Mets close to acquiring a SP

The Mets are close to a deal with free-agent SP Livan Hernandez. This is according to Tracy Rigolsby in the Rocky Mountain News. The signing would unite the Livan with his brother Orlando in New York. Last year he was 11–11 with a 4.93 ERA in 33 starts for the Diamondbacks, during which opponents hit .308 against him.

Personally, I hate this deal... that is if it really happens. As I stated before, I want Mike Pelfrey to come into his own as a MLB starter, and he can't do that if he is in the minors. What is with Willie and Omar? Why can't they ever give the young kids a starting role with the team?

To me, This means 1 of 2 things...

#1.) The Mets and the Twins could not come to terms with the talks about adding Fernando Martinez to any kind of deal with Johan Santana.

#2.) Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya like declining players that can provide a lot of innings pitched and a high ERA.

The first option seems the most likely to me. Maybe we can re-visit trade talks in July, just around the trade deadline. Or we could just wait until he is a free-agent, if the Twins let him get that far.

IF this is true, and the deal happens, your 2008 Mets Rotation will look something like this...

1. Pedro Martinez
2. John Maine
3. Oliver Perez
4. Orlando Hernandez
5. Livan Hernandez

Or like this, depending on if Orlando Hernandez is sent to the bullpen...

1. Pedro Martinez
2. John Maine
3. Oliver Perez
4. Livan Hernandez
5. Mike Pelfrey
   

Livan isn't a bad option as your 5th starter, but I just want to see the younger players get a shot...

Sickels has more..

Earlier today, I wrote a post about John Sickels and the coverage that he has done for the Mets prospects over the past few years. Now he is reviewing last years Top 50 hitting Prospects of MLB and Top 50 Pitching Prospects of MLB.. here is what he has to say about the Mets that were on the list...

-Pitchers-

8) Mike Pelfrey, RHP, New York Mets
5.57 ERA with 45/39 K/BB in 73 innings. Command and his breaking ball remain issues. Needs a change of scenery.

16) Phil Humber, RHP, New York Mets
Went 11-9, 4.27 with a 120/44 K/BB in 139 innings for Triple-A New Orleans. Developing into an inning-eater, not an ace.

-Batters-

17) Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets
Hit .271/.336/.377 in 60 games in Double-A. Plagued with injuries and was extremely young for the level. Still a great prospect but exact shape of his future is unclear.

41) Carlos Gomez, OF, New York Mets
Hit .232/.288/.304 with 12 steals in 58 games for the Mets, rushed to the majors to cover injuries. Was over matched, but still very young.


Sickels may be right about Pelfrey, but something deep down inside me says that Pelfrey will turn out to be that workhorse at the top of the rotation that we all thought he would be. I have given up on Humber and I will be grateful to get anything at all from him at this point. I think Fernando will be an excellent player in the majors, and Carlos Gomez is just a phenomenal athlete and will be one of the most exciting players in the game when he is up for good. Where have I heard that saying before?


By the way, John Sickels prints and sells his book at johnsickels.net. He provides detailed information in his books. If you buy, you wont be disappointed.

Someones take on our prospects in 2008...

I was just searching the web and came across a Mets web site that had an interesting article on how the Mets rush there prospects and where they should play in 2008. I clicked on the comments and I saw an interesting opinion that someone wrote in the comments section of the post... here it goes..

"I could not disagree with you more on Pelfrey being ready. All 3 SP, Pelfrey, Humber and Mulvey should start and finish the 2008 season in AAA. None are ready! Humber has not been hurt other then the Tommy John and he has only pitched a full year since then. Pelfrey is still working on his second and third pitch. Just the fastball will not cut it.
I do agree that the Mets have been rushing their pitching prospects. Milledge I agree was also rushed. But before we add Gomez to that list lets see where the Mets place him for this season. Should be in AAA as well."

So a AAA pitching rotation with Pelfrey, Humber, and Mulvey leading the way? I agree with Humber and Mulvey but not Pelfrey. He should be our #5 starting pitcher for the whole season. Next year when Pedro and Orlando Hernandez are likely gone.. we will have room in our rotation for either Kevin Mulvey or Phillip Humber. As for Carlos Gomez, he needs at least another season of AAA ball maybe even more. Don't rush them, let them develop and then our prospects will start to produce immediately when they reach the Majors for good.

