METS
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
LF Moises Alou
1B Jeff Conine
C Paul Lo Duca
RF Lastings Milledge
P Tom Glavine
METS
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
LF Moises Alou
1B Jeff Conine
C Paul Lo Duca
RF Lastings Milledge
P Tom Glavine
20 Comments
Here’s a part of the article I found
“In fact, his 6.02 ERA ranks 57rd-highest among all relief pitchers with at least 50 innings since 1950. That’s National and American Leagues, every team.
But among the 56 worse than Mota, only three pitchers belonged to a first-place team.”
Now This is Willie Randolph On Mota
“I’m going to keep going to him,” Randolph said. “He’s still got some of the best stuff in our bullpen. He needs to continue to work to be more consistent with things. Right now, he’s just going through one of those situations where he just can’t seem to get a break, but that’s going to turn around for him, that’s going to change.” (MLB.COM)
the rest of it is on my site, it’s really gross.
http://www.firewillie.blogspot.com
Justin: We get it. You don’t like Willie. You don’t like Mota. No sense in beating a dead horse. I’m curious though, what does Randolph have to choose from in the bullpen? Since the starters only go 5 to 6 innings for the most part, you need to use him if even only to save the other arms in the pen. Capiche?
You don’t need to use him in the 8th and 9th inning. There is no reason. And im sure not one of you knew that Mota had the 3rd WORST ERA since 1950 on a contending team, yet they stick with him.
Well willie can go to the call ups like every other team does rather then Mota. Humber, Collazo certainly can do a better job them Mota can.
Conine goes 4-4 with 3 rbi’s tonight, I’m calling it.
Stop advertising your own blog here. JD should charge you for the ad space.
How about JOE SMITH? #35 He’s not as good as he was in the first half, but he’s A LOT better than Mota. He’s a ground ball pitch who’s usually nasty against righties. If Feliciano take’s the role that Mota had last year, Show fills Feliciano’s LOOGY role, then Sosa and Smith can replace Bradford and Hernandez. We’re looking for a right to get a quick out in the 6th or 7th. I don’t trust Smith like I did in May, but I trust him a lot more that Mota.
Great, examples of Joe Smith and Willie Collazo you guys give me. Doesn’t instill any more confidence in me than Mota does. Humber has never relieved before and he isn’t getting a shot either.
Justin,
Your evidence is like coming forward to say the earth isn’t flat. We all know Mota is garbage. But consider the alternatives. It’s about time to stop looking for new pitchers to arrive. This is the team we have and we are gonna live or die by them.
justin.
what do you want willie to say publicly? that he’s terrible. that he can’t believe this is the only option omar gave me for the middle innings.
willie also said that franco is one of the best pinch hitters in the history of baseball. do you think he meant that too?
or do you think he’s needling omar with these comments?
As Willie said on the FAN yesterday—“Who else are you going to use?” Justin, I hope you put that quote on your site too.
And there are few instances where Willie uses Mota in the 8th or 9th inning. When he does, it’s usually because the others have recently been overworked OR they’ve already been used in the game.
Can Collazo really do a better job? His ERA is 6.75 and he’s got a 2.25 WHIP. Not exactly inspiring stuff for a manager. Not exactly Papelbon, K-Rod or Jabba.
Smith just got back from NO and has been used already a few times. So I’m not sure how how he is being underused.
If there’s anyone who might have a legit gripe it’s Humber. But that’s about it.
Steve/Doug,
I don’t understand the premise that Smith is worse than Mota. Look at the numbers, look at the stuff. Smith hasn’t been perfect, but when used for an inning or less, he’s been pretty good. Mota’s been worse than Sele. I’ll admit, he has a devastating change up. However, his location has been off since he arrived, and still is. There’s never been a 2 week stretch where he’s executed. Smith might be a crap shoot, but not like Collazo or Humber – the guy has gotten more tough outs than Mota, and blown far less opps.
Dave in DC: I never said Smith was worse than Mota, it’s just that I don’t have confidence in him either as an option
I’m not saying Smith can’t be better, but he is far from a sure thing. I mean, Smith was shut down from throwing just two weeks ago, what makes you think he can be depended on now? Willie is right about Mota’s stuff. He has great stuff. As does Schoeneweis. It just hasn’t corresponded to success. If the starting pitchers can get the ball to the sixth inning, then this whole argument is moot.
Sosa to Heilman/Feliciano to Wagner is the best route to victory to this team, as currently constructed.
I am not sure what’s more disturbing, Mota being used by Willie or someone using a good blog to plug their own site. On behalf of any of us who do have a Mets site, please stop the self promotion, the rest of us dont do it, join us on the “classy” side, and respect what John offers the fans…good words and great reporting, not a free ad site…after all, this isnt even a bloody Mota thread…sheesh
jb
please tell me you’re not trying to compare flat ERA across a 50-year time period.
::shakes head::
Thank you JB. That’s what exactly what I meant.
I’m not one of those reflexive Willie-bashers, but I do think he could be more creative with his bullpen management. He could give kids like Collazzo & Humber a shot rathaer than going with the veterans who we know suck. Granted, they may not peform well (and Collazzo hasn’t pitched well in the limited opportunties), but they should at least get an opportunity to prove they can perform.
Peter H you are very funny. You want to give Collazo more shots even tho you admit he has sucked with no pressure. And how much risk you want to do with Humber’s TJ arm? They should have shut him down vice bring him up. Fact is it doesn’t matter who Willie would bring in ever. You can’t have faith in any of them. You all know that but want to blame Willie for having no good options.
Not to defend Mota here but he has a 4 1/2 era in september.
you cant compare pitchers before like 10 years ago. Back in the 80’s when the mets were good no one had any pitcher on a roster with an era approaching 6. pitchers suck. It is the way they are used and trained.
our worst starter in 86 was el cid. i think his era was about 3 1/2. He would tire in the 6th. today he might be the ace of this staff.
Keith said it the other day, the way they train pitchers today is horrible.
smith was used today got 2 outs then cant get anyone out. he needs to keep the ball down and he has not done that in months.
as everyone here says, willie does not have many options.
Willie has said the reason he’s not using Humber is because he’s too unproven. If the reason is to protect Humber, then why bring him up in the first place?