5
2013
Jeremy Hefner Wants To Be “The Man”
An article by 
The latest on Johan Santana cane from manager Terry Collins who said that Johan Santana’s decision to throw a bullpen for the first time in 10 days, was “unnecessary” and said he “wished his ace handled himself differently.”
Mike Kerwick of The Record quotes Collins who suggests that Santana needs to calm down and get his emotions in check, and that he should have gone about this the proper way.
“He’s fine,” Collins said, “and he wanted to show everybody he was fine. I just said, ‘Look, we’re going to do this the right way. We’re not going to hurt you. … I don’t care how upset you are about things. We’re going to do this the proper way.’”
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hefner, whom Kerwick tabs “the sixth arm in a five-man rotation,” made a case that he deserves the final slot if staff ace Santana is unable to pitch come April. Hefner tossed three innings of one-run ball in a 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday afternoon.
“First and foremost, I want Johan to be healthy,” Hefner said. “He’s a leader of this team. If something happens and he’s not able to go, then obviously that would maybe fall on my shoulders. I’m going to prepare to go out and give it my best whenever my name’s called.”
Good for Hefner… You like to see that kind of confidence and determination from your younger players. Back on January 23, I wrote a post that referred to Hefner as being one of the more underrated starters in camp.
CONGRATULATIONS: Last night at around 11:00 PM I got a text from MMO’s Minor League Analyst that his wife’s water just broke. Around 1:00 AM Jaxon Petanick was born and he and his mom are both doing just fine. Congratulations to Mitch and his family on this happy occasion for them.
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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Congrats to Mitch for bringing a new baby Mets fan into the world! Better make sure he never goes over to the dark side.
About this Santana issue, why isn’t Warthen taking charge? Isn’t he the one who should have been on top of both his offseason program as well as what he does in spring training?
I can’t understand why Warthen still has his job.
So you’ve doomed a little one to be a Mets fan. Way to go… Kidding. I’ve done that to 3 of my own. Congrats.
As for Johan, for someone that, while getting buckets of money this year is effectively playing this year for one more contract. You’d think he would put a little more time into conditioning and prepping for this year than what it seems. Pre-Spring Training hope springs eternal. Then Spring Training starts, and guys’ arms start falling off and my hopes of a .500 record slowly start to fade.
I see we still content with mediocrecy and patheticness…. SMH
CONGRATS TO MITCH!
Personally, Hefner is a scrub.
he is a back up/spare part/filler piece type player that every team has to utilize at some point during a season. And valuable in that he can hong out in the pen as a long man, but still step in as needed to make a spot start.
For a team that is full of this guy type players shouldn’t we start trying to get some good players here? 3 straight years of these type of players and i see the same usual suspects still defending them… SMH… At some point, do any of you sandy lovers, sabergooners wanna win??????? Am i the only who’s tired to see crap on the field game after game???? I am sick and tired of these “Low Risk/High Reward” type players sandy keeps bringing in when the result has been far from the truth….
Congrats Mitch….
Say hello to your new child and goodbye to your good night’s sleep! LOL
Although with all the crap that has gone on around here your fully prepared to deal with the diapers!
RE Hefner…
I don’t really have a problem with Hefner…Glad he knows he is the guy likely to get the ball should anyone go down….
Only issue with him is he has issues 3rd time through the order and can’t get much ast the 5th inning…
And it’s not endurance that is his issue because he isn’t throwing all that hard….
It’s just that when you don’t throw that hard those first two looks you give to the Batting order must be used to set up what you do when the third look rolls around.
I think he can overcome that with time and experience….
In fact he might even turn out to be a pretty good starter later on in his career in the same way an Ojeda did throwing pretty much the same junk!
Congrats Mitch! Best of Luck! My 3rd is due in June and all 3 (girls) are (and will be) Mets’ Fans. Please don’t report me to family services.
Hef is just an extra arm. I wish him the best but what is up with that picture? What exactly is he trying to do?
Congrats Mitch. Make sure Jaxon throws lefthanded.
As for Jeremy Hefner, he´s nice to have as a strike-thrower who can bounce in and out of the rotation and more often than not will keep the team in the game.
If Santana makes it back by mid April, the Mets can probably get by with Hefner only making a spot start on April 6th or 7th vs. the Marlins.
Once Santana is activated, he can slide back into the long reliever role he´s best suited for and maybe make an occasional spot start if you want to give the SP an extra day of rest.
Throwing Strikes is important….
Knowing when NOT to throw them is probably even MORE important and maybe that his (Hefer) problem 3rd time through the order!
Hefner reminds me somewhat of Wally Whitehurst, the Mets # 5/6 SP in the early 90s. Of course, without the big loopy curveball but somewhat similar overalll.
Maybe with Buck calling better pitches than Thole, Hefner will be more effective. Though I´d settle for 5.2 IP 3 R type outings from him any time.
Of course, if Hefner has to make more than 10 starts in 2013, it´ll be a bad sign…
Yeah but that big loopy curveball was a much different look where Hefners stuff is all roughly the same as the other….
I just think he needs to start thinking about setting himself up for the third time around…
And truth is we already have Gee to throw the crud at the batters you can’t normaly get away with two slow pitchers in the same rotation….
I will say this though….I like Hefner much more than Batista.
And we will need him in long relief with Santana and Marcum around…
Lets just hope thats all we need him for.
Congrats, Mitch.
Congrats Mitch! Another Met fan is born…maybe a future Met player?
Glad to hear Mom and son are doing fine.
Does anyone think that it might be a good idea to try and trade Johan to the Rays mid-season if they need a start pitcher(and he performs)? I don’t know the chances that it happens, but you think he could pull in Ben Zobrist, who we then sign to a 3 year extension.
If, and it is a big if at this moment, Santana performs, he is apt to be traded anywhere. I would expect Alderson to shop him heavily if he is performing up to the standard of a good major league pitcher. The Mets will most likely have to eat most of the contract especially if they want smaller market teams that are in the playoff hunt bidding. The only question is can/will Santana perform.
Unless there was a Syndergaard or a Fulmer involved as well, no way Zobrist is coming back for half a year rental on Johan, even if his entire salary were paid for by the Mets.
I like his heart and desire but, unfortunately, I doubt the talent is there. He is fine as a long reliever/spot starter. He will give a good outing every couple of starts but to occupy the rotation for an extended period is dangerous.
No matter…this is much ado about nothing with Santana. Conditioning isnt going to be his problem. The main issue is whether there is anything left in the tank after such a surgery. Remember, nobody has returned to form after it. Santana is trying to be the first and I believe he has the competitiveness to make a go of it…the body just might not cooperate. I do agree with Collins that Santana was foolish to allow outside perception to dictate his behavior.
Obviously this is another mishandled situation. Who is to blame; I am not sure. Alderson and Santana, at least publicly, appear on a different page. And Collins, I am convinced he is always the last to know anything.
Santana is acting like a wounded bull, But this place isn’t Pamplona. We’re not doing any running of the bulls in Flushing. Get smart Johan. You’ve gone from being my favorite pitcher to my biggest dilemma.
Alright Mitch, get that kid in a Mets cap as soon as tbey allow it! Haha.
Congrats to your and your wife Mitch.
Congratulations to Mitch & Family, nothing more exciting!
Thanks for the shout out, Joe…and thanks for the well wishes everyone! I think my wife set a world record last night, she was only in labor for about 45m – third time around is a charm
Jaxon is 8lb 15oz, bats left, throws right, and is already being groomed as a catcher
Sandy called he is scheduled to start the intrasquad game on Thurs! LOL