Mets Merized Online

First I would like to thank Sach for bringing this to my attention.

Back in 2008 the Mets were desperate to shake up the lineup and get guys to play harder. They decided to bring up the young first baseman Nick Evans. He was dominating in AA and got the call to play left field for the Mets to replace the injured Marlon Anderson. In Evans’ first career at bat, he doubled off Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis. He finished the game with three doubles, the first Met to hit three extra-base hits in his major league debut since Kazuo Matsui in 2004. Yet more people were more excited when Josh Thole hit a single for his first career at bat.

Evans was optioned back down to Binghamton on June 6 after batting .174 in nine games when the Mets decided to call upon Abraham Núñez for infield depth. Evans was again recalled on July 8 after Ryan Church went on the disabled list.

Evans finally received his first Major-League start at first base, his natural position, on August 7, 2008 after only previously playing one inning there with the Mets. I was ready to see what the first baseman could provide defensively. In his first game at first base he made a stellar diving stop when Castillo made a throwing error. Evans not only stopped the ball but also got the runner out at first. Yet that was all forgotten by the next inning.

On August 31, 2008 Evans hit his first career Major League home run against the Florida Marlins off pitcher Scott Olsen. He later hit two more during the 2009 season. Our future home run leader showed us what he’s got, or so we thought..

In 2009 when Nick Evans strode to the plate for the first time in 11 days after being kept in some sort of storage, the scent of mothballs and Sucrets was palpable. It was too much for Tim Byrdak to take, as it reminded him of his grandmother’s room. He threw a meatball down the middle and Evans launched it for a triple. But what people don’t know is that the only reason Evans even reached the plate to pinch hit is that Jerry Manuel was distracted by the most recent webisode of The Office.

For those who forgot, Nick Evans was called up four months before Daniel Murphy was shown the light of day in the majors. Murphy also started out in left field but was moved to first last season and the rest was history.

Now I bring you to present day.

The Mets are taking a long look at prospects Ike Davis, Josh Thole, and Jerry Mejia. Daniel Murphy is fighting for – and will probably win – the opening day first baseman job. But where is the Mets former top prospect Nick Evans?” Well he is in fact in Port St.Lucie for Spring Training. However, looking to see how he’s done, I was surprised when I saw that he has had only ONE at-bat which is last for all of the Mets position player so far in spring training. (Did you see too? It was in Sunday’s game against the Nats. If you blinked you missed it.)

You have players who undoubtedly will not play a regular season game next season, getting multiple at-bats while Evans is sitting on the bench. If you look close enough you will see him next to the bat boy. Yeah, the bat boy is getting more of a work out than Nick Evans is this spring training.

This all of course is not Nick Evans’ fault. Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya are playing head games with Mr. Evans and giving the young first baseman/left fielder little hope of playing with the Mets next season.

Why on Earth is Nick Evans not getting his well deserved at bats during Spring Training?

I understand it’s only a few games in but only ONE at-bat? I think he deserves them more than most of the prospects the Mets have. I know Evans will not beat out Murphy, and maybe not even Jacobs for the first base job, but he could definitely rival Ike Davis for the job. Yet you have some of my fellow writers and fans wanting Davis to be “brought up north” after seeing him hit one — impressive — home run during Spring Training off a no name pitcher. Davis has had countless errors already, while Evans has only one error in his 80 career games.

This post is in no way intended to downgrade your opinions on Ike Davis or Daniel Murphy. However, I don’t think that Evans should get thrown into the wood chipper or put on the shelf simply because the Mets now have new faces to look at. Evans should get the respect he deserves. Mets either should get him more and more at bats to prove himself or to just trade the guy to a team who will actually use him.

Last year we had the MetsMerized Online Awards and one of the awards was the “Aaron Heilman Award.” This award would go to the pitcher we fans least wanted to see enter a game. There was a choice of Oliver Perez, J.J. Putz, and Sean Green. I clearly voted for Green. Every time Jerry Manuel signaled for Green to enter the game, I knew the win was now at risk.

