Mike Pelfrey (1-0) went 5 innings giving up 5 hits and 4 runs while walking 4 and striking out 2.
In relief, Bobby Parnell (H,1) walked 2 and struck out 1 in the 6th. Pedro Feliciano gave up 2 hits and 2 runs while walking 1 and striking out 1. Sean Green (H,2) mopped up the 7th only giving up 1 hit. J.J. Putz (H,2) closed out the 8th giving up 1 hit and 1 run. Francisco Rodriguez (S,2) got another save on two walks and 1 strike out.
The Mets went up 2-0 in the first off a Carlos Delgado bomb to right field scoring David Wright. In the 5th Carlos Delgado made it 3-4 by driving in Jose Reyes on a bases loaded grounder to first. Carlos Beltran put the Mets up 5-4 by singling to center and driving in Daniel Murphy and David Wright. In the 7th, Carlos Delgado drove in David Wright by singling to left. In the same inning, Brian Schneider made it 9-4 Mets on a bases clearing double to right center scoring Carlos Delgado, CarlosBeltran and Ryan Church.
Johan Santana (1-0) threw 5 2/3 innings, gave up 3 hits and 1 earned run, walked 4, and struck out 7 99 pitches. Sean Green (H,1) threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless pitching. J.J. Putz (H, 1) closed the 8th while walking 1 and striking out 1. Francisco Rodriguez closed the game by striking out 1.
Daniel Murphy homered to right in the 5th and drove in Luis Castillo on a bases loaded grounder to first.
Last week I asked who should fill the last spot on the Mets Bullpen. There were 3 votes for Will Ohman, 2 for Brian Stokes and 1 for Jonathan Niese.
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal reported “Ohman, 31, has offers from the Pirates, Marlins and Padres, and is waiting for possible interest to develop from the Phillies, Mets and Dodgers.”
Ohman’s agent, Page Odle, adds, “We’re offering flexibility, too. Will is willing to pitch for a good chunk for his money. We feel that Will is a shutdown lefty who strikes guys out and gets righties out as well. We’re hoping one of the playoff teams will want that shutdown lefty.”
However, according to Joel Sherman, “If Sanchez is right, the Mets will not feel big pressure to put a second lefty reliever in the pen in tandem with Pedro Feliciano.” Yet, Sherman believes Sanchez could be released or traded for a “righty-hitting outfield bat.”
I think the Mets are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with one of their Spring Training Invitees, like Valerio De Los Santos. It’s also possible that if Freddy Garcia wins the 5th spot in the rotation, Livan Hernandez could fill the last spot in the rotation. As of now the Mets Bullpen consists of Franciso Rodriguez, J.J. Putz, Sean Green, Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez, and most likely Tim Redding.
What do you think?
I’m introducing a new series on Daily Mets, State of the Mets Bullpen. I should’ve done this from the beginning. Don’t know why I didn’t, except that I didn’t think of it.
I’ll spare you a recap of the performance of last year’s bullpen. It’s enough to say anything and everything that could’ve gone wrong, did.
Instead, I’d like to take a look at this year’s bullpen. I’m hopeful that Freddy Garcia or Pedro Martinez (if he comes back) will get the 5th spot in the rotation. That will push Tim Redding to be the long man in the bullpen, which he’s said he’s okay with.
So here is your (potential) 2009 Mets Bullpen:
Francisco Rodriguez
J.J. Putz
Duaner Sanchez
Pedro Feliciano
Sean Green
Tim Redding
?
I don’t know about you, but this bullpen looks very good to me. Not only do we have an elite Closer in K-Rod, we also have a great closer in Putz as the Setup Man. No more losses in the 8th and 9th inning. Is there a better combo out there?
Duaner Sanchez separated his shoulder in July 2006 and a hairline fracture in the front of his shoulder in March 2007. So with two years of recovery, Sanchez should be able to throw well again as he did in the first half of last season but hopefully won’t show the same fatigue he did toward the second half of the season.
Pedro Feliciano is the team’s lefty one out guy holding left-handed batters to a .210 batting average. With the troubles of his daughter’s open-heart surgery well behind him and limiting him to the LOOGY role, Pedro should have a good year in 2009.
Sean Green is a 6’6″ sinkerballer who in 2008 had a 2.72 ERA Pre All-Star but a 8.65 ERA Post All-Star. His poor second half might be due to the American League leading 48 appearances before the All-Star break and the mental woes of pitching for the 100-Loss Mariners. Green’s eigth-best ground ball percentage among relievers should only improve behind the defense of the Mets infield.
Tim Redding had a career year in 2008 in innings pitched, games started and strikeouts. However, he did have an ERA of 4.95 after a 3.85 Pre-All Star ERA. He’ll likely be the long man with the Mets and is an average player. Also, he’s from Rochester and named his son Shea. So he’s cool in my books.
If the Mets go with a seven-man bullpen, that leaves one spot available. With lefty reliever Will Ohman still a free-agent, there have been rumors circulating that the Mets have been staying in touch. However, Omar Minaya said “There aren’t going to be any more big moves”. So I don’t see the Mets signing Ohman.
That leaves Brian Stokes, Carlos Muniz, Livan Hernandez and others for that final bullpen spot.
Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times reports, “The Angels have offered an eight-year contract to Mark Teixeira” and it is believed to be worth around $160 million.” The Orioles have offered a seven-year contract worth $140-$150 million, while the Nationals have offered eight-years and $160 million. The Yankees and Red Sox are also rumored to be in the mix but there have been no reports of an offer being made from either team.
I’m interested to know what the Red Sox and Yankees have offered, if they have. The Angels, Orioles and Nationals all need a First Baseman, while the Red Sox and Yankees have some options beyond 2009.
With the trades of Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith and Scott Schoeneweis and the addition of Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, Omar Minaya may be done tinkering with the bullpen and likely will begin to focus on acquiring one or two starting pitchers. Then we will hopefully see the Mets get in the mix for Mark Teixeira or another bat for the lineup.
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