It was a tale of two seasons for Jenrry Mejia.
He began 2014 as a starter, and turned in a couple of electric performances in that role, but by early May his ERA had ballooned up over 5 and he was moved to the bullpen.
Mejia pitched well in a few late-inning appearances, and notched his first save of the season against the Nats on May 17. He went on to log 28 saves and record a 2.72 ERA as a reliever, and even managed to rankle some opponents with his post-save celebratory antics. I would suggest that they were all just jealous of his Pascual Perezesque Jenrry-curls, but I digress…
So what did we here at Mets360.com expect from Mejia? Based on our collective wisdom, we predicted the following:
IP: 105.1
ERA: 3.35
K: 95
BB: 33
HR: 10
FIP: 3.57
GB%: 55
Here are Mejia’s actual numbers, along with our best and worst individual projections, served up sans judgement:
IP – 93.2
Best – 93 (O’Malley)
Worst – 171 (Hangley)
ERA – 3.65
Best – 3.72 (O’Malley)
Worst – 5.26 (Kolton)
K – 98
Best – 95 (Flattery), 101 (McCarthy)
Worst – 167 (Hangley)
BB – 41
Best – 38 (McCarthy)
Worst – 10 (Kolton)
HR – 9
Best – 9 (Albanesius, O’Malley)
Worst – 18 (Hangley)
FIP – 3.73
Best – 3.72 (Albanesius)
Worst – 8.00 (Kolton)
GB% – 52
Best – 52 (Joura)
Worst – 31 (McCarthy)
It’s a close race, but I’d say that the Golden Jenrry Award goes to O’Malley.
One statistic that we did not endeavor to predict was WHIP. Mejia finished 2014 with a 1.484, and if he is going to be a viable closer going ahead, he’ll no doubt need to lower that number…
I keep hoping that instead of whatever his current save celebration move is called, that he’ll take off his cap and do a little “Walk Like an Egyptian.”
Still believe in him as a SP and I hope that ship hasn’t sailed permanently. But it certainly has with the Mets.
I was projecting him as a starter all year, that’s why I whiffed so badly on him. Yeah…that’s it…that’s the ticket…
Stomp!
In the Spring I stated that Mejia could be a difference maker on the 2014 Mets and he was but not as a starter as I expected. Mejia became the closer and did what a closer is supposed to do. He saved 28 of 31 games for a 90.3% success rate.
Looking at his statistics indicates to me that his success rate is not going to continue. His WHIP of 1.42 is too high and his FIP of 3.15 and HR/9 of 0.64 are too mediocre. Parnell and Familia are better statistical options but between the foul lines Mejia has done the job.
I am not advocating to trade Mejia but if he is the added ingredient that could bring the Mets the impact bat that they need then I wouldn’t hesitate. Mejia has trade value as a closer but like Brian and Jenrry and some other teams, I believe he is a starter – just not on the Mets.
Mejia is a max effort kind of pitcher with a funky delivery, and guys like that don’t usually last too long as starters, IMO. I think he would have to change his mechanics, and thus become less than what he’s capable of. The bullpen suits him very well because he can let his pitches fly, but which also leads to his walks. Therefore, I don’t know if closer is the right fit.
His experience shows he can go 2-3 innings, so he might be more adept at being a Carlos Torres type who pitches all over the place. I agree with Metsense that if he’s the missing piece in a deal, then he’ll probably be gone. But I would miss seeing him pitch. Not so much the ridiculous celebrations.
The WHIP…the bad splits versus RH….. seemingly lower velocity…… he was confusing!!! Very high BABIP 2nd half—.373!!!
Yet…. he pitched Hurt….he was mostly effective in saving games…he seemed to like the role, and he’s well suited mentally for that bullpen roll.