Prior to last night’s game Mets Manager Terry Collins announced to reporters that right-hander Miguel Batista will join the rotation and start on Tuesday against Phillies in Citizens Bank Park.

Batista will try to improve on the two failed attempts to replace Mike Pelfrey by Chris Schwinden who was demoted to Baffalo before the game.
 
“One of the things we brought Miguel Batista in for was not just to be a bullpen guy, but if we needed a spot starter at any time, he was the one to do it,” Collins said. “We saw last year how effective he can be in that role.We’ve got to give him a look in that spot.”Batista, 41, has already made one start this season. It came against the San Francisco Giants who torched him for six runs in 3.2 innings on April 23.

On the season. Batista has a 6.79 ERA in 13 innings pitched with a 2.23 WHIP. He has allowed 16 hits and walked 13 batters while striking out 11.

 

Thoughts from Joe D. – Apparently Alderson and Collins believe Batista gives the Mets a better chance to win than promoting Jeremy Hefner who I speculated all week that he would be called up to replace Chris Schwinden.  I guessed wrong… It really sucks that they thought this was the best way to go.

Yesterday, Wally Backman said Hefner is itching to get back to the majors after he tossed a two-hit gem in a 9-0 Bisons win over Syracuse Friday night.

“He got a little taste of the big leagues, and he knows what he has to do to try to get back to the big leagues. He’s a very determined young man.”

Hefner is now 3-1 in five Triple-A starts with a 1.64 ERA. In 33 innings pitched, the right-hander has allowed just 27 hits and 5 walks while striking out 17 batters. He’s held IL batters to a .218 batting average.

I wish Batista well, but I have a bad feeling about this…