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Mets Chat Room: Those Bullpen Blues Edition.

August
19

Billy Wagner is out indefinitely. Omar Minaya believes the answer will come from within, and he has confidence in those pitchers. By the way, that group has combined for 20 blown saves. It would seem obvious Philly has the closer edge with Lidge over anybody the Mets will throw out there.

Oliver Perez going for the Mets tonight. He’s given up just 14 runs over his last nine starts.

Using a starter out of the pen is all but a dead issue. John Maine was their first choice, but his fastball isn’t there and he’s got shoulder issues. Perez is pitching too well to be taken out of the rotation. They won’t screw with Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez is too delicate. That leaves Mike Pelfrey, but manager Jerry Manuel doesn’t want to mess with him, either.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm by John Delcos.
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135 Responses to “Mets Chat Room: Those Bullpen Blues Edition.”

  1. Mets83

    John can you post the Braves lineup?

  2. Tiffany

    I keep reading that Ayala is not the answer. Although I wouldn’t expect him to become a closer, he could provide rest and relief to the other, tired arms in the pen. And I have to think the mental fatigue is probably equal to—if not more than—the physical fatigue at this point.

  3. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Hey, John, Everyone.
    Is Omar giving any thought to taking a flier on recently released Rays releiever, Al Reyes?
    (How was that last sentence for alliteration, by the way?)

  4. David

    a little surprised to see delgaldo in there thought they would try to sneak a day off in there for him tonight.

  5. David

    JD,

    You’re definitely right that Philly has the edge in the bullpen. However, in my opinion the mets have the edge when it comes to the rotation. Unfortunately, with baseball how its played today the bullpen may be the bigger factor down the stretch.

  6. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Uh-oh. Ollie’s all over the place…

  7. David

    This is probably the last thing they needed. Especially on the heels of the wagner news.

  8. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Quick stat from Peachtree TV here, down south: Omar Infante leads the NL with a .407 batting average with RISP.

  9. Gil in Savannah, GA

    JD, where is everybody? Looks like the upper reaches of Shea are empty. What gives? Mets in first place, playing Atlanta on an apparently gorgeous night?

  10. David

    Good job by Ollie to work out of the jam there. The big negative is the number of pitches. Unfortunately, with the state of the bullpen that may be the most important stat going forward.

  11. John Delcos

    Perez is lucky he got out of there with no runs, but 23 pitches has to take some kind of toll. The bullpen problems aren’t confined to the closer.-JD

  12. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Nats lead the Phillies, 1-0 in the 2nd…

  13. Gil in Savannah, GA

    About the top of the 1st…why would Escobar sacrifice? It sure helped that he gave us a free out. And boy am I glad Mark Teixeira’s gone. He hit over .500 against us this year.

  14. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Woo-hoo! Here we go…

  15. David

    I’ll say it again PRIOR to his AB. I really thought tonight would of been a good day to get Delgaldo a day off.

  16. David

    Too many lefty vs lefty AB’s for carlos lately.

  17. David

    Ugh tough break there for the mets on what surely would of been a 2 run double.

  18. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Phillies just tied the Nats at 1.

  19. What Would it take...

    To get Joakim Soria from the Royals??

  20. Gil in Savannah, GA

    OK, Ollie. Harmless triple with two outs and the pitcher coming up. Leave him stranded and just throw strikes.

  21. Gil in Savannah, GA

    What Would it Take: A repealing of the waiver rules. No way he goes through waivers unclaimed. I blame Omar for not acting before the trade deadline, when it was obvious that even with Wagner healthy, the Mets bullpen has been weak.

  22. David

    Gil,

    Just out of curiousity who would you have like to have seen Omar go after at the deadline.

  23. David

    You know we talk about the bullpen being awful, but this is the kind of stuff that just kills me and blows my mind you are one of the tougher lefties in the league with 90+ stuff and you’re walking Gregor Blanco.

  24. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: Chad Bradford, David Weathers, Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt, Huston Street, Jim Johnson, Juan Cruz, Jon Rauch, Cla Meredith, Saul Rivera, Brian Wilson, Doug Brocail are all relievers I wish Omar had made offers for.

  25. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: And let’s not forget Omar dealt away Heath Bell, Matt Lindstrom and Heny Owens and got zero talent in return and also let both Bradford and Darren Oliver walk away after very scuccessful seasons with the Mets.

  26. David

    Wow what an inning and what caused it all. A walk to Gregor Blanco. A man many consider the greatest hitter to grace present day ball fields.

  27. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Nats 2, Phillies 1.

  28. BH

    Oliver should lose a million per year on his next contract for every inning like that the rest of the way. Absolute disgrace.

  29. Gil in Savannah, GA

    BH, should D-Wright lose money for that bad at-bat?

