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Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Dario Alvarez

2 votes

Duane Below

0 votes

Hamilton "Hambone" Bennett

0 votes

Buddy Carlyle

2 votes

Josh Edgin

12 votes

Sean Gilmartin

4 votes

Darin Gorski

0 votes

Chase Huchingson

0 votes

Adam Kolarek

1 votes

Jack "Chipotle Rocket" Leathersich

2 votes

Steven Matz

0 votes

Alex "Pantsload" Panteliodis

0 votes

Scott Rice

1 votes

Other

1 votes

Edgy MD Feb 10 2015 01:36 PM

Amid the devastating news that's come down in the past hour that left-handed hopeful T.J. Chism has signed with Somerset Patriots, I challenge you to pick the two guys you think will carry the most bullpen water from the left side with the 2015 Mets. [fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/594750/t505/180x270/594750.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/597972/generic/180x270/597972.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/592473/t505/180x270/592473.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/605414/generic/180x270/605414.jpg[/fimg]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2015 01:43 PM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

Below gets some play. Alvarez gets a toedip. Gilmartin gets more than a fairshot at second-seat-lefty, but is more jack-of-all-roles-master-of-nothing. It's Edgin-- as long as he can physically handle it-- and Ol' Buddy.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2015 01:46 PM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

This might have been even more fun as a "Match the Lefthanded Reliever to his Lefthanded Face" thread.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2015 02:00 PM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

Edgin's got the big clubhouse lead (amazin' considering he was the first guy they cut last spring) but after that, who knows. I'm putting 5 Oroscos on Sean Gilmartin at least to begin. LeatherRocket needs to drop the chalupa and go for it this spring. Longshot to make the club perhaps but not to keep his name in on the short list.

smg58 Feb 10 2015 02:03 PM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

One spot is clearly Edgin's to lose. Gilmartin, as a Rule V, will be given a clear shot to earn the second one, and has posted splits in the past that suggest he could handle it. Leathersich has a chance in this role as well. I could see Matz coming up in August if there is a need and a playoff spot to grab.

smg58 Feb 10 2015 02:05 PM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

In Edgin's defense, he was coming off an injury and just wasn't ready by ST. It was a good call both to send him down when they did and realize he was back to 100% and call him up when they did.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2015 02:09 PM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

Edgin is a guy who, like Dario Álvarez, perhaps, really climbed fast once they earmarked him.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2015 02:19 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

The Mets have been given a lot flack in this department, for not at least bringing in MLB-grade left-handed relief help, but Carlyle and Edgy certainly delivered when they eventually got called on 2014.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2015 02:21 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

You never know with relievers. I would have been less surprised if we never saw Edgin again than to see him resurface the way he did. Like that Henry Owens guy. You have to wonder if they could identify guys who could be successful just given the right amount of CAHNfidence and opportunity.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2015 02:35 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You have to wonder if they could identify guys who could be successful just given the right amount of CAHNfidence and opportunity. After getting productive innings out of a retread like Byrdak and a no-tread like Rice, I think they probably have some high confidence that they're better than the mean at shaking a tree and finding the right monkey for this role.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2015 04:23 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

To be clear, I think Gilmartin gets a shot out of the gate, if only because of the Rule V-iness/a half-decent camp relative to the others. I just don't think he'll show you enough to stick, especially given how many other, better middle-relief-types will be hanging off the back end of this rotation or sitting around playing with their one-eyed Jacks in Vegas.

TheOldMole Feb 10 2015 08:24 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Edgin the chalk, Alvarez the longshot.

Ashie62 Feb 11 2015 03:10 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

None, I see this role as one of the few weak spots in 2015.

Edgy MD Feb 11 2015 05:18 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Well, someone will pitch. Who? Will they go with all right-handers? Why do you see it as a distinct weakness, after excellent seasons by both Edgin and Carlyle?

Ashie62 Feb 12 2015 07:19 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Yes someone will pitch. Edgin is probably a lock. What I want is a left handed fireballer shut'em down type. Yes, those guys make all star teams but I want one.

Edgy MD Feb 12 2015 07:49 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Well, I want Sandy Koufax, too, but the question is, who among those currently in the fold would you go with? It's just about the only part of the team that isn't more-or-less settled. That and whether Niuwenhuis or den Dekker is your fifth outfielder, but even that has Nieuwie as about an 80% likelihood.

Edgy MD Feb 12 2015 09:07 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

In a blunder the like of which hasn't been seen since Neil Allen forgot Keith Hernandez's jersey number, I effed up in including Buddy Carlyle in this poll, even though he's a righty. I likely conflated him with his lefthanded fellow NRI superhero Dana Eveland, who has since left the fold.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 12 2015 11:15 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Edgy MD wrote: In a blunder the like of which hasn't been seen since Neil Allen forgot Keith Hernandez's jersey number, I effed up in including Buddy Carlyle in this poll, even though he's a righty. I likely conflated him with his lefthanded fellow NRI superhero Dana Eveland, who has since left the fold. And I jumped right off that cliff with you, Thelma.

Ashie62 Feb 13 2015 10:52 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Edgy MD wrote: Well, I want Sandy Koufax, too, but the question is, who among those currently in the fold would you go with? It's just about the only part of the team that isn't more-or-less settled. That and whether Niuwenhuis or den Dekker is your fifth outfielder, but even that has Nieuwie as about an 80% likelihood. Koufax is a starting pitcher. I want a shutem down lefty and none are listed. So Sandy go get one.

Edgy MD Feb 13 2015 11:01 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Maybe if you named some names and how they are supposed to be gotten, that would help. Gorzelanny? Because he's the only lefty with 20 innings or more (he had 21) who had a lower ERA than Edgin (27 1/3 innings).

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 16 2015 09:53 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

If Rice agrees to hang in Vegas, well, he's done it before, he's more of a pure lefty-on-lefty specialist than Edgin is/will likely ever be and I can see them going for a stable, familiar face among all the greenhorns.

Edgy MD Mar 10 2015 08:17 AM Re: Who are your bullpen lefties

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Below gets some play. Alvarez gets a toedip. Gilmartin gets more than a fairshot at second-seat-lefty, but is more jack-of-all-roles-master-of-nothing. It's Edgin-- as long as he can physically handle it-- and Ol' Buddy. As long as he can physically hand it looks like... perhaps not so long. All dozen of youse (including mese) who bet on Edgin, it may be time to lay down some more chips.

seawolf17 Mar 10 2015 09:15 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Good news for Gilmartin, probably.

Edgy MD Mar 10 2015 09:24 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Gillie gave up a three-spot in his last one-inning outing. He'll get every chance, but he's still got to pitch his way onto this team. Ricecakes, on the other hand, has been spotless in his two appearances.

Edgy MD Mar 10 2015 09:58 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Player W L ERA G IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG WHIP Alvarez, D 0 0 0.00 2 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 3 .286 1.500 Matz, S 0 0 0.00 1 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 0.000 Rice, S 0 0 0.00 2 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.000 Edgin, J 0 0 5.40 2 1.2 3 1 1 0 1 0 .375 2.400 Gilmartin, S 0 0 13.50 2 2.0 3 3 3 1 1 2 .333 2.000 Leathersich, J 0 1 33.75 2 1.1 2 5 5 0 5 0 .333 5.250 Still out there (I think): Sean Burnett, Phil Coke, Ryan Feierabend, Pedro Figueroa, Troy Patton, Aaron Poreda, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Raul Valdes. First two have the best track record. Hate to hit the Coke machine this early though.

