On the Mejia to the Bullpen Meme

Analysis of the media coverage of Mejia's injury by Toby Hyde.

about 1 year ago Russ 5 comments 1 recs |

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If everytime a young starting pitcher

was moved to the bullpen following surgery there wouldn’t be many starters left at all. Can you imagine if Florida had moved Josh Johnson to the bullpen following his Tommy John surgery? He probably would have been a dominant closer and boneheaded sports writer would likely praise how prudent The Marlins were to best utilze his skill while minimizing his risk for injury but there is no way he could have been the roughly 6 WAR/season pitcher he has been since his surgery out of the bullpen. The best relief pitcher rarely bring in half the amound of Wins over Replacement as Johnson did last year. Simply put starters are move valuable than relief pitchers. There are pitchers that are better suited to the bullpen but I don’t think the idea of Mejia being a reliever should be entertained unless it is absolutely cetain he can’t hack it otherwise. And of course I would take Mejia as a middling back end starter than a very good relief pitcher.

by MatthewM11 on May 5, 2011 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

TO-BY! TO-BY! TO-BY! TO-BY!

by JoshNY on May 5, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

“There have been an awful lot of words written about Jenrry Mejia in the last few days, and with good reason. He was not just the Mets’ top pitching prospect headed into 2011, he was pitching well in AAA, and appeared to be in a position to join the big league club at some point this summer.”

As a starter? According to whom?

I’m figuring Alderson was blowing smoke. He know s full well that Mejia may come back from surgery unable to handle a starter’s role.

by Brian Singer on May 6, 2011 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

Mejia was dominating AAA this season,

and scouts were very impressed by the progression of his off-speed stuff. If he hadn’t gotten injured and had continued to pitch even half as well, there’s no reason we wouldn’t see have seen him later this season.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 6, 2011 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Of course Alderson knows full well that Mejia may come back from the injury unable to handle a starter's role.

But until Mejia proves that he can’t handle a starter’s role, there’s no reason to relegate him to the pen. Really nothing changes with how you approach Mejia’s potential role. He’s was a starter until he proves otherwise before the injury and he will be a starter until he proves otherwise after.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on May 6, 2011 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions