Yesterday’s loss to the Nationals was both punishing to the standings and aggravating to those who witnessed it. You can forgive K-Rod for getting beat by someone like Adam Dunn, but when below league average hitters like Willie Harris and Cristian Guzman are the catalyst for a rally you have to draw the line. Those two, along with Nyjer Morgan, have been responsible for two defeats in this series- totally unacceptable. A meltdown from the bullpen was weeks in the making, as K-Rod and company have been begging for a hurting. This, coupled with Jerry Manuel’s bullpen mismanagement, makes me wonder if acquiring a big player like Cliff Lee is really worth it.

The Mets are in a great position with some of the young talent incorporated into the ballclub. Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Bobby Parnell, and Angel Pagan have all played key roles so far this season. I could see a Josh Thole, Jenrry Mejia, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and further down the road, Wilmer Flores being equally as impactful in the near future. Those individuals will be desired by any team the Mets attempt to acquire pitching from at the deadline. With the club so well positioned for 2011, should they risk on a season that seems doomed to fall short because of their manager?

I have waffled on the topic of “fire Jerry” for months. He was days away from what I have been told of being axed back in May. The team’s good play has saved his job, but the question remains whether Manuel can lead this team to the playoffs. Each night the Mets do not match up well in the dugout and the bullpen is proof of this.

Pedro Feliciano has gone from eighth inning man, to whenever a big out man, to situational lefty. Fernando Nieve was used nightly and his arm is now in the witness protection program. Elmer Dessens sometimes pitches long relief or the eighth inning. Raul Valdes was overused in the same fashion as Nieve and is pitching for Buffalo. I fear Bobby Parnell may be the next to go “the Nieve route” when, just days after Jerry said he wouldn’t use him more than an inning, Parnell went into a second inning of work against Florida. I won’t even get into the Jenrry Mejia development debacle. Only K-Rod knows his role, but he has put “rules” on the amount of throwing and usage. In other words, K-Rod is managing himself in the bullpen because I believe he knows his manager can’t be trusted. Just an educated guess, but not a wild thought at all. I realize yesterday’s loss falls on K-Rod, but the bridge leading up to him is largely a mess because the manager can’t figure out how to use his talent. Is an eighth inning setup man (see Octavio Dotel) really going to make a difference?

Even after yesterday’s loss the Mets are on pace for 90 wins. They should be in the conversation for the wild card all year and be a tough out if they make the playoffs. Adding someone the caliber of Cliff Lee, or even Ted Lilly, will enhance their chances of winning the National League. In the end will it matter? When you have a strategic “Pandora’s Box” on the bench you just don’t know what the outcome will be. Ten walk off losses aren’t all Manuel’s fault, but he is one of the team’s weaker links so that stat shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. If you are going to mortgage the future I would feel more comfortable doing it with the team 100% positioned to win a championship. The field manager gives me plenty of reasons to believe they are not. Maybe a fun summer with an eye on 2011, and a new manager, should be the expectations.



Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

Mike Silva

View all posts by Mike Silva
Mikes website

Tags: Bobby Parnell, Elmer Dessens, Fernando Nieve, Francisco Rodriguez, Jenrry Mejia, Jerry Manuel, K-Rod, New York Mets, Pedro Feliciano, Raul Valdes