In what has to be the most unexpected article to come out today Marty Noble says Nelson Figueroa may be part of the Opeining Day Roster filling in for the Mets playing the role of “Staff-Saver”.
I know there must be some mistake, but according to Noble he writes, “…one unofficial position must be filled to protect the other pitchers the Mets intend to bring to Citi Field for Opening Day on April 5 — staff-saver. And the pitcher most likely to serve in that role is Nelson Figueroa, all developments occurring Friday afternoon notwithstanding.”
Noble says his sources are 2 people that are part of the club’s decision-makers.
Today against the Marlins Figueroa’s final line? 2 2/3 innings 8 hits 7 earned runs 1 walk 1 strikeout. Not what you would expect from a “Staff-Saver” right?
Stay tuned I am sure the next 7 days will be interesting indeed as the Mets try to figure out what will they do with this pitching staff.
37 comments
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not sure what Noble means by that “staff saver” but I will say this: if, proverbial gun to my head, the Mets say “we’ll send Jenrry Mejia down to be a starter but we’re gonna keep Nelson Figueroa” I’d say “OK” even though my preference is neither makes the team (for different reasons).
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
Right now, at this point in time the guy I would love to see get a shot is Chris Carter. Pitching wise I am so concerned that we have spent the Spring debating the merits of Figgy being on the roster because no one else has set themselves apart. It’s like were picking from the bottom of the barrel here.
Mejia I really hope smarter heads prevail and this kid is sent down to develop further as a possible starter possibly replacing John Maine next year in the rotation.
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
I just finished writing a piece about Carter, it’s scheduled for 9:00am tomorrow. Set your alarm, I think you’ll like it
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:11pm at 11:11 pm (UTC -4)
stickguy
3/26/2010-11:19pm at 11:19 pm (UTC -4)
screw it. Just stay up all night drinking, so you are ready to go at 9:00.
I want Carter making the team, and of course Mejia in AA, but I rarely get what I want.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:21pm at 11:21 pm (UTC -4)
ditto
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:20pm at 11:20 pm (UTC -4)
I just finished reading this by Noble and was going to comment on the last post when this caught my eye.
I’m totally confused. They want to carry Figgy b/c they don’t expect any starter not named Johan to ever regularly pitch 7 innings? And this way Figgy can fill the role as a ‘staff saver’???
We’re in deep, deep trouble if that’s the FO mindset on our starting rotation. We fans probably already knew that, hence why we wanted that #2 starter (*cough, *cough Lackey) but to hear the FO put this opinion out there does not bode well.
So what? Now we’re gonna tread water until mid season, hope Figgy can ‘spare the staff’ and try for a mid season pickup?
I’m not sure I even know what to say at this point….
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:24pm at 11:24 pm (UTC -4)
I have been entertained with the Baby Mets this Spring but the reality is we will soon know if Minaya will be rewarded for keeping the status qua in addressing the Mets Starter needs.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:36pm at 11:36 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I think we know the Mets starter needs were not addressed. What we won’t know for a couple months is if not spending the money on what was left after Lackey and rolling the dice with MOP was sound thinking or more like wishful thinking. This so very easily could go either way.
Let the games begin!
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
Any word on Beltran? Anything at all will do.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:44pm at 11:44 pm (UTC -4)
I think it was Bobby O interviewed tonight on Daily News Live who said something along the lines of he’s coming along really well, a bit ahead of schedule and should be ready to start ‘baseball activities’ fully in mid April. I think he said something about if he continues on this schedule he should be back beginning of May, NLT mid May.
I was only listening with one ear as I was busy finishing up work so I didn’t catch it all word for word.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:45pm at 11:45 pm (UTC -4)
Mid MAY? Seems so far far away.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:46pm at 11:46 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks 4D for the info.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:49pm at 11:49 pm (UTC -4)
Anytime.
I was trying to think back real hard but I just can’t remember if he said early May probably – but no later than mid May. It was something like that but I came away with the feeling it would likely be early May.
Don’t quote me on that though.
stickguy
3/26/2010-11:55pm at 11:55 pm (UTC -4)
It will end up before may 1. If he starts baseball activity by early April, it won’t take him long to be back with the mets.
stickguy
3/26/2010-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
noble is getting even more senile.
all this says is teams need a long man. Well, duh. And a couple of the Met SPs aren’t noted for pitching 7-8 a game. Just like almost every other SP out there these days.
This is why I like the idea of a couple of swing guys (capable of starting in a pinch) filling out the back end of the pen, instead of OOGYs like Green. having 2-3 guys that can easily go 2-3 innings at a time will be very helpful.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:35pm at 11:35 pm (UTC -4)
Probably more like, And a couple of the Met SPs aren’t noted for pitching 6-7 a game.
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-11:39pm at 11:39 pm (UTC -4)
Maine is a big culprit in that. I looked it up.
15 starts in 2009, 2 beyond 6 innings. 25 starts in 2008, 5 beyond 6 innings.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:41pm at 11:41 pm (UTC -4)
Ouch!
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-11:47pm at 11:47 pm (UTC -4)
For comparison.
