Bully 2014

[Frayed Knot]

Parnell is throwing again so you hope he'll be ready by April 1.
But other than him and probably Vic Black, most of the other spots seem to be up for grabs (although I'm probably forgetting someone).

Kevin Kernan in today's NY Post throws out the name of Jeff Walters (no known relation to Gene Walter)


[fimg=400]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/022314metsspringtraining100.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1[/fimg]




A 7th round 2010 NYM draft pick (after having been drafted Four time before by other squads), he started for two seasons but was converted to the pen by then Brooklyn pitching coach Frank Viola. He's now been in the pen exclusively for each of the last two seasons were he seems to have blossomed, having an ERA under 3.00 and a WHiP just over 1.00 as he's moved through Savannah, PSL, and a full 2013 in Binghamton where his stats were best.
He's not young, 26 over the off-season, and a reliever like this is never going to make the top of the prospects lists anyway. But he seems to have "gotten it" since pitching for several colleges and now four years in the minors -- and he'd certainly improve the hair factor of the team.

[Frayed Knot]

Jose Valverde getting high makes as father figure to the young contingent of Dominican hurlers (Mejia, Familia, Germen). Also Terry claims he comes with positive recommendations from buddy and former Valverde skipper Leyland.

Of course he can mentor all he wants, but he still needs to show that the last year and change plus was just a temporary downturn and not the point of no return.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Way to go, Jose, taking a page out of the Jason "I Taught Bobby Parnell Everything I Know" Isringhausen playbook on how to get cast as the Special Guest Veteran Closer, plus getting attention for his reliever-approved JCAs (Jocular Clubhouse Antics). Kyle Farnsworth ain't gonna withstand that kind of pressure.

[Edgy MD]

What mentorship credit went to LaTroy Hawkins? Was there a Mejia connection in there? Because you want more than Rob Carson on your teaching resume if you're going to be re-signed.

OE: Here's a broader review of Hawkins' mentoring efforts. Noted is Carson, Black, Germen, Valdespin. Not a high success rate there, but he took on some hard cases.

[Frayed Knot]

Hawkins gets credit for teaching everyone the not-coming-to-the-set pitch when there are no runners on base.

[Edgy MD]

I realize you gotta churn through veteran relievers, and you count your blessings and move on when you get a solid big league season out of a guy you brought in on a minor league deal, but I liked just about everything about Hawkins.

[Frayed Knot]

LaTroy definitely had that calm, smart, veteran aura about him.
Gotta say that I don't get that vibe from Valverde.

Speaking of which, has anyone ever seen Jose Valverde and Fernando Rodney in the same place at the same time?
Talk about conflating, I have to keep reminding myself which one the Mets signed, and I'm still not so sure that those two aren't, in reality, the same person.

[Fman99]

Frayed Knot wrote: Kevin Kernan in today's NY Post throws out the name of Jeff Walters (no known relation to Gene Walter) [fimg=400]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/022314metsspringtraining100.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1[/fimg]

Anyone that can pull off the old "levitating ball" trick should get a roster spot, in my opinion.

[Frayed Knot]

Either that or he's showing off what he learned in remedial juggling class.
By the end of ST he hopes to be up to two.

[seawolf17]

Fman99 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Kevin Kernan in today's NY Post throws out the name of Jeff Walters (no known relation to Gene Walter) [fimg=400]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/022314metsspringtraining100.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1[/fimg] Anyone that can pull off the old "levitating ball" trick should get a roster spot, in my opinion.

Done.

[ashie62]

seawolf17 wrote: Fman99 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Kevin Kernan in today's NY Post throws out the name of Jeff Walters (no known relation to Gene Walter) [fimg=400]http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/022314metsspringtraining100.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1[/fimg] Anyone that can pull off the old "levitating ball" trick should get a roster spot, in my opinion. Done.

And you win Brandon Nimmo's Port St. Lucie locker..

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mike Vorkunov/The Star-Ledger wrote: Jose Valverde closer to earning role in back of Mets bullpen JUPITER, Fla. -- Jose Valverde continues to impress manager Terry Collins. And in doing so he seems closer to earning a role in the back of the Mets bullpen. Valverde pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mets 10-7 loss at the Marlins Monday. He struck out two batters. He now has a 3.86 ERA this spring. "I don�t know where but he�s certainly making a very, very strong case for a guy who�s going to pitch in the back side of that bullpen, no doubt," Collins. Valverde, 36 in a week, bottomed out with the Tigers last season after posting a 3.00 ERA in his first three seasons in Detroit. But GM Sandy Alderson has professed a desire for experience in his bullpen and Collins thinks it will be a welcome trait in the Mets bullpen. "He just takes it even keel every day," Collins said. "And if we�re as young as we think we�re going to be we�re going to need that."

