Comments on: Is Jeurys Familia In Line For Save Opportunities This Season?

By: DrDooby

DrDooby — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:32:12 +0000

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”…

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:46:56 +0000

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.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:39:10 +0000

Grant Balfour out 4-6 weeks so I assume Oakland will be signing Valverde, KRod, or Ishringhausen to close till Balfour is back.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:27:43 +0000

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.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:14:58 +0000

I think Parnell may excel this year but I could see Familia getting a shot if Parnell falters.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:57:39 +0000

Wilson is still available, SA might surprise us yet.

By: Dan Valis

Dan Valis — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:51:02 +0000

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.

By: Dan Valis

Dan Valis — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:49:38 +0000

Smoltz is a hall of famer, any top starter can be a dominant closer for one inning.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:26:55 +0000

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.

By: van

van — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:16:26 +0000

might just be me, but I don’t quite see a Smoltz in his prime guy on that list!

By: van

van — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:15:34 +0000

one of those guys (hawkins most likely) has to miss the cut so they can carry a long man (heffner or Laffey most likely)

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:13:37 +0000

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.

By: van

van — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:10:33 +0000

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.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:06:25 +0000

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.

By: peter

peter — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:01:26 +0000

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.

By: Dan Valis

Dan Valis — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:33:52 +0000

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.

By: Hitman

Hitman — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:20:38 +0000

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.

By: TRS86

TRS86 — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:20:04 +0000

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.

By: TRS86

TRS86 — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:19:03 +0000

Alex, why not go Orosco and McDowell on them?

By: TX

TX — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:14:20 +0000

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.