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2015 10:02 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Still out there (I think): Sean Burnett, Phil Coke, Ryan Feierabend, Pedro Figueroa, Troy Patton, Aaron Poreda, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Raul Valdes. First two have the best track record. Hate to hit the Coke machine this early though. Coke signed with somebody (although I forget who at this point) just in the last few days. Minor league deal too IIRC which seemed kind of odd to me in that a living, breathing lefty rarely has to go slumming for work so perhaps there's a health issue involved.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 11 2015 12:20 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Cubs. Plenty of incentives (significant roster-makin' bonus, e.g.), though, and the scuttlebutt appears to be that he's more or less a lock for said roster. Then again, he is a 32-year-old LOOGY coming off seasons in which he posted WHIPs in the 1.5-1.6 range. Edgy's owies seem to strengthen the hands of not only contenders like Rice, but also that sinister pud-tugger of Gilmartin's.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2015 02:25 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

With Rocket, Rice, and now Alvarez coming off of stinky outings, the optimistic point of view has Edgin's elbow rallying and Gilmartin adjusting to bullpen life (not to mention jumping from AA). Has to be at least some thought directed at Matz at this point.

Edgy MD Mar 13 2015 06:19 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Big day for Ricey today. Looks like Edge is going the rest-and-rehab route and will open the season the DL, while remaining a strong candidate for surgery. "I think that's extraordinarily unlikely,'' Sandy Alderson said Thursday after the Mets hung on for an 11-9 win over the Nationals. "Highly improbable. But one never says never because you never know what's going to happen.'' David Lennon has Sandy poo-pooing the Matz-in-the-pen maneuver. "I think that's extraordinarily unlikely,'' Sandy Alderson said Thursday after the Mets hung on for an 11-9 win over the Nationals. "Highly improbable. But one never says never because you never know what's going to happen.'' So I'll take that as "Not unless/until we've cycled through the alternatives and find ourselves burned and charred, and we haven't yet needed him in the rotation."

Frayed Knot Mar 14 2015 04:10 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Possible options: Rubin-ESPN.com: "Sources told ESPNNewYork.com that St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Sam Freeman and Washington Nationals left-hander Xavier Cedeno both are out of options and unlikely to make their clubs' Opening Day rosters. That means they either need to be traded, or their clubs must try to pass them through waivers to send them to the minors to open the season. " Freeman, 27 y/o, has 70 IP in 81 games over 3 seasons although better splits vs RHPs [526 OPS-against] than against LHB [758] Cedeno. 28: 52 IP across parts of 4 years (w/HOU & WAS) with worse numbers overall as compared to Freeman but better splits vs LHBs ... and there will likely be others as well as roster crunch time comes around.

Edgy MD Mar 14 2015 05:14 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Sam Freeman — effective pitcher, but no track record as a lefty specialist. Checking his stats, he's got a reverse platoon split. Xavier Cedeño — not as much MLB experience, but the splits are there, with a strong athletic frame.

Ashie62 Mar 14 2015 06:34 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

I am cranky it has come to this. The need has been obvious for lefty help for some time and here we are SOL , for now. I wish I knew what Gee or Muffy would pull from lefty land. Be well.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 15 2015 12:19 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Edgy MD wrote: Sam Freeman — effective pitcher, but no track record as a lefty specialist. Checking his stats, he's got a reverse platoon split. Xavier Cedeño — not as much MLB experience, but the splits are there, with a strong athletic frame. Yeah, but he's also kinda terrible in general. I'd rather kick the tires on a Burnett or Troy Patton, provided either is semi-healthy. It occurs to me that someone like Franklin Morales-- who ended up signing with the Royals, I think, like three or four weeks back-- would have been perfect.

Edgy MD Mar 16 2015 09:23 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Mets reportedly scouting Brian Matusz of the O's, former high-end starter prospect, later converted to the pen. What do you call this, where you grip the ball with the third and fourth finger? Is this a standard change up grip? A palm ball? Got a lot of mileage over the last two seasons.

Ashie62 Mar 16 2015 09:35 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Looks not far from a circle change. The Orioles have a gaggle of bullpen lefties.

Edgy MD Mar 16 2015 01:35 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Dario struck out Garin Cecchini with a runner on base. Gilmartin started the next inning and instantly gave up a couple of hits and the tying run.

Nymr83 Mar 16 2015 03:45 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

There should be a "start the year without a Lefty" option. The loss of the platoon advantage could be cancelled out by the improved pitcher usage that comes from not having one!

