The Mets and Meija

[Guest Edgy DC]

attgig wrote: After a year in which three of their best players missed a major chunk of the season...

Three? I guess it depends on how you define "best" and "major chunk," but it seemed more like twenty-three.

[Fman99]

I think anyone and everyone doesn't like Meija in the pen this year.... well, anyone and everyone except the 2 voters here, and jerry and omar... maybe the 2 voters here ARE..... hmmmm: http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/tmi-mlb/post?id=1269 FanGraphs: Is Jenrry Mejia the next Joba? March, 25, 2010 By Joe Pawlikowski, FanGraphs

I'll let you know if his mom ever sells me any meth.

[Frayed Knot]

There are various ways you can go with all these: pen-v-starter; now-v-later; MLB-v-minors questions with Mejia - but I don't think citing either the Johan or Joba scenarios are all that enlightening.

[Valadius]

Ceetar wrote: Well, Omar's last statement was that he was going to AA.

Congratulations Omar, way to take responsibility for your actions.

[Guest attgig]

some more wood for the already blazing fire.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/insider/news/story?id=5024468

New York Mets: Set-Up Reliever Mejia passes another test: The Mets are searching for an eighth-inning man to set up Francisco Rodriguez, and Jenrry Mejia could have the job sooner rather than later. Mejia was used on back-to-back days for the first time this spring on Tuesday and worked a 1-2-3 inning against Atlanta, striking out Matt Diaz with a 97 mph fastball and lowering his ERA to 1.54. "The fact that he's throwing strikes is huge for him and for us," manager Jerry Manuel said via the NY Daily News. The manager, however, hinted he might use someone else in the eighth-inning role to start the season and ease Mejia into pressure situations. Bobby Parnell and Sean Green are among the possibilities. We asked Keith Law what he thinks of the Mets' converting their top prospect from starter to reliever, at least for the short term: Keith Law Mets are messing with Mejia "I hate it. He's a raw, high-upside arm with the weapons to be a starter in the long term, if he's given time to improve his command and consistency on his change and curve. Instead they're cutting off that upside for a quick fix in the pen. By the way, promoting prospects who aren't ready is a hallmark of GMs in fear for their jobs."

[Guest Edgy DC]

Keith Law wrote: By the way, promoting prospects who aren't ready is a hallmark of GMs in fear for their jobs.

Oh, listen to Johnny Potstirrer.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: LeiterWagner's directive: don't do anything. In fact, try not to move. Just sit there until we fire you. Better yet, sit there until we die and our replacments fire you.

Actually, I would have been more of a fire-him-now guy.

But I kind of like your idea better. More fun for the casual, mildly-sadistic observer, and better for Goatee McNoConceptofMaximizingTalent in the long run, what with the isometric exercise it would entail.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I just want to keep posting until we get a page past poor Ms. Chamberlain.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: I just want to keep posting until we get a page past poor Ms. Chamberlain.

Admit it; you're as aroused by that photo as I am.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I just want to keep posting until we get a page past poor Ms. Chamberlain. Admit it; you're as aroused by that photo as I am.

It's sort of stimulating. Like a too-spicy tomato sauce, or a picture of a thonged Giambi.

[Ceetar]

The thing that I always wonder about these "He's doing it to save his job!" arguments is..if he's not ready, how is this going to save anyone's job? If Mejia comes up and is successful, he was at least some measure of 'ready'. And if he helps the Mets win games, that's all that's important.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ceetar wrote: The thing that I always wonder about these "He's doing it to save his job!" arguments is..if he's not ready, how is this going to save anyone's job? If Mejia comes up and is successful, he was at least some measure of 'ready'. And if he helps the Mets win games, that's all that's important.

Actually, no, marginal wins this year-- and 1 win or so is the difference between the worst possible choice here and the best one-- are not all that's important.

To paraphrase someone commenting on AA, it's like breaking into your kid's college fund because you're not sure he'll ever be a success there, so... hey, why not send him to Space Camp and eat out for a year?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Christ, even Bobby O is weighing in on the side of reason here:

Q: Do you think Jenrry Mejia is major league ready? A: I am a big believer in you can't get by with one pitch. When I was [in Florida] earlier in spring training, his other pitchers were coming along, but the fastball is the only pitch he can depend on. And if there is a day when that fastball doesn't show up, then he would have no plan B.

[Guest Edgy DC]

OK, let's talk about reason.

By saying he was dissuading Mejia from using his curve with three balls in a game situation, that's not dissuading Mejia from ever using his curve. There's a long tradition of teaching young pitchers to get beat on their best pitch and to use their other pitches to set those up.

And it's certainly not leaving him with one pitch.

I prefer they don't elevate him to the bigs yet either, but there's a ton of precedent for bringing a player up as a reliever and making him a starter subsequently.

[metirish]

Q&A from today with Lennon

Asked about Mejia

Ryan - I respect the other side of the debate. I really do. But I also believe that if Mejia can help the Mets out of the bullpen -- to start the season - I think they need him there. This does not mean it's the end of Mejia's career. It's not going to doom him to the bullpen forever - or ruin his development. And like it or not, he's going to be with this team from Opening Day as a relief pitcher. Let's see where it takes them. Plus, if they left Mejia in the minors, and we had to keep watching Green and Parnell give away games, people would be screaming to have Mejia in the bullpen.

[Ceetar]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ceetar wrote: The thing that I always wonder about these "He's doing it to save his job!" arguments is..if he's not ready, how is this going to save anyone's job? If Mejia comes up and is successful, he was at least some measure of 'ready'. And if he helps the Mets win games, that's all that's important. Actually, no, marginal wins this year-- and 1 win or so is the difference between the worst possible choice here and the best one-- are not all that's important. To paraphrase someone commenting on AA, it's like breaking into your kid's college fund because you're not sure he'll ever be a success there, so... hey, why not send him to Space Camp and eat out for a year?

I don't think that's a fair comparison. More apt would be a kid in college, working an internship for both experience and to help pay for his education, who decides he needs to quit his job because he wants to do better on the educational aspect. This may hamper him being able to pay for school down the line, and it may take him longer to build the experience needed to find a job in his field when he graduates by quitting the internship, but the #1 goal is still to complete his education.

The #1 goal here is the Mets winning games in 2010 at the Major League level. developing prospects for games in 2011 and 2012 is secondary, and their are other options in that regards from other prospects, freeagents and trades.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: OK, let's talk about reason. By saying he was dissuading Mejia from using his curve with three balls in a game situation, that's not dissuading Mejia from ever using his curve. There's a long tradition of teaching young pitchers to get beat on their best pitch and to use their other pitches to set those up. And it's certainly not leaving him with one pitch.

It is leaving him with one pitch that he can consistently command, though.

Manuel didn't just push him in that one spot to throw the fastball. He's been pretty consistent without that message throughout ST, it seems.

John Harper wrote: Mejia said his command has improved since Manuel talked to him early in camp about throwing to only one side of the plate and primarily throwing his fastball, which acts like a cutter.

It's not ruining his development that's my concern... or my chief concern, really. It's the fact that (A) usage as a reliever for the entirety of this season delays his development as a starting pitcher by at least a season and ( usage as a reliever at the Majors burns an arbitration year for-- best-case scenario-- a marginal gain from that relief slot this year. Assuming no injuries, you're burning something like two years-- potentially-- of good-to-great SP value for a year of relief when you have other good options.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: The thing that I always wonder about these "He's doing it to save his job!" arguments is..if he's not ready, how is this going to save anyone's job? If Mejia comes up and is successful, he was at least some measure of 'ready'. And if he helps the Mets win games, that's all that's important. Actually, no, marginal wins this year-- and 1 win or so is the difference between the worst possible choice here and the best one-- are not all that's important. To paraphrase someone commenting on AA, it's like breaking into your kid's college fund because you're not sure he'll ever be a success there, so... hey, why not send him to Space Camp and eat out for a year? I don't think that's a fair comparison. More apt would be a kid in college, working an internship for both experience and to help pay for his education, who decides he needs to quit his job because he wants to do better on the educational aspect. This may hamper him being able to pay for school down the line, and it may take him longer to build the experience needed to find a job in his field when he graduates by quitting the internship, but the #1 goal is still to complete his education. The #1 goal here is the Mets winning games in 2010 at the Major League level. developing prospects for games in 2011 and 2012 is secondary, and their are other options in that regards from other prospects, freeagents and trades.

You've got your analogy inside-out. Bringing him up as a bullpen arm is more like Mejia's baseball "parents" forcing him to quit school to work because they may have trouble with the rent this month (when they've got about 5-6 other options to make said rent).

And if a GM's number-one goal in approaching every resource he has is to win as much as possible this season, at any cost and with everything else a distant second, then it's probably best for said GM to be nowhere near a decision-making role in a top-flight baseball organization-- or any business, for that matter.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I hear you, but I'm not with you.

1) I don't care about efficient use of resources, or arbitration clocks, at least not as a primary concern. Certainly it's not worth getting hot over.

2) I don't presume to interpret Jerry's remarks to reporters as a blueprint for how the organization might or might not approach working privately with any player.

3) I don't presume to know enough about developing pitchers to feel CAHNfident in advocating any one philosophy with any one guy.


Just tell me you're not going to be with those dopes out to embarrass the rest of us by rallying outside the TV studios.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Just tell me you're not going to be with those dopes out to embarrass the rest of us by rallying outside the TV studios.

LWYP's already in her Manny wig and "JELP JENRRY JELP YOU" baby-tee.

[Guest attgig]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: John Harper wrote: Mejia said his command has improved since Manuel talked to him early in camp about throwing to only one side of the plate and primarily throwing his fastball, which acts like a cutter.

so, if Mejia learned a cutter, would it act like a super cutter?


(on edit, thank God I don't have to see that ugly mugshot again...)

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I Just tell me you're not going to be with those dopes out to embarrass the rest of us by rallying outside the TV studios.

You know it's baseball season when you see Bucket jumping up and down in the street outside SNY's studio, even in the rain.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I hear you, but I'm not with you. 1) I don't care about efficient use of resources, or arbitration clocks, at least not as a primary concern. Certainly it's not worth getting hot over. 2) I don't presume to interpret Jerry's remarks to reporters as a blueprint for how the organization might or might not approach working privately with any player. 3) I don't presume to know enough about developing pitchers to feel CAHNfident in advocating any one philosophy with any one guy. Just tell me you're not going to be with those dopes out to embarrass the rest of us by rallying outside the TV studios.

Are they going to write their "Demote Mejia!" banners on the back of "Get Manny!" from last year?


Ridiculous 'real world' analogies aside, I think there is a chance that either option could be a good one, if done correctly, and evaluated properly. From what I've seen (1 inning of him pitching on tv, and a lot of text.) I'd demote him and have him start. Beat writers seem to think it's almost a foregone conclusion he's in the bullpen, but I'm not convinced. I think most of the discussion on this stems from comments made from Manuel, who hopefully doesn't have any say in this matter.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Fair point. My shut-in, diaper-changing ass needs to get outside and see some sunshine.

[metirish]

I know Manuel is an easy target but I hope he does have a say in what happens to Mejia, if not what's the point? In fact I think I would trust him on this matter to do what is best, best for who I don't know.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The manager of the team certainly should have a say in who makes the team and who doesn't.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

As per Metsblog:

Jerry Manuel said yesterday the Mets have discussed sending Jenrry Mejia back to the minor leagues to be stretched out as a starting pitcher, though, for now, he�ll remain in the bullpen. �It has come under some debate,� Manuel explained. �I�m more inclined to continue to keep him in the role that he is, but obviously make him have a more important role down there than the one he has now.�

Well, as long as that's decided.

[smg58]

If you're going to shorten him up you ought to be committed to sticking with it. Jerking him back and forth during the season is the worst thing you can do. It will look bad if all Mejia winds up doing is keeping a bullpen seat warm for two weeks until Calero is ready.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Hush, youse-- Omar's got a plan. And this plan, he likes this plan. You will, too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'll say it. I trust and respect Omar distinctly more than I T&R Jerry.