Sean Green may be the weakest link in the bullpen this season as I’m sure Jerry and Omar are going to have him in the opening day roster. Big mistake.

The 30-year-old former Mariner had a less than inaugural first season with the Mets.

As you can see, his runs and earned runs are well above any of the other Mets relievers, while his strike-out to walk ratio is 1.5/1. Only Ollie Perez was worse among all Mets pitchers.

When Manuel goes to Green it’s almost a surety that runs will score if they are in scoring position, costing us the lead, or on too many occasions, the win. It had almost become a matter of routine. So much so that when he entered a game I feared watching how it ultimately would unfold.

On Thursday, Sean Green’s two-thirds of an inning performance in the Mets 17-11 win against the Cardinals, gave me little hope as he gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. This after his much ballyhooed new delivery which was intended to give him better control and a consistent release point. The new delivery did none of that. Sure it was one spring game, but it mirrored what he already did for an entire season in 2009.

The best thing the Mets could do is cut their weakest link by either trading him or sending him down to AAA-Buffalo where he can work on a delivery that will actually lead to better results.

I would love to see the Mets increase their offer to free agent Joe Beimel who would be a significant upgrade and more useful as second lefthander with a proven track record of success. If the goal is to build the best bullpen we can for the 2010 season, let’s begin by replacing Green with Beimel.

I wouldn’t count on Kelvim Escobar being an integral part of the New York Mets bullpen anytime soon.  Regarding Escobar, “if healthy” is just wishful thinking.

Let’s review the time line in which Kelvim came to be a Met.

July 2008:  Kelvim Escobar has surgery to repair his torn labrum.  The surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek.  (Yes, that one).  It was believed that Escobar would not pitch for the Angels again until July of 2009.

June 2009: On June 6th he pitches five effective innings for the Angels.  His right shoulder did not respond well.  He would not pitch again in the 2009 season.

November 2009: Dr. Altchek gives the okay for Escobar to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League.

December 2009: Escobar pitches one inning for Cardenales de Lara on December 20th.  He faces five batters, getting a pop up, a fly out and a strikeout.  He also walks a batter and lets another one on as a result of his own throwing error. He does not pitch again.  On December 26th he signs a guaranteed $1.25M contract plus incentives with the Mets.

February 2009: Upon reporting to Mets camp, Escobar says about his winter league appearance.  “I felt good.  My velocity was good, my stuff was good. I shut it down after that because we didn’t make the playoffs.  I didn’t pick up a ball for four or five weeks, and then I started playing catch and it didn’t feel quite right.”  He acknowledges that he’s behind schedule and isn’t sure when he’ll be able to pitch.

I don’t think I have to spell it out in any more detail.  But something smells fishy to me.

Mets’ imported arms, Ryota Igarashi and Hisanori Takahashi threw bullpens Monday, within hours of their arrivals. Igarashi is locked into the bullpen since he has a two-year major-league deal. He will be pairing with the over-worked lefty “Perpetual” Pedro Feliciano for the set up job.

Takahashi, who spent 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, is a lefthander on a minor-league contract, trying to get on the roster as the fifth starter—which he feels more comfortable doing than working as a second lefthander in the pen behind Pedro Feliciano or as the long man.

“I’m thinking about starting because I started for 10 years in Japan, so I know how it goes,” Takahashi said through an interpreter. As for how Day 1 went, he added: “I had a little mental stress, a little tired, because English is not my first language. I don’t know where I’m supposed to go and those types of things. The body conditioning-wise is good. But just the language. Not stressed, more like drained.”

Catching prospect Dock Doyle caught Igarashi and said:

“He was a little more rapid fire (than major-league pitchers). He was getting the ball and throwing the ball. I’ve never caught a Japanese pitcher before, so it was a little bit different. He worked both sides of the plate with his fastball—all four seamers. It’s early on, so that’s why he probably wasn’t throwing any breaking balls, but his changeup seemed to be his go-to pitch because it was rather good.”

Omar Minaya added:

“It’s the first time I’ve seen them firsthand. I’ve seen them on film. Takahashi, the command of his fastball looked pretty good. And what we saw from Igarashi was a pitcher who, as a relief pitcher, it’s early, but he showed arm strength, which is what you want to see this early in the year.”

I’m skeptical about Takahashi getting the five starter spot because we haven’t seen much of him, and we don’t know how he will adjust to American play and players.

Speaking of the number five spot of the rotation. Jon Niese threw his fifth bullpen session this month Monday, and hopes the hamstring issue he endured in August doesn’t prompt the organization to be too conservative with him and cost him a chance at the No. 5 starter’s job.

Former Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado isn’t retiring, but you may not find him on anybody’s roster come Opening Day. The first baseman’s agent, David Sloane, tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Delgado will not be accepting any of the offers that are currently available to him, some of which are major league deals.

In a press release, the Mets have announced the signing of catcher Shawn Riggans to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

Riggans had a rough 2009, hitting .143 in seven major league games with Tampa Bay, and posting just a .233/.298/.314 line in three minor league stops. Clearly, his right shoulder tendinitis played a role.

As recently as 2007, he posted strong minor league numbers, but there is little reason to expect Riggans to be much of an upgrade at catcher for the Mets. Still, when the starter is likely Omir Santos, a career minor leaguer, it is understandable that the Mets are bringing in some extra competition.

Riggans will be joining the likes of Henry Blanco, Chris Coste, Omir Santos, and Josh Thole for the split role of catcher for the 2010 season.

At this point with Molina out of the picture, it is mostly a battle between Coste and Santos on who will share time with Blanco. Thole will be spending most, if not all, of 2010 in Buffalo developing and Riggans doesn’t seem impressive enough to get a spot on the 25-man roster.

With Spring Training creeping up on us, Riggans may be the final Mets signing of the offseason.

Mets.com has reported that one of the most beloved Mets in history is back with the organization in a full-time capacity.

The Mets announced Monday that Mookie Wilson has accepted a position as the organization’s Minor League outfield and baserunning coordinator. Wilson was last with the club as manager of Class A Brooklyn in 2005.

“It’s good to be back,” Wilson said in a statement. ”This is where I started, and I’m anxious to do whatever I can for the young kids in our system.”

The Mets also announced agreements with Bob Melvin, Guy Conti and Bob Fultz.

Wilson, 53, is best known for hitting the ball that rolled through Bill Buckner’s legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Earlier in that at-bat, he avoided being hit by a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score.

Over 12 seasons with the Mets and Blue Jays, Wilson hit .284 with 327 stolen bases.

The Mets on Monday also officially announced Melvin’s appointment as a professional scout, an agreement first reported in December. Melvin, manager of the D-backs for four and a half seasons at the end of last decade, was named the NL Manager of the Year in 2007.

Conti, the Mets’ bullpen coach through the 2008 season, was named the club’s senior adviser in the Minor League department. Fultz, the longtime Braves strength and conditioning coach, was named the Mets’ rehabilitation pitching coordinator.

Carlos Delgado is currently playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League and is interested in returning next season. Likewise, the Mets are interested in bringing the slugging first baseman back to New York. 

Delgado had a good start to the 2009 season with a .298/.393/.521 line. Of course, that was all in a total of 26 games as the 37-year old first baseman underwent season-ending right hip surgery back in May.

The Mets are not the only team interested in Delgado though, according to the Boston Globe, the Baltimore Orioles are also very interested in him as a first baseman. They could also use him as a DH, though they seem to prefer a right-handed DH.

If the Mets want to re-aquire the lefty-slugger they need to make a move before Baltimore does.

Delgado is only 17 home runs away from the 500th of his career.

The 24-year-old lefty-hitting Daniel Murphy, who batted .266 with 12 home runs and 63 RBIs in 155 games during his first full season in the big leagues in ‘09, is currently the Mets’ 2010 first baseman.

Earlier today Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post wrote that there is pressure on Omar Minaya after the Mets missed on Roy Halladay and John Lackey. The Mets have yet to make a significant move this offseason and Minaya spoke about the Mets plans. Minaya said that so far “the timing of the deals have not been there.” He also confirmed that the Mets did make a trade offer for Halladay.

Jeff Francoeur added that the offseason is not over and that the Mets “need three or four different pieces to make [the Mets] a playoff team.”

Recently the Mets have been linked to Jason Bay, Fernando Rodney, Ryota Igarashi, Matt Capps, and Yorvit Torrealba.

Speaking of Ryota Igarashi; the Mets are close to signing Japanese pitcher Ryota Igarashi to a two-year deal, according to David Waldstein of the New York Times. The 30-year-old righty attracted interest from a number of teams, including those buying crazy Boston Red Sox who are willing to offer him $2-3MM in total. But if Igarashi signs with the Mets he’ll have the chance to set up Francisco Rodriguez, now that J.J. Putz has signed with the White Sox.

Igarashi is a “slightly wild power reliever” who will throw 93-96 mph. He recovered from Tommy John surgery to take on a regular workload last season.

Also, the Blue Jays signed righty Lance Broadway to a minor league deal, tweets Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press.  Broadway had been non-tendered by the Mets on Saturday night.  The 26-year-old posted a 5.87 ERA, 5.3 K/9, and 4.4 BB/9 in 30.6 innings for the Mets and White Sox this year, plus 100.6 innings of 6.17 ball at the Triple A level. No update on the length or amount the contract was for.

Newly non-tendered corner infielder Garrett Atkins has offers from “at least three unidentified clubs,” reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.  Atkins’ agent, Jeff Blank, told Crasnick his client is open to first or third base. First base would be great for the Mets.

Crasnick speculates on the Orioles, Twins, Mariners, Giants, and Rangers as possible fits for Atkins. (No Mets?)  Talking to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, Blank admitted he spoke to the Orioles.  He said Atkins “is just looking for an opportunity to be a starter.” Mets will give him that opportunity.

What would be an appropriate offer for Atkins – perhaps $3-4MM a year?

The Mets offered a minor league deal to pitcher Kelvim Escobar, reports Efrain Zavarce for Venezuelan newspaper, El Nacional.

The Mets offer to catcher Benji Molina may be ending if the Mets don’t offer him a third year. The rumor is a 2-year, $12MM contract.

Mets have re-signed reliever Elmer Dessens to a one-year, minor-league contract.  Under the terms of the split deal, Dessens would earn $700K if makes New York’s 40-man roster, and $90K if he pitches in the minors.  He can earn an extra 30K if he makes 20 major league appearances, with an extra $30K then added for every additional 10 appearances.

Dessens, 38, signed with the Mets last February and compiled a 3.31 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 28 relief outings in 2009.  Re-signing in New York prevents Dessens from taking on yet another new address, as the veteran right-hander has pitched for nine teams in his 13-year big league career.

Yorvit Torrealba’s pending grievance hearing against the Mets will take place Wednesday, writes Jon Heyman of SI.com.

In Jason Bay news: Red Sox told Jeremy Hermida they’d trade him if they re-signed Jason Bay.

In Phillies news: The Phillies have agreed to sign Ross Gload to a two-year deal, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. He leaves the Marlins behind and joins Ben Francisco, Brian Schneider, Greg Dobbs and Juan Castro on Philly’s bench. The 33-year-old led the league in pinch hits last year and can sub in at first and in left or right. He hit .261/.329/.400, appearing in over 100 games for the third straight season.

Also, the Cliff Lee-Roy Halladay trade is finalized.

In Red Sox news: After just signing John Lackey and former Met, Mike Cameron, the Red Sox now have flexibility to trade Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury.