While the 2009 season as a whole was a lost cause for the New York Mets. It did hold some significance for certain players on the team.
One of those players was reliever, Brian Stokes.
Last season, Stokes, 30, appeared in a career-high 69 games and pitched 70.1 innings, which were also the most in his four year career.
All the while, the hard throwing right-hander was able to maintain a 3.97 ERA, which isn’t all that spectacular but certainly is acceptable.
The main concern with Stokes was that he was inconsistent, at times. During the start of the season, the young pitcher was lights out, as he did not allow an earned run throughout his first twelve innings pitched.
He continued his successful run well into the middle of May where he accumulated an ERA of 0.52. Unfortunately, he took a couple steps back on May 24th against the Red Sox, in which he allowed 5 earned runs in only 1.1 innings.
From there aside from similar meltdowns against both the New York Yankees in June and the Chicago Cubs in August, he pitched relatively well until the month of September.
September was by far Stokes’s worse month on the mound, as he was roughed up by the Rockies, Cubs and Nationals. In total for the month Stokes allowed 10 earned runs in 11 innings pitched, which equates to a nasty ERA of 8.18 for the month.
It seems as if September is not the month for Brian Stokes. Even in 2008, his ERA was nearly two runs higher in September than it was in August.
One reason behind this is that the pitcher maybe tiring out. Nonetheless when looking to build a contender you need a players that can step up their game for a playoff push.
I had read recently that Brian Stokes could be under consideration to be the team’s setup man next season. Despite the fact that I am a fan of the pitcher, I do not think this role is appropriate for him.
Setup men generally are power pitchers who throw hard and strike out batters frequently. While Stokes may be a power pitcher his strike out numbers could use improvement.
Last year, he had a 45:38 K/BB ratio, which is OK for an average reliever, but you would want more out of a setup man.
To me, Stokes is an average-to-slightly above average middle reliever. Keep in mind though, unlike other positions a 30 year-old relief pitcher is still considered very young so there is a lot of time for improvement.
This season, Stokes made somewhere just north of $400K, which is hardly anything in terms of baseball money. He should be looking at a similar salary next season before he heads for his arbitration year following the 2010 season.
Final Verdict: The fact that Stokes is still young and has had success under the tutelage of pitching coach, Dan Warthen, coupled with the fact that he earns a relatively low salary makes Stokes an ideal choice to round out one of the final spots in next year’s bullpen.
As in the case of Sean Green, if Stokes struggles, the team can afford to let him go and replace him with someone else without having to suffer a significant financial burden.
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I also feel that Stokes is a capable reliever in the bullpen. His numbers would have been better had he not been overused. The real question is who will be the setup guy. I dont think that person is in the house right now. I dont trust any of our current relievers in that role.
In my opinion, Stokes needs to stay. I think his stuff is great and he can even make a spot start.
But Brian Stokes is no set-up man.
Stokes is a very sound reliever. He needs to improve his secondary pitches if he ever wants to bring his game to the next level. At this point in his development, perhaps a change-up or changing speeds on his slider should be considered. He needs more downward movement on his slider. His fastball is excellent.
Brian Stokes is a keeper.
WHILE I AGREE STOKES IS NOT A “SLAM-DUNK” CANDIDATE AS A SOLE SETUP; BUT SHOULD CERTAINLY WARRANT CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT I ANTICIPATE AS A SETUP BY COMMITTEE SITUATION THAT HAS MULTIPLE OPTIONS WITH CONSIDERATION TO MATCHUPS BEING THE PRIMARY DETERMINING FACTOR(UNLESS PUTZ IS REINKED REASONABLY). IT’S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE STOKES HAD MINIMAL BP EXPERIENCE AS A DEMOTED SP WITH TAMPA PRIOR TO OUR ACQUISITION AS SUCH, HE’S CERTAINLY A RELATIVE NOVICE RELIEVER & HIS INEXPLICABLE DOGHOUSE RESIDENCE EARLY LAST SEASON BY MANUEL DIDN’T HELP HIS CAUSE ANY. UNFORTUNATLY MANUEL USED HIM IN A FEAST OR FAMINE WORKLOAD STYLE THAT BASICLY SAW HIM IGNORED FOR MUCH OF THE FIRST MONTH+ THEN, ONCE PROVEN EFFECTIVE, HE WAS USED TO AN EXHAUSTIVE LEVEL. WITH WARTHEN’S MET TRAINING WHEELS REMOVED & HAVING A FULL ST + FULL SEASON STAFF EXPERIENCE, I’D DEMAND HE EXERCISE MORE INFLUENCE ON JERRY AS TO WHO’S NAME IS CALLED SITUATIONALLY. I AGREE WITH TOMMY2CAT ON HIS KEEPER STATUS. THE PERENIAL ARGUEMENT RELATING TO BULLPENS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE ABOUT ESTABLISHED ROLES Vs CALLED UPON AS NEEDED. THE PITCHING COACH IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN INFLUENCE REGARDING PITCHER’S DESIRE FOR “ROLES” & FLD MNGT’S DESIRE FOR “AS NEEDED”. STOTTLEMEYER WAS EXCELLENT IN THAT CAPACITY & MY EXPERIENCE IS THE MORE COMFORTABLE THE MGR & PC ARE WITH EACH OTHER(FAMILIARITY) THE SMOOTHER THAT CONFLICT IS RESOLVED. ONE POORLY USED OPTION OTHER THAN STOKES LAST YR WAS GREEN WHO WAS OFTEN CALLED UPON LATE IN THE SEASON, LATE IN GAMES OCCASIONALY LEFT IN FOR A LHH SANDWICHED BET RHers. WHEN HE WAS LIKELY LEAST DAMAGABLE AS FIRST OUT OF GAtE RATHER THAN NEXT TO LAST. JERRY HAS YET TO PROVE TO ME AN ASTUTNESS FOR PEN MNGT INSISTING UPON TREATING ALL HIS LH RELIEVERS AS LOOGIES WHEN IT WAS APPARENT SOME HAD MORE EFFECTIVNESS Vs RHH(TAKASHI FOR EXAMPLE). SOMEONE HAD BETTER INSTALL ONE OF THOSE IVISIBLE FENCE COLLARS ON JERRY TO ISSUE A SHOCK IF EVER HE CHOOSES TO LEAVE GREEN IN Vs A LHH. EITHER A MUCH STRONGER BENCH COACH WITH A CATTLE PROD OR A STRONG WILLED PC IS REQUIRED TO NAVIGATE JERRY’S PEN USE MOST JUDICIOUSLY. UNFORETUNATLY THIS SEEMS TO BE A LIGHTLY CONSIDERED NEGATIVE EFFECT TO COACHING PERSONNEL CHANGES FEW CONSIDER. TYPICALLY IT TAKES AT LEAST AN ETIRE SEASON FOR A PC TO ACCLAIMATE HIMSELF FULLY WITH HIS STAFF, BOSS(MNGR) CONTINUITY OF PC IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WITH RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED PLAYERS & MNGR.
The thought of a setup by committee is scary. Most committee situations fail because neither of the participants are suited for the role as whole to begin with.
The Mets need to get a real setup man. They are not expensive and for 3MM or less the Mets could fill the spot and leave the committees to congress and the senate.
I am really enjoying your breaking down the bullpen series. Each chapter is carefully thought out and leads to a good conclusion. I hope you’ll do the rotation as well when you finish with the relievers, but if you can maybe you could answer one question for me. What do you envision Nelson Figueroa’s role to be in 2010?
Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it. I will certainly look into doing the rotation once I finish the bullpen.
As for Nelson Figueroa, it is no secret that Figueroa has been looking for a major league spot. However, I don’t see any team giving him a spot on the Major League roster.
I envision him having the same role he has had the past two years in that he’ll start the year in the minors and then make appearances as either a spot starter or long reliever.
I like Stokes – would like to see him a bit more focused at times – because he can get distracted on the mound and then falls to pieces.
He’s a keeper for now – but I hope I’ve seen the last of Sean Green – he will become the second coming of Doug Sisk if he returns.
The Mets have retained the services of Dr. Alan Lans to assist Stokes anytime he goes to pieces on the mound.
Lans: There, there Brian…
Stokes: Tim McCarver says – sniff, sniff – that I’m always STOKING THE FIRE, bwwaahhh-whahhh-whaaaahh.
Lans: There, there Brian… Just last week I treated Timmy for Tea-Cup Head syndrome. He’s just a little immature.
Stokes: C-C-Can I still pitch, sniff-sniff…
Lans: Well, just use your imagination… your fastball has movement and you’re a MASTER at changing speeds. You must change speeds or you risk stoking your opponents…
Stokes: BBBWWWWAAAAAHHHHHHGGGGGG!!!!!!!
He pitched well in pen. He should stay.