We all know the Mets added a power bat in Jason Bay, are still dealing with injuries/medical issues to key players like Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, and have huge holes in the starting rotation. But I haven’t heard as much talk about the bullpen. A year ago, almost to the day, I wrote a blog on this site about how the Mets’ revamped bullpen, a terrible weakness in 2008, would pile up K’s and blow hitters away–with K-Rod, JJ Putz and Bobby Parnell at the back end of the pen.
K-Rod had a nice season, but his dip from 62 saves in Los Angeles the year before to 35 with the Mets was both a reflection on the Mets having a bad season and him being a bit inconsistent. His 3.71 ERA was also way inflated from his 2.24 mark the previous season. Putz was pitching pretty well before blowing out an elbow and being put on the DL about a third of the way into the 2009 season. And Parnell was great at times, and a gas can at others.
So now, how do you feel knowing that K-Rod is coming off a sub-par season, with Parnell, Kelvim Escobar, Jose Feliciano, Sean Green, Pat Misch and Ryota Igarashi behind him? On paper, this bullpen is almost as much of a question mark as the starting rotation is. That’s not to say they can’t overachieve and keep the team in games, but how likely is that? And the rotation is not exactly the kind of group that will give the bullpen long stretches of rest at a time. To the contrary, they will be called upon to pitch 2-3 innings each night.
So I ask you, how do you all feel about this bullpen?
I think the bullpen will be alright. They should sign a Joe Beimel or somebody like that to serve as the 2nd lefty, though. Misch is more of a long-guy, and Feliciano’s arm is going to fall off if they use him like they did last year.
If they decide to carry Mejia, a Mejia/K-Rod 8th/9th inning deal would be impressive, with Parnell/Igarishi and Feliciano/Beimel to split the 6th and 7th.
Between the offense, defense, starting pitching and bullpen, the only thing I feel absolutely confident about is the bullpen. We have a lot of great arms to choose from, I love what I’ve seen from Igarashi and Figueroa could be a solid long man. In the setup role we still have two weeks to figure it out, but our guys are having good springs.
B4 every1 starts saying that our pen is filled with “question marks” look at the other teams bullpens in our division first.
Vinnie, what I’ve been saying all along; but not just the pen, the entire pitching staff holds up well by compaerison within our div. No one need look elsewhere, like NYY, Boston or Rays. I’ve a different take as my rotation in order would be
SANTANA
PELFREY
TAKAHASHI
MAINE
PEREZ
in front of my bullpen assignments of:
Closer: K-ROD
L Setup: FELICIANO
R setups: IRAGASHI, MEJIA
7th: PARNELL
Floater/all occasion: CALERO
Long/Swing/Spot: NIEVE
Well, our bullpen to me is the best in the division, one of the best in the league, but it won’t matter if our starters keep pitching 5 inning every start out, coz then just like in years past it will be shot by july..
Anderson hernandez claimed off waivers by the indians..
thank God!!!! I am so sick of this slob.
Kiko Calero, anyone? I think this bullpen is as good as a bullpen can get. No one has a “great” bullpen.
Misch, Green and Escobar need to be shown the door. The pen to me should consist of Perez (have him as a long man cause he has no business right now to be in the rotation. Let him earn his way back.), Feliciano, Takahashi (or Beimel if he signs), Parnell, Stoner, Calero, Igarashi, and of course, K-Rod.
Jose Feliciano??
Pedro feliciano.. jose is the singer..
Kiko Calero! I like this guy and I caught the mets/ sox game today. He’s got a nasty slide on lefties and he could be a very valuable to this pen. A good 8th inning guy for this team and it’ll prob happen. Parnell would be good for the 7th inning if Kiko holds up. We will have the best pen in baseball!!!!!
K Rod is done-I still dont understand letting Wagner go for NOTHING! The pitching is thin and I dont feel good at all about the pen
Luis, a little reality PLEASE!!!
rankie had 7 BS last yr one of which was the infamous CaSTILLO POP-UP
Wagner’s Met history:
YR #BS
’06 5
’07 5
’08 7
We got Carter, not nothing & only chance to get more was offering arbitration which Fred Wilpon doesn’t do, ever. For arguement’s sake do u really believe you’d improve on Carter through those picks? Remember slotting rules will likely keep u away from top talents. the BEST CLOSERS need aderenelin for SUCCESS, getting only 1 opportunity a couple of weeks would require Galea treatments to build adrenelin (lol)
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