Mets non-tenders [Twitter]

From Newsday’s David Lennon…

Link: Rubin chock full of info

Adam Rubin’s latest blog post is teeming with info from day one of the GM Meetings in Chicago.

In brief…

• Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are likely too expensive.
• Mike Cameron is a longshot.
• The Mets really want to trade Luis Castillo.
• The free agent catching market is terrible.
• The Mets want to re-sign Alex Cora.
• Tim Redding and Jeremy Reed will probably be non-tendered.
• Johan Santana and Jose Reyes are healing.  Santana will pitch on his normal winter schedule, while Reyes is now walking sans-crutches.

For more, head over to Rubin’s blog.

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?

Beltran back, belts one to track in loss

Carlos Beltran made his return to the Mets tonight after missing 70 games and just missed out on being the hero in the 7th inning.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Beltran came to the plate and hit a deep drive to right field.  Rightfielder Cody Ross turned and chased the ball to the track as Beltran’s ball fell a few feet short of the wall.  The Mets fell to the Marlins by a score of 4-2, their 76th loss of the year.

This loss is so much worse because there’s a die-hard Marlins fan sleeping on my couch for the next few days.  Argh.

Tim Redding pitched only five innings, surrendering a pair of two-run home runs to Hanley Ramirez and Cameron Maybin.  The Mets used five relievers to patch together the next four innings of work.

The Mets got runs off of a Josh Thole sac-fly, his first major league RBI. 

Congrats, Thole.  Here’s to many more.

Luis Castillo drove in Angel Pagan, who tripled, on an infield single in the fifth inning for the Mets other run.

When Castillo is third on the team in RBI, you know there’s a problem.

Redding surprises, Mets lose anyway

Tim Redding, making his first start since July 2, tossed five innings of one-hit baseball.  He walked three and struck out four.  And then the Mets let it slip away.

Removed due to a high pitch count, Redding gave way to Pat Misch, who was recalled from the minor leagues earlier yesterday.  A lead-off walk to Shane Victorino was followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Chase Utley.  The 1-0 Mets lead turned into a 2-1 Mets deficit.

After Misch recorded an out, Sean Green took over.  Green allowed back-to-back two-out doubles for another Phillies run, giving them a 3-1 lead.

Though the Mets knocked out eight hits and walked twice, they were only able to plate one run.  The run came in the bottom of the second when a groundball from Omir Santos was just out of the reach of third baseman Pedro Feliz.  As it glanced off his glove and into the outfield, Jeff Francoeur was able to trot home with the Mets first, and only, run.

The Mets ended up using seven pitchers in last night’s game, with Pedro Feliciano giving up the other run in the Phillies eventual 4-1 victory.

At one point it looked like a little of the 1969 magic may have worn off on the 2009 Mets.  But in the end, the ‘69 celebration was marred by the ‘09 talent.

Mets release Livan Hernandez to make room for Billy Wagner

The Mets have released Livan Hernandez and activated Billy Wagner, according to Kevin Burkhardt.

Hernandez went 4-1 in his first nine starts with the Mets, going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in May.  Since then, he’s gone 3-7 14 starts, now sporting an ERA of 5.47 and a WHIP of 1.59.

ERA and WHIP, by month:

Month	ERA	WHIP
April	6.75	1.453
May	2.70	1.380
June	3.69	1.359
July	7.33	1.889
August	11.30	2.372

Safe to say the magic ran out.

Livan signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in February.  He made $1 million when added to the 40-man roster and could have made another $1 million in performance bonuses.

Another hole in the Mets rotation.  Who’s filling it this time?

Nelson Figueroa?  Tim Redding?  Pat Misch?  Tag-team all three?

Updated – 5:02 p.m.: Bart Hubbuch just tweeted that Tim Redding will take Livan’s spot in the rotation on Saturday.

As if there was any better way to pay homage to the 1969 team, Tim Redding is pitching.

Mets DL trips

This list was put together by reader and friend David Cancel.  It lists the date, the player, the injury and where it took place.  It’s long and excruciating.  Take a look.

• 8/5 Jon Niese (Torn hamstring) - 8/5 @ Citi [Added]
• 7/25 Gary Sheffield (Strained right hamstring) - 7/17 @ ATL
• 7/20 Fernando Nieve (Torn right quadriceps - out 6-8 weeks) - 7/19 @ ATL
• 7/9 Fernando Martinez (Right knee inflammation) - 7/1 @ MIL
• 6/22 Carlos Beltran (Bone bruise, right knee) - bruise first mentioned between LA and BOS (5/21), finally out after OF slide 6/21 @ Citi
• 6/12 John Maine (Right shoulder fatigue) - last pitched 6/7 @ WAS
• 6/5 J.J. Putz (Right elbow surgery - out 8-10 weeks) - 6/3 @ PIT
• 6/3 Ramon Martinez (Fractured left pinkie finger) - slide 6/2 @ PIT
• 6/1 Angel Pagan (Strained right groin) - 5/31 @ Citi
• 5/26 Ryan Church (Strained right hamstring) - 5/22 @ BOS
• 5/26 Jose Reyes (Right calf tendinitis) - complained of stiff right calf after 5/13 game @ Citi, rested 6 days, re-aggravated @ LA on 5/20
• 5/18 Alex Cora (Torn right thumb ligament) - slide @ SF on 5/17
• 5/16 Carlos Delgado (Right hip impingement) - slide @ Citi on 4/26, rested for 5 games, played 7 games, then shut down.
• 5/7 Oliver Perez (Right patellar tendinitis) - last start 5/2; was complaining about it since Spring Training
• 4/17 Brian Schneider (Strained back muscle) - @ Citi
• 4/5 Angel Pagan (Right elbow sugery - out 2-3 months) - bone spur, prolly from Winter ball
• 4/5 Tim Redding (Right shoulder fatigue) - spring training

Yikes.

Thanks, David!

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.

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.

Lugo soon?

Julio Lugo is working out at the Mets camp in the Dominican Republic and could join the Mets as soon as he is released, according to Adam Rubin.

The Mets need to wait until he is officially released by the Boston Red Sox before signing him to some sort of contract.  Rubin also notes that Tim Redding would likely be the player cut from the roster.  The Mets seem willing to eat his $2.5 million contract.

I wrote yesterday that this would be a bad move, especially with Angel Berroa recently in the fold.  How many middle infielders can the Mets really bring in?

Game Recap: Dodgers 11 – Mets 2

The Livan magic has run out.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (55-31) beat the New York Mets (40-45) by a score of 11-2.

Livan Hernandez has given the Mets half a season.  I think that’s a lot more than anyone could have expected.  It’s run it’s course and the Mets should be thankful.  But that looks like it’s about it for Livan and the team should bring up Jon Niese for the next start.

11 hits in four innings, with eight earned runs is pretty terrible.  It was good while it lasted.

Other than Hernandez, not much of note happened.  Pat Misch and Brian Stokes were good.  Tim Redding, not so much.

The offense sputtered again against Randy Wolf and couldn’t overcome the four-spot the Dodgers put up in the first inning.

Game Recap: Dodgers 8 – Mets 0

Twenty-two straight scoreless innings for the Mets.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (54-30) beat the New York Mets (39-44) by a score of 8-0.

Mike Pelfrey was dreadful.  Five runs (four earned) in three-plus innings.  He needed 95 pitches.

Tom Verducci is putting a checkmark next to Pelfrey’s name in a worn-out old notebook.  I know it.

The bullpen, charged with the task of working through six innings fared decently well.  Tim Redding, appearing in relief, allowed one run on a pinch-hit solo home run by Blake DeWitt.  Brian Stokes needed 40 pitches to get two outs in the eight inning, walking three and allowing two runs to score.

Stokes used to be my go-to guy in the bullpen, but no more.  He has fallen on hard times, like the rest of the Mets.

For the bats, it was another quiet night.  Clayton Kershaw held them to only three hits over the first six innings, striking out seven batters while on the bump.

The team did pick up four hits overall, all singles.  They haven’t had an extra-base hit in 27 innings.

Just pitiful.

Oliver Perez to start Wednesday; F-Mart out with knee pain

The Mets have announced that Oliver Perez will start on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

No word on what the fate is of Tim Redding, the pitcher he replaced in the rotation.

My guess: Elmer Dessens is sent down and Redding slides into the bullpen.

** *** **

Also, Fernando Martinez is “out” according to Steve Popper.  Popper writes that he will be examined by team doctors in New York on Monday.

A similar injury cost him six weeks a few years ago, says Popper.

Ollie’s next stop: Unknown

Oliver Perez with the Buffalo Bisons: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO

That puts him in purgatory.  It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t “major league ready” Perez.  Though, as bad as Tim Redding was last time around, Perez might be ready to slip back into the rotation.

Oh, by the way, only half of Perez’s 92 pitches went for strikes.  Half!

Ollie’s next stop: Buffalo

Oliver Perez will join the Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, for what is expected to be one start.

Adam Rubin expects him to pitch on Friday, so if you’re in the Buffalo area, plan accordingly.

What is expected to happen, says Jerry Manuel, is Perez and Tim Redding share starts.  That should be interesting to see be implemented.  It’s not that Redding has been bad, but he’s just the weakest part of the rotation.

Maybe it’d be good to get Perez’s .429 AVG and .500 OBP back in the lineup.

Pitches / Plate Appearance for the Mets pitching staff

If you follow the blog or my tweets, you know that Francisco Rodriguez has thrown the most pitches out of the bullpen and Johan Santana has thrown the most pitches overall.

Here’s a chart of the Mets pitchers and their pitches per plate appearance.  Look who is “leading” the way…

Game Recap: Mets 6 – Cardinals 4

The B-team notches a win.

The New York Mets (35-33) beat the St. Louis Cardinals (39-32) by a score of 6-4.

Tim Redding was great.  Sure, he gave up four earned runs, but that’s what you expect out of him.  Holding the Cardinals to only four runs is quite an accomplishment.  Seven innings for Redding, who was victimized by two home runs, finally earned his first win with the Mets.

