Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

By Scott Engel, The Game Day

It has been a tough spring for the Mets’ pitching staff so far in terms of injuries. Yet according to former players and team executives, the starting pitching can still be the key to a National League pennant push.

I spoke with three former players and a team executive who are very optimistic about the team’s rotation because of its experience and depth.

Insider insights are featured from:

• Nelson Figueroa, former Mets pitcher and host of the “Amazin’ But True” podcast for the New York Post. WPIX TV, MLB Network
• Jerry Blevins, former Mets pitcher, and SNY analyst
• Anthony Recker, former Mets catcher, and MLB Network analyst
• Steve Phillips, former Mets GM, and SiriusXM MLB Network Radio host

2023 Mets Starting Pitching Staff: Eyes On October

Despite losing Jose Quintana to rib surgery until possibly July, the analysts I spoke to maintain that the Mets’ starting pitching can fuel a deep October run in 2023.

”One of the reasons why the Mets rotation can be so good is because of the depth,” Phillips said. “Not many teams were able to boast of having David Peterson and Tylor Megill as extra options. Both would be mid-rotation starters in a different organization.”

“I think this pitching staff has the impact arms and experience not only to win over 162 regular-season games, but they also can win in a short postseason series.”

Phillips said Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander have new goals by this point of their careers, and achieving glory in New York is now the big one. Winning a World Series with the Mets would be an outstanding and distinctive feat, even for two pitchers who have seemingly accomplished almost everything possible by now.

“Winning in New York is not like winning anywhere else, and it becomes a unique line on a player’s resume. It wouldn’t be just another championship.”

Figueroa agreed, adding that both starters have over 30 years combined experience, and that could work in their favor.

“They have done it all, and long enough to know how to pace themselves,” Figueroa said. “They were friendly competitors when they were younger, but now they are more focused on October. The bar is set higher to push this franchise to the next level. At this point of their careers, it’s a legacy thing. It’s about doing something special together.”

Blevins said that while the age factor for both pitchers has to be acknowledged, they should still be at the top of their game from a performance perspective.

“Should age be a concern for starting pitchers? Absolutely. Father Time is undefeated. Bodies age. Physical abilities diminish. But I still believe that Scherzer and Verlander will be very successful this year and probably next year.”

Phillips indicated that manager Buck Showalter may carefully manage the innings of his top two starters early in the season.

“There may be times in May, for instance, when one of the top two starters have a four-run lead after six innings, they may want to stay in the game, but Buck will make the tough decision to save pitchers and innings pitched for October,” he said.

Kodai Senga. Photo by Ed Delaney, MMO

While Scherzer and Verlander are highly proven superstars that are showing no signs of a drop-off, Kodai Senga is more of an intriguing “unknown” factor. Recker said working with Scherzer and Verlander can only help Senga make a smoother transition to the major leagues.

“I think it’ll be more about him making his own adjustments in the game (mound, ball, better players) than off the field,” Recker said. “There is of course plenty he can learn about individual hitters and their tendencies, taking the mound more often, and perhaps utilizing different technological tools. I think he’ll gain more insights from the likes of Verlander and Scherzer than his catchers. Jeremy Hefner is one of the best pitching coaches around, and I know he’ll have him prepared for every start.”

Blevins is already looking forward to seeing Senga operate. “He’s my favorite mystery of the season,” he said. “His ceiling is as a true No. 3 starter with some really dominant performances. And his floor is a long guy in the ‘pen. So there are a lot of different ways he could go. But he looks great, and I think he’ll be closer to the top of his profile.”

Both Phillips and Figueroa touted Senga’s arsenal as a gateway to him adjusting to the stateside game.

“His fastball/split combo will play well. His splitter will fade down off the plate at the bottom of the zone and hitters will chase it,” Phillips said. “He will get his fastball up in the zone in the mid-90s. He will force hitters to change their eye levels.”

