So at his daily press briefing Mets skipper Jerry Manuel broke the bad – yet not surprisingly bad news that possible set up man, Kelvim Escobar will more than likely start the season on the disabled list. Okay now before you blame the Mets medical staff, Omar Minaya or the new team trainers motto of prevention & recovery we have to put things into perspective here. First off this was a low risk / high reward signing. Escobar has not pitched more than five innings in the last three years, the Mets took a gamble here – not monetarily but they avoided some good relievers this off season because from what they scouts saw in winter ball this past season, he looked strong. Secondly he can still possibly be healthy and useful by mid-season which could give the bull pen a rest if they have been overused. Third he only signed for slightly more than a million dollars so that salary is not a drain on the budget.
But the one question that remains is if not Kelvim then who? Ryota Irigashi? Bobby Parnell? Jenry Mejia? Oreither Joe Beimel orRon Mahay ? Personally I have stated that I would love to see Parnell earn the job because he has such a dominating fastball . But if he is not ready, I think it is about time that the Mets give Kiko Calero’s agent a phone call and try to sign him to be Francisco Rodriguez’s setup man.
Here are Calero’s stats , first from last season and then his career splits.
| SPLITS | G | GS | CG | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | W | L | SV | HLD | BLSV | WHIP | ERA |
| Season | 67 | 0 | 0 | 60.0 | 36 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 30 | 69 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 1.10 | 1.95 |
| Career | 313 | 1 | 0 | 302.2 | 236 | 110 | 109 | 24 | 126 | 324 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1.20 | 3.24 |
I think his stats speak for themselves. He doesn’t give up the long ball all that often, he strikes out hitters more than he walks them, and his E.R.A. was a highly respectable 1.95 for a Marlins team that overachieved. I think Omar would do himself an injustice if he didn’t at least inquire about him. And OH YEAH HE’S A TYPE B FREE AGENT THAT WAS NOT OFFERED ARBITRATION !!!
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                                                            ” Will Kiko be out eighth inning man?”
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to Mets coach from the ’91 team Tom Spencer. He is 59 today. (1951)
Pitcher from the’06 team,  Brian Bannister is 29.(1981) I remember Brian as being a long shot to make the rotation in ’06 but he pitched so well in spring training that the Mets had to include him on the roster. He was at times wild but when he was on he was close to unhittable. He went down in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury and wasn’t able to rehab in time for the post season. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals for the waste of life Abiorix Burgos , where he has proven to be a decent number five starter.
Sadly on this date last year , pitcher Tom Sturdivant of the ’64 team passed away.
New York Mets purchased Dave Kingman from the San Francisco Giants on February 28, 1975. Remarkably enough on the same date in 1981 the Mets reacquired Kingman in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for one time rising star outfielder, Steve Henderson . Unfortunately Kingman’s limited range at first base had become even more limited and his batting average ( which had never been great)  declined, making him a feast or famine home run hitter.
New York Mets signed free agent reliever Pedro Feliciano on February 28, 2006. Pedro set a Mets single season appearance record last season .
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And while you watch the Men’s U.S.A Hockey team play  Team Canada , just remember 36 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
24 comments
CaseStreet
2/28/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
Niese for the 5th starter position
Igarashi for Setup Man
Nieve 7th inning
Feliciano and Beimel for LH specialist
Parnell and Green for RH specialist
Send Green packing once Escobar is healthy. That still leaves Figgy, Misch, Kunz, Stoner, and Egbert.
While I’m at it. Bench of Blanco, Cora, Tatis, GMJ and Jacobs. Then send GMJ packing once Beltran comes back.
rustyjr
2/28/2010-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
so you don’t think calero would be a good fit?
CaseStreet
2/28/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
the more the merrier
metsfan4decades
2/28/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with mostly all these points. I think Misch has a chance to make the BP come opening day.
With that sad, can’t have too much pitching – even for the BP so I wouldn’t be opposed to giving Calero a try. But I’d rather they take a pass if there is any hint of a ‘right now’ injury with his arm. I think we’ve got enough question marks when it comes to health.
GravediggerHebner
2/28/2010-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
I thought I recalled reading about him having an injury but I can’t locate anything on that now, just general references to “injury concerns” based on his history (been on the 60 day DL twice in his career).
If he’s healthy right now he can’t be any more of a question mark than any of the other candidates so on a cheap deal I think he makes sense.
stickguy
2/28/2010-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
What is his status, health wise? I know he had some arm problem, but I have no idea if it is still impacting him.
But, if cheap enough, it seems like a good idea, but at some point, you have too many guys, since you can’t keep them all.
Assuming they don’t get Kiko, they should be looking at the young power arms in camp, and giving them a chance to step up and earn the spot. That, and they should be grooming them, by trying to refine any mechanical (control) issues, and developing whatever 2nd pitch is going to help them dominate.
Parnell and Everts certainly should be in that mix. Kunz too. Mejia I think shouldn’t be (keep him developing as a starter in the minors).
