10:15 AM Update:
Kyle Farnsworth has been named the new Mets closer by Terry Collins. Valverde will not be used in any critical situations for now.
The 38 year old has closed on two previous occasions in his 16 year major league career which includes 54 saves and 43 blown saves.
Farnsworth last officially closed in 2011 for the Rays, saving 25 games and blowing six.
8:45 AM
It was another rough outing for Jose Valverde, who gave up a three-run homer in the ninth to Justin Upton in Saturday’s 7-5 loss.
He has now allowed four home runs in his last three appearances, including back to back homers against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After the game, the Mets manager basically admitted that he’s going to need a new closer, because he can’t send Valverde out there in a big situation again.
“I’m going to address that on Sunday,” Collins said.
Collins also said he’s been troubled by some of the pitches Valverde has made this week, describing them as being in the “nitro zone.”
“When we’ve talked to people about him and what he does they say when he’s locating his fastball he gets a lot of outs,” explained Collins. “Right now, he’s leaving balls on the plate and he’s getting hit.’’
As I mentioned yesterday, Valverde is doing the same exact things that caused him to get released by the Detroit Tigers. His fastballs are flat, up in the zone, and easy to hammer.
In his eight appearances this season, the 36-year old veteran has allowed baserunners in all but two of them.
The big question now becomes, who replaces him?
