Should Parnell Be Closing?

With Francisco Rodriguez’s season over due to his scuffle with his common-law Father-In-Law and lousy right hook, the Mets have been using Hisanori Takahashi as their closer and he’s done a pretty good job. The Mets have actually picked up a game and half in the wildcard standings the last two days and are likely to keep things as they are as they try and see if they can somehow worm their way into playoff contention (as slim a chance it is) over the next two weeks.

However if things do not go the Mets way (and likely it will not, even if the Mets are able to lift their play to the level they were at in May and June) I have to wonder if the Mets would be better served by letting Bobby Parnell have a go at closing.

I think that the idea has some serious merit. I thought I was alone in the thought until I read a post saying the same thing from Matt Cerone over at metsblog.com. Parnell had a small period where he struggled not too long ago, but has been pretty spectaular since and overall has had a good season. The main thing is though, that the guy can bring some serious heat (he hit 101 in a recent game against the Houston Astros and 99 a number of times against the Pittsburg Pirates) and he’s young (only 25, compared to Takahashi’s 34). Looking at the volatile situations concerning closers these days, it would behoove the Mets to see if they have a very inexpensive alternative to close other than K-Rod or even just going forward for life after him.

At this point, it’s kind of obvious the Mets are looking to push forward with the idea of prospects and home grown players being a huge part of this team going into 2011 and beyond. Ike Davis is the 1st baseman. I think Ruben Tejada has the advantage on the 2nd base job for next year if he can show this season he can hit at least a little bit (with Daniel Murphy being more of a threat to him for next year than Luis Castillo is) . Jenrry Mejia is widely expected to be on the roster next year, either in the bullpen or give a shot to start. Kirk Nieuwenuis, Dillon Gee, Fernando Martinez and Pat Misch will all have a serious shot at making the team in 2011. Isn’t it a good idea to get at least a notion if Parnell has the ability to close and bounce back after a bad outing in a pressure situation?

It’s worth investigating the idea. If the Mets really are going to be a more thrifty team going forward and the young movement seems to be on the forefront of business, then they should see if they have an important cog now, and not wait until later. The Mets have a habit of putting themselves in a position to scramble, and it would be a good idea to avoid that.

No Second Guess This Time

Let me start off by saying that out of all the things about Jerry Manuel that drive me insane, his handling of the pitching staff is the most frustrating. It seems he rarely has a good grasp of what he’s doing with them .

Having said that, I’ve heard a LOT of Met fans and Media (Steve Phillips for one on WFAN this morning) say that Jerry Manuel blew it last night by allowing R. A. Dickey to pitch in the 9th inning. Dickey was nursing a 2-1 lead (after giving up a run in the 8th) and after getting the first out, gave up a tying homerun to Geoff Blum. Manuel then pulled Dickey and inserted Hisanori Takahasi, who got the final two outs in the inning.

So last night and this morning on sports talk shows, I’m hearing how that was a terrible move and Jerry blew the games, yada, yada, yada.

Which just goes to show how there are people that will second guess and complain no matter what.

Manuel leaving Dickey in the game last night was ABSOLUTELY the right move. This is the same guy who was brought back in the 9th inning of last Friday’s 1-0 win over the Phillies, which everyone seemed in favor of. Dickey is pitching EXTREMELY well. Why WOULDN’T he be left in? The Mets closer, K-Rod, is gone for the season. Dickey had given up only 1 run. There was no reason to pull him. I thought it was the best thing to do and the fact it didn;t work out doesn’t change that fact.

You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Once again, the Mets are spiraling in a direction that could be best described as “Embarrassingly Chaotic”. It’s almost like this team is trying as hard as possible to make sure they are on the back pages all the time… for very last possible wrong reason.

