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Lets see, I guess now its time for Postseason Roster Thread!

SteveJRogers Aug 23 2006 05:17 PM

Okay... Catchers will be LoDuca and Castro, assuming Castro makes it back, and at this rate who knows. I'd take DiFelice anyway for precaution INF: Delgado, Valentin, Wright and Reyes your starters Franco and Woodward on the bench. OF: Green, Floyd, Beltran starters I'd send Milledge down and recall him after Norfolk finishes up. Rather have vets like Endy, Tucker and ex-MFY Ledee on the bench SP Traschel, Glavine, Pedro, El Duque and Maine have earned spots RP Wagner, Heilman, Feliciano, Bradford all earned spots in the pen That leaves one slot open, and I only see 9 pitchers... Oliver? Mota? Roberto? Where does Brian Banister slot in? I believe we do have roster flexiblitiy to pull a K-Rod though and use a Sept call up as a 25th guy, though I'd be hesitant to do so unless said guy was lights out.

ABG Aug 23 2006 05:27 PM

We're not putting 3 catchers on the post season roster.

seawolf17 Aug 23 2006 07:39 PM

No DiFelice. Oliver and Berto take the last two spots right now. LoDuca, Delgado, Valentin, Reyes, Wright Beltran, Green, Chavez, Franco, Woodward Tucker, Ledee, Castro, Milledge Trax, Glavine, Pedro, Duque, Maine Wagner, Heilman, Feliciano, Bradford, Oliver, Hernandez If Floyd comes back, he displaces one of the outfielders (Ledee?).

Frayed Knot Aug 23 2006 07:55 PM

You don't take DiFelice just as Castro precaution. If Ramon goes down during a round you can add MDiF for the next. There's not just one roster for the whole deal, you can change after (but not during) each round. I think Ledee will be gone by tomorrow.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 23 2006 10:15 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: I think Ledee will be gone by tomorrow. Me too.

Willets Point Aug 23 2006 10:22 PM

Good, I don't like the Yankee cooties.

TheOldMole Aug 24 2006 11:16 AM

Can't leave Oliver off. I also don't see Ledee sticking around.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 24 2006 11:19 AM

Somebody's bound to make the argument that Ledee should stick because he's an experienced Yankee winner. And the Mets have a manager who's an experienced Yankee winner. I don't know if that will have any influence. But it's possible that Ledee has a better shot with Willie Randolph as manager than he would if the Mets were being managed by a Druid firefighter from Connecticut.

Edgy DC Aug 24 2006 04:46 PM

If Scott Linebrink isn't on that roster, he at least deserves a World Series share.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 24 2006 04:51 PM

Have the Mets made room for Green yet? I don't see any reports of any transactions, and it's not much more than two hours before game time.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 24 2006 05:12 PM

I was hunting for that news too. mets dot com had a listen-to link to a 3:45 press conference but click it and there was no mention on the page. Now I don;t see that link. Omar prolly called the whole thing off when a venezuelan guy came available.

Edgy DC Aug 28 2006 12:09 PM

Two and a half days to get anybody eligibe for postseason onto the roster --- including perhaps Alfonzo and Stinnett (or another backup catcher.).

MFS62 Aug 30 2006 12:14 PM

No word as to whether he will be called up in time to make the post season roster, but there was a comment in this morning's Daily News that Anderson Hernandez will be recalled, and that Willie doesn't like many callups on the bench. Later

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 12:22 PM

Omar Minaya was at yesterday's astounding Binghamton Mets victory over the Portland SeaDogs.

MFS62 Aug 30 2006 01:30 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Omar Minaya was at yesterday's astounding Binghamton Mets victory over the Portland SeaDogs. I know they had lost the previous night 10-0 and won last night 10-3, but why was it astounding? And, do you know if he went there to scout any particular player? Later

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 01:41 PM

It was astounding because it's a big series in order to stay in the post-season hunt. They were kablammoed 10-0 on a one-hitter the night before, but in post-game interviews, pretty much said, to a man, "It's one game. We'll get 'em tomorrow." And they did. I don't think he was there to scout any one player, but I dunno, may be considering Lindstrom or somebody for a September call.

OlerudOwned Aug 30 2006 01:47 PM

[url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5918766]Mets and Rockies Talking Trade[/url] According to Rosenthal, the proposal has been one of the Mets minor league power-relievers, Matt Lidstrom or Henry Owens. (Was this why Omar was in Binghamton?) In return, the Mets would get a righthanded utility guy who's a natural infielder, Luis A. Gonzalez, and a Mike DiFelice-but-younger guy, Danny Ardoin. 2 questions. First, wasn't Ardoin just released? Second, would this deal have to be completed before the postseason roster cut-off, or is it OK as long as the players are on a major league roster?

Yancy Street Gang Aug 30 2006 01:49 PM

The trade could be made, but if it was after September 1, the players couldn't be on the post-season roster.

seawolf17 Aug 30 2006 01:50 PM

Ardoin may have been DFA'ed, not released. So they have ten days to cut him or deal him.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 30 2006 01:59 PM

I saw that Ricky Ledee cleared waivers and was assigned to Norfolk. Whatever became of Victor Diaz?

