If you find yourself clamoring for Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch these days, that may be a tell-tale sign that your faith in the Mets’ bullpen is waning.
After competing for most of the series vs. Philadelphia, it was once again the bullpen that let down the Mets this week as they let two close, winnable games get away from them. While whipping boy Manny Acosta has been mercifully designated for assignment, the Mets still have major holes in their bullpen, leaving many Mets fans wondering if any reinforcements are on the way.
For the Mets, they have to look no further than Buffalo to bring up a pitcher to help resuscitate a struggling bunch.
All they have to do is make the call and Elvin Ramirez can be here in a New York minute.
For those unaware of who Ramirez is (and you should know who he is if you read David Groveman’s fine columns), he is a hard-throwing righty who is flat out dominating Buffalo right now (after previously dominating Binghamton). In 11 appearances for the Bisons, Ramirez has yet to allow a run in 14.2 innings pitched while only allowing five hits and one walk. Ramirez also has amassed a stunning 19 strikeouts in this stretch. Yes, you read correctly, that’s a 19-1 strikeout to walk ratio!
Again, what are the Mets waiting for?
Ramirez has toiled in the Mets’ minor league system for almost six years. He was good enough to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft last year by the Nationals, although never making an appearance with them due to lingering shoulder issues. As a result, he was shipped back to the Mets. All he has done is marvel scouts in the process with his above-average fastball and nasty slider and changeup.
As you can deduce from this logic, he’d make for an excellent closer someday. So, why not waste any more time than we have to, considering the well-documented troubles of the Mets’ leaky bullpen. Plus, if Ramirez succeeds (and many people believe he will) then perhaps you wouldn’t have to risk putting the mending Jenrry Mejia in the bullpen, where most people don’t think he belongs.
The Mets should be all about the now and what’s being employed right now isn’t working. In case you didn’t know, the Mets are dead last in the majors in bullpen ERA (5.45), BAA (.279) while coming in at 29 in WHIP (1.51).
Just look around the majors and look at some unsuspecting names being crucial to their teams’ success in the bullpen. Take a gander at the way Ernesto Frieri is plugging up the Angels’ bullpen. Heck, even ex-Met Dale Thayer was pitching important innings in San Diego until recently hitting a wall.
What the Mets need right now is jolt in the arm and some electricity injected into a fledgling relief corps, and Ramirez’ call up would accomplish that in spades.
Since the Mets are exceeding expectations, they can’t let a good start to the season dissipate and if the Mets don’t upgrade the bullpen soon the season could turn south real quick. As they say, strike while the iron is hot.
If the Mets are hesitant to call up Ramirez for some bizarre reason or any of the young guns, than perhaps they can look to the trade market to cure what ails them. Reports are out there that the Royals’ Jonathan Broxton may be available.
However, trading for a guy like Broxton shouldn’t be necessary if the Mets just did the right thing, and that is finally giving Ramirez the call.
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David first started writing about ‘El’?
Check with Brian.
This stings.
Mack
I personally acknowledge that Mack Ade was on this bandwagon a solid 4 months ahead of me.
Though, it seems Dan is simply referencing that I’ve written about him here. Not that I was the first blogger to do so.
Anyone looking for more information in this “feud” should read the first linked article under Related Posts.
Sorry – been watching too much of the Hatfields & McCoys on The History Channel
no feud… David pissed me off and I treated him like shit
he’s a good guy and a great Mets writer
It happens… No spoilers I only just started part 2 of Hatfields and McCoys.
Mack does deserve credit for seeing Elvin on the horizon.
“EL” is on the plane
Sorry Mack, I completely forgot you loved Elvin. This article is a great primer: mets360.com/?p=8928 where Brian attributes you.
Glad to see I woke up and found the good news!
Almost 1/3 of the season in and holding a wild card spot. The bullpen is killing us with its inconsistencies. Only Byrdak and Parnell have ERA’s below the NL average for relievers. So of course bring up Ramirez and while they are at it inquire about Broxton. He would solve a .lot of the problems in the bullpen at a cost of 2.67M. The Mets don’t probably have (or wish to get rid of) what the Royals want. Broxton now, for the next 60 days, and if they fade trade him away.
Another option is Capps. I don’t know if the Mets would do it, but the Twins might take a Lutz for Capps swap. I don’t know how much of an upgrade he is. I also happen to like Lutz and wonder what he might do as an every day player. (Given an opportunity like Duda or Murphy)
Beato just had another rehab outing and he’ll be ready to go soon.
So who are you taking off the 40 to add Ramirez? Satin, Lutz, Havens, Egbert, Schwinden, Johnson, Rottino, Puello, Lagares, Hefner, Valdespin, Baxter, Carson, Flores?
Remember some of these guys will have to be removed when Tejada, Thole Beato and Bay return and next November spots need to be opened up for VERY realistic rule 5 picks like Gorski, Tovar, Armando Rodriguez, Adrian Rosario and decisions have to be made on Marte, Centeno, Cordero, Pena, McHugh, Shields, and Cecciliani among others.
In addition there are a number of guys who could provide injury protection next year while continuing their development who don’t have to be put on the 40 like Harvey, Wheeler, den Dekker and Edgin but one or more might command a spot at some point and for each guy you add, you risk losing a different guy trying to pass him through hence the one year signings and the limited pool of players who will agree to a one year deal so your not locked into a roster spot for a 5th OFer or 12th arm in the pen come the rule 5 draft.
Right now the right move to replenish the pen is someone already on the 40 like Mejia or Beato and not allocating one of those spots to a guy who doesn’t have to be on it until November because whatever Elvin Ramirez can give you over the last 4 months of 2012 over and above what Mejia or Beato can, pales in comparison to what potentially Wilfredo Tovar, Darin Gorski, Cecilianni, Flores, Armando Rodriguez McHugh or even Pena, Marte and Lagares could give you for 3-6 years and it’s really the combination of ALL those guys that will make the difference in the long run whether in a Met Uniform or in a trade or even as emergency AAA call ups in a pennant race.
Juggling the roster is of paramount importance because just like there is an opportunity this year there will be many opportunities over the next 10 years as well and making the easy shortsighted decision which leads to a gaping hole for many years to come is exactly the reason we have been in the postseason 3 times in 23 years.
Players we now have on the 40 who will have to be passed through waivers won’t kill us if we lose them but not having spots available when the 40 man roster is limited to 40 (no DL) could, and for a lot longer than just one year.
Beato is the only one you mention who has to be added to the 40-man when he returns from the DL.
Of the 14 players you suggested, I think we could cut at least five without losing a moment’s sleep. And that number goes up at the end of the year. Johnson and Rottino are valuable now with the injury situation but come November they lose a lot of their sparkle.
Regardless, this is a good problem to have.
Schwinden or Egbert will go down tomorrow for Ramirez
Rottino or Johnson for Thole
I think our limited observations have seen enough: El is not big league ready. This experiment was a complete failure. The bull pen is a complete chaotic mess.
I’m disappointed in his velocity. I expected that he would be pumping it up regularly in the 97-98 range and the highest I’ve seen is 96. Mostly he seems to be around 93-94, although the Pitch/FX logs show one pitch that hit 97.
It’s hard to be successful with 7 BB in 4 IP.
I’m bummed, as I hoped he was one of the kids that would step up this year, like Nieuwenhuis.
And speaking of Captain Kirk, this is too good not to pass on.
http://mlb.mlb.com/fancave/?partnerID=2012_mlb_hh_sem_fancave_google#fbid=yhiJ-gEmijq