Master Index of Archived Threads


LOOGY Fever

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 02 2009 09:52 AM

Even though Jerry and the Mets seem to argue against too much specialization in the bullpen they still will need relievers capable of retiring lefties when necessary. Feliciano is the incumbent here, and although his numbers say he was pretty effective overall we all were driven nuts by him and ought to know that like all relievers, he could stop being effective at any moment. So the Mets to their credit have asked a buttload of would-be competitors aboard this spring: Heriberto Ruelas Kicked LH hitters asses in a small sample of Mexican Winter League ball this year (0.54 ERA, .150ish BAA, more Ks than IP). Invited to camp and may play for Mexico in the WBC. Tom Martin He must have a good pitch or something, because he's 39 and still getting jobs, even though I've perused the stats up and down and can't find much to recommend him particularly as a lefty-retirer. Casey Fossum I kind of like the idea of trying him in the specialist role if only because he's such a horror show vs. righties. The Mets also gave him No. 47 Jon Switzer Career MLB splits vs. LHB are very intriguing: .221 /.294 /.327 .621 in a small batch. Righties kill him. Valerio de los Santos Journeyman with no apparent split bias, so I guess he competes with Martin. He has a spooky thing going: Hit Adam Greenberg of the Cubs in the helmet in Greenberg's first-ever big-league appearance, first pitch. Greenberg hasn't made it back.

metirish Feb 02 2009 09:55 AM

I never heard of some of those guys , I like the idea of competition but what happens when guys are away at the WBC?

Edgy DC Feb 02 2009 09:57 AM

The team monitors their performances and factors that in when they get back and the competition heats up.

metirish Feb 02 2009 09:58 AM

Yeah I suppose , silly question from me.

Frayed Knot Feb 02 2009 10:25 AM

The Yanx DFA'd [url=http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=30390:1wyt9fuv]Chase Wright[/url:1wyt9fuv] when they signed Pettitte although I'm not sure if his status is clear yet. He had some decent AA & AAA numbers last year and if one could overlook the time when he served up 4 consecutive bombs to the BoSox back in early '07** he could be a candidate. Turns 26 this week. ** 4/22/07 After giving up 1 run over 3 innings and getting the first 2 outs in the 4th as the starter that day, Chase ran into a bit of trouble: * M Ramirez - Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF) * J Drew - Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF) * M Lowell - Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF) * J Varitek - Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF) He then struck out W.M. Pena to end the inning (and his day)

MFS62 Feb 02 2009 10:59 AM

Willy Mo Pena could strike out in a brothel. Later

attgig Feb 02 2009 11:16 AM

Beimel is still looking for a job. i wonder what he'd be willing to accept at this point.

smg58 Feb 02 2009 11:18 AM

There are still plenty of lefties in the FA pool, including Joe Beimel and Will Ohman. Like everybody else currently unsigned, they are likely to be available for less than they're really worth. I see no good reason to go into camp with just the lefties that we have. I'd also try offering Castillo (and as much salary as it takes) and one of our AAAA lefty outfielders to the Royals for Ron Mahay. Mahay is a decent lefty reliever who's probably overpaid at $4M this year, and the Royals might be the only team that needs a second baseman badly enough to give Castillo a look.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2009 11:36 AM

Okay, but then who plays second base? Murphy? Cora? Or do the Mets then go ahead and sign Hudson?

smg58 Feb 02 2009 12:45 PM

I'm all for signing Hudson.

Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 05:31 PM

All wes gots is Feliciano and Misch. Wagner a possibility for a few weeks MAYBE at the end of the season. Do they go out and get another lefty reliever by the end of July?

smg58 Jul 15 2009 06:50 PM

I'm OK with two lefties. And besides, we have bigger holes.