Q&A - RP - Tim McNabb

One of my favorite Mets' pen-men over the years has been Tim McNab, who went free agent in the off-season. He wound up not signing with another organization, and, for reasons undefined, the Mets passed on him too. I spent a fair part of last year pimping him for the Queens pen, and I still think that's a good idea.

We talked earlier this week, but before the Q&A, here's some McNabb-wiki:


-Tim came out of Florida Atlantic, where he went 3-2, 2.54, 12-SV in 34-G in 2002. He was strictly a relief pitcher in college.


Tim pitched a total of eight years in the Mets organizations, eight teams, and three different Mets’ AAA teams.


His career Mets stats are: 37-35, 4.24, 1.37, 357-K/149-BB.

Mack: Well, a lot of out out in Mets-land are looking around the rosters and trying to figure out where we can recommend some help. I keep looking for that guy that pitched 44 appearances last year for Binghamton and Buffalo, went 5-4, and ERA's under four... Hey... that's Tim McNab! How' it going, Tim?


Tim: No complaints at all. Just pitching for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League and trying to keep the dream alive. And trying to keep the ole arm healthy too, of course.



Mack: I remember the week you left the Mets after, what, eight years? I had just written a piece saying you deserved your turn in the Queens bullpen. I assume it came as a shock to you?



Tim: It wasn't so much a shock because free agency was so brutal, but all I knew was Mets camp and the preparation I always did to get ready. So, when that was not the case, it did come to a shock of “what now”!



Mack: It must have been a hell of a day... anyway, how the heck did you wind up with Lancaster?

Tim: Well, a former teammate of mine and former met, Ross Peeples, has played here for five years. This year will be his sixth. So, i called him up and asked what move I should make because I wasn't really sure. Twenty minutes later, I received a phone call from Manager Tom Herr and he said he'd love to have me and if something else came up he'd just rip up the contract. So, here I am.



Mack: That's great. Listen, the only thing I know about pitchers is they will never tell you anything about their stuff, and they never look at stats. That being said, let's look at what you're doing so far for the Barnstormers: 5-2, 2.94, 52.0-IP, 38-G... sure looks like you're ready to come back to the MLB.



Tim: Yeah, well I appreciate the stat update. Ahahaha, but thank you though. It’s been good so far and long story short been staying healthy. I can only hope someone would like to give an ol' boy another chance.



Mack: One last question... I sort of remember someone telling me that you were having some difficulty with one of your pitchers just before you left the Mets organization. Was there something missing that has now come back?



Tim: There wasn’t a pitch that I lost, it was something that needed to be tweaked a bit. And, by the end of the season, Ricky Bones helped me do that. My slider is my one pitch i have to really stay on top of. It’s easy to slip into bad habits when your throwing a lot. Don’t forget, as a bullpen guy, we don't get that opportunity to throw too many "touch and feels" due to the fact that we may throw that night. That is one of the main differences between starters and relievers.



Mack: That's right... it was the slider, which I remember you mentioned you were happy with it once you started pitching in Lancaster. Anyway, thank you Tim and, hopefully, somebody in either the Mets organization, or MLB, in general, will come to their senses and get you back to the league you deserve to be pitching in.

Tim: Thank you very much, Mack. What you do in keeping every Met fan informed on everyone and everything is incredible. Keep up the good work, it does not go unnoticed. Thank again. Tim