Dickey, Takahashi, even Mejia in flotation for rotation
Hisanori Takahashi #47 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during the game against the Cincinnati Reds. (May 5, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
ATLANTA - With R.A. Dickey slotted to start Wednesday night against the Nationals, and Ryota Igarashi expected back from the disabled list early next week, the Mets have a couple of roster decisions to make in the immediate future.
Jerry Manuel said that Tuesday's round of meetings with COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya focused mainly on position players, but they have not fully settled on what to do about their pitching issues, either.
Dickey showed up briefly Tuesday to throw a side session in preparation for Wednesday night's start, but will not be activated until Wednesday, and the Mets were leaning toward placing Jon Niese on the disabled list to make room. Niese suffered what the team described as a "mild" right hamstring strain in the third inning of Sunday's loss to the Marlins, but there is reason for concern because it is the same area as his hamstring surgery of last season.
Finding space on the roster for Igarashi next week could be a little more complicated. The Mets could convince Oliver Perez to accept a demotion to work out his problems at Triple-A Buffalo or choose to send down Jenrry Mejia to stretch him out as a starting pitcher.
Mejia's fate has been discussed during the front-office meetings, but the final decision could depend on how Dickey pitches and Hisanori Takahashi's performance against the Yankees on Friday. If the Mets believe that those two can help solidify what has become a suspect rotation, they will keep Mejia in the majors. If not, they will dispatch him to Buffalo in the hope that he can provide rotation help later in the season.
In regards to Mejia, Manuel said, "We have thought about some things, but we haven't come to any conclusions." The manager also said he prefers to keep Mejia in a relief role at the major-league level, adding, "Right now, I think he's an important part of our bullpen. But we have to discuss all kinds of options when you take one pitcher out of the rotation and another one goes down."
Extra bases
Manuel said that Takahashi could remain in the rotation if he pitches well Friday. "I think it's an audition for him to grab hold of a spot," the manager said . . . Jeff Francoeur was batting eighth in last night's original lineup before he moved up to seventh with the scratch of Rod Barajas. Francoeur had batted as low as eighth 15 times before and four times last season.
