Brian Lawrence is good for five innings and three to four runs a game, which is why he’s Brian Lawrence. It is what it is. That’s not great, and it won’t change, either.
The Mets seem happy with that coming out of the fifth starter role. They obviously don’t want to give those starts to Mike Pelfrey. Like a lot of guys, hitters seem to get a read on Pelfrey after awhile and maybe the Mets have realized they’ve rushed him.
To me, that’s all the more reason to try him in the bullpen. Give him work in small, condidence-buiding doses.
Now as far as Guillermo Mota is concerned, they have to pull the plug on him now. Willie can say all he wants about having confidence in him (it’s getting weaker), but the players are losing it.
I think he should go to the minors now and START a few games. Stretch him out. The more he works now the better the odds of him finding it. The assumption, of course, is that what he’s missing can’t be found in a needle.
38 Comments
The reaction to Mota pitching last night was comical. The Mets are down 4-1 and Peavy is dealing. Yet using Mota in a long relief/mop up role isnt right either?
Yes lets burn up Sosa and Heilman some more… or better yet Willie should waive the white flag and brought in Sele.
They are using Mota in less important situations in spots where he can hopefully find himself. I dont see how anyone would recommend that Mota be DFA, sit around for 10 days and then go to the minors just as the minor league season is ending. Do the Cyclones really need that much extra help?
No, it’s not comical. It’s a fed up fan base, myself among them. While I occasionally take shots at guys, be it here or elsewhere, when I’m at the game, it takes a lot for me to boo one of my own. What’s the point of booing a guy in a 0-20 slump? You think he doesn’t want more than anything to break out of it? What’s the point?
But in Mota’s case it’s different. It’s booing the fact that he’s out there, and he is wrecking games. It’s as much a statement to Willie and the front office as it is to Mota.
Those boos were as loud as I’ve heard them for any Met I’ve seen. That was seriously Rollins/Chipper level.
I would love to see Pelfrey in relief, but it doesn’t seem to be a possibility at all.
Delgado? I see no comments from JD about Delgado. Who thought much about him during the four games where he couldn’t play because of his knee? NOT ME.
They looked good without him especially at the plate.
He’s going to cost this team a pennant or more.
I wouldn’t start him very much but he did start I would hit him 6th after Alou.
Delgado? I see no comments from JD about Delgado. Who thought much about him during the four games where he couldn’t play because of his knee? NOT ME.
They looked good without him especially at the plate.
He’s going to cost this team a pennant or more.
I wouldn’t start him very much but he did start I would bat him 6th after Alou.
I agree, get rid of Mota now. They never should have signed an admitted steroid user. You knew once he got off the stuff he would be no good anymore. This may be Omar’s worst move ever, and he signed him for two years no less. What a terrible move.
I think it’s safe to say that anyone defending Mota at this point is just being contrarian.
You can’t have more than one guy you’re trying to hide in a bullpen. You can’t.
Smith would have to be pitching better than this, Schmoll would have to be pitching better than this, Collazo would have to be pitching better than this, Adkins would have to be pitching better than this…
And that’s just legit relievers! At this point, using Pelfrey or Humber as relievers would both have to be a little better than this.
Hmm i missed last nights game. Had a wake to go to. But Lawrence reminds me of TRASH-el except a wee bit better. ;-]
and MOTA is acting much like benitez. :-( and we know how well those 2 did for us..
Well JD, you know how I have felt about Mota. Omar did a horrible job with this bullpen this year counting on Show and Mota to have important roles in the pen. Give Joe Smith another shot. Bring up Willie Collazo. Give me someone else other than Mota.
Ron –
I agree with every word you’ve said.
My personal way of dealing with Mota is to just turn the game off. Because Omar signed him, he is in the clubhouse, but Willie doesn’t have to play him and I wonder why he does.
Just as I wonder what is really wrong with Delgado. Late season games at Shea are not the time or place to rehab these ‘ailing’ players.
This team was surprisingly good last season and this year – despite the lack of acclaim in the local press – they are in First Place in the division again.
Mota and Delgado are not helping the team – Willie needs to stop giving them playing time.
Regarding the “needle” comment, it’s not like Mota isn’t throwing the ball hard. He threw 95 last night. But remember, Mota wasn’t that good for Cleveland and he certainly didn’t pitch well for Florida either. His last part of the year in 2006 could have very well been a fluke. It goes again back in Omar’s lap that he thought Mota could be an integral part of the bullpen.
Steve –
That’s what is so tough about the whole steroids question. It is taking MLB years to figure out what to do about it and meanwhile the game is in flux. I’m sure that every team now has users, non-users, and former users. How can that situation be good for anyone?