[Frayed Knot]

Spring stats to date for likely or possible relievers


[table:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]PITCHER[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]INNINGS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]HITS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]WALKS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]K�s[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]WHIP[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JOHN LANNON **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]11.33[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]15[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]10[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.68[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]CARLOS TORRES[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]9.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]9[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.11[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JACOB DEGROM[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7.33[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.95[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JOSE VALVERDE[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.71[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]GONZALEZ GERMEN[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.43[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]KYLE FARNSWORTH[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.65[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]RYAN REID[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]12[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2.67[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]VIC BLACK[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]10[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.00[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]SCOTT RICE **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.06[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JEURYS FAMILIA[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.20[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JEFF WALTERS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.82[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]BOBBY PARNELL[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.67[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JOSH EDGIN **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.67[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]ERIK GOEDDEL[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.87[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]DANA EVELAND **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2.33[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.43[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JACK LEATHERSICH **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.59[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][/table:t4uum9g7]


Valverde certainly looking better than his most comparable competition Farnsworth

[Benjamin Grimm]

Those are some gruesome numbers so far for Vic Black.

[Edgy MD]

But great ones for Dana Eveland.

WtF is Dana Eveland?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

He's a former American League guy, I believe he pitched in Japan last year and signed a minor league deal but not even invited to camp.

[smg58]

Mejia should be on the list too.

Looking at those I'm thinking the seven are Parnell, Valverde, Torres, Familia, Mejia, Rice, Lannan. I think Eveland would have gotten more innings by now if the Mets were seriously considering him, but that might change now especially since Black is pitching his way out of what looked like a pretty safe spot. Mejia or Lannan might be needed to start for Niese as well, which would open a spot.

[Frayed Knot]

I tend to think that Mejia is going to be a starter or in Vegas - although he could certainly be in the pen for a short spell, particularly early in the season.
He pitched in only 2 formal ST games so far this year, both starts for a total of just 4.1 IPs with not very good results: 4 runs on 5 hits + 4 walks.

1 scoreless inning each for Familia (1 walk, 1 hit, 1 K) & Parnell (no base runners, no K's) today.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I thought saw today where there's still concern around Parnell's velocity.

I also don't much understand how he came to require neck surgery. Neck surgery? One minute he was being interviewed by Joe Beningo, later that day on DL.

[Frayed Knot]

The Puma Sez:

Parnell, Rice, Valverde, Familia, Torres in fer shure to start the season.
Lannan & Black in the lead for the final two spots with Farnsworth and Germen remaining in contention.
Mejia likely to start the season starting in Vegas.

Farnsworth can ask for his release if not on the 25-man by Sunday (I guess it's THIS Sunday the 24th although that's not totally clear in the article).

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, one wonders if Parnell has the post-op comfort level to really let her rip, or if he's shy or stiff or uncomfortable when all the twisting and torquing a pitcher puts his neck through hits that surgical incision point.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, one wonders if Parnell has the post-op comfort level to really let her rip, or if he's shy or stiff or uncomfortable when all the twisting and torquing a pitcher puts his neck through hits that surgical incision point.

heard some talk that he never has the velocity in the spring, and he's always been a guy that really needs to warm up. at times sits 93-94 for the first batter. Hoping he just needs some arm strength/neck strength/etc.

[Frayed Knot]

Valverde added to the 40-man making him a sure bet to make the OD roster.
Black, as noted elsewhere, was sent down making things likely for Gonzalez Germen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm listening to the pen get squashed here by the Astros. 5 run 7th inning off Lannan, Germen and Torres. So far.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The ASTROS.

Now 7 runs in, 10 batters, 1 retired effectively (2nd out on baserunning goof)

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm listening to the pen get squashed here by the Astros. 5 run 7th inning off Lannan, Germen and Torres. So far.

If this is a preview of how the pen will be during the season I don't know if I can take it. And not because the pen is failing, pens fail. But because its failing at a time you want them to succeed the most, after that great performance by Gee. Grrr.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Now Valverde getting smacked around. Good thing we didn't lose Farnsworth!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Bully for anyone who can pitch a clean frame tonight!

Not... so... fast, Valverde.

[smg58]

Torres started and pitched four innings on Sunday, so it was odd seeing him pitch in that spot. I guess they're trying to see how quickly he can bounce back if he's used in a spot start or long relief? (Answer: more than three days.)

[Fman99]

These guys are all taking turns sucking the same, uh, popsicle.