“Is Harrang our best option ?”
On Friday it was reported that rubber armed starting pitcher, John Garland had signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. When I heard the news I cringed because I figured he would be a “ perfect fit” for the upcoming seasons starting rotation for the Mets. But as the old saying goes ” nothing in life is guaranteed ” and so the as of now the Mets sans a healthy Johan Santana ( If he even pitches at all this season) is a patchwork of if’s ands and maybes.
If opening Day started tomorrow, the rotation would probably look like this
1.Mike Pelfrey
2. R.A Dickey
3.Jonathan Neise,
4. Dillon Gee
5. Jennry Mejia, Oliver Perez or Pat Misch
In other words with the exception of Pelfrey , Dickey and Neise , the rotation doesn’t look that intimidating. I am hoping that by the time Spring Training ends , Oliver Perez will no longer be wearing a Mets uniform, and I still think that Mejia needs at the very lease half a season at AAA Buffalo. I expect John Maine to be non tendered – which is sad because he had such a promising career , but unfortunately he is not the same pitcher he once was.
We all know that Sandy Alderson will delve into the free agent market, but we have already been programmed to understand that Cliff Lee is not a option, neither is Jose Dela Rosa. We will have to make do with either second or third tier talent and hope to catch lightening in a bottle as we did with Dickey last season. Or it might be possible that Alderson may be able to swing a deal for pitching.
Below is the list of pitchers that have yet to be signed , as per MLBTR.com. The include :
Brian Bannister (30)
Erik Bedard (32)
Jeremy Bonderman (28)
Dave Bush (31)
Bruce Chen (34)
Kevin Correia (30) – Type B, offered arb
Doug Davis (35)
Jorge De La Rosa (30) – Type A, offered arb
Justin Duchscherer (33)
Jeff Francis (29)
Freddy Garcia (35)
Rich Harden (29)
Aaron Harang (33)
Cliff Lee (32) – Type A, offered arb
Braden Looper (36)
Pedro Martinez (39)
Rodrigo Lopez (35)
Kevin Millwood (36) – Type B, not offered arb
Brian Moehler (39)
Jamie Moyer (48)
Scott Olsen (27)
Vicente Padilla (33) – Type B, not offered arb
Carl Pavano (35) – Type A, offered arb
Brad Penny (33)
Andy Pettitte (39) – Type A, not offered arb
Nate Robertson (33)
Ian Snell (29)
Jeff Suppan (36)
Hisanori Takahashi (36)
Javier Vazquez (34) – Type B, offered arb
Jarrod Washburn (36)
Brandon Webb (32)
Todd Wellemeyer (32)
Chris Young (32)
Of this list there are only five low cost options that I find interesting. They are the injury prone- but as strong a starter when healthy, Brad Penny. The erratic Vincente Padilla. The enimatic Aaron Harrang and Brandon Webb who is a low risk / high reward pitcher if we could sign him to a reasonably low cost contract.
All I know is that there are still four months until pitchers and catchers- which is plenty of time to get this roster assembled. I just hope that our starting pitching can be as strong as it was for much of last season so that it can carry this team to a above .500 record.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today are:
Today would have been the 88th birthday for Mets coach Wes Westrum (1922) . He was the second manager in Mets history , and he is probably best known for his quote after a hard fought game ” It was a real cliff dweller !”
Pitcher, Pedro ” The Mule”Astacio is 41 (1969) . Astacio was one of the few bright spots from the ’02 season, going 12-11 with a E.R.A of 4.79. But injuries limited him to seven games the next season and the Mets promptly released him.
Spot starter from the ’04 season, José Parra is 38 (1972) .
I wish I could use the term sadly on this date in 1998 that M. Donald Grant passed away.I am sorry but I hold undying spite for the man and what he did to the Mets during the end of his tenure as their President.
New York Mets traded outfielder Gus Bell to the Milwaukee Braves for outfielder/ first baseman, Frank Thomas on November 28, 1961. Gus would later be re-acquired by the Mets in time to participate in their inaugural season.
Mets drafted outfielder, Amos Otis from the Boston Red Sox on November 28, 1966. Read my column from yesterday about my thoughts on Otis.
New York Mets traded pitchers, Juan Castillo and Todd Beckerman to the Houston Astros for pitcher, Pete Harnisch on November 28, 1994. Harnisch – when he wasn’t injured ( or fighting Lyme’s Disease) was a very good pitcher. Unfortunately he and then manager Bobby Valentine clashed and Harnisch was soon traded to the Reds.
New York Mets purchased reliever, Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on November 28, 2007. He would be traded last off season to the California Angels for Garry Matthews Jr. He struggled with the Angels, but I thought at the time – as I still do today that he was a key member of the bullpen.
