Mets Considered Sending Niese To Bullpen

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• Metsie April 24, 2011 at 9:10 pm

  While Gee has earned the promotion, I really don’t like this move.

  Starting pitching is a valuable commodity and we are again turning a starter into a reliver to satisfy a lesser role.

  I would much prefer that Gee went back down and stayed a regular starter, stayed on top of his game and was continuing as a starter in case Young or Capuano has an injury flareup.

  Gee is never going to be an Ace but he might just be a pretty good 3,4 or 5 starter in the mode of Rick Reed and putting him in the Pen could ruin all of that.

  I just hate trading a more valuable starter for a reliever, Relievers are easy to come by, far easier than good solid starters are.
  • Hojo's Mojo April 24, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Actually, I agree. I dont usually like to slant things when I post Mets news, but I thought this was an odd play that doesnt really help Gee’s development. Nothing wrong with keeping Gee in AAA in case we needed him to pitch in again.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan April 24, 2011 at 9:32 pm

      I like it because i just want to keep the better talent up here in order to win games. Gee is the better talent than Carrasco. Will he be just as effective as a reliever as he is a starter? I don’t know. We also don’t know if Capuano’s next start will be as good as his last.

      Once we find out the answers to those 2 questions we’ll know more. They may even switch roles.
      • Clayton Collier April 24, 2011 at 10:48 pm

        Considering Gee has never really had a bad start in his career. I think they should have kept him in the rotation, he pitches effectively and has been consistant in his short time in the majors. I say put Capuano in the pen and keep Gee in the rotation.

        Putting him in the bullpen squanders his talents and can impeed his development.
      • Ruben DeJesus April 24, 2011 at 11:09 pm

        That’s exactly how I see it. They have been hinting on putting Capuano in the pen. Capuano pitched a good game and that seemed to delay the decision. I think Gee will eventually be in the rotation…..if he continues to pitch well.
        • Clayton Collier April 25, 2011 at 10:12 am

          I think of Capuano as a 6th starter, he has the potential to be very good and to regain the form of his 18 game win season with the Brewers, but he hasn’t shown much of that outside that one good start.

          Gee on the other hand has never realy in his 8 start career shown any sign of stuggling or inconsistancy.

          Based on his 8 start career, if he played a full season (34 starts) his stats would read:
          19-10 with a 2.22 ERA in 217 IP.

          That is CY Young quality numbers, does THAT belong in the pen?
    • Mark V April 25, 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Keeping Gee in AAA is not serving us any good if we need a reliable longball Man out of the pen. He’d serve very well as one. The other thing is with tw injury prone Pichers at the back of the rotation and no certainty on Santana Gee will be pitching as a starter once again this season.

      I do like that this Managment team is sending a mesage to all the players that your only as good as your last game. And they should be for all the money these guys get.

      Lastly, Niese has a cut fastball he’s been using for the last 2 yrs. you forgo to mention that.
• rickeybobby April 24, 2011 at 9:39 pm

  I like the move, Gee isn’t Mejia he’ll be fine. He has good control i think he could be effective. I can’t beleive the Mets have zero tolerance for non-performers. This is awesome. Bullpens lose games, especially when theyre pitching like Boyer, Parnell and Carrasco!! Honestly our bullpen is shaping up Krod, Izzy, TBuch, Beato Iggy, Gee, Bydrk. Ok i am slightly concerned Gee wont be ready to fill in as spot starter next time he’s needed by taking him out of his Buffalo rotation but if they can mangage this correctly whther it’s short or long term situation, im all for it, all for having your best team out there..got a good feeling boys and girls Mets are gonna shock the world and compete..Bay in lineup helps alot, Ike..is awesome, DMurphy..isnt bad at 2nd(!) and his nice bat , that lineup is VERY nice, if our starters keep giving us quality starts and the Mets keep best pen avail(like theyre doing), i think they win games
  • Bayonne Mets Fan April 24, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    You bet! GIve me our 3/4/5/6 hitters up against anybody and to that Reyes and Pagan/Murphy as table setters, or even Thole too and i put this lineup up against anybody in the NL.

