The Trading Deadline has come and gone and Sandy Alderson has looked like a hero bringing in both help for the offense and for the bullpen. He has always been just a touch slower in his approach to the active roster though, so now is the time for him to continue his drive towards October baseball. Sending Eric Campbell down instead of Michael Conforto was a nice first step, but more can still be done. Two things he should at least consider; sending Bartolo Colon to the bullpen, and batting David Wright deeper in the lineup.
Let’s start with Colon. In 2015 his ERA currently stands at 4.76 with a 3.76 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, .282 average against and 14.6 K/BB%. He was great early on in the season, striking out tons of batters while walking virtually no one. Since May, Colon has fallen off and sports a 5.22 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, .294 AVG and a 13.5 K/BB%. In every possible way he has gotten worse, and it’s been almost no different over his last 10 starts. Colon has done everything that was asked of him when he signed with the Mets. He has eaten innings (cough), been a good veteran guru for the younger arms coming up, and has generally been a pleasant presence for the fanbase. But October baseball is not about joking around and goofy swings at the plate. Which is why to help both the rotation and the bullpen, Colon should be used at the back end of games.
In the past 30 days, only Carlos Torres and Tyler Clippard haven’t seen a sharp increase in their ERA, and Clippard gets the benefit of the doubt since he has only been in New York about two weeks. Everyone else, it seems, is feeling the dog days of summer. Erik Goeddel should be coming back soon, which would be a solid addition to the last three innings. And while Hansel Robles has shown sparks of high quality stuff, he still gets hit pretty hard. Likewise, Bobby Parnell’s velocity has ticked up lately, but not nearly as much as his ERA. So moving Colon to the pen could be a way to both extend some of those tired arms, maybe send down a guy who just isn’t quite ready, and will hopefully give an extension of life to a 40+ year-old arm. Alderson could then bring up Logan Verrett to take over Colon’s spot until Rafael Montero (less likely) or Steven Matz (more likely) is ready. Or worse comes to worse, Torres could make some starts if need be. The point is Colon is not pulling his weight (cough, cough) in the rotation, and Alderson needs to explore ways to relieve the rotation of that heavy burden (ok, that’s just mean).
On a happier note, Wright played some baseball yesterday!!! He batted in the DH spot in St. Lucie on Monday, and could play the field today if no ill-effects are recorded. If all goes according to plan, Wright should see about 10 rehab games, and then could be ready to join the big club. But where oh where should he hit?
If Wright mashes the ball in his rehab assignment, then just maybe it could make sense to throw him back into the three hole in the lineup, his primary spot for years as the anchor of some pretty feeble offenses. However, Wright is now just trying to get back to baseball readiness. In the likelier scenario that he struggles a bit to play catch-up to the rest of the league, wouldn’t it be nice if he wasn’t expected to be Captain America right away? He hasn’t played a game since the second week of the season, and probably has a bit of rust to shake off.
And frankly the Mets lineup doesn’t need Wright to be the saving grace at the moment. What it needs is for him to stay healthy, and contribute for the remainder of the season. Health in this case, is not getting on base for others to drive him in, but instead for him to do most of his damage at the plate. By batting Wright lower in the order, he stands a chance of driving guys in in front of him. And by having more people clogging the bases ahead of him, that might help alleviate, as best as can be expected, him having to do first to third sprints and slides and the like.
Of course when Wright is ready, he’s going to have to be ready to play baseball full tilt, and not hold anything back. Everyone gets that. The trick is finding the right spot for him to stay as healthy as possible while still doing what he does best, hit. Being sandwiched between Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud for instance, would give Wright all kinds of protection, if like some of us you still believe in that. Plus if Wright does struggle at first, now he isn’t in the middle of potential first inning rally killings.
Maybe it’s pessimistic to think Wright won’t be himself when he comes back, but at least you’re doing it for the hopeful benefit of the team, and not to bruise anyone’s ego. Wright really hasn’t ever shown to be a problem in that regard, so it’s likely he’ll bat where he’s asked. Of course, Terry Collins is the one making out the lineup cards. I’m sure a helpful hint from his buddy and boss Alderson would be highly considered, too.
Wright hitting second takes Murphy’s terrible OBP and puts it where it belongs, sixth. Granny and/or Wright would be on base all the time for Cespedes, Duda and TDA. The amazing thing is we have so many different variations of players but at the end of the lineup everyone will sadly write “… and Tejada.” While Tejada has proven to be serviceable this year (that appears to be his ceiling, four years ago he actually seemed to be progressing), 80% of the time he looks overmatched.
Colon has no value in the bullpen— and he may be tapped as a stater.
Wright? I wouldn’t begin thinking about his batting slot until he shows he can stand and play. Hoping…but definitely not optimistic!!!
I agree. I don’t see Colon contributing anything in the pen, frankly. I don’t think it suits him. So he starts until Matz returns and the Mets decide to risk an upgrade at spot starter (Verrett, Gee, Montero, Gilmartin) as an alternative to rolling Bartolo out there every 6th game.
I figure he’s got 2-3 more starts to prove he can help the team win. If not, sorry, but so long. I’d be surprised if he can pull it off. But, hey, you never know.
No way do I include him on a post-season roster. No role.
On Wright: Fingers crossed. I’m not at all convinced that he’ll be an upgrade over Uribe or Johnson, whose ABs he’ll be taking. Of course, I’d never say that if he was healthy.
A healthy David Wright? Wow. Just wow. I’ll take that down the stretch any day. Guy was a dark horse HOF candidate before we ever heard of spinal stenosis.
His story this year could end beautifully . . . or horribly. Who knows!
Wright and Cuddyer the Calvary is coming!
The last time the Calvary was coming, it was the Polish Calvary against German tanks, which didn’t go so well. I’ll opt for some other military metaphor. Drones, maybe.
I think Colon could fit into the long relief role that is mostly occupied by Carlos Torres. Whether he would be an upgrade is another question. He would have the advantage of being a different “look” than each and every Mets starting pitcher, so there’s that.
A guy that hasnt played in 4 months and another that isnt that good. I hope thats not the cavalry.
The Mets shouldn’t count on David Wright for this season. They should only bring him up if he shows that he can hit and produce. If he isn’t tearing it up in the minors, then they should for get about him. If they make the playoffs they need to go with their best prepared players.They need to improve their range up the middle because with Flores and Murphy they lack that. Tejada improves the range but the hitting lacks.
Call me a crazy sentimental magilla, but I believe that David Wright has *earned* the benefit of the doubt here. He deserves a true shot at finding a place on this roster for the stretch run and, hopefully, into the postseason.
I’m not saying that you roll him out there regardless of performance, just that he absolutely deserves a chance. I look forward to the day when every Mets fan at Citi Field rises in unison when his name is announced and he steps up to the plate. Anyone with a beating heart should feel the goosebumps.
It could be the Mets’ Willis Reed, Game 7 moment.
JP,
I do believe that “magilla (or megillah) is the wrong word. I think your looking to be called “a crazy sentimental meshuganah”, meaning crazy one.
Megillah usually refers to a drawn out story or explanation—derived from citing the entire Five Books of Moses.
Colon ain’t moving out of the rotation. In fact a 6th man will be sadly added (never works out) Wright does and will get his chance if he stays healthy. He’s earned it! I agree.
I’ve edit the Colon paragraph to reflect the truth
Let’s start with Colon. In 2015 his ERA currently stands at 4.76 with a 3.76 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, .282 average against and 14.6 K/BB%. He was a mirage early on in the season, striking out tons of batters while walking virtually no one. Since May, Colon has fallen off shown his true colors and sports a 5.22 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, .294 AVG and a 13.5 K/BB%. In every possible way he has gotten worse, and it’s been almost no different over his last 10 starts. Colon has been a complete bust when he signed with the Mets. He has eaten innings (cough), introduced Mejia to the world of PEDs, and has generally been a joke and laughing stock for the fanbase. But October baseball is not about joking around and goofy swings at the plate. Which is why to help both the rotation and the bullpen, Colon should be released and deported because he has spent over 20 freaking years in the country and still hasn’t picked up the English language.
lol
hope he doesn’t sue you for defamation of character
If he does, big payday countersuit from me.
I’d use that money to deport his sorry ass.
Come on, give a guy a break. Yeah, he’s been mostly bad lately, but how many guys at age 42 have won 10 games in the majors? Most of us would love to be that good.
By all reports he’s been a good guy on the team. There’s no real evidence to support your claim about Mejia.
Your passion is skewing your thoughts. But, I guess that most of us can be accused of that at times. That’s why “fan” is short for “fanatic.”
It’s been done 32 times by 18 different pitchers.
I hate ageism and would be 100% in Colon’s corner if I thought he was one of the five best pitchers in the organization. But he’s not and he shouldn’t be going out to the mound every five days for this team. I’m confident Logan Verrett would give them a better chance to win and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if any of Dillon Gee or Darin Gorski or Tim Stauffer would be an upgrade, too.
Didn’t know The Donald was a Mets Fan.
Part of the problem with Colon is Sid Fernandez syndrome. He’s often effective for 5, maybe 6 innings but then falls apart. Terry needs to have a quicker hook with him.
Have you been watching the games?
His problem is not just the late innings, but also the middle innings and the beginning innings.
Innings1-3: 4.13 ERA
Innings4-6: 5.05 ERA
Innings7-9: 6.75 ERA
He’s also got this huge problem after the game when he can’t speak english after 20 freaking years in this country