  30. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Wow. All three Mets hitters basically got themselves out by flailing at balls. Take it easy, guys. Be patient, relax, then attack the strikes. We’re only down by one run. We can do this.

  31. David

    Gil,

    Im more worried about Ollie tonight. He just looks completly out of whack.

  32. David

    Well lucky for perez the defense bailed him out there. But 3-2 to a pitcher trying to give you an out. This is tough especially when your paper thin bullpen went 3 innings yesterday.

  33. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Nice defense, boys.

  34. David

    See what happens when you throw Gregor Blanco strikes.

  35. Dan Gurney

    I trust the youth out of our system more than I trust some AARP-eligible waiver import. Or should I say I distrust the latter more? Gnats up 4-1.

  36. David

    Nats are up 4-1

  37. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: Speaking of the paper thin bullpen, what do you think about my list of guys I wish Omar had pursued and the ones he either gave away for nothing, or let walk? I didn’t even mention—until now—his foolish re-signing of Guillermo Mota and picking up Jorge Sosa.

  38. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Dan: If Eddie Kunz, Carlos Muniz and Willie Collazo represent the youth of our system, we’re in deep trouble.

  39. Gil in Savannah, GA

    4-2 Nats.

  40. David

    Gil: I missed your reply there sorry. Honestly the list was great and we dont truly know what offeres were and werent made. But the thing is in my mind all those guys except for maybe Street ,who would cost the farm, are guys who would of simply puit the mets in better position to win the division, and in all honesty the current team they have CAN win the division. So by that rationale i’d just the same not give away more of the farm.

  41. David

    Gil: So if based on their performances with the Mets you dont think much of Muniz, Collazo and Kunz Then how can you blame omar for trading Heath Bell?

  42. Gil in Savannah, GA

    4-3 Nats.

  43. John Delcos

    David/Gil: I don’t have any problems with them trading Heath Bell. He wasn’t going to make it here anyway.-JD

  44. David

    Yeah not really expecting the Nats to hold on.

  45. agee

    this team gets more two-out-bases-empty hits than any other team i know of

  46. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: Rick “I Can Fix Victor Zambrano in 15 Minutes” Peterson couldn’t do for Heath Bell what Bud Black and Darren Balsley of the Padres were able to. Still, the Mets could’ve and shoud’ve gotten more for him than Adam Bostick and Ben Johnson, who are no longer in the Mets organization.
    The D-Backs didn’t give up the farm for Jon Rauch.
    The Rays didn’t give up the farm for Chad Bradford.
    I think we could’ve gotten someone, or perhaps two of those guys with middling prospects.
    And why was no thought given to trading guys we already have in the bullpen, namely the oddly untouchable Aaron Heilman, for bullpen help?

  47. David

    Gil: I think you missed what i said. I said Street would of cost the farm. I personally dont think Rauch and Bradford would of done anything more than increase the teams chances of winning the division.

  48. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: Bradford sure helped us get to the NLCS in ‘06 and Jon Rauch certainly helped snuff out our post-season chances last year by shutting us down every time he took the mound for the Nats against us.
    I’m also thinking beyond the division, should we actually win it.
    What about throughout a possible post-season?

  49. David

    Gil: This years team and the ‘06 are far more different than Chad Bradford.

    I guess the problem i have is being a brutal realist/pessimist. Unfortunately, I dont see this team as anything more than a team that might be able to win a week division and I dont think that adding a bradford or rauch changes that.

  50. John Delcos

    Good-bye Ollie. Oh boy, here comes Luis Ayala. All their problems are soon to be solved.-JD

  51. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: Yes, these aren’t the ‘06 Mets, but Bradford has remained effective. With the Mets current bullpen woes, who would you trust more, Aaron Heilman or Chad Bradford, who actually was the backup closer in ‘06? You’re telling me Bradford wouldn’t make a difference?
    I respectfully disagree.

  52. David

    Gil,

    You’re totally missing what im saying. I do think Bradford would make a difference, but not to the degree you do. I think he puts them in a much better position to win the division, that is all.

  53. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Here’s something for the Elias Sports Bureau: With the Mets having had so few Mexican nationals play for them, is this the first time in Mets history two Mexican nationals have pitched for the Mets in the same game?

  54. Gil in Savannah, GA

    WAY TO GO, LUIS!!!!

  55. David

    With two batters faced Ayala has done more than quite a few pitchers in that pen ! Im kidding

  56. John Delcos

    What I like best about Ayala is he’s a player motivated by sarcasm.-JD

  57. David

    You think he realizes how much of a hero he is now.

  58. David

    4-4 game in philly

  59. David

    this team needs a big hit or something good to happen.

  60. agee

    christ why is it that for the phills, a 3 run deficit is nothing but for us, being down one run is insurrmountable?

