N.Y. Mets: The Day, The Bullpen..., Died

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Shoot it Now, and Send This Bullpen to the Glue Factory.


The list of the ineffective; incapable; inexcusable; incompetent; and yes, the injured, is long and still growing.  It hurts me to even compile the list for you.  Find a name in the Mets' bullpen, and it applies. What applies?  Everything but the good stuff.


Collectively, the whole lot of them have been through too much; too much abuse from opposing batters, from fans, and the media; and maybe unfairly for too long as well.  You can only whip a horse so many times.  When they can't give you any more, they just can't give anymore.  Sometimes, the glue factory calls.


Now..., we can say what we will about them.  But when does it become overkill?  We do know this however.  Sandy Alderson deserves a bushel of blame and bares a huge portion of responsibility regarding Terry Collins' available choices out of the pen.  For this gang of relievers stopped pulling their weight long ago.  Everyone knew it in May.


We may now add Tim Byrdak to the list.  The aging, sub-par, relief butcher pitcher, who suddenly forgot how to comport himself in the twilight of his career, and who likes to give his catchers dirty looks, is now done for the season, and may even be done for his career.




Here is your list of ponderous bullpen issues:

*  On April 5th, Pedro Beato and D.J. Carrasco were placed on the fifteen-day disabled list.

*  On May 8th, Pedro Beato was moved to the sixty-day list.  On May 16th, D.J. Carrasco was designated for assignment.  On May 20th, Miguel Batista was placed on the fifteen-day disabled list.  On May 29th, Manny Acosta was designated for assignment.

*  On June 5th, Ramon Ramirez was placed on the fifteen-day disabled list.  On June 24th, Frank Francisco joined him.

*  On July 22nd, Miguel Batista was designated for assignment, and on July 27th, he was released...,

*  ....Which inevitably brings us into August, and Tim Byrdak.



Omitted from this list, were the young and innocent who spent the season trafficking back and forth from Buffalo.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Amazins Have Much Hinging on June

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Sandy Alderson Wastes No Time; Continues To Address Bullpen Issues.  Manny Acosta Gets Designated for Assignment After Game One of Most Competitive Stretch in Amazin's Schedule So Far.

Mets Must Generate Power To Stay Cool This Summer.

Popular Opinion has it the Mets will not be able to sustain this level of play through the summer.  If the Mets keep getting injured at this rate, the Opinionated might be right.  If the Mets stumble, and fall during this next 19-game stretch; including Monday's loss to Philadelphia, the Opinionated might again, be right.  Nineteen games from now lands the Mets in a series with Baltimore, then it's right back against the Yankees again in the Citi Field portion of the Subway Series.

In other words, it's time to sink or swim boys.  Moving forward, they will be defined by June.  Not April or May.  Because that's what happens when you're only (for now) five games over the .500 level.  And that's what happens when the Braves hit a horrific stretch and suffer eight consecutive losses heading into Tuesday's games.  And that's what happens when Philly gets ravaged by Met-Like high end injuries.  Make what ever you will of the Marlins.  But now that Memorial Day has passed, no one will remember all the Feel-Good the Mets gave us for the first two months of Spring.

Right off the bat, Monday night, I feel the Mets failed to seize the moment.  They had Cole Hamels on the ropes, and damn near out-lasted him, hitting two, two-run home runs off the Philly hurler.  Jon Niese did little however, to help his own cause with five walks in five innings pitched.  Even then, the bullpen, namely Manny Acosta, couldn't keep the Phils where they were.

This season, the 31-year old Manny Acosta, was in a word, terrible.  In twenty-two innings pitched, he possessed a still escalating 11.28 ERA.  He gave up thirty-five hits and walked another fifteen.  And in those twenty-two innings, he gave up six dreadful home runs.  Like D.J. Carrasco before him, Manny Acosta was designated for assignment by Sandy Alderson Tuesday.  Chris Schwinden was recalled to fill the roster spot.

With offensive statistics starting to paint a very grim picture for the upcoming Mets' Summer, every lead is precious as you can imagine.  Especially since the Mets are still somehow defeating the odds.  So, Sandy Alderson decided he can't have Acosta polluting his bullpen a single game longer.  And say this for the Mets' General Manager - there is no such thing as paralysis through analysis with him.  He's fair, but when it comes time to cut the cord on someone, Sandy does not hesitate.  He wields his scythe swiftly.

Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez, and the Purge, were different matters.  I'm taking about the move he made last season at second base, when it was clear Brad Emaus wasn't the answer there.  He promptly DFA'd him, and we moved on nicely at second base since then.  If only we can have some of that fortune rub off on the bullpen.  Because this makes two arms Sandy has jettisoned now, due to lack of performance.  At least Frank Francisco is looking like he might have some staying power.

Back to matters of injury, add Justin Turner to the list of wounded.  No one is about to say shortstop is now haunted, but talk about having some horrible luck at the position this season.  Tonight, they sported shortstop number four, or even five.  I lost count.  The Mets might finally catch a break however, once Ruben Tejada returns.  But even he is having a tough time getting back on the field.

All these factors exist to test the Mets' resilience, and maybe even their temerity.  After all, there is something to youthful exuberance.  It's what the Mets have been relying on.  How much longer will it last?  If Scott Hairston is answering that question, he'll say all season long!  He had a pinch hit home run for the Mets Tuesday night - his sixth of the season.  He now leads the Mets.  David Wright, Lucas Duda, and Ike Davis, are all behind him.  There's an obvious problem there.