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 02:14 PM

I think nothing.

metsmarathon Aug 30 2006 02:46 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I think nothing. i said the same thing not ten minutes ago to a coworker in response to a technical question. it brought a chuckle.

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 04:14 PM

Ardoin ended up dealt to the Orioles.

Hillbilly Aug 30 2006 04:21 PM

Apparently, the Mets have traded Victor Diaz for minor league catcher Mike Nickeas from the Texas Rangers. Soon TBA. The big question is who takes VD spot on the 40 man. Fonzi a long shot? Valentin could use some more rest for that hammy.

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 04:24 PM

If that spot is actually open, then it's been open for a week.

Hillbilly Aug 30 2006 04:26 PM

Thanks sounds right. I guess we'll know the 25-man really soon.

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 04:28 PM

His Wikipedia page is already updated to show the trade, but it says nothing about him directing The Graduate. Apparently, he's a defensive specialist.

seawolf17 Aug 30 2006 04:33 PM

They probably won't trade Henry Owens, as he's off playing with the US Olympic Qualifying Team.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 30 2006 05:17 PM

Edgy DC wrote: If that spot is actually open, then it's been open for a week. I thought Diaz was DFA'ed to make room for somebody. Mota or Green, I guess. I don't imagine that the trade opens a spot for Fonzie. I'd like to see Fonzie in September if for no other reason than to spell Wright and Valentin here and there. I'm not sure he belongs on the postseason roster, though it would be nice for old-time's sake. I would like to see Stinnett swapped for DiFelice in the next 24 hours. I'd rather have Stinnett poised to be on the playoff roster. But I'd continue to hope that Castro's return keep them from having to go that route.

Hillbilly Aug 30 2006 07:16 PM

http://norfolktides.com/team/transactions Bannister down, Hernandez up. There's the 2B & 3B help they need. Hernandez brings more to the table than Fonz, so recalling Hernandez for the playoff roster makes sense.[/url]

OlerudOwned Aug 30 2006 07:54 PM

The Mets seem to have a glut of all defense-no bat catchers.

Edgy DC Aug 30 2006 07:56 PM

For some reason, both Ledee and Diaz were DFA'd when they acquired Green, so two slots opened.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 30 2006 08:30 PM

I think Diaz left for Mota, and Ledee for Green.

MFS62 Aug 30 2006 09:08 PM

="OlerudOwned"]The Mets seem to have a glut of all defense-no bat catchers. Maybe we should consider having a Choo Choo Coleman Memorial Roster Spot. (For "good low ball catcher(s)", as Stengel called him) Later

Frayed Knot Aug 30 2006 09:34 PM

All defense/no-bat backup catchers is basicaly the definition of backup catchers.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 30 2006 10:16 PM

I can think of exceptions: Todd Pratt, Ramon Castro, Mackey Sasser, Barry Lyons.

MFS62 Aug 31 2006 06:43 AM

... Smokey Burgess, Johnny Blanchard, Elston Howard (backed up Yogi for years)... Later

Johnny Dickshot Aug 31 2006 09:26 AM

Edgy DC wrote: For some reason, both Ledee and Diaz were DFA'd when they acquired Green, so two slots opened. Diaz had to moved from the 40 when the Green deal was complete, but they let Ledee stick around for a day while Green was in transit: It was Ledee's spot on the 25 Green took. Looks like Dave Williams is going down for Anderson Hernandez, but he's not Norfolked up the ass: He'll be back to start vs. the Braves next week, so we have an xtra infielder this weekend.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 09:29 AM

This doesn't mean that Williams can't be on the playoff roster, does it? I suspect that they can always use the DL spots of Zambrano and Sanchez to get him onto the postseason roster if that's what they want. How many pitchers do we figure the Mets will carry into October? Hopefully not more than eleven.

Hillbilly Aug 31 2006 10:24 AM

Metsblog has nice review of the backup infield situation as it relates to Fonz and post-season roster gymnastics. It’s hard not to let sentimental considerations cloud my judgment when we’re talking about one of my all time favorite Mets. How exciting would it be if he came off the bench and won a game with a 1999 like signature 12 pitch at bat?

Edgy DC Aug 31 2006 10:40 AM

That dream may not work out, realistically, but I'd sure like to get him on the roster today, in time to keep the dream alive. If he doesn't hit while he's up here, and there's no room for him on the post-season roster, so be it. We could use him to spell Wright under any circumstances.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 10:43 AM

Pitchers on the postseason roster To follow up on my question about the number of pitchers on a postseason roster, I looked back to the Mets' four most recent postseasons. Two of them, admittedly, were in a different era. In 1986, the Mets carried 9 pitchers into October: Aguilera, Darling, Fernandez, Gooden, McDowell, Niemann, Ojeda, Orosco, and Sisk. (Niemann never got into a game in either the NLCS or the World Series. But I do remember that he was on the roster.) I'm a little fuzzy about the 1988 roster. Eight pitchers saw action: Aguilera, Cone, Darling, Fernandez, Gooden, Leach, McDowell, and Myers. I imagine that there were at least nine pitchers available, though, and possibly ten. The two most likely candidates are McClure and Nuñez. So unless anyone remembers otherwise, for 1988 will have to say it was between 8 and 10 pitchers. I think that the Mets used all available players in the 1999 and 2000 postseasons. If that's the case, they had 11 pitchers in 1999 (Benitez, Cook, Dotel, Franco, Hershiser, Leiter, Mahomes, Reed, Rogers, Wendell, and Yoshii) and 10 in 2000 (Benitez, Cook, Franco, Hampton, Jones, Leiter, Reed, Rusch, Wendell, and White.) I think I'd like them to go with 10 this year. I guess I can accept 11, but I wouldn't put it past them to go with 12, which I think is excessive. Here are the 10 I'd choose, assuming everyone's healthy on October 3: Martinez, Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, Trachsel, Maine, Wagner, Heilman, Feliciano, and Oliver. That makes nine. For the tenth I'd choose Roberto Hernandez or Mota. And if they go with 11, I'd choose both of them.

