Tag: Tim Redding

Mets Option Niese To Minors; Recall Figueroa

PORT ST LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Pitcher Nels...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Jonathan Niese was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo after a poor start against the Braves yesterday. Nelson Figueroa was recalled from Buffalo to take his place on the roster. Figueroa wasn’t on the Mets 40-man roster so they had to make a move to get Figueroa on the major league roster for the west coast road trip this week.

This spot in the rotation will come up again on Monday in Los Angeles. The reports from the minors are that Tim Redding is ready to join the Mets from the disabled list. So Figueroa might have another short stay in the majors.

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 P Tim Redding Injured

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Javascripts/PisV3.jshttp://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/javascripts/DataV3.ashx?ImageId=729919&PublisherId=1326New York Mets vs Washington Nationals

Tim Redding’s spring training hasn’t started very well. He’s been shelled pretty much every time out so far. And now we have word from Mets GM Omar Minaya that Redding is suffering from “weakness” in his right shoulder. Now some would say that his right arm has always been pretty weak but this time its an actual injury.

Redding will be on the disabled list when opening day rolls around on April 6 and he won’t pitch anymore this spring. Normally, this wouldn’t be very significant for the Mets. But the fifth starter situation has become so dubious over the past three weeks that this does now impact the team.

Remember that the Mets won’t need a fifth starter for the first two or three weeks of the season anyway. So there isn’t an immediate need to sort out the situation. And we also have to remember that we are talking about the fifth starter. We’ve seen some awful pitching from Redding, Freddy Garcia, and decent work from Livan Hernandez this spring.

There are still some alternate options like Brian Stokes and Nelson Figueroa when he gets back from the Puerto Rican team in the World Baseball Classic. So I’m not that worried about this issue now, and I’m certainly not advocating signing Pedro Martinez. I saw enough of him the last three years to know that he just doesn’t have it anymore.

Johan Santana Spring Debut Looks Good

Johan SantanaJohan Santana took the mound for the first time this spring and looked pretty good doing it. He went 2.2 innings giving up three runs on four hits after throwing 47 pitches. He did give up a long home run to Dan Uggla to left field. But his pitches looked pretty sharp.

Santana’s fastball was in the low 90’s and his changeup was excellent as usual. There doesn’t appear to be any need to worry about the sore elbow that kept Santana on the sidelines for the first few weeks of the spring.

Oh, and by the way the Mets lost the game 16-8 after Tim Redding was torched again. More on the race to see who can lose the fifth starter spot in the rotation later.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Mets Redding Has Shoulder Pain

Tim ReddingTim Redding had offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in the second toe of his left foot in November. So he didn’t do his normal offseason throwing program. Today he reported to the team that he’s feeling some pain in his throwing shoulder. Apparently, Redding feels that its due to rushing his throwing program this spring.

This certainly won’t help in his bid to win the #5 starter spot from Freddy Garcia and Jon Niese. But it’s still too early in the spring to make any decisions. The Mets could live with Redding getting a late start to the season if it came to that. In my mind, he’s likely going to be the long man in the bullpen anyway.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Tim Redding Signs With Mets

This is kind of a “ho-hum” signing for the Mets. It’s certainly not the big-deal Derek Lowe signing that we’ve all been waiting for. Tim Redding agreed to a one year contract with the Mets for $2.25 million with incentives that could take the deal to $3 million.

Redding may be a servicable starter, and I stress “may be” in this sentence. He’ll be competing for the fifth spot in the rotation with Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Nelson Figueroa, and whomever else the Mets bring in.

I don’t think we’ll be seeing a big introduction at Citi Field for Redding. He’s coming off somewhat of a career year with the Nationals last season at 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA. It’s not anything to get crazy about. He’s a guy that you just hope can get through five innings without killing your chance to win the game. He’s never pitched 200 innings/season in his seven year career.

You can his full career stats at Baseball Reference.

Flickr photo courtesy of dbking.

Enhanced by Zemanta