Casey Fossum DFA’d, Takahashi called up

After the finale between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals, they designated pitcher Casey Fossum for assignment.

Fossum had just pitched 2 2-3 innings against the Nationals in relief of Oliver Perez.  Fossum walked three, struck out two and allowed one run to score.

To take his place on the roster, the Mets called up Ken Takahashi from Triple-A Buffalo. 

The Mets signed Takahashi on March 30 after he was released by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Here’s a Q&A with Patrick Newman from NPB Tracker that I did days after the Mets signed the 40 year old pitcher:

Is Takahashi a LOOGY (Lefty One Out Guy)?

No, he was a starter last year and didn’t perform that well against lefties — .333 ba against in 126 batters faced.

Average pitch speed?

Probably high 80’s on the fastball, but I haven’t seen him this year. I believe he can reach about 91 on his fastball.

Can he perform at the major league level? / Worth it or just minor league fodder?

The odds are against him, being 40 and not having an obviously dominating pitch, but he thinks his changeup is as good as [Hideki] Okajima’s. Definitely a low-risk pickup. You can’t have too many arms, and if he proves he can get lefties out in AAA the Mets may have something.

For more on Takahashi, check out a full post about him on NPB Tracker.

Game Recap: Nationals 8 – Mets 1

Another Oliver Perez start, another Oliver Perez meltdown.

The Nationals (4-13) beat the Mets (8-10) and avoided the sweep by a score of 8-1.

The Mini Recap

Perez struggled the whole game.  He  did not register a 1-2-3 inning, allowed nine hits and three walks and most importantly, seven earned runs.  Casey Fossum was asked to contribute some mop-up duty, letting in some inherited runners and one of his own in 2 2-3 innings on the mound.  Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes each turned in solid innings.

The Mets bats were quieted by 22 year old rookie Jordan Zimmerman.  The only run came in the first inning on a Carlos Delgado triple.  After Zimmerman’s day was done, three Nats relievers combined to no-hit the Mets.

Just a miserable game on both side of the ball as the Mets could have earned a series sweep of the lowly Nats, but instead lost in a blowout.

For the full recap, go read my article: Perez Pitiful Again.

It’s Oliver Perez day

Break out the Tums and the Rolaids.

Oliver Perez will face the Washington Nationals at 1:10 p.m. as the Mets look to sweep the series.

Perez is 1-1 in 2009 with a 7.80 ERA. 

In his first start, Perez failed to get out of the fifth inning, letting up eight earned runs.  When he faced the San Diego Padres at home on April 15, he threw six innings and allowed only one run.  In his last start, against the Cardinals, he again failed to complete the fifth inning.  He allowed four earned runs and walked five.

In his career against Washington, he is 3-3 with a 6.53 ERA.

How do you think Perez will pitch today?

Game Recap: Mets 8 – Nationals 2

A comedy of errors by the Nationals and a nice start out of Mike Pelfrey.  What a Saturday.

The Mets (8-9) beat the Nationals (3-13) by a score of 8-2.

The Mini Recap

Pelfrey, coming off a skipped start, pitched effectively and surprisingly well.  Almost six innings out of Pelfrey must be encouraging for the Mets.  The bullpen turned in 3 1-3 solid innings.

Thanks to three errors and a handful of other bad choices by the Nationals, the Mets scored eight runs, only four of which were earned.  Ryan Church drove in three runs while Carlos Beltran picked up three hits.

For the full recap, head over to Baseball Digest.

More on the Figueroa signing

Nelson Figueroa will be in Buffalo today and will likely start for the Bisons on Tuesday.

According to my source, Figueroa did have other offers but decided to return to the Mets.  The team told him “they would like him back.”

Figueroa will be up soon, I think.  Casey Fossum has been all right, but I think someone is going to be demoted to work on mechanics soon.  Be it Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez or John Maine is yet to be seen.

Figueroa is the versatile arm the Mets need.  The bullpen is going to be overworked at this rate and they need a good arm to pitch two or three innings when needed.  When the starting pitcher can only last four decent innings, having Figueroa in the bullpen is necessity.

Mets sign Lamb

As the Buffalo Bisons get off to a 2-12 start, the Mets have added veteran Mike Lamb to the Triple-A roster.

Lamb, a nine year veteran of MLB with four years in the Houston and Texas organizations. last played with Minnesota and Milwaukee in 2008.  He’s a career .277 hitter.

His best year came with Houston in 2006 when he hit .307/.361/.475 while driving in 45 runs and hitting 12 home runs.

A good, veteran signing for the minor leagues.

Source: Figueroa returns to the Mets

Nelson Figueroa, who recently declared free agency after being designated for assignment then clearing waivers, is coming back to the New York Mets.

A source who wishes to remain anonymous, the same source that had him fleeing for free agency, tipped me off this morning.  Figueroa was clearly angered at the team after they DFA’d him after his quality start last weekend.

It is unknown at this time what the contract and numbers may be.  Figueroa will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

This is a good move for both sides.  It brings the Brooklyn native back as possible starting option for the Mets, especially as Jerry Manuel uses scare tactics to try and motivate his pitchers.

The Mets made right with this move, even though it took a little too long for them to figure it all out.

Game Recap: Mets 4 – Nationals 3

A nail-biter from start to finish as the Mets fail to come through in the clutch but still eek out win over Nats.

The Mets (7-9) beat the Nationals (3-12) by a score of 4-3.

The Mini Recap

Johan Santana did his thing, striking out out seven of the first nine Nationals to face him.  He allowed one run on six hits.  He walked one and ended up striking out 10 in his six innings.  Francisco Rodriguez had to make it interesting by allowed a two-run home run in the 9th inning, but was able to close it out.

The Mets scored runs on a misplayed ball by Elijah Dukes, Luis Castillo RBI single, Austin Kearns error and a walk with the bases loaded.  The team left 13 runners on base.  Carlos Beltran knocked in his 1,000th career RBI.

For the full recap, head over to Baseball Digest.

Live Blog/Chat: WSH @ NYM – Join in!

Another rousing round of live blogging on The ‘Ropolitans.  Join in to talk Nats, Mets and anything else we care to dish about.

The State of the Mets [Video – 4/24/09]

Here is another edition of my weekly web show, The State of the Mets.

Topics covered: Miserable pitching, untimely hitting and the outlook from here on out.

(It’s working.  Just hit play.)