Tag: Mike Pelfrey

Game Preview: Nationals at Mets [Game 17] April 25, 2009

Washington Nationals logoWashington Nationals (3-12 Road: 0-7) at New York Mets (7-9 Home: 4-3)  1:10 pm

Daniel Cabrera (0-1 4.50) vs. Mike Pelfrey (1-0 8.10)

TV: SNY   Radio:  WFAN

What to watch: Pelfrey is making his first start in 12 days after missing a turn in the rotation because of forearm tendinitis. He says that he feels fine and is ready to go. Cabrera hasn’t pitched terribly for the Nationals but he walks too many hitters (8 walks and 6 strikeouts). He’s one of those curious pitchers that appears to have good stuff but gives up too many walks and gets hit harder than you would think.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Starting Pitching May Force Roster, Coaching Changes

Oliver PerezAfter the Mets humiliating defeat in St. Louis yesterday, manager Jerry Manuel spoke to the media about some possible changes to the roster in the near future. Manuel said that they’ll go one more time, as is, through the pitching rotation. If the starting pitchers, other than Johan Santana, can’t overcome their problems the Mets will make changes.

Manuel said that he would like to immediately add a 13th pitcher to the Mets roster. The logic being that the starters are pitching so few innings right now that it would keep the existing pitchers in the bullpen from getting burned out early in the season. Manuel admitted that he’s concerned about how many innings the bullpen is logging already.

Another issue is to figure out which position player will pay the price by losing a roster spot to add another pitcher. I suspect that Jeremy Reed is the most likely candidate. If it was up to me, I would option Daniel Murphy for reasons written before on this site that I won’t go into again.

Adam Rubin of the Daily News reports that the Mets are already considering making changes to the coaching staff. Rubin also notes that the Mets are considering optioning Mike Pelfrey or Oliver Perez to the minors. That would be quite a shake-up, moving the #2 or #3 starter to the minors!

Although some of these ideas sound desperate, I’m glad that they’re not just going with the status quo because it’s April. The Mets have a lot of seats left to sell and this team isn’t inspiring me to go out and buy more seats. That doesn’t even mention the fact that the last two seasons have been lost to one or two games, so they can’t just give games away even if it is only April.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Figueroa Designated For Assignment

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Javascripts/PisV3.jshttp://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/javascripts/DataV3.ashx?ImageId=912580&PublisherId=1326Milwaukee Brewers at New York Mets at Citi Field in New York

Immediately after pitching six innings against the Brewers yesterday and giving up three runs, Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment by the Mets. He had a nice spot start for Mike Pelfrey who is not going on the disabled list but resting after feeling some forearm tendinitis.

Casey Fossum was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Figueroa on the roster. So Darren O’Day and Figueroa are now on waivers for the Mets.

I have to admit that I was surprised when I read that Figueroa was designated. He offers some good versatility in the Mets bullpen and has been pretty solid in every role that the Mets have asked of him. Fossum is a second lefty for the Mets bullpen that’s been a source of concern, but I got the feeling that the Mets weren’t overly concerned about Pedro Feliciano being the only lefty in the bullpen.

Hopefully, Figueroa will get picked up by a team that could use him at the major league level. If not, he could end up in Buffalo again and possibly back with the Mets at some point this season.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Game Preview: Brewers at Mets [Game 12] April 19,2009

Milwaukee Brewers logoMilwaukee Brewers (3-8 Road: 1-4) at New York Mets (6-5 Home: 3-2) 1:10 pm

Jeff Suppan (0-2 12.91) vs. Nelson Figueroa (0-0 0.00)

TV: WPIX Radio:  WFAN

What to watch: Suppan has been horrible for the Brewers in his two starts this season. The team was even considering skipping this start to give him some time to figure out what’s going wrong. Figueroa is making the start for the slightly injured Mike Pelfrey today. We may see Fernando Tatis get a start at second base. That could be interesting. Although he appears to be much more comfortable playing the infield than the outfield.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Add Nelson Figueroa For Start Sunday

NEW YORK - MAY 12: Mike Pelfrey #34 of the Ne...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Mike Pelfrey‘s forearm tendinitis will keep him from making his scheduled start tomorrow. To replace him, the Mets called up Nelson Figueroa from Triple-A Buffalo. Pelfrey says that he could make the start if he had to. But keeping him on the sidelines this early in the season is a smart move.

To make room on the major league roster for Figueroa the Mets designated Darren O’Day for assignment. O’Day was a Rule 5 pickup from the Angels this off-season so if he clears waivers the Mets have to offer him back for $25,000.

In my opinion, Figueroa can do more for the Mets major league roster than O’Day can anyway. He’s more flexible in terms of being able to spot start, long relief, and short relief. I’m hoping they keep Figueroa on the team at least until Tim Redding is healthy.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Pelfrey May Have Tendenitis

Mike PelfreyStarting pitcher Mike Pelfrey reported to the team that he is experiencing some soreness in his forearm. It’s been diagnosed as tendinitis and may impact Pelfrey’s ability to make his next start on Sunday.

The good news is that this may explain Pelfrey’s two sub-par starts that he’s made so far this season. The bad news is that the Mets are counting on Pelfrey to put up some big numbers as their #2 starter this season.

From NY Post:

“Every year I get some kind of tendinitis two or three times, but never in the forearm,” Pelfrey said yesterday before the Mets faced the Padres at Citi Field. “I don’t think it’s to the point where I can’t get guys out.”

I think that we all have a tendency to blow these things out of proportion, including me. But tendinitis is very common and is easily treated. It can become a serious problem if it doesn’t heal properly though.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Padres Over Mets 6-5 April 13, 2009

Heath BellThe San Diego Padres managed to spoil the Mets grand opening of Citi Field by winning a close one 6-5. Mike Pelfrey definitely didn’t have it for the second start in a row. He went 5 innings giving up five runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. Jody Gerut led off the game with a home run to right field and we knew that we could be in for a long night.

The Mets did manage to put together a four run rally in the fifth inning capped by a 3-run homer by David Wright. But it wasn’t enough.

In the top of the sixth Ryan Church misplayed a fly ball off his glove. The runner, Luis Rodriguez, ended up scoring on a balk of all things by Pedro Feliciano. The Mets are finding new ways to lose in the early going this season.

The Padres win their fifth straight game as the Mets drop to 3-4. Heath Bell ended up getting his wish, he got the first save at Citi Field.

Box score

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js