After last night’s debacle, I can’t help but look at the weakest spot on the Mets right now: the bullpen. With the loss of Billy Wagner, little has gone right. Here’s a few nuggets for you to chew on; The Mets bullpen is:
12th in ERA: 4.27
T-1st in blown saves: 22
6th in HR allowed: 47
2nd in HBP: 27
6th in runs allowed: 213
10th in opposing AVG: .253
The bullpen now consists of: Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, Pedro Feliciano, Scott Schoeneweis, Joe Smith, Luis Ayala, and Brian Stokes. The two who had the most trouble in August, so far, is Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez. Despite Aaron’s great effort last night, he allowed 11 runs to score in 13 innings, while walking 10. He also blown 2 saves. Duaner has given up 8 hits in 5 innings of work, allowing 4 runs to score. His August ERA is at a dismal 7.20.
How do we fix this? Well, Jerry is going to have to use “shaky” Schoeneweis and Joe Smith more often as a set-up man and using Luis Ayala as a closer. Smith and Schoeneweis have been the most “decent” pitchers, to be quite
honest. Smith has not let a run score since August 11th, and
Schoeneweis’s run that scored was the first run he’s allowed since
August 7th. Ayala’s run was the first he’s allowed as a Met. Or Jerry can use Stokes as a middle relief guy instead of Sanchez and Heilman. Let’s admit, Heilman and Sanchez have not been the same pitcher they have been in 2006, and it’s not even close.
Can we rely on September call-ups for help? Possibly. With Al Reyes working in Binghamton at the moment, we can use him as another pitcher to lighten the load off of the bullpen. Or maybe Kunz can be brought back if he can show a steadier arm in AAA. There’s going to be a lot of motors rolling this week. Who knows, maybe Omar will pull the trigger and try to get Brian Fuentes.