I am not big on the slotting of RPs (closer is bad enough, but pigeon holing to the 7th inning, 8th inning, etc. can get out of hand). So, K rod obviously is the “finisher”, and outside of a long/mop up man, and an obvious oogy (like a sidearmer), the rest should be able to mix/match depending on the situation and who is fresh. Even if that means you may be pitching in the 6th, 7th or 8th. Especially if there is not an obvious dominant 2nd closer type in the bunch.
I can also see Neive being a late inning guy if he doesn’t earn the 5th SP slot.
But mostly, Jerry needs to chill with the constant L/R switches, especially in the 6th or 7th inning!
I do like to see live power arms in the pen. Especially since it only really takes 1 good pitch to go with the FB in the short relief role.
rustyjr
2/28/2010-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
well there was burgos – whoops
stickguy
2/28/2010-4:56pm at 4:56 pm (UTC -4)
put that in the “seemed like a good idea at the time” category. Story of my life too!
rustyjr
2/28/2010-4:57pm at 4:57 pm (UTC -4)
ALONG WITH Jorge Jullio , Guilermo Mota, Mel Rojas etc?
stickguy
2/28/2010-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
Julio yes (in the scope of that deal).
Mota? yes the 1st time, the resign was never considered a good idea by anyone than other than Omar.
I have blocked out all details about Rojas, so can’t help you with that one.
stickguy
2/28/2010-4:01pm at 4:01 pm (UTC -4)
also, I think many of the decisions will come down to options. Some guys will lose out because they can be sent down, unless they seriously outplay another guy.
ALso good to have as much depth in AAA pen as possible, so if one guy tails off, call up a fresh arm to misuse (sorry, thinking Jerry…)
njstuckintx
2/28/2010-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
I like the talent that’s on surplus with the BJay’s. I guess picking one of those via trade or just signing Kiko and/or Biemel, I actually for trading to get one of the O’ Canada’s. Reason being is on top of them being equal in talent (depending on how you view), I believe they are under team control for a couple years. Granted, if it’s just about throwing money and keeping our assets, stock up on the Biemel’s and Kiko’s that are still out there. Heck, stock up and sprinkle in some excess relief in a trade for a #2!
stickguy
2/28/2010-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
unless there was a major difference in talent, I would rather spend the money and save the trade chips.
being under team control for most of these guys isn’t that big of a deal, considering how fungible most BP guys are, and how many are always available each year.
njstuckintx
2/28/2010-4:21pm at 4:21 pm (UTC -4)
Then sign both Kiko and Biemel! It’s only Wilpon’s money, right?
ceetar
2/28/2010-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
Manuel’s not talented enough to use a setup man unless it’s completely and undeniably obvious (like possibly with Putz)
He’ll pick and choose, use 3 guys in the 8th, etc. Even if he declares someone a setup man.
rustyjr
2/28/2010-4:49pm at 4:49 pm (UTC -4)
you are right then he will put one who pitches lights out in his gangsta dog house and onky use him during blowouts
stickguy
2/28/2010-4:57pm at 4:57 pm (UTC -4)
you had to get me started again hating on Jerry. I really, really really wish they had bit the bullet and cleared him out after last year.
I just have a bad feeling that he is going to mess things up enough to need to get cut loose early in the year anyway. Hopefully while there is still time for the new guy to make a run!
rustyjr
2/28/2010-4:58pm at 4:58 pm (UTC -4)
he made way too much money lol
stickguy
2/28/2010-5:02pm at 5:02 pm (UTC -4)
Sunk cost baby, sunk cost.
I would rather pay him to stay home than to be on the bench messing up the team.
Maybe this year’s bench coach (didn’t they change?) can straighten him out. Nah.
ceetar
2/28/2010-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
well, if they’re planning on replacing him in-house (Backman) then it’s a wash financially.
Philly’s not running away with anything. so if the Mets do flounder, plenty of time to recover.
stickguy
2/28/2010-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
the phils camp reports have been entirely too upbeat so far.
Just about time for them to get overcocky and have the BB gods strike them down karmacally.
ceetar
2/28/2010-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
only from a distance. I heard the pitching coach criticized Hamel’s attitude and rumblings that he may not be cut out for the east coast.
stickguy
2/28/2010-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
that was earlier. Dubee was all gushy after his last BP session. Although hard to judge heart/attitude/etc. from an early spring BP session!
Supposedly he is working on 2 new pitches (CB and cutter). Hopefully those don’t go well!
I can’t wait for all the bandwagon Philly fans (who are starting to get as much of a smug and entitled attitude as the Yanker fans) to get slapped in the face with a dead mackeral.
When this team springs a leak, it could go down fast, and man, will these “fans” turn on them then!
Hopefully it coincides with Eagles in disarray after they unload Mcnabb and the eagle fans eat Kolb for breakfast (washed down with plenty of cheap beer).
SOrry. Little rant there. I am so ready to move out of the PHilly area!
Hazmet
2/28/2010-7:25pm at 7:25 pm (UTC -4)
How ’bout a dead Marlin instead? A much more NL East slant.