Oliver Perez for closer!

David Lennon is tweeting that both J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez may be unavailable tonight due to high pitch counts.  Putz threw 19 pitches last night, prolonged by a Luis Castillo error, while Rodriguez threw 28 pitches, prolonged by a Carlos Delgado error.

That leaves me only one logical option in the bullpen: Oliver Perez!

Have Perez close tonight’s game, if it comes to that.  It’s the only way to justify his contract in the bullpen.

OK, not seriously, but it would be absolutely hilarious.  I guess Pedro Feliciano will close if the right situation presents itself, which is possible against the left handed heavy Phillies.  Otherwise, either one of Feliciano, Brian Stokes or Bobby Parnell will take the reigns or split the duties.

I’d still like to see Perez try and close out a game.  It would be quite entertaining.

Jeremy Reed starting tonight against Philly

Last night, I asked my Twitter followers how long it would be for Jeremy Reed to get a start for the Mets.

Two people, Ryan Punzalan (@Retire31) and @fscker both said zero games, meaning Reed would get the start in the next game.

Well, according to this TwitPic from Matt Cerrone, Reed is making his first start for the Mets.

Well done, Ryan and @fscker.  And kind of scary prediction on my part.

Here’s the lineup…

1. Jose Reyes – SS
2. Alex Cora – 2B
3. Carlos Beltran – CF
4. Carlos Delgado – 1B
5. David Wright – 3B
6. Daniel Murphy – LF
7. Jeremy Reed – RF
8. Omir Santos – C
9. Johan Santana - LHP

Tim Redding lives with his mommy

Tim Redding has been pitching for Triple-A Buffalo in an attempt to rehabilitate himself from his foot surgery.

Last night, Redding was set to make a start for Buffalo.  The game was rained out, but Buffalo is looking at a double-header today and Redding and Nelson Figueroa are scheduled to make the starts.

While Redding pitches in Buffalo, he’s been living with his mother.

From The Dish:

"I'm actually living with my mom," Redding said before the Bisons were rained out Tuesday night. "I'd rather have home cooking than eating out all the time."

Who wouldn't?

The 31-year old said the 55 minute drive one way twice a day becomes a grind but it's much better than being cooped up in a hotel.

Rarely do you hear of a man making $2.5 million living at home with his mom.  Quite interesting.

Redding will likely be up with the Mets within the next few weeks.

2009 bullpen payroll: A visualization

The money owed to the pitchers in the Mets
bullpen for their service in 2009, including
Billy Wagner and Oliver Perez.

Twitter Poll: How many games until Jeremy Reed gets a start?

The Mets landed Jeremy Reed as one of the players sent over in the three-team, 12-player deal with the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners.  For the season so far, the most time Reed has seen in a game is as a late inning defensive replacement.

Even Endy Chavez, the player Reed replaced in both a roster spot and ability, got starts now and then.

Last night, I asked my Twitter followers to guess how many games it would take Reed to get a start.  Here are their responses…

The hopefuls…

Retire31 said: 0. He starts tomorrow.

fscker said: 0

The majority…

NYMetsGrrl94 said: 4 games

metsjetsgirl said: either 5 or 18-19.

metgirl4ever said: Reed will be in the game...15 games from now...

dailystache said: I will go with 12 games until he gets a start...no rationale

gwong said: Jeremy Reed starts 8 games from today on 5/13. Day game after a night game on getaway day - perfect time to start him.

DaCurryman said: I'd go with appx. 15 more games.

fullnelson said: 7 games until Jeremy Reed gets a start

mets_geekette said: 18. It's my favorite random number. Oh, and R is the 18th letter of the alphabet.

MetsNY81 said: 31. I took a quick look at the Mets schedule, they’re on the road against the Nats then. Perfect time to give Reed a start!

gmo418 said: 12

darknova306 said: Reed will start 14 games from now. That's more a guess than anything.

The pessimists…

mostlymets said: 137 (number of games left in the season)

brentsower said: 137. Right now, he's too busy teaching everyone except Beltran and Church how to catch fly balls.

dmoneymania said: 135

I think Reed should get a start soon.  I find myself in the somewhere in the majority.  A dozen games before he gets a start.

