25
2012
Why Is Manny Acosta Still Here?
An article by 
An introduction is not necessary as the title does all of the justice. Statistically, he has faltered in every role this season, from set-up man to mop-up guy. Acosta has almost as many walks as innings pitched, allowed more runs then innings pitched and has allowed a run in 10 of his 18 games pitched. So, logical readers of MMO – why is the man still up north occupying a roster spot, and who could produce a better ERA than Mr. Acosta who is in our minor leagues? The answer is virtually anyone, but focus will be placed on why he is here.
The 2012 Mets have shown they will endure the growing pains of the early season if players seem to show life, and sadly despite his horrible ERA, Acosta did not have too poor of a May, but nothing someone would write home about either. Acosta was marginal in 2010, great in the latter portion of 2011, and has been atrocious during the 2012 season all together. If yesterday’s outing wasn’t enough of a sign that Mr. Acosta hurts the team, he entered a 6-1 game, his offense gave him two more runs, and he promptly gave the Padres back three. Acosta cannot locate his pitches, and when they are in the zone they are belt-high and right in the middle of the plate. The man is a hard-throwing, batting practice pitcher this season.
Who can outdo Manny Acosta’s 10.80 ERA over 18 games that is in the Mets farm system? Realistically, anyone in the Buffalo bullpen, and quite possibly a few arms in the Binghamton pen could challenge for that same title. Realistically, the names that Mets fans may expect to hear being called up to the big show sooner than later are Joe D’s personal favorites, RHP Jack Egbert and RHP Elvin Ramirez. What happened to LHP Josh Edgin and RHP Fernando Cabrera, early season front-runners set to find their way to Flushing by June? Josh Edgin has had trouble keeping runners off the bases, but is still striking out a ton of batters. Edgin has been decent against lefties with a 4/9 BB/K and 1 ER against lefties in 5.1 innings, but 3/7 BB/K and 7 ER in 9.1 Innings against righties. Fernando Cabrera has allowed two runs each in four of his last six outings, while struggling with his control.
RHP Jack Egbert has done nothing but pitch to contact, limit the walks and when needed turn it up to get his strikeouts. Egbert has allowed three runs and one walk in May, an amazing feat. Elvin Ramirez, who was returned to the Mets after the Nationals took him in the 2011 Rule 5 draft, has been aces since his promotion to Buffalo. When I mean aces, the man has an ERA of 0.00, allowing 3 hits and one walk in 10.2 innings, striking out twelve. What makes this even more amazing? He walked his first batter yesterday. Ramirez has been lights out so far, and has the power stuff required to thrive in a bullpen.
Robert Carson is still up with the big club, but it seems unlikely that Terry Collins would rather keep an unproven lefty with a heavy platoon-split in his MiLB career as opposed to a righty who can get ground ball outs and who doesn’t pitch too poorly against a lefty.
So why, oh why, is Manny Acosta still here? If I was a gambling man, I would bet it was to allow Elvin Ramirez to get some more innings under his belt coming off of a 2011 arm injury. With this last poor outing, however it seems more and more likely that a new arm will be joining the bullpen before the weekend
About the Author: Sean Kenny
Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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agreed. Sounds like they are giving manny the extra chance to prove that later 2011 was not a total fluke, but this is far enough into the season to indicate that yes it was, and the rest of his mungy career is a better indicator of his level of suckitude.
Good point too about buying time to make sure the next guy is ready. As much as you want Manny gone, it won’t solve much promoting someone else that is not ready.
they really could use a long man though for the pen (not that Batista is out). Maybe dump Manny, bring up schwinden for now, and then demote carson for rameriz when he is ready (though that could be today)?
In any case, they need a little more shuffling out there to try and find a workable mix.
My thoughts are very similar to yours.
I think too, we as fans are an impatient lot but organizationally, there’s a bit more to shuffling then just saying ‘next’. As you said who is conceivably ready, the 40 man roster moves – who has options/who doesn’t etc.
the 40 man issue is huge. there are may cases where a guy with options likely wold have been rotated out, or a guy is hot in the minors and probably deserves a call up, but it doesn’thappen inthe ST because it would mean making a 40 man move. Screw up a couple of them, and you find yourself having to lose talent that you don’t want to lose!
It might be that we are missing the forest for the trees.
“http://www.metsblog.com/2012/05/24/pedro-beato-makes-third-rehab-appearance-in-fsl/”
Beato will have to have a 40 man roster spot when he comes off the DL and that may be soon.
Somebody must really like Acosta if he’s still here at this point because it makes absolutely no sense for him to still be here. He should’ve been rid of a long time ago but somehow, he’s still in the bullpen. Elvin or another LHP like Hampson would be a lot better for the pen. He’s one of the main reasons why we’ve given up more runs than the Mets actually scoring. He’s not gonna get any better, so why waste any more time?
Another question is why does he keep pitching in situations that matter? Make him the damn mop up guy instead of the guy that needs mopped up.
This.
I really don’t get it. Between high leverage situations and multiple innings – neither of which I think he’s suited for and probably a good reason his record is what it is.h
TC seems to like him…or maybe it’s Terry trying to find a way to motivate him…
If that’s the case, it’s definitely not working. It’s hurting the team overall.
TRS, I wish I knew, but I don’t. I just even want him as the mop up guy. I don’t want him throwing another pitch for the Mets, period.
Oh I agree and neither do I. I always thought even his numbers last year were fools gold based on the situations he was pitching in.
That being said if he was only pitching in blowouts would we care as much as we do now? LOL.
Sadly, Acosta did have a short run that was decent that probably saved his job.
It’s too bad, I hate seeing a guy with a ton of talent who can’t get it figured out.
I’m sure Acosta is on the chopping block and will be gone as soon as Beato or Young are ready to go.
Yeah, I think Beato will be next up unless there is someone on the 40 man they want to throw up here for a little while. In fact maybe they bring up a guy to make room for Beato to get some AAA rehab time then switch them out?
I keep thinking that at the end of games he pitches, they will announce they have put him on waivers.
What is Manny bringing to the Mets? His four seamer is hittable since it has little movement. His slider gives him control fits, more than it does the guy at the plate. He doesn’t change speeds well. Finally, there isn’t anything deceptive about his delivery. All of this spells trouble at the major league level.
Conclusion — He’s a typical AA pitcher with poor command but with years of experience.
I have posted this elsewhere but have not gotten a response. We keep hearing about Elvin Ramirez and how well he was doing. Before he was injured, however, he was not the same player. He had no command. Now, he not only is getting strikeouts, he is not walking people. Does anyone know what he is doing differently?
Sounds like he is throwing strikes now:)
Of course! Don’t know why I didn’t think of that.
sometimes the right answer is the most obvious.
True, but while throwing strikes is the right answer, it still does not answer the question. What has changed that he now throws strikes consistently, when he did not before? Did they “quiet” his motion?” Did he learn to take something off his fastball, and get better control?
Possible as they have done that with Parnell but it may also be just the development of a pitcher and learning to trust his stuff instead of trying to nitpick the corners.
Everytime I see Acosta I cringe. Like last night we get a few runs back and gives it right back. Arsonist not Fireman.
Arsonist, I like that.
Perfect description of Acosta.
Why is Manny Acosta anywhere?