metirish Aug 31 2006 10:54 AM

Met.com has this ... ] Dave Williams (4-3) pitched seven solid innings to get the victory, contributed two hits and two walks to the Mets' 20-baserunner night, and his reward was a trip back to Triple-A Norfolk. The move is a procedural one -- Williams will be recalled with Friday's roster expansion to pitch for the Mets on Tuesday night against Atlanta. In the meantime, an infielder -- almost certainly veteran Edgardo Alfonzo -- will be recalled on Thursday, in time to be eligible for the postseason roster. Another reason for adding an infielder capable of playing third base is the sore right thumb Wright had wrapped after the game, the result of getting jammed a lot lately, he said. So will Fonzie get a call along with Hernandez?

seawolf17 Aug 31 2006 11:03 AM

I don't see any reason to take more than eleven pitchers to the postseason. You only need four starters, and you'll have two long men (Maine & Oliver). I don't see Williams making the cut.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 11:04 AM

"Almost certainly" Edgardo Alfonzo? Wow. That's a 180° turnaround from what we've been hearing. Me, I'd much rather have Fonzie than Anderson Hernandez on the roster, both for practical as well as sentimental reasons. Fonzie can hit. Maybe not as well as he used to, but certainly more than Anderson Hernandez can. Andy would be a better pinch runner, and probably a better defensive replacement. But I'd rather have the guy with the bat. Still nothing about Kelly Stinnett, though, huh?

metirish Aug 31 2006 11:58 AM

The beat writer for the Times is saying either Fonzie,Hernandez or Ruben Gotay will get promoted.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 12:02 PM

metirish wrote: The beat writer for the Times is saying either Fonzie,Hernandez or Ruben Gotay will get promoted. IMO, Hernandez as the one to make the playoff roster...but Fonzie could very well be added when the rosters expand to give Wright a breather...

vtmet Aug 31 2006 12:07 PM

="metirish"]Met.com has this ... ] Dave Williams (4-3) pitched seven solid innings to get the victory, contributed two hits and two walks to the Mets' 20-baserunner night, and his reward was a trip back to Triple-A Norfolk. The move is a procedural one -- Williams will be recalled with Friday's roster expansion to pitch for the Mets on Tuesday night against Atlanta. In the meantime, an infielder -- almost certainly veteran Edgardo Alfonzo -- will be recalled on Thursday, in time to be eligible for the postseason roster. Another reason for adding an infielder capable of playing third base is the sore right thumb Wright had wrapped after the game, the result of getting jammed a lot lately, he said. So will Fonzie get a call along with Hernandez? Is Mets.com contradicting itself? Here's what I just read at Mets.com: ]The move is a procedural one -- Williams will be recalled with Friday's roster expansion to pitch for the Mets on Tuesday night against Atlanta. In the meantime, an infielder -- likely veteran Anderson Hernandez -- will be recalled on Thursday, in time to be eligible for the postseason roster. Another reason for adding an infielder capable of playing third base is the sore right thumb Wright had wrapped after the game, the result of getting jammed a lot lately, he said. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060830&content_id=1637145&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

Edgy DC Aug 31 2006 12:19 PM

They're editing on the fly, having just punched Hernandez in for Alfonzo. They wouldn't have otherwise referred to Hernandez as a veteran.

ABG Aug 31 2006 01:15 PM

Is this right? From our friend Adam Rubin's blog. ] Here’s the reason the Mets needed to add Anderson Hernandez, or some position player, to the roster before Sept. 1 - at least according to Mets officials. Let’s say the Mets wanted to call up Lastings Milledge, or any other position player, from the minor-league system in September and then later use him in the playoffs. Milledge could only replace a position player who was on the roster as of Aug. 31 - not a pitcher. So Milledge could be subbed for Hernandez, but not Dave Williams. Because Tom Glavine had never gone on the disabled list, the Mets had only four bench players with a 13-man pitching staff. Hernandez will be with the Mets today, according to Triple-A Norfolk’s Web site. * * * Why would it make a difference if Milledge was added for a pitcher or a position player? I've never heard of MLB drawing such a distinction when it comes to roster sizes and whatnot.

metirish Aug 31 2006 01:20 PM

It's all rather confusing to meat this point.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 01:28 PM

I hate confused meat. We need to clear this up!

metirish Aug 31 2006 01:29 PM

LOL.....as you can see I 'm very confused.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 01:33 PM