    But pitching is the problem and that’s another reason why i like this move. We just need better talent as soon as possible to help our pitching staff and Gee is just that. He’s better than Carrasco and let the rest work itself out.

    I’m sorry but I’m thinking about winning games NOW.
• Hitman April 24, 2011 at 9:47 pm

  This is a good and bad move in my book. Good because Gee belongs in the majors IMO as well as the last of the few weak links that were left in the bullpen is now neutralized. However, it’s bad because Gee is now in the pen. I’d rather much have him in the rotation, putting Capuano in the pen (don’t get too excited about one good start against Houston, people) and have him do the long relief/spot starts. At the same time, DFA Igarashi and bring up Justin Hampson from AAA Buffalo. The pen would be shaped up and the rotation would be decent for now (although Pelfrey still leaves me feeling uneasy).
  • Bayonne Mets Fan April 24, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    Why no love for Iggy? You keep killing him…he’s been pitching good since he came up and his last fastball to strike out the D-Backs guy had some real zip. Let him work himself into his role.

    Besides, this move is just not gonna happen, lol.
    • Hitman April 24, 2011 at 10:20 pm

      Because Igarashi is not that good? I already saw enough of him last season and he makes me nervous whenever he gets the call to the mound. I’m sorry, but I’m not gonna be easily impressed because he struck out a guy who’s a K machine in general on a weak hitting team (outside of a select few). He still has a high ERA, high WHIP and high H/9. Let him come in relief against a good team, and I bet you’ll see what I mean.
    • Met Maniac April 24, 2011 at 10:22 pm

      Iggy stinks, not a big fan of his either.
• 86mets April 24, 2011 at 10:41 pm

  Having Gee in the bullpen won’t hurt his development because, basically, IMO, Dillon Gee is about maxed out developmentally. I don’t think you will see a huge leap in his ability. He is what he is: a pitcher with average stuff, very good command, and a knowledge of how to pitch. His competitiveness and drive allow his stuff to play up a little bit. And some of these qualities might actually serve him well in a bullpen role. Such as the fact he isn’t easily rattled and has an ability to pitch out of jams. Theoretically, entering a game in the 6th or 7th inning in relief with runners on base shouldn’t bother him any more than if he had gotten into that jam by himself. His ability to command the strike zone and bear down in high leverage situations will help in a relief role. He might actually prove to be better suited to the role than some of the current relievers they have. Time will tell whether this was the right move or not, but really, their not hindering his development the way Minaya/Manuel did last year with Jenrry Mejia. Gee isn’t going to get a whole lot better, while Mejia could potentially be a future #1, or more likely, #2 starter down the road.
  • Hitman April 24, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    “He is what he is: a pitcher with average stuff, very good command, and a knowledge of how to pitch. His competitiveness and drive allow his stuff to play up a little bit.”

    Those same qualities remind me of future HOF pitcher Greg Maddux. He relied on his command & knew exactly where he wanted to locate his pitches. At the same time, he relied on hitting the outside corner(s). I’m not saying he’s the next Maddux, but he could have the same mentality as him.
  • rickeybobby April 25, 2011 at 3:59 am

    Solid points. Imagine if he’s as good out of pen in tuff spots as he’s been as starter?? Then what? Honestly its becoming pretty hard not to become a believer in Gee especially if you watchi him pictch – works quickly , confidently and with poise, command and pretty good stuff. Im a huge beleiver in quality starts. Give me consistent quality starts from the Gee types over the Pelfreys(not to bash our Pelf)of the world. Id take 1 ace(Sanatana) and 4 quality start guys , good pen good lineup, and that team wins 90+ games. Which in some ways why i think hte Phils are overrated and beatable. i really dont think there’s that big a diff btwn Gee(if he keeps this up) and Oswalt..or even Niese and CLee, just my opinion, fine line btwn those guysimo . Id take a good pen and offense over staters any day of the week. And with the Mets zero-tolerance for non-performers, the pen is shaping up..i see them winning games..

    btw im in the give Iggy half a chace camp. His injury KILLED him last year, he looks like he can be effective, stay tuned..
  • Metsie April 26, 2011 at 8:18 am

    Putting him in the pen could make him a whole lot worse.

