14
2013
Is Jeurys Familia In Line For Save Opportunities This Season?
An article by 
With Tuesday’s news that Frank Francisco was being shut down due to elbow inflammation, and Parnell was in line to be the Mets new closer, I began to think about some other possible closer options.
Mets fans know Jeurys Familia from being ranked on the teams list of top prospects for the past few seasons. The Dominican Republic native started last season at Triple-A as a starting pitcher, but finished in the Majors as a reliever. This season Sandy Alderson has already made it clear that the righty will strictly be a reliever, but as of right now his role is not yet defined. He still has to earn a spot on the roster, which he could do out of camp. If he doesn’t not earn a spot out of the gate, he will likely be one of the fist players called up to fill a need in the pen.
So, with that said, does Familia have the potential to be a quality late-inning reliever for the Mets this season, and possibly earn himself some save chances?
Armed with an impressive heater in the mid-90′s and the potential to miss bats consistently, Familia has been rated on the Mets list of top 10 prospects each of the past two seasons. Throughout that time he has pitched primarily as a starting pitcher, but has been a bit inconsistent from year to year. The youngster’s numbers were very impressive at the lower levels of the Mets system, but struggled a bit during 2012 while in Triple-A.
He has two “plus” pitches, with his fastball being his best pitch, followed by his impressive sharp breaking slider. His lack of a consistent third pitch has many scouts thinking he is much better suited to be a reliever in the Majors. The fact that he has two pitches of such quality begs the question, is Familia closer material? Can he be the Mets closer of the future?
Frank Francisco struggled mightily as the Mets closer last season, and while he has closed games at times during his career, he has not been very consistent in doing so. Brandon Lyon is kind of in the same boat as Francisco. He has closed games during his career, and been decent doing so at times, but he has primarily pitched in the 7th and 8th innings. Neither closer candidate is a shoe-in to nail down the job, and whichever player wins the job out of camp could lose it at any time.
Bobby Parnell appears to be the first choice with Francisco out, but Mets fans have seen him fail one to many times closing games. I just don’t believe he has the stomach to nail down a save in a big spot, despite his strong showing down the stretch in 2012 where he held opponents to a .196 batting average over 17 appearances.
Here’s a quick look at the three candidates success rates as closers.
- Brandon Lyon: 79 saves vs 31 blown saves – 72 percent
- Frank Francisco: 72 saves vs 24 blown saves – 75 percent
- Bobby Parnell: 14 saves vs 19 blown saves – 42 percent
The 6’4 right-hander should get a shot to pitch in the Mets bullpen at some point in 2013. He will most likely be spending time pitching in the 6th and 7th innings early on, but that may change as the season moves along. He could move up in the ranks for various reasons.
- Injuries to other key bullpen members (Parnell, Lyon, Francisco)
- Poor performance by key bullpen members
- Familia out-pitching other relievers in key bullpen roles
I believe Familia will get a chance to close some games in 2013 for more than just the reasons I stated above. Both Brandon Lyon and Frank Francisco are set to become free agents at the end of the season. At that time, Alderson will be looking to find a closer for the future when the team may be closer to contending. I’m sure he would love to have that closer come from within the organization, so that he does not have to go into the free agent or trade market and overpay to acquire one.
Familia, 23, has great control with his fastball, throws it consistently in the mid-90′s, and has the ability to crank it up to the upper 90′s when needed. He has an impressive slider and the ability to strikeout batters, which is a must late in games. His electric stuff is what has me thinking he may have a future in closing games in Flushing, something the Mets are going to need following this upcoming season.
About the Author: Dan Valis
I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 22 | .476 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 23 | .410 | 6.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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I really like Familia’s stuff – for what little I’ve seen of it so far.
If he gets an opportunity at the closer job this season, it’s probably b/c the two that appear to be in line before him (Parnell & Lyon) have failed at that.
If he does get the opportunity and rises to the occasion, that’ll work for me.
A young home grown closer who we can conceivably rely on year to year – what could be better than that?