Edgy MD Mar 16 2015 06:10 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Perfectly valid point, but the poll is the poll. It's been posted since February. And really, the poll isn't so much about what you think the team should do, so much as what you think will end up happening. Maybe we need a new poll.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 24 2015 09:34 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Leather Tuscadero has been cut.

Ashie62 Mar 25 2015 05:41 AM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Suzi Quattro is available.

Frayed Knot Mar 28 2015 01:06 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Jim Duquette, writing a column for MLB.com on 'Trades that should happen before Opening Day', tosses in a four-team swap at the end where the Mets give up Cory Mozzoni and wind up with Baltimore's LHP Brian Matusz. Specifically: Brian Matusz to Mets, Dioner Navarro to Orioles, Cody Ross to Blue Jays, Cory Mazzoni to D-backs He acknowledges that four way deals are notoriously difficult to pull off and is really just mentally moving chess pieces around here, but he reasons that Baltimore needs Matt Weiters insurance (he's recovering from TJ surgery but played just one ST game before being pulled), Arizona has a surplus of OFs while Toronto is short of them, and the Mets of course could use an LHR or two. Matusz (Matt-us) has been mentioned here and elsewhere before. He turned 28 last month and is a former 1st round draft pick (#4 overall back in 2008) who hasn't reached his hoped-for potential as a MLer. The O's turned him to relieving two years ago where his numbers have been decent though nothing special and much better vs LHBs. Making $3.2 mil this season, he'd be under team control for 2015 & 2016 http://m.mlb.com/news/article/115221732 ... pening-day

Edgy MD Mar 28 2015 01:44 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

I tend to think good pitchers become more effective in that specialist role the more they are used in it. I still think it's more likely (and what isn't more likely than a four-way trade?) they get a lefty reliever by dealing off a backup catcher.

Edgy MD Mar 29 2015 01:40 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

One thing the Mets may be able to offer the Orioles is the right to retain Logan Verrett should they want to keep him but farm him out. Maybe not enough on its own, but its something.

smg58 Mar 29 2015 03:04 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

Gilmartin has been pitching noticeably better lately, which (assuming it continues through the week) is probably sufficient to bring him north.

Frayed Knot Mar 29 2015 03:29 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

The fact that he throws with his left wing is enough to get him to go north with the team. Plus the whole Rule 5 thing. StL dealt away one of their LHPs, Sam Freeman whose name was probably brought up in this thread earlier, to Texas for the always popular PtbNL. Reportedly they contacted the Mets in advance of the trade but were told 'Not interested' - so the Mets either think a lot of Gilmartin plus whoever may be behind him, or they don't think much of Freeman.

Edgy MD Mar 29 2015 03:46 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

The funny thing is that, while neither Byrdak nor Rice knocked the world on its ass, they sure gave the Mets more than you might've ever expected, considering they both fell off the proverbial turnip truck, so I'm feeling some temptation to trust them on this. I can see them going with Rice and Gilmartin and using them selectively through the first six weeks while trying to get Leathersich around the final developmental turn and bringing him up when one or both both of the other two falter, sorta like in 2012 when they identified Edgin during Spring Training as someone they liked, but kept him on the farm during the first half pushing him through his last developmental stages.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 29 2015 04:41 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

They optioned Rice already. I read where Verrett wasn't doing well enough for the O's to carry him, sure sounds like the start of a deal.

Frayed Knot Mar 29 2015 04:46 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

I suspect they're only taking one LHR north - at least to start the season that way and see how things develop re: Rice, Leathersich, etc.

Edgy MD Apr 02 2015 10:58 PM Re: Who are Your Bullpen Lefties?

The stockpiling continues as the Mets go to the Rockford Aviators of the independent Frontier League and purchase the contract of Josh Smoker. Josh was a Nats prospect who was really good in 2011, his first year in the pen, but then played only six games in 2012 and none in 2013, before throwing 29 independent innings of mid-90s heat last season. I don't know if he was hurt or out of baseball in 2013, but he had shoulder surgery back in 2008. Likely to start 2014 in A+ with the Mets.