MIAMI – Jersey Bobby Jones, the left-hander, was scratched from his start for Triple-A Norfolk last night because of the very real possibility he’ll be needed to start for the Mets today.
Before last night’s Marlins-Mets game, the Mets declined to reveal who will start this afternoon’s game in place of the injured Rick Reed. But GM Steve Phillips acknowledged it will be either Jersey Jones or Pat Mahomes.
According to Phillips and manager Bobby Valentine, Mahomes was available to pitch last night. If that happened, the righty would be unavailable to start today, and Jones would start.
Why the Top Secret approach before last night’s game as to today’s starter?
Phillips said he feared reporters would approach relievers Jim Mann and Eric Cammack and ask them about being sent down. One of them would have to be demoted to make room for Jersey Jones.
Meanwhile, the decision to have Jones or Mahomes start says much about the Mets’ alleged top pitching prospect, Grant Roberts, who is being passed over. The 22-year-old Roberts was the Mets’ first choice before his poor Triple-A outing on Friday.
“[Jones] has some stuff,” said pitching coach Dave Wallace. “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 the East Rutherford product from Colorado in the Masato Yoshii deal.
He hasn’t started in three weeks. After being sent down on April 23, he only pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief. That was last Friday, when he picked up the win in place of Roberts. Phillips said he wouldn’t be rusty.
Jones finished fourth out of four competitors for the Mets’ No. 5 spot in spring training. He 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.”
Wallace thinks Mahomes thrives in his long relief role. However, Mahomes has been solid in his three spot starts this season. Overall, Mahomes is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA.
“That’s been the role that fits him best,” Wallace said. “But he’s done a good job a couple of times throwing six innings two or three times.”
If the Mets were to go with Mahomes, they would know they’d have to use their bullpen. Even when successful, Mahomes throws a lot of pitches in an inning.
Roberts is an enigma. Most agree he has the arm – but does he have the head?
His work ethic also has been questioned by the Mets in the past. They have said they have seen an improvement this year. But Roberts’ record is 4-5 with a 4.69 ERA.
Originally, the Mets wanted to have him make the start, but in his last outing, a 70-pitch performance, he gave up three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. If the Mets had decided to go with Roberts he would’ve been pitching on three days rest today.
Considering Phillips is fearful of a reporter messing up one of his relievers psyche, imagine the difficulties Roberts would have coming off a bad performance on three days rest.
“The ball just gets out of there real quick,” Wallace said of Roberts. “He has really improved his breaking ball. 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 his command. You have to have consistent command.”
