It came as no surprise to me that Bobby Parnell has decided to proceed with Tommy John surgery and will be done for the year; he will have the procedure today in NY. There was talk that Bobby would rest for two weeks and then attempt a throwing program and see where things stood before he would determine the need for surgery. But now we know that Parnell has after just a couple of days to think about it decided to have the surgery without first attempting the rehab. Thing is Bobby spoke to a lot of other pitchers his family including his wife and thinking how even if he felt better after rests he did not want to wait and go ahead a start pitching only to wait until the other shoe dropped and he would have to leave a few months into 2014 plus he understands how he might have that on his mind and it could affect how he pitched this year worrying about what might happen. So better to just have it done and be over with it and be back in 2015 I applaud that decision and believe it is the right one to make. I n case you forgot Parnell was diagnosed with a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow, the tear was in a thick part of the ligament. Jose Valverde already has stepped into the closer's role.
I feel really bad for Bobby cause he worked so hard to finally have his dream of getting a closer’s job. The kid missed the final two months of last season with a herniated disk in his neck, which ultimately required surgery. Here is the thing; it is very upsetting to think about it this is becoming a problem for baseball I mean when all of a sudden over and over again some player is having surgery. I mean WTF?
As for Valverde, he does have a real track record of success as a closer but that was then and this is now I have concerns that he can handle it. Add to that the rest of the bullpen which even thou they handled the last two games ok it is still for me a bigger issue, I was at least feeling good about the bullpen pitching eight innings in three games against the Reds and allowing only two runs a heck of a lot better than 12 runs in nine innings during the previous three games against the Nationals.
But it’s the Mets so I will be holding my breath once again this year when closer leaves early and the pen takes the ball. I know that Alderson said that he is more inclined to wait and see how things shake out in the big-league bullpen before making any additional roster moves. Our AAA starting pitchers will get time working out of the bullpen in April to see how they may handle a possible role in Flushing later this season. Also it will help limit their workload, allowing for more innings later in the season.
As to Jenrry Mejia as long as he is pitching well in the starting rotation, he will not be moved to the bullpen, even thou Matsuzaka was sent to AAA. So yes for now at least the bullpen is likely to be Valverde, Kyle Farnsworth, Gonzalez Germen, Jeurys Familia, Carlos Torres, Scott Rice and John Lannan. How will they do? Well there Mets and that means that there will be days they’re awful, and days they’re good. I have my worries they’ll ever be dominant until the younger pitchers are considered for promotions from Triple-A. Forget what Alderson said about that may not happen cause it has too and he knows it, kids like Rafael Montero can be called up in late April and still have a full year of a service time which means that if the bosses want to bring him to the big-league bullpen, assuming everyone in the rotation is doing well and healthy Montero could be added to the big-league team sooner than later.
So as agreed to by the Mets and Matt Harvey he did not travel with the team to Atlanta and will not be going on the road trip out west; he is in Florida to continue rehabbing from Tommy John. This was the plan they all agreed to Matt will only be with the team when they are in NY
Tonight we start a 3 day series with the Braves in Atlanta so ya know lots of chanting and tomahawk’s, oh those Braves fans they are so amusing
We get another look at Colon tonight question of course will be can he keep his pitches down in the zone.
Yup Saucy for the most part whipped cream is the way most of the pies are made although Pagan would often substitute shaving cream, Turner did that as well once when the kitchen was out of whipped cream but shaving cream burns the eyes so it is not generally used. Ike did confirm that this time it was indeed tasty whipped cream.
Hopefully if Ike winds up part of a trade it's later this season in a package including one of the Mets promising arms for a young bat who could be a big part of the future resurgence of the Mets. Good thing though is it seems the Mets aren't willing to settle for a cheap deal that would get them back less than a big potential contributor so hopefully there's time for him to find enough playing time to justify being a regular first baseman here or elsewhere. Hes a great guy and deserves that chance.
was thrilled with how Zack was really adjusting. His fastball remained constant 93-95(even threw one 96 late) but his command of his curveball, slider and off pitches in general really got Bobby O pumped and raving about the performance. Even he noted when Zack was off it was usually just a bit. Not wild wide, high, low or in as he would have sometimes gone in the past. Zack was just disappointed he couldn't finish the seventh but had walked his last batter and pitch count was getting up but he handled everything with grace and maturity.