Though the Mets have brought in some veteran relievers with the idea that one or two will make the team I am of the opinion that they really want to have some of the young prospects to step up and fill some key roles in this case setup/closer. Familia and Edgin being probably the favorite among them in hoping to do so.
I hope you are right Dan, i mean, hell, Parnell had had his chances and i think he’s best suited for the 6th or 7th inning, non so pressure innings where he actually performs well.. Give the ball to one of the young kids and go with it. Give me familia to close, because after seeing this:
1.Brandon Lyon: 79 saves vs 31 blown saves – 72 percent
2.Frank Francisco: 72 saves vs 24 blown saves – 75 percent
3.Bobby Parnell: 14 saves vs 19 blown saves – 42 percent
I almost puke all over myself….
I am fine with Familia getting his shot, I just want Edgin to get his first. I really liked what I saw from him last year.
Fair enough… Since we are dreaming, how about Familia holding down the 8th and edgin the 9th??? Or vice versa for years to come?
Sounds like a plan to me.
Alex, why not go Orosco and McDowell on them?
I like Edgin as well. If I remember correctly, didn’t he debut coming in with the bases loaded with no outs and proceed to get 3 straight outs – 2 Ks…or was it striking out the side?
I’m kind of surprised no one is talking about him as getting a shot at closer.
Hell, I know I am no one but I have been talking him up since last year as a closer candidate. LOL.
That being said, I thought I read something the other day where they said he would get a look.
For some reason, I thought Familia needed to work on his secondary stuff. Anyway, I would prefer to see Edgin. I liked his stuff. After that, it’s every man for themselves, start plugging and playing and see who sticks.
And I have about 50% confidence that Parnell can get the job done.
I would love it if Parnell was able to nail down the job, but I just don’t see it. He folds when the pressure is on, and while he pitched great down the stretch last season, the Mets were completely out of it at that time.
When I think of Familia, Jordan Walden comes to mind. He can give you a high amount of K’s, but his achilles heel is his trouble with control/high walk rate. It’s like I said before: Velocity is only half the battle, or do I need to remind everyone how easily swayed many were over Parnell and his ability to throw over 100 MPH? You have a potential closer in Edgin, once in the wings in Leathersich, and it may not even be out of the realm of possibility Rafael Montero is considered to close down the line, so Familia is in for some tough competition now and in the near future. Would I give him a shot? Absolutely. I’m all for a competition for the closing spot in ST, not for Collins foolishly to already name Parnell THE closer, 0.51 ERA in his last 17 appearances or not.
Famillia will be up eventually this year in the pen unless he really stinks it up in triple A or Parnell runs away with the job.He has closer stuff and will help eventually in the 9th or earlier innings.
The point of adding the veterans was so that he and the other young pitchers are not trying to make the team but just trying to get better.In reality the bullpen is set unless there is a injury in spring training, Francisco will probably be on the D.L for the first few weeks of the season and Burke will take his spot in the bullpen, and be very good. So really it is Parnell, Lyon, Edgin, Atchinson, Hawkins, Feliciano, and Francisco, with Burke to start the year because of Francisco’s injury.
Edgin should not close, I do not believe in lefty closers, he has more value in the seventh and eighth innings in this bullpen and in this division. Feliciano or Carson will be more strictly lefty specialists, in this division the lefties are crucial and these guys here for a full season will make a huge impact on this bullpen. Edgin can be a very good set up man plus a lefty killer.
All in all I see a possibly much improved Mets bullpen, but most of the time they are crap shoots so ya never know. But there is reason to be very optimistic.
one of those guys (hawkins most likely) has to miss the cut so they can carry a long man (heffner or Laffey most likely)
I dont think theres any scenario, sans late august-september, in which Familia, or any inexperienced pitcher should be allowed to “attempt” a save. Our wins are going to be few & precious and our bullpen CAN be one of our strongsuits if we handle it properly.
And, I love Bobby Parnell, and he has tools, but I dont think he has shown that he has the demeanor to be a closer.
I hope he proves everyone wrong, but I dont see it.
We have quite a few experimental options, but none of them can be considered a “shut down” closer….so where could we go to find that?
