Wednesday Applesauce

by Eric Simon on Aug 20, 2008 8:54 AM EDT in Applesauce

In case you missed it, Billy Wagner had an MRI yesterday that revealed more inflammation in his right elbow than was seen originally, and his two-week stint on the disabled list has been prolonged indefinitely, perhaps through the remainder of the season and into the playoffs. Wagner has been, by far, the Mets' best reliever this season (and basically every season since he signed in New York), and the Mets don't have anyone in a position to replace him adequately. They'll go with the old "closer by committee" for the time being, slotting in whomever matches up the best against the forthcoming hitters, even working in multiple guys in a single ninth frame if need be.

The Mets will apparently not move John Maine to the bullpen as they had initially discussed, but not simply because it would be a terribly short-sighted and absurd decision. Maine needs more rest, Jerry Manuel says, and warming up/pitching every other day won't afford him that.

Joel Sherman thinks Mike Pelfrey would be a good fit in the bullpen in the Joba Chamberlain mold. His arguments are reasonable, but tabbing a starter to become a reliever is still robbing Harry to pay Lloyd and I don't see how it makes the Mets better as a whole.

USS Mariner looks at the problems with the current free agent compensation rules.

At The Hardball Times, Chris Jaffe takes a look at ballpark ticket gouging, specifically as it pertains to convenience and order processing fees. Find out which ballparks are the most gouge-tastic.

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Pitching

Yeah, I don’t see where messing with the rotation as it stands helps the over-all make-up of the pitching on this team. It’s hard for me to see a good reason to break up the starters, considering the success they have had (for the most part) in the last month and a half or so in exchange for a short-term fix in the bullpen. Plus, it really is a short-term fix at most, isn’t it? Really the Metsies have to drag this bullpen along until the rosters expand and then, hopefully, the September call-ups can do well enough to get the bullpen regulars some rest.

Am I crazy or does this sound right to anyone else?

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 20, 2008 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

I agree completely

Maybe Omar can find another scrap-heap-arm like Ayala to throw into the mix for September. I wouldn’t move anybody out of the rotation.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Aug 20, 2008 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Right on

I agree. At this time its pointless to tinker when September call ups are so close. If the starters can go into the 7th every night, the pen will be fine. This is a problem with Maine and Pedro leaving games early, but maybe Ayala can help with middle relief. Even if he can’t, I think it’s better to struggle with what we’ve got than to mess with the rotation.

by apy5000 on Aug 20, 2008 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

SAMSONITE! I was way off.

Excellent choice of names for “robbing X to pay Y.”

by JoshNY on Aug 20, 2008 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

It's going to be fine...the bullpen guys are cool....

This is going to be bad.

by ams258 on Aug 20, 2008 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

...New York, we have a problem

Don’t “F” w/the damned Starting Rotation!

Are the METS financially broke? Have we NO money to go out and purchase anyone? Surely, someone can be bought! IT’S THE AMERICAN WAY!! We’ve got the opportunity w/current talent to MAKE the playoffs, but when we get there it sure would be more comfortable to have a “NO SHIT” closer w/us.

Dang…Looks like we’re just going to have to make due.

" IF THEY SELL CRACKER JACKS AND COTTON CANDY AT A BASEBALL GAME, THEN WHY DON'T THEY SELL CRACKER JACK FLAVORED COTTON CANDY?"

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Aug 20, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions