Comments on: All We Have Left Is To Get Another Lefty For The Pen

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:20:17 +0000

CAPSLOCK = DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
MY PREFERENCE FOR CROSSOVER LEFTY IS RARELY MENTIONED, DENNYS REYES(AGE 32). I BELIEVE HE’D BE A GREAT COMPLIMENT TO CURRENT PEN AS WELL AS A LH WHO’S EFFECTIVE Vs RH. CAN ANYONE ESPLAIN HIS ABSENCE FROM CONVERSATION/CONSIDERATION?

By: Mykey

Mykey — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:50:06 +0000

Milo – Pulsipher always seems good when he is pitching against lower tier players. He was great to watch a few years ago when he was on the Ducks. He actually looked like he was supposed to in the majors!!!

By: Christian (MetsMan)

Christian (MetsMan) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:57:53 +0000

metsfan13 – maybe you should check their numbers vs lefties first before you say they suck.

By: metsfan13

metsfan13 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:32:27 +0000

christian: what part of all those lefties suck do you not understand. i agree that a reliever should be able to get both righties and lefties out, but unfortunately that doesnt happen most of the time…if the team can improve with another lefty, then why not??? imagine this situation:
6th inning: mets 8 phillies 6, phils are batting, bases loaded 2 out, ryan howard up at the plate and a pitching change is made for the mets, howard is batting 310 against righites and slugging .680, but only .196 against lefties and slugging .375, you catn use feliciano because he was either already used in that game or way too much in the previous games, who do you go to??? duaner sanchez, brian stokes, sean green, putz in the 6th inning??? i dont think so, i would wanna go to that leftie reliver to make sure he gets ryan howard out, instead of that righite relievr who has a better chance of serving a pitch that will give the phils the lead with one swing of the bat. think about it, and then tell me if its over rated???

By: Christian (MetsMan)

Christian (MetsMan) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:52:38 +0000

metsfan13 – What part of we have 5 lefties vying for that lefty role do you not understand? A specialist role is a waste of a roster spot, its a useless role. The role is a waste because it doesn’t significantly improve a team. A reliever should be able to get lefties and righties effectively or he should not be in the majors.

By: Milo

Milo — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:44:07 +0000

Is anyone else watching the Winter League game on the MLB channel right now? Bill Pulsipher looks pretty impressive. I wonder if he’d be interested in an MLB comeback, much less one with the Mets.

By: metsfan13

metsfan13 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:14:04 +0000

tyler johnson sounds like a good option, but the mariners have signed him already.
to christian: what are you kidding me??? your saying you’d rather go all season with pedro feliciano as the only leftie in our bullpen??? and casey fosum?? that guy sucks…omg and i cannot believe you said “its just a waste”…wow…nothing is ever a waste when it comes to improving the team. the mets definately need another reliable left hander in the bullpen, feliciano cant carry all the load.

By: Christian (MetsMan)

Christian (MetsMan) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:30:23 +0000

Milo, those are their scouting reports I didn’t write those.
Valerio De Los Santos has held lefties to a .226 average.
None the less we have 5 candidates for loogy role, which is an highly overrated role anyway. Its pointless to spend any time and effort looking for another, its just a waste.

By: Milo

Milo — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:18:00 +0000

I was willing to somewhat buy your post Christian until I read this:
“Tom Matin – Can retire left-handed and right-handed hitters equally well. Throws hard and gets outs with runners in scoring position. A steady lefty specialist.”
I trust you’ve been watching the Mets since at least 2001, so you’d know that Tom Martin is a God awful pitcher. Simply terrible. He stunk then, and being an aging reliever, I doubt he’s gotten much better since then. I mean, whatever, bring whoever you want to spring training, but a lefty specialist that lefties hit .275 lifetime off of just isn’t good.
Valerio De Los Santos doesn’t show, “promise,” he’s 36 years old. Ruelas has never pitched in pro ball. Fossum sucks, and provides nothing more than minor league depth. Switzer may benefit from a change in scenary, but it’s hardly rational to expect that from him. Omar should be bringing as many lefties to camp as possible, the more options the better.

By: Christian (MetsMan)

Christian (MetsMan) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:13:14 +0000

We do not need another lefty. Mets acquired 22 players this offseason. Of those 22 players 15 where pitchers, of the 15, 5 of them are lefties.
Casey Fossum – Fossum throws three different overhand curveballs. The first curveball is a tight-rotating 1–7 curveball that has a velocity in the low to mid 70s, but a pitch that Fossum struggles to throw effectively over the plate for strikes and at times remains too flat. The second curveball is also a 1–7 pitch, has a moderate break while clocking in between 65–70 MPH, and can effectively throw for strikes. The third curveball is a 12–6 curveball with an enormous break, making it nearly unhittable. While the pitch has been a very effective pitch for him to use, often landing for strikes or causing popouts, he regulates the pitch as a change-of-pace pitch to prevent batters from becoming used to it. Fossum dubbed this pitch the “Fossum flip”, and it is essentially a form of the eephus pitch.[3] He also has a decent fastball in the 88–92 mph range and a changeup that while effective, does not drop as well as most other pitchers. Fossum is also a good fielder and has an above-average pickoff move.
Tom Matin – Can retire left-handed and right-handed hitters equally well. Throws hard and gets outs with runners in scoring position. A steady lefty specialist.
Jon Switzer – A big lefty with a low-90s fastball, slider and change-up, all thrown with good command. He’s especially tough against left-handed hitters.
Could start, but a solid lefty specialist for now.
Valerio De Los Santos – He throws an above-average fastball with considerable movement. He fares better against lefties in situational appearances and has shown promising control in that role.
Heriberto Ruelas – Extremely tough on lefties

By: Hojo's Mojo

Hojo's Mojo — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:54:20 +0000

I’m sure the cardinals didn’t want to do it.
When you are on the Major League DL, it counts as service time, and Johnson would have probably gotten a raise to about $1.5 million for relievers in first year of arby.
They decided they’d release him with the hopes of resigning him, but now interest in him is growing.

By: Milo

Milo — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:46:58 +0000

The Mets should sign Andy Sisco. He’s a minor league free agent, and put up great numbers with KC in 2005 and 2006. I read on MLBTR that he’s having a Friday workout session…Omar should definitely be showing interest.

By: kaz

kaz — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:23:41 +0000

I like Tyler when he was with the Cardinals. They had high hopes for him. I cant believe they released him.