  61. matt b in az

    1-2-3…
    just need reyes to start if off next inning.

  62. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: No, Chad Bradford isn’t the messiah. But he’s arguably better than any setup man we have and could’ve easily adapted to a closer role. Therefore, I feel he should’ve been pursued—or better yet, never have been allowed to walk and have the same amount of money and years he wanted be leventually lavished upon Scott Schoeneweis.

  63. Annie Savoy

    Luis Ayala is so happy to be out of the NL basement that he actually seems comfortable out there. Who knew?

    I hope all Mets fans remembered that today is the birthday of one of the best Mets of all time – Ronald Maurice Darling – an all around good guy.

    http://www.armchairgm.com/Ron_Darling

  64. matt b in az

    i remember the beginning of this year when the nats came storming out of the gates and were 4-0 or something…i was worried

  65. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Why has Heilman thrown three balls to the opposing pitcher?

  66. David

    Gil: I think letting bradford walk was more a product of assuming smith could fill his role. However, I do agree the bigger mistake was then taking that money and giving into Show, even though he was coming off a great stretch run in Cincy.

  67. Gil in Savannah, GA

    CAN YOU #@$#@%$ BELIEVE THIS? HEILMAN WALKS A RELIEF PITCHER???!!!

  68. Gil in Savannah, GA

    David: Need I tell you what happens when one assumes?

  69. matt b in az

    phillies take the lead…5-4

  70. David

    Not at all Gil. Not at all.

    Pretty inexecusable what just happened with Bennett there.

  71. BH

    What the #$@ is with our offense all of a sudden? Easley needs to go away, I’m sure he has more hits in him, but we now is not the time for him to find them, especially with Delgado having a rough patch.

    Wright and Beltran need to get it going, now.

  72. Gil in Savannah, GA

    One more thing, David: Schoeneweis had a great stretch run in Cincinnati in 2006? When was the last time the Reds were involved in any meaningful competition in the second half?

  73. John Delcos

    Walking the relief pitcher: Professional courtesy?-JD

  74. David

    As a met fan im very happy Heilman got out of that. As a baseball fan part of me wishes he gave up a bomb just so he could feel the embrassment of walking a relief pitcher.

  75. Gil in Savannah, GA

    I WANT YOU ALL…TO GET UP NOW.
    I WANT ALL OF YOU TO GET UP OUTTA YOUR CHAIRS.
    I WANT YOU TO GET UP RIGHT NOW AND GO TO THE WINDOW.
    OPEN IT AND THEN STICK YOUR HEAD OUT AND YELL…

  76. edfever

    JD- Why wont they look at Al Reyes he’s a free agent he has more save experience and success on a worse team then these guys have holds

  77. David

    Gil: Your absolutely right they were not meaniful games but he did pitch very well for the reds. I still dont think the money was warranted.

  78. David

    gotta love that check swing call

  79. Gil in Savannah, GA

    This is infuriating.
    All year, the Mets have done absolutely nothing against Braves releivers.
    Not a damn thing.

  80. BH

    The third base ump deserve a suspension for a call like that. How can you be THAT incompetent and even remember to breathe much less make calls in a baseball game.

  81. David

    Gil: Everything about this game is infuriating

  82. Gil in Savannah, GA

    COME ON, D-WRIGHT!
    THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
    LET’S GO!!!

  83. David

    Bottom line if they dont score here this game is essentially over. You have a guy on with your “Big Boppers” coming up.

  84. Annie Savoy

    This whole bullpen mess is making the team weak and ruining the flow of the game.

    I stand with Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson et.al who did what pitchers are supposed to do. They pitched the WHOLE GAME.

    I doubt this is what Abner Doubleday had in mind all those years ago.

  85. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Hitters look like they’re trying to do too much. All we need is a single D-Wright!

  86. Gil in Savannah, GA

    A walk is just as good as a hit!
    OK, here we go…
    COME ON CARLOS!!!!

  87. David

    Good takes by Wright. Hopefully someone can come up with a big hit.

  88. Gil in Savannah, GA

    YES!!!!!
    OK, COME ON CARLOS, COME THROUGH AGAINST WILL OHMAN.
    LET’S GO!!!!
    YOU’RE DUE!!!!

  89. David

    Delgaldo just needs to have a good AB here. He needs to go the other way against the lefty and not try to pull everything.

  90. David

    Game over in Philly by the way 5-4 PHI

  91. matt b in az

    david- delgado needs to get it out of the infield period…

  92. Gil in Savannah, GA

    YES! YES! YES! YES!

  93. Gil in Savannah, GA

    WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!YEEEEEEAHHHH, BAAAAAAAABEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

  94. David

    Didnt somebody mention something about going the other way :-) !

