Breaking: Nelson Figueroa has been claimed by the Phillies, ESPNNewYork has learned.

Breaking: Nelson Figueroa has been claimed by the Phillies, ESPNNewYork has learned.

Via Adam Rubin's Twitter. Let the AA Figueroapocalypse begin. May the Mets score 1,000 runs against him.

about 2 years ago Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright 73 comments 0 recs |

Comments

gross

on so many levels. but now that it’s over I think we should all focus on the real outrage of these roster moves, the fact they apparently think of chris carter is just a pinch hitter.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Do we get compensation ?

I lobby for Doc Halladay.

you know what I'm sayin' ?

by fxcarden on Apr 7, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

Well, if Socks! is not going to be their closer, it can only mean Figgy is going to win 3 Cy Young for the Phillies.

Are they going to demote/DFA anyone to make room for him?

In lobby campaign for Chris Carter.

by Michkin on Apr 7, 2010 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

Sleeper agent.

Please?

by Dan Lewis on Apr 7, 2010 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

It makes sense that Omar Jr. would put a claim in on him

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

i raelly think ruben is gonna dig them into as much a hole as omar has done us. he has been blessed with some very very good players like omar, but eventually those guys will be gone and his gutting of the farm will hurt

by MetsKnicksRutgers on Apr 7, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Some of the writing is beginning to appear on the wall, yes.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 7, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Like this ?

you know what I'm sayin' ?

by fxcarden on Apr 7, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

It's telling that he's traded away so much depth that 1 game into the season he's scouring the waiver wires for starters.

The Iron Pigs look alot like last year’s Bisons, they better stay healthy

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

true

but if we keep handing them decent pitchers on a silver platter, their lack of depth won’t matter as much. Maybe we should put Ollie on waivers and see if they bite.

This could be the death knell for Omar and Jerry though. If Figgy comes in and pitches well for the Phlllies and even beats the Mets and the Mets pitchers struggle, the New York Media will treat Omar like Isiah Thomas Part II

by Endys Game on Apr 7, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

eh

I agree, but on the other hand when you’re a team who can only handle a major payroll for a small period of time it can make sense to put all your eggs in a basket the way Philly has. If they’re have 1-2 more World Series appearances, or even another ring, between now and the inevitable implosion it will probably soften the blow.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

when you say soften the blow

I assume you mean for Philly fans?

B/c for me, it would be like nuclear bombs going off next to my face. And surviving. And then having it happen again.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah for Philly fans

kind of like how this season wouldn’t suck nearly as much if we had a WS ring from 06 and an appearance in 07.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

so, so true

I got myself really angry this morning, watching BBTonight, they were discussing the best web gems of all time. Nobody mentioned the Endy catch, which angered me. Then I just started thinking how the Mets should have won that game and that series and everything would have been so much better and how it’s gone so far downhill so fast. It sucks. It really, really sucks.

I despise Omar Minaya.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know...I'd still be really pessimistic about this season.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

as a Giants fan

I can tell you unequivocally that having recently won a championship reallllly softens the blow when your team has a bad year. The Giants last year were pretty similar to the ‘08 Mets, and yet it didn’t bother me nearly as much b/c I can just pop in my Super Bowl XLII DVD and feel better. Watching the Bill Buckner game just doesn’t have the same effect.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd be pessimistic

but if Omar had built 95 win teams in 07/08 do you think there would be as much animosity towards him, or would people trust him more? Not to mention would this season suck as much if it wasn’t just another season in a string of disappointing seasons?

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

OF COURSE it's the Phillies.

The Padres? Fine. The Tigers? Okay. The Twins? Sure. But, of course, it’s the Phillies.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 7, 2010 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

He's dead to me.

The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL

The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back

The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods

by R_Adragna on Apr 7, 2010 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

why are you mad at him

it was forced onhim by the Mets

by Rickfansince76 on Apr 7, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I just can't get behind a guy that plays on a team I strongly dislike.

Granted, the Mets forced the option upon him, and are to blame. That said, I can’t get behind him.

