Comments on: Breaking Down The Mets Bullpen: Brian Stokes

By: J_Rod_

J_Rod_ — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:54:51 +0000

He pitched well in pen. He should stay.

By: Tommy2cat

Tommy2cat — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:15:14 +0000

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!!!!!!!

By: Phil Hoops

Phil Hoops — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:37:22 +0000

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.

By: tlagee

tlagee — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:50:26 +0000

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.

By: Nester

Nester — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:56:30 +0000

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?

By: Nester

Nester — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:49:07 +0000

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.

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:26:28 +0000

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.

By: Tommy2cat

Tommy2cat — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:47:29 +0000

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.

By: Satish Ram

Satish Ram — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:42:23 +0000

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.

By: Alex in CT

Alex in CT — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:38:28 +0000

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.