Is Lance Broadway New York City-bound?

The depth chart on Mets.com is probably the last place I’d be looking for roster news, but as I was glancing at it while working on another story a new name caught my eye.

On the bottom of the bullpen depth chart, Lance Broadway’s name is listed.  No longer on the list is Jon Switzer.

Broadway, as you may remember, was the player the Mets landed when they traded away Ramon Castro.

Broadway is 1-3 in six starts with the Bisons.  He has a 5.97 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 31 2-3 innings.

It seems the people over at Hot Foot spotted this too.

Haven’t heard anything about this possible move yet, so who knows what is up here.  I wouldn’t be against the move if it did come to fruition.

Mets release Wily Mo Pena and Javier Valentin from Triple-A

Via Bisons.com:

New York also announced that INF/OF Wily Mo Pena and INF Javier Valentin have been released.
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Pena hit .276 (40-145) with five home runs and 21 RBI in 41 games with the Bisons.

Valentin, who had been on the disabled list since June 15 with a strained right shoulder, hit .260 (20-77) with three home runs and 10RBI in 23 games with the Herd.

Valentin I can understand due to his shoulder issues.

Why release Pena?  Not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but Pena was second on the team with five home runs.  His 21 RBI was good for third.  His OBP was pretty poor, standing at .296 , but not low enough to warrant a release.

Again, not that huge in the grand scheme of the Mets, but something that might come back to bite them, especially with all these injuries.

Bullpen burnout

Much has been made of the workload of the bullpen lately.  Even Jerry Manuel has admitted to overuse.

“I've probably, to a fault, used them too much,” Manuel told David Lennon.  “What I have to do is probably trust the other people I have down there. If I'm not trusting them, then I should find someone else.”

Selecting the six main members of the bullpen, I took a look at games pitched in, innings pitched and pitches thrown.  No surprise Pedro Feliciano leads the way in games pitched in, but look who has thrown the most innings and pitches.

So Francisco Rodriguez, the closer and most highly paid pitcher in the pen, has thrown the most pitches, with 583 through June 21.  That’s great news.

K-Rod is sitting at 4.19 pitches/plate appearance through 139 plate appearances.  His highest in his career is 4.20 P/PA, when he faced 285 batters and threw 1,198 pitches in 2007.  He’s faced as many as 335 batters and thrown 1,352 pitches, both coming in 2004.  At least he’s somewhat used to it.

We’ve also seen Bobby Parnell’s season hit the skids lately.  He’s allowed six earned runs in his last four innings pitched, sporting a 13.50 ERA over those six games.

The answer to all of this bullpen usage is simple.  The Mets need to get longer outings out of their starters.  For that to actually happen, isn’t so simple.

We, as fans, don’t want to see repeats of 2007 and 2008 with the bullpen falling apart late in the game and late in the season.  Hopefully something changes before 2009 gets added to the list.

Manuel’s Musing(s) for June 21

“I felt that offensively we could still score on their bullpen.  I was obviously wrong about that.”

-Jerry Manuel on the Rays bullpen

“I've probably, to a fault, used them too much.  What I have to do is probably trust the other people I have down there. If I'm not trusting them, then I should find someone else.”

-Jerry Manuel on his own bullpen

“I'll be honest with you: I can't figure it out.  I really don't have [an explanation].”

-Jerry Manuel on David Wright’s offensive season

Happy Father’s Day, Dad

My father is the reason I’m a Mets fan.

He grew up in Newark, New Jersey and has always told me he started off as a Yankees fan.  I block that out of my mind at times, but I am constantly reminded when I glance over my desk to a framed photo of the 1949-1953 World Champion New York Yankees that was passed from my grandfather to my dad.

But my dad eventually saw “the light” and started rooting for the Mets when the Yankees took a bit of a turn in the late-60’s (not that the Mets were any better (except in ‘69, of course)).

When I was born many years later, there was a battle for my baseball allegiance.  My entire mother’s family was, and still are, die-hard Yankees fans.  My dad, the lone Mets fan, had to take them all on to have his son become a Mets fan. 

I can remember the day I got “Metty-Bear,” a small teddy bear dressed in Mets pinstripes.  That was the day my heart was tied to the Mets.

I carried that thing everywhere when I was little and had it in my bed when I would sleep.  To this day, it sits on a stool next to my bed.

My father and I (and now my mother, too) always have the Mets.  Even if he is one of the grumpiest fans I know, we always have the team in orange and blue.

Thank you Dad, for fighting the good fight and making sure I turned out all right.

Happy Father’s Day and Let’s Go Mets!

Carlos Beltran latest Met to go for MRI

On Monday, Carlos Beltran will join the long list of Mets players that have had an MRI in 2009.

Beltran’s right knee has been the problem, as he has a bone bruise below the knee area.  He is starting in centerfield today despite the planned visit tomorrow.

For all the woe Beltran has caught for his various injuries since joining the Mets, he has played at least 140 games every year and played in 161 last season.

Let’s just hope everything is OK with his knee, because losing Beltran might just be the final straw with this beat up Mets team.

Manuel’s Musing for June 20

“When I come to the park, I come to play.”

-Jerry Manuel on rainouts.

From the comments: Update on the Phillies jerseys in Citi Field

Take this with a grain of salt.  First off, we have no idea if the original story is even true, nevermind the update.  Still, it could be real for all we know.  I haven’t heard anything about this, so I’m leaning toward “myth” but read it and make your own decision.

Here’s the original story.

And here’s the comment…

The guy who put the phillies jerseys into the cement at Citifiled got fired last week from Hunt. I didnt agree with what he did but he was a friend of mine through our job. Someone else ratted on him when the story started to spread. They pulled up some of the fanwalk bricks and found one jersey. I dont think they will do the other 2 spots until the season is over. I believe in second chances. He was a good guy who was always willing to lend a hand or money if a guy needed it. It was just a stupid prank. Its not like the foundation was flawed or something like that - I cant believe how mad some people got over this.

Manuel’s Musing for June 19

“It's been a tremendous surprise, obviously a pleasant one.”

-Jerry Manuel on Fernando Nieve

An afternoon with Ron Darling

Gallagher's Steak House and SNY Present: “An Afternoon With Ron Darling: A Benefit for Urban Dove” to Assist New York City's at Risk Youth on Wednesday, June 24, at noon at Gallagher's Steak House

New York — New York Mets 1986 World Champion hurler and SNY Mets television analyst Ron Darlingwill be the guest of honor at a benefit luncheon for Urban Dove to assist New York City’s At-Risk Youth on Wednesday, June 24, at noon at Gallagher’s Steak House in New York City.

“An Afternoon with Ron Darling: A Benefit for Urban Dove” is priced at $75 per person, and includes a three course Power Lunch featuring Gallagher’s Certified Angus Beef steak as the entree, a copy of Darling’s book “The Complete Game,” and an autograph and Q & A session.  Seating is limited, and for reservations contact Gallagher’s at 212.245.5336. Darling’s teammate, pitcher Bobby Ojeda, SNY’s Mets studio analyst, will be a special guest. Gallagher’s is located at 228 West 52nd Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, in Manhattan’s Theater District.

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What:     “An Afternoon with Mets World Champion pitcher Ron Darling: A benefit for Urban Dove”

Who:       1986 World championship pitchers, SNY Mets television analysts Ron Darling and Bobby Ojeda

When:     Wednesday, June 24, 2009

                noon

Where:    Gallagher’s Steak House, 228 West 52nd Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, NYC

Reservations: 212.245.5336

Price:     $75

Subways:  1, 2, 3, Q, N, R, W trains

The menu: Appetizer: Caesar Salad or Onion Soup or fried calamari; Main course: Gallagher's Certified Angus Beef steak or grilled salmon; Sides: cream spinach and Gallagher's potatoes; Dessert: Gallagher's Cheese Cake.