Mets Oliver Perez Bullpen Session Today

New York Mets pitcher Oliver Perez reacts after giving up a double to Florida Marlins batter Cody Ross during the third inning of their MLB National League baseball game in Miami, Florida May 14, 2010. REUTERS/Rhona Wise (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsOliver Perez arrived in Arizona yesterday but hasn’t been activated from the disabled list yet. The plan is for him to work a bullpen session this afternoon and be evaluated by the team. Perez has the right to demand that his rehab period end but hasn’t done that yet. If the Mets don’t like what they see, they may ask him if he’ll extend his rehab.

Perez has been on the DL since June 1 with knee tendinitis. The injury and DL trip was so suspicious that MLB investigated but ultimately decided it was legitimate.

We’ve heard comments from Jerry Manuel that Perez will return to the bullpen when he comes off the DL. Hisanori Takahashi will make his next start in Los Angeles on Thursday despite his ineffectiveness.

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Mets’ Francisco Rodriguez- How Does He Stack Up?

A picture of Francisco Rodriguez I took Openin...
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K-Rod blew his fifth save of the season on Sunday in San Francisco.

Quite frankly, he’s lucky to have only five of those.

In his year and a half in New York, the Mets’ closer has earned a reputation of never making anything easy, and rightfully so. He’s always had a knack for putting runners on base, especially early in the inning, and making things difficult for himself by struggling to throw strikes while those runners are on base.

Most recently, he fell in love with his changeup, of which manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Warthen said he was throwing much too often. In response, Rodriguez would make his next appearance (Sunday) and throw far too many fastballs, many of which the Giants put in play for base-hits.

I thought it would be interesting to compare K-Rod to the four closers that are currently closing out games for teams in a playoff spot in the National League. Those teams currently in playoff spots are the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. Continue reading “Mets’ Francisco Rodriguez- How Does He Stack Up?”

Mets Need Luis Castillo to Step Up

Luis Castillo batting for the New York Mets on...
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Some credited him with a quietly solid 2009 campaign, others couldn’t look past the memory of his dropped pop-up against the Yankees. Luis Castillo has seemingly been synonymous with Mets’ failure since arriving during the 2007 season. I for one can blame Castillo for keeping me up at night with nightmares of constant 6-3 put-outs. Regardless of his past with the team, and his nauseating contract, Castillo will return to the lineup with hopes of having a positive impact on the remainder of the 2010 Mets season.

As much as most fans despise Castillo for his aging knees, slap style of hitting, and depleting range at second base, the Mets will need him to make things happen for them if they hope to stay in contention.

Right now the bottom of the Mets lineup has gotten very little production. Jeff Francoeur wakes up every morning with an 0 and 2 count, Rod Barajas hasn’t driven in a run since the oil spill, and the tandem of Ruben Tejada and Alex Cora wasn’t exactly posing an offensive threat either.

Castillo’s return to the lineup will allow Cora to be relegated to the role of bench player where he belongs, and will send Ruben Tejada back to Buffalo where he belongs. In addition, Castillo can provide some maturity to the bottom of the Mets order, as long as Angel Pagan is in the lineup. He’ll be counted on to work counts (something Barajas and Francoeur are incapable of doing), get on base, and basically just ignite any kind of spark that he has left. Continue reading “Mets Need Luis Castillo to Step Up”

Preview: Mets at D-Backs July 19, 2010

New York Mets (49-43) at Arizona D-Backs (34-58) 9:40pm

Mike Pelfrey (10-4 3.58) vs Ian Kennedy (4-7 4.12)

TV: SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets and D-Backs start up a three game series tonight in the desert. The D-Backs just got swept in San Diego and have lost 5 of their last 6 games. They’re having just an awful season. Kennedy has been okay this season but the team has lost 4 of the last 5 games he started. Pelfrey is finally starting after missing his turn in the rotation because of a stiff neck. The Mets have lost the last 2 games he started and he’s really in a bad part of the season after a terrific start.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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Mets Fans: Don’t Blame Jerry Manuel

May 21, 2010 - New York, New York, U.S. - JERRY MANUEL during the Mets vs Yankees at Citi Field in Flushing NY. The Yanks won 2-1.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe axe always falls on the manager. This is the way the world works and it comes with the territory. There are things that we can rightfully question Jerry about. There are, however, things that he has to do, despite what we’d like to see happen. These are some of those unavoidable scenarios we will have to brace for.

1. K-Rod is coming in

Deal with it folks. We are going to win or lose with K-Rod in the 9th. The Mets cannot reach the post season without a closer shutting the door in the last inning. Johan Santana pitched 8 amazing innings and everyone is fed up with him losing victories, but there is nothing Manuel can do. It is up to the Mets bullpen to clinch those wins for Santana and The Mets bats to give him run support. Johan, of all people, is off elbow surgery and is not getting any younger. We cannot expect him to throw complete games every time. K-Rod will also need to work through this mess. The only way to get your stride back is in the game. If Manuel starts displaying a lack of confidence in K-Rod the situation will not magically improve itself. Our bullpen is already a shaky one. The last thing we need is to start meddling around with other closer options.

2. Luis Castillo is going to play

Castillo has become a symbol of the troubles the Mets have faced the last few seasons. He has taken a lot of heat from fans because of his ridiculous contract and of course “the drop” in Yankee Stadium. Although he can be irritating at times, Castillo is our best option at second. He gets on base and knows how to work a pitcher. Manuel may dislike him more than any of us, but like K-Rod, we are stuck with this contract. For as much as young talent excites the fan base, Ruben Tejada has been over matched at the plate. He is simply not ready to hit at the major league level. Castillo’s skill set may be diminishing but he gives us the best chance to win. Continue reading “Mets Fans: Don’t Blame Jerry Manuel”

Mets 2010 Trade Needs – Bullpen

New York Mets relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez reacts in the 10th inning of their MLB National League baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, California July 18, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

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Another big game from our ace who is now 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA in 4 starts this month and if we had a reliable closer he would be 3-0.

Johan Santana has made an awesome comeback, has retaken the team lead in ERA at 2.98 and lead’s the team in K’s with 83. He should also have the team lead in wins but the Mets bullpen and offense have not always been as good.

After yesterday’s game, the Mets biggest pressing need is some bullpen help because our closer could have a 10 win season with 20 blown saves at the rate he’s going and that’s going to cost the Mets a spot at the playoffs.

Unless we find a flaw in K-Rod’s delivery and correct it fast, as Santana has recently done, the Mets really should consider making a trade at the trading deadline for a reliever. Continue reading “Mets 2010 Trade Needs – Bullpen”

Mets’ Hisanori Takahashi Struggles, Keeps Rotation Spot

New York Mets starting pitcher Hisanori Takahashi takes a breather behind the mound before facing New York Yankees batter Jorge Posada with the bases loaded in the sixth inning of their MLB inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, June 18, 2010. He got Posada out to end the inning. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIf about a month ago you asked a Mets fan who was the most pleasant surprise this season, you’d have a lot of responses. R.A. Dickey. Ike Davis. Angel Pagan.

All very deserving names. Another name that would’ve been on that list is 35-year-old Japanese import Hisanori Takahashi.

He wasn’t untouchable coming out of the bullpen, but he was more than serviceable, posting a 3.12 ERA as a reliever. When John Maine and Oliver Perez had to be pulled from the rotation due to a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness, Takahashi was chosen to take one of the open spots in the rotation.

His first two starts were outstanding, against two of the best offensive teams in baseball. Against the Yankees in his first start, he shutout the Yankees for six innings. In his next start against NL East rival Philadelphia, he did the same. Continue reading “Mets’ Hisanori Takahashi Struggles, Keeps Rotation Spot”