BULLPEN 2013

[Edgy MD]

All dollars spent on relief are bad? Even if you get somebody at a bargain?

I mean, somebody's got to pitch there. And a failing bullpen is demoralizing for everybody.

Fangraphs has Bill James projecting him at 62 innings and a 3.63 ERA, and they also suggest he was worth $3.4 million last year. Let's see what he gets paid.

I don't know what I think of him. Let's see the money. My general feeling though is that young guys shouldn't be handed jobs, but should have older guys in place for them to fight against for work. If those old guys are on one-year contracts, all the better.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: If i thought that any dollar the Mets didn't spend this year they would spend next year, or in upcoming seasons, then i might be persuaded to agree with the rabble on this topic.

That's bad business. And it has nothing to do with the team/owner's current or future financial value (although it was probably precipitated by past finance issues) The team is budgeting each year individually, not spending this years money on next year, or next year's money on this year. That is Alderson's thing, and when he says it's his financial decision, that's what he means. He's not going to outspend revenue. Having an artificially high payroll next year by tacking on income from this year only means that the year after you're even more constricted. Ultimately you'd like spending money to lead to winning to lead to more revenue, but that's a gamble pretty much no team takes. They invest the money after they've raised revenue, not before.

Vic Sage wrote: Knowing the restraints we're under, I'm just rooting for the maximum value for whatever dollars they do choose to spend. And putting it on bullpen arms is just about the single stupidest way of investing scarce dollars as i can think of.

Gee, rooting for Value/$ sounds like a whole lot of fun. I'll stick to rooting for max value and letting Alderson worry about the specifics of payroll. Besides, money spent on the bullpen is not necessarily a waste. the Mets look tohave a pretty decent shot at a good bullpen this year, and if that's true, that's well spent. And if they spent a couple of bucks on the Hairston level guy (i.e. limited value platoon guys) the chances that the OF outperforms what you can do with guys like Brown, Cowgill and the incumbents are not enough to justify the expenditure.

[Edgy MD]

More guys --- particularly reasonably capable ones --- are better, whether in the outfield or bullpen. I'd certainly not complain if they were to acquire a decent outfielder today.

I imagine the challenge is similar to find an outfielder that outperforms Cowgill and to find a reliever that outperforms McHugh or Greg Burke or Elvin or somebody.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: The team is budgeting each year individually, not spending this years money on next year, or next year's money on this year. That is Alderson's thing, and when he says it's his financial decision, that's what he means. He's not going to outspend revenue.

Sandy always tells the truth. Everything he's ever said about Mets spending and Mets payroll has always come true. Sandy hasn't devolved into a fucking mouthpiece for the Wilpons. That scoreboard out in center field is a beaut.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: I imagine the challenge is similar to find an outfielder that outperforms Cowgill

That's a challenge? Maybe if you're managing your son's little league team for seven year olds.

[Benjamin Grimm]

We may be setting the bar a bit low here, but I suspect that Cowgill will prove to be better than a seven-year-old boy.

Me, I'm going to reserve judgment. Cowgill may very well turn out to be a nothing, but he also may be a pleasant surprise. Let's see what happens.

[Edgy MD]

It's a challenge... comparable to the challenge in the second half of the sentence which you didn't excerpt, Johnny Sarcasmo.

Rubin just posted a note that the team will be working Familia as a reliever and Mejia as a starter to start spring training.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ceetar wrote: The team is budgeting each year individually, not spending this years money on next year, or next year's money on this year. That is Alderson's thing, and when he says it's his financial decision, that's what he means. He's not going to outspend revenue. Sandy always tells the truth. Everything he's ever said about Mets spending and Mets payroll has always come true. Sandy hasn't devolved into a fucking mouthpiece for the Wilpons. That scoreboard out in center field is a beaut.

Clearly you believe he's a mouthpiece and everything is colored by that. But this particular bit is consistent with his statements about budgeting and payroll all along. Now, this "don't spend more than you make" philosophy may indeed just be his solution to the restrictions placed on him by the Wilpons finances. But just because he chooses to spend 100 million doesn't mean the Wilpons wouldn't have approved 110 (which means it WAS his decision to spend 100) but that also doesn't mean he could've spent 120.

And I'm perfectly happy with the scoreboard, which is entirely subjective but it's seemingly one of your only two points. I want my scoreboard to give me as much info as possible and be right in line of sight. it does that .I haven't once longed for a different scoreboard of even for Shea's back since it's been built. works for me.

[metirish]

@AdamRubinESPN

Brandon Lyon is in the midst of his physical with the #Mets. It'll be a one year deal.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

@AdamRubinESPN

Turning and coughing

[metirish]

@Lyonbrandon

It's a dream to play for the #Mets, fans are the best ever, sophisticated New Yorkers

[Benjamin Grimm]

Any word on the dollar amount?

[A Boy Named Seo]

Any word on the dollar amount?

Per MLBTradeRumors.com:

"The Mets announced they have officially signed free agent right-hander Brandon Lyon to a one-year deal. Meister Sports Management represents Lyon, who will earn a base salary of between $750-$900K, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The total value of the deal will be worth $2.4MM if Lyon hits his incentive bonuses".

Seems a good price to me. And if he hits some good 'closery' numbers and earns every penny, he'd probably be well worth it.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I withdraw my bitchy remarks.

[metirish]

Mike Puma ?@NYPost_Mets
Collins just told The Post he plans to tell Bobby Parnell tomorrow to start working out at closer because of Francisco's elbow swelling

Mike Puma ?@NYPost_Mets
Says Collins on using Parnell: "We keep talking about 2014, [bleep] why not get a head start?"

[Benjamin Grimm]

metirish wrote: Says Collins on using Parnell: "We keep talking about 2014, [bleep] why not get a head start?"

Because it was YOU, Terry, who anointed Francisco as the closer, jackass!

[batmagadanleadoff]

metirish wrote: Mike Puma ?@NYPost_Mets Collins just told The Post he plans to tell Bobby Parnell tomorrow to start working out at closer because of Francisco's elbow swelling

How does a reliever work out at closer, as opposed to working out as a regular ol' non-closing reliever? What the hell's the difference and if that Collins quote doesn't illustrate the absurdity of designating a reliever as a closer, then I give up. I suppose this means that now, Parnell's gonna really really really try to get the opposing batters out.

[Fman99]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: We may be setting the bar a bit low here, but I suspect that Cowgill will prove to be better than a seven-year-old boy.

"Like that's possible."

[Theoldmole]

Batmags said it for me.

[metsmarathon]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: metirish wrote: Mike Puma ?@NYPost_Mets Collins just told The Post he plans to tell Bobby Parnell tomorrow to start working out at closer because of Francisco's elbow swelling How does a reliever work out at closer, as opposed to working out as a regular ol' non-closing reliever? What the hell's the difference and if that Collins quote doesn't illustrate the absurdity of designating a reliever as a closer, then I give up. I suppose this means that now, Parnell's gonna really really really try to get the opposing batters out.

he's gotta learn to sprint to the mound in tune to some hard rock music, and pull off looking menacing without looking preposterously menacing. that's the shit that makes you a closer.

[metirish]

I really hope it's not as hard as going from closer to 8th inning guy........Putz couldn't handle it....maybe as MM notes, the hard rock music will get Bobby going....

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

What's an appropriately menacing country song? "Ring of Fire?" "The Ride?"

[G-Fafif]

As long as Parnell spots his strikes in low places, he can trot out to any genre he likes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oooh, I know.

[youtube:376d8a05]EtbuUlSGXzc[/youtube:376d8a05]

Although this is probably more Bobby's speed:

[youtube:376d8a05]I4s0nzsU1Wg[/youtube:376d8a05]

[Guest Swan Swan H]

If I were a closer, this would be on my list.

[youtube:34z2dlxo]xvaEJzoaYZk[/youtube:34z2dlxo]

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ooh, that's good.

I like this, but I don't think it's getting its foot in the door:

[youtube:3tgikdpx]Aq344ks1ieg[/youtube:3tgikdpx]

[Frayed Knot]

Be interesting to see to what degree Davey switches around his closers down in Washington this year as he's essentially got three who have done the work.
- Newly signed Rafael Soriano is getting the big bucks and closed very well w/the Yanx last year
- High draft pick Drew Storen closed almost exclusively in 2011 and again in 2012 after he came back from injury, but then blew the clincher in the playoffs
- Tyler Clippard closed quite well in the first half of 2012 while Storen was on the shelf and even for a time after he came back, but then seemed to wear down in August/September

So if anywhere is baseball 2013 is going to be a laboratory for NOT having a designated closer it's the Nats under a retiring Davey as he's already said this is his last season managing. It's not like he needs to suck up to the owner or GM (like he would regardless); what are they going to do if they don't like his choices, fire him?

[Vic Sage]

as we start ST:

CL: Bobby Parnell
CL2/setup: Brandon Lyon
setup: J.Familia
situational RH: Elvin Ramirez/ G.Burke / Hawkins* / Atchison*
situational LH: Josh Edgin
LH2: Robert Carson / Feliciano* / Byrdak*/ Rice*
spot starter/long reliever: Colin McHugh / J.Hefner / A.Laffey*

DL: Frank Francisco

* non-roster invitee

[Gwreck]

Byrdak is on the DL as well, out until at least June.

[Vic Sage]

With about 2 weeks to go, it looks like:

CL: Bobby Parnell
CL2/setup: Brandon Lyon
setup: Atchison* or Hawkins* (until Francisco comes off DL)
situational RH: G.Burke
situational LH: Josh Edgin
LH2: Robert Carson or Feliciano*
spot starter/long reliever: Famiglia (until Santana comes off DL,and Hefner returns to pen)

DL: Frank Francisco

* non-roster invitee