Good News Day

[Guest Edgy DC]

Let's see
[list:y43lbbo9][*:y43lbbo9]The Mets win.[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]They pull it off without a name-brand closer.[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]Wright gets three hits.[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]Beltran homers (and shows more comfort running).[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]They sign Harvey.[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]They sign Peavey.[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]They end Rodriguez's season.[/*:m:y43lbbo9]
[*:y43lbbo9]They insinuate that they might well be ending his Mets career.[/*:m:y43lbbo9][/list:u:y43lbbo9]

Yeah, a little offensive success in Houston may be indicative of absolutely nothing, but that's just more good news in one day than I'm used to these days

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

They also outlasted a pretty good pitcher having a pretty good game, so high marks to Niese who did not have his bestest stuff.

Also the MFYs lost, the Rays won, Swisher (elbow tendonitis) and Gayrod (sore calf) left the game with injuries, Vasquez threw 102 pitches in 4 innings, Jeter DPed twice including the game-ender with the bases loaded.

Did they officially call up a replacement for Rodriguez?

[Mex17]

I don't see how not having a closer (again) qualifies as "good news", despite what you might feel about K-Rod's contract, the incident, or K-Rod himself.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Because having designated ninth-inning guys is a bad thing. Just because it's become standard, doesn't mean it's right.

Jerry said in the paper today that the Mets will go with closer by committee, with the day's closer being determined by matchups. How isn't that good news? I hope it catches on!

[batmagadanleadoff]

The shame of Manuel's closer by committee bullpen, I assume, is that it exists only because Jerry thinks he lacks another reliever as effective as K-Rod. Jerry's probably dying to eventually anoint someone else as "the closer" and will hope that someone steps up to that role.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I know. He's doing the right thing only because he sees no other options.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Because having designated ninth-inning guys is a bad thing. Just because it's become standard, doesn't mean it's right. Jerry said in the paper today that the Mets will go with closer by committee, with the day's closer being determined by matchups. How isn't that good news? I hope it catches on!

I'd put it more like having a designating a guy strictly as your ninth inning guy isn't the ideal thing, which is not necessarily the same thing as meaning that the presence of that guy on the roster is a bad thing.

Now the contract and the behavior make it a different story but I wouldn't say that the Mets are a better team on the field now than they were last week on account of Frankie's busted thumb.

[HahnSolo]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The shame of Manuel's closer by committee bullpen, I assume, is that it exists only because Jerry thinks he lacks another reliever as effective as K-Rod. Jerry's probably dying to eventually anoint someone else as "the closer" and will hope that someone steps up to that role.

I hope that someone does as well. I don't mind having a "closer". I'm just not particularly fond of overpaid ones, nor am I a fan of managers who let the save stat dictate pitching strategy.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Mets are always better when I root for them to win. Employing a complete douchebag as the last thing between a win and loss was quickly becoming a massive source of cognitive dissonance for me.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And yet, I'll take good news coming from the back door.

I'm also hoping that he went to Tak over Parnell in part because he was better rested, and not based on some macho bullshit about Tak having more punchouts (at least as a reliever) or Parnell having enough trouble as the Eight-Inning Guy.

Did Parnell warm up at all in the ninth? I'd be perfectly happy with the two of them as a lefty/righty closer tandem.

No, I don't think the Mets have called anybody up. Their website still shows Rodriguez on the roster so perhaps he hasn't yet been added to the Physically Unable to Conform to the Rules of Decent Society List.

The Mets, by the way, have signed Yhency Brazoban out of the Mexican League and added him to the Buffs' roster, de-activating Andy Green. I love that they actively scout the Mexican League. I suspect that this might signal a callup for Chad Cordero, who may put at least temporary hold on Operation Bullpen by Committee.

[metirish]

I like good news

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Mex17 wrote: I don't see how not having a closer (again) qualifies as "good news", despite what you might feel about K-Rod's contract, the incident, or K-Rod himself.

Not having a closer-- if you see that as an issue, which I don't-- is what my imaginary comically gruff grandfather might call "rich people problems," like where to park your Bentley, or which yacht you should use to throw the fire benefit. We're nowhere near a situation where a closer/lack thereof is one of this team's/organization's primary problems.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: Did Parnell warm up at all in the ninth? I'd be perfectly happy with the two of them as a lefty/righty closer tandem.

He was warming in the 8th. The only Astro LHBs in the lineup batted in the 8th which is why Pedro was in when he was.
So with nothing but RHBs in the 9th Parnell either wasn't considered or Jerry thought the LH-hitting bench players were more of a threat than the 9-1-2 guys coming up.

No, I don't think the Mets have called anybody up. Their website still shows Rodriguez on the roster so perhaps he hasn't yet been added to the Physically Unable to Conform to the Rules of Decent Society List.

