Did the ESPN hammer already fall on Adam Rubin? (Updated)

Update: Rubin is back to tweeting today.  In fact, he sent nearly the exact same tweet early this morning.

With the launch of ESPNNewYork.com a few days away, Rich Coutinho, who covers the Mets for ESPN 1050 tweeted the new account for Adam Rubin, who left the New York Daily News to join ESPN New York.

The account, @AdamRubinESPN, already has 404 followers in roughly three hours.

Rubin greeted his new followers with a kind thanks and tweeted that the Web site launches Friday.

A half-hour later, Rubin sent another tweet from his BlackBerry, reading: “Not supposed to start yet but some tidbits: Rotation shuffle/Pelfrey not starting Game 2; Santos and F-Mart to AAA; Acosta claimed for Bisons”

But when clicking through to that tweet a few minutes later while I was preparing to write something about Mike Pelfrey being bumped, I was directed to this page, telling me that “This page does not exist!”

Going back to Rubin’s Twitter page, the second tweet he sent, where he mentioned he “wasn’t supposed to start yet” had been deleted.  Below is the screengrab from my TweetDeck, for evidence…Either Rubin pulled it himself or the suits behind ESPN New York got him to pull it, we may never know.  But ESPN New York hasn’t even launched yet and we’re already seeing the tightening of the leash.

Waiver Wire: Mets pick up Acosta, place Misch

The Mets have added Manny Acosta off the waiver wire from the Atlanta Braves.  He has been placed on the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, according to Brian Costa.

Acosta, who has pitched for the Braves for the last three seasons, went 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.714 WHIP in 37 1/3 innings over 36 games in 2009.

Also, the Mets have placed pitcher Pat Misch on waivers.  If he clears, he will be assigned to Triple-A Buffalo, but can be picked up by another team.

Manuel’s Musing

“We're going to have to get our heads together and see what we think fits for getting off to a good start for a championship team.”

-Jerry Manuel on the roster

From the comments: A tag-team rotation

Commenter RonOK presents an idea for the Mets rotation and bullpen…

Perhaps the Mets should present a "tag-team" rotation in 2010.

1. Johan
2. Pelfrey (R) - with Nieve (R) ready for the 5th or 6th every time Yippie starts
3. Perez (L) - with Figueroa (R) ready for the 5th or 6th every time Ollie starts
4. Maine (R) - with Takashi (L) ready for the 5th or 6th every time Maine starts
5. Niese (L) - with Igarashi (R) ready for the 5th or 6th every time Maine starts

I started writing this as a lark, but with the way this pitching staff is developing and the way the roster is coming together, why not?

If you replaced Nieve with Misch, you would have a righty and lefty available for every game depending on how the starter performed in a given game .... if you had to go to the second guy, you would cause some issues with the opposition's batting order since most managers build their lineup based on whether a lefty or righty is starting the game.

Again, I started this as a joke and don’t ever see this happening -- but with this organization, you just never know.

Interesting.  As I replied, I doubt it will ever happen because that’s just not “how baseball works.”

What do you think?

Mets have lots of (good) bullpen depth

Marty Noble penned an article last night with a headline that has since changed.  When published, it read that Pedro Feliciano had “landed” the 8th inning job with the Mets.  Today it reads that Feliciano is “eyeing” that role.

Whether Perpetual Pedro lands that role or not, another nugget caught my eye (and James’ over at Amazin’ Avenue) in terms of the bullpen.

Noble notes that the Mets seem to be high on pitcher Raul Valdes.

If you just said “Who?” out loud to yourself, you’re not alone.  Just take a look at his Baseball-Reference page.

But, for the sake of argument, let’s say Valdes makes the Mets and Feliciano is tabbed as the set-up man.  Where does that leave the bullpen?

