Well it’s finally here!! No not the blue ray edition of Blues brothers 2000 – but the start of the Mets 2010 campaign. As I reported yesterday Kelvim Escobar is suffering from shoulder discomfort, which might render him unable to pitch for the Mets for the time being. This in all actuality might be a blessing in disguise. This could thrust Bobby Parnell into the set-up man role to fill the gap between the eighth inning to Frankie Rodriguez in the ninth inning. As we all know Parnell is basically a one pitch pitcher – a hard fast ball. He seems to pitch better in shorter, more controlled scenarios rather than being stretched out as a starter. He thrived for the first half of the season as the seventh inning man. I believe Parnell’s dip in effectiveness as last season wore on was due more to over use ( this was the most innings he ever pitched) and a breakdown in confidence . So what does the future hold for the Mets bullpen this spring training ? It depends if Escobar is suffering from routine discomfort – but if it is more than that , someone – Perhaps the aforementioned Parnell – Maybe Takahashi or even Clint Everts might be the key. Your thoughts ?
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                                                  ” Does Bobby have what it takes to be the set up man? ”
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Birthday Wishes go out to one of the original Mets relievers from the ’62 team – Bob ” Righty” Miller  (1939) .
Mets coach from the ’78 campaign – Dal Maxvill is 71 (1939).
One of my all- time favorite Mets scrubs, outfielder Jerry Morales is 61 (1949) . I remember him during that horrible ’80 season. He couldn’t hit nor could he field but it was funny watching him lumber to first base on a single.
Utility infielder for the ’88 Mets - Jeff McKnight is 47 today (1963) .
One time highly touted pitching prospect for the Mets - Kevin Tapani is 46 (1964) .He along with Rick Agulera were the keys to obtaining Frank Viola from the Minnesota Twins in ’89. Tapani went on to have a long career that spanned twelve years in the majors.
Utility infielder from  the ’92 season – John Valentin is 43 (1967) .
Starting Pitcher from the ’02 Mets, Shawn Estes is 37 (1973) . Who could forget that game against the New York Yankees where the fans wanted him to throw at Roger “I Â Misremembered” Clemens, but instead he threw about three feet in back of him. Was he nervous? was he just wild? Who the hell knows – at least he hit a two run home run off of him in that game !
The Montreal Expos  signed pitcher Ray Burris of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 18, 1981.Ray was one of those pitcher that pitched well before he came to the Mets, sucked when he pitched for the Mets, and pitched well after he left the Mets – Go Figure !
New York Mets traded minor league infielder Joe Dellicarri  to the Detroit Tigers for third baseman Kevin Morgan on February 18, 1994.
The Minnesota Twins signed reliever Luis ” Don’t Call Me Benny ” Ayala of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 18, 2009. Luis was halfway decent as a middle reliever after the Mets picked him up from the Washington Nationals in August of ’08, but when he tried to assume Billy Wagner’s closers spot, he faltered along with the entire Mets bullpen down the stretch, which helped keep the Mets out of the Playoffs that year.
And dont forget – There are only 46 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
18 comments
darknova306
2/18/2010-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
You forgot Ayala’s last name in there.
rustyjr
2/18/2010-5:36pm at 5:36 pm (UTC -4)
oops thanks
darknova306
2/18/2010-5:39pm at 5:39 pm (UTC -4)
My thoughts are that Parnell was pretty bad most of the year. His WHIP was lousy all year and it caught up to him as the season went on. If he wants to succeed he needs to get some serious breaking pitches to with that solid fastball. I think he can learn and improve, but I don’t trust him with the setup role. Though, I guess that’s why we watch everyone in ST and make the decision from there.
ceetar
2/18/2010-5:48pm at 5:48 pm (UTC -4)
There’s some truth there. Parnell pitched well early, but he struggled with the control of his breaking pitches, and throwing him in and out of the starting role probably wasn’t the greatest of ideas.
I did like what I saw from him though, He had some gutsy moments, does really well with the fastball. I think he’s got the right mentality and may even be more of a reliever than a starter anyway. I’m hoping that what Parnell really needs is Spring Training, where he can shift focus a little to mechanics and those secondary pitches without the pressure of having to really get a guy out. That extra level of experimentation and feel that you can’t really do in-season/in-game.
I don’t know if this means he becomes a lights out 8th inning guy, or that Manuel who doesn’t know how to manage a bullpen to save his life or the ’08 season, would use him that way anyway.
rustyjr
2/18/2010-5:53pm at 5:53 pm (UTC -4)
im afraid that manuel will mis use him as he did evans church stokes etc
metsfan4decades
2/18/2010-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
Couldn’t agree more with Manuel’s use of the BP…
I’m hoping Parnell, as young as he is, has learned something from last year and can improve this year. How great would it be if he becomes that lights out 8th inning guy?
gategem
2/18/2010-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
Make no mistake about it. I am not a fan of Jerry Manuel. But a manager in baseball does not have the impact on a team as a coach in football or hockey. So maybe it’s time to stop blaming Manuel for every little thing and put some of the blame on the talent he has to work with. As bad as Manuel is his 2000 Chisox won 95 games. There is nothing as sweet to the fans in football as the backup qb and in baseball as the next manager to be.
