Mets surveying young arms for 2013
Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia throws a bullpen session during spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2012) Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa
The Mets may be using their final stretch of games to take inventory of their young arms for 2013, but before Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Phillies, manager Terry Collins said not all of them will have a spot on the Opening Day roster, even as relievers.
"We've got to make sure we've got some insurance, some depth to our rotation,'' Collins said. "Some of those guys are going to have to start someplace.''
Righthander Matt Harvey, who will make the final start of his impressive debut season Tuesday night against the Phillies, is a near-lock to begin next year in the big-league rotation. But the roles aren't as clear-cut for Collin McHugh, Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia, although Collins said each will make at least one more start this season.
Familia has impressed in four relief appearances since his call-up, but Collins said the righthander will get a start late in the season "just so we can see him.''
Viva Las VegasThe Mets signed a two-year player development deal with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, the club announced. The agreement ends the team's affiliation with Buffalo, which will be home to the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate.
Las Vegas plays in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, in which inflated power numbers and ERAs are the norm. But Collins played down the potential effect on pitchers, saying: "The biggest fallacy is that you can't pitch well at high altitude.''
Around the basesThe Mets chose Jeremy Hefner over McHugh to start Wednesday against the Phillies. But Collins said McHugh will get another chance to start . . . Lucas Duda started at first base over Ike Davis against Phillies lefthander Cliff Lee and went 1-for-4 with a double. The Mets want to give the lefthanded-hitting Duda an extended look down the stretch.
