Why Jon Niese over Nelson Figueroa?

With Oliver Pereez going on the DL, the Mets have turned to Jon Niese to make Perez’s scheduled start instead of Ken Takahashi.  Why Niese over Nelson Figueroa, who already turned in a quality start for the team this season?

Well…I have no idea.

Figueroa was set to make a start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, but it was rained out (as have five of the last eight games for the Bisons).  Niese last pitched on Friday against the Louisville Bats.  Figueroa

• Niese in 2009: 0-2, 22 IP, 6.55 ERA, 29 H
• Figueroa in 2009: In majors: 0-1, 6 IP, 4.50 ERA, 5 H In minors: 0-2, 21 IP, 2.57 ERA, 11 H

Niese has pitched three games in the major leagues, with two poor starts and one excellent outing.  His first and third starts saw Niese on the mound for only three innings, letting up five and six earned runs respectively.

Niese’s best outing came against the Braves, where he turned in eight shut-out innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out seven.

I guess the Mets are looking for something of a shock to put into their starting rotation.  Youth may be one way to do it.  I look forward to watching Niese pitch and hope he can turn in something similar to his start against the Braves.

Johan Santana’s strikeouts by start

This looks like one of those SAT questions, “What will come next in this pattern…?”

Should Mets fans get used to at least seven strikeouts per start from Johan Santana?  Seems it, so far.

I’m really having way too much fun with Microsoft Excel lately.  Look for it to become a trend.

Perez to DL, Niese to start Friday

Oliver Perez has been put on the disabled list with right knee tendinitis.  Perez had an MRI on his knee on Wednesday, according to Adam Rubin.

Perez will be placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 3.  Perez had an MRI on his knee on Wednesday, according to Adam Rubin.

Instead of Ken Takahashi making the start in place of Perez on Friday, the Mets will call up Jon Niese from Triple-A Buffalo to make the start against the Pirates. 

Niese is 0-2 in five starts for Buffalo this season.  He has a 6.55 ERA after letting up 16 earned runs in 22 innings.  He’s allowed 29 hits and walked eight while striking out 25 batters.

Game Recap: Mets 1 – Phillies 0

The Mets only had two hits, but one of the Phillies three errors led to the blue and orange’s win in New York.

The New York Mets (13-13) beat the Philadelphia Phillies (14-11) by a score of 1-0.

The Mini Recap

Johan Santana dominated once more.  10 K’s over seven innings, allowing only two hits.  Pedro Feliciano allowed a hit in the 8th, but nothing else, even tallying a strikeout with a runner on third to end the inning. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close it out.

Chan Ho Park matched zeros with Santana, even taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning.  The Mets eventually broke through on an error in the seventh inning, scoring the game’s sole run.  Thankfully, it was just enough.

For the full recap, please read Santana, Park Match
Zeroes; Mets Win On Error.

Live Chat: PHI @ NYM

Another rousing room of words.  New York Mets baseball fans, join in!

(Chat removed, as usual.)

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!