When Satoru Komiyama was sent to Triple-A Norfolk, it was so the Japanese right-hander could stretch out his arm for the possible opportunity to start for the Mets.
Komiyama was recalled before last night’s series opener against Cincinnati, but he’s back in the bullpen.
About a week after Steve Phillips said Komiyama wouldn’t be recalled simply to be the club’s long man, the Met GM pulled the trigger on the move. Apparently, Phillips changed his mind after watching Komiyama in person.
Bobby Jones was designated for assignment, meaning he was taken off the 40-man roster and must clear waivers. Single-A infielder Ramon Soler, claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on June 5, was added to the 40-man.
There is a chance Jones’ time in the Mets organization is over.
Komiyama’s numbers were sensational at Norfolk. He was 2-0 with a 0.67 ERA in five starts after he was optioned. He was the International League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 15-21.
“He’s doing what he was doing earlier here,” Met manager Bobby Valentine said. “He was spotting his stuff and changing speeds.”
In contrast, Komiyama was 0-3 with a 4.63 ERA in 21 outings with the Mets, yielding 38 hits in 35 innings. But it was a matter of him being a hotter pitcher at the moment than Jones, who was 0-0 with a 5.29 ERA in 12 games with the Mets.
Jones warmed up five times over two days before making an appearance in Cincinnati on July 21 that turned out to be his last. He allowed three earned runs that game.
“I think Bobby Jones is still going to pitch a lot of baseball for us,” Valentine said. “It’s not that he pitched terribly.”
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Roger Cedeno (right pinkie) was checked out as healthy but was not in the starting lineup. Grant Roberts (shoulder tendinitis) was supposed to play catch yesterday. …
A number of Mets were approaching milestones heading into last night’s game:
Edgardo Alfonzo needed three hits for 1,100 in his career. He also needed one RBI to be tied with Cleon Jones with 521 for fourth on the club’s all-time list.
Roberto Alomar was one hit short of 2,500 for his career, at which time he’ll be the seventh switch-hitter in major-league history to accomplish the feat.
Jeromy Burnitz needed two homers for 200.