Jerry is not a genius but neither are the Philadelphia and BoSox managers and those teams win. Enough with the Jerry whining and negativity.
stickguy
2/18/2010-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
First, I admit that I have no faith in Jerry to manage a BP effectively.
But even with that, why do they have to annoint any one guy the “8th inning guy”? How about just use the one that is freshest, that matches up in a particular game, etc. Or whoever isn’t in Jerry’s doghouse and/or his gut tells him to?
rustyjr
2/18/2010-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
everyone is in the gangstas doghouse
rustyjr
2/18/2010-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
still no word on barajas huh?
ceetar
2/18/2010-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
last I heard was he agreed to the minor league deal.
metsfan4decades
2/18/2010-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
Live from Duffy’s on Hot Stove. Sure wish I was there.
Pelfrey sounds confident. He’s adding a split finger change-up to his repertoire? Interesting…
Jacobs states he absolutely can be this team’s everyday 1st baseman. Gotta love that confidence, huh? He looks to be in great shape. He does say he knows he’s got to prove here in ST he belongs on this ML team – and not in the minors. Kevin asked him about his defense and the rep he’s got that it’s not so great. All he would have to say on that is sometimes those watching don’t really know what’s going on, like you’re playing someone to pull and they go the other way, etc. Bottom line is he just kept saying he expects to prove in ST his offense and defense is ML ready…
Clip from Johan’s interview. I just love him. He is The Man. Who is the best starting pitcher in your division? Just shrugs, lifts his brows and says ‘Santana’.
Said no deal done yet with Barajas but he’s expected to accept the deal.
Thole is a very well spoken young man. Asked can he make this team this year? ‘I don’t know but I’m going to do my best’. He’s apparently worked very hard this off season on his defense and throwing.
Short clip from Jose’s interview. Love that smile. Sure makes me feel the excitement on what this team could be. Not included in this clip is Reyes saying he wants to be a Met for life. Works for me…..
Short clip from Wright’s interview. Nothing we haven’t already heard. David Lennon watching them take fielding practice and Wright laughing with Jose saying ‘Boy did I miss you’. As we all did.
That was about it. Hour long show next week.
And OMG, follow up show is the 2009 Mets Season in Review. Uh….once was enough for me, thanks……
Mr North Jersey
2/18/2010-7:44pm at 7:44 pm (UTC -4)
Nice Review 4D. I’ll be adding in 2 minutes Video of Santana’s interview.
metsfan4decades
2/18/2010-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
No problem – happy to do it. I know not all are in the SNY area.
Now why I’m torturing myself with the 2009 year in review, I have no idea. If I never see Castillo’s dropped pop up again, it will be too soon…
Man, when they string all those guys going down with injuries, back to back to back, it’s beyond comprehension.
gategem
2/18/2010-8:39pm at 8:39 pm (UTC -4)
The Yankees have already deemed the popup game a classic and show it from time to time on YES. So if you want to see it again stay tuned.
metsfan4decades
2/18/2010-7:57pm at 7:57 pm (UTC -4)
And this over on Bearleaguer in response to Santana declaring him the best pitcher in the NL east:
‘You know, as a diehard Phillies fan, I’m willing to give them Santana and his 143 career ERA+ over Halladay’s 133, even with Santana’s elbow issues. But that’s about it. The Mets will be a non-factor, and considering some of the nifty little moves Washington made, I wonder if the Nationals can finish higher in the standings’.
Hey Phills, we’ll show you ‘non-factor’, all right.
darknova306
2/18/2010-10:37pm at 10:37 pm (UTC -4)
So signing the extremely mediocre Marquis and the “fades down the stretch” Gritty McHudson is supposed to make them finish higher than us? I don’t see us making the playoffs, but I hardly see us being a non-factor. That quote from that blog just reeks of silly arrogance. All they need is a major injury to one of their core guys and they may not even make the playoffs.
stickguy
2/18/2010-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
posted this earlier,but why not try again?
That could be a very good thing. Give the batters something different to worry about maybe. And help get some K’s on the lefties.
Actually, one thing that all the rotation haters forget is that they are relatively young in BB terms. Not really ollie, since he came up so early.
But Pelf and Maine are relatively inexperienced and at the stage where they easily can master some of the finer points, and add a new pitch or 2 to the arsenal.
Maine lost most of 2 years with the shoulder at the worst possible time. I honestly think, based on how he looked in ST and early 2008 that he was going to become a really, really good SP. At least good enough that people wouldn’t have been crying for Lackey to add a #2 to the rotation. And if his shoulder is back to 100%, he still could.
There is a reason guys tend to peak at around 27-30, right where 80% of the projected rotation (inclduing Neive) are. And Santana is still OK for an old guy!