Tag: Bobby Parnell

Mets Option Nick Evans To Triple-A

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Javascripts/PisV3.jshttp://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/javascripts/DataV3.ashx?ImageId=816929&PublisherId=1326MLB: MAR 04 Spring Training - Mets at Nationals

Nick Evans was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo today to make room on the roster for OF Gary Sheffield. The move doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone. In fact, it never made sense to me to keep Evans on the big league roster if he wasn’t going to get significant playing time. The guy just turned 23 years old in January. What good does it do for him to sit on the bench?

Evans needs to be playing every day at Buffalo. The best thing the Mets can do for him is to prepare him to be an everyday player. Hopefully, next season Carlos Delgado will be gone and Evans can take over at first base. Keeping him on the roster as a pinch-hitter and part-time player isn’t in his best interest or the Mets.

The bigger issue will be what the Mets do next Saturday to get Livan Hernandez on the roster. Most likely, they’ll release Marlon Anderson and keep Jeremy Reed as a defensive replacement outfielder. That makes the most sense to me. An option they have is to move one of the relief pitchers off the roster though. Bobby Parnell still has options so they could send him to Buffalo. But I think they like him and believe that he can make a contribution this season. My guess is that Marlon Anderson is waived.

Mets Bullpen May Be Their Undoing

It’s become almost impossible for me to watch the Mets now. And this should be the most exciting time of the season. We’re right in the playoff hunt and there’s only one week left in the regular season. The Phillies and Brewers have had their own problems at various times this season. The Mets are better than both of them, or they should be.

At the All-Star break I would’ve told you that if the Mets don’t make the playoffs in 2008 it’s because Carlos Delgado can’t hit anymore or Moises Alou is injured again. But Delgado can, and has, hit and the left field combination of Daniel Murphy, Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis, and Nick Evans has worked.

Now it’s readily apparent to every Mets fan that if the Mets don’t make the playoffs it’s the bullpen’s fault. Johan Santana should have 20+ wins right now. He’s been victimized more than anyone save the fans. And the bullpen may cost Jerry Manuel a well-deserved shot at managing this team for the next three or four years.

Take a look at the Mets statistics in releif appearances this season. But don’t look at it right after eating. You might lose your lunch. If you go to MLB.com, click Stats, then select the Mets, pitching stats, in relief appearances you’ll see all of the Mets relief appearance stats and it isn’t a pretty sight.

I won’t even single anyone in the bullpen out because they’ve all been so bad. It’s time to move Bobby Parnell to the top of the heap. Could he be worse than what we’ve already seen? I don’t think so.