    You are not considering the fact that a pitcher like Gee has to pitch regularly to keep that fine line he paints honed and he is not going to get that work in the pen.
• Da Madd Genius April 25, 2011 at 4:59 am

  I very much hoping this means Capuano in the pen. If so it would be the decision I would gave made out of training camp (I could rant on Sandy’s poor decisions put of camp but I won’t.) However if Gee is turned into some sort of long reliever this is an asinine move. Worse than Meija last year. Really? Disrupt the steady development of a young starter showing at least #3 starter potential so he can mop up in April for a last place club???!? Unjustifiable. At least Jenry showed closet potential. Gee is a finesse guy. He should start Saturday. Either with the big club or at Buffalo. I kno this website is full of Sandy lovers, but this has potential to be his first really dumb and damaging move. I thought I was supposed to expect better from Omar’s replacement.
  • rickeybobby April 25, 2011 at 8:49 am

    How about Pelf goes to Buffalo or traded and we keep Cap and Gee until Santana returns..Da Madd id refer to 86 Met comments made about Gee’s development i think theyre good points, this move in no way derails his development, he’ll become a #3 starter(if he so is one)in due time..plus id have some faith in Sandy and co with this situation still, im not saying this cant turn into a dumb move, it might, otherwise im pretty sure this will get sorted out best way. Plus, i bet Gee would much rather be w/the big club in whatever role he’s given rather then Buffalo and he’s a better option then DJ fo sho right NOW..oh and , we wont be in last for long!!
    • Metsie April 25, 2011 at 9:50 am

      “this move in no way derails his development, he’ll become a #3 starter(if he so is one)in due time..”

      You forget the most important thing about him being in the pen.
      If you lose a starter for an extended period of time you can’t just make Gee a starter out of the pen. You will have to stretch him out first.

      You can not ask a guy to pitch 2 or 3 innings and then expect him to go 6 or 7 without first stretching him out.

      If he was in the Minors then he would already be stretched out and maintain his pitching focus.

      Not going to happen in the pen.

      You don’t replace bullpen with a starter unless the starter is actually bad and can’t go more than 5 innings. Then putting him in the pen is trying to salvage him by getting the two or three good innings from him that is all he gives you when a starter.

      But this guy pitched well, and we have taken a starter and made him less valuable.

      This move only makes sense if they know they are about to lose another starter real soon. Cause that is the only thing that would make this move worth doing.
• Da Madd Genius April 25, 2011 at 5:00 am

  Excuse my poor syntax. I’m on a mobile venting during a graveyard shift.
• jdon April 25, 2011 at 7:00 am

  I am in the Chris Young Insurance camp, although I happen to think that Carrasco stinks. If Young goes out there and comes up hurt after 3 innings tomorrow, Gee could not be recalled. So he is kept for a while, maybe 2 starts for Young. I think they will send him down to start if he is not gettting enough burn up here.
• Metstheory22 April 25, 2011 at 9:39 am

  Amazing what a 4 game winning streak does to writing on these sites. Most everything is rosey now. Last week our pitching stunk up the joint, this week we have too many pitchers.
  I like Gee and rather see him get a regular spot. Who knows down the line who gets hurt or traded. He should be 3 or 4 at end of season.
• jessep April 25, 2011 at 10:31 am

  I realize I’m in the minority and that’s okay. I just think a few of you have blinders on when it comes to Gee. There seems to be this mindset that he’s performed great in his career.

  I like Gee, and if he is going to stay with the big league club it HAS to be in the rotation. He’s an absolute waste if he’s in the bullpen, because he’ll get limited work when he could be working on getting past the 6th inning while pitching in the minors.