The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL

The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back

The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods

by R_Adragna on Apr 7, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh.

I don’t particularly like the Cardinals, but I root for Pujols (except when it’s bad for the Mets). As long as a guy is successful in a way that doesn’t hurt us (in this case, say, he can throw gems, but have the bullpen blow his games)…

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 8, 2010 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Omar,

You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

"He has lobby myself, he has lobby Tony, so when these things came out, I was kind of a little bit you had to think about it."
-- Branch Rickey

by Ownbey4Mex on Apr 7, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

This sucks

Well I hope Figgy well, but not so well when he is playing the Mets. Why Sean Green made it to Queens and not Figgy is beyond me.

by Coolpapabell on Apr 7, 2010 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

What is interesting about the Phils is

that they had the 2nd best record in the National League last year. In the first month of the season (assuming Wikipedia is correct about this), waiver claim priority is determined by the previous year’s standings, which means that nearly every other team in the NL – including numerous teams with more competent management than ours – passed on Figgy too.

by dontstopbelieving on Apr 7, 2010 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe they're just tweaking the Mets?

Figgy’s first appearance for the year on Friday, April 30?

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 7, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

this is random and something I've kind of thought about more for players other than Figgy

maybe guys like him, or better a example would be Matt Murton, (and soon Evans/Carter) get passed over by smarter teams because they’re smart enough to have already stockpiled those kind of guys?

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

plus there's the fact

few teams, who are actually going to compete or pretend to compete, don’t have rotation depth as awful as ours.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe

Plus, it occurred to me that most teams are probably at or near the limit of the size of their rosters, which were set only a couple of days ago. Does anyone know whether a player claimed off waivers needs to be assigned to the major league team?

by dontstopbelieving on Apr 7, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no idea but I'm not sure

but I know that was part of the reasoning for trying to sneak guys through this early if they were going to, other teams would be feeling the squeeze too.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Oh, and see the thread below; I answered my own question (I think) about the assignment of claimed players to the ML roster.

by dontstopbelieving on Apr 7, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

He really should have cleared.

Teams really shouldn’t be scouring the waiver wire for guys like Figgy this early in the season.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Especially teams with championship aspirations

Like Philly

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 7, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm kind of surprised a team like the Padres didn't claim him

he could be their #2 at this point.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think he'd even make their rotation.

Garland and Young are locks, Corriea was pretty solid for them last year, and Latos and Richard are really good looking young pitchers.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

astros? Brewers? Nationals?

There should have been somebody picking him up

by Endys Game on Apr 7, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I think all of those teams would a few weeks into the season, but they all have some sort of plan for opening day.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Brewers maybe

I doubt the Nationals have a spot on the 40-man

by Sam Page on Apr 7, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they're just praying Peterson can get something out of Suppan.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah I don't think anyone was ever really concerned with him not clearing

just whether he’d refuse assignment.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I dunno

In a discussion here a while back, the consensus (among an extremely statistically significant sample of “people who were online and paying attention to a particular thread on AA at a certain time”) was that someone would take a flyer on him in light of his mostly-solid showing last year and excellent performances in winter ball and ST. At the very least, looking at it even ex ante, the possibility of him not clearing was certainly a risk.

by dontstopbelieving on Apr 7, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

the thing is, there's a ton of pitchers worth taking flyers on

and like I said above it’s also possible that the teams smart enough to have already stockpiled similar type players. And when you combine the fact it’s too early for them to know what kind of return they’re going to get on other flyer types now, or what kind of rotation depth issues they might have in 1-4 weeks, not many teams can really afford to use the roster spot on him this early in the season.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

And alot of those pitchers are far younger or have better stuff than Figgy

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope he's awesome

Once again, this is the kind of move that might just end up making Omar look bad enough that he finally gets fired.

by BigBen10471 on Apr 7, 2010 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Oh well, he's the enemy now

May Brad Lidge blow all of his opportunities

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 7, 2010 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

Good for Figgy

Wish him all the best, just not against us.

by cuseindahuse on Apr 7, 2010 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

So do they have to keep him up?

Is this the thing where he stays with them on the major club or they have to give him back to us?

I’m just wondering if he’ll get good money. That would be nice for him.

by SuperT on Apr 7, 2010 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

They have to keep him in the majors or expose him to waivers

This isn’t rule 5, there’s no backsies.

by Dan Lewis on Apr 7, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

The keeping him in the majors part

I assume has to do with his lack of options (and/or his Major League service time), right? If a player has options, you can claim him and assign him to the minors. We did that with Pat Misch last year.

by dontstopbelieving on Apr 7, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

by Dan Lewis on Apr 7, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't see why he still wouldn't go to Japan, if Philly now sends him down to AAA.

He was going to pitch in Japan for the money, because, whatever financial situation he’s in now, the Minor League salary/benefits wasn’t good enough. Japan pays more. If we sent him down to AAA, and cleared waivers, he was probably going to go. If the Phillies send him down to AAA, I don’t see why he still wouldn’t go to Japan- only the prospects of making the Major League team, maybe. But, then again, those same prospects for latching onto the Mets existed, too. With our staff, they might even have been greater.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 8, 2010 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Can he refuse his assignment to the Phillies' AAA team?

During ST, Figgy seemed to be pretty confident he could get $1 million in Japan. Since he’s not on a major-league contract, it’s hard to see him getting anything close to that if he spends much time in the minors.

Omar & Jerry are conspiring to drive me to drink. That, or they're just honestly totally incompetent.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Apr 8, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Ehh

Good luck Figgy, against everyone except the Mets

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2010 Mets- Hey, we may suck, but what did you expect?

by Syler on Apr 7, 2010 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

May he never give up a run

and the Phillies lose every game. Always hurts to see a Met go to the Phils, especially a likeable guy like Figgy, who i’m now forced to despise on principle.

by KeithsMoustache on Apr 7, 2010 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

We'll get back the Phils, don't worry...

…when, because of Figgy’s success, they waive Jose Contreras. Because you KNOW Omar would be on that one in a hurry. (Name recognition? Check. Name recognition in New York? Check. “Proven major leaguer?” Check. Probably older than time itself? Check.)

by dontstopbelieving on Apr 7, 2010 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Am I the only one that hopes he does well even against the Mets?

Just for the additional nails in the coffin for Jerry and Omar.

by mnbv on Apr 7, 2010 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

I can't see how anyone could be pulling for that this early in the season.

If he shreds us after we fall out of the race, great. I can’t justify pulling for him to do well against us this early.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

well, is he a starter or a reliever?

it sounds like he’s going to be a reliever, in which case I hope he does fantastic against us. You know, after we’ve knocked Halladay out in the 2nd inning with 10 runs, Figgy can come in and pitch 6 no-hit innings. Hopefully our bullpen won’t melt down in 2008-level proportions and we can still win the game.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe he'll be in their rotation.

They really don’t seem to want to use Kendrick there. They’ve been pretty actively looking for another starter since Fat Joe Blanton hurt his tummy.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

fair enough

in that case, I hope he pitches well for 5 innings, and then we light up their bullpen. Heck, that would make us even grissionier

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

And I think Gina's right

That it would just backfire into them making even more stupid decisions than they make now.

I will have to align my hopes the way I did with Petey – a strong showing, then Lidge blows it.

by SuperT on Apr 7, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

What'll probably happen

is Figgy has a decent season for Philly and Omar signs him in the offseason for 3/36.

by theflicker on Apr 8, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, that sucks

Hope he pitches well in all of their losses.

Pitching coach Dan Warthen said, "He literally has a rubber arm," before he agreed figuratively was the appropriate adverb.

by Prince on Apr 7, 2010 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

sucks I liked him

I can’t even be mad at the guy, the Mets just pushed him away. I mean you can only ask a girl to dance so many times until you give up and ask someone different.

by Rickfansince76 on Apr 7, 2010 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

it would be silly to be mad at him

he wasn’t a free agent. The Phillies claimed him, so they’re the only team that can have him. It’s not like Pedro, who was a free agent (and I wasn’t even mad at him).

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions