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Figgy Makes Case for 2010
It may sound crazy, but izzit possible Nelson Figueroa is “late blossoming” before our very eyes?
The easy answer is a resounding NO.
• No b/c he’s too old to suddenly become good now
• No b/c we’ve seen him get absolutely obliterated before
• No b/c he went unclaimed him off waivers which means no one else wanted him…
And so on…
Say what you want but the Brooklyn Boy just threw a friggin’ GEM against the Cubs. Talk as they may about the wind blowing in but that didn’t help him register TEN(!) strikeouts.
1R, 6H, 2BB, 10K in 7IP
Isn’t it possible throughout all of Figgy’s journeys playing baseball across the globe that he’s honed his craft enough to get big league hitters out on a consistent basis?
BMF thinks it’s a possibility.
Maybe after studying the science of pitching for so many years, on so many levels he can now get by on guts and baseball street smarts alone.
Maybe it’s all coming together at the right time for him. Perhaps Figgy’s reached the perfect crossroads of experience, preparation, talent, intelligence and opportunity.
I’m not saying Figs will be a number 2 or 3 guy but couldn’t he become an effective, and cheap #5 guy? A 5 that can beat most other #5’s?
Jamie Moyer has no better “stuff” than Figs. Moyer’s just able to place the ball effectively and has earned the chance to try and get big leaguers out with his junk. Which he does by out thinking the batters.
I’m certainly not holding my breath for long-term success from the BK Fig but now that he’s finally getting a shot to compete at this level… who knows.
Stranger things have happened in this great game of baseball…
… At least I think so…
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Big BMF shout out to CMF aka Julie Rubes for the great pix
Click her images to see more from this weekend in ChiTown at chicagometsfan.com
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Mojo Kitty rocks the batting helmet for luck!
August 31st, 2009 at 8:38 am
Wilpons - Please sell the team
August 31st, 2009 at 9:17 am
I guess after a season of Livan Hernendez, Tim Redding, and Ollie Perez even Nelson Figueroa looks good. But then again so would Anthony Young…
August 31st, 2009 at 9:57 am
I always thought he never got enough of a chance, a la Heath Bell who was on the shuttle between the Mets and minors too much. He never got enough of a look either. So I would like them to give him a legit chance to win the number 5 sport next year. He throws strikes, at least yesterday he did, and that is more than can be said for the rest of the rotation who leads the majors in walks. Hell, Figgy throws a nice variety of pitches and can toss the fastball up there at 90-92. He’s the anti-Ollie.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:33 am
What sort of pitcher would typically occupy the #5 role on a team? A guy with an era around 5 who, with a decent offense and defense, could give you 6 innings in most starts and win perhaps 10 games at most. Does Figgy accomplish that? Sure. Hopefully he is willing to do it for an appropriate #5 starters’ salary which is far less than what Livan Hernandez was making.
I have a soft spot in my heart for him anyway. He’s an alumni of the school I teach at in Brooklyn and comes back to visit annually. But to be honest, I have no idea why the Mets wasted money on Hernandez and Redding. Neither is remarkably better than Figgy and the money wasted between the two would have brought in a legit corner outfielder in last season’s off season.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Figueroa a starter for a NY team? What are you, part retarded? Maybe you would advocate signing Mo Vaughn again and when he hits a home run after 80 games write a post describing how he has “found his swing?” Please put a LITTLE thought into what you write.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:52 am
I hope we do something with him. We’re such saps for giving away Manhattan for somebody else’s baubles (that’s a myth anyway, right?).
We could really use another pitcher with baseball smarts in this rotation. Emphasis on REALLY. Why do we never see our pitchers over the hump from hurlers to pitchers? Why do we dump them when they start to realize they are aging out of their fastball and have to start pitching smart??
Right now Santana’s our only crafty pitcher. I think Maine could be in that league, he’s got that kind of confidence. I love Big Pelf and I hope he’s ours forEVAH but I said a year or two ago, that he wasn’t born with pitching confidence and that’s the hardest thing for a pitcher to acquire. I wish we could get Joe Smith back (now that he’s healthy); he could have been one of those dominant-type guys, given the chance. I don’t want to lose Figgy; he knows how to stay out there.
August 31st, 2009 at 11:41 am
Nellie Figs has major league talent. Hes a fringe player, probably not a guy you’d want on a playoff team, but hes certainly as good or better than a lot of 5th starters or 5th/6th inning bullpen guys in baseball. I’d be ok with the Mets giving him a shot if it means we don’t have to watch Redding or Livan next year.
August 31st, 2009 at 12:13 pm
“Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.” That’s really all that yesterday’s game really shows you about Figueroa. I mean, I like Figueroa–it’s fun to root for a homeboy, but let’s get real here. He’s 35 years old. He’s been in and around the bigs for a decade, during which time he’s managed to win all of twelve games. As a fan site, sure it’s terrific to rally behind our guys and root for their unexpected success. But as an organization, the Mets have to stop doing that. The Mets can’t really afford to engage in too much wishful thinking for the future. They need to either look to young potential, to established players, or to a combination of both when seeking to address their weaknesses for next year and beyond. Perhaps they have no one else to pitch at the moment, so we’ll see Figgy a few more times next month. But please, let’s turn the page on him for next year. I’d rather be like Oakland and see a rookie on the hill every single day then invest a lot of starts in has-beens and never-will- bes.
