Mets Option Rob Johnson To Buffalo, Place Chris Schwinden On Waivers

32 Comments + Add Comment

• Peter R. May 31, 2012 at 5:32 pm

  Glad to see Thole back! But lets get Josh Edgin up here already and completely overhaul this bullpen!
  • Even Flow May 31, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    Edgin will be here as soon as he gets himself together in Buffalo. Hampson may come up before Edgin because let’s face it, we can’t rely on just Byrdak as the lone lefty in the pen, although he has gone beyond the call of duty. I’m ecstatic that Elvin has finally arrived. Welcome to the big time, kid!
    • gewgew May 31, 2012 at 6:35 pm

      if you havent noticed edgin has gotten it together lately. in his last 11 and a third just 8 hits 2 earned runs, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts. hes been on a roll. just a matter of time. I would say shortly after the all star break, hell be ready and the overall stats will look great.
• Tommy2cat May 31, 2012 at 8:41 pm

  Thole & Ramirez will give the Mets solid support and raise the talent level.

  Mike Nickeas is not superior to Rob Johnson defensively. Really, its not even close. Johnson is considered a defensive specialist who appears to be maturing as a hitter. He appears much more active and astute managing the pitchers and controlling the opponents running game. He reminds me a little of Grote – he throws behind runners who stray too far, follows the batter to back up throws at first base, a lot of the little things that are important but not often noticed.

  I don’t want to dump on Nickeas, but let’s just say that the 2012 rendition doesn’t inspire confidence.

  Josh Edgin is very, very talented, but I agree with post above – he’s not ready.

  I think Acosta and Ramon Ramirez both stride toward the first-base side with their plant leg, which detracts from their deception and velocity. Both need to establish a more linear track toward home plate with an overhand follow-through, which will increase downward movement on their pitches.

  But what do I know…
  • NJstuckinTX June 1, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Thought the same thing on Johnson vs. Nickeas. Nickeas has to go.
• halflink123 May 31, 2012 at 9:09 pm

  It’s good that the Mets can finally create scrubs like Elvin Ramirez themselves instead of relying on the FA market. Seriously though it’s refreshing that management has above a 2nd grade education and actually understands what a AAA team is form (hint: it’s not just a backwater dump run by backward country folk).
• Josh Thole and Elvin Ramirez To Join Mets Today | The John Delcos New York Mets Report June 1, 2012 at 9:02 am

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• Metstheory22 June 1, 2012 at 12:54 pm

  I think Johnson stays and Nick goes. Johnson has a better stick and I do not see much of a difference on defense.
  • stick June 1, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    I agree.
  • sby_willie June 1, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    Reason why Mike Nickeas stays and Rob Johnson got sent down is because Rob has an option remaining. If Thole gets hurt only a few games back then the Mets don’t lose a backup catcher and can recall Johnson.
    • sby_willie June 1, 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Now one has to think Schwinden’s confidence could be shot since the Mets show no patience in him and not keeping him on the 40 man roster. Schwinden will clear waivers and the Mets will have him join Acosta in Buffalo I reckon. Schwinden had options remaining but the Mets didn’t want losing someone else they could still add to the 40-man roster by optioning him. They have two spots open on the 40 man roster, but since Beato is due to come off the 60 day disabled list, that means they really have only one spot left.

      If it was Omar running the ship then we lose players since the Mets didn’t always know or check who they could option or DFA. If Omar was in charge they would have designated Mike Nickeas for assignment and lose him to another ballclub who needs a veteran catcher to bring along kids pitching in the minors who would someday pitch against and beat the Mets.
      • Fonzie13 June 1, 2012 at 7:29 pm

        Uh oh I’m sure the Omar lovers wone happy to see this.
        • Fonzie13 June 1, 2012 at 7:29 pm

          Won’t
• Mr North Jersey June 1, 2012 at 12:56 pm

  The road it has taken for Elvin Ramirez to make it to the show is one with lots of turns. Rooting for the kid (can I still say that at 24?) to have much success.
  • stick June 1, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    talk about proving that prospects are a crapshoot.

    that, and why you always hate to give up on a live power arm!
• stick June 1, 2012 at 1:05 pm

  wonder if he will clear? I suspect he won’t, since pitching is in such short supply everywhere, but if not, no big deal. plenty of AAAA type filler arms floating around, and more coming to the top of the system every year.

  though interestingly enough, after the MiL break, the mets could actually have a AAA rotation with all young, serious prospects (Harvey, Wheeler, Familia, Mchugh and Mejia).

  so it is actually a good thing when they have no room for guys like Schwinden, Owens, etc.
  • Mr North Jersey June 1, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    I’m betting on the Yanks to claim him. I mean if they signed Maine how can they pass up on Schwinden?
    • Metstheory22 June 1, 2012 at 1:14 pm

      I was hoping they would take Acosta.
      • stick June 1, 2012 at 3:23 pm

        I was shocked when Manny cleared. Shocked I tell you!
        • Mr North Jersey June 1, 2012 at 3:27 pm

          Ha!
  • jerseymet June 1, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    The real pitching prospects are being held back until September. Sandy is not going to loose a year of player control for this year. I wonder if he has courage to unload any of his freeagent bullpen signings? They have not been a value and could be replaced by our AAAA types. Egbert should be used! He looks like he could step in and clean up the dirty innnings.

    Next year I look for a starting rotation of Santana, Wheeler, Harvey, Famillia and Niese or Gee. Dickey should be moved to closer.
    • NJstuckinTX June 1, 2012 at 1:53 pm

      Uh, Dickey is probably the best SP on this team. You want him as a closer?
      • jerseymet June 1, 2012 at 5:00 pm

        Yes. Dickey could get three inning saves thre times a week. Dickey dominates the opposition the first few times through the lineup. He is such a competitor. He does not melt down. With Dickey closing, we could reduce the size of the bullpen and increase our bench.
        • NJstuckinTX June 1, 2012 at 5:03 pm

          We’d probably increase the use of said bullpen by taking him out of the rotation.

          Either way, it could work like you say, but I’d bet dollars to donuts (it is national donut day afterall) that He’ll never pitch out of the BP.
          • jerseymet June 1, 2012 at 5:30 pm

            Probably not. I ‘d love to see it though. I am sick of all the pitching changes. We have been using the bullpen like for years. I remember too many blown saves. In the days of old we put the ball in the hands of our best pitcher and let him go. I remember staffs of 10 now 13 is common.
• stick June 1, 2012 at 3:22 pm

  Well, I disagree with this move. Nickeas should have been the one to go. I know we keep hearing about this fantastic D, but I honestly haven’t seen it. If anything Johnson looks the the defensive minded backstop. and factor in the stark differnece 9so far) in hitting, and I would have kept RJ up.

  oh oh, I hope I don’t lose my “Sandy fan club” card for saying this…
  • NJstuckinTX June 1, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    I concur.
    • USMF June 1, 2012 at 4:13 pm

      I’m with you on that one…I’ve been very unimpressed with Mike.

      I wonder if this was a Rotation thing. I know as a pitcher, I have guys who I love throwing to and others I hate. It has nothing to do with how good they are behind the plate or how well they hit.
• Mr North Jersey June 1, 2012 at 3:23 pm

  I understand that Nickeas is supposedly the better defensive catcher but I really can’t say I have really seen it from him. I am guessing he has a better repertoire with the staff than Johnson above anything else and that is why he is still here.
• VA Met Fan June 1, 2012 at 3:36 pm

  They seemed pretty similar but it also seemed like Niese got knocked around more when Johnson was catching him. Maybe that’s my imagination.
• Metsie June 1, 2012 at 4:14 pm

  I likie the decision to send Johnson down! He has more potential clieling than Nickeas at this point and it makes much more sense to send him down and let him play regularly while working on his defense.

  While his Bat seems there and his defense is not quite as good as Nickeas I did like his attitude in regards to throwing behind the runner and with a little more work he might become much better all aorund defensively.

  He’s only a year younger than Nickeas so age is a minimal factor and If Thole comes back and hits the way he was then the issue is moot as Thole will be the starter for the forseable future. (Trade or outside acquisition aside)
• Tommy2cat June 1, 2012 at 5:34 pm

  Nickeas hits a pile-on grand slam off a Met reject and saves his job.

  Hold on, its coming again… Jesssseeeee BARField……….

  ‘Scuse me, it hits me in waves…

  Same feeling I got when Sandy decided to give DJ Carasco money and not re-sign Takahashi..

  Certain things I just don’t understand….