Not officially on the DL yet either as far as I can tell.
This season ending surgery thing isn't a done deal as of yet and I could see Frankie & agent wanting a 2nd opinion just to cover his ass about the NYM doctors making up or exaggerating the injury just to get him out of sight.

[seawolf17]

Parnell was soft-tossing in the ninth as well. SNY showed him.

I like the committee idea. Make it stick, Metsies.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Because having designated ninth-inning guys is a bad thing. Just because it's become standard, doesn't mean it's right. Jerry said in the paper today that the Mets will go with closer by committee, with the day's closer being determined by matchups. How isn't that good news? I hope it catches on!

Because it's Jerry making the call. If you feel strongly about non-designated closers being the way, Do you really trust Manuel not to botch it in a way that makes people say "That's why you need a closer"?

Also, 'closer by committee' still implies that he'll pull someone pitching well in the 8th when we get to the 9th inning.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Only sort of implies it.

And if Jerry can screw up a $2 million solution and a $12 million solution, I'd prefer he have the $2 million one.

[bmfc1]

Sean Green is supposed to fill the open roster spot.

[Ceetar]

bmfc1 wrote: Sean Green is supposed to fill the open roster spot.

I've heard Cordero as well.

[TransMonk]

They have Chad Cordero as well, though I believe he only has a minor league deal for this season, so that may prohibit them from calling him up.

He's only 28, so he could be part of the bullpen solution.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: [*]They sign Peavey.

'Splain, please.

There have been trade rumors out the kazootie about him recently, but I couldn't find anything saying the Mets got him.
Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You could try reading the Crane Pool Forum

[MFS62]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You could try reading the Crane Pool Forum

I kinda think I would have remembered reading that here.
And his name would have been mentioned in more than one thread/ post if he were truly a member of the Mets.
So, can you please provide a CPF link to this completed transaction?

Later

[seawolf17]

Not Jake, 62. Peavey the draft pick.

[MFS62]

seawolf17 wrote: Not Jake, 62. Peavey the draft pick.

Oops. Realized that after my post.
I had been reading rumors about Jake being traded to the Mets and ........
Error of enthusiasm.
But JCL could have pointed that out as well.
Later

[metirish]

Yeah Bucket , stop being a bollox would ya.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Because having designated ninth-inning guys is a bad thing. Just because it's become standard, doesn't mean it's right. Jerry said in the paper today that the Mets will go with closer by committee, with the day's closer being determined by matchups. How isn't that good news? I hope it catches on! I'd put it more like having a designating a guy strictly as your ninth inning guy isn't the ideal thing, which is not necessarily the same thing as meaning that the presence of that guy on the roster is a bad thing. Now the contract and the behavior make it a different story but I wouldn't say that the Mets are a better team on the field now than they were last week on account of Frankie's busted thumb.

Exactly. Whether you go by committee or designated guy, there is no way to argue that losing your best reliever makes the pen stronger. I don't like the rules surrounding a "Closer" either (especially the part about not pulling him when he's clearly struggling) but arguing that KRod's injury is good news is just as silly as the Closer Rules themselves.

[Guest Edgy DC]

When you overinvest in a sub-optimal strategy, it goes from being not the ideal thing to being a bad thing. In terms of money, deference, and strategic overkill, his continued employment has certainly become a bad thing.

The idea is not merely losing him. The idea is losing him and losing his contract and losing his disgraceful conduct.

Losing him is not as big a loss as one might think based on his profile.
Losing his contract is great.
Losing his disgraceful conduct is great.

I specifically said, though, that I don't mean to praise his injury, but rather the Mets feints toward moving on.

Let's not ruin Good News Day.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I wish we still had K-Rod and that the "incident" never happened. And though I think that spending $10M to get 60 or 70 innings of relief is an inefficient use of resources, if that's what it costs to retain quality relief pitching, then the Mets, as the wealthy team from the great city of New York blah blah blah, should be able to afford this luxury easier than most of their competitors. It's not a bad thing for a team to exploit its socioeconomic standing to a competitive advantage. K-Rod was having a fine season. Ideally, the Mets would still have K-Rod, the "incident" would have never happened, and the save rule wouldn't determine how Mets relievers are used.

[Centerfield]

If we lose his contract, that will indeed be Good News Day.

But you're right, the Mets won and no elderly relatives were harmed. Good News Day.

[G-Fafif]

Takahashi is insisting he be used only in save situations, except for when he needs to get some work in to stay sharp, at which point he will expect to be inserted at his request, regardless of the score or how the pitcher on the mound is performing.

No, not really, but give him three consecutive save opportunities and watch what happens.