Very nice, Redding.  Maybe you shouldn’t have started the 8th inning, lowering your “should have been” runs to three, but it’s OK.  I’ll take it.

Brian Stokes entered with a one run lead, a runner on first and Albert Pujols at the plate.  Stokes came through brilliantly, inducing a double play ball to get out of the inning and avoid any damage.

Love it.  Absolutely love it.  Were you watching, Jerry?

Francisco Rodriguez set the Cards down 1-2-3.

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

Two players had stand out nights for the Mets on a night where the team knocked out 14 hits. Luis Castillo went 3-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored and Omir Santos had a perfect night, going 4-4 with a run and an RBI.

What’s up with the catchers lately?  Whatever it is, I could get used to it.

Daniel Murphy picked up two hits, including a solo home run into the visiting bullpen in the 5th inning.  Alex Cora picked up two RBI on singles in the 6th  and 8th innings.

And Murphy has more home runs than David Wright.  Wow.

Cora has earned every single penny of his $2.5 million contract.  For a guy that was supposed to be a backup forced into everyday duty, he’s been nothing short of spectacular.

Game Recap: Orioles 6 – Mets 4

A game they could have won, but didn’t.

The Baltimore Orioles (28-37) beat the New York Mets (33-30) by a score of 6-4.

Tim Redding was, in a word, “meh.”  He seems to pitch well, but not when it counts.  He allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, including Matt Wieters first career home run.

A typical fifth starter start.  Too bad he’s “third” in the rotation. 

Bobby Parnell relieved Redding, and ended up throwing a hitless inning.  Pedro Feliciano came on in the seventh with one out and allowed a single to Nick Markakis before serving up a hanger to Aubrey Huff, who crushed it over the right field wall to break up the tie.

Can’t expect Feliciano to be perfect all the time.  He just wasn’t hitting hit spots tonight.

Brian Stokes (yes, really!) came on to pitch 1 1-3 innings, allowing one hit but no runs.

The 5th, 6th, and 7th batters in the Mets order had big nights. Ryan Church, batting 5th, went 2-4 with a double and a run scored.  Gary Sheffield went 2-4 with a solo home run.  Daniel Murphy went 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

The game changer came in the sixth with the bases loaded.  Alex Cora had just walked, driving in a run, and Fernando Tatis was at the plate.  On a 2-0 pitch with one out, Tatis, who was pinch hitting for Fernando Martinez swung and grounded a ball to second base, setting up an easy double play to end the threat.

Trying to do too much.  Let him pitch to you.  He just walked in a run and was behind you in the count, Tatis.  Baseball fundies!

This PH move will come into question tomorrow.  Hindsight is 20/20, but I didn’t like the move when Jerry Manuel pulled the trigger.

The Mets then got a one-out ground rule double from Tatis in the 9th inning.  With Carlos Beltran and David Wright coming up behind him, the Mets looked to have a shot at scoring.  Both players swung at the first pitch and both flied out to the outfield. 

Yargh.  Wright’s hitting streak ended at 11 games.  Bad timing?  I can’t complain though.  He’s just been too good lately.

Game Recap: Phillies 6 – Mets 3

Another game, another late-inning, heart-breaking, soul-crushing defeat by the Philadelphia Phillies.

OK, maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but it sure stung.

The Philadelphia Phillies (35-23) beat the New York Mets (31-27) by a score of 6-3 in 10 innings.

Tim Redding made the start for the Mets and turned out another good performance. Seven innings, six hits and three earned runs for Redding. He walked none and struck out six.

A very good, and surprising start, by Redding.

Pedro Feliciano turned in his third spectacular outing of the series, pitching another hitless inning. Bobby Parnell turned in an easy ninth inning and came out to start the tenth. After one out, Parnell let up a single to Shane Victorino and was removed from the game.

Ken Takahashi, whom lefties were hitting .440 off of entering the game, walked Chase Utley to start his outing. After striking out Ryan Howard for the second out, Raul Ibanez came to the plate. Ibanez parked a Takahashi pitch into the bullpen for a three-run blast, putting the Phillies in the lead for good.

I just don’t get this move. The Mets are sorely lacking a pitcher other than Feliciano who can get out left handed batters at a decent clip.

The Mets put one on the board in the first, third and fifth. All runs were scored by Luis Castillo and he was driven in each time by Carlos Beltran.

Beltran plated Castillo, who went 3-5, in three seperate ways. A groundout scored him in the first, a RBI double in the third and a sac-fly in the fifth.

David Wright went 3-4 on the night.

The Mets didn’t pick up a hit from the sixth inning until Omir Santos singled to lead off the bottom of the 10th.

Another game of score early, then don’t score again for the Mets bats.

Poll Results: Mets fans split on Tim Redding

Last week, I asked my readers “What’s next for Tim Redding?”

Here are the results…

1. Cut him – 30%
2. Back to minors – 26%
3. Trade him – 22%
4. Keep him – 21%

Many of these votes came in before Redding turned out a nice performance against the Washington Nationals.  I would guess most of the votes would stay the same though, because it’s still the Nationals.

Next poll: Thoughts on Fernando Martinez so far?