JD: I agree wholeheartedly about puttin the fork in Mota. Jeff: You’re right about Delgado. It’s been almost 5 months now that the Mets have been waiting for him to get into his “groove”. Does Willie bench him or drop him down the order again? He seems very lost up there and it’s torture watching him up at the plate esp with inside stuff that everybody and their mother is throwin at him.
last night, when mota took the mound for his second inning, gary cohen mentioned “mota only threw 7 pitches last inning” and all i could think to myself was, “so what?” it doesn’t mean anything. this guy is a joke, and i think we all know why he helped last year. They should’ve let Piazza at him years ago when Mota was pitching in L.A.
1. Willie Collazo is a 2 time offender for using steroids, so…really? I don’t know how I feel about his name being thrown around.
2. Schmoll is utterly incapable of pitching to lefties. I don’t know how much it can/would help the Mets to bring up a Minor League pitcher and test him out for 20 games or so only against right-handed batters…that definitely doesn’t soundl ike someone who is gonna help us win a ring. Neither of them really do.
As for Lawrence, it isn’t an “experiment”. We all know what to expect from him when he comes in the game and he gives us just that—no more, no less. He’s not the ideal #5 starter but you have to admit that the guy is consistent(ly mediocre).
Yes Mota is bad, but unless there is someone you think can get an out, it doesn’t really matter. Mike C can name the entire NO roster and it doesn’t help. That staff is as bad as any. Maybe Smith can help if heas his speed back and his confidence back, but when he went down he was horrible as well.
And another thing….this Padres team is an awful hitting team in general that averages 4 runs a game. So far the Mets have given up 6 runs and 7 runs. Unacceptable for now and in the future if the Mets expect to contend for the World Series.
Wait a second .. just one second…
I have had issues with Delgado since the beginning. When his slump went beyond all the other players having a bad start. and I was lambasted for not being a fan or understanding delgado’s impoirtance to the team. sigh
How soon they all forget. So, now I am correct in wanting a replacement for him? well, you know what, I will take it anyway I can.. if people finally agree with me, so be it.
Delgado’s biggest issue and Keith says it every game he calls: Delgado is swinging for the fence. and maybe he needs to be a different kind of hitter now.. go for the single or the double and if you line drive it hard enough it just may go out of the park because of the power of the batter.
But Delgado has been a rally killer all season long. and yes he has RBIs and HR up the wazzoo. but most of those RBIs and HRs dint help the team at crucial times. Everytime we “needed” him he didnt produce. and lets not forget his less than stellar fielding at first. :-(
There’s Green/easley/Connine. so maybe Omar and Willie finally realized that Delgado is a liability and his bat and fielding wont cut it in october…
As for MOTA, Ron has talked about his control.. because he throws HARD he’s lost confidence in his control then gets agitated. Not unlike Benitez. maybe Like Glavine MOTA has to change his style slow it down a bit change it up and lead people to the hard stuff so they will swing at it.
Burgos’ numbers before getting injured this season: 3.42 ERA, .200 BAA and 1.10 WHIP
I didn’t know that about Collazo. However it appears that he tested positive in 2005 and since I assume he is being regularly tested, has been clean since then. Plus he is pitching well in AAA. He couldn’t be any worse than Mota. As far as Burgos goes, I can see him as a September call up, but I really am not sure if I would trust him in any big situation.
Williams…”experiment” before Lawrence’s name is SARCASM….geez… :-)
Burgos is a younger (23), harder throwing, non-juiced version of Mota. So basically, he isn’t Mota at all. I wouldn’t trust anyone in this bullpen in a big situation besides Wagner and maybe Feliciano/Heilman. As for Smith, he’s a rookie who pitched brilliantly in the beginning of the season, but was overused by Willie and so his velocity suffered and as a result his confidence. He has the stuff to be a great MRP for years to come and maybe even come September.
I’m completely with you there, Williams…
I can’t get my head around people saying that Burgos “sucked” before the injury.
He wasn’t lights out but he was solid, he was better than Mota and Schoeneweis at the very least.
Is it people lamenting the loss of Bannister or something?
Actually, not only did Burgos suck in NY, he sucks even more in the Big Easy. He was great down 10-2. Mike C and Steve C the 2 of you seem to get great satisfaction when your team loses… My sympathies on your warped minds….
LGMG – WHAT?
HUH?!
you have me confused with someone else.
I DO NOT EVER LIKE TO SEE MY METS LOSE Ever!
