Shaun Marcum = Tim Redding?
I’ve been thinking about Tim Redding all week. Creepy, right? But there was a reason — I was hoping (praying?) that Shaun Marcum would not be the second coming of Redding. After one long awaited start by Marcum, I am left still hoping and/or praying.
Let me explain. In 2009 the Mets signed Redding, selling him as a reliable veteran presence in the rotation. He got injured in Spring Training and we had to wait until the middle of May before he finally made his Mets debut. After three starts he was 0-2 with a 9.20 ERA. I remember thinking, “We waited for this?” He never really got any better, demoted to the bullpen for a while and finishing with a record of 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA. He has not appeared in a major league game since, bouncing around the minors, the independent league, even South Korea with very little success. He is currently pitching in Mexico.
Shaun Marcum was also sold as a veteran who will stabilize the rotation. He got injured in Spring Training and didn’t make his first start until a month into the season. So this is why I was thinking about Redding. The situations were eerily similar. I did not want to have to think, “We waited for this?” again.
But now I might have to because the results from Saturday’s starts were, well, Redding-like — he lasted four innings, allowing three runs on five hits, with three strikeouts and two walks and suffered the loss against the Phillies.
I didn’t see the game (Fox showed the Tigers-Braves game here in sunny Los Angeles), so I can’t say whether Marcum actually looked bad or not, but clearly the results were not there.
Hopefully, Shaun Marcum can pick it up and perform like the pitcher we were promised. If not, Marcum might want to take the opportunity to brush up on his Spanish.
Why did you change the format of the blog? This is JJ, it has taken me forever how to figure this all out… Anyway, Marcum was not bad. Collins took him out way too early and the bullpen puked up the game. He is no Tim Redding.
I had wanted to reply to your recent comments in regards to Sandy Alderson. In my opinion, I think he is doing a pretty good job. Who was he supposed to pick up in the offseason that would propel them into the playoffs? A bizillion dollars for Josh Hamilton? He’s off to a great start… Michael Bourne? Yes, an upgrade over Collin Cowgill but….. He is not the answer. There was nobody out there. If you want to blame anybody about how awful the Mets have been, blame the ownership. Jeff Wilpon is the problem. He is universally hated within the industry. He is a pushy little rich kid know-it all.
Alderson, built the Padres into contenders as well as the A’s. I agree with you that the bullpen sucks . However when he brought in Fat Frankie, most of us thought that was a decent move. Hasn’t worked out. Alderson has not jumped at any knee jerk quick fixes – the type of moves that have plagued the Mets in what seems forever. He is building up the minor league base of talent and I think we have to just grit our teeth for awhile and hope that some of these young kids will pan out.
Don’t forget, they are still saddled with Bay/Santana $$$. (And of course the Bonilla and Saberhagen retirement funds).
The Mets need to emulate the Braves and Cardinals. Two franchises that build from the bottom up by relying heavily on their scouting and minor league coaching. I think Alderson is from the school of thought that dictates bringing in a free agent when the time is right.
Good to have you back, JJ. I switched over to Disqus a couple of months ago. I thought it might be easier. Maybe not!
As far as Alderson, my main problem with him is that he has not made the Mets any better in his time here. Yes, he inherited a bad team saddled with bad contracts. But while shedding those contracts, you’d think he would have made moves to make the team incrementally better, but he has not.
People keep talking about next season, but they won’t be any better then, either. Alderson will have to find three new outfielders, at least one starting pitcher and an entire new bullpen, again. That’s nearly impossible for any GM to do in one off season. Had Alderson slowly acquired quality pieces over the past few years, the team would need only a couple of more players to compete.
I think a creative GM would have been able to make such moves. Alderson is not a creative GM, in my opinion.
Good to have you back, JJ. I switched over to Disqus a couple of months ago. I thought it might be easier. Maybe not!
As far as Alderson, my main problem with him is that he has not made the Mets any better in his time here. Yes, he inherited a bad team saddled with bad contracts. But while shedding those contracts, you’d think he would have made moves to make the team incrementally better, but he has not.
People keep talking about next season, but they won’t be any better then, either. Alderson will have to find three new outfielders, at least one starting pitcher and an entire new bullpen, again. That’s nearly impossible for any GM to do in one off season. Had Alderson slowly acquired quality pieces over the past few years, the team would need only a couple of more players to compete.
I think a creative GM would have been able to make such moves. Alderson is not a creative GM, in my opinion.