Pedro Feliciano as Icon Turned Traitor

[G-Fafif]

My latest NY Times Bats piece, on our departing lefty specialist, here.

[metirish]

Good article Greg , gotta tell you though I have a hard time viewing him as iconic , maybe it's that I just didn't appreciate him enough ....

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

As underappreciated, soon-to-be-revered ex-Met? Sure, I'll buy that.

As icon? Don't you need a larger-than-life persona, and/or a couple-- or at least one-- of sticks-out-in-the-mind's-eye iconic moments (whether due to performance or context) for that, really?

Nice piece, though... even though he's more Zelig than Woody to me.

[Guest Edgy DC]

While the back of Feliciano's baseball card shows continuous Mettage, he can actually be viewed as perhaps the world's only three-time Met, having been acquired during that period by both the Detroit Tigers and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, both times returning to the Mets unsullied by an appearance in another MLB uniform.

[ashie62]

Pedro Feliciano; Truly Metly and ultimately forgettable.

[G-Fafif]

Iconic in the thread title here, but not in the article, you'll note.

Appeared in more games than he didn't for three years running. I won't forget that.

[Valadius]

He gets a spot in my all-time Mets bullpen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

One of the more unlikely all-time Mets, I'd say.

Pitchers who lead the league in appearances for 3 straight seasons scare me. If this was 10 years ago, and Felicino was leaving some other team, Steve Phillips would give him a 3-year contract. You know it.

[G-Fafif]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: One of the more unlikely all-time Mets, I'd say. Pitchers who lead the league in appearances for 3 straight seasons scare me. If this was 10 years ago, and Felicino was leaving some other team, Steve Phillips would give him a 3-year contract. You know it.

In elementary school, we read a book about a kid who was kind of an outcast due to his demeanor (and then exotic ethnicity). He just kept his head down and kept working, kept coming to school every damn day...with a rice ball for lunch, no less. First five years were a thankless schlep through all kinds of rain, literal and metaphorical. But in sixth grade a teacher recognized he was special, et al, and not only did others recognize it, too, but he won an award for perfect attendance.

And that, except for a great teacher looking out for him and maybe his not making with the rice ball, is Pedro Feliciano.

Alderson on not pursuing Feliciano (during the first ever blogger-GM conference call in Mets history): "Considering what he's going to make, it was a relatively easy decision."

[Lefty Specialist]

Liked him, but that left arm is due to fall off in 3.....2....

[Guest Edgy DC]

I have no problem with a team retaining a guy --- an iconic guy, at that --- until he fails on the job, and needs a diminished role. I just think that they need a plan B, and a realistic understanding with the guy. At the right price, of course.

John Franco, when he was failing as a setup guy, was still putting in great numbers for a lefty specialist, but nobody was willing to introduce the idea, and his ending was all pearish. It doesn't really have to be a choice between over-commiting to a guy (and his inevitable failure) or kicking him to the curb to avoid the failure (both of which are fugly).

I know it doesn't work that way. Not too many guys since Rusty have slidden gracefully from featured role to support. But it could work. And it's beautiful when it does.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Greg's article is doing amazing things for Jeff Innis' UMDB hit count!

[Frayed Knot]

The only real problem with Pedro was that he is, for the first time in his career, in position to call the shots and therefore is likely to command a multi-year deal - or at least two years anyway.
I would have had no problem with sticking with him if it could have been done for one year at a time.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Greg's article is doing amazing things for Jeff Innis' UMDB hit count!

Then it hasn't been for naught.

[soupcan]

I just think it's super cool that Greg writes for the New York Times.

Nice job Greg, I read it this morning with my coffee.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

soupcan wrote: I just think it's super cool that Greg writes for the New York Times. Nice job Greg, I read it this morning with my coffee.

And the only better thing than starting the crossword, is finishing it!

[G-Fafif]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: soupcan wrote: I just think it's super cool that Greg writes for the New York Times. Nice job Greg, I read it this morning with my coffee. And the only better thing than starting the crossword, is finishing it!

