Link Roundup
Deadspin reports on Citi Field security removing a man’s sign that read “Fire Jerry Manuel”.
Russell Zanca at Metsmerized Online suggests the bullpen is NOT fixed after all, and says Sean Green is “kind of Heilman and Schoeneweis rolled into one”.
Ken Davidoff questions Jerry Manuel’s use — or misuse — of certain members of his bullpen. Gee, that sounds familiar. (*cough* Bullpen Blueprint, *cough*)
Today’s video is from Zoe Rice:
About the Author
Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers.
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I think Russell at MMO is bellyaching over the wrong subject. DFA Sean Green? Blaming the bullpen for this year’s slow start? Give me a break, Russ. Firstly, I’ll point out that there are only 2 teams in the NL right now who have 3 pitchers who have appeared in 11 or more games thus far, and guess what team is one of the two. If you said the Mets, you are right (Arizona being the other). And Sean Green is one of the three pitchers, appearing in game #11 last night (Feliciano and Parnell being the other 2). As recently as a week ago, Green’s ERA stood at a very respectable 2.45. I’m sure Russ didn’t have a problem with Green then. But now, after he gets chosen to absorb the punishment of the Cardinals lineup for 2 innings (and 5 runs), turns in 2 more scoreless outings, and gets charged with 4 runs last night due, in part, to a small strike zone and a few infield bleeders, now Green is garbage and needs to be shed from the team ASAP.
Let’s get real, here. Obviously, the Mets’ bullpen is overworked, and it’s not even May yet. Clearly, this is the fault of A) poor starting pitching, B) poor management, and C) Omar, for not improving the starting rotation during the offseason. None of this is the fault of Sean Green. Also, who is replacing Sean Green in the bullpen? Aside from Figueroa, who is no 7th inning setup man himself, there’s no one in AAA who would be any more effective than Green has been.
Really showing off his intelligence, Russell then compares Green’s poor start to Heilman and Shoeneweis. Earth to Russell: Heilman and Schoeneweis have both been brilliant pitching for new regimes thus far in 2009, with ERAs of 0.82 and 2.35 respectively. This is further evidence that the pitchers really are talented, it’s just that they were MISUSED and OVERUSED with the Mets. But hey, far be it for you actually criticize Omar and Jerry, right? After all, they’ve made baseball in Queens competitive again, right? What a clown.