The Mets have promoted LHP Jon Switzer from Buffalo (hat tip to MetsBlog).
If you remember, Switzer was the guy that
Pitching Staff
Burning the K-Rod at Both Ends
Francisco Rodriguez pitched two innings in last night’s loss, but Mets manager Jerry Manuel assured reporters after the game that his high-priced closer would be “ready to go” in the series finale tonight. After all, he’d thrown “less than 30 pitches”. Apparently, had Rodriguez thrown 30 or more, he’d have received a day off. I’d … Read more
Tom Glavine Released
Tom Glavine has been released by the Atlanta Braves, just as he was on the brink of returning from shoulder and elbow surgeries. Glavine had just enjoyed a 6-inning, 64-pitch outing in a final tuneup for Rome, an A-level minor league club. He did not allow any runs and 44 of those tosses were for … Read more
What’s Wrong with JJ Putz
What is wrong with J.J. Putz? Unfortunately, it isn’t a simple answer. Let’s review some of the issues, one by one. Elbow We know that J.J. Putz had an elbow injury last year, and we know that he has developed a bone spur on his elbow. We know he was given a cortisone shot to … Read more
JJ Putz Kaputz
Earlier today, Mets GM Omar Minaya announced that J.J. Putz took an MRI that revealed inflammation in the back of his right elbow. Additionally, it was reported that Putz has a bone spur in that same elbow. Per Minaya: “He’s had this spur before, and guys sometimes play with it.” According to Minaya, Putz does … Read more
Freddy Garcia Released
Wait, Freddy, you can’t quit — because YOU’RE FIRED! The Freddy Garcia Experiment has officially ended, as the Mets released the righthander. Hat tip to Walnutz. Garcia never could get his velocity back up to a point where he could succeed at the MLB level — which is a major problem for someone who spent … Read more
Freddy Garcia May Retire
Adam Rubin is reporting that Freddy Garcia is NOT the solution for the Mets’ starting rotation, and, he is leaning toward retirement. Garcia has a 8.18 ERA with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, and is struggling to keep his fastball in the 80s. Last night he gave up six runs in the fifth inning, including a … Read more
Pitching Options (None)
In Adam Rubin’s column today, it was suggested that the Mets might shake up the starting pitching rotation, and/or consider adding an eighth reliever to fit the role of long man:
Manuel mentioned after the Mets’ fourth straight loss that the club may be forced to add an eighth reliever, to guard against overworking the current bullpen with the starting pitchers not going deep enough into games.
Hmm … who might the Mets have who can fill that role?