“I love his upside,” Figueroa said. “He uses the upper part of the strike zone with his fastball and then he can put hitters away with his ‘ghost forkball.’ His velocity on it is enough that he will generate a lot of swings and misses.”

Quintana may not be back until after the All-Star break, but he should be worth the wait, according to the analysts I spoke to. Once he returns, Quintana should fit in as an important rotation piece.

“He is very underrated,” Blevins said. “With all of the questions and concerns about the age of two aces, the unknown outlook of Senga and Carlos Carrasco‘s recent history, Quintana feels like that solid rock of stability that is needed for this team.”

Figueroa compared Quintana to another recent and highly dependable Mets starter. “As a No. 4, I am very comfortable with him. I liken him to Taijuan Walker,” Figueroa said. “He pitches more to contact, not a major strikeout guy, but he is very efficient. He is an experienced front-end starter who would be a No. 2 or 3 on another team.”

Overall, Figueroa said, the first-half absence of Quintana should not significantly alter the starting pitching’s path to the postseason.

“I think the outlook stays the same,” Figueroa said. “The beauty of it is that you have the flexibility with Peterson and Megill. These aren’t just kids you are trying out and seeing what they can do and how long they can hold down the job. They have put up numbers in the past, especially Megill. He has that kind of stuff that you were really excited about the first two months of last year.

“Megill already having a year under his belt, working with Scherzer and deGrom before that, is a kid that has been surrounded by front-line starters long enough. With his size and ability and a velocity bump over the past season-and-a-half, I think he can go right in and do the job.”

Joey Lucchesi. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Figueroa added that we cannot forget about Joey Lucchesi, and having three quality options behind the original projected top five starters keeps the team from having to make a trade when an injury situation pops up like it did with Quintana. Recker commended the front office for being prepared for such scenarios.

“Peterson and Megill are both very high-quality depth options,” Recker said. “This front office knows that with an aging roster and two aces reaching the back end of their careers, they need reinforcements who can deliver not just innings, but high-quality innings. This is the deepest Mets team I can remember.”

Phillips also weighed in more on the team’s impressive amount of options, without or with Quintana. “One of the reasons why the Mets rotation can be so good is because of the depth. Not many teams were able to boast of having Peterson and Megill as extra options. Both would be mid-rotation starters in a different organization. Quintana and Carrasco are predictable pitchers, you know what you get with them. They will always give their team a chance to win.”

So how good can this rotation be in 2023, especially when it counts most in the drive to the playoffs and in the postseason? Figueroa said that experience will be the big difference between this staff and the last crew of potential superstars that tasted some success in the past decade.

“Last time they had five aces, it was five unproven pitchers. You were hoping they would turn out to be aces,” Figueroa said. “This rotation is full of guys that have done it before, and there are established levels of experience and accountability. It’s also a big difference in the levels of talent around them and what the team has offensively.”

Recker said that the entire Mets pitching staff should have good clubhouse chemistry and will benefit greatly from strong leadership.

“Verlander and David Robertson bring even more experience, particularly winning experience to an already veteran room,” he said. “They also bring expectations, but in a good way. Brooks Raley brings hopefully some new thoughts and ways of approaching the game, having come over from the Rays organization. I think his physical abilities as well as his knowledge base could be great weapons for this team. Quintana provides more Latino leadership. This is a very veteran club.”

Despite the bad news that has made headlines prior to the regular season beginning, this could indeed prove to be one of the top Mets starting staffs in franchise history.

“They certainly have the potential to be one of the best ever for the Mets,” Phillips said.

The post Amazin’ Insights: Insider Perspectives On the Starting Pitching Staff appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning Mets fans! The New York Mets (20-19) had off yesterday which marked the fourth time in the last eight days that the team didn’t play a game. They’re back in action today as they host the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks (25-18) for a three-game series.