And don’t forget while you are relaxing watching the N.F.L today, there are just 124 days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and 131 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn and Refriderator Perry have formed a tag team for the WWE . They are to be called the Rump and Roast !!
18 comments
stickguy
11/28/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
1st off, I don’t think there is a chance in hell Mejia is in the opening day rotation. Way too raw, and needing of work.
and Gee should be given a shot to earn the 5th spot in ST, along with the other assorted Jetsam and Floatsam that will be hanging around.
Ollie I will still be shocked to be here at the end of ST, and even more shocked if he is in the rotation.
SO, that leaves the need for at least one of these guys. Or, someone tht gets non-tendered (Kyle Davies maybe? guys like that theat seem helathy, and you think might be ready to have a couple career years at age 27-29)
Harrang has interested me for a couple of years. If cheap enough, he might work out in Citi. But, I do prefer healthy but unspectacular over potential to be good, but more likely to be hurt, for the team right now.
rustyjr
11/28/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Like I said – the crop of middle to low tiered starting pitching is underwhelming to say the least
stickguy
11/28/2010-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
so just get some cheap ones to fill out the back end for 1-2 years.
rustyjr
11/28/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
agreed – i still wish Garland was available though – thoughts on Milwood or Banister ?
stickguy
11/28/2010-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
neither is very good, but Bannister is younger and cheaper.
njstuckintx
11/28/2010-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
My thoughts are of a man in Texas, dreaming about seeing Mejia and Gee turn into 2 aces before our eyes, as unless that is happening, this rotation is going to be the cause of many an acid reflux episode. The FA class borders upon putrid.
metsfan4decades
11/28/2010-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
Oh boy – not very impressive list, is it?
I’m thinking that Gee probably makes the rotation as the 5th starter. No way in hell Ollie should be there.
Like many, I also believe that Mejia starts off in the minors.
That leaves at least one arm for the 5 man rotation and some depth to pick up.
I sure hope Sandy can pull something out of his hat….
rustyjr
11/28/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
I am sure he will try his best
oleosmirf
11/28/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
well first off you can cross off the type A guys as we’re not going in that direction. I think Sandy is going to wait as long as he can and try to find the best bargain he can. Personally I would go with Francis or Padilla from that list but if Webb/Duchscherer/Young/Harden can be for cheap then that is something they should consider as well.
As for the lineup this is what I would prefer:
Reyes, Pagan, Wright, Beltran, Davis, Bay, Murphy, Thole
Bench: Varitek, Nick the Stick, Turner, Austin Kearns, Carter
rustyjr
11/28/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
I think Varitek might just hang em up – he has that Lo duca quality to him but I don’t know how that fire will translate as a back up
oleosmirf
11/28/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
I dont really care about production from the backup catcher, i just think that Varitek could spill some knowledge over to Thole and give us some pop once an a while in the 8 hole.
metsfan4decades
11/28/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
I just don’t see Carter. He’s got the drive, intensity (whatever) and has some pop in his bat but he absolutely cannot play the OF. His throws barely made it to the IF grass half the time.
Not sure we can afford to just carry a bat off the bench.
Mr North Jersey
11/28/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
I would prob take a deeper look at these guys Jeff Francis, Rich Harden from that list.
kingman 26
11/28/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty–Did you hear that the first name Mo Vaughn and Perry chose was The Fridge and The Human Garbage Disposal?
Wow, what a list of CRAP!
Makes it easier to see why Garland got what he did so fast. Wow.
I don’t want ANY of them.
Young or Bedard if they are healthy and not outrageously overpriced like last year’s list of crap/injuries?
This list really just makes me hope that Johan gets healthy and Mejia is ready to start—but what it really means is that Misch and Gee, in all reality, are 4 and 5 to start the year!
oleosmirf
11/28/2010-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Mejia wont be considered for the team and nor should he. He only has 7 starts above A+ and thats not enough to make the jump to the majors (although those 7 starts were extremely promising)
Collins has already hinted that Tejada and Mejia wont be here anytime soon and I think its best to have them in the minors so when Mejia does jump into the rotation in August/Sept he is here to stay…
kingman 26
11/28/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
I totally agree that in a perfect world, that is what should happen, and with the new grown-ups in charge, it probably will happen.
However, let’s say that Misch and Gee just suck royally in the spring and in April, and Mejia is lights out every start during this time.
And if they also do not go for any of the garbage on Rusty’s impressive list?
We could see Mejia by May, maybe…
rustyjr
11/28/2010-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
you never know who might hit the scrap heap
kingman 26
11/28/2010-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
I am not sure there is any room available on that heap–it looks pretty crowded with scraps already!!