Mets Bullpen Construction

Metsblog reports:

According to the New York Times, "The Mets have discussed keeping the veteran right-hander Elmer Dessens as a long reliever."

Dessens has thrown just one inning in two appearances since returning from the World Baseball Classic.

…it appears that dessens, Brian Stokes, Darren O'Day and Fernando Nieve are essentially competing for the final two spots in the bullpen, to be teamed with Bobby Parnell, J.J. Putz, Sean Green, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez…

…i still rank them as o'day, then stokes and dessens, and then nieve… o'day gives a different look and pitch to both lefties and righties, plus he's a Rule 5 pick, so i see him as being pretty close to a lock…

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For the record, here...

I don't understand the logic here. If options is going to be a factor, then Parnell should be the man out of the picture. For what its worth, I don't think Parnell is ready. His spring stats have been pretty weak, a lot of walks, and I don't think he's ready. I don't buy the hype.

As for the rest of the pen, I rank them like this: K-Rod, Putz, and Feliciano as locks. I think Stokes and O'Day should be locks too, considering we lose them if we waive them. That would leave Parnell, Dessens, Green, and Nieve competing for two spots.

I don't want Nieve within a mile of my roster. So he is out. Then I think Green makes the team as we traded for him and he can get righties out and has potential. Then between Parnell and Dessens, I guess it depends what you think of Dessens and if he has anything left. I don't think so, but I don't watch him pitch.

I just think the logic above is all messed up. If you don't want to lose a guy, you option Parnell down. Personally, I think Stokes today is what Parnell could be -- considering losing him is silly.

Poor Aaron Heilman

Here's the news:

"Lou Piniella announced Thursday that Sean Marshall will be the Cubs'
fifth starter to begin the year, getting the nod over Aaron Heilman,
who'll be in the team's bullpen. The big lefty posted a 3.86 ERA and a
1.27 WHIP mostly out of Chicago's bullpen last season."

Wow.  Aaron Heilman just can't catch a break.  Forced into the bullpen
for three years with the Mets, despite proving (to me) that he can
start.  IN 2006, he actually got the chance to compete for a starting
role, against Brian Bannister.  He posted a sick 1.59 ERA, striking
out 14 and walking only one.  He lost.

This year, competing against Sean Marshall, he has compiled a 1.32
ERA, with 16 strikeouts and 4 walks in 13 innings.  He lost.  Someone,
please tell me what this guy has to do to win a freaking starting job.
 The Mets will take him back!!!  We're stuck with Livan Hernandez!!!
WHYYY