15
2013
Burke Continues To Stake Claim On Final Bullpen Spot
An article by 
Yesterday, I pretty much concluded, in a post you can read below, that reliever Greg Burke has just about locked up one of the final spots in the Mets bullpen.
In the 9-1 loss to the Tigers on Thursday, Burke was brought in to get a critical out against one of the best hitters in the game, Miguel Cabrera. The side-winder induced Cabrera to pop up to end the fifth inning. Mission accomplished.
After a slow start, Burke is coming on strong and is getting righthanded hitters out. His arm angle and release point is so deceptive and his fastball is coming at you at 92-93 mph. He can be an effective weapon for us.
“He can make the ball sink or he can give it the illusion that it’s rising,’’ Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen said.
The Mets are going to need a righty who could get big outs, and the more I see of Burke, the more I think he can be that guy for us.,
Original Post 3/14
Let’s take a break from the outfield battle for a day and check out what’s going on with the Mets bullpen as we head into the last three weeks of Spring Training.
Terry Collins continues to maintain his stance that his seasoned veterans will each have a significant edge when he makes a final determination as to who stays and who goes.
That alone makes Bobby Parnell, Scott Atchison, Brandon Lyon and even LaTroy Hawkins virtual locks for the pen, and statistically all four of them are off to solid starts so far this spring, although Hawkins has just one scoreless appearance.
Although not a veteran, I think it’s safe to say that lefthanded sophomore Josh Edgin will also be a part of the final configuration for the Mets’ pen. That leaves just two open spots and about 5-6 arms all competing for one of them. Among them you have rightys Greg Burke, Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia, and then your southpaws Pedro Feliciano, Robert Carson and Scott Rice.
You have to believe the Mets will go with a second lefty, especially after the failure of their “lone lefty” strategy in the past. If Feliciano is healthy and shows them anything, and so far he has, he’ll get the nod. Carson will be Plan B.
The more interesting battle is for the final righthander, and my spider sense tells me Greg Burke has got the job. You could read more about him in this article about Burke by MMO minor league analyst Mitch Petanick.
I do not see Familia or Mejia winning jobs in the bullpen this Spring. Jenrry will go to Vegas and start, while Familia transitions into a relief role at Sin City and could make a return to Flushing when the bullpen needs help.
So the bottom line is that barring any major setbacks or injuries, the Mets 2013 bullpen on Opening Day will look like this:
- Bobby Parnell – Closer
- Brandon Lyon – Setup
- Scott Atchison – Middle/Long Relief
- Josh Edgin – Middle Relief
- LaTroy Hawkins - Middle/Long Relief
- Pedro Feliciano/Robert Carson – Lefty Specialist
- Greg Burke - Righty Specialist
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Not related, but i found this piece very interesting, and it thought i shared it with y’all…. Warning: Sabergooners discretion is advise
http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/03/14/michael-young-weighs-in-on-war-and-stats/1987311/
“I would love to learn more about sabermetrics, because I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t learned everything there is to learn,” Young said
-Not really into sabr stuff but the last person I want to hear a opinion on sabr is someone that doesn’t know about them.
Young added, “I’ve heard that one website has WAR calculated as this, another has WAR calculated as this. For me, it’s just another way to try and value a guy. But it can’t be the end-all when you try to calculate a player’s worth.
– Absolutely true with ANY stat.
I don’t understand the love affair with 83 mph Perpetual Pedro. He needs to build a little stamina, particularly after missing time with that heart issue identified. Let Rice see what he can do with Carson and Familia heading to Las Vegas to refine their games. Once Feliciano is showing he can do back to back games again, THEN you make a decision about who goes to make room for him. Why not 3 lefties?
Well Atchison, Hawkins, Feliciano and Rice are not on the 40-man. If they add to begin with Atchison and Hawkins which 2 players come off the 40-man to make room? Then if from the 2 remaining spots you mention if they go with either Feliciano or Rice who would be the 3rd player to come off the 40-man?
I imagine possible considerations of players to be dropped from the 40-man could include Brandon Lyon, Brandon Hicks maybe Elvin Ramirez? Also if the Mets add Marlon Byrd and Omar Quintanilla to the 40-man that is 2 more names that have to come off the 40-man to make room for them as well.
wouldn’t burke be a righty specialist, and Hawkins (and I still don’t see the attraction) be a middle/long man?
Mr. NJ is right, that does put a major crunch on 40 man spots.
I am not sure Hawkins makes it right now.
I still think Familia has an even chance of going north for opening day.
I haven’t seen enough of Feliciano yet but do we think they pencil him in if:
– he’s still wearing that heart monitor come opening day
– He’s still topping out at 83 MPH.
Also, don’t forget that Johan is likely to start the season on the DL with Heffer in his place. Once that changes Heffer will be the long man. So I don’t see them opening up a spot for Hawkins just to kick him to the curb later.
Don’t let Feliciano’s velocity discourage…it’s more effective to come in relief throwing 83mph after the hitters have been looking at low to mid 90s fastballs than it is to be a starter, like Chris Young, starting a game throwing 83. By the second time around the lineup that slow crap becomes BP – but the speed drop off in the middle of the game could be advantageous.
I haven’t seen anything on Familia this spring. Has there been any talk about his control and whether it is improving?
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/category/_/name/jeurys-familia
Interesting…looks like Rubin thinks Familia has a good shoot to make the BP.
Thanks Jerz!
N/P
BTW did you see my photo-shop request? Do you think it’s possible?
Yea I saw the comment here the other day but just thought you was kidding around.
LOL I emailed you a picture.
Oh, I’ll check my email and let you know.
so, Frank Francisco has zero chance of being ready opening day? What happens when he comes back? I know we’d all like to forget about him, but seems to have to factor into this conversation somewhat.
The last time i looked Mejia had a spring ERA of 10. This is his make or break year and I think the same could be said of the older Familia.
This bullpen is less than thrilling. Actually, compared to the Nats and Braves, it’s still quite embarrassing.
Sign Old/Cheap Players…. Let them Gain/prove Value…. Trade Old/Cheap Players
That’s the plan.
This team will have at least 6-8 new faces by August 1.
I’m all for that, and IMO what the FO has been hping for. The big problem with prospects (well, other than some of them bust!) is that its really hard to predict an arrival date.
so, you get a lot of 1 year and MiL invite signings to serve as the stop-gaps.
but perfect case is some of the vets (Byrd, etc.) play well enough to be traded, so that a younger guy that is finally ready can come up and have a spot.
Byrd, atchinson/lyons, Johan, Marcum, Buck could all be in this boat.
Edgin looked awful yesterday, and may be pitching himself out of the pen.
While everyone agreed that the BP needed a complete overhaul at the end of 2013, it has now been retooled and restocked with an odd assemblage of refurbished parts and tinkering of old. To say it inspires no confidence is an understatement, and, like just about everything else connected to the 2013 Mets, you spend your time fantasizing about what possibly could go right.
Oy vey! I expect a lot of ugliness.
Ooops, meant 2012 at the end of the first clause.