Category: Pitching

Pedro To Start June 3

The Mets are planning to start injured star pitcher Pedro Martinez on June 3 in San Francisco. He’ll make one start for the St. Lucie Mets before joining the team on their road trip next week.

The Mets will have to make a decision about keeping Mike Pelfrey or Claudio Vargas in the rotation, and on the team, at that point. Vargas threw a stinker in Atlanta last week but his other two starts have been solid. He looks to be more consistent than Pelfrey.

Vargas could opt to become a free agent if the Mets designate him for assignment. It’s not a huge loss, but something to consider when making a decision.

My opinion is that Pelfrey needs some time in the minors to perfect his game. He’s got good stuff but isn’t consistent enough. He’s hurting the team.

Julian Tavarez To Mets?

Julian Tavarez was DFA’d by the Red Sox and elected free agency instead of going to Pawtucket. The Boston Globe is reporting that Bartolo Colon told the paper that Tavarez said that he wants to pitch for the Mets.

Tavarez pitched in nine games for the Sox this season to a 6.39 ERA. I don’t think that the Mets need an Aaron Heilman clone at this point. Thanks, but no thanks Julian.

Martinez Throwing In Dominican Today

Pedro Martinez waves goodbye after signing some autographs

Image via Wikipedia

Injury update- Pedro Martinez is working out today in the Domincan Republic and plans to travel to Florida tomorrow. He says that he’s ready to pitch at the Major League level now, but the Mets want him to get one start in Florida before joining the Mets. The plan is for him to pitch for St. Lucie of the Florida State League.

Read the full story here.

Video: Olney And Kernan On Mets

ESPN’s Buster Olney and NY Post writer Kevin Kernan talk about Major League Baseball news. The Mets topics include Willie Randolph’s job is in extreme jeopardy barring a huge success in Colorado this weekend. They also talk about Johan Santana and his diminished fastball.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3409565

Mets Have Problems, I Have Solutions

The first two months of the season have proven that the New York Mets have an average record with above average talent. That’s on the manager. Beyond managerial problems, the Mets have several issues on their roster. Not every problem can be solved easily but there are some quick, inexpensive solutions.

Problems:

  1. Manager– Willie Randolph briefly lost his mind while speaking to Ian O’Connor of the Bergen Record on Sunday. If Randolph can’t keep it together better than that he shouldn’t be leading this team. It’s as simple as that.
  2. First base– Carlos Delgado has turned into an automatic out. But even during losing streaks and blowout loses he continues to smile and yuk it up at first base with the opposing team.
  3. Left field– Moises Alou is a natural-born hitting machine. He’s also chronically on the disabled list.
  4. Second base– Luis Castillo was just signed to a four year contract prior to this season, as hard as that is to believe. His legs look like they could give out at any moment. His game depends on speed and range in the field and now he doesn’t have either.
  5. Bullpen– Aaron Heilman can’t figure out how to get hitters out this season. He swings back and forth between walking batters and giving up home runs. That’s a bad combination.
  6. Starting pitching– Pedro Martinez and El Duque on the disabled list since the beginning of the season has hurt the Mets badly. The gaping holes in the rotation have exposed Mike Pelfrey, Nelson Figueroa, and Claudio Vargas.

Wow, that’s a big list of problems! Although the list appears to be insurmountable, it’s not. Continue reading “Mets Have Problems, I Have Solutions”

Trade Talk: Heilman and Sosa

Adam Rubin of the Daily News reported last night that the Mets couldn’t trade Jorge Sosa while he was on waivers and Aaron Heilman is being shopped around.

On Sosa:

The Mets placed reliever Jorge Sosa on unconditional release waivers after failing to trade him. Sosa was designated for assignment on May 13.

On Heilman:

The buzz among scouts is that the Mets are shopping Aaron Heilman. Of course, they’re looking for a set-up man – something hard to find.

I agree with releasing Sosa. There really wasn’t another choice. He was terrible. But trying to trade Heilman when his value is at an all time low? That doesn’t make sense. They should keep pitching him in blow out games to get his confidence back. I’m confident that he can get back to his old form. He just needs to get a few stable appearances under his belt.
New York Mets v Washington Nationals
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Pedro Martinez Pondering Retirement

Multiple media sources today are reporting that Pedro Martinez is considering retirement. No, not because he’s spent so much time on the disabled list over the last three seasons. It’s because his 78 year old father is suffering from a form of brain cancer.

Pedro has played for 17 years in the big leagues and he’s made more than $134 million dollars through the 2007 season. He’s won three Cy Young Awards. What else is left for him to do?

He’ll be a free agent after this season and I’m hoping that the Mets don’t re-sign him. It was great when he got here in 2005 to add some life to a lifeless franchise. But he just hasn’t produced over the past three years. Did you know that his record is 12-9 since 2006?

If the Mets do re-sign him it should be for one year maximum. Of course, that would be bucking the Omar Minaya trend of signing aging players to long term contracts. I do realize that.

The Mets would be better off pursuing C.C. Sabbathia or one of the other free agents available after this season.