Archive for the ‘Darren O’Day’ Category

Tough luck for Figueroa, who did all he could to help the Mets win, but all he gets is the boot.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

We have quite the tough business here. First of all, we have all of these hopes in the young sidearmer Darren O’Day, and the Mets decide to offer him back to the Angels so they could call up Nelson Figueroa to make a start for the injured Mike Pelfrey. I thought the Mets would have been better served either placing Pelfrey on the Disabled List to be safe, or they could’ve used Brian Stokes, who has made starts before for the club. But instead, the Mets decided to offer O’Day back to the Angels. No word yet if the Angels have accepted him back. My hunch says that he will be back in California before you know it.

You think that would be it, but it isn’t. The Mets made another move after today’s loss to the Brew Crew. Nelson Figueroa, who was only made aware of his promotion what seems like hours ago, has been DFA’d, despite throwing six quality innings and giving up only three runs today. When you have an offense behind you that is supportive, that kind of performance would usually be enough to net someone a victory, but the Mets just couldn’t cash in when they needed to, and it cost Figueroa a lot. Instead of keeping him around, they have called up journeyman lefty Casey Fossum, who has been around. The trade essentially becomes O’Day for Fossum, which I am not in love with. O’Day could deceive, and the National League doesn’t have much exposure to him, but the lefty Fossum has faced everybody and their mother, so you would think that players know the book on him.

There are multiple ways in which this could pan out, but I think the Mets are going to regret this move. O’Day might be going back to California, and today’s start might influence another team to take a shot at Figueroa. You know the Nationals love picking guys up off of the scrap heap. Figueroa could fit in nicely for them.

Poor move, Omar. This is one I just can’t see the plus side with.

The Mets would be smart to stick with Darren O'Day, a rule-five acquistion from the Angels.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

With the addition of Gary Sheffield, the Mets have some new decisions to make. They already made one unplanned decision by sending Nick Evans to Triple A about five days earlier than expected. Originally, the Mets were expected to cut ties with veteran pinch hitter Marlon Anderson, but those plans have been put off for the moment, leaving many to wonder whether or not the Mets will cut Anderson at all.

Let’s first think at some potential alternatives. The two guys who could be next on the pecking order would probably be Darren O’Day and Jeremy Reed. The Mets are high on both guys, and cutting either one would be a major mistake. O’Day would likely be offered back to the Angels, who would stick him in Triple A, unless the Mets can work out a deal to the same themselves. Reed, on the other hand, was acquired as part of the J.J. Putz deal and I am sure the Mets didn’t acquire him just to see him go by the waste side.

I do understand the idea that Anderson may still have something left in the tank, but there just isn’t a proper space for him on this roster any longer. They have plenty of left handed bats off of the bench, and their one need was a power right handed bat who can provide some intimidation. Whether or not you like the move, Gary Sheffield is ideal for the void. He still has a quick bat and can hit the ball well. The only questions that remain are whether or not he can play the outfield and whether or not he can stay healthy.

I would love to see Anderson move on and be successful somewhere else, but he just doesn’t work here. He is getting up there in years, and last season, he showed some signs of his age. The Mets should stick with the younger tandem of Reed and O’Day and focus on what really matters most…the future.

Casey Stengel set the foundation for the Mets on Sports Illustrated.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Well, we have an interesting prediction that hit the wires today. The source is Sports Illustrated. They picked the Mets to defeat the Angels to win the 2009 World Series, which would be their first championship in 23 years. I see that plenty of people have faith in this team, probably because of the addition of Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, but this team still has holes. I am not ready to engrave the World Series rings for them yet.

This team’s lineup is still not settled. I think the bottom of the order currently seems like a black hole. You have automatic outs from spots 7-9, unless Livan Hernandez is on the hill, and the Mets need to be more evenly balanced. It should be interesting to see how Daniel Murphy does in the two hole, because his true value is probably batting seventh. Also, Luis Castillo will be a big wild card. If he hits .280 and has a .340 OBP, he may be solid batting eighth. Dare I say…he may even be pretty good. The guy has something to prove, and New York certainly isn’t going to give him much time to get his stuff in order.

The Mets do not have any body except Pedro Feliciano who has proven that they can get lefties out. They are going to need to trust the young pitchers to get the job done. Darren O’Day, Bobby Parnell and Sean Green will get plenty of chances, because if Feliciano is used like he was last year, he may get burned out sooner than later.

This team is good, and they should be right in the running, but pardon me if I am not ready to crown them kings of the mountain. I just have gotten so used to being the upset victim at the end of the season. The one phrase that has always haunted my brain is this. “There is always next year.” Well, this is the year that the Mets need to get over the hump, and they have the cast of characters to get it done.