First the manager makes another set of bizarrely bad decisions and helps a 2-1 lead becomes a 6-2 loss. After seven fantastic innings of one run ball from Jon Niese, Manuel brought in Hisanori Takahashi in the 8th. Takahashi got the first two outs and then gave up a hit and walked a batter and then Manuel TAKES HIM OUT. Manuel had made such a big deal about praising Takahashi’s work in the bullpen and said he was his “eighth-inning guy.” and ALREADY he’s pulling him with two on and two out in the inning. Instead he brings in Manny Acosta instead of bringing in Francisco Rodriguez for a four out save. Acosta uncorks a wild pitch and then intentionally walks Troy Tulowitzki and then with the bases loaded, again, Manuel Leaves Acosta in instead of bringing in Rodriguez, and he promptly gives up a grand slam to Melvin Mora.

The Mets, who scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and then didn’t sniff a run again in the game, actually at one point struck out seven straight times between the 6th and 8th inning. They couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat right now.

And of course, after the game, Rodriguez was charged with third-degree assault after an altercation with his father-in-law in which at least one punch was thrown and is currently in Police Custody. He had a court appearance set for today at 11:30 am and the Mets have placed him on the restricted list, without pay, and promoted Ryota Igarashi from their Triple-A team in Buffalo.

This is insane. The Mets organization is beyond a joke at this point. The inmates are not only running the asylum, but they’re as public about it as possible. How bad does this have to get before something is done? How low does this team have to sink? For pete’s sake, after the collapses, the midnight firing and terrible handling of of Willie Randolph, the concussions, the horrible Tony Bernazard situation and the embarrasing display Omar Minaya put on afterwards with the press confrence accusations towards NY Daily News reporter Adam Rubin, the insane back and forth over Carlos Beltran’s knee surgery, the horrible decisions made by the manager and his waffling, the total inability to score runs since the all-star break, and the impression the whole baseball world has that the Mets cannot spend ANY money… plus adding in the huge drop in attendence at Citifield… just what in God’s name are the Wilpon’s waiting for to change the face and the way this franchise is run?

The Wilpon’s need to fire the entire management staff from the GM, Assistant GM, The Manager and the entire P.R. Department and then need to hire someone to take over the everyday Baseball operations from Jeff Wilpon. If there is going to be any hope for this organization, it’s going to be bringing in a solid baseball mind to take over and clean house and set things on the right path. It’s not just a manager or GM change that is needed… a total change in philosphy and ideology is paramount for this team.

Things are bleak right now. After the last few years the last thing the Mets could afford was to have this sort of second half… it’s a nightmare of obscene proportions and if things don’t change, and soon, it’s going to get worse. Mark my words.

Inactivity Makes No Sense

The more I have looked at the flurry of trades that happened the last week or so, the more I have to wonder… what in God’s name are the Mets waiting for?

I’m going to guess the Mets have a plan in place. I’m not going to say it’s a GOOD p[lan or a smart one, but they must have one, and it must be a plan involving keeping their farm system intact and looking to promote from within and build a team of young players with some veterans to anchor them, because there is no other excuse or explanation for the total lack of activity the Mets have shown.

The fact that The Philadelphia Phillies got Roy Oswalt for J.A. Happ and two minor leaguers is insane. J.A. Happ wouldn’t be able to crack the Mets starting rotation, yet he was the big piece of a trade that has given the Phils a solid 1/2/3 starting rotation head.

The Texas Rangers, who are not even fully owned and are in BANKRUPTCY have STILL been able to trade for Cliff Lee and Jorge Cantu.

The small market Twins acquired Matt Capps.

The Angels were able to get Dan Haren from the Diamondbacks.

The Mets? Nothing. No moves at all.

Now I know the Mets really cannot add a bat here. They are pretty much set at every position except for second base and except for Dan Uggla, who hits homeruns, but strikes out a ton and has a terrible glove there are no second basemen out there to trade for.

The team needs another starting pitcher so they can put Hisanori Takahashi back in the bullpen. If they had added a Dan Haren or a Roy Oswalt the team’s starting pitching would have looked rather solid. They also could use another bullpen arm and getting a Matt Capps or a Scott Downs would solidify the bullpen.

At this point we’ve heard all about how teams are asking for Ike Davis and Jon Niese. I understand and agree with not trading Davis at all and holding onto Niese if at all possible. But Roy Oswalt would have been a heck of a guy to get and in the end the prospects and players sent in both the Haren AND Oswalt trades weren’t that great, so you;re going to tell me the Mets couldn’t have beaten those offers withut having to give up Davis or Niese?