    Great job by Delgaldo taking what was given.

  95. matt b in az

    wow didnt see that coming good thing i picked him up for my fantasy team a few weeks ago lol.

    kind of makes you wish we’d left ayala in there to see if he could close

  96. David

    All happiness and kidding aside its imperative that they tack one or two more on here.

  97. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Escobar, Jones and Infante are due up in the Braves 9th.
    WE MUST GET AT LEAST TWO MORE RUNS HOME!
    My vote for closer of the night would be Pedro Feliciano.

  98. BH

    Oh my God, late runs…I am speechless.

  99. Gil in Savannah, GA

    YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH, BOOOOOOOOOYYYEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

  100. BH

    This is the kind of spot where Castro hits HRs.

  101. David

    Big Big Big Hit for Easley.

  102. BH

    0-2 lol, nevermind!

  103. Gil in Savannah, GA

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
    YES! YES! YES!

  104. David

    Its funny how things work out. I mentioned earlier that they just needed someone to get that big hit and here delagaldo delivers it and the flood gates open great job.

  105. Gil in Savannah, GA

    I love it! Cameras are showing Chipper looking dejected and Cox looking pissed.

  106. John Delcos

    It wouldn’t hurt to get one more.-JD

  107. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Wow. Argenis was robbed. He had a great AB.

  108. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Come on, Endy, let’s pick up two more!

  109. John Delcos

    OK, nice. But, they still have to get three more outs. Here comes Scott Schoeneweis. Wanna bet there will be others to follow?-JD

  110. Gil in Savannah, GA

    And now ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves.

  111. matt b in az

    fun’s over…gulp

    and jd- what happened to your browns last night? lol i’m probably the 10th person to ask you that

  112. John Delcos

    Never mind. They are doing the Curly Shuffle. How can they lose now?-JD

  113. Tiffany

    If the bullpen holds, then the unsung hero is none other than Nick Evans.

  114. John Delcos

    matt b: They didn’t have a lot of fun, did they?-JD

  115. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Thank you Mr. Escobar, swinging at the first pitch, trailing by four runs.

  116. BH

    Bah up 4 with 1 out in the 9th, bean Chipper so he can’t play in the rest of the series!

    Without him they will fold the other 2 games.

  117. matt b in az

    i dont know quinn didnt look as bad as i thought he would although quinn is my least favorite player in the nfl- i hate notre dame with a burning passion lol

  118. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Tiffany: How about Luis Ayala for another unsung hero?
    Got us out of a jam in his Mets debut.

  119. matt b in az

    if show can get the best of Larry he will be endeared to me…to some extent

  120. Gil in Savannah, GA

    OK, TWO STRIKES, TWO OUTS, EVERYBODY UP!

  121. David

    Gil:

    I will 2nd that on Ayala will go unnoticed but that was very big spot.

  122. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Cue the Bachman Turner Overdrive classic rock jam weall know and love…

  123. Annie Savoy

    Howie has put this exciting chapter in “The Book”.

    Another Annie once sang about Tomorrow that “it’s only a day away”.

    Let’s hope the Mets can keep their momentum until then.

  124. David

    Dare I say 2.2 Scoreless for the bullpen and a 5 run 8th Woah.

  125. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Onward and upward. Catch you guys and gals later!

  126. Jimmy dean

    Nothing makes me happier than seeing Annie Savoy’s trademark sign off at the end of every Mets win. Put it in the books baby!!!!

  127. Mike C.

    How about that Niese kid in AAA?

    Could he close?

    Also, will Delgado EVER get an off-day?

  128. Bob

    Boomer and Carton are killing Wagner right now. I just turned it on ten minutes ago, but apparently Billy made comments pertaining to his salary, past hall of famers and the negativity of the NY media? I’ve looked everywhere online, but can’t find his comments. What was said?

  129. Steve (The Original)

    Is there anyone alive out there?

  130. Franco

    Mets sign Al reyes

  131. Bob

    Ah beat me to the punch Franco, I love the signing! Just dropped Wags in my fantasy league and picked up Reyes, Wagner’s not coming back the best possible move that could have been made was made. Congrats Omar. Speak up haters.

  132. Steve (The Original)

    So I guess the odds were pretty good then that they would sign Al Reyes. Just like I asked Delcos on three different occasions yesterday which he never responded.

  133. Bob

    Maybe he decided to “set you straight” by not responding. How many beat reporters respond on a regular basis to their readers? Be grateful he does what he does, he’s not your personal assistant.

  134. Bob

    On that note… JD! Where’s the lineup!! lol…

  135. Steve (The Original)

    Bob: In case you may or may not have noticed, Delcos responds to his readers on this blog when asked direct questions. And what are you anyway? His protector?

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