According to the New York Post, “Jerry Manuel doesn’t expect to have his roster finalized until Sunday’s deadline” but Raul Valdes “continues to impress the manager as a possible lefty specialist.”
Man. Normally I’d say there’s no way any Major League team is picking its roster based on gut decisions made off its final couple of Spring Training games. But I’ve been following the Mets for the last few years, and I know that all bets are off when it comes to guessing how this team filling out its roster.
Who is Raul Valdes? I was going to investigate, but in poking around, I found that James Kannengieser used all the same resources I planned to use in a post to Amazin’ Avenue earlier this week. So check that out.
But the most important thing about Raul Valdes is that he’s not Jenrry Mejia, and so his inclusion on the Major League bullpen would, in theory, take up one of the spots Mejia is fighting for. So that’s cool.
According to ESPN New York, Mejia is “60/40” for a spot in the Major League bullpen. Huh. All the comments from Omar Minaya and Manuel sure make it sound a lot more toward the 60 side (and so not 60 at all, then), but I’ll hold out hope for the 40.
Actually, it’s beautiful today, so I’m holding out hope for a 40 regardless.
But only because they discontinued the 64.
Tedquarters 
Sean Green was impressive yesterday. He had great movement on his pitchers and has shown marked improvement his last couple of outings.
I’d go K-Rod, Pedro, Nieve, Calero, Green, Figgy and Takahashi. Iggy, Valdes and Parnell to AAA. Mejia to AA. I was excited about Iggy because Keith Law and Baseball Prospectus both liked the signing, but he hasn’t shown me anything yet and I would make him pitch his way on to the team right now. But you know that the guy with biggest contract will make the team b/c that’s the Met way.
Here’s my take on the bullpen: (if I ruled the world)
IN:
K-Rod
Feliciano
Takahashi
Figgy
Nieve
BUBBLE: (for last 2 slots)
Green (inconsistent as always, saved his best for last…nasty today)
Valdez (has looked good every outing)
Calero (has looked better than Parnell & Igarashi)
I would go with Valdez & Green while Calero builds up his arm strength.
Did not show enough to make the team:
Parnell (giving up runs every time out…cannot do that in 8th innings)
Igarashi (giving up runs every time out…cannot do that in 8th innings)
Dessens (never really had a chance)
Mejia should be starting at AA
DL:
Escobar
IN:
K-Rod
Feliciano
Takahashi
Figgy
Nieve
Green
Valdez
And because this time around there are a few potential starters in the pen this year.
IN:
John Franco
Bob Ojeda
Alejandro Pena
Wally Whitehurst
Jeff Musselman
Julio Machado
Jeff Innis
Julio Valera is going to have to improve his K:BB rate if he wants to make this bullpen.