Archive for August 22nd, 2008
The Stretch Run - Bullpen
Ahh, the New York Mets bullpen. The group of folks who lost us the 2006 NLCS and we’re responsible for between 1/3 and 1/2 the games lost during The Collapse. Fortunately, after each case, the Mets brass paid close attention to this detail and addressed it accordingly.
Or they didn’t do that at all.
The Mets’ bullpen has oscillated between “shaky” and “HOLYF*CK” since 2006, anchored by Billy Wagner… A guy capable of rattling off an impressive string of saves (as evidenced by his no-hitter to start the year) and equally capable of falling apart (as evidenced by his ability to blow three saves in five days). If there is any part of the team that I have zero faith in for an extended stretch run, it’s this one.
Scott Schoenweis - As much as I’d like to lay in to Scott Schoenweis for blowing games this season… I can’t. Someone finally figured out that he’s not great as a starter and not great reliever… but he’s real, REAL good against lefties (.223 against vs. .293 against). Unfortunately, the Mets translated that into “full inning guy” and he’s been getting, predictably, lit up against righties. The only way Schoenweis should ever close a game is if the last three batters are Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Geoff Jenkins.
Joe Smith - Joe Smith is Mirror-Universe Schoenweis. He snacks on right-handed batters (.239 against) and gets owned by lefties (.308 against). Same as above, minus the Utley/Howard/Jenkins thing. Much like Shoenweis, I’m perfectly fine with Smith so long as he’s used in his role.
Aaron Heilman - Our own little basketcase. Heilman came up as a starter and was moved in to the bullpen because he wasn’t a particularly good starter (5.93 ERA). Save for a particularly backbreaking homerun to Yadier F’n Molina in 2006, he’s been a great reliever, giving the Mets 3.03 ERA and a WHIP barely over 1 in 2007. Problem is: he wants to be a starter and has been very vocal about the fact he wants to be a starter. The wheels have come off this year and the Met fans have been predictably assy with him, booing him from opening day right until now. He’s been a source of contention between Hulse and I for a while… Hulse taking the side “you’re get paid to play baseball, go out there and get me three outs and stop whining” and me taking the side “if you hate what you do, you’re not going to be as good at it, no matter how many people yell at you to just go out there and get outs.” This argument has devolved into various forms, but that’s the crux. Regardless, it’s been very difficult to have faith in Heilman and, though I don’t believe in booing your own team, even I have to admit that I get the shakes when he goes out there.
Duaner Sanchez - Sanchez was tremendous for the Mets in 2006… then decided he needed some Fourthmeal in Miami. One cab accident later and he missed half of 2006 and all of 2007. Back this year, he’s yet to find the stroke that saw him pitch to a 2.60 ERA in 2006. In the odd way baseball works out sometimes, if Sanchez hadn’t gotten hurt, the Mets wouldn’t have traded Xavier Nady to the Pirates for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. Perez could be out of baseball by now the way his career was going and Nady wouldn’t be playing for the Yankees. Regardless, Sanchez has lost a few points off his fastball following the accident that damaged his shoulder. His love of Fourthmeal got him kicked out of spring training for showing up out of shape. Sanchez has shown flashes of brilliance this season but has a tendency to let a game get away from him quickly.
Pedro Feliciano - Another lefty specialist that borders on full-inning guy. I really have nothing good or bad to say about Feliciano… which means I’m probably OK with him relieving in a big spot.
Luis Ayala/Al Reyes - Fearful; but the Mets system got Oliver Perez and John Maine back on the right track, so I’ll reserve judgment for the moment.
Billy Wagner - Wagner has proven himself to be Queens’s own version of Trevor Hoffman — someone incredibly good at stacking up 1-inning, 3-run saves… so long as he comes in at the top of the 9th with no runners on base. Ask him to come in in the 8th, or in the 9th with runners on, or in the 9th in a nationally televised game…. forget it. For me, Wagner is as much to blame for the 2006 NLCS debacle as Heilman or Beltran. If Wagner doesn’t give a home run to So f’n Taguchi, or RBI hits to Scott friggin Spezio or Juan friggin Encarcion, then there’s no game seven and no Yadier f’n Molina. The news on Wagner has been inconclusive at best. At the moment, he’s out three more weeks. If, at some point, they have to shut him down for the season, I don’t know what direction they’d go in.
Final Grades:
Infield: A
Outfield: B+
Bench: B-
Starters: A+
Bullpen: D-