So as we come into the final week of spring training, most of the positionary battles have been settled except for the last spot in the bullpen. So far it is obvious that this years bullpen will be comprised of Feliciano, Rodriguez, Irigashi, Takahasi, Parnell, and Sean Green ( damnit!). That pretty much leaves the bullpen shy of a long man/ spot starter. The remaining candidates for that lone position are Pat Misch, Fernando Neive and Marty Noble’s choice, Nelson Figueroa. I’ll tell you one thing, after hearing about Nelson being bombed yesterday I was surprised to read that Jerry Manuel says that he is still a candidate for the bullpen. I am not totally adverse to having Nelson in that position, he could be another Darren Oliver type who came out of nowhere in ’06 and was the saviour of the bullpen. Honestly I would rather see Fernando Neive get the assignment. He has a dominating fastball, hard slider, is about 6 years younger than Figgy ( although I might be wrong), and he showed last year that he could consistently put together good pitching performances, where as Figgy was for the most part inconsistent, winning when many of the games played didn’t mean anything to the opposing team ( see the final game of the season). I also feel that if Neive is put through waivers he would be snatched up by a another team, where Nelson or Pat Misch would more than likely clear waivers and report to AAA Buffalo as depth. And if Figgy declines the assignment to test the waters elsewhere honestly – who cares? I like the man don’t get me wrong, but if he is going to act like he is owed the spot , then he is a me first player and we don’t need that attitude permeating the clubhouse – especially if it is with a bunch of green minor leaguers. Whoever ends up winning the role I can only say “Congratulations – Now don’t screw up !!!’Â Oh yeah on a side note I didn’t forget about Mejia – I am just willing him to not make the team !!
Â
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                 ” Don’t get me wrong Nelson I like you alot – Just not as the  first option for our pitching staff !”
And with that said ….. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy birthday to back up catcher from the ’72 team ,Bill Sudakis .(1946)
Speaking of the birthday boy , on this date in 1972, New York Mets purchased Bill Sudakis from the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 27, 1972.
New York Mets released pitcher, Jim Beauchamp on March 27, 1974.
New York Mets traded Jackson Todd to the Philadelphia Phillies for Edward Cuervo ( How can you not trade for a man whose name is a type of tequila !) on March 27, 1978.
New York Mets traded reliever Nino Espinosa to the Philadelphia Phillies for disgruntled outfielder Richie Hebner and infielder Jos̩ Moreno on March 27, 1979. This was possibly one of the worst deals the Mets ever made because they lost a better than average pitcher for a malcontent (Hebner Рsorry grave) who made his feelings known that he did not want to play for the Mets, and was traded the next offseason.
New York Mets traded catcher Ed Hearn, and pitchers Rick Anderson and Mauro Gozzo to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher David Cone and Chris Jelic on March 27, 1987. This was other than the Johan Santana Deal the biggest steal in Mets history !
New York Mets traded minor league prospects Kevin Baez and Tom Wegmann to the Baltimore Orioles for power hitting first baseman ( and self admitting steroid user) David Segui on March 27, 1994.
New York Mets traded Al Leiter’s brother , pitcher Mark Leiter to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher, Brian Rose on March 27, 2001.
New York Mets traded outfielder Timo Perez to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Matt Ginter on March 27, 2004.
And don’t forget , there are only nine George ” The Stork ” Theodore days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
73 comments
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
Ah, memories….Richie Hebner, Timo Perez and even Jim Beauchamp.
As of right now, I’ll confess to not knowing what they’re doing with that BP outside of KRod and Pedro. Opinions seem to be changing daily. Before yesterday, I would have sworn Mejia would be in there and Figgy would be out. By end of yesterday, seems that might be reversed. I’m reading they’re rethinking Mejia and will send him back down (yeah!) and Figgy might get the long man spot?
From his contract, Taka has to be on the ML roster by mid May or be allowed to sign with another team. So if he doesn’t get a spot opening day, he soon will. Then, if he fails, it won’t really make a difference if he goes.
Unless Omar is not done making moves that will bring some depth to the starting rotation, they have to figure out a way to keep Nieve, Misch, Taka and yes, even Figgy – for the time being.
Will be an interesting last week of ST…..
stickguy
3/27/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Reopst alert!!!:
also saw a link on the “other†site about an article (that I did not read) on Taka. Had a quote from Barajas that Taka was a #3, or at worst a mid-rotation starter. Which I agree with.
Maybe we can make Barajas the GM, or at least the pitching coach? I am liking this guy more every day. If he hits even moderately, a great pick up.
anyway, I still stongly feel that Mejia needs to be in AA (and is that the way the tea leaves are blowing today?), with Takagucci as the #5, and misch/figgy/gaudin (if gotten!) in the pen as the long/swing/mop up man, and Neise getting ready at a controlled pace in AAA.
We really need to stop paying attention to anything the FO says at the beginning of camp. Back then, Mejia was a SP prodigy going to AA, and Neise was going to be babied since he was coming back from surgery!
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
Rusty no apology necessary. In 1979 I was a teenager, but too young to understand that Hebner was a malcontent. Maybe if we’d had the internet and all it’s inherent glory I would’ve been aware of that, but that didn’t really come through in the box scores and game summaries in the newspaper.
All I knew about him at the time were 3 things: he was a “legit” player (meaning he had success elsewhere); he had this unique habit when approaching the batter’s box for each at bat of pausing, reaching down to the ground to pick up an imaginary pebble, tossing the imaginary pebble into the air and swinging at it; and he had that creepy story about working as a gravedigger in the off season on the back of his baseball card.
The rest, as they say, is history.
oleosmirf
3/27/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
If Takahashi has a great start today, he should be 5th SP but we all know Niese was just given the spot so I would send him to AAA and keep Misch up. If we are losing Figgy we need to keep Misch…
Kingman 26
3/27/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
I totally agree that Taka should absolutely be 5th starter and let Niese get a little more seasoning.
But even if Niese is 5th starter, don’t you think Taka has looked good enough that he has to have a spot? He is much better than Misch I would think.
Even if Taka pitching in the 6th or 7th; also, with the hard-throwers and righties in the pen, he would give the pen great variety.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe taka should stay in the pen after what we just saw ?
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Alex Cora on the FAN right now with (gasp!) Sid Rosenberg.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
I hate psycho sid as much as I hate carton
ceetar
3/27/2010-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
I always liked Sid. He seemed a little more..grounded? than other fans/hosts.
gipperpdx
3/27/2010-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Positionary?
Kingman 26
3/27/2010-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
Sounds like a military term….
“The positionary reconnaissance has led us to discover the ememy’s artillery SIR!”
rustyjr
3/27/2010-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
Gipper as opus from bloom county would say – phhhhht
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
Kevin Burhardt interviewing new 3rd bench coach Dale during the 2nd inning here.
Dale says Murphy is actually a very good 1st baseman. Last year he was learning and just a little too aggressive. He likes what he sees so far and says all will be surprised with his defense this year.
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry, I meant Hale as in Chip Hale.
Kingman 26
3/27/2010-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
Alan Hale? He’d make a fine coach for this team.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
He would make a great skipper ! Lol
Kingman 26
3/27/2010-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Little Buddy!
rustyjr
3/27/2010-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
Can we make a 8th inning man out of. bamboo & coconuts ?
gategem
3/27/2010-9:49pm at 9:49 pm (UTC -4)
That was Alan Hale Jr. His father Alan Hale Sr. was a famous actor way back when.
http://www.giftsandfreeadvice.com/free_advice/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/hales44.jpg
Kingman 26
3/27/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
George Theodore! Talk about childhood memories….and don’t kill me Rusty, but I remember from my 1973 baseball card that Jim Beauchamp was an outfielder/first baseman I think.
And hey, I love it how everyone has picked up on my Darren Oliver example as the ONLY pitcher maybe ever who has become valuable after a decade of dedicated suckitude! I should have copyrighted that….
Still, if they keep Figgy over Nieve, we should all boycott.
Noble is not a sensationalist liar like Olney and Rosenthal, or a lazy numbskull like Heyman, but he is also not reliable and modern like Costa, and I still say Figgy is not making this here team. Takahashi is far better, and Nieve and Misch have far more potential.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
My bad lol btw green does suck lol
Hazmet
3/27/2010-7:53pm at 7:53 pm (UTC -4)
At least Noble’s been covering them 4ever, he’s got street cred to say whatever he want’s on the Metsie’s IMO. My favorite guy this year covering the team is David Lennon since a) he’s the only one who’s consistently said good things about this years squad and b) he’s called other’s to task for making like this team has no talent and in his opinion they should win the Wild Card. Which going into the season, I’ll take as a goal coming off last year.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Omg slappy crushed that one !
ceetar
3/27/2010-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
CRUSHED.
