Starting Pitcher for 2010

[bmfc1]

Oy is right. Four of those five starters are coming off injuries. When you have so many injured pitchers, common sense dictates that you get some starters that can throw 200 innings but common sense has no place in the Mets front office. Last season ended with Misch and Figueroa and this season might begin that way, too. Unless they get Washburn, who was injured at the end of last year or Smoltz (please don't), the office season will have seen the Mets get Bay, some crappy catchers, a reliever that didn't pitch last season (Escobar) and a guy whose team was so happy to be rid of, they paid almost his whole salary. This team might finish last this season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't expect all three to bounce back. I expect one to do significantly better, one to do a little better and one to spend the year frustrated by injury or failure.

I think that's reasonable. But I also don't think it will be good enough.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Depends on what their replacements do.

What gets ignored is that the Mets replacements in 2010 were pretty strong and the team therefore finished in the middle of the pitchin' pack, despite their intended rotation starting only 102 of the 162 games (or 108, depending on whether you consider Hernandez or Redding part of the original intended rotation).

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I do not have very high expectations for the season unless the Mets can somehow land a solid starter to add to the rotation. Their options seem to be dwindling by the day.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The answers in the nest are always compelling.

Santana
Pelfrey
Maine
Perez
Figueroa

Nieve
Niese
Dickey
Escobar
Misch

Stoner
Egbert
Parnell
Livingston
Gee

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Compelling theater, likely. But compelling in any argument for Mets-as-serious-contenders? Questionable.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Questionable, certainly. Guarantees don't come in this life, son.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think the point here is that the Mets haven't done anything at all to make their 2010 rotation less questionable. And I think it was a screaming need.

[metirish]

Trying to read between the lines here and Bob Feller might well get a call.


Fernando Nieve could take the fifth spot in rotation for New York Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE - At this rate, Fernando Nieve may really be the front-runner for the final slot in the Mets' rotation, with Jon Niese and a couple of players brought in on minor-league contracts competing. Free agent Ben Sheets signed with Oakland for one year at $10 million Tuesday. Then, hours later, the Padres reportedly reached an agreement with Jon Garland. The best remaining free-agent option appears to be John Smoltz. Asked if Sheets and Garland coming off the board meant something imminently would happen with the Mets, too, a team official replied: "No. Not now." "We're going to have to probably take some chances on some guys on minor-league offers that maybe come in and compete for the club - whether it's that fifth spot or whatever you want to call it," Omar Minaya said. The GM added: "I think Nieve is pretty much ahead of Niese right now because Nieve has pitched already this winter. We're not going to rush Jonathon" from his hamstring injury. ... As to whether Pedro Feliciano gets any lefty help out of the pen, Minaya acknowledged it's an open question. The Mets claimed Jay Marshall off waivers from the A's this winter. Minaya also identified Pat Misch and minor-leaguer Eric Niesen as candidates....The Mets will be among the teams watching lefthander Noah Lowry throw next week, ESPN.com reported. The former Giant has missed the last two seasons because of elbow/forearm injuries.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/01/27/2010-01-27_nieve_could_be_the_one_to_take_the_fifth.html

[Guest Edgy DC]

And my point is that it certainly could have used an upgrade but it was less screaming than all that, and that if you look back, fans seem to believe the team's rotation is a screaming need every offseason.

We can criticize them for over-leveraging themselves in solving "last year's problems" and criticize them for refusing to recognize the "screaming need" of last year's problems but it becomes difficult to sustain both arguments at once.

Simillarly, it's hard to criticize them for throwing good money after bad and at the same time asking them to go all in with questionable targets.

Advocate sure, but advocacy demands perspective, even when you disagree with their choices. I may have my favorite starter out there, but I can certainly accept that throwing ten mills after Ben Sheets may not be a good investment in their eyes.

And I certainly don't think "Omar couldn't get laid" is fair. The Mets clearly opted out.

When John Maine emerged, he emerged after coming to camp as the number 13 starting option, and he couldn't emerge until the more expensive options got out of the way. I don't know that one or two of those listed above are about to emerge, but I'd sure enjoy it if one does, and rooting for that is more fun that getting furious over Ben Sheets, which is what's going to be happening on WFAN today, I guess.

Colliding with another thread, what I want out of an owner is to spend money, I guess, sure, but I mainly care that he spends it on established players I already have a relationship with. I like that Sheets named his kid Seaver, but he's never been a Met, and so remains a suspicious and shady character who's done nothing for my team throughout his career but try to undermine it. My heart beats unbroken. Onward

[G-Fafif]

So is Parnell assumed a reliever again?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Certainly that's Plan A again.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I thought I recalled the Mets already having given up on the Parnell-starter campaign. You know, not a "he shall never" but an admission they felt he was better suited to the 'pen.

[Vic Sage]

What's the deal on Bedard? He clearly has the best upside of any arm out there, including Sheets, yet i haven't heard a peep about him. He only pitched 1/2 seasons the last 2 years, but his peripherals are top-notch. Is he still hurt? Did he have surgery? Or are teams just scared of taking a chance on him?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

My understanding is that he's a douchebag, not that that's terribly unusual in the jock world. Maybe that douche-health combo is too big a risk.

[metirish]

From a Hot Stove report in the Seattle times

Of course, there's Erik Bedard, who said at the end of last year he was interested in returning to Seattle. But he's coming off shoulder surgeries in each of the past two seasons, so it's a risk. And I still wonder if Bedard, from his point of view, wouldn't be better off in a place where he's not forever looked upon as the guy who came to Seattle in the worst deal in the history of mankind (or something like that).

From a few days ago

Orioles GM Andy MacPhail believes Erik Bedard is not close to a decision on where to pitch in 2010. "[bedard] sort of told us from the get-go that this wouldn't be an early decision, that this was something that probably would move closer to the reporting date in spring training," said MacPhail. The 30 year old was 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 15 games for the Mariners this past year while battling injuries. The Orioles and Royals are thought to be the top contenders for his services.

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My understanding is that he's a douchebag, not that that's terribly unusual in the jock world. Maybe that douche-health combo is too big a risk.

Now that he's an option, can you please catch the rest of the room up on his douchecraft, so we can make an informed decision?

He's Franco-Canadian, and sometimes French-speaking douchery can be fun. Meanwhile, maybe he and Bay can establish a Canadian Metbloc.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't really know about his specific acts of 'baggery, it's just something I'd heard.

Maybe he hates freedom or something.

[metirish]

Jim Street who is Seattle's version of Marty Noble answers the mail.

What ever happened to Erik Bedard? You would think the Mariners would try keeping him if they could. When healthy, he is one of the best. Did the Mariners even try to talk to Bedard? Thanks.
-- Lloyd K., Port Orchard, Wash.

Quite a few people tried to talk to Bedard the past two seasons, but he's not the talkative type. Nor, apparently, has he been healthy, spending more time on the disabled list than he did on the mound.

As investments go, the Mariners took one on the chin with Bedard, paying him nearly $15 million (and five players, including All-Stars George Sherrill and Adam Jones) for 30 starts.

My guess is that the only way Bedard, a free agent, returns to Seattle is with a visiting team. I keep hearing the Orioles, who traded him to the Mariners, might bring him back. I don't see the Mariners in his future, especially coming off shoulder surgery in back-to-back seasons.

It's probably best for both sides to just turn the page and move on.

[Vic Sage]

isn't "douche" a French word?
and don't we have a Canadian connection, what with Omar the former GM of Les Expos?
And didn't Omar, as Expos GM, trade Grady Sizemore, etal, for Livan Hernandez?
oh, wait...never mind.

[G-Fafif]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My understanding is that he's a douchebag

Just once I'd like to hear a press spokesperson begin a sentence that way.

[Ceetar]

I'd forgotten about Parnell. Barring a trade for a starter, does it really hurt the Mets to try Parnell out starting again in the spring? I understand guys like Niese and Nieve are more likely to 'win' spots but what's the harm? Confidence? It's not like he can't just slot into the bullpen even if he's stretched out to be a starter in spring. If anything it'll help since starter generally go easy, 90-100 pitches in the cold/early April and having Parnell comfortable for 2-3 innings could help relieve long term strain on everyone else in the pen.

[MFS62]

Vic Sage wrote: isn't "douche" a French word? and don't we have a Canadian connection, what with Omar the former GM of Les Expos? And didn't Omar, as Expos GM, trade Grady Sizemore, etal, for Livan Hernandez? oh, wait...never mind.

Actually, the trade was Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Lee Steevens for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew. But Omar may be forgiven because it was a salary dump mandated by Expos management. IIRC MLB istelf was calling the shots in the last days of Les Expos.
As for Bedard and Bay, they are from a backgrounds that are a continent, as well as linguistically, apart. I don't see an automatic affinity there.

Going back to the potential starters, I would like to see Nieve have a real shot as the #5 starter. I saw some good things there before his injury last year.
Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Le Bedard?

Quiet guy. Strange dude, kindasorta. Rather shy around the press, I'd heard... so it seems he's douchebaggy in that "doesn't feed the douchebags" sense.

He did miss a ton of starts over the last two years with "discomfort" and/or symptoms that couldn't apparently be picked up via MRIs or doctor's palpations (full disclosure: had him on fantasy teams during portions of both years... so I paid VERY close attention). If Sheets has exhibited "pussification" in the past-- as some CPFer said a few days ago-- then... let's just say Bedard is VERY strongly vaginal.

Edited January 27, 2010 by Guest

[metirish]

Klapisch has Smoltz leaning towards going back to St. Louis.

The Klap

[Guest Edgy DC]

Klapish needs to register with the Shutuplican Party.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The worst part is, I'm in such a bad mood, the Klaptrap is starting to sound a little like gospel to me*... the bit about them not having a bid even in on Sheets (or Garland) stings.

*Ugh. If this doesn't otherwise dissipate on its own, I may have to go Ed-Norton-in-"Fight Club" on myself.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Oh, please.

"The signing of Jason Bay has been virtually negated by the GM�s inertia."

Show me the math there, Klap.

[ashie62]

G-Fafif wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My understanding is that he's a douchebag Just once I'd like to hear a press spokesperson begin a sentence that way.

Give Omar long enough and your wish may be filled

[G-Fafif]

Edgy DC wrote: "The signing of Jason Bay has been virtually negated by the GM�s inertia." Show me the math there, Klap.

"Bay swings, deep fly to left...but the failure to sign Ben Sheets causes it to fall harmlessly into Raul Ibanez's glove."