"Our pen needs to step up and put out fires !"
Well we are more than a week into the ’11 season and I think that our biggest weakness has been exposed. That’s right the one constant, reoccurring disease that has been impeding the Mets chances of winning for the last four season has once again injected itself into the immune system of the Mets. That’s right folks it looks like we are once again suffering from leaky pen syndrome !!
I was at both opening day as well as this past game on Sunday. Both were games that in my opinion should have been won. I do admit that R.A Dickey didn’t have his best stuff that day, but the pen should have been able to contain the Nationals alot better than they did. On Sunday’s game, Chris Young pitched brilliantly, surrendering one run on one hit and just allowing two walks over seven innings. But unfortunately the pen – especially D.J Carrasco and Blaine Boyer could not preserve the win.
The blame can’t levied on the bullpens shoulders entirely. The Mets starting pitchers for the most part have not been pitching deep into games. Case in point the performance of both Mike Pelfrey and Jonathan Niese against the Phillies last week. Niese lasted in the game until the fourth inning while Pelfrey couldn’t get pas the second. This obviously is not good. The bullpen needs it’s share of rest – something that it hasn’t gotten much of recently.
The other problem is the lack of clutch hits by the offense. It seems like they have once again fallen into the trap of stranding runners in scoring position early and late in the games. These are runs that could have ( and most likely would have) changed the outcome in at least four games.
After Sundays game, Blaine Boyer was designated for assignment, and was replaced by Ryota Irigahsi and Jason Isringhausen. Both pitched well last night, but unfortunately Bobby Parnell couldn’t answer the call.
In order for this team to compete and to play over .500 ball the bullpen will need to function like a well oiled turbo charged lawn mower, not the weak manually operated garden weasel we have seen thus far this season.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes :
One of the most vocal Mets from ’06 -’07, Paul LoDuca is 39 (1972).
Current member of the Mets leaky pen, D. J. Carrasco is 34 (1977) .
Mets third baseman/outfielder from ’03-’04, Danny Garcia is 31 (1980) .
Sadly on this date back in 2001. longtime member of the Mets scouting and player development division, Nelson Burbrink passed away.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Ralph Terry on April 12, 1967.
The New York Mets signed free agent outfielder, Jesus Alou on April 12, 1975.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Dyar Miller on April 12, 1980.
New York Mets traded middle reliever, Julio Valera and minor league pitcher, Julian Vasquez to the California Angels for past his prime shortstop, Dick Schofield on April 12, 1992.
Mo Vaughn has yet to try the new fried chicked sandwhich at Blue Smoke, He figured to have half a dozen during tonights game !!!
41 comments
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-8:01am at 8:01 am (UTC -4)
No arguments from me on these comments, Rusty.
I don’t think this team is as bad as some of my fellow Met fans do. I still think it’s too early to just write them off as awful. I mean, does anyone think Boston will continue on the way they’ve been playing? Does anyone really believe Pujols getting off to a whopping .150 BA is indicative of how his season will go?
The BP is awful, no two ways about it. Part of the problem is indeed the starters not going deep. I don’t have the stats in front of me but after watching every game, I don’t think the blame is totally on the starters. If I’m not mistaken, the BP didn’t have it from the get go so burnout isn’t the total blame.
The team isn’t clicking at all.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-8:26am at 8:26 am (UTC -4)
Tidbit for Dirty:
http://www.dailystache.net/archives/9546
Hey, maybe he’ll make a comeback. He can’t possibly be worse than most we’ve seen trot out there these past 2 weeks. LOL.
Dirtysanchez
4/12/2011-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
ha! At this point…what do we have to lose
kistics
4/12/2011-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
At this pace, do you see Parnell being sent down for Acosta (when he’s available)? Or just flat out being sent down when Bay comes back?
TRS86
4/12/2011-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
It’s possible but honestly his appearances have not been that bad up until last night
1 inning 2 k’s 0 hits 0 walks 0 runs
1 inning 0 k’s 1 hit 0 walks 0 runs
.2 innings 1 k 1 hit 2 walks 1 run
.2 innings 2 k’s 1 hit 1 walk 0 runs
1 inning 3 hits 3 runs 2k
kistics
4/12/2011-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
It’s the last 3 outings where he was shaky. But given the current state of BP and that he’s the only expandable guy there (I guess Iggy could go through the Waivers again). So I think his name will come up as a guy to send down to AAA.
TRS86
4/12/2011-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
LOL, he’s a blow fish?
I think you could make a case of replacing Byrdak for sure. Honestly I think we are missing Misch a little.
kistics
4/12/2011-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
Okay the BP have been terrible. Inexcusable. But they also have been little unlucky as well.
Like CarGo’s 2 RBI dribbler, or fielding errors (although they were the main culprit), or bloop hits like Vicky’s ‘excuse me’ double. It doesn’t excuse them from having bad outings, but I think the Mets BP are better than what they had shown so far.
kistics
4/12/2011-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
Is there a way to check BABIP numbers for the current Mets BP?
kistics
4/12/2011-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Here are the BABIP numbers..
Byrdak .455
Boyer .407
Bucholz .357
Carasco .333
Parnell .455
Beato .286
KRod .375
Also the Mets pitching staff as a whole has .345 BABIP… But then Astros pitching staff has the same number… so I guess it doesn’t mean much….