Igarashi fields a bunt well and throws out the runner.
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Watching the game and whoa – Castillo just hit a 3R HR – you go Luis!
Gary Cohen made an interesting comment:
The most they could back Reyes up and put him on the DL would be 10 days before the start of the season and only IF he didn’t play any ML ST games during that time. So…if they’re thinking about the DL – whereby he’ll miss just the first 5 days of the season – when he’s ready to play games, he’ll play in minor games, not the major league games.
If he won’t be quite ready to go, putting him on the DL would mean we don’t start the season off one bench spot short. Not a bad idea.
ceetar
3/27/2010-3:23pm at 3:23 pm (UTC -4)
Which means if he shows up in a major league game shortly, it’s probably a go for Opening Day.
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
Good point.
But this is the Mets….how many times did we play with a man, or two short last year?
No one is saying one way or another but so far, everyone interviewed – such as Hale earlier in the game – says he could be ready to go. Chip was very careful to say the FO, with advice from the doctors and trainers will be making that decision.
I got the impression that if he wasn’t coming off that hamstring surgery, it wouldn’t even be a discussion. They’re just going to be very, very cautious with him. No one wants to see a re-injury.
stickguy
3/27/2010-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
actually, the Mets seem to love playing a man short. Might as well start the season on the right foot!
ceetar
3/27/2010-4:51pm at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
That’s because Manuel can only count to 23. There are always 2 guys he forgets are there anyway.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
See stokes , Brian & Evans Nick
stickguy
3/27/2010-4:55pm at 4:55 pm (UTC -4)
but he does make up for it by using some guys 2x as often as he should!
rustyjr
3/27/2010-5:01pm at 5:01 pm (UTC -4)
See tatis – Fernando
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
Calero continues to look like he’s ready to go – 2 Ks and a groundout.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
Other than taka2me and barajas I feel he was the best under the radar signing
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Well, he looked good for one inning and gave up the lead in the next inning.
The inconsistency of the BP guys not named KRod or Pedro is starting to worry me.
stickguy
3/27/2010-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
well, the 8th inning guy only pitches one at a time, so no problem!
rustyjr
3/27/2010-4:35pm at 4:35 pm (UTC -4)
Touché btw guys I’m on Twitter as lagraderusty
njstuckintx
3/27/2010-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
lagraderusty? no N in there?
rustyjr
3/27/2010-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I screwed up lol
stickguy
3/27/2010-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
I give him La gentleman’s C.
I think it should be Legranderusty anyway
asod75
3/27/2010-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, this bullpen is a bit worrisome. Why did they give Igarashi a guaranteed contract and not Taka? Iggy looks like he can get righties out but struggles with lefties, much like our favorite whipping boy Sean Green (did you see his spring splits, .417 vs. lefties, .083 vs. righties). Takahashi was due for a bad outing, but I like the way he pitches. Just got a few pitches out over the plate today, pitches he had been busting inside. Don’t think he’s a No. 3 starter though, that’s just Barajas building up one of his pitchers. If he was that, there would have been a ton of teams in on him, and he would have been given a MLB contract. Still, think he can be quite useful as a spot starter/long reliever.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
I’d rather taka in the bullpen regardless
asod75
3/27/2010-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
Me too, just think Barajas was blowing smoke out his arse, pumping up one of his pitchers he feels should make the team, that’s all.
stickguy
3/27/2010-4:52pm at 4:52 pm (UTC -4)
any chance that they can just scrub the rest of ST and move straight into the regular season?
I swear this spring has gone on forever. Maybe because it seemed the off season took about 3 years?
I am just overly ready for real games to start so we can find out for sure if the Pen is going to work, if MOP will be a strength (like I predicted (oops), and can Muphy handle the 1B spot?
Time to find out baby!
asod75
3/27/2010-4:56pm at 4:56 pm (UTC -4)
It’s a little different when you live in Florida. To me, the springs always fly by because I usually hit 4-5 games a year. Still, I know what you mean. Ready for the real games to begin….
rustyjr
3/27/2010-5:03pm at 5:03 pm (UTC -4)
Only 5 or 6 games left asod u in ny or fl ?
asod75
3/27/2010-7:52pm at 7:52 pm (UTC -4)
In Florida. Have only made it to three spring games this year (like I said my wife and I usually go to at least five or six), but have caught quite a few on MLBtv or ESPN, which has been nice. May head to one more this week, not sure yet.
Mr North Jersey
3/27/2010-5:34pm at 5:34 pm (UTC -4)
Great post Grave, I liked the Stanford article shows the kid has a good foundation.
Mr North Jersey
3/27/2010-5:40pm at 5:40 pm (UTC -4)
Talk about being at the right place at the right time. Hopefully Carter can be a catalyst in our run for a title in 2010.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-5:51pm at 5:51 pm (UTC -4)
Wrong thread mrnj lol
Hazmet
3/27/2010-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
In this episode of Jerry the Manager in a Basement Love Affair:
Will he finally send Mejia packing? Is Figgy the one? Can he find it in his heart to trust MOP?
Will the season ever start?
rustyjr
3/27/2010-7:43pm at 7:43 pm (UTC -4)
Tune in tomorrow for another exciting episode of as the gangstas knife turns
Hazmet
3/27/2010-7:49pm at 7:49 pm (UTC -4)
2 thumbs up.
Did you manage to get back on to MC’s under Le Grande Orange & Blue?
Just wondering if it’s an imposter or the real deal drawing a close name.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
Not me haz – I read there when I se hard news there ( rarely) and I wouldn’t post there after I was banned – if he doesn’t want me here cu I was outspoken then I don’t wanna be there under a alias – I’m rustyjr dammit ! Lol
Hazmet
3/27/2010-8:08pm at 8:08 pm (UTC -4)
Ditto, all of that. Just curious. Last spring I believe it was when I finally realized I was banned for life I wrote him a scathing e-mail that pretty much cinched my status. It was quite cathartic. Not that he read it I’m sure.
I do however like to see a few of us here still have access over there if for no other reason then to try to inject some level of sanity over there amongst the masses.
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-8:11pm at 8:11 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not an ESPN Insider so I don’t know if Stark says anything more about it, but according to MLBTR he says:
The Mets are looking to move one of their extra catchers, either Santos or Chris Coste, and are looking to add “major league-ready triple-A pitching depth.”
Hazmet
3/27/2010-8:13pm at 8:13 pm (UTC -4)
Nice catch. I was just watching the replay wondering if they might try to package GMJ and Santos for something. If they had their preference I think they want Coste to help mentor Thole in AAA. But between that and getting pitching depth, preferences be damned, see ya Chris.
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-8:20pm at 8:20 pm (UTC -4)
I wish I knew how to define “major league-ready triple-A pitching.” It implies that it can’t be someone who is out of options so that rules out someone like Homer Bailey.
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
Anyway I would guess that any team that has the definition of that probably wants to keep it. If the Mets are looking for starting pitching they might be better off trying to convince one of the remaining unsigned free agents to sign a minor league deal.
Hazmet
3/27/2010-8:36pm at 8:36 pm (UTC -4)
Both good points, as usual, on both posts. For remaining FA hard to see what’s out there going minor league route but then again I was surprised to see Biemel’s deal be a minor league deal to start the season. The 3 guys out there that IMO might be considered best options are Washburn, Pedro, and Gaudin. None of which thrill me but Washburn with Boras as an agent and Seattle maybe interested doesn’t seem likely, Pedro back to the Mets and all that entails doesn’t seem likely, and Gaudin has drawn interest from Dodgers & Phils and no Mets interest. Hopefully I’m missing someone. Certainly not Hampton.
The AAA ML Ready agree with your assessment. Also, great piece on Carter this morning. Was a perfect setup for his in game interview today.
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-8:45pm at 8:45 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you.
I also looked at the remaining FA list and it was uninspiring, which makes sense. Whoever the Mets bring in at this stage is just going to be more ‘throwing spaghetti at the wall.’
I tried also to think ‘who might need catching depth’ and recalled that Russel Martin has some issue so I checked out the Dodgers AAA team roster but of course because we’re late in ST the roster is not fully formed. The only name I recognized on it was John Koronka who I would throw into the ‘uninspiring’ category.
I figured they’d try and trade Santos but my guess was whoever they got back wouldn’t likely make an impact on the ML club soon or ever and would just be MiL filler. I think I’m just going to have to wait and see what if anything happens.
Hazmet
3/27/2010-9:00pm at 9:00 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve just been scanning MLB Trade Rumors to get a hint of whose trying to move what on the pitching front and ran across the uninspiring Nate Robertson being shopped by the Tigers. They did mention this was because this may bode well for D-Train.
Instead of Nate, now D-Train is a curiosity I’d like to hear more about. I don’t know what Detroit’s needs are so I have no idea if we’d match up on either name.
GravediggerHebner
3/27/2010-9:22pm at 9:22 pm (UTC -4)
Good call. Months ago, before the Mets had signed any Japanese pitchers and before the Tigers traded Edwin Jackson a bunch of us bounced ideas off each other about who had pitchers that the Mets could realistically get and we pretty much came to the conclusion that the Tigers were the team (apologies for the recap if you were in on that discussion) due to their plethora.
Willis and Robertson are what’s left at the bottom of that barrel. Robertson is pretty bad, I guess I like his willingness/ability to start or relieve, he could be a second lefty/swingman, but would he be any better than Takahashi?
MLB Network broke down video of Willis the other day and it was bad. Let’s just say after they showed how his motion changed from pitch to pitch with bad results, it made Ollie Perez look like Jerry Koosman. I’d take Dontrelle if they paid for him, cuz he might suck as the 7th pitcher on the staff but he would be a pretty decent pinch hitter.
Hazmet
3/27/2010-10:09pm at 10:09 pm (UTC -4)
I thought I recalled a discussion back along time ago. I also was looking at teams we have had a trading history like KC and Pods. Man, KC is hurting, Farnsworth in the rotation, eekk!. The Pods thin on the rotation but if they’re looking to dump salary maybe Chris Young? Yes, coming off injury but that would mean he’d just fit in. Problem there is they’d probably need a pitcher back in the deal so I don’t know where that would leave us.
stickguy
3/27/2010-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
at least with those teams you can flip them a guy a year or 2 off. Hopefully in the Gee range.
Unless you want to trade Kyle allen for Chris young for 1 year?
metsfan4decades
3/27/2010-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
Well, we have several ‘major league ready triple-A pitching depth’ in Niese, Nieve, Takashi, Figgy and in a pinch, Misch.
So is there someone out there flying under the radar that hasn’t been signed yet that better than our crop of depth?
I’d have to take a look.
I’m actually getting a little worried about the BP – probably b/c we’ve got so many starters/long relievers and not enough hard throwers that can come in consistently and get the outs we’ll need in the later innings. I thought Parnell would fill that roll but he’s still up and down.
Green’s splits – as ASod pointed out above – are downright scary.
rustyjr
3/27/2010-9:09pm at 9:09 pm (UTC -4)
Can we trade green for heilmann ? – ducks lol
Hazmet
3/27/2010-9:16pm at 9:16 pm (UTC -4)
How’d ya get the Sepia print of Figgy’s futurestar picture in color?
rustyjr
3/27/2010-9:24pm at 9:24 pm (UTC -4)
Found the. Pic on bing
Hazmet
3/27/2010-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
For what it’s worth Cole Hamels struggled again today. I’m more concerned with our club breaking camp with our open pitching questions, still, but I found that slightly encouraging.
6.1IP, 7H, 5R.
Granted he’s a vet so these numbers may not mean much. But after last year they might.
stickguy
3/27/2010-11:24pm at 11:24 pm (UTC -4)
well, Moyer yesterday pitched like a cy young winner against the yeankees (and they even had real players in the lineup!)
You know what this all means?
Nope. I don’t either! other than, time for the season to start already!
ceetar
3/28/2010-2:05am at 2:05 am (UTC -4)
means nothing.
he’s not anymore a vet than Pelfrey though.
gategem
3/28/2010-1:11am at 1:11 am (UTC -4)
According to Anthony Rieber of Newsday:
“Hisanori Takahashi allowed four runs in three innings in his first big-league exhibition-game start, but Manuel said the lefthander’s spot in the bullpen is secure. “I see him definitely as a part [of the team] because he has the ability to throw strikes,” Manuel said
Manuel said the centerfield battle between Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr. could go down to the wire.”
If you really want to see the chasm that separates the players from us take a look at K-Rods new car.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/on-the-mets-beat-1.812057/k-rod-s-new-ride-attracts-a-crowd-1.1832472