. He has been a big factor in the Mets' 10-3 start.

Heck, the Mets had to trade late in the spring to get the crafty lefty, implying a lack of alternatives in the system, so what do they do now?

Sandy and the boys convene, and call up RIGHTY reliever Hansel Robles, who until late last year wasn't a reliever - and still, when I last checked, not a lefty, either.

BUT…Hansel Robles or whom else?

Well, Bobby Parnell's not ready and Vic Black is hurting, so those 2?  Uhh, uhh. Sick Bay Residents.

And besides, neither is a lefty.

Well, what about lefty Dario Alvarez?  Great 2014 in the minors, actually pitched briefly with the Mets last September...nice resume. 

Except he got torched on decision day, Sunday, in his AA game. If that game was his interview, he blew it. Otherwise, maybe he's the logical, if lightly experienced, candidate. Not this time.  Opportunity missed.

Jack Leathersich? The lefty is getting closer, and has pitched great in his 2015 outings {except for a 2 run shot allowed over the weekend – one pitch).  But his baggage has been threefold: 1) rep that he can't get lefties out, 2) rep of wildness, 3) rep of getting throttled at AAA level.  

His first 2 outings this spring he was Wild Man Jack, reinforcing the negatives.  Hasn't walked a single guy since, between his last several spring training outings and his first several AAA outings - amazing.  

But Jack has not done enough for long enough to demonstrate that this is nothing more than a good streak.  Won't take much longer for Jack to changing the decision-makers' thinking, if he keeps up the good pitching to go along with his V8, turbocharged strikeout game.

Montero?  Seems to be getting stretched back out as a starter, and needs time to fix the points that are causing him to falter a bit.

That leaves Robles, who was a shaky AA starter through most of 2014. The switch to the pen in late 2014 in AA was sheer genius. He did great....went to winter ball and did great...and in AAA so far this year? You're right, did great. 5 outings, 7.2 innings, 1 BB, 10 Ks. So he's not a lefty. But he is tossing great. Hard thrower.

Sandy et all made the right choice.  The one I (a big Leathersich fan) would make:  It's Hansel Time.

On the catcher side, move makes sense. Your everyday catcher goes down, you've got to go with Kevin Plawecki.  Hopefully a clone of d’Arnaud, who was off to a fine 2015 start.

Once again, I feel bad for Johnny Monell, who after a great spring training has had a fine start to his 2015 AAA season (.318).  With Plawecki promoted, he now is the everyday Las Vegas catcher. Just keep impressing folks, Johnny, and your opportunity will come knocking.

The easy part is over for Hansel and Kevin – now JOB 1 is for them to help keep that 10-3 party the Mets are on rolling.

I believe both are more than capable.

P.S.  Two high profile guys not promoted are red hot.  In the last 5 games ending Sunday, April 19, Matt Reynolds and Dilson Herrera combined for high school #'s: 25 for 48.  Plus a few walks.  Matt knocked in 13 runs in those 5 games.  Amazin'.