Eddie Kunz is having the game of his life

Game is still going on but Kunz is out, final line:
3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 Ks, 0 GO, 3 FO

Could have asked for a couple of groundballs but ruffing up a lineup of Austin Jackson and a bunch of older, AAAA players was pretty impressive.

almost 3 years ago Sokojoe 9 comments 0 recs |

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Kunz and Putz, the double Z brothers, lighting it up together in MLB this year?

I can dream.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 14, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

That's not ruff at all.

'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 14, 2009 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Haven't been hearing much about Mr. Kunz lately

Any new word on him? Looks like he’s off to a pretty quick start for the Bisons (6.1 IP 3 H 3 BB 5 K 0 ER), but he didn’t get much of a look in the spring even with all the available innings. I know he wasn’t going to make the team anyway, he wasn’t very impressive last year and still had options, but he’s worth a look at least isn’t he? Were Elmer Dessens or Matt DeSalvo or Kyle Snyder really going to make this team?

I just fear that with the last bullpen spots filled by a Rule V pick (O’Day) and a guy without options (Stokes), Kunz might be doomed to get the Heath Bell treatment even if he pitches well in AAA. At least its Buffalo this time instead of Norfolk, but still, I don’t think the Mets can afford to sacrifice quality for depth in the back end of the bullpen, if it comes to that. It is just six innings for Kunz, but last night was something of a poignant reminder.

by Mark Himmelstein on Apr 14, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Kunz has not put up Heath Bell numbers

and Bell was much older than Kunz. The Mets like Kunz but after the over situational bullpen from last year, feared his sidearming ways would relagate him as a ROOGY. During the AFL, they tried to tinker with his arm slot ala Aaron Heilman and it didn’t work out well ala Aaron Heilman. I’m not sure if he went back to his 3/4 armslot or not, but Sean Green will show the Mets that 3/4 can be effective against LHB ala Aaron Heilman before 2008. Good start, he needs more time in the minor though.

by Sokojoe on Apr 14, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I know, but Bell was also an amatuer signee who was drafted once, by the Rays in the 69th round, but declined. Kunz was an early rounder who was supposed to be a somewhat fast moving closer type, but whose ceiling has dipped and hasn’t displayed as much polish as anticipated.

I am doing a bit of pipe dreaming, but just in the hypothetical that it comes together for Kunz in Buffalo this year, and he becomes a better option than O’Day, I’m a bit worried that he’ll be glossed over unless someone gets hurt, and then get sent down no matter how well he pitches when the pitcher he replaces comes back. A ROOGY is probably about all O’Day will be. There just aren’t that many Chad Bradfords in the world. If Kunz has to fill in, is pitching well in AAA, and doesn’t embarrass himself in MLB, the Mets probably shouldn’t worry about keeping O’Day to preserve depth.

by Mark Himmelstein on Apr 14, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Kunz in AAA

has only pitched 11 innings. Bell pitched 199 innings in AAA before he was traded. I think it’s way too early to say that will be over looked. If he pitches well in Buffalo this year he will likely be a September call up and be given a shot to make the team next year. At that point the Mets will have fulfilled their Rule 5 obligation for O’Day and wouldn’t have to offer him back.

Let’s see if Kunz can have a successful season and lower his walk rate before worrying about clearing a spot for him.

by Reg Dunlop on Apr 14, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand

But this isn’t an SP or CF we’re talking about. No one’s limiting his innings or making sure he gets 4 PAs a day. I’m not suggesting its likely, but what if we get to June 1 and he has 25 IP a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in AAA? Again, not saying its likely, but for a hard throwing relief pitcher who was expected to move quickly and pitched fairly well at AA last year, its not impossible.

by Mark Himmelstein on Apr 15, 2009 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I imagine it would depend a lot on his splits troo

Not that Jerry seems to care about splits but if I remember he was awful against lefties last year, and we’re not exactly hurting for right handers he can only pitch to one side of the plate.

by Gina on Apr 15, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

That's true

But its also part of my point, it should also depend on O’Day’s splits. I don’t think the depth afforded by a guy like O’Day is a huge issue if someone with the same kind of floor (ROOGY) but more upside, such as Kunz, makes a strong case for himself. Odds are this won’t even come up and I’m putting a non-issue under a microscope, but watching Heath Bell shut us down brought back some funky feelings, even if it is a very different situation with Kunz.

by Mark Himmelstein on Apr 15, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions