Let's take a look at some items on the Mets and Phillies..
- The Mets are within their rights to limit the number of games closer Francisco Rodriguez finishes this year, opines Joel Sherman of the New York Post. If K-Rod finishes 55 games this year, his $17.5MM option for 2012 will vest. The player's union will reportedly keep a watchful eye on the situation.
- Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter) finds the timing of Ruben Amaro's four-year extension interesting, as it comes shortly after manager Charlie Manuel agreed to a two-year extension. Heyman wonders if the Phillies wanted to avoid giving Manuel "any ideas", presumably meaning that they didn't want to give him a deal of similar length.
- There has been a lot of talk about how the Phillies might look to replace the injured Chase Utley, but the club can survive without him, writes Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Meanwhile, the club is still without a clear timetable for when their star second baseman will return, writes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
- Mets skipper Terry Collins tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that his club has plenty of starting pitching depth.
In the short term, yes, the Phillies can win without Utley. It would be tough long term, but its not at all farfetched to think that they could if he missed the year either.
Maunel said in his press conference that he only wanted a two year deal because of his age.
And the thing with K-Rod is very funny. It’s hard to see a scenario where the Mets have 55 save opportunities
Doubtful, but he could, presumably, finish 55 games. In 2010 he only had 25 saves, but finished 46 games.
And he most likely would’ve finished 55 games had he not injured his hand, which also led to him being on the restricted list.
If he’s healthy the entire season, it’s definitely possible he could finish 55 games. I just don’t see the Mets allowing it. We’ll probably be seeing K-Rod in the 7th and 8th more than ever this year.
Just pitch him in save situations.
Totally not trying to sound like a know-it-all here but “finishing” a game doesn’t necessarily mean a save opportunity. What it actually does mean I’m not totally clear on, but I know that it doesn’t simply mean a save. I think it’s either not getting taken out in the middle of an inning or simply closing the game but not necessarily getting a save. See what I’m saying?
I think it just means what it says; you finish a game. People are saying saves and I’m not quite sure why. All you have to do is FINISH it. Save op or not.
You just have to throw the last pitch in a game. Whether it leads to an out or walk-off hit is irrelevant, it still counts as a GF either way. The situation doesn’t matter either, just as long as you’re the last pitcher in the game.
Joel Sherman has a right to his opinion no matter how wrong it may be.
Well Sherman is right. The Mets can negotiate in good faith and turn on that when they see fit. It’s an excellent way to tell players they can trust a team will honor a contract. They also have the right to be successfully sued by the players union when they bench KRod in September.
Yes. That was sarcasm. Sherman ranks pretty high among the sportswriters who talk out of their a$$.
I agree with Collins about the pitching depth. Chris Young can be a top 10 NL pitcher, Pelfrey won 15 games last year, Dickey was 7th in the NL in E.R.A. and Jon Niese is very promising. Capuano can just serve as an innings eater in the fifth spot.
http://www.metsnews.net
I don’t doubt that Young can (and hopefully will!) be good, but to call him top 10 is a little much. There is a TON of good pitching in the NL. Halladay Lee Oswalt Johnson Hudson Santana Wainright Carpenter Lincecum Cain etc…
What I was saying was that he HAS been top 10 in the NL. In seasons that he’s started 30 or more games, he is 32-20.
If KRod doesn’t have 55 gf next year, he can file a grievance and an arbitrator can settle it. Last year the Mets didn’t have a lot of save opportunities and he have 46 gf. The Mets are on solid ground here. Or if the Mets need a closer for 2012, they can pick up his option.