Latest Mets News

The Mets will open up their series against the Diamondbacks beginning at 7:10 p.m. tonight as they send Jacob deGrom (3-0, 1.83 ERA) to the mound. In opposition to deGrom will be 28-year-old Zack Godley (4-2, 4.08 ERA). The game can be viewed on SNY and heard on 710 WOR.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote that the Mets’ window for competing is slamming shut. He cites the collapse of the Mets’ rotation and the rise of the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves as major reasons.

John Harper of the New York Daily News suggested that the Mets consider trading deGrom and/or Noah Syndergaard if they don’t improve dramatically.

Latest MLB News

Carson Smith plans on getting a second opinion on his shoulder with Dr. Altchek in New York. His rotator cuff is fine, but he needs more clarification on his labrum according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Smith originally injured himself after throwing his glove in frustration.

The Los Angeles Angels announced that closer Keynan Middleton has been recommended Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL.

The New York Yankees had to sleep at Dulles International Airport on Wednesday night according to Andrew Mearns of MLB.com/Cut4. Their plane never took off due to poor weather in addition to mechanical problems with the plane.

Latest NL East News

The Braves announced that they have placed Mike Soroka on the 10-day disabled list due to pain in his right shoulder. They called up Max Fried from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move.

Bob Brookover of Philly.com analyzed the starting rotation of the Phillies’ low-A Lakewood affiliate which has been dominant thus far this season.

Washington Nationals’ catcher Matt Wieters has undergone surgery to repair his left hamstring according to Dan Kolko of MASN.

Former Miami Marlins president David Samson said that former Florida Marlin Miguel Cabrera “always wanted to come back to Miami,” but was hindered from doing so because of payroll constraints.

Latest on MMO/MMN

Michael Mayer interviewed minor leaguer Christian James whom the Mets selected in the 14th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

Mayer also recapped Nabil Crismatt‘s start for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Thursday in which he flirted with a no-hitter.

Mayer also wrote about the news regarding Todd Frazier who is now not expected back from the disabled list on Friday.

Joe D. analyzed the current state of the Mets.

Dilip Sridhar gave an update on where the Mets stand right now in terms of the 2018 MLB Draft and who they’re leaning towards drafting.

This Day in Mets History

Birthday(s): Nelson Figueroa turns 44.

The post Morning Briefing: First-Place D-Backs Are In Town appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It’s been a struggle for Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler to live up to the promise he showed when he was a prospect.

The 27-year-old missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned this past season, starting in 17 games. However, the results weren’t great, as he logged a 3-7 record with a 5.21 ERA, 5.03 FIP, 1.587 WHIP and an 8.4 K/9.

Wheeler’s fastball averaged 94.6 MPH in 2017 and his slider averaged 87.9 MPH. He also has a curveball and a changeup in his repertoire.

SNY’s Nelson Figueroa believes that Wheeler could thrive in a bullpen role despite his struggles as a starter.

“I’d love to see him as a reliever,” Figueroa said. “I think if he can just focus on being a two-pitch pitcher in that bullpen, that 98 mile per hour fastball will play up and that slider/curveball combination can be deadly.”

The Mets have already added Anthony Swarzak into the fold, but with reportedly only $10 million left to spend the remainder of the winter, additional bullpen reinforcements don’t appear to be on the way.

Though the Mets have a lot of starters coming off injury and their overall long term health status up in the air, it would make sense to move Wheeler to the bullpen.

Through his career, he has regularly labored through a lot of pitches and has failed to go deep into ballgames. Having him come on for an inning or two as a mid-to-back end reliever would play really well for the Mets.

Plus, that still leaves you with plenty of options for the rotation: Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo. Also, I expect them to bring in some bargain bin guys, perhaps Tim Lincecum or Ubaldo Jimenez among others that could compete for a rotation spot.

At 27-years-old and with a season under his belt after Tommy John surgery, Wheeler will likely be in a better spot than he was a year ago. However, a move to the ‘pen for him should likely happen sooner than later to help him reach his maximum potential.

Out of all the Mets starters, do you agree or disagree that Wheeler should be the one moved to the bullpen?

The post Would Zack Wheeler Be Better Suited As a Reliever? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Join former Mets pitcher and current SNY analyst Nelson Figueroa for his annual charity bowling event at Lucky Strike in Manhattan on January 16.

Enjoy an evening of bowling and mingling with Figgy and guests to help raise funds for Chai Lifeline (ChaiLifeline.org).

In addition to a fun night of bowling, there will be a cash bar, photos and autographs opportunities, and even a Chinese Auction!

Tickets for the auction may be purchased at the door for $3 and some of the prizes include a Drew Brees signed SI cover, a Zack Wheeler signed baseball, a Nelson Figueroa pitching lesson, and a Tiki Barber signed football to name a few.

Chai Lifeline is an international support network for families battling childhood illness. The provide meals, big brothers and sisters for seriously ill children, family weekend retreats and trips, support groups, bereavement support, and so much more.

So join Nelson Figueroa and guests to help a worthy cause in a fun-filled night of bowling at the Lucky Strike in Manhattan on January 16 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

For tickets and more information click here.

The post Join Nelson Figueroa For Annual Charity Bowl on January 16 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The backsliding continues. These losses are getting tougher and tougher to take. Last night’s 1-0 defeat was particularly painful because we wasted yet another incredible pitching performance. It’s become the narrative for this team.

I don’t know who these guys are anymore. What is this team and what are they prepared to do to win? This is a complete offensive meltdown that has now lasted in this state for well over two months. The lineup is in shambles with no defined roles for anyone aside from Curtis Granderson and even he has been miscast all year.

Nobody is getting it done. Too many strikeouts, too few walks, and an alarming amount of softly hit balls. And it’s not just one guy, it’s everyone in that lineup. Their inability to string a few hits together is staggering and when they do get on base the fundamental baserunning errors are mind numbing.

You can almost see the desperation setting in. Terry Collins looks more and more like  a dead man walking with each suffocating defeat. He said he attempted that botched suicide squeeze because he wanted to do something different, anything to wake this lethargic offense up.

But it backfired horrendously and only showed how inept and dysfunctional things have really gotten.

“I wanted to try something out of the box to spark the team. Whatever we’ve been doing hasn’t been working. We’ll continue to press forward and try to come up with some answers.”

His next move? Apparently picking his lineup out of a hat.

“We’ve gotta flip-flop some guys somehow, shake it up a little bit,” he explained.

The Mets have not scored a run in their last 21 innings, during which their pitching staff has allowed just three runs. I don’t know whether to cry or scream.

What’s concerning about this entire situation is that they’ve pretty much exhausted all of their internal options and there’s really nobody left that can realistically come up from the minors to help this team.

Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals are 9-1 in their last ten games right now and their offense is absolutely potent even with all the injuries they’ve sustained. Isn’t quality depth something?

Their starting pitching is among the best in baseball and unlike the Mets who have great pitching too, the Nats have the offense to match and not squander great pitching performances like the Mets do with such alarming regularity.

So Mr. Alderson, is this a “long con” as Joel Sherman called it, or are you serious about wanting to contend, especially now when all your stud pitchers are finally assembled and eager to win?

How many more pitching performances do we have to waste until you say enough is enough? What is your threshold for pain and all these agonizing losses?

Are you going to let the team fade away as they do every second half for the last six years, or are you willing to stay in the race and keep fighting while your team is still only 3.5 games back?

What’s it going to be Sandy? If Fred is holding you back why don’t you just say so? You may have read that your counterpart in Los Angeles Jerry DiPoto resigned on Wednesday because he felt his integrity was far more important than being a paper GM.

Your offense has  been held to one run or less 20 times this year. The 20 games are tied for the most such games in the majors. That’s on you.

This is your offense. Their struggles are your struggles, and every whiff is your whiff. What are you prepared to do about it – I mean short of letting your manager be the fall guy for the disastrous offense that had you declaring “mission accomplished” after the Cuddyer signing.

