Relievers given defined roles...

Anthony DiComo, of www.mlb.com, writes about Jerry Manuel telling his relievers that they now have defined roles, as to when they should expect to be used, within the bullpen.

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080622&content_id=2981232&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

One constant during Willie Randolph's tenure as Mets' manager was his refusal to assign regular roles to his relievers. Other than closer Billy Wagner, who worked the ninth inning, no Mets reliever owned a defined job out of the bullpen.

So-called eighth-inning setup men Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez often pitched in the sixth and the seventh. Specialists such as Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano pitched more than an inning at a time. Together, their roles melted together into uncertainty.

But no more. Interim manager Jerry Manuel said Saturday that he's in the process of defining roles for all his pitchers, and that they won't stray far from those posts. Wagner is the closer. Sanchez is the setup man. Smith and Feliciano are the right-handed and left-handed specialists, respectively.

"I would rather those guys stay as short as possible," Manuel said.

So no more questions, no more confusion.

(Hallelujah ! Thanks, Jerry. Even though these are professionals, who should be available whenever asked, relievers just feel more comfortable when they know in advance when they may be used, and can prepare, mentally and physically.)

Heilman's role has taken the biggest hit, as he won't pitch in as many pressure situations. Sanchez's role, conversely, has grown in significance. And if Wagner closes out multiple games in a row, then Manuel might give some stray save opportunities to Sanchez.

"As many people as you can get involved in winning," Manuel said, "the better you are."

Manuel's system, of course, only works as well as his starting pitching. As long as the starters are pitching into the seventh and eighth innings, Manuel will have the freedom to keep his bullpen roles intact. And that's another reason why he and pitching coach Dan Warthen are encouraging their starters to pitch deeper and deeper into ballgames.

(Terrific ! Manuel has already said he wants to see pitchers throw 7 or 8 innings per start, if possible, and that he’ll have to work on changing that mind set of pitchers looking to the bullpen for help, after 6 innings or 90-100 pitches.)

Mike Pelfrey, the youngest and most physically imposing member of the rotation, has been doing just that lately. Slated to start Sunday's series finale against the Rockies, Pelfrey has averaged 112 pitches over his last four outings -- which to him is a point of pride. He'd rather give the Mets a long, solid outing than a short, spectacular one.

"If you're still in the game after eight innings, then your team is still in the ballgame," Pelfrey said. "Otherwise you wouldn't be in it. "But you're not going to go deep into games if you're not throwing strikes."

(Amen, Big Pelf ! Keep being a workhorse. The wins will eventually come.)

He'd do well to throw strikes -- and quality strikes -- against the Rockies, who batted around during a six-run inning against Pedro Martinez on Saturday. They'll counter with rookie Greg Reynolds, who has won two of his past three decisions.

(I agree with Manuel’s thinking. Wagner, Sanchez, Smith & Feliciano should be the “short” relievers, typically one inning or less. Looking ahead to 2009, the Mets should have Santana, Maine & Pelfrey in the rotation. Pedro, Perez & El Duque will probably not be on next year’s team. I would try to stretch out the arms of Heilman & Schoeneweis as often as possible, using them as “long” relievers, with Vargas. Some combination of Vargas, Heilman & Schoeneweis (all of whom have experience as starters) may be needed to compete for the starting rotation next season, to fill out spots after Santana, Maine & Pelfrey.)