Appreciate it, Soup. And amen sister!

[metirish]

A two year deal with the devil for $8 million, plus an option....


pass

[bmfc1]

I've spent the last two years waiting for his arm to fall off. Maybe this April.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Here's hoping he joins Damaso Marte on the disabled list for two years. Oh, and thanks for the draft pick, Cashman, you twerp.

[Vic Sage]

for some reason, i like to think of the Mets sending Pedro into the MFY bullpen as akin to Andy Jackson giving smallpox-infected blankets to native leaders.

[seawolf17]

Ashie62 wrote: Pedro Feliciano; Truly Metly and ultimately forgettable.

I don't know about "forgettable," but I know what you mean.

Valadius wrote: He gets a spot in my all-time Mets bullpen.

He's at least involved in the discussion, especially for younger fans.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: One of the more unlikely all-time Mets, I'd say. Pitchers who lead the league in appearances for 3 straight seasons scare me. If this was 10 years ago, and Felicino was leaving some other team, Steve Phillips would give him a 3-year contract. You know it.

Exactly. This is a win for us; if he'd signed with a division rival, there would have been spots in the next couple of years where he could potentially hurt us. Instead, we get to watch his arm fall off right in our backyard. Well played, Sandy.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So... any Paddy Power odds on when he throws his spot-start no-no?

[G-Fafif]

Valadius wrote: He gets a spot in my all-time Mets bullpen.

Definitely gives Dennis Cook a run for his money for lefty specialist. (Not a huge cast to choose from -- Carlos Diaz and Mark Guthrie were briefly wonderful, but Cook and Feliciano had endurance going for them.)

Pedro going to the MFYs reminds me of Rafael Santana going to the MFYs. I will be more saddened than infuriated by their appearance in ill-fitting pinstripes.

[batmagadanleadoff]

He might do well in the Bronx. DH league ... less pitching changes ... no more need for Pedro to go perpetually ... effective weapon against LHB's with a hankering to abuse the close right field fences. It's a good fit.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Valadius wrote: He gets a spot in my all-time Mets bullpen. Definitely gives Dennis Cook a run for his money for lefty specialist. (Not a huge cast to choose from -- Carlos Diaz and Mark Guthrie were breifly wonderful, but Cook and Feliciano had endurance going for them.) Pedro going to the MFYs reminds me of Rafael Santana going to the MFYs. I will be more saddened than infuriated by their appearance in ill-fitting pinstripes.

If I was Santana, I woulda demanded my old #3.

[G-Fafif]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Valadius wrote: He gets a spot in my all-time Mets bullpen. Definitely gives Dennis Cook a run for his money for lefty specialist. (Not a huge cast to choose from -- Carlos Diaz and Mark Guthrie were breifly wonderful, but Cook and Feliciano had endurance going for them.) Pedro going to the MFYs reminds me of Rafael Santana going to the MFYs. I will be more saddened than infuriated by their appearance in ill-fitting pinstripes. If I was Santana, I woulda demanded my old #3.

I am in possession of a Rafael Santana game-used bat, albeit a bat used in a game in which he wore not No. 3 for that organization. But I try to look past that unfortunate aspect.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Here's hoping he joins Damaso Marte on the disabled list for two years. Oh, and thanks for the draft pick, Cashman, you twerp.

AND ... they're still paying Marte for this coming season ($4mil as well).
Nothing like $8 million dollars of situational lefties in your pen with another $4mil of Kei Igawa ready for the call up in case either or both falter.

[Vic Sage]

I am in possession of a Rafael Santana game-used bat...

so its never been used, i take it?

And why the sadness over Raffy-2-Yanks? Was he an "icon", too? I must've missed the memo. Last i remembered, he was a no-hit/no-field SS that Davey sat in favor of Hojo and Mitchell whenever he thought he could get away with it.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

G-Fafif wrote: I am in possession of a Rafael Santana game-used bat...

Is it bigger than a baby's arm?

/Fman'ed