What’s your contingency plan for this apparent debacle? Or do we just sit back and let our elite pitching wither on the vine? It’s time for action. As I said two weeks ago, the era of half-hearted measures is at an end.

The post Nero Continues To Fiddle As Rome Burns appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Ojeda, who joined SNY as a Mets pregame and postgame analyst in 2009, was very popular with fans because of his passion and fearlessness in calling things out.

You could always count on Ojeda to be refreshingly and brutally honest after a tough loss or a bad call from the dugout.

A source close to Ojeda told Martino that the former 1986 Met “absolutely” wanted to return, but the two sides could not reach an agreement on a new deal.

Former Met pitcher Nelson Figueroa is the frontrunner to replace Ojeda, Martino concludes.

Before Ojeda, the Mets had former players Lee Mazzilli and Darryl Strawberry doing the pre and post game shows, which actually was great for my insomnia.

Ojeda livened things up and even if you disagreed with his opinions, you respected his high energy and passion. He will be missed.

The post Bobby Ojeda Out At SNY appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Right off the bat, 21 players also played for the Mets in 2010, who I covered covered in my previous article. If you wish to learn about what happened to Luis Castillo, Alex Cora, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jeff Francoeur, Fernando Tatis, Angel Pagan, Jose Reyes, Nick Evans, Josh Thole, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Francisco Rodriguez, Bobby Parnell, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green, Fernando Nieve, Elmer Dessens, Jon Niese, and Tobi Stoner, check out The 2010 Mets: Where Are They Now?

Only one player (who hasn’t already been covered) that played for the Mets in 2009 is still playing for the Mets, Daniel Murphy who is now one of the top hitters in the Mets lineup. Murphy currently ranks second on the team in batting average and third highest with a 2.7 WAR. Not only does Murphy provide a presence in the top of the lineup, but he may give the Mets strong trade bait going forward.

Only two other players from the 2009 are still in the majors albeit with another franchise: J.J. Putz and Darren O’Day.

Putz, who amazingly only played in 29 games with the Mets, played with the Chicago White Sox in 2010, before heading to Arizona where he played for the Diamondbacks in 2011. He still plays for them now. Side-armer Darren O’Day was claimed off waivers by the Rangers in April of 2009 and played in Arlington until 2011. After that season, the Baltimore Orioles claimed him off waivers. He is currently in his second year with them.

Five players from that team are currently in the Minor Leagues with other organizations and include Omir Santos, Jeremy Reed, Fernando Martinez, Argenis Reyes, and Nelson Figueroa.

Omir Santos did the bulk of the catching for the 2009 Mets, and he now sits behind the plate for the Rockies’ Triple A affiliate in Colorado Springs. He also played for the Toledo Mud Hens in the Detroit Tigers system in 2011, before spending some time with the big league team for the Tigers in  2010. He’s also played with the Indians Triple-A team this season.

Jeremy Reed signed with the Blue Jays in January of 2010 and was called up on April 12th. On July 12th he was sent down, released, and signed with the White Sox. He played the rest of the season with their Triple A team, the Charlotte Knights. The Brewers signed him in 2011 and he made the opening day roster. He was sent down to make room for Jonathan Lucroy, which led to him being traded to the Twins, where he finished the year. He is now in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, but is not currently assigned to a team.

Fernando Martinez was claimed off waivers by the Astros in January of 2012 and played in Houston until he was traded to the Yankees this past June, knowing there was a chance that he could be suspended for steroids. He was among those named in the Biogenesis scandal and is currently serving a 50-game suspension.

Argenis Reyes played in the Red Sox system in 2010 and was then traded to the Cleveland Indians where he played the rest of the season. He spent time with the New Jersey Jackals of the Independent Leagues in 2011 before returning to the Indians system. He is currently not playing with an Indians team although he unassigned.

Nelson Figueroa saw time in the Phillies and Astros systems in 2010, and played in the majors with the Astros in 2011. He also played in the Pirates system that year. 2012 saw him spend time with the Yankees and Red Sox minor league systems, and now plays for the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate.