Well, with the report that both Sean Green and Bobby Parnell will start the season in Triple-A, that likely leaves these players in the Mets bullpen come Opening Day (expecting Jon Niese is the 5th starter):

• Francisco Rodriguez
• Pedro Feliciano
• Ryota Igarashi
• Hisanori Takahashi
• Raul Valdes
• Fernando Nieve
• Nelson Figueroa

The retaining of Takahashi, Nieve and Figueroa could benefit the team as John Maine continues his struggles of staying on the mound past four or five innings.  These pitchers can all toss multiple innings without batting an eye.  This, with the Mets current rotation question marks, would be a smart and savvy move by the front office to help keep the rotation fresh and (with luck) keep the team winning.

This also bumps young-gun Jenrry Mejia to Triple-A and keeps rehabbing Kiko Calero and Kelvim Escobar in extended Spring Training and/or heading to Buffalo.

With what the Mets would deem five, if not more, major-league ready arms ready to fill in the bullpen come injuries or ineffectiveness, the Mets have a large surplus of bullpen arms ready to fill in.

Link: Photos of McFadden’s Citi Field and more

One of my best blogging buddies, Kerel Cooper of OnTheBlack.com, went down to Citi Field yesterday to get a tour of McFadden’s Citi Field.

He snapped a bunch of photos of both the construction on the bar and many other shots, especially of the new banners and memorial stones that have been placed around Citi Field.

I love it all.  It’s too bad it took a year for this to get done, but it’s there now and we should all revel in it.

Coste picked off waivers by Nats

Chris Coste, who was reported to be on waivers by Adam Rubin, has been selected off of them by the Washington Nationals, according to Brian Costa.

Coste, who signed with the Mets after they were the only team to guarantee him a 40-man roster spot, became much of an afterthought after the team signed Henry Blanco and Rod Barajas.  Many believed he would be the tutor for young Josh Thole at Buffalo.

With Coste to Washington, likely with concerns for ex-Met Jesus Flores’ shoulder, Josh Thole and Omir Santos are likely behind the plate for Buffalo next season.

Goodbye, Chris Coste.  We hardly knew ye.

Fun with spring training stats

We’re nearing the end of spring training and the time of stats and wins not mattering is coming to a close.  So let’s take a look at some of the numbers from 2010 spring training (so far).

• Ruben Tejada leads the team with 53 AB.  He also leads the Mets with 60 plate appearances.
• Fernando Martinez leads the Mets with 18 hits.  Tejada is second with 17.
• Jason Pridie has hit 5 doubles.
• David Wright’s 4 home runs leads the team.
• No one has driven in more runs that Wright or Martinez, both with 11.
• Gary Matthews Jr. has struck out 13 times.  Jason Bay is second with 11.
• Angel Pagan has swiped 4 bases.
• Of the likely five starters, Mike Pelfrey has the highest ERA: 7.97.  John Maine has a 7.94.
• Johan Santana has the highest WHIP with a 1.98.
• Pelfrey has surrendered 8 home runs in 20 1/3 IP (leading the team in innings).
• Sean Green and Oliver Perez walked 8 batters each.
• Hisanori Takahashi has struck out 13 batters, the most by a Met.

And that’s enough meaningless stats for today.  Enjoy your rainy Monday.

Manuel’s Musing

“Too close to call.”

-Jerry Manuel on final bench spot

Rubin: Green and Parnell likely to start at Triple-A

In an e-mail to Matt Cerrone, Adam Rubin, whose stint at ESPNNewYork.com starts next week, said he was told be a major league source that both Sean Green and Bobby Parnell are expected to start the season in Buffalo.

With those two subtractions from the 25-man roster, spots are open for three of Hisanori Takahashi, Nelson Figueroa, Jenrry Mejia or Kiko Calero.  My guess: The first three of those four make the team, with Calero getting called up a few weeks in.

Rubin also notes that Chris Coste is on waivers and can be picked up by any team.  If he doesn’t get picked up, the Mets can send him Triple-A, if Coste chooses to accept it.

Not really a surprise here.

With Green and Parnell heading to Buffalo, one wonders if Parnell might be worked more as a starting pitcher, as was the plan for the second half of last season before it was scrapped.  Green, whose $975,000 contract is guaranteed, will be sitting pretty in Buffalo waiting for a spot to open up on the big squad.

This seriously messes with my 25-man roster predictions.