TRS86
4/12/2011-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
See below.
TRS86
4/12/2011-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
TRS86
4/12/2011-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Ask and you shall receive.
kistics
4/12/2011-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Can you compare their numbers against other team BP?
kistics
4/12/2011-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
I found the link comparing BABIP numbers against other teams for relievers…
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/split_stats_lg.cgi?full=1¶ms=sprel|as%20Reliever|NL|2011|pitch|AB|
Does this mean anything though??
TRS86
4/12/2011-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
I am always torn on BABIP. It is used so often to show luck. My question with it is, however, if you just plain stink wouldn’t your BABIP also stink?
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
While I’m far from an expert on these stats, logically I think the answer to your question would be yes, for the most part.
TRS86
4/12/2011-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, stats are sometimes in this day in age just used for point of view. I guess obviously there is a bit of luck to it. For example if you have a high BABIP and a high ground ball percentage. Chances are that could be luck. If you had a high BABIP and a high line drive percentage, chances are you suck.
kistics
4/12/2011-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. I guess you’d have to look at the BABIP with other stats to determine whether you are lucky and unlucky. BABIP alone doesn’t really show you much of anything.
njstuckintx
4/12/2011-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
So basically, need about 4 CGs pitched in the next 5 games, eh?
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
It’s a start, lol.
kistics
4/12/2011-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
Young’s arm might fall out… but hey if he can do it..
saltygary
4/12/2011-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
They are who I thought they were so not stressing at all.
It’s been really nice to seeing Ike taking advantage of opportunities and nothing is sweeter (other than a win) than seeing a opposite field HR by Wright.
TRS86
4/12/2011-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
Another look at where the BP stands in the NL
5th in walks (would have thought that was 1st)
5th in HR
1st in BABIP
8th in GB%
last in ERA
3rd worst in WAR (Dodgers and Brewers pens are actually worse right now!)
Yet only 8th in LD %. So based on my in abilities I would think that being average in LD% but 1st in BABIP would have to equal out a little.
kistics
4/12/2011-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
So does this mean that more pop-ups are falling in for a hit?
kistics
4/12/2011-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
And I wonder how the ball park factor would affect the BABIP….
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
WIsh I could tune into the Philly/Nat game tonight.
Tidbit from an interview with Werth on his new team:
‘“Last year when we played the Mets, there weren’t any Mets fans in the seats,” Werth said. “They wouldn’t dare come down. I think four years from now, it’ll be the same way in Washington. Or sooner.”
So Werth signed with Wash thinking it will be 4 years before they’re crowned the cream of the NL East? LOL That will make him what? 36 years old by then?
Philly players are paying attention to how many Met fans are in their stands? Jeeze, we haven’t been relevant in 2 years.
saltygary
4/12/2011-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Well, Mets fans used to overwhelm that stadium it seemed like it was almost 50-50 and had a big effect. There is no juice to motivate that many fans now and I imagine it’s pretty obvious.
Prismo
4/12/2011-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
Phillies will always be jealous of the Mets. Their team may be better, but their city never stands a chance.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
Speaking of….did anyone catch the boos for Werth every single time he came to the plate this past weekend?
I was thinking maybe he’ll become the new Chipper for the Citi faithful but really – Werth isn’t in the same class as Chipper. He’s not exactly been a Mets killer.
kistics
4/12/2011-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
I wonder what kind of reception he’ll get in Philly…
TRS86
4/12/2011-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Werth will be regarded as the worst contract in baseball in about 2 years.
wannybackstra
4/12/2011-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
GKR were having an interesting discussion of his contract. They were all in agreement that Werth is not a front line player worthy of the money he earns but that he is a very good complementary player. I think it was G’s thought that Werth was locked up long-term to be a complement to Harper and Strasburg and the ZImmermans.
However, he’s an awfully expensive complement who may be past his prime by the time those other guys (sans Ryan Z) are ready to compete.
TRS86
4/12/2011-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Too me they just tried to do it too early. Guys like Werth would have been around for that price when they were going to be competitive.
wannybackstra
4/12/2011-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. It seems to me that you spend money on complementary players after you know you have a core in place.
metsfan4decades
4/12/2011-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
http://www.metsblog.com/2011/04/12/another-rough-outing-for-parnell/
I’m sorry but, this is analysis? If not, opinion?
I’ll give him points for using the most amount of commas I’ve ever seen in 1 paragraph. I suppose it’s better though than one, big run on sentence – well slightly better.
TRS86
4/12/2011-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
You mean you did not get
“I don’t mean undisciplined in a renegade, issue-with-authority kind of way, so much as I mean a lack of focus and discipline over what he’s doing with his body, i.e., commanding and harnessing his talent and potential.”
wannybackstra
4/12/2011-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
AFLAC!!!!!!!!!!
TRS86
4/12/2011-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Wanny, I hope most of my arguments you can at least understand even if you don’t agree with them. However, I have no idea what in the hell this even means.
wannybackstra
4/12/2011-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
I haven’t read it in its full context. But after re-reading the quote you provided I have determined that is means eep opp ork ah ah glurp bzzz argh grum grum grum.
Prismo
4/12/2011-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I think what MC is saying is that by “undisciplined” he means a “lack of discipline.” Ohhhh, now I get it!