One 2009 Met is officially a free agent and that is Casey Fossum who played all of three games for the Amazins that season. Fossum was released at the end of April in 2009 and soon after signed with the Yankees. He played the rest of the year with their Triple A affiliate and then moved onto the Chicago Cubs system. His 2010 season was spent with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan, where he went 2-5 with a 5.72 ERA. Fossum signed with the Mets again in January of 2011 and played nine games, before being released a year later. He eventually signed with the Orioles but was soon released and has not resurfaced ever since.

13 players have retired. They are Gary Sheffield, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, Cory Sullivan, Carlos Delgado, Ramon Martinez, Emil Brown, Marlon Anderson, Brian Stokes, Ken Takahashi, Lance Broadway, Jon Switzer, and Billy Wagner.

Gary Sheffield couldn’t find a team to play with in 2010, so he retired in the spring of 2011. Ryan Church was traded to the Braves for Jeff Francoeur and finished the year in Atlanta. 2010 was spent in Pittsburgh until the Pirates traded him to the Diamondbacks along with future Met D.J. Carrasco. He was non-tendered after the year and retired.

Brian Schneider played with the Phillies from 2010 to 2012 and retired officially on January 29th this year. Cory Sullivan, who is most remembered for being the last player to hit two triples in one inning, played with the Houston Astros for half of 2010. He played with the Phillies for half of 2011, and retired after failing to make the Dodgers opening day roster in 2012.

After being injured for most of the 2009 season, the Mets released Carlos Delgado when the season was over. The Boston Red Sox signed the future Hall of Famer to a Minor League contract. He went 3-for-13, was released and retired on April 13th 2011. He was most recently the hitting coach for the 2013 Puerto Rican team in the World Baseball Classic. Current Mets pitching coach Ricky Bones was the pitching coach for that team (and if you ask me, Delgado and Bones look extremely like each other).

Not much to say about Ramon Martinez here. The infielder who played only 12 games with the 2009 Mets was released after the season and immediately retired. Emil Brown retired after being released on June 22, 2009.

Super utility man Marlon Anderson was released in April and signed with the Newark Bears of the Independent Leagues. He played the rest of the season there and retired when the season was done. He was last seen in professional baseball as the hitting coach for the Potomac Nationals in 2012.

Brian Stokes was traded to the Angels for Gary Matthews Jr. prior to the the 2010 season and made 16 appearances for the Halos that year. In 2011 he played in the Arizona D-Back’s system, and then moved onto the Camden RIversharks of the Independent League. Ken Takahashi became the third oldest player to make his Major League debut at the age of 40 on May 2nd 2009. He was released by the Mets in October of that year and went back to his homeland of Japan and played with the Hiroshima Carp in 2010. He retired after that year.

Lance “Best Name in Baseball” Broadway has not played in the Majors since his time with the Mets. He spent time with the Blue Jays organization in 2010 and played with their Triple A team, the Las Vegas 51’s. He has since retired and done what I believe no other Met has done in their lifetime. Lance played Agent O’Neil in the 2013 movie, Olympus Has Fallen. We should keep an eye out for other movies that feature Mr. Broadway.

Jon Switzer only got into four games as a New York Met, which led to a 8.10 ERA. He signed with the Astros and played in their Minor League system in 2010. He retired after 2010 and went back to school. He is now a business manager.