As with the problems Sandy Alderson is having plugging the fifth spot in the rotation, he will not easily pluck someone from the farm system for instant power either.  That sort of tact may work with the bullpen for now.  But unless Sandy can find that fifth starter other than by utilizing some of the burgeoning talent the Mets have percolating in the minors, the only other solution to the Mets problem in the back end of the rotation, and with their dearth of hitting power, are simply, player production.

Tuesday night, the latest fifth starter made his third start as a Met.  For a night, Jeremy Hefner made Sandy Alderson look like a smart man.  Not only did the kid hit his first MLB home run to help his own cause, he left on the winning side of a 6-3 game.  Jeremy allowed three earned runs on six hits.  He walked none and struck out four.

Then.., about that bullpen - Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless seventh.  In the eighth, John Rauch allowed a lead-off single to Jimmy Rollins.  A couple of batters later, the rains came and interrupted the game.  But for the purposes of this post however, I do not need a final score.

It's enough to say - if the Mets regular power hitters can just show up, like Jeremy Hefner did in Game Two versus the Phils Tuesday, they'll succeed in making many June games, important ones.



Read my articles on the New York Mets at Rising Apple.com




Mike.BTB

N.Y.Mets ~ Terry's Kids Complete Sweep of Phillies

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Ike Davis Sends Philly Crowd Scattering!


Look what injuries have done to the Mets...again.  It just never stops, does it?


Rob Johnson was behind the plate in place of Josh Thole, who is now officially on the seven day DL; and who by the way, Sandy Alderson already stated would miss more games than just seven.  Rob Johnson was also behind the plate due to that pitch Mike Nickeas took on the elbow in Tuesday's game.  No one is saying that - that's just me.


Then after Coach Collins decided to sit Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Lucas Duda against Cliff Lee, the Mets went with the law firm of Rottino, Torres, and Hairston in the outfield.


At least Justin Turner has grown on us by now.  But at shortstop?  They do say necessity is the mother of all invention however.


Dillon Gee did his damnedest to keep the Mets close through the first five innings Wednesday against Cliff Lee.  Heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Phils led 2-1 largely based on Cliff Lee's own infield RBI single in the second.


Andres Torres; of the law firm Rottino, Torres, and Hairston; led off the top of the sixth with a triple off Lee which Shane Victorino misplayed.  Lee then baffled Daniel Murphy with a pair of curve balls for the first out.  David Wright backed up his mate with a flair base hit to tie the game at two all.


Dillon Gee took his turn in the sixth.  And wouldn't you know, Justin Turner turned assists to first for the first two outs of the inning.  But a bloop and a blast so to say, gave Philly the lead again.  Brian Schneider flared a ball to left for a two out single.  Freddie Galvis then blasted a double to score Schneider.  Laynce Nix pinch hit for Lee, and made it a 4-2 game.  For Galvis, it was his second RBI of the night.


But back came the Mets.  AGAIN!  With Cliff Lee out of the game in the top of the seventh, in came Kirk Nieuwenhuis to pinch hit for Rottino, and immediately drew a walk.  Justin Turner drove him home with a double to center.  Turner then had trouble gauging Ike Davis' liner to right field, and got held at third base on Davis' double.  Rob Johnson drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.  In the game came Lucas Duda to pinch hit.  Kyle Kendrick then hit him with a pitch to force home a run.  The Mets pushed across another run on a fielder's choice.


The Mets scored three times in the seventh of Kyle Kendrick to take a 5-4 lead in the game, and came back like they have in every game of this series.


After Tim Byrdak relieved Gee back in the sixth, into the hands of the rest of the Mets bullpen the game went.  Manny Acosta was first.  He posted a scoreless inning, highlighted by a double play and a Hunter Pence strikeout.


In the visitor's half of the eighth, the Mets picked up insurance, and even more runs against Kyle Kendrick, on back-to-back doubles by David Wright and Scott Hairston.  Out came Mr. Manuel, and off went Kendrick.  Too late though.  The second the Phils took out Cliff Lee spelled their doom.


In came El Fossil - Jose Contrearas, who put Nieuwenhuis down swinging.  Justin Turner then lofted a fly to right that Hunter Pence just dropped with Hairston threatening to tag at second.  And up came Ike Davis who made Philly pay dearly for that misplay.  He unleashed a bomb off the second deck facade in right to give the Mets a 9-4 lead.  With the rain falling out of the sky, the fans in Philly needed no more reason to start scattering for the exits.


Next out of the Mets' bullpen was John Rauch for the bottom of the eighth.  He gave up a run.  No details needed.  On to the ninth.


Andres Torres smacked his first home run of the season off Brian Sanchez to lead-off the final frame.  Daniel Murphy followed with a single.  But Sanchez would retire the next three.


Next out of the Mets pen was the yawn inspiring D.J. Carrasco to pitch Philly's last licks in a 10-6 game.  Daniel Murphy threw away an attempt to first base on Jimmy Rollins' grounder.  Carrasco then struck out Juan Pierre.  Shane Victorino popped up to Justin Turner.  Then up came Hunter Pence who jolted one off the right-center field wall to drive in Rollins with a triple.  Placido Polanco stepped up to record the third and final out of the game.


That's what you call a five game winning streak folks.  Not to mention a three game sweep of the rival Phillies ball club in Philadelphia.  And we thought we had troubles!  No Geno's for me thank you.  They make 'em better in Brooklyn.


There you go.  That's how the little engine that could did it on Wednesday night.  And that's pretty much how they swept the Phillies.


Terry's Kids!  How ya' like 'em now?





Mike.BTB