Return of Mejia

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I'm thinking that a humbler, rested Mejia with something to prove might not be a bad thing for us. I don't know how much of his success was the Jenrry and how much was the Juicce, but if he's close to form, we could use that.

Who heads back to Vegas when he returns?

[Edgy MD]

There's some talk of �lex Torres falling out of favor, but I kind of got the idea that Verrett's three innings today was something of a sendoff, and they're maybe going to send him down to get him starting again in case they need another starter, or to prepare to compete for a rotation slot next season.

[Ceetar]

Robles? He's got the worst numbers, including poor BB and K rates.

[Frayed Knot]

The thing about Mejia is that he was more lucky than good during much of 2014, particularly in the second half when he was (for the most part) preventing runs despite allowing baserunners galore. For his year as a whole, which included some early season starts, his WHIP was up around 1.5 and down the stretch 2 or more runners/outing became almost the norm for him even if he came away unscathed more often than not. Nice trick if you can get away with it but you usually don't for very long.
He'll probably get slotted right into the 8th inning role (but you have to slot guys y'know) but it's not like we're getting a sure-fire set-up guy here. The one good thing is that having him in a non-closing role will hopefully tone down his post-inning dance act.


As for replacement:
- if they intend to train/use/market Verrett as a starter at some point that point isn't going to be anytime soon and there'll be plenty of opportunity to "stretch him out" later. Right now he's very quietly been near perfect so there's no way I send him down. Hell, challenge Mejia to displace HIM as the 8th inning man rather than just hand it to him. In fact a three-headed set-up crew of Parnell, Verrett, and Mejia will be a helluva lot more effective than assigning the job to just one.

- ATorres is probably safe until Blevins returns by virtue of using his left wing but probably very UNsafe afterward.

- I was surprised that Robles's peripheral numbers looked as ordinary as they do. He seems like he's been doing better than his digits suggest. He may be the odd man out just by virtue of having his 'role' taken.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: The thing about Mejia is that he was more lucky than good during much of 2014, particularly in the second half when he was (for the most part) preventing runs despite allowing baserunners galore. For his year as a whole, which included some early season starts, his WHIP was up around 1.5 and down the stretch 2 or more runners/outing became almost the norm for him even if he came away unscathed more often than not. Nice trick if you can get away with it but you usually don't for very long. He'll probably get slotted right into the 8th inning role (but you have to slot guys y'know) but it's not like we're getting a sure-fire set-up guy here. The one good thing is that having him in a non-closing role will hopefully tone down his post-inning dance act. .

Bah, that's a bad thing in my eye. more post-inning dances please.

He was pitching with a strained..hamstring? bicep? I can't remember. I wasn't even fully convinced he shouldn't still be starting. Regardless, I think he'll be useful and pretty good. Still pissed they bargained away the postseason eligibility. Basically, Mejia may or may not be done serving his suspension. That's BS.

[Edgy MD]

Hey, I'm not advocating for Verrett's dismissal. Just trying to read the tea leaves. Who do you see going down? Who would you have go down?

It's hard. Even as tabloid writers continue to advocate � amazingly, to my thinking � for the Mets to deal for veteran bullpen help.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'm not sure they can send down Verrett over Robles, given his performance and the similarity in Mejia's anticipated/Robles' current slot. It's not like you can't find 2-3 inning stretches for a swingman on the major-league squad. (Well, Terry might have trouble finding them, but still.)

[Centerfield]

Is Mejia healthy? Last time we saw him he was sprinting off the field holding his elbow.

[ashie62]

DFA

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Ashie62 wrote: DFA

Are you saying that he has been DFAed, or that you want him to be?

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Is Mejia healthy? Last time we saw him he was sprinting off the field holding his elbow.

Well, he hurt his elbow. He never actually made it onto the field. Initial test showed no structural damage.

He's done fine during rehab, striking out 10 and walking zero in six innings.

[MFS62]

Is a suspended player considered like a player on the 60 day DL? Will someone have to be dropped from the 40 man (as well as the 25 man) roster once he is reinstated?

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Pretty sure that the suspended player remains on the 40-man

[Edgy MD]

He actually hasn't been counted against the 40.

The team, which stands to benefit from the PED abuse as much as the player, rather than getting punished along with him, gets both salary relief and roster relief for the duration of his suspension.

They can make room easily enough by transferring Rafael Montero or Buddy Carlyle to the 60-day DL. Heck... David Wright!