Just ask my Buddy dave. Please make sure you know which Steve you are talking about. Just Because Mike has a C for his last name doesnt mean we are related nor do we have the same opinions.
All I ever want is my team to win….and to play as a team…
John,
Has there been any thought to trying Lawrence in the pen when/if pedro comes back? He seems to be OK for an inning or two before batters get their reads on him.
I’m with you on the Burgos this LGMG. The homerun Ryan Howard hit off him at Shea is still travelling and he was pitching in that game when it was still close. He had one terrific outing in the game the Mets came back on the Cubs in May. Other than that, he’s not very good. Even with Mota, at least he has had success on the major league level.
Hey John, why not put Humber in the pen he almost threw a no hitter last night and ended up with 10 k’s for the night.
My big question right now is…
When September 1 rolls around, how many extra players are activated and who?
Nobody actually brings their roster up to 40 guys, of course, but… what?
A coupla relievers, a spot starter… Anderson Hernandez, keep a third catcher around, maybe Ambres?
Way off topic but still want to vent. Why is it that on MetsBlog when people post and others disagree they get personal with nasty ad hominem attack?
People today really have lost the art (or never learned the art) of discussion and disagreement without getting nasty, posting personal comments and such.
I don’t think I will post on that blog anymore. I don’t make personal comments about someone. I might disagree and I just say that. No ONE is right…It’s a %*$*$^ opinion. Opinions aren’t right or wrong.
I hope we don’t see too much more of that uncivilized crap on this blog. I enjoy the comments and the interaction with John.
People, let’s try to discuss, disagree and such without getting mean.
There. I feel better. :-)
Jeff – here here.. well said..
I agree 100%
;-]
I’d rather put Humber in the starting rotation than in the bullpen.
I’m not saying Burgos is the answer this season, but I do think he has a bright future. It would be bad to use him in the same situations that Mota is being used in right now, but then again it is also a bad idea to use Mota in the situations that mota is being used in right now.
What would our bullpen/starting rotation look like if Pedro were to come back healthy and effective? Definitely Pedro and El Duque…then do you bring Glavine in? Could/would Perez or Maine be used in the Bullpen?
Jeff: Nice post. I try to respond as much as I can, because the interaction is the essence of the blog. Unlike a lot of other blogs, I tend to get longer and well thought out posts and I enjoy that.
I don’t know who it was, I think it might have been Gil, but I measured the length of his post and it was longer than my game story that day. No problem, I read every word. It’s that kind of interaction that makes this your blog.
For the most part, the reader responses to each other have been clean and respectful. That’s the way it should be, because to me, the essence of sports is in the debate.-JD
Hey Jeff—No one wants to hear your stupid opinion, you moron!!!!!
(How’s that?)
Re Mota: I can’t see them demoting him at this point. There’s not enough time left in the minor-league seasons and it would be a major embarrassment to him. (Besides, I think he has enough service time to decline such a demotion, no?)
More realistically, I think they just keep him off the post-season roster. Bring Smith up on September 1 and subtly slot him in in Mota’s presumed spot on the post-season roster. Willie gets to justify it as the “hot hand” argument, and Mota gets to save face (i.e., it’s not the high-profile demotion to the minors) and hopefully gets his act together for 2008.
Benny…you’ve been reading Metsblog’s posts I see….LOL
John,
Nice post. I agree with what u say.
Delgado – As Steve C. has said all season ( and we all disagreed ), Carlos is hurting us. We can’t drop him because we owe him $14MM next season? but he should be lower in the order.
Amby – In spite of what some may think he has sucked all year pre and post injury. His problem is he has one pitch, a fastball that goes 98. The problem is there is no control and a professional hitter just needs to stick the wood out and it walks over the fence.
Lawrence – As JD says at the top, no more no less he is a #5 and the only option we have.
Pen – As I said somewhere else our pen in Sep can be
Smith, Sosa, Heilman, Feliciano, Wagner. Sele and Sho did ok last night and it looks like Sho has some life in him now. Mota has issues if he stays you yank him as soon as anyone gets on base. he did pitch 1 2/3 good innings last night before the meltdown. I think Pelf deserves a shot at the pen since that would just give us options. Our pen is used up because many of our pitchers barely get out of the 5th.
Flaming – As some have said recently. Can we just get along? we can disagree without the name calling. This blog has gotten increasingly nasty over the past several weeks.
Dave
Can’t demote Mota—he has too much service time. I think they just try to use him like Sele—only when it’s a blow out, until rosters expand and they can get someone more effective. Unlikely you can trade him at this point, but if someone puts a waiver claim on him, let him go. At least you save the money.