Big Denny

I just wanted to say something about Heilman before I go into the rest of the pen. In know there are a lot of haters on this board but has anyone watched this guy lately? He's been dominant lately and really hasn't been that bad all year with the exception of few untimely long balls. However, his hits to innings pitched and his strikeout to walk ratio have been very good and the guy, unlike Joe Smith and his wonderful ERA, actually strands runners.

So my question is this. Now that the honeymoon with Joe Smith is over, does anyone think we can realistically trade Heilman as has been discussed? I mean, aside from Wagner and Feliciano, there is nobody else in that pen you can trust at all. So, even if we replaced Heilman with someone equal or better, say Cordero, we'd still be in basically the same boat. My solution is to not only keep Heilman, but to go out and get someone like Cordero in addition to him.

OK, now for the rest of the pen. Don't you guys get sick of being down a run or two or three with a chance to get back in it, only to have one of the usual suspects widen the lead? It never fails. I just don't get why they use these guys unless we are up or down by five or more. I mean, if you are down two runs with a chance to come back, why don't you use the same pitcher you'd use if you were up two runs? If a guy isn't good enough to be used in that situation, he shouldn't be on the team. Granted, every team has one of these guys but we have three. Since Sele is the long man we should keep him but we need to jettison Mota, Shoeneweis or both fast.

The bottom line is that we need pen help and that means letting someone go. If we can't get rid of Mota or Schoeneweis then send Smith to the minors and get someone else here who can pitch friggin ASAP.

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"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence". Frederick Douglass.

Deleted User

IMO, the pen is the one place where we as fans can reasonably expect Minaya to make a move.

Big Denny

Realistically, it's one of the only paces where we actually can make a move. I don't see us doing anything at second and I'd rather go with Gotay unless we could get Loretta. The outfield would be nice but again, I don't see us getting someone major like Griffey and, even so, we have the Green and Alou dilema to deal with. Now, if Alou isn't back by the deadline then it's a different story, although I'm not going to cry with Lastings in there.

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"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence". Frederick Douglass.

Deleted User

I'm like anyone else when it comes to the splashy move...it's exciting and fun to see. I just don't think anything major will happen with NY, unless a rival does something first, and even then...I doubt Minaya will panic and trade just to trade.

Strengthen the bench and the bullpen, if a 2B can be had on the cheap, fine, if not, no big deal.

CVBTank

I'm surprised you don't see this posted more often but Heilman, for his last 2 full seasons, has been WAY better in the second half. Check for yourself.

Heilman's 3 Year Splits

Pre All Star - 4.51
Post All Star - 2.65

SI Metman

as I said in last night's IGT, I'll leave Aaron alone for now. He's been good and fell back under my radar.

MrHat

Well the thing with Heilman, even when he was struggling earlier, his struggles were mostly in games where the Mets were already behind or well ahead. Pretty much when it was a tight game he was lights out.

I know even when his era was pushing mid-4s, he still hadn't allowed an inherited runner to score.


Smith is going to be a good reliever, but right now he's just hit a wall. He had all of 23 minor league innings under his belt coming into this year....so he really hasnt had a point where hitters have caught on and he has to adjust

Green Must Go

jv3 - is that you?

I don't think you mess with Heilman at this point. I can't believe even SI agrees!

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Wilpon is like the Pharoah in the book of Exodus. And God keeps sending plagues upon the Mets fans. This year is either frogs or locusts.

graves9

Everytime you stop ripping him, and take him out of you avatar he morphs back into a Heilwoman, I say continue the hatefest, plus having an avatar of the craptain just bring bad luck.

No.1

Even I have to leave Feelings alone. He's doing a fine job lately.

15 Day DL Alou

the problem with feelings is health, I think he is pitching through arm problems which is why he can't get the action on his changeup as normal.

I am stunned by the demotion of Smith, to call up Adkins? FEH. I am sure it has something to do with options vs. other players who would need to be DFA'd, but for Adkins? This move is not productive at all.