The Edge of Seventeen: Paul Sewald

[Edgy MD]

They say there will be no new Mets, but I'm Paul Sewald, and I've been pitching well in the high minors for the last two years now, and I've added some flashy stuff in the Mexican winter league. I've got 43 saves over the last two years in Bingo and Las Vegas, and yet somehow, I haven't even cracked the 40-man roster.

Don't believe the roster. There's a spot open at the back end of the bullpen, and while Goeddel, Montero, and Rowen all have their eye on it, I intend to bite down on it like Pac-Man chomping on a pair of bouncing cherries. We'll see who's not on the roster. I don't throw as hard as some. I keep the ball down. But you can't keep me down. I was born in Las Vegas, grew up in Las Vegas, and, well, I've seen enough of Las Vegas. I'm heading out.

So, tell, me, how soon will I leave, and how effective do you see me becoming once I get there? Because #79 just ain't my style.

[fimg=305:e0qctrg6]http://metsminors.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_METSCUBS_033116bh_027_6.jpg[/fimg:e0qctrg6] [fimg=415:e0qctrg6]http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/9/7/4/169986974/cuts/sewald1280_30nzjny5_k2pxtd0k.jpg[/fimg:e0qctrg6]
[fimg=338:e0qctrg6]http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.13248810.1489363585!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.jpeg[/fimg:e0qctrg6] [fimg=382:e0qctrg6]http://metsmerizedonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/1439859305229-e1439859336630.jpg[/fimg:e0qctrg6]

By the way, I think it's great that the Mets have secured the sponsorship of Terrible Herbs for First Data Park, and should immediately pursue the patronage of Inedible Spices.

[Edgy MD]

This guy has as good a chance as anybody to be the 1,027th Met. Be the first to predict his season!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like him and I thought the org did too so I was surprised not to see him in September. I think he's just the kinda guy to start Game 1 of a makeup doubleheader in July when the schedule is heavy, then get sent back immediately afterward having gone 5 IP and given up 3 runs and getting a no-decision.

[Edgy MD]

He'll have his moments after a mid-summer callup but one or two bad outings will make him look worse than he was. Eleven games and a 4.48 ERA.

There'll also be rumors of a personality issue. Maybe Frank Viola's tutoring on mechanics is going in one ear and out the other. (He looks like he's coming from behind his ear in those top two photos, but looks like he's bringing it from 3/4 in the bottom two.) Maybe he arrives in the bigs and raises some eyebrows by not paying proper respect to the veterans. Which is funny, because it's not like he'll be arriving with blue chip pedigree.

At least, there'll be rumors if the beat guys do their jobs.

There's some talk around August 30 that his abrasiveness/aloofness/10-cent-headedness/whatever will cost him a return trip in September. But the Mets, realizing that strategy makes a guy un-tradeable, deny all that and tab him for the Autumn return, but he only gets into two more games the rest of the way.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I guess see ya in September.

[Guest d'Kong76]

d'Kong76 wrote: I guess see ya in September.

Or, ya know, if we have to call mayday on May Day...