Pelfrey
31 starts in 2009, 12 beyond 6 innings. 32 starts in 2008, 16 beyond 6 innings.
Perez
14 starts in 2009, 1 beyond 6 innings. 34 starts in 2008, 11 beyond 6 innings.
I give Perez the injury excuse in 2009 but even without that, with his contract if the Mets decide they can’t keep two “short” starting pitchers on their staff Maine is the easier one to part with.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:49pm at 11:49 pm (UTC -4)
Wow Grave it really goes to show how important our pen is.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:51pm at 11:51 pm (UTC -4)
You can say that again.
So tell me why again Figgy as long man will be the answer? I don’t necessarily hate this – totally. It will depend on who else makes the BP as well.
I hope they know what they’re doing….
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
Scary right, having Figgy be the answer to a Mets problem?
Minaya, I sure hope you know what your doing.
stickguy
3/26/2010-11:59pm at 11:59 pm (UTC -4)
well, no guarantee it will be better this year, but his problem really started in 2008 when the shoulder acted up (pitching in pain, not doing BP sessions between starts), and he never really was fully recovered in 2009.
Wonder how he did in 2007?
Not sure how many SPs these days in the NL, outside of the handful of real studs, actually pitch in the 7th (which is what these stats are measuring). Probably not that much different than many other SPs, especially the weaker ones they could have gotten this off season.
Mr North Jersey
3/27/2010-12:02am at 12:02 am (UTC -4)
Will the real John Maine please stand up.
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-12:06am at 12:06 am (UTC -4)
Just had this same conversation with my Dad earlier tonight. He was just commenting that back in his day, there was no closer. Then we went to a starter and a closer.
Now we’re at 5 starters (instead of the 3 in his day) and a couple of 6-7 inning guys, a long man, a set up guy AND a closer.
Said pretty soon the 25 man roster will be mostly pitchers who can play a defensive position and just the starting 8 position players…..
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:39pm at 11:39 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t decide if this is legit or an excuse for Figgy’s poor outing today:
‘It could have been attributed to an on-mound change he and pitching coach Dan Warthen thought was good to try at this point. Figueroa moved from the third-base end of the rubber to the first-base end. The change was designed to afford his sinker more movement and make his change-up more effective. It’s effect was to diminish the affect of his slider — Warthen considers it the best on the team — and cutter.’
Barajas says:
“There was some pitches that didn’t go Figueroa’s way,” Rod Barajas said. “I didn’t see the location I saw in other games.”
Barajas, having caught Figueroa for the first time, called the appearance a fluke.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:43pm at 11:43 pm (UTC -4)
I saw that also. Maybe he can say what Maine did, He just wasn’t feeling it.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:47pm at 11:47 pm (UTC -4)
hahahaha – well he did say:
“It was unfortunate timing of events, but — shocker — I’m human,†Figueroa said.
Which was part of his interview Noble didn’t comment on but Brian Costa on Star Ledger did.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:48pm at 11:48 pm (UTC -4)
He is Human? By the way some describe him I though he was a monster.
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-11:49pm at 11:49 pm (UTC -4)
I’m sure it was unintentional but he sounds like Billy Wagner using that word.
SHOCKER
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-12:01am at 12:01 am (UTC -4)
LOL – yeah, somehow it’s not the same when Figgy says it.
What’s even more comical is this got over 4,600 views on You Tube…
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:52pm at 11:52 pm (UTC -4)
Is it true KROD will be in “Cannonball Run 2010 – 0 to 90 wins or bust”?
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:59pm at 11:59 pm (UTC -4)
11:59pm and the 30th comment in this post. Long day indeed.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:59pm at 11:59 pm (UTC -4)
Well, we could have had Scott Schoenweis back for the BP (yes, I jest) but I see on MLBTR the Red Sox have just signed him to a minor league deal.
One Met fan comments:
‘As a Met fan who has suffered greatly these past three years I can guarantee all Sox fans that Scott Schoeneweis officially sucks. big. time. Reconsider this now, ’cause he’s a late-inning, back-breaking, lead-punting three-run homer coming soon to a theater near you.’
Someone else comments:
‘Wow, a moment like this almost makes Omar Minaya look like a genius.’
Mr North Jersey
3/27/2010-12:03am at 12:03 am (UTC -4)
drumroll please. Pa – Rum – Pum
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-12:11am at 12:11 am (UTC -4)
LOL.
I guess those Brewer fans really didn’t care for Shoe. I read the comments the other day after he was released. They were mostly calling him a punk and disrespecting his wife’s memory – using the ‘wife’ card as an excuse for poor performance and the reason they released him.
I thought some of those comments were a little over the top. Just made wonder how many of those guys think they could have functioned well in their job for the year after their wife passed away suddenly – no matter what the circumstances were.
Baseball fans can be brutal sometimes. Just want their team to win at all costs – no matter what.
I remember reading a good percentage of Met fans calling Reyes a slacker and big baby when he went back to NY to recooperate from an overactive thyroid.
I just shook my head thinking ‘get a grip’…..