5/10/08

Joe Smith will be optioned to AAA, eventually

Depending on how the games are played out on Saturday, Joe Smith may be optioned to AAA after the second game, or maybe not at all.

The Mets plan is to send Smith to the minors to make room for Matt Wise to come back off the DL.

Marty Noble lays it out:
But now Wise has rejoined the team, though he hasn't been added to the roster. When he is, Smith will be optioned to Triple-A, despite his effective pitching. That is the plan, a person in the Mets hierarchy said Friday. But the postponement of the Mets' game against the Reds on Friday night, the resulting doubleheader on Saturday and the chance for bullpen overload in two games prompted the club to retain Smith on the roster.

If Smith pitches in the first game, he could be assigned to the Minor Leagues to accommodate Wise on the roster for the second game. If Smith doesn't pitch in the first game, the Mets might not make a roster move until Sunday. And if Smith isn't used in the doubleheader, the club could not make a move with Wise until after Smith does pitch.

I love Smith, and I think he has a big future with this team. It's too bad that he's pitching so well and he's going to get demoted. He's very young, so I know he'll be back when (not if) someone in the bullpen goes down with an injury.

I really couldn't gauge Wise's effectiveness as a pitcher, as he only pitched a grand total of two games, posting a 9.00 ERA. I always liked him when he was with Milwaukee, though. I just hope he can post numbers like Smith, otherwise this move looks bad.

Guess the Mets are married to Jorge Sosa.