I left Bradford off of my list above. I'd take Bradford into the playoffs before I would Oliver.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 01:43 PM

that supposedly is part of the DL clause in Rule 40(a): that if a pitcher on the post season roster is DL'd, only a pitcher can replace him; and if a position player on the post season roster is DL'd, only a position player can replace him;

seawolf17 Aug 31 2006 01:46 PM

You have to keep Oliver. He's your long man. And it's either Bert or Mota, not both.

metirish Aug 31 2006 02:03 PM

Mota.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 02:05 PM

seawolf17 wrote: You have to keep Oliver. He's your long man. And it's either Bert or Mota, not both. Mota has faced 20 batters as a Met, striking out 9 of the 20...only allowing 2 of them to reach base, only 1 scored...with the absense of Duaner Sanchez, IMO, he's a given...

duan Aug 31 2006 03:01 PM

the fact that Darren Oliver can really hit, helps his post-season roster cause immeasurably. I mean, he's not far off being as dangerous as chris woodward. And he certainly out hits Mike Defelice.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 03:02 PM

And that's why I want Kelly Stinnett promoted today. If Castro's not ready, I don't want DiFelice to be Plan B.

MFS62 Aug 31 2006 03:06 PM

duan wrote: And he certainly out hits Mike Defelice. So does most of the World's population. Later

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 03:08 PM

Except for Anderson Hernandez. I hope there's no chance in hell that AHernandez and DiFelice are both on the postseason roster.

ABG Aug 31 2006 03:27 PM

I'd think Hernandez has some significant possible roster value--PR/late inning def sub.

metirish Aug 31 2006 03:29 PM

I don't know that I would lift Valentin for defence ,he's doing fine with it but I know what you mean ABG.

Frayed Knot Aug 31 2006 03:42 PM

Eddie Coleman mentioned something on the radio which I either didn't know or had forgotten (I think it may be a fairly new rule): -- that, while you can do an injury substitution thing in making your post-season roster, you can only sub a pitcher for a pitcher or a position player for a position player. Ergo, bringing Anderson Hernandez up now (and paper demoting Dave Williams) may only be a way of "balancing" the pitcher/player ration and assuring themselves of roster flexibility later on and not necc a sign that Andy Handy is their man.

OlerudOwned Aug 31 2006 04:23 PM

David Wells has been pulled from his start today and told to clear out his stuff. It's probably the Padres, but there's going to be a press conference soon. And you never know with Omar. Sidenote: To take over for Wells, Boston's starter tonight is Julian Tavarez. Ouch.

Willets Point Aug 31 2006 04:29 PM

God forbid.

sharpie Aug 31 2006 04:34 PM

]To take over for Wells, Boston's starter tonight is Julian Tavarez. I guess the Bosox have a "designated jerk" spot in their rotation.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 04:55 PM

OlerudOwned wrote: David Wells has been pulled from his start today and told to clear out his stuff. It's probably the Padres, but there's going to be a press conference soon. And you never know with Omar. Sidenote: To take over for Wells, Boston's starter tonight is Julian Tavarez. Ouch. Hopefully it is to the Pad's...since supposedly, rumor had it that Boston Radio had said that Wells/Loretta were getting traded to the Mets for Phillip Humber (the pitcher guy, not the catcher that he traded for Kristin Benson)...that would have been a huge waste, Humber is one of the best pitchers in the Mets organization for a old, fat, slow pitch beer-leaguer and a 2nd baseman that we don't need...

OlerudOwned Aug 31 2006 04:58 PM

vtmet wrote: ="OlerudOwned"]David Wells has been pulled from his start today and told to clear out his stuff. It's probably the Padres, but there's going to be a press conference soon. And you never know with Omar. Sidenote: To take over for Wells, Boston's starter tonight is Julian Tavarez. Ouch. Hopefully it is to the Pad's...since supposedly, rumor had it that Boston Radio had said that Wells/Loretta were getting traded to the Mets for Phillip Humber (the pitcher guy, not the catcher that he traded for Kristin Benson)...that would have been a huge waste, Humber is one of the best pitchers in the Mets organization for a old, fat, slow pitch beer-leaguer and a 2nd baseman that we don't need... Was that actually a rumor or was it just one of the jocks serving up WATPs? Because I don't see Minaya giving up one of the top pitchers in a still-thin system for The Blob and an unneeded replacement for Valentin.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 05:02 PM

I didn't actually hear it...just heard about it...probably some radio guy with the same lack of insider knowledge as Mike and the Mad Dog just spouting his mouth trying to take Peter Gammons role...probably thought that Jim Duquette was still Mets gm...

vtmet Aug 31 2006 06:42 PM

Mets make it official that Anderson Hernandez was the guy called up to add to the roster in time, with the official press release from mets.com: ]MLB Official Info Press Release 08/31/2006 5:17 PM ET Mets recall infielder Anderson Hernandez; Option left-handed pitcher Dave Williams The New York Mets today recalled infielder Anderson Hernandez from Norfolk (AAA) of the International League and optioned lefthanded pitcher Dave Williams to the Tides. Hernandez will wear uniform #1 and will be available for tonight's game against the Rockies at Colorado. [url]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060831&content_id=1638877&vkey=pr_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym[/url]

vtmet Aug 31 2006 06:44 PM

I don't know how to shorten that longass URL....