If the Mets could have told the Astros a week ago that they would pick up Oswalt’s 2012 option you think for a second they wouldn;t have jumped at it and traded him back then when it looked like no one would be able to get him? They became desperate and gave Oswalt away for a song AND paid 11 Million of his 2011 salary. If the Mets had offered a package of say Bobby Parnell and two decent but unspectacular prospects and said the Astros only had to give them 5 or 6 Million of Oswalt’s 2011 salary, you think they would have said no? The would have saved themselves millions to help with signing someone else next year and the Mets could have had a rotation of Johan Santana, Oswalt, Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese and R. A. Dickey.

I find it very hard to belive the Mets could not have countered the Phillies offer with a better one more based on money than prospects.

The Mets are willing to make moves. In recent years they have traded for Johan Santana, Luis Castillo (when he was still considered pretty good), Shaun Green, J.J. Putz and Carlos Delgado. They’ve signed Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Billy Wagner, Paul LoDuca, Francisco Rodriguez, and Jason Bay. The problem is, the Mets don’t ever seem to take that big step and look to make the team into a powerhouse. They always seem to do just enough to be competitive but not enough to make themselves an all-out favorite.

The inactitivity during this trade dealine season makes little sense. Just two weeks ago the Mets were 1 game out of a playoff spot. They have a good mix of youg talent and veterans. They just allowed one of their biggest rivals to make themselves MUCH better… how can they stand pat?

Any doubt that the Mets front office just doesn’t get it should be erased by now. To watch a bankrupt team get one of the best pitchers on the planet and a pretty good hitter and to watch the team that has embarrassed them the last few years to go out and get a great pitcher that the Mets themselves could have gotten if they had just spent the money is ABISMAL. At this point if NOTHING else I want Omar Minaya gone. I know he’s not the whole problem, but ANY change at this point will be welcome.

There’s No Place Like Home…

Wow.

Incredible what a difference a week or so makes.

Now, do not get me wrong. I’m not suddenly calling the Mets “the team to beat”… but the way they have looked on this 8-1 homestand (and the series before it) has been nothing short of mind blowing.

Despite the struggles of John Maine and Oliver Perez, the team is getting lights out pitching… and thriving.

Does that mean all is perfect in MetLand though? No.

First off, I still feel Jerry Manuel is playing with fire by not letting his starters go a little further in games. The bullpen has been great, but overuse them and you’ll burn them out by July.

I also would really like to see him use the speed on the team more and run. With the speed on this team there should be three to five stolen base attempts and more hit and run situations every game.

Far be it from me to critize though. With this run the Mets are obviously in a good groove. The 20 inning win over the Cardinals was a plus. The promotion of Ike Davis has been a jolt of energy (one where I was wrong, since I was not sure Davis was ready for the Majors yet). The elevation of Mike Pelfrey’s game has been nothing short of miraculous. Hisanori Takahashi and Jonathan Niese have been a much needed shot in the arm for the pitching staff… looking just great in their appearances. Things are clicking all over.

But here come the Phillies.

This weekend will be disected as a huge weekend… but I don’t think it is. At least, not as much as it will be made out to be.

The Phillies are hurting right now. Losing seven out of their last ten, and seeing a number of their team hitting the DL… something they barely had to deal with last year. This is still a dangerous team that, frankly, is still better than the Mets right now… even if they are not playing like it. I think a series win is more important to the Mets than the Phillies at this point of the season. I don’t think either team should get too high or too low on what happens over the weekend series, since there is a lot of baseball to be played.

Winning this series would be great for the Mets though. I will say this… you cannot win a division championship in April… but you sure can lose one.

In any case, the Mets are playing like gamebusters. Here’s hoping it lasts. With a smart move here and there, and eventually getting Beltran back… I think it can. The Mets ARE a good team and CAN contend. They are not the best in the NL, but they are solid enough to play good baseball all summer. Let’s hope what we’re seeing now is closer to what the team is than the first 11 games or so of the season.