The Make-the-Mets-O-Meter is back. We'll keep an eye on the players battling for spots on the Opening Day roster and attempt to forecast which ones have the best shot at making the team. There aren't many roster spots available, but neither the bench nor the bullpen is set in stone.
In addition to the players on the 40-man roster, the Mets have sixteen non-roster invitees in camp. Those already on the roster stand a better chance of making the team. While general wisdom suggests that roster decisions are based upon more than spring training performance, a player who impresses in the pre-season seems to beat out the one who did not when all else is equal.
We begin with the pitchers, and the hitters will follow tomorrow. Barring a setback in Johan Santana's recovery, the rotation is set with Santana, R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey, and Dillon Gee. In the bullpen, Frank Francisco, Ramon Ramirez, and Jon Rauch are assured spots on the roster. Tim Byrdak was part of that group but now faces knee surgery and six weeks on the shelf.
The team would be foolish not to include Manny Acosta on the roster, and Bobby Parnell figures to begin the year in the big leagues. That likely leaves two spots in the bullpen up for grabs, one of which will go to a left-handed pitcher in Byrdak's absence. And now, the first Make-the-Mets-O-Meter of 2012.
Player | Comment | |
---|---|---|
Manny Acosta, RHP | On top of his very good track record over the past two years with the Mets, Acosta has thrown two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. He should be on the team to begin the season. | |
Miguel Batista, RHP | He's allowed three runs in 4.1 innings this spring, but two were unearned. He could be sent to Buffalo as a starter to provide depth for the rotation, but Batista could make the team as a long-man/spot-starter type. | |
Pedro Beato, RHP | Beato's only recorded one out this spring because of an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. | |
Fernando Cabrera, RHP | A relatively unknown non-roster invitee. He'd have to really impress in his spring outings to make it. | |
D.J. Carrasco, RHP | So far, so good for Carrasco with 2 K in 2.1 IP. He can't be much worse than last year and will probably battle with Batista for the last righty spot in the pen. | |
Robert Carson, LHP | Don't count out any pitcher who throws from the left side, but Carson has struggled as a starter in the minors. It's hard to see him having a real shot. | |
Josh Edgin, LHP | Edgin joined major league camp once Byrdak went down with his injury. He's been a strikeout machine in the lower minors but has been older than most of his competition. | |
Jeremy Hefner, RHP | Barring an injury to one of the starting five, Hefner looks likely to provide depth in Buffalo. Only 1 unearned run in 3.1 innings so far. | |
Daniel Herrera, LHP | The lefty has thrown a pair of scoreless innings and had some success late last year with the Mets. The front office supposedly isn't high on him, but he could at least be a stopgap. | |
Chuck James, LHP | No strikeouts yet in 1.2 innings of work. He's a lefty so he's in the mix. | |
Garrett Olson, LHP | 2 K in 2 IP. Left-handed, has a shot. | |
Bobby Parnell, RHP | Like Acosta, I can't see Parnell getting sent to the minors. | |
Chris Schwinden, RHP | Schwinden will start the year in Buffalo and provide depth. | |
Josh Stinson, RHP | He's got a 9.00 ERA so far this spring. |