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2006 06:52 PM

And remember, in the unlikely event that Anderson Hernandez does anything to earn himself some Schaefer points, he's AHernandez.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 07:03 PM

Lefty pitcher going tonight, and WIllie has been hesitant on playing Valentin a few games in a row since his hammy injury...so I wouldn't be too surprised to see AHern get a start tonight...

MFS62 Aug 31 2006 07:13 PM

vtmet wrote: Lefty pitcher going tonight, and WIllie has been hesitant on playing Valentin a few games in a row since his hammy injury...so I wouldn't be too surprised to see AHern get a start tonight... ]Anderson Hernandez-2B-Mets Aug. 31 - 5:52 pm et Mets recalled infielder Anderson Hernandez from Triple-A Norfolk. Hernandez hit just .249/.285/.295 in 414 at-bats for Norfolk, a line that should keep him out of the mix for a job as a regular second baseman next year. He's probably not ever going to have the bat to play anywhere other than shortstop, so the Mets could trade him this winter. He won't have any fantasy value while serving as a reserve. Is hitting from the right side his better side? With those numbers he might not have a better side. And, no fantasy value? It seems he has no reality value, either. BA DA BUM! LAter

OlerudOwned Aug 31 2006 07:21 PM

Just to update, The Blob was dealt to San Diego.

cooby Aug 31 2006 07:23 PM

WHy does Anderson Hernandez sound familiar? Weren't we all high on him earlier this year and then he got hurt or something?

metirish Aug 31 2006 07:35 PM

Anderson has a great glove Cooby,remember this catch?

cooby Aug 31 2006 07:38 PM

Yep :) He was on my team for a while; maybe I should get him back if Valentin is never going to play again

Johnny Dickshot Aug 31 2006 07:55 PM

I'll never get tired of watching that catch. Holy crap, what a great effort.

vtmet Aug 31 2006 08:39 PM

MFS62 wrote: ="vtmet"]Lefty pitcher going tonight, and WIllie has been hesitant on playing Valentin a few games in a row since his hammy injury...so I wouldn't be too surprised to see AHern get a start tonight... ]Anderson Hernandez-2B-Mets Aug. 31 - 5:52 pm et Mets recalled infielder Anderson Hernandez from Triple-A Norfolk. Hernandez hit just .249/.285/.295 in 414 at-bats for Norfolk, a line that should keep him out of the mix for a job as a regular second baseman next year. He's probably not ever going to have the bat to play anywhere other than shortstop, so the Mets could trade him this winter. He won't have any fantasy value while serving as a reserve. Is hitting from the right side his better side? With those numbers he might not have a better side. And, no fantasy value? It seems he has no reality value, either. BA DA BUM! LAter It's the side that he has a chance at getting a hit from... He batted .293 as a RH hitter at AAA (and much lower lefty)...and he was 3 for 11 batting RH'd for the Mets... Plus it's Valentin's weaker side...

MFS62 Aug 31 2006 09:02 PM

Thanks, then it makes some sort of sense. Later

Willets Point Aug 31 2006 11:25 PM

Thank the heavens, Wells was sent to San Diego. Maybe we can beat his fat ass in the NLDS.

SteveJRogers Aug 31 2006 11:32 PM

Yup. I'd rather have Asshead Clemens than Wells Clemens will at least do something nutty if he doesn't have it, and stay in the game. Wells is liable to quit right there in mid game!

Yancy Street Gang Sep 01 2006 08:35 AM

From Ben Shpigel's article in the New York Times: ]Though Williams is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Braves, the Mets optioned him to Class AAA Norfolk after the game Wednesday, a move that manipulated their roster for postseason flexibility. Anderson Hernández took Williams’s place on the roster. The addition of Hernández returned the Mets to their normal 13 position players. Because that pool includes the injured Ramón Castro and Cliff Floyd, they can use 15 position players in a playoff series. The Mets would need only four starters, and six or seven relievers, in a series, magnifying the importance of having a deep bench. When determining playoff rosters, teams can replace position players only with position players and pitchers only with pitchers, as long as those players were in the organization as of midnight Thursday. For example, Lastings Milledge will be eligible to replace Floyd or Castro if neither is ready for October. Because the Mets have three pitchers on the 60-day disabled list — Duaner Sánchez, Víctor Zambrano and Juan Padilla — and because they will not pitch again this season, any of them can be replaced with a pitcher in the minors. The most likely candidates are starters Williams, Mike Pelfrey and Brian Bannister, and relievers Heath Bell and Royce Ring. But because the Mets already have a full pitching contingent, the only way any of them would pitch in the playoffs would be if another pitcher were injured. Manager Willie Randolph dismissed the notion of Williams, the team’s most reliable left-handed pitcher after Tom Glavine, helping in the playoffs. He cited Williams’s limited experience in the bullpen, the most likely place where an opening would occur. Williams would not receive a start ahead of any of the regular starters. Rosters can expand to 40 players Friday. Randolph said the Mets would soon recall Bell or Ring — or both. They will also promote catcher Kelly Stinnett, who was signed to a minor league contract last week. Stinnett could be auditioning for the backup spot if the Mets determine that Castro (left knee) will not be ready Sept. 25, when he becomes eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list. Mike DiFelice is an adequate defender, but he is batting .071 (1 for 14). Stinnett provides a little bit more offense, though not much, having batted .228 in 34 games for the Yankees. So Stinnett, or even Alfonzo, could still be on the postseason roster even though they weren't promoted by August 31. And it also sounds like the Mets will have to carry at least 10 pitchers. (I never expected that they would carry fewer than ten anyway.)

Edgy DC Sep 01 2006 09:45 AM

]Yup. I'd rather have Asshead Clemens than Wells Clemens will at least do something nutty if he doesn't have it, and stay in the game. Wells is liable to quit right there in mid game! I'm going to disagree.

SteveJRogers Sep 01 2006 09:49 PM

Edgy DC wrote: ]Yup. I'd rather have Asshead Clemens than Wells Clemens will at least do something nutty if he doesn't have it, and stay in the game. Wells is liable to quit right there in mid game! I'm going to disagree. On all counts? Unless you can say that getting ejected in 1990 (IIR the correct year) early in at ALCS game was on purpose and are taking McNamara's side on the 1986 Game 6 issue, I don't see any examples such as Wells' last postseason game. Clemens may be a roid rager, but he ain't a quitter

Gwreck Sep 02 2006 12:55 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: So Stinnett, or even Alfonzo, could still be on the postseason roster even though they weren't promoted by August. Extremely unlikely that Fonzie will be there. ="Adam Rubin's Blog"] All indications are Edgardo Alfonzo will not join the Mets. It would've been a nice story, but do you really want to risk losing someone like Henry Owens or Matt Lindstrom off waivers to make 40-man roster room for a nice story?

Gwreck Sep 24 2006 09:50 PM

Bumping this one back up now that it's not exactly premature. LOCKS Starting Pitchers 1. Pedro Martinez 2. Tom Glavine 3. Orlando Hernandez Relief Pitchers 4. Billy Wagner 5. Aaron Heilman 6. Guillermo Mota 7. Chad Bradford 8. Pedro Feliciano 9. Darren Oliver Catchers 10. Paul LoDuca Infielders 11. Carlos Delgado 12. Jose Valentin 13. David Wright 14. Jose Reyes 15. Julio Franco 16. Chris Woodward Outfielders 17. Carlos Beltran 18. Shawn Green 19. Endy Chavez SPOTS TO BE FILLED Backup Catcher 20. Ramon Castro, if healthy Mike DeFelice's .080 (2 for 25), with 10 Ks and 5 walks speaks for itself. He's 1-for-9 in throwing runners out and has 2 Errors in 75 Chances. Kelly Stinnett has been equally awful with the Mets (1 for 12), but he's 3-for-6 throwing runners out, 1 error in 41 chances. Stinnett's stats as the Yankee backup weren't quite so horrible (.228 in 79 ABs, 5 for 25 throwing runners out, 2 errors in 181 chances). He figures to have the slight edge in the event Castro can't go. Fourth Outfielder 21. Cliff Floyd Even despite the crappy numbers Floyd has posted in September, there doesn't appear to be a situation in which Floyd won't be on the roster. Among the remaining options (Milledge, Tucker, Ledee) he's at worst #2 defensively and still the best power threat. Chris Woodward can also play left and right without embarassing himself, hence fifth+ outfielders being moved to later discussion. Fourth Starter 22. ??? I think Trachsel's got the edge, based on seniority and what an inability (and/or unwillingness) to pitch relief innings. Trying to get through the first round of the playoffs without a fourth starter would require the starter of the second game to pitch the fifth game on three days rest. Given the age of the pitching staff, there's no pitcher who should be doing that. FILLING OUT THE ROSTER 23. Roberto Hernandez Roberto Hernandez' spot would've been a lock if not for the emergence of Mota. (Fun Mota fact: he's allowed exactly two runs as a Met this year. Solo homers by Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Howard.) That being said, Hernandez still looks to get a spot given the need for relief pitching created by starters only going 5-6 innings per game. John Maine could theoretically be considered for this spot, as a "second long man." 24. Lastings Milledge 25. Michael Tucker At least one more hitter is needed for the bench. Michael Tucker, Lastings Milledge (and Ricky Ledee) are in contention for at least one spot on the roster. Ledee (3 for 29 with the Mets) is clearly the #3 choice. Milledge provides a power threat and is the fastest of the three players. He's been hitting more too, raising his average and has been striking out less. He looks to be in over Tucker. Spot #25 brings back the 11 -or - 12 pitchers question. Given the short series, it seems to make more sense to have the extra bat. That spot may go to John Maine for a 12th pitcher in the LCS, assuming of course the Mets are playing in that round.

MFS62 Sep 25 2006 12:08 PM

Willie says Lastings may make the post season roster - and some other neat stuff. Looks like Swugger may do the Zephyrs games. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060924&content_id=1679622&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym Later

Edgy DC Sep 25 2006 12:11 PM

Maine works both as a second long man and as an emergency starter. All teams carry a five-man starting staff in the post-season --- don't they? --- even if thea fifth guy never goes.

Yancy Street Gang Sep 25 2006 01:29 PM

I think so. Though since Trachsel apparently can't pitch in relief, that kind of complicates things. In 1999 that 5th starter in the bullpen was Orel Hershiser. In 1986 it was Rick Aguilera. I'm not recalling off the top of my head who the 1988 and 2000 guys were. I did post a listing of the postseason rosters in another thread. I think it was the "how many pitchers" poll.

Vic Sage Sep 25 2006 01:41 PM

i think both Maine and Milledge are going, and that the 25th slot will be between Robo and Tucker. With Floyd's fragile status, i think its much more important to have the extra OFer than a RP who'll only pitch in blowouts.

Edgy DC Sep 25 2006 01:44 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I think so. Though since Trachsel apparently can't pitch in relief, that kind of complicates things. Only to the extent that it conveniently works to help his case over Maine's as starter number four.

metirish Sep 25 2006 01:46 PM

[url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spwally254906335sep25,0,2640024.column?coll=ny-sports-columnists]The anti-Pedro waits on pins and needles[/url]

Yancy Street Gang Sep 25 2006 01:51 PM

Newsday wrote: But then, Martinez has managed more teams than Willie Randolph, Joe Girardi and Lee Mazzilli combined, having called the shots at all four of his big-league stops. If you think Willie has any say in how Pedro will be used in October, consider his response when asked if Martinez would throw in the bullpen before yesterday's game: "I don't know," Randolph said. "He hasn't told me yet." I remember a quote from Terry Francona in 2004 in which he hinted at his helplessness in dealing with Pedro. I don't remember the quote, but Francona basically said he had little or no choice about whether to use Pedro in relief in Game 7 of the ALCS that year. And we all know what happened to Grady Little in 2003. I was watching that game, and I was absolutely shocked when Grady walked back to the dugout and left Pedro on the mound. It seemed like such a no-brainer; Pedro was out of gas. But maybe Grady felt he didn't have the authority to remove Pedro Martinez from a playoff game? Bizarre if true.

Edgy DC Sep 25 2006 01:51 PM

So, pretend (and forfend) that a starter sudenly becomes unavailable. Which Post-Pirate is higher on your depth chart right now... Williams or Perez?

MFS62 Sep 25 2006 01:56 PM

Edgy DC wrote: So, pretend (and forfend) that a starter sudenly becomes unavailable. Which Post-Pirate is higher on your depth chart right now... Williams or Perez? We already have williams. His name is Darrin Oliver. Given that choice as a post season starter (I'd refer Maine to both), I'd pick Perez. His stuff is better. Later

Yancy Street Gang Sep 25 2006 02:01 PM

I hope it doesn't come to that, but I'd have to say Williams. Perez has a chance to be a much better pitcher than Williams will ever be, so if we're talking about our 2008 roster, I'd say Perez. But not for this October. I think you're more likely to get a decent outing out of Williams.

Yancy Street Gang Sep 25 2006 02:05 PM

It looks like in 1988 it was Terry Leach and in 2000 it was Glendon Rusch. (Fifth starters who moved to the bullpen for the postseason.) If Trachsel can't do it, and it's determined that Maine is the better choice for fourth starter, then you leave Trachsel off the roster. Sorry you're not more flexibile, Steve. In other words, I wouldn't use Trachsel as a starter if the main reason for that is that he can't be used in the bullpen.

Edgy DC Sep 25 2006 02:10 PM

I don't thiink it would be the main reason. Or, at least, I don't think they'd tell themsleves it was the main reason, even if it was. But if it's Maine, ttaking Trachsel along as an emergency starter and reliever to use oly in a marathon... there are worse ideas.

Yancy Street Gang Sep 25 2006 03:46 PM

One thing that seems to be strange about this current season is the lack of overlap between starters and relievers. I suspect that most seasons have had more movement between starting assignments and bullpen appearances. I know Maine pitched one game in relief, and so did Bannister. Other than that, none of the many starters that the Mets have used this season has pitched in relief. It seems that Willie has been reluctant to dip into his pen for spot starters, or to use his starters in relief. (Last year only Zambrano, Heilman, and Ishii appeared in both roles.) So a guy like Darren Oliver might make a viable emergency starter (if Roberto Hernandez was on the roster instead of Trachsel) but he hasn't done any such thing all year. In 2004, under Art Howe, Seo, Ginter, Wheeler, and Yates started and relieved. So is this 2006 rarity a fluke? Or does it say something about Willie Randolph's preferences? Or Omar Minaya's?

Gwreck Sep 25 2006 03:58 PM

It might've been different had so many starters not been injured. Having starting pitchers pitch in the 'pen seems to often be a result of having one too many starters on the roster and an expendable slot in the 'pen (hence Ishii/Zambrano in the pen last year, or Maine's outing from the 'pen this year).

Johnny Dickshot Sep 25 2006 04:12 PM

Willie & Omar seem to have deliberately built the staff backward and smartly, it seems, considering the oldness/health questions about Glavine,Pedro, Trax & Zambrano. Then they maintained its strength by reaching to the taxi squad (Lima, GHonzalez) and the minors when things needed fixing. That's sort of a luxury that Howe wasn't afforded in 2004, when they hacked the budget and were more or less rebuilding. Yates in 04 was like Bannister this year: Given some No. 5 starts early before an injury. Ginter and Seo were replacements in that slot, a la Gonzalez, Lima. Wheeler, IIRC, was a freak-injury starter only: He subbed for Erickson when the latter hurt himself while warming up.

Frayed Knot Sep 25 2006 04:47 PM

The most obvious reliever-as-temp-starter candidate was Heilman; who they seemed to: A) view as too important to the pen to yank back and forth and B) quite possibly have doubts about as a starter In either case, they saw enough between A and B to view taking shots with Lima/Gonzalez as better options when it was going to be just fill-in work The other was Oliver. Not sure why they didn't see him as a fill-in here or there. I guess they liked the pen's "set-up" too much to screw with it.

Edgy DC Sep 25 2006 04:58 PM

My dad had a friend --- I'll call him Casey --- in the NYPD. He was a union rep, and, though he hated bad cops personally --- would do anything he could to stay out of a car with them in it, give them the cold shoulder when their paths crossed on the street --- he'd get the union to defend them when the department came down on them. Anyhow, the lamest lame thing cops did was the three-quarter payout. If you got an injury in the line of duty that prevented you from continuing your career, you get to retire early with three-quarters pay. Lucky you. Of course, the policy was designed to reward the bravery and protect the families of good cops who took a deblitating bullet. But the definition of deblitating injury slid so much, that, by the end of my dad's career, people who got hurt at home were coming in to work, faking injuries, and getting their buyout. Worse still, guys who were just sick of being cops, or hated the neighborhood they were regularly patrolling, would just fake a back injury --- since back injuries are almost impossible to disprove --- and cash their chips in. Anyhow, this naturally made both of them sick. When Casey had long retired, both of his sons had proudly succeeded him the department. One Sunday night he gets a call from Number-One Son. Number One has torn his knee up badly playing flag football. Casey looks to Heaven, looks to Hell, closes his eyes, and tells Number-One to pour himself into his uniform the next morning, walk as straight as he could to his car, and take a dive on the first call he got. And that's what he did. Anyhow, I never really acknowledged it to myself, but I guess I think that's what Erickson did. I don't know why.

Edgy DC Sep 26 2006 08:49 PM

Oliver Perez won't be a postseason 2006 Met.

Edgy DC Sep 26 2006 09:57 PM

Heath Bell won't be a postseason 2006 Met.

metirish Sep 26 2006 10:03 PM

] My dad had a friend --- I'll call him Casey --- in the NYPD. He was a union rep, and, though he hated bad cops personally --- would do anything he could to stay out of a car with them in it, give them the cold shoulder when their paths crossed on the street --- he'd get the union to defend them when the department came down on them. Anyhow, the lamest lame thing cops did was the three-quarter payout. If you got an injury in the line of duty that prevented you from continuing your career, you get to retire early with three-quarters pay. Lucky you. Of course, the policy was designed to reward the bravery and protect the families of good cops who took a deblitating bullet. But the definition of deblitating injury slid so much, that, by the end of my dad's career, people who got hurt at home were coming in to work, faking injuries, and getting their buyout. Worse still, guys who were just sick of being cops, or hated the neighborhood they were regularly patrolling, would just fake a back injury --- since back injuries are almost impossible to disprove --- and cash their chips in. Anyhow, this naturally made both of them sick. When Casey had long retired, both of his sons had proudly succeeded him the department. One Sunday night he gets a call from Number-One Son. Number One has torn his knee up badly playing flag football. Casey looks to Heaven, looks to Hell, closes his eyes, and tells Number-One to pour himself into his uniform the next morning, walk as straight as he could to his car, and take a dive on the first call he got. And that's what he did. Anyhow, I never really acknowledged it to myself, but I guess I think that's what Erickson did. I don't know why. _________________ I work in a Pulmonary Lab and since 9/11 I have seen a lot of guys from the FDNY wanting to have bad pulmonary tests...and you know what,I don't blame them...NYC screwed them.....maybe this should be in a different thread.

Yancy Street Gang Sep 29 2006 11:17 AM

Adam Rubin in this morning's Daily News: ]CATCHING ON: Mike DiFelice and Michael Tucker should claim the final two spots among position players on the division series roster over Lastings Milledge and Ricky Ledee. Neither Milledge nor Ledee was on the big-league roster Aug. 31. They would only be eligible if they replaced a position player who was on the roster or DL on that date and is currently injured. The Mets maintained they won't use shenanigans and claim Anderson Hernandez or DiFelice is injured to get Milledge or Ledee on. Milledge might have been useful as a righty pinch-hitter, but Ramon Castro figures to take that role. With DiFelice available, the Mets can freely use Castro to pinch-hit without worrying about being shorthanded behind the plate if Paul Lo Duca is forced to leave a game.

Johnny Dickshot Sep 29 2006 11:29 AM

Nuh. I like Milledge as a pinch-runner, and figger he's as likely as Castro and more likely than DiFelice to hit a double. Too bad for Ledee -- wish he coulda made it more interesting.

Edgy DC Sep 29 2006 11:42 AM

]The Mets maintained they won't use shenanigans and claim Anderson Hernandez or DiFelice is injured to get Milledge or Ledee on. No shenanigans. No bally-hoo.