Reviewing the bullpen options for the Mets from the AA and AAA level –
a look at the Las Vegas 51s pen today, and I’ll try to have the B-Mets post up
by tomorrow.
After
many questions surrounding the pen coming into 2015, the Mets have had one of
the top bullpens in the major leagues this year – Fangraphs has the Mets
relievers at a 3.14 ERA after their series in Baltimore, which is 6th
in the majors – but they’ve been stumbling lately – they have a 4.34 ERA over
the last 30 days, which is 20th in the majors. Jenrry Mejia’s second
suspension was an unexpected blow, and while Bobby Parnell’s struggles were a
little more predictable – he struggled a lot in A+/AA before coming up, and he
didn’t have his normal upper-90’s velocity – the Mets still ran him out there
for 23 appearances (19.1 IP).
Fortunately, Logan Verrett has
returned in place of Parnell, which is not something I would have imagined
typing back in March (when Verrett wasn’t even on the Mets), but he was great during
his first stint with the Mets this year, and he’s been strong in Las Vegas
since. The Mets are getting further good news for the pitching staff down in
AA, where Erik Goeddel has looked great during his 2 appearances (GIF’s from
8/16 here,
details from 8/19 here),
topping out at 94 MPH with his heater on Wednesday night. Also, down in Port
St. Lucie Rafael Montero and Steven Matz are in various states of rehab, and at
least Matz is expected to return this year.
While
Verrett and Goeddel should help boost the pen in the short term, the Mets will
look to add reinforcements once the rosters expand in September, and may wish
to look internally for a lefty option in the mean time if Eric O’Flaherty
proves unreliable. I reviewed the seasons and stuff of the internal left-handed bullpen
options from the Las Vegas 51s below (righties here), and I also give my opinion as to whether
they would be a good fit for the Mets in September.
