Bullpen Competition Part 2 LHP

Yesterday we looked at the locks for the bullpen which included only one lefty Pedro Feliciano. With hitters like Howard, Utley, Ibanez, Dunn, and McCann in the division the Mets need a second lefty.

Other then Pedro, Johan, and Perez there are only two lefties on the 40-man roster and they are Pat Misch who is part of the fifth starter competition and Jay Marhsall who the Mets are trying to void his waiver because he came to camp with a bum shoulder.

Guys on the 40-Man Roster

• Pat Misch- Pitched well yesterday throwing three scoreless innings, is being looked at as a starter but was initially a reliever with the Mets last year. Finished the year last year with a 4.12 era with the Mets last year but lefties hit .321 against him. The Mets need a sure thing against lefty hitters so Misch isn't going to be the fifth starter and hopefully not the second lefty, he is nice depth in AAA but just isn't a ML pitcher.
• Jay Marshall- The Mets claimed Marshalll off waivers from the Athletics because they really liked is delivery which is very simialiar to a left-handed Chad Bradford. However he showed up to camp with a bad shoulder(previous injury, still lingering from last year), now the Mets are trying to get the waiver claim revoked to open up a spot on the 40- man roster.

Non-Roster Invitees

•  Hisanori Takahashi: The most likely of all the lefty candidates to make the team is being look at as an option for the 5th starter opening. The reason being that he is tougher on righties then lefties because of his change-up and screwball. He proved this in his intrasquad outing by allowing a HR to lefty Jason Pride but striking out four batters with three of them being right-handed hitters. His screwball/change-up is very nasty and made Tatis and Barajas look silly, it reminds me of Hideki Okajima's. Most are speculating that if he isn't the fifth starter he will go down to Buffalo to start.
• Bobby Livingston: Already making a name for himself by throwing 2 2/3 scoreless while striking out 4 in his first Spring outing. I watch the game and he looked very good mixing in a slider to the lefties and change-ups to the RH hitters. He was also able to throw some fastballs by people up in the zone. Granted it was only one outing but he looked good against hitters like Yunel Escobar and Nate McClouth. He has always been a starter in the Minors and even started 10 games for the Reds in 2007, with 4 of his first 6 starts qualifying as quality starts.
• Travis Blackley: A former starter who has been turned into a reliever the last two years who has a career Minor League era of 4.02. Briefly pitched in the Majors with the Mariners in 04' and the Giants in 07'. Also started one game for Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic in 09'. Hasn't pitched yet early on in the preseason.
• Arturo Lopez: Recently booted off the 40-man to make room for Rod Barajas but decided to stick with the Mets organization. Mets claimed him off waivers last year and spent half the year pitching for Buffalo where he finished with a 3.86 era. Pitched 2.1 innings for the Padres last year.

Forgot to mention Neal Musser who is a former second round pick from 1999 of the Mets. He wasn't invited to big league camp but did throw a scoreless inning in yesterdays game.

Prospects

• Eric Niesen- A starter in the Minors last year for Binghamton has gained some buzz in camp with work ethic and off-speed pitches. He threw two scoreless innings yesterday against the Braves and used his curveball quite frequently. He had a 9.2 k/9 inning ratio last year and also only allowed 75 hits in 83 innings. At the age of 24 is getting close to make or break time and I think he will be given a legitimate shot to make this team as the second lefty. It would give the Mets bullpen a different look because his best off-speed pitch is a curveball unlike Feliciano's nasty slider.