  Everybody seems high on Gee’s last start because they see 6IP, 2 ER. The *fact* is he gave up 4 runs. I understand the value of an earned run versus a run, but I also understand earned runs are there for a pitcher’s stat and contract. The end result of a game is not 4 earned runs to 3.

  Murphy made an error, it would not have ended the inning. After that error, Gee gave up 2 hits that scored runs…both unearned. He gave up 4 runs in 6 innings, yet Capuano does the same thing and we throw our hands in the air.

  Yesterday, Gallaraga walked away with 2earned runs, and I think 6 scored? Is somebody going to tell me Armando pitched well?

  If a reliever comes in with a runner on 2nd base, and gives up a double. He walks away with not a speck on his ERA… but who do you blame for that run?

  Gee hasn’t impressed me. He’s been fine, and if Niese or Capuano can’t maintain their spots in the rotation, I say give Gee a chance.

  Gee’s best start was his first in 2010. Since then he hasn’t pitched as well, so that should make us a little nervous no? In fact you could make an argument that his 2 2011 starts were worse than every 2010 start except his last.

  I like the kid, I just don’t have crazy expectations for him like it seems some of us here do. He may be a fine 5th starter, I don’t know… but putting him in the bullpen, bottom line is a waste.

  I like Capuano. I don’t know yet if I am sold on him, but I like him. His last start was better than both of Gee’s this year… so I’m not sure you can can Cap to the pen yet. I’d say Cap, and Niese should be on notice that they can go to the pen at any time
  • Clayton Collier April 25, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Gee’s dominant stats are not just in his ERA, or even the runs. because those in large part are relied heavily upon their defense backing them.

    The only stats that are solely the responsibility of a pitcher are Walks, K’s and Homers.
    Granted Gee does not have overwhelming velocity, so he does not strikeout a whole lot of batters with his 5.2. But he has a career 0.6 HR/9IP ratio and a 3.6 BB/9.

    In his two starts this year though, his K/9 has risen to 6.9, his BB/9 is down to 2.3, and his HR/9 is still at a very low 0.8.

    Gee’s stats all around have been great, more than enough to stay in any other rotation in the majors.
    • jessep April 25, 2011 at 12:39 pm

      You could be right that he belongs in the majors. I myself look at him as somebody who I feel the hitters will adjust to him very easily down the road.

      6IP, 5H, 4R, 1BB, 5K, 93 pitches
      5.2IP, 5H, 1R, 2BB, 4K, 89 pitches

      That’s not wow stuff. And if this is what GETS him to the big leagues, then what keeps him in? You have to expect better no?

      I’m just saying it seems like he’s getting crowned something he’s not. He has performed adequate but not great. If that’s what you look for with your young pitchers from the farm, then you’re happy.
      • Metstheory22 April 25, 2011 at 12:55 pm

        The point with Gee is that he shows he can pitch here so far between this year and last year. We have more highly regarded arms that come up and struggle right of the bat. On this staff, Pelf and Niese did not pitch like Gee when they came up. I’m sure we can others that have had the same problem.
      • Clayton Collier April 25, 2011 at 2:48 pm

        Gee is an unorthodox prospect. He is not the typical young kid with a 95 MPH fastball lacking some control. In fact, he is just the opposite.

        What has gotten Gee this far is his excellent control, not his 89 MPH fastball.

        He attacks the strike zone and gets batters out.

        I believe Gee will probably get somewhat figured out and come down to earth a bit, but in the mean time, ride the hot hand!
        • Metstheory22 April 25, 2011 at 3:14 pm

          I have before he reminds me of Rick Reed. If he does what Reed did for us, I’ll take it.
          • Metstheory22 April 25, 2011 at 3:15 pm

            S/B– I have said before
          • Clayton Collier April 25, 2011 at 5:28 pm

            Yea Gee has often been compared to Reed.

            A 2x All-Star, I’ll take that.
            • Metstheory22 April 26, 2011 at 9:04 am

              Even has his number-35