F-Mart, Figgy win Caribbean Series; F-Mart named MVP

Fernando Martinez, Nelson Figueroa and the Dominican Republic team won the Caribbean Series last night with a 7-4 victory over Venezuela.

Martinez was named the MVP of the series, going 8-23 (.348) with a double and two home runs.

Figueroa also tossed a gem in the series, a complete-game three hitter.  He allowed only one earned run on a solo home run.  He walked none and struck out 8.

Figueroa should, and will, get another chance in the Mets rotation sometime this year.  If/When the injuries start to hit the team, Figueroa is likely second on the depth chart to be called up (if he doesn’t make the team out of spring training.)

And I was asked on Twitter if I think F-Mart will contribute this year.  I think he will play a decent chunk of time with the big club, but as to contributing, I’m not so sure.  He’ll be good, but give him time.  Don’t forget, he’s only 21 years old.

Another game, another loss

The Mets are keeping hope alive as they march toward 100.  One hundred losses, that is.

The Mets fell to the Phillies by a score of 4-2, loss number 79 of the season.  With 21 games remaining, the Mets would have to lose every game to reach 100 losses.

Though the score was close through the entire game, it never felt as though the Mets would win.  Nelson Figueroa tiptoed through 5 1-3 innings, allowing nine hits and walking five, but only allowed two earned runs.

Elmer Dessens and Brian Stokes surrendered the other two runs in relief.

Jeff Francoeur stayed hot at the plate, pounding out three hits.  Francoeur is now 6-for-his-last-8 with two doubles.

Luis Castillo drove in one run with a sac-fly to center field.  Cory Sullivan grounded into a double play to kill a rally in the ninth inning, but it allowed a run to score.

But hey, no one got hurt.

Poll: Pelfrey’s the resident ace right now

In a somewhat joke of a poll, I asked fans who the ace of the Mets rotation was now that Johan Santana is on the DL. 

Here are the results…I’m shocked how many votes Pat Misch and Nelson Figueroa garnered.

Now if only Mike Pelfrey can turn in his last performance for the every start.

Next Poll: Is Omir Santos your starting catcher in 2010?

Figgy fantastic as Mets stave off sweep

When Johan Santana went down for the season, the man filling his spot in the rotation had some pretty big shoes to fill.  Today, Nelson Figueroa was as good as you could ask for.

Seven innings of six-hit baseball saw Figueroa through his longest outing of the season.  While on the mound, Figueroa struck out 10 Cubs, nine in the first four inning, a career high strikeout count.

Figueroa allowed one run in the first inning, but bounced back from there, allowing only five hits over the next six inning.

I love Figueroa and always have since he came up last year.  Glad he’s putting together some starts and maybe showing the Mets he can be a fifth starter next year.  Maybe.

Brian Stokes turned in a 1-2-3 8th inning and Francisco Rodriguez saved the game after a bit of pressure.  Kosuke Fukudome led off the inning with a single and Jeff Francoeur dropped Jake Fox’s pop-up, but was able to throw out Fukudome at second.

Never easy.

The Mets got a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings, respectively.

In the third, the Mets stitched singles from Angel Pagan, Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy and Jeff Francoeur together to drive in two runs.  Murphy and Francoeur each picked up an RBI with their singles.

In the fourth, Brian Schneider hit a one-out single.  Schneider was chased in by an Anderson Hernandez triple.  Figueroa helped his own cause with an RBI single of his own, driving in Hernandez from third.

Eleven hits off of Carlos Zambrano is no small task.  A good few innings from the Mets, but went fairly quiet from there on out, picking up only one hit the rest of the game. 

Luckily, it was enough. 

This time.

No Pelfrey in San Diego

Mike Pelfrey will miss his scheduled start on Saturday in San Diego for the birth of his first child.  Pelfrey did not make the trip to California.

That, coupled with Jon Niese’s injury, leaves two holes in the Mets rotation over the next week.  Here’s how the pitching matchups look for the next five games…

• Livan Hernandez, RHP (7-5, 4.77) @ Clayton Richard, LHP (4-3, 4.47)
• Oliver Perez, LHP (2-3, 7.03) @ Kevin Correia, RHP (7-9, 4.73)
• TBA @ Mat Latos, RHP (3-1, 2.66)
• Johan Santana, LHP (12-8, 3.10) @ Tim Stauffer, RHP (1-3, 3.12)
• TBA @ TBA (First game of Arizona series)

The way I see it, Pelfrey can work the first game of the Arizona series, slotting back in behind Santana.  That means the Mets will need just one pitcher to fill in on Saturday.

Nelson Figueroa was more than serviceable yesterday, coming off a disaster of a start against the Diamondbacks.  Bobby Parnell’s named has also been tossed around as a starter, so that could be an option.

And don’t bother looking down at the minor leagues.  No pitcher is near the “major league ready” level of Jon Niese, so don’t expect a call-up to fare well.

Can the Mets consider yesterday’s game a victory?

Wednesday’s 9-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals was one of the more impressive games I’ve seen the Mets play this season.  But can they consider it a victory after possibly losing two more players to the disabled list?

We know Jon Niese will miss the rest of the season after completely tearing his hamstring tendon off the bone and already had the subsequent surgery.  Gary Sheffield is in murkier waters, leaving the game with cramps in the sixth inning.

Sheffield had recently come off the DL, so where he ends up in the next few days is one big question mark.

But back to the game. 

The Mets pounded out 15 hits and plated nine runs.  David Wright connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

They got a two-run triple from Nelson Figueroa, who entered the game in relief of Niese and pitched 4 1-3 beautiful innings.

Angel Pagan had the best day of all, going 3-4 with 4 RBI.  In the 6th, he drove a ball into the gap between center and right field, tripling in Jeremy Reed.  Two innings later, Pagan drove a ball to straightaway center, a 425-foot two run home run.  That homer chased in Bobby Parnell, who is 1-1 in his career with a run scored.

Parnell’s efforts on the mound should not be overlooked, either.  Three solid innings in relief, which he needed only 30 pitches, striking out three.  I suggested it and Jerry Manuel may be in favor of it, but it looks like Parnell may get a chance to start this season.

So a solid all-around victory is marred by the definite loss of a young, up-and-coming pitcher and a possible loss of the team’s biggest slugger.  Is that a win?

Now starting for your New York Mets: Bobby Parnell?

Today, I watched Bobby Parnell throw three innings in relief of Jon Niese and Nelson Figueroa. Niese, as you likely know, tore his hamstring attempting to cover first base and left the game. He will miss the remainder of the season.

That leaves a hole in the already thin rotation.

Do the Mets trust Figueroa enough to hand him a starting job after his effort against Arizona? (Though today was absolutely brilliant for the New York native.)

Parnell pitched three innings for a reason. He earned his first career save, picked up his first career hit in his first career at bat and scored his first career run.

(Side note, for those wondering about how Parnell earned a save in a game that ended 9-0, here is the MLB save rule:

1. He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team
2. He is not the winning pitcher
3. He is credited with at least ⅓ of an inning pitched
4. He satisfies one of the following conditions:
   1. He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning
   2. He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, at bat or on deck
   3. He pitches for at least three innings

Parnell satisfied the three inning rule, therefore earning the save.)

Anyway…

Robert Allen Parnell was drafted by the Mets in the 9th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of Charleston Southern University.

In 94 games in Single-A through Triple-A, Parnell started 92 times. Only when Parnell came to spring training did the Mets move him into a relief role.

So today, as Parnell worked and worked and worked, something in the back of my mind was shouting “Are they really going to make Parnell a starter?” Seems I wasn’t alone in my thoughts, either: Joe Janish jumped on this as well.

With the Mets minor leagues already devoid of talent due to injuries at the big league level and no prospects are seemingly ready to make the jump, this “Parnell, SP” may be something to keep your eye on for the rest of this season and beyond.

Figgy fizzles, Mets miss out

There were many people, myself included, campaigning to have Nelson Figueroa called up.

Well, he was.  And he stunk.

Figueroa: 1.2 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 HR, 53 pitches

Yikes.

So the Mets were in a 6-0 hole in a hurry, but they battled back.  An RBI triple here (Angel Pagan), a pair of RBI singles there (Luis Castillo and David Wright) and a solo home run (Daniel Murphy) brought the Mets within one.

But that would be as close as they would get.

The team must tip their cap to the bullpen who allowed only three hits in 7 1-3 innings.  Tim Redding turned in a 3 1-3 inning outing, allowing two hits and walking only one.  Bobby Parnell tossed two scoreless, as well.

This seems fitting.

Cancel out for Sheffield, Misch out for Figueroa

Robinson Cancel has been designated for assignment to make room for Gary Sheffield.  Sheffield made his return from the disabled list on Sunday, but did not start.  He eventually entered the game in the sixth inning and went 0-2.

Pat Misch, the lefty who saw his first action in two weeks today, was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Nelson Figueroa.  Figueroa will make a spot start Monday against Dan Haren.  He had been up twice previously, starting one game.

Figueroa named International League Pitcher of the Week

In another notch for Nelson Figueroa’s case for a promotion, he was named Pitcher of the Week for the International League.  According to SmallBall USA, it was the second time Figueroa has earned the honors this year.

Here’s the release, via Surfing the Mets…

The International League announced that the Bisons' Figueroa has been named the league’s Pitcher of the Week for the period of July 16-19. It’s the second time Figueroa has been given the weekly honor by the IL, having also won Pitcher of the Week from June 8-14.

Figueroa began his week on Wednesday night as he pitched a scoreless inning for the IL in the Triple-A All-Star Game. The veteran righthander worked a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and striking out two in the IL’s 6-5 win over the Pacific Coast League.

The All-Star returned to Buffalo to throw a seven-inning shutout in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Toledo Mud Hens. Figueroa allowed seven hits and no walks while striking out five in the Herd’s 2-0 win. With Jon Niese’s shutout in Game 1 the Bisons had their first doubleheader shutout sweep since 2006.

Figueroa’s gem lowered his season ERA to 2.32, the second-lowest mark in the International League behind only Charlotte’sCarlos Torres(2.20). Figueroa has won six decisions in a row and has allowed more than two runs in only two of his 15 starts with the Bisons this year.

Adam Rubin also notes that Brad Holt was named Pitcher of the Week for the Eastern League while pitching for the Binghamton Mets.

What about Niese AND Figueroa?

A few hours ago I wrote about the choice the Mets would have to make between Nelson Figueroa and Jon Niese.  Now, what if I told you I don’t think the Mets should make that choice.

I think they should call them both up.

Bring up both Niese and Figueroa.  Replace Tim Redding and Livan Hernandez.

Redding, we know, has struggled the entire season.  He’s 1-4 with a 7.16 ERA and a WHIP of 1.681.  Just not good at all.

Hernandez, over his last six starts, has allowed 47 hits in 33 1-3 innings, to the tune of a 7.56 ERA and a WHIP of 1.963.  (In his last two starts, where he pitched seven innings combined, his WHIP is 4.142.  Woah.)

Yes, Niese and Figueroa have been collecting their stats at Triple-A Buffalo, but they’re also pitching for the worst team in the International League.

Send Redding on his way while eating the $2.5 million owed to his and move Livan somewhere else.  He’s been eating innings but he’s not really helping the Mets. 

Bring up both of the players from Triple-A Buffalo.  It can’t get much worse.

Nieve hurt; Niese or Figueroa will get chance

Another day, two more Mets losses.  One gets notched up in the loss column, the other scratches a player off the roster.

Fernando Nieve went down in the bottom of the second inning trying to leg out a groundball.  His foot landed on first base awkwardly and he went down in heap on the first base line.  He was said to have a right quadriceps strain, but more will be revealed after an MRI today.

One has to feel terribly for Nieve who was making the most of his chance at the big league level.

Now, the Mets have a choice to make: Nelson Figueroa, the journeyman pitcher they’ve designated for assignment twice in 2009, or Jon Niese, the young prospect who has seen the majors with little success so far, but is mowing down the International League.

Figueroa, who pitched once for the Mets in 2009, despite being called up twice, turned in a quality start against the Milwaukee Brewers before being DFA’d the first time.  For Triple-A Buffalo, Figueroa was the team’s lone All-Star representative.

For the months of June and July, Figueroa made eight starts, winning six of them.  His ERA was a miniscule 1.41, with a WHIP below 1.000 at 0.998.

Niese made two starts for the Mets in 2009.  In 10 2-3 innings, he surrendered 14 hits and seven earned runs.  But over June and July for Buffalo, he was equally impressive as Figueroa.

In the past two months, Niese has made nine starts, winning five.  His ERA over the past three games is an unbelievable 0.41, as he allowed only one earned run in his last 22 innings.

If the Mets choose Figueroa to fill the roster spot, I feel that it will signal that they still believe they can compete in 2009 and want a “veteran” to come up to fill the spot.  If they opt for Niese, it would seem that they are planning ahead for 2010 and will let Niese progress at the major league level, a la Mike Pelfrey a few years ago.

Though the Mets have two solid options waiting in upstate New York, whichever player they choose will show their attitude for the 2009 season.

Source: Mets DFA Figueroa...again

Here we go again.

A source has told The 'Ropolitans that the Mets have designated Nelson Figueroa for assignment to make room for Tim Redding. Redding will make his first start of the season tonight against the Dodgers.

Figueroa was called up a few days ago but never made an appearance this time around.

This is the second time this season the Mets have designated Figueroa for assignment. Going off of what happened last time around, I assume Figueroa will declare free agency if he clears waivers. I cannot see him re-signing with the Mets after this.

Niese sent back to Triple-A; Figueroa recalled

After two starts, one good and one bad, Jon Niese has been sent back to Triple-A Buffalo.  Nelson Figueroa has been called up to take his spot on the roster.

Niese lasted only 4 2-3 innings today against the Braves, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. 

The game went 12 innings as well, forcing the Mets to use every reliever.  Figueroa’s addition will add a rested arm to the bullpen.

The question here is: Where is Tim Redding?  Redding is said to be ready after rehabbing with Buffalo and will probably be activated for Niese’s spot in the rotation when it comes around again. 

Does that mean Figueroa gets sent down again?  Maybe the Mets will play with a short bench, putting Carlos Delgado on the DL and using his roster spot for Redding?

None of those questions can be answered just yet, but the Mets have done quite a questionable job with their roster shuffling in 2009, this just presents another hurdle in the road.

Figueroa has become a fan favorite around the Citi, so I know a few people that will be glad he’s back with the big club.

Why Jon Niese over Nelson Figueroa?

With Oliver Pereez going on the DL, the Mets have turned to Jon Niese to make Perez’s scheduled start instead of Ken Takahashi.  Why Niese over Nelson Figueroa, who already turned in a quality start for the team this season?

Well…I have no idea.

Figueroa was set to make a start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, but it was rained out (as have five of the last eight games for the Bisons).  Niese last pitched on Friday against the Louisville Bats.  Figueroa

• Niese in 2009: 0-2, 22 IP, 6.55 ERA, 29 H
• Figueroa in 2009: In majors: 0-1, 6 IP, 4.50 ERA, 5 H In minors: 0-2, 21 IP, 2.57 ERA, 11 H

Niese has pitched three games in the major leagues, with two poor starts and one excellent outing.  His first and third starts saw Niese on the mound for only three innings, letting up five and six earned runs respectively.

Niese’s best outing came against the Braves, where he turned in eight shut-out innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out seven.

I guess the Mets are looking for something of a shock to put into their starting rotation.  Youth may be one way to do it.  I look forward to watching Niese pitch and hope he can turn in something similar to his start against the Braves.

What to do with Oliver Perez?

As it stands right now, Oliver Perez is not in the starting rotation for the New York Mets.  What’s left to be seen is where he’ll end up. 

All indications are pointing toward Perez heading to the bullpen as opposed to the minor leagues.  Another possibility is that Perez lands on the disabled list.  A report came out yesterday that said Perez had an ice pack on his knee before the rainout.

To me, that seems like a ploy by the Mets to slip him onto the DL and allow him to head to extended spring training without incident.

Perez cannot stay in the starting rotation at this pace.  His starts eventually lead to bullpen blowouts, hurting the team for the game he starts and even a few games after that.

Is the bullpen the best place for Perez to re-learn how to pitch?  Probably not.  Who will start in his place?  No idea.  Will it cost the Mets a player from the bullpen that they will likely need in a tough spot if they call up another starter?  Most likely.

For the last question, the most logical move right now is to slip Ken Takahashi into Perez’s spot in the rotation.  With a pitch count, hope he can get through four innings and patch together the rest of the game from the arms in the bullpen.  Not the best choice, but it keeps a roster spot from being swapped to call up a player from the minor leagues.

Options down on the farm include Brandon Knight, Nelson Figueroa, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, among others.  Figueroa or Knight will likely get the call if they cannot figure out Perez while he’s in the bullpen or if he has to go to the disabled list.

Perez has quickly become Omar Minaya’s albatross.  He’s not performing anywhere near expectations and is costing the team a whole lot of money.  Right now, the Mets don’t seem to know what to do with Perez and would like to stick him somewhere where he cannot kill the team. 

I think they’ll put him on the DL with a “knee injury” and hope for the best.  Get him some “rehab” starts in the minor leagues and hope he can turn things around.

If not…well…who knows…

(Ed. note: Big Spanish final today (or should I say “grande”?).  I’ll be back to post afterwards.  Hopefully nothing important breaks.  Oh, and wish me luck.)

More on the Figueroa signing

Nelson Figueroa will be in Buffalo today and will likely start for the Bisons on Tuesday.

According to my source, Figueroa did have other offers but decided to return to the Mets.  The team told him “they would like him back.”

Figueroa will be up soon, I think.  Casey Fossum has been all right, but I think someone is going to be demoted to work on mechanics soon.  Be it Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez or John Maine is yet to be seen.

Figueroa is the versatile arm the Mets need.  The bullpen is going to be overworked at this rate and they need a good arm to pitch two or three innings when needed.  When the starting pitcher can only last four decent innings, having Figueroa in the bullpen is necessity.

Source: Figueroa returns to the Mets

Nelson Figueroa, who recently declared free agency after being designated for assignment then clearing waivers, is coming back to the New York Mets.

A source who wishes to remain anonymous, the same source that had him fleeing for free agency, tipped me off this morning.  Figueroa was clearly angered at the team after they DFA’d him after his quality start last weekend.

It is unknown at this time what the contract and numbers may be.  Figueroa will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

This is a good move for both sides.  It brings the Brooklyn native back as possible starting option for the Mets, especially as Jerry Manuel uses scare tactics to try and motivate his pitchers.

The Mets made right with this move, even though it took a little too long for them to figure it all out.

Source: Figueroa flees for free agency

Nelson Figueroa has refused his assignment to Triple-A Buffalo and filed for free agency, according to a source who has asked to remain anonymous.

Figueroa was designated for assignment after his quality start on Sunday.  He cleared waivers and Figueroa has a day to decide to report to the Mets affiliate in Buffalo or file for free agency.

The source has said that Figueroa has chosen to opt for free agency over returning to the Mets organization.

And who can blame him?  The Mets did not treat him well after he turned in a good start for them.  They cut him loose and brought on Casey Fossum in a messy roster shuffle.

I wish the best to Figueroa and his family.  He was a great guy and did everything the Mets asked of him.

Figueroa clears waivers; O’Day picked up by Texas

Nelson Figueroa has cleared waivers, according to Adam Rubin.

Figueroa will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

Good.  Justice is served.

Also, Darren O’Day has been picked off of waivers by the Texas Rangers, according to Ken Davidoff.

So long, Darren.  Maybe, if the Rangers drop him, the Mets can bring him back if the timing is right.  You never know.