What a Putz!

Though you wouldn't know it by the Jobber article right below this (a MUST read by the way), we at NYaT pride ourselves on our excellent statistical analysis. Baseball, afterall, is the most heavy stats game there is. In no other team sport does an individual "matchup" exist like it does in baseball. So what do I have for you today? A nearly statless rant about one of New Yorks finest, Joseph Jason Putz.

With the winter acquisitions of the Putz and Frankie Rodriguez (who, btw, is on record saying he doesn't like being called K-ROD anymore - so maybe stop using it, SNY?) Met fans had grand visions of games shortened down to 7 innings. Spirits were running high - not since 2007 had New York seen such a dynamic 8/9 inning combo (I am, of course, referring to Jobber/Rivera). Putz, as advertised, sported a 97 MPH fastball to complement a nasty split-finger. Frankie would bring a starters repertoire with a closers edge to the 9th. Things were finally lookin up for Metland, on paper that is.

What have we actually seen, now also a third of the way into the season? JJ Putz, as many feared, has become the putz. That 97MPH fastball? Try 92. That split-finger? Well you can't throw it without the 97MPH fastball to complement it as it will not deceive a hitter and entice a swing-and-miss. So is this a case of Kaz Matsui? Did the Mariners, all the way out in Seattle - sell the Mets on a guy and then pull a bait and switch? (I still maintain this HAS to have been what happened with Kaz Matsui)

I think JJ Putz is hurt right now. Reports out of Seattle are that he is a gamer and will pitch hurt and not tell anyone. Well, if that is the case, doing so is now hurting the Mets. A putz at 50% is not as good as Stokes at 100%. The Mets have a lot of good options in the pen right now. Running the Putz out there is just not one of them. So Jerry, do us all a favor - On a night that our double AA ball offense manages to put up 5 runs, don't hand the ball to a guy who is clearly not right, mentally or physically.