Give Pelfrey a Chance

There have been many people that think RHP Mike Pelfrey should be moved to the bullpen. I have even touched on this subject... but I have changed my mind about Pelfrey. As of right now, I think that he should have the #5 spot in MLB or AAA starting rotation. Some people may say "he sucked last year or he was 3-7!".. I look past that.. He showed what he is really capable of at the end of last season (3-0 in September).

"Putting Mike Pelfrey in the bullpen is probably the worst thing you can do right now. The thing he needs to do is develop his secondary pitches. Putting him in the pen would be encouraging him to throw nothing but fastballs, and he wouldn't be developing his slider/changeup combination which in the end will make him a much better pitcher." said The Man at Mets Prospectus and I totally agree with that opinion. Lets take a look at Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux's first and second full seasons..

Maddux 1st full season: 6-14 with a 5.61 ERA
Maddux 2nd full season: 18-8 with a 3.18 ERA

Glavine 1st full season: 7-17 with a 4.56 ERA
Glavine 2nd full season: 14-8 with a 3.68 ERA

Convincing? Lets say last year counts as a 1/2 of a season for Pelfrey... Give him the chance to pitch every five days for us against major league hitters. Even if he has a mediocre season, we have four reliable starters in Pedro, Maine, Perez, and Hernandez.. the key to the 2008 Rotation is that they all need to stay healthy. Give Pelfrey a shot for atleast two more years, if he fails, put him in the pen.. He can get hitters out and will be a productive major league player. Hopefully in the Mets rotation. Look for him to breakout during the 2009 season.. but only if he gets the chance to start for a FULL season. I say that there are two options for Mike Pelfrey in 2008...

#1) Give him the #5 slot in the rotation.
#2) Keep him in New Orleans for ALL of next season.

Either way he needs to develop his secondary pitches and he need to do so on a consistent schedule.

Pelfrey to the 'Pen?

According to Buster Olney, via MLBTR, the Mets could trade OF Carlos Gomez, SP Kevin Mulvey, and SU Aaron Heilman to the Oakland Athletics in return for SP Joe Blanton. I really don't like this deal for the Mets. You would have to give up your second best reliever and at least one 5-star prospect in Carlos Gomez. In addition, you would have to include SP Kevin Mulvey, who could end up being very similar to what Joe Blanton is now. I say NO DEAL.

If that fore mentioned deal was to be offered to the Athletics, and excepted, who would be the new Set-up man? Ted Berg at SNY seems to have an answer. Convert RHP Mike Pelfrey into a reliever. As I have stated before, Pelfrey could benefit from having more time to work with pitching coach, Rick Peterson. Berg does not think that we should give up on Pelfrey, noting that Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux both struggled when they were called up to the Majors for the frist time. This would just provide the Mets with a Set-up man while giving Pelf more time with the jacket. Shea Nation also has a post on this topic.

I also have an idea. Sign Octavio Dotel to a 2-year deal. Keep Pelfrey in the minors or bullpen and hope that Dunaner Sanchez can come back at least at a middle reliever.

One deal I would make with the Athletics is this...

Mets Get:

SP Joe Blanton
OF/1B Nick Swisher

Athletics Get:

OF Carlos Gomez
SP?/SUAaron Heilman
SP John Niese
RF Ryan Church
SP Kevin Mulvey
SP Phillip Humber

Sounds like a fair deal to me.. Maybe a young arm from the A's in return. What are your thoughts?

Mets offer contract to Kyle Lohse

.....Woo Hoo 100th post....

According to Tim Brown at Yahoo! Sports, RHSP Kyle Lohse is considering offers from both the Mets and the Phillies 'both of which could go to four years.’ Last year,with the Phillies and Reds, Lohse pitched to a tune of 9–12 with a 4.63 ERA. Lohse is a very durable #5 starter but he is also very hittable. Spacious Shea Stadium would help his ERA a little bit, but id rather see Philip Humber or Mike Pelfrey in that rotation spot. Maybe the Mets are actually thinking about bringing Pelfrey up to the Majors to pitch in the Bullpen for a year?.. That way, he can get more time with Rick Peterson to work on his secondary pitches.. I'm still very hopeful that both Humber and Pelfrey can live up to the hype and become serviceable Major League starting pitchers.