As Joel Sherman of the NY Post stated in his article this morning…
There are many categories you want your players to be among the league leaders. This is not one of them. The New York Mets have four relievers in the top nine in the NL in appearances.
Pedro Feliciano and Aaron Heilman (68 games) are tied for third. Luis Ayala (66) was really pushed in Washington’s pen before joining the Mets, and that overuse is often used as an explanation for his poor season with the Nationals. Joe Smith (64) is eighth in the league.
In other words, the Mets have four of the eight most overworked relievers in the National League.
It gives one pause to consider whether the Mets can survive another five weeks with an overworked and unpredictable bullpen. It is without question the most spent bullpen in the majors.
When you consider that Mike Pelfrey is now going to have his innings capped, and that John Maine faces the prospect of season ending surgery, the situation becomes even more painfully clear.
The acquisition of Luis Ayala seems to have provided a nice lift so far, and Brian Stokes has looked effective as well.
The volatility however of guys like Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis, Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano remain a huge concern. One day you love them, the next day your throwing your remote at the TV. Somethings gotta give…