Sign Valverde, KRod, or Ishringhausen?
Or, convince, & sign, either Oswalt, Penny, Pavano, Zambrano, or Lowe to be a closer?
Sign B. Wilson & wait till June….?
Make a trade…?
I actually think Brad Penny could make a great closer if he wanted to, I think he has the mentality for it. Even Zambrano, if he wasnt such a “headcase” cancer in the clubhouse.
Joe, I honestly cant’t see 1 guy close to being a “shut down” closer on your list. Some names that once were, but certainly not now. And IMO it makes little sense for the mets to get an aging SP that has never done short relief, and try to convert them on the fly. Plus, that really does not do much for the future.
at this point, I would like to see Wilson come in for down the line, but other than him, let the guys on hand have a shot to see if you can develop your guy to be “the man” for the next couple of year.
Keep in mind how crazy everyone thought the transition from starter to closer experiment was with someone who did become a “shut down” closer. Smoltz.
might just be me, but I don’t quite see a Smoltz in his prime guy on that list!
Smoltz is a hall of famer, any top starter can be a dominant closer for one inning.
I really wish the Mets had signed Brian Wilson.
I think his addition would have attracted more fans with “fear the beard” and his personality overall.
not to mention he could have been our closer going forward after he full recovered from the TJ surgery.
Wilson is still available, SA might surprise us yet.
Well Smoltz wasnt in his prime at the specific point that they tried to make him a closer, he was coming off either elbow or shoulder surgery, so he was far from an ideal candidate, but it worked. All those ex starters on my list could be very “strong” for 1 inning, as they may be unfit to be effective for a starters role of 5-6 innings.
And I wouldnt call someone like Valverde passed thir “shut down” prime just because he had a bad month to end the season, hes more than likely still available because of his salary demands, not because teams think hes done.
I think Parnell may excel this year but I could see Familia getting a shot if Parnell falters.
If this is a year where they are expected to lose I would rather see if famillia or Parnell can hold down the ninth as apprised to a one year veteran coming off a surgerey, then you know you have your closer next year and can allocate your resources in the outfield and add a starter. If Parnell flops it benifits the mets to see if famillia can do the job. See Felix and ogando for Texas and what they where able to do in the bullpen.
Grant Balfour out 4-6 weeks so I assume Oakland will be signing Valverde, KRod, or Ishringhausen to close till Balfour is back.
Six weeks from now is still before Opening Day, so it’s probably not that dire. Maybe Izzy, because he won’t hold out for a closing job.
Just because the Mets have failed to develop a homegrown closer (or any sort of decent relief pitching) in over a couple of decades doesn´t mean that they shouldn´t try right now.
Neil Allen (“cashed in” for Keith Hernandez), Roger McDowell, Randy Myers and Rick Aguilera all were high impact relievers developed by the Mets in the 1980s. Actually, Jason Isringhausen & Octavio Dotel became shutdown closers once they were traded. Same for Heath Bell.
To me, Jeurys Familia is a prime candidate to emerge as a legit late-inning weapon. He probably won´t handle any SV opportunities right away. But especially in a likely non-contention season, there´s no reason to give him a shot if Parnell doesn´t succeed and Familia pitches well out of the MLB pen.
Of course, odds are that Familia opens 2013 in the Las Vegas pen to ease into that permanent transitoon. And to anyone who believes Familia should remain a SP:
What are the odds for a pitcher who in 550+ IP in the minors has neither mastered an adequate off-speed pitch nor has even major league average command of his main stuff develops into a solid SP ?
I´d guess below 10 %. So, might as well switch Familia into a role where he has a lot of potential to succeed.
Going forward, others power arms like Jenry Mejia, Jacob DeGrom, Cory Mazzoni, Domingo Tapia or Steve Matz might be better fits for bullpen roles than as SP. However, they have far less pro experience than Familia at this point and thus should remain SP for 2013 and possibly be switched later if they don´t progress in a big enough way.
Developing a group of strong young relievers maybe just as important as the maturation of Harvey & Wheeler going forward for this franchise. That´d be part of the plan to “develop the pitching and buy the bats”…