The 2014 season didn’t get off to a fast start for Vic Black. In ten spring training appearances, Black pitched to a 5.79 ERA and 2.46 WHIP in 9.1 IP, a showing that promptly had him demoted to minor league camp much earlier than anyone could have expected. Fans and upper management envisioned Black as a key component to this year’s bullpen, but with his setback in spring, reassurance was needed as criteria for a roster spot due to his lack of major league experience. Gonzalez Germen appeared to be the guy to take Black’s presumed spot on roster despite his own inconsistent spring. Now that Kyle Farnsworth has inherited the closer’s role from Jose Valverde, the future of the Mets bullpen is hard to predict short-term. In fact, it’s fair to say Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins will be assessing the situation on a monthly basis, or even bi-weekly, until roles and predictable performance can be measured. It begs the question: Where does Vic Black fit in?
The Mets were present at Joel Hanrahan’s showcase last week, which was reported to have up to 20 teams’ personnel present. Hanrahan could be good insurance for a bullpen that is currently relying on the aging Farnsworth and Valverde to get the bulk of late inning work in close games. While both veterans got off to good starts, they have showed weaknesses lately, especially Valverde who has struggled mightily to keep the ball in the park, and has made even games that were seemingly in control too close for comfort. Comfort, fittingly, will be the operative concept going forward for the Collins as the season goes along in regards to the closer situation. Farnsworth has the ninth inning endorsement right now, but that can change in a hurry. Black could emerge as the guy; if he continues his solid pitching in AAA Las Vegas. So far, despite missing a week with a pinched nerve in his neck, Black has been good, albeit in only 3.1 IP. His velocity is up and he’s said to have his command back which was lacking in spring training when he walked a slew of batters. Black has the stuff to be closer, and by season end should be in the mix for that role. Last year, in Triple-A Indianapolis, Black saved 17 games while racking up 63 Ks in 46.2 IP, with a .169 BA against. He was a prized prospect in the Pirates organization and was being groomed to be a key part of their bullpen before the trade that sent him to New York.
The Mets will not need a big minor league sample size out of Black for a promotion. He’s proved he can get sub-major league hitters out consistently, and just needs to show that he has regained his usual command and velocity. Of course, the Mets are making contingency plans for their AAA starters in case they need them to make a transition to relief work in the majors. Farnsworth is the closer for now, if Black is promoted soon and shows his stuff, don’t be surprised if Black is the closer by season’s end. Longshot? Maybe… but if the past decade has shown Mets fans anything, it’s clearly that the bullpen is anything but predictable.
If Black can find his control, I’d be 100% for this.
it might be sooner, if Vic finds the strike zone. They could try a starter, but he would have to work in relief first. Closer is tough, you have to come in and through strikes right away, not any room for mistakes. I hope Farnsworth can do it, he had many chances but was never able to close before.
Maybe get Black up here ASAP as the setup man for Farnsworth, that way he’s ready to take over in a few more weeks.
fwiw … Vic Black has faced 15 batters over that 3.1 innings and walked 4 of them. I mean, he’s around 5-6 pitches per batter, that’s an improvement, but … if he’s walking 25% of who he’s facing when he’s gotten better …
then he hasn’t gotten good enough yet.
Black needs to prove he’s ready until at least May rolls around. Watching him in Spring Training was rough. I’d rather he be fully ready, than deal with another “almost” kind of guy like Parnell was when he first came up.
When your bullpen is so poor why even have a closer? Take the current three best relief pitchers and rotate them through the hold/save innings.
This bullpen is a mess. The Met strenghth is their organizational starting pitching so I am more in favor of the secondary starters pitching multiple innings as middle relievers to swallow up relief innings and even completing the game. It seemed to work this past week when Torres got the save pitching multiple innings and Dice K had 3 no hit innings. Within the month, bring up deGrom and Montero and let them do the same. I am not in favor of them being “traditional” relievers but keeping them semi stretched out with multiple innings has to be an improvement of what is currently going on.
Therefor, I think Black might be a backend reliever but Germen and Familia have just a good chance for that role if the Mets continue with the inefficient traditional relief roles.