MIAMI – Since one Bobby Jones worked out pretty well with six shutout innings last night, the Mets are going to try another one today.
Jersey Bobby Jones, the local lefty who was called up from Norfolk after last night’s 2-0 loss, will make his Mets’ starting debut this afternoon
against the Marlins. To make room on the roster, the Mets have sent down reliever Jim Mann.
The lefty Jones was chosen to make the start over Grant Roberts, who the Mets think needs to fine-tune his stuff, and Pat Mahomes, who the team likes in his long relief role.
The decision to have Jones start today (and possibly Sunday against the Yankees, unless the Mets opt to bring Mike Hampton back on three days’ rest) says more about alleged top pitching prospect, Roberts, who is being passed over than it does about Jones.
The 22-year-old Roberts probably would have gotten the call if not for his poor Triple-A outing (32/3 in-
nings, three runs) on Friday.
“[Jones] has some stuff,” pitching coach Dave Wallace said. “He has experience and he is throwing the ball very well. I was talking to Rick [Waits, Norfolk’s pitching coach] and he’s throwing the ball pretty good.”
The 28-year-old Jones was called up earlier this season and pitched one shutout inning of relief against the Brewers. In his major-league career he is 15-19 with a 5.90 ERA. At Triple-A this season, he is 7-3 with a 4.11 ERA. The Mets acquired Jones, who is from East Rutherford, from Colorado in the Masato Yoshii deal.
The left-hander hasn’t started in three weeks. He was called up to the Mets June 12, was sent down June 22, and had only pitched 12/3 innings of relief for Norfolk since returning to the Tides. That was last Friday, when picked up the win in place of Roberts.
Jones, who finished fourth out of four competitors for the No. 5 starter spot in spring training, has tried to work on keeping his composure.
“He gets real emotional,” Wallace said of Jones. “He gets really upset when things don’t go well and that impedes his progress sometimes. That’s our job to try to work within those parameters and learn them.”
Roberts is an enigma. Most agree he has the arm, but his temperament and work ethic have been questioned by the Mets in the past. But while they have said they have seen an improvement in that area this year, Roberts is only is 4-5 with a 4.69 ERA at Triple-A.
“He has really improved his breaking ball,” Wallace said. “His changeup and curve, talking to Rick Waits, are coming along. I don’t know if they are where you would want them to be, or is his command. You have to have consistent command.”
