Say what you will about the defense in Tuesday’s 7-6 loss in Washington, but the bullpen was to blame. And this isn’t the first time. They have struggled since the beginning of this season and need help. Badly.
Ironically, the bullpen was the only thing the front office spent money on this year- signing 
Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch, as well as trading for Ramon Ramirez. Each of these three pitchers- who make up the heart of the bullpen and are critical to winning- are struggling. Even Rauch, who we were praising in the beginning of the year, has a 6.75 ERA over his past 12 innings pitched. Now, the bullpen is becoming a problem in almost every close game.
There needs to be some restructuring in regards to roles in the ‘pen. Bobby Parnell needs to get some more work, and I think Ramon Ramirez needs to get less. Miguel Batista can’t be used in the seventh and eighth innings. Miguel Batista is not a setup man. I’m not even sure he’s good enough to be a long man.
But more importantly, the Mets need help from outside. They need at least one, but probably two more arms to make the bullpen an asset instead of a liability. I’m not asking for Sandy Alderson to go out and get a whole new, high-priced closer. Just a setup man or two who can be counted on to be consistent.
Two names that I like in particular are Brad Lincon and Vinnie Pestano. Both are 27 year-old righties who are having very good seasons this year. Lincon has a 1.04 ERA and 0.923 WHIP this season with the Pirates. He can go multiple innings, therefore giving the Mets an excuse to finally release Miguel Batista. Pestano, on the other hand, is your classic set up man. He has pitched almost exclusively in the eighth inning for the Indians this year, pitching in some tight spots befor Chris Perez and pitching well. He has a 2.38 ERA and has 12.3 K/9 this year.
Neither of these players are closers, and neither are on teams likely to stay in their respective division races this summer, so it won’t be too hard to pry Lincon and Pestano away from their teams. A trade for one may be the perfect opportunity to dump Andres Torres if the Indians or Pirates want a bat off the bench.
The possibilities are endless and Lincon and Pestano are certainly not the only pitchers the Mets could target. But I think we all agree that they need to target someone in order to stay in the NL East race. You can’t win without a bullpen.
19 comments
SaltyGary
6/7/2012-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
With the two teams that you mentioned in Pitt and Cle, I doubt they would give up any reliable bullpen arms. They are right in the swing of their division.
This is going to be a wonky trade deadline with the new wildcard addition. More teams will be in it so less defined sellers but all contending teams will have holes to fill. I would not be surprised to see trades between 2 or 3 contenders. Someone is going to have to give up something to get something. Should be very interesting.
Also if I was a betting man I would say that bullpen arms will be at a higher premium and everyone will want one. The Mets need serious help here but maybe guys like Mejia and Beato and calm the storm. Then if Harvey and Familia come up late in the season you can stash Gee in the pen and get rid of Batista.
NJstuckinTX
6/7/2012-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
I’m with you, but who are you trading for these guys? I’m not thinking they would take a Harvey or Mejia, but what are the price tags going to be for these relievers?
oleosmirf
6/7/2012-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
I am all for trading for a reliever, but at what cost?
As surprising as team has been, making the playoffs would is likely a pipe dream and giving up valuable pieces for the future in order to catch this dream could be quite foolish.
The Mets unwillingness to move Duda to 1B and send Ike to AAA is enough evidence for me to suggest the front office is not thinking playoffs.
Now if the Mets are 5+ games over .500 6 weeks from now, they might think differently, but asking them to give up a guy like Cory Mazzoni or Rafael Montero for bullpen help is foolish
SaltyGary
6/7/2012-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
“The Mets unwillingness to move Duda to 1B and send Ike to AAA is enough evidence for me to suggest the front office is not thinking playoffs.”
I think that is a poor assumption. That’s like saying they are purposefully sabotaging the team so they are not in a position where they have to make a trade.
Look I am all for making that move, and it doesn’t cost money. If it did then your statement might hold water. Up until 2 days ago the team was decimated with injuries and it was almost impossible to make that demotion. It’s a little easier now but now inter-league play is on and we need a DH through Thursday. I would not be shocked if they make there move then if there is still no improvement.
NJstuckinTX
6/7/2012-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
DH or not, his bat is hurting this lineup. Send him down. If you struggle with Hairston at 1B or are smart and put The Duda at 1B, it’s still better than what is currently residing there.
And it’s not like we hate Ike. We need him to get fixed.
oleosmirf
6/7/2012-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
the Mets are sacrificing wins at the MLB level b/c they believe this course of action is best for Ike’s future.
If they felt they were playoff bound, they would have demoted him already and went with the lineup most likely to win games…
SaltyGary
6/7/2012-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
What is that lineup?
wannard
6/7/2012-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
this whole theory presupposes that Jason Bay has something to offer and that Niewenhuis does not hit the rookie skids.
i don’t buy any of it, certainly not the former.
SaltyGary
6/7/2012-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
13 more games left with the Nationals this season. We desperately need today’s win and hopefully after ASB they will be in a better position to take these guys on. This team is for realz. Our sloppy defense and crappy defense if for realz too LOL.
srt
6/7/2012-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
IMO, Tuesday’s loss was the direct result of going into the game down 2 men in the BP. (1) because Rauch was in NY with elbow problems (2) because we needed to carry 6 starters this week.
Taking a chance like that is rolling the dice. As it turns out, extra innings were played and the down 2 arms in the BP was a problem. If not for that, no way does Elvin pitch 2 innings, for example.
Nats have been a problem for us for a few years now. With that team, I’m afraid that will not change anytime soon.
What do you want to bet the help we get in the BP come July/Aug is from our own farm and not in the way of any trades?
wannard
6/7/2012-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Murph looks like he could use a day off today. Valdespin is swinging the bat well. Terry should give Valdespin a break today.
Ike had some good at bats yesterday. He’s not going to be sent down. And playing Duda at 1B and Bay in the OF probably doesn’t help.
The bullpen is a mess. But I wouldn’t make any big moves until we see what Beato can do and what Mejia can do. Those are two big arms that have had pretty good success in the major league pen as rookies.
Paul
6/7/2012-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
Talk to me about short-term trades when Ike Davis is either a productive hitter again or flailing at pitches that he can’t hit in Buffalo.
kingman 26
6/7/2012-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Sorry my friend, but the fielding was most definitely the major culprit Tuesday.
Two huge errors, two more plays that should have been made.
Yes, Francisco got the blown save, but if Murphy could play second, the game probably ends in 9.
Murphy has been horrid in the field and hitting .290 with a lower OPS than Thole or Tejada makes him a very questionable everyday player.
The pen was not the culprit Tuesday night.
The continuing atrocious fielding was.
Stick
6/7/2012-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with Knog. I did not see the 9th, but IMO Parnell did a fantasitc job in the 10th and with anything passing for ML quality (hell, HS quality) defense, he gets an easy save.
wannard
6/7/2012-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
oy. quintanilla questionable for today…
NJstuckinTX
6/7/2012-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
A middle infield of Valdespin and Murphy… I just got the chills.
Bryan
6/7/2012-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
bad for defense, and if he has to go to the DL and they bring up Kazmar I have no idea how they’re gonna swing that on the 40, unless they can put Baxter on the 60 day DL and hedge their bats against him becoming healthy/needing him before August.
srt
6/7/2012-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Oh brother….
Valdespin possibly at SS for a full 9 innings? I expect the defense to be worse than the first 2 games then.
Poor Dickey. Maybe he can just strike out 27 batters.
Stick
6/7/2012-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
better be pitching high in the zone.