Heck, he has a triple this year and only 11 ABs.

Not on Twitter?  Hit the comments to toss in your 2¢ on how long until Jeremy Reed gets a start.

Follow me on Twitter (@TheRopolitans) to
participate in the next Twitter Poll!

Game Recap: Mets 4 – Braves 3

Carlos Delgado delivered in the top of the 9th and almost gave the game away in the bottom of the ninth.

The New York Mets (12-13) beat the Atlanta Braves (11-15) by a score of 4-3.

The Mini Recap

Livan Hernandez was economical.  Only 74 pitches over 6 1-3 innings for Hernandez.  He allowed one run on seven hits.  Francisco Rodriguez struggled a bit and Delgado dropped a easy fly ball that would have ended the game that led to two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the Braves.

The Mets got a pair of RBI doubles in the third inning from David Wright and Ramon Castro.  Delgado added two RBIs, including the eventual game winner, in the top of the ninth with a single up the middle with the bases loaded.

The Mets nearly handed this game away.  Key word: Nearly.

For the full recap, please read my article
Mets Survive Scare In Ninth.

Live Chat: NYM @ ATL

Another day, another chat platform.

Join in for yet another Mets-themed chat.  We’ll talk Mets, MLB and anything else that comes to mind.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Me on the ‘radio’ at 4:30 p.m.

I’ll be appearing on The Big O’s Fantasy Baseball Review on Blog Talk Radio today at 4:30 p.m.

Here’s a link to listen in.

I’ll be talking Mets, of course.

Johan Santana named NL Pitcher of the Month

Johan Santana has been voted the National League Pitcher of the Month for April.

Per MLB.com…

New York Mets left-hander Johan Santana, who went 3-1 with a 1.10 ERA in the opening month of the 2009 season, has been voted National League Pitcher of the Month for April.

In five starts last month, Santana posted an N.L.-leading 1.10 ERA, striking out 44 batters in his 32.2 innings (22 H, 4 ER). The New York ace did not allow more than two runs in any start and fanned at least seven in each outing. The 30-year-old Santana did not surrender an earned run in two consecutive starts (April 12th at Florida and April 18th vs. Milwaukee), spanning 14.0 innings pitched. The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner twice recorded double-digit strikeouts (13 on 4/12 at FLA and 10 on 4/24 vs. WSH). Santana did not allow a home run until his fourth start on April 24th vs. Washington, a streak of 60.0 innings, dating back to September 7, 2008 vs. Philadelphia, the second longest such streak of his career (65.0 innings spanning the 2004-05 seasons). Santana, a three-time All-Star, had made 18 straight starts without a loss dating to July 9, 2008, before a tough-luck defeat at the hands of Florida's Josh Johnson on April 12th. A native of Bolivar, Venezuela, Santana has now won consecutive N.L. Pitcher of the Month honors, as he closed the 2008 season in stellar fashion (4-0, 1.83 ERA, 47 SO). This marks Santana's seventh career monthly award; as a member of the Minnesota Twins, he captured A.L. honors in July 2003, July 2004, August 2004, September 2004 and June 2006.

Other pitchers who received receiving votes were Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley (4-0, 2.14 ERA, 34 SO); Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren (2-3, 1 CG, 1.54 ERA, 36 SO); San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell (0.00 ERA, 9 SO, 8 saves); and St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin (0.00 ERA, 9 SO, 7 saves). Johan Santana will receive a specially-designed trophy and a Sharp Aquos television to commemorate his Pitcher of the Month performance.

2009 starting pitcher contracts: Another column chart

I’m having fun with Microsoft Excel today.

The numbers for Hernandez and Takahashi are based on the most information known.  Hernandez has a base salary of $1 million, with an unknown amount of possible incentives.  That is estimated at $1 million.  Takahashi has the chance to make up to $1.5 million.

I threw in Perez, even if he isn’t in the rotation right now.  He’ll be back in the rotation eventually…

Right?

(Figures via from Cot’s Baseball Contracts and ESPN)