Comments on: Revamped Mets Bullpen Could Surprise In 2013

By: Metsie

Metsie — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:46:02 +0000

Well it really doesn’t matter much how good the pen will be this year does it? I mean many say we aren’t competing for anything for one….
and two even if they are good it’s good this year and then we are back to looking for bullpen because all the guys we are pinning our BP hopes on (listed above anyway) are one year deals that expire come October/November.

Back to square one!

All we did is buy some bandages for the bleeding pen and while it may help the BP heal for a year it’s not going to last past the year when the bandages needs to be changed.

The best you can hope for is the TEMPS, will eat up enough innings to not have to overwork the few kids we will be throwing in that pen who are under control for a few more years and will eventually be the key GO TO guys in that pen making the remaining spots a little less important.

But there is no reason to be optimistic about what this year’s pen is going to be like because it won’t be here next year due to our phobia about signing cheap reclamation guys to two year deals instead of the one year “Restore your career on our dime then leave for your fortune” deals we been making.

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:22:45 +0000

Yeap. while the bullpen can be of surprised, you’ve got to have the lead in order to see how effective the bullpen is no? The way i look at it, with basically a not good enough offense, and a so so SP, it’s hard to tell how a bullpen can play into effect. they can also bomb’ out as last year. remember the whole “Had a good day” article about the bullpen sandy revamped? yeah, how that worked out? i still think this team (Now that we lost bourn) will lose from 90-100 games. now it’s as clear as water imo

By: Padilla

Padilla — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:15:50 +0000

Its Groundhog Day. same exact line last year. Can’t wait for the same article next year. Did Mr Liarson see his shadow?

By: Tommy2cat

Tommy2cat — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:11:23 +0000

Dave – appreciate the effort, but that was painful. What @ Greg Burke, who was unhittable after he dropped his arm angle? He’ll provide a different look and likely will give right-handed batters fits.

By: Bayonne Mets Fan

Bayonne Mets Fan — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:31:45 +0000

By default “hopefully” they have done a good job because it could not get any worse than last year wasting all that money on a failed bullpen. And wasting millions when they didn’t have much to spare made it worse.

By: peter

peter — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:26:29 +0000

It could be worse or it could be better is correct, but it is definitely deeper. That and the presence of the lefties in this pen for a full year and the youth on the farm that is ready to contribute, mainly Mejia and Famillia, leads me to believe it will be much more improved.

By: Dave in Spain

Dave in Spain — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:24:30 +0000

P.s.- the mix includes both younger and older, experienced pitchers. This mix could take some pressure off he young guys, as well as provide some mentoring.

By: Dave in Spain

Dave in Spain — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:21:34 +0000

Wex, I didn’t say great job, I said good job. But outside of the closer (sometimes) bullpens are a crapshoot. There is now a mix of guys at little or no financial committment, that the team can evaluate for the final 3-4 spots. I think that’s the best approach at this point, as there are no guarantees.
And yes, the weather is a lot better here than in the northeast US! A little chilly and windy north of Barcelona, but sunny and delightful. I don’t miss shoveling at all!

By: Wexler

Wexler — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:42:34 +0000

Dave, I hope the weather in Spain is better than the weather in New York today. As to your point, why is it the assumption that we did a great job revamping the bullpen? We heard these same accolades being poured out all over blogs last year. Ramon Ramirez was an apparent steal in the Pagan deal, and the glowing stories about Rauch and Francisco were a bit too premature and irrational. Lets call this what it is. A tiny spending spree on the bottom of the barrel relievers that were still available in late January.Chances are that the bullpen could be just as worse as it could be better.

By: Dave in Spain

Dave in Spain — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:31:56 +0000

The Mets pen last year ranked 11th in WHIP, 15th in the NL in ERA and 15th in Ks. They needed lots of improvement, and I think they’ve done well. It’ll be interesting to see how it works out, but I’m optimistic.

The other area of pitching that needs improvement is the number of SPs that we use. The Reds and Giants each had 5 SPs with at least 30 starts. The Reds used only one other starter, SF only 2 more SPs for a total of 2 IPs. Mets used 13 SPs, including 6 with less than 10 IP each. There were 11 starts by Miguel Batista, McHugh, and Schwinden. That has to change.

I could see either Santana or Marcum getting traded mid-season, depending how they pitch and how Wheeler, Mejia, Familia develop. If the team can get 30 starts out of Niese and Harvey, 25-27 out of Santana, Marcum, and Gee, and 10 out of Wheeler, that would leave 15 starts for guys like Hefner, Familia, and Mejia. That would be OK for a transition year, and in 2014 you could reasonably expect 30 GS each from Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, and maybe even Gee.

By: srt

srt — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:49:45 +0000

Nice analysis.
I was wondering what you were using for Pedro – until I got to the end of your article.

If this BP isn’t an improvement, it’s not for lack of attention. Plenty of young arms with veterans competing.
Atchinson looks like he might be a sleeper.
Anything we get out of Pedro is a plus. Thanks Yankees for rehabbing his injury for us!

I really like what I saw from Edgin in his SSS last season.
I thought Parnell’s numbers were better than what you’re showing here but numbers don’t lie.

I think the biggest question mark is going to be FF as closer. Have to wonder how long a leash he’s going to get.

By: Chicago Days

Chicago Days — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:30:52 +0000

Great piece. i like our options in the ‘pen this year. A good mix between young Mets prospects (Edgin, Familia, Hefner, Ramirez, long shots like McHugh, Gorski) in with older vets: Hawkins, Feliciano, Burke, Lyon, Laffey, Atchinson…along with Parnell and (gulp) Francisco. Should be an interesting ST. And then we’ve got guys coming up fact from the farm, like Leathersich, Mazzoni, Kolarek, Whitenton…