August 31st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I love Figgy…he’s got decent pitches with a ton a movement, I love his attitude and his desire.
But in reality, he shouldn’t be anything more than a 6th starter or long man in the pen with a spot start or two.
If you look at how our rotation potentially looks next year…you got Santana, Pelf and Oh’Pea.
I know that Oh’Pea sucks and a lot of you would love to dump him. But living in reality, you’re not gonna release a guy making 12mil for two years. I believe that next year, Ollie will bounce back and be more of the 2007-08 version of Ollie than the 2009 version. It’s still not great, but it’s better.
Who knows the future of Maine. I love the guy, but I’m not sure he’ll ever be healthy enough to be relied on to be an effective starter.
You got Parnell and Neise who could/should be penciled in to the rotation next year.
The reality is, if Figgy or Redding (or anyone besides Oh’Pea, Neise or Parnell) are looking at the 5th starter, then that means we got serious injury concerns or Omar failed to upgrade the rotation with a legit #2 starter.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
he’s had two decent starts
calm down
August 31st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Figgy is decent. I think he’d make good long relief and an occasional spot starter. As for a regular 5th man, as much as I love him, i have to say no. Of course the way this season is going, he’s easily a number 2 or 3.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I was thinking about who the Mets could sign to fill the #2 spot in the rotation.
The best (and only legit #2) is Rich Harden. Erik Bedard might be a FA (he might have another year of arbitration, not sure) his numbers look good, but he’s on the 60 Day DL (I don’t know why) but seeing that he’s 30, he’d probably be too big of an injury risk.
I’d love to pry Roy Halladay away from Toronto. But he’d cost a lot in prospects. (I’d trade Pagan, Parnell, F-Mart and a Reese Havens type) But you’d have to sign Halladay to an big extension and you’d limit you’re spending flexibility and hurt your farm at the same time. (I’d still try to do it)
One option that hasn’t been talked about lately is Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano is still a great pitcher, he’s under contract for severial years and still young (28). I get the felling that Chicago (especially Sweat Lou) is sick of him and it’s probably a mutual feeling.
I think that the Mets could get him cheep, either buy taking on his full contract (about 18mil for four years) or paying part of it and trading one or two players.
I think that the change of scenery would have a huge positive impact on him and he seems like the type of pitcher who’d thrive pitching in NY.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
USMF - isn’t Halladay a FA after this season? I thought that was the whole reason why they were trying to dump him this trading deadline so they wouldn’t have to give him a big pay day next season. If so, I think you have officially lost your marbles with the prospects types - I mean, isn’t the predicament we are in NOW have directly to do with us having none? Giving up Reese Havens for an aging and soon-to-be-declining Halladay is insanity officially. If he’s a FA, so be it. Throw money at him, not prospects. PS I still heart you!
August 31st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Halladay is a FA after next season. What makes it hard to get him is because Toronto doesn’t have to trade him.
Because of his over numbers and more because of his ability to work quick and eat a ton of innings, I feel he’s probably the best pitcher in baseball. His value goes beyond the time he’s on the mound.
I losing faith that F-Mart can stay healthy enough to play. we got three solid SS prospects, so we could afford to trade one of them and we could lose Parnell if it meant getting a legit top of the rotation starter.
If people wanted to give Lowe 15mil per for four years at the age of 36, then you shouldn’t object to 21mil for 6 years to a 32 year old ace like Halladay.
Coop, I still Heart you too…btw I actually watched DH3 yesterday and thought of you
August 31st, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Mt Olympus - Father of Apollo - Don’t F**K With me or I’ll throw a lightning bolt up yo’ a$$ - ZEUS!!!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 5:00 pm
You got a problem with that!?!
August 31st, 2009 at 10:35 pm
John Lackey will be a free agent. There’s talk that the Angels traded for Kazmir not only for this year and to pitch against the Red Sox, but because he’s under contract for a couple more years and can fill the hole if they let Lackey walk. Wouldn’t that be great… getting an ace because of Scott Kazmir?
September 1st, 2009 at 9:44 am
Wilpons selling the Mets is probably the only way we’ll be able to get rid of Minaya and Perez.
And, perhaps new owners will spring for 2 reliable starting pitchers.
I think the current team is doing quite well at bat and in the field given the dreadful pitching.
In 2010 I’d like to see Putz and Delgado gone. And, perhaps Castillo and Reyes.
We need another strong bat. I’d keep Angel Pagan, Beltran should be back, and Francoeur has been a blessing.
Murphy is doing better and better at first; keep him there. And, recognize that he’ll never be a strong bat.