22
2012
Edgin Making A Case For Opening Day Roster
An article by 
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, left-handed reliever Garrett Olson is the front-runner to replace the injured Tim Byrdak who is expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the season.
Byrdak underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee last week, and afterward the team announced the lefty specialist would miss about six weeks.
Another possibility to replace Byrdak is Double-A prospect Josh Edgin. Yesterday during an appearance on WFAN, Terry Collins said the young left-hander stands a good chance of making the Opening Day roster.
Edgin is a hard thrower whose fastball regularly clocks in at 95 mph. He’s coming off a solid 2011 campaign and has caught the attention of the Mets in a big way.
“Number one, you like his arm, but I really like his demeanor, his presence and poise,” said Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen. “He’s throwing the ball great and using all his pitches.
“All the things I had heard about him has come to fruition. He seems to be fearless and a left-handed plus arm. I like that.”
Edgin was not originally invited to major league camp, but once Byrdak went down and the Mets considered their options, he quickly found his way onto the Mets radar screen. ”We took a look at him and said, ‘My gosh, why isn’t he over here?’”
Last season, Edgin struck out 28 of the 77 left-handed batters he faced and in 100 2/3 career innings he has struck out 122 batters.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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I’m a little wary of him making the jump from A+ to the bigs, but as a situational, one-or-two batters a game guy, it probably won’t hurt him too much. Part ofme hopes he gets hit around a little in the next week, just so he can experience some failure first. Better in March than in April.
Edgin appears mature enough to handle the promotion. TC’s description combined with his age and experience to date suggest he can handle the promotion. Byrdak could tutor him on some of the nuances that he’ll face in his bullpen role.
Frankly, it’d be great to have him develop under Byrdak’s tutelage over the course of the season, and to have to left-handed options coming out of the pen – one crafty and the other a power arm.
You’re also the guy that said in late 2010 Duda and Tejada should not even see a big league game in 2011. Try and let the kids play in ST before assuming where they can play first.
A bunch of the goons all off season that year kept on making decisions on where those kids should be, in the dead of winter, long before any ST began while a bunch of us were saying let kids like Tejada and Mejia play in ST first. Let’s see them first and see how they play before making any decisions – in winter.
Guess what happened.
Anyway, if Edgin is good enough now let them bring him up. They know, they are there and if they think he can handle it then bring him up now.
Each minor leaguer is his own person that develops at his own pace. NO blanket assumption should be thrown at them because they are “minor leaguers”. Each is his own adult and should be judged on a case by case basis.
Great analysis by a guy who is qualified to be the Mets ball boy. Thanks for your insight. ZZzzz.
Wouldn’t hurt to bring him up, byrdak sucks…
Nice analysis Alex, care to provide any proof that in his role of loogy that Byrdak sucks?
Wait, you mean holding lefties to a .222/.271/.333 line last season was good? Surely you jest.
Maybe he is looking at his 6/1 SO/BB ratio?
Or perhaps his 22% inherited runners scored percentage or his 1.8 HR %.
All that even with a .323 BABIP? So lefties were LUCKY to do that poorly against Byrdak? Wow he sucks.
or 11.2%, Byrdak’s team-leading swinging strike rate in 2011.
Nope i am looking at his 3.84 ERA, at his 4.25 ERA at home, his poorly start and finish to the year (Combined ERS of 5.85) especiall september ERA of 6.00, his 6.34 ERA in Saves opp..
That’s what i am looking at..
OK you do realize how ERA works right? How as a reliever your ERA is more dependent on the guys that come after him than himself? Looking at his batting average against, WHIP, inherited runners percentage, SO/BB ratio are all much better ways of looking at a reliever’s ability. When looking at ERA for a middle reliever you are blaming him for placing the runner on base and then someone else letting them score. Especially in terms of a loogy.
Key word: placing runners on base….
Right. We already established lefties had a .271 OBP against Byrdak.
Right and against LH batters he had a 6/1 SO/BB ratio and a .222 BA. So in his role of LOOGY he was very good, unfortunately for him any runner that he left on most likely half of them scored because Parnell came in next and had a 50% inherited runner scores percentage. That’s not good.
I like this guy. Exactly the type of players the Mets need to pump out of the minors to fill out the pen, eliminating any need for more carrascos and franciscos in the future.
I certainly think if he doesn’t break camp, he will be back soon enough after a stint in AA most likely.
One thing to keep in mind with guys like this (the feel good stories in ST) is that he would have to be added to the 40 man roster, meaning someone else has to go, and that can quickly eat into your depth. So if he is going to stay for good most likely, fine, but if it really is for a couple of weeks only then not worth doing.
I like Edgin a lot but I can’t believe they would ever bring a kid straight from A ball to the majors. Lefty Garrett Olson is a veteran with major league experience and has been pitching well this spring. I can’t see the benefit or wisdom of promoting Edgin over Olson at this point.
Especially if you lose Olsen in the process which I am not sure if that is the case or not.
edgin will be 26 this year. its not a top propspect being rushed scenerio.
what are we concerned about here? take edgin north. period
Age, and experience, are two different things my friend. There is a small difference between those two players regarding age, but a huge difference regarding experience, and that is a significant issue.
Could be worse. Could have no options to replace Byrdak.
As Joe D has pointed out before, it’s very surprising that they sent Carson down to minor league camp so fast.
I think as usual it’s about options. Some of those guys are on spring training invites and will have to be released if they don’t make the team. Where as a guy like Carson can go down freely. In other words unless there is a clear winner then it’s about keeping bodies in the system.
Carson….is that the one that started out as in his career as a starter, said he’d prefer to be a reliever, but the Mets want to take one last look at him as a starter?
Or am I confusing him with someone else?
we was a starter before, and I think you are right that he is the guy that likes relieving, but I can’t swear to it.
I’m sure if I get motivated enough, I could find an interview with this kid that Petey posted here. He sure had a lot of those with the kids on the farm.
Just can’t remember if I read that tidbit here or somewhere else.
I think Carson was a starter but the situation you are referring to is Beato.
I know about Beato. But there was another kid down there, hasn’t made his ML debut yet, where I read he actually told them he’d much rather be a reliever than a starter. Stuck in my mind b/c normally I would think most of them would hold onto starter status until the end b/c we all know starters normally make more than a reliever would – unless you’re a Mariano.
I know exactly what you are talking aobut, and it wasn’t beato (though he has said in the past that he likes relieving better).
Carson was hurt so they weren’t going to push him. Way too many oblique injuries these days.
Why waste or burn a 40 man roster spot ( which is now tight for Sandy- remember besides Tim’s replacement to start the season, Sandy also needs another 40 man roster spot for LH 4th OF- Baxter or Loewen and maybe even another 40 man roster spot for a RH bench OF if Hairston starts the season on the DL.) for some 4A pitcher like Olson, Herrera or James – none of whom have any future with the Mets instead of going with Edgin who does have a future with the Mets. Remember, Ricciardi said last season that he felt Edgin was 1 year away from the bigs and Edgin is not exactly young.
Why do people always make a big deal out of if someone came from A or AAA. When it’s your time, it’s your time. Period. Dontrelle Willis was way down the ladder and for years he was the ace of the Marlins. Or let’s talk about a Met who made that jump and looked very good doing it. Joe Smith. Edgin has been better than all the retreads so far and I expect him to make the team. Even the money the Mets spent this winter has gone to guys who are looking pretty pedestrian right now, hopefully they turn it around but besides Parnell and Edgin, who else in the pen has looked good?