I know ERA isn’t the best way to evaluate pitchers, but it’s the most widely understood. Here are three charts, breaking down the NL East pitching staffs by starters, relievers and combined using the ERA stat.
First, the starters…
Now the relievers…
And now combined…
Last night I appeared on the Seven Train To Shea radio show with Matt Pignataro and Greg Tortora.
We discussed a plethora of Mets topics, from possible trades, internal pitching options, Gary Sheffield, Omir Santos and more. Click above to take a listen, I’m around for the first 25 or so minutes.
Thanks to Matt and Greg for a great show.
J.J. Putz is struggling.
In 27 games this season, Putz has already walked 18 batters. In 2006 and 2007, he walked only 13 batters the entire year.
In 28 1-3 innings, Putz has struck out 19 batters. In 78.1 innings in 2006, Putz struck out 104 batters that faced him.
He also may be pitching injured. We know Putz has a bone spur in his arm, which you are able to play through if the pain isn’t bad. Putz got a cortisone shot in his arm to help the pain, and he came back and looked excellent. Now that the shot is further and further in his past, he may be pitching in pain again and it’s affecting his performance.
Putz is sporting a 3.81 ERA, not bad by any means. But as the Mets 8th inning guy, I think they can do better. Bobby Parnell, the young rookie, has posted a 2.11 ERA. Though he’s walked nine, he’s also struck out 19 in 21 1-3 innings.
As it stands now, I’d be more confident seeing Parnell enter for the 8th inning, in the higher pressure situations. I don’t know if Putz is pitching in pain or not, but something just isn’t right with him, and it shows.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If there’s a market for Putz, the Mets should consider trading him away.
They were unsure of what they had in Parnell, but he has quickly blossomed into an integral part of the bullpen. Putz could net the Mets a player that they may be missing right now and I think they could live without him.
Putz has a team option for $10.5 million for next year, way too much to pay a set-up guy. It’s highly unlikely he’s with the Mets beyond the year.
Keep Putz pitching in the seventh inning, then entertain offers for him once the deadline approaches. If he can stay healthy, he might be the key to getting the player the Mets may need down the stretch.
In the latest poll, I asked fans if they liked the move of Daniel Murphy to first base.
Here are the results:
Murphy has looked decent at first so far, with somewhat of an expected learning curve. Unfortunately, outside of his five RBI game this past week, Murphy hasn’t been hitting much.
Since taking over at first base, Murphy has four hits in his last 24 at bats with three walks and five RBIs. That’s a .167 batting average. Three of those hits and all of those RBIs came on May 27 against Washington.
If the Mets are liking what the see out of Murphy, they may be inclined to stick with him at first base next year and beyond. Hopefully his bat comes back sometime soon.
Next poll: What to do with Tim Redding?
-Jerry Manuel on John Maine’s struggles through Sunday’s game
The Mets actually won a rubber game.
The New York Mets (28-21) beat the Florida Marlins (23-28) by a score of 3-2.
John Maine, who has to leave the game before the seventh inning, allowed only three hits and two walks. He had thrown 82 pitches and struck out five before leaving after coming down with symptoms of a stomach virus that has been passing through the team.
Pedro Feliciano was rushed into the relief role, but did not allow a hit through his inning of work, also striking out one. J.J. Putz entered for the 8th inning, but struggled. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk. One run scored with Bobby Parnell on the mound. Parnell allowed a run-scoring single to Hanley Ramirez, but then struck out Jorge Cantu and induced a fly ball to end the inning.
Francisco Rodriguez came in for the ninth and struck out the side coupled with one walk.
Before Angel Pagan strained his right groin, forcing him to leave the game, he drove in the Mets first run in the third inning with a double to left field.
The Mets struck again in the seventh getting a pair of RBI doubles from Fernando Martinez and Omir Santos respectively.
The Mets lost centerfielder Angel Pagan in the fourth inning and John Maine in seventh to different injuries.
Pagan, already subbing in for Carlos Beltran who was suffering from a stomach virus, pulled up lame chasing down a Hanley Ramirez double. Pagan was visibly upset at the injury and tested the leg with Jerry Manuel and Ray Ramirez looking on.
Pagan was later said to have “right groin discomfort.” He will go for an MRI but Jerry Manuel isn’t too confident. The Mets list him as day-to-day, but he thinks it will be more than that.
Maine, who was cruising, had to leave the game at the start of the seventh before throwing a pitch. Maine had given up only three hits over six innings.
Maine is just another casualty from the stomach virus that is going around the team. It started with Gary Sheffield, moved to Beltran and now took down Maine.
Join in and chat during the rubber game between the Marlins and the Mets.
(Chat removed, as usual.)
Carlos Beltran’s stomach is acting up again, keeping him out of the lineup today. Beltran was forced to leave Saturday’s game with the same ailment. Angel Pagan will take over in centerfield.
Game Chat will be up at 1 p.m. Join in!
-Jerry Manuel on the lineup he put on the field yesterday.