Billy Wagner, who is probably the greatest Mets closer of the last 10 years, was traded at the end of the year to the Red Sox for Chris Carter and minor leaguer Eddie Lora. Wagner played two games for Boston and then signed with the Atlanta Braves for the 2010 season. He was injured in the NLDS, but instead of going on the disabled list, he retired. Billy is currently the Head Coach for Miller High School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Two players are currently in the Independent Leagues. Wilson Valdez played for the Phillies in 2010 and 2011 and was then traded to the Cincinnati Reds before the 2012 season. The Reds traded Valdez to the Giants in December of 2012 but he was released this past March. He signed with the Miami Marlins the next day and was released on May 19th. He is now with the Camden River Sharks. Longtime Mets backup catcher Ramon Castro was traded to the White Sox for Lance Broadway in 2009, but I don’t think it mattered to Ramon, because later in the season he was behind the plate when Mark Buehrle tossed a perfect game. He was released by Chicago after 2011, and did not play baseball in 2012. He signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers this March but was released after failing to make the roster. He now plays for the Long Island Ducks.

Three players are playing in foreign countries, and they all play in Mexico. They are Anderson Hernandez, Angel Berroa, and Robinson Cancel. Hernandez, who was traded from the Tigers to the Mets back in 2004 for Vance Wilson, was claimed off waivers by the Indians in 2010 but was claimed by the Astros in July. 2011 was spent in Triple A with the Astros franchise. In 2012, Hernandez played with the Pirates Triple A team. This year he has been playing with the Piratas de Campeche, where he is hitting five points south of .300 with 11 home runs.

The 2003 American League Rookie of the Year (I still think Rocco Baldelli should have won) Angel Berroa, who before LaTroy Hawkins and David Aardsma was the last player to play for both the Mets and Yankees, played in the San Francisco Giants organization in 2010. In 2011 he played with the Arizona Diamondbacks Triple A team and the Bridgeport BlueFish of the Independent Leagues. 2012 saw Berroa play with the New Jersey Jackals. He now plays for Leones de Yucantan in Mexico. He is hitting .293 with 12 homers.

Robinson Cancel made his first big league appearance since 1999 in 2008 with the Mets. He spent 2010 with the Long Island Ducks, 2011 with the Astros Triple A team (and a few games in the Majors), 2012 with Monterrey in Mexico, and is still playing in Mexico with Minatilan.

One player is coaching. Andy Green went 1-4 with the Mets in 2009. He spent 2010 in Buffalo playing for the Bisons at the Mets Triple A level. He is now managing the Diamondbacks Double A team, the Mobile Bay Bears. He is managing former Met Nick Evans.

So there are your 2009 New York Mets. What were some of your best and worst memories of that season? Next week we’ll take a look at the 2008 team and the last year of Mets baseball at Shea Stadium.

The post The 2009 Mets: Where Are They Now? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

However, last night’s USA-Puerto Rico elimination match was compelling, far more interesting than your average Mets-Marlins spring training game. That interest was generated by the passion in the stands. The WBC means more in terms of national pride to the teams and fans in Asia and Latin America than to the United States.

Puerto Rico is now in the international sports spotlight. The American players who are always in the spotlight can now return to their major league teams and big contracts.Nationalism represented some of the motivational fuel for Nelson Figueroa, a journeyman pitcher who has toiled for six teams in parts of nine years – including the Mets – but pitched like a star last night in sending the United States home for the third straight time.

Figueroa was special, doing what he used to do at times with the Mets, which was burn innings. But, last nigh he gave Puerto Rico six shutout innings in his 80-pitch allotment. Working both sides of the plate effectively with everything but an electric fastball, he gave US hitters nothing to hit.

Putting on a show was the rest of his motivational fuel.

“We were supreme underdogs against that lineup,’’ Figueroa told reporters. “It was motivation to show them what kind of pitcher I was.’’

Maybe he showed what kind of pitcher he can be to somebody with the power to make a decision on his career as so many other have done.

Figueroa was signed by Arizona to a minor league contract as organizational depth in December. If Figueroa were higher on the pitching food chain, but not good enough to be a given, he might have been better off in spring training.

However, in this case, showing what he could do against major league hitters should count for more points than a couple of innings against the Dodgers minor leaguers.

Sometime this year, the Diamondbacks or somebody else, will have a sudden need for an arm and think back at how Figueroa toyed with the US lineup.

Figueroa is not flashy. He does not have a great fastball or singular dominant pitch. What he has is command of the corners and guile. When both are on he’s tough to beat.

“I don’t throw very hard, but I pitch inside,’’ Figueroa said, giving us his personal scouting report. “It was a great exhibition of what can be done without a plus fastball. It was an opportunity to demonstrate that good pitching beats good hitting.’’

That’s the way it always has been and always will be. From a fundamental perspective, that’s baseball’s essence. From a human perspective, Figueroa is also the essence of the sport.

History has given us far more Figueroas in the game than Matt Harveys or Stephen Strasburgs. Harvey and Strasburg have power potential and will always get a shot. Things must break right for Figueroa to get his.

Figueroa has bounced around the globe in search of a job, last pitching in the major leagues with Houston in 2011. He’s been with the Phillies. Toronto and the Yankees released him without his cup of coffee. He has pitched in the winter leagues, for Mexico, for just about anybody who would give him the ball and a few dollars.

Figueroa pitches because that’s what he does. The sport is in his blood, rushing through his veins and consuming his soul. Until he’s physically unable, or run out of teams, Figueroa will pitch. It is players like him, perhaps even more than players like Justin Verlander, as the reason we watch.

Verlander is elite. Figueroa is more like us, who once dreamed of the big leagues. However, unlike us, he persevered through rough times, rejection and defeat to get the taste we will never.

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The Phillies designated pitcher Nelson Figueroa for assignment to make room for Brad Lidge, tweets MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.  Figueroa, 36, was claimed off waivers from the Mets on April 7th and tallied nine games for the Phils.

Last year for the Mets Figueroa compiled a 4.09 ERA, 7.5 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9 in 70.3 innings.  Figueroa has spent most of his second career Phillies stint in the bullpen, and the strikeouts disappeared.

Is this coincidence, or did the Mets have some sort of foresight into the situation?

I don’t wish the downfall of the man, but Figueroa going to the Phillies is like dating your ex-girlfriend’s best friend just for spite.

I guess you can go to Japan now Figgy.

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I was never sold on John Maine after seeing him in spring training.  He’s recently had a few positive starts, though those were against weak hitting NL teams and at the friendly confines of Citifield when the Mets were hot.  It’s a mystery as to why John was striking so many guys out with an 87 MPH fastball which he was throwing 90% of the time.  Now his good fortune has disappeared.  He’s walking guys and giving up home runs.

Jon Niese is injured and probably will go on the disabled list with a bad hamstring.  Mets fans had high hopes for him this year, especially after he pitched so well against the Phillies two weeks ago.  But since then, he’s basically shown us very little.  Too many walks and too many hits means too many baserunners.  That doesn’t add up to many wins for an offensively challenged team.

Oliver Perez is a bum.  What more can you say.  When he is eventually given his unconditional release, he will probably not be picked up by any major league team.

So where do the Mets go from here.  R.A. Dickey and Ken Takahashi will get the first shots to enter and maintain a spot in the starting rotation.  There is no reason to think that Dickey can be successful in the major leagues.  He never has.  And ideally Takahashi should stay a long reliever.

Many laughed at me for campaigning all spring for Figgy to make the Mets roster.  It didn’t appear that they needed him.  The starting pitching was solid, other than Perez.  The relievers were outstanding.  Oh how things have changed.

You still might deride me for championing his cause.  But given the opportunity to start every fifth day, Nelson Figueroa could give the Mets some quality starts and some consistency which Maine, Niese and Perez haven’t been able to do.  And he wouldn’t walk the park either.

I hope that the Phillies ailing pitchers, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, can re-join the team soon.  Then Figueroa could be designated for assignment.  The Mets might be desperate enough to resign him and put him in the rotation.  Last year they were desperate enough to give him a shot and he pitched well.

I doubt he will ever play for the Mets again.  However it’s been proven now two years in a row that even if Figueroa is your eighth best option when the season starts, he is good insurance to have.  And certainly the Mets should know that they need plenty of insurance.

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