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Mets: Should Bartolo Colon Join Jon Niese In The Bullpen?

By Kenneth Teape

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With the New York Mets clinching a playoff spot over the weekend against the Cincinnati Reds, it is time they begin figuring out how their roster will look like once the postseason starts. The Mets still have something to play for, as they are locked in a battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers for second place in the National League. Even so, the Mets have to prepare some players for different roles in the postseason than they had in the regular.

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One of those players is starting pitcher Jon Niese. Niese will be heading to the bullpen for the final week of the season, acclimating himself to the role he may have in the postseason; if he makes the cut for the postseason roster. Logan Verrett will start in the place of Jon Niese Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies, as Niese will get some work from there as the Mets begin arranging their staff for the postseason.

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According to manager Terry Collins, Niese approached almost two weeks ago, requesting a move to the bullpen so that he could get some experience in a role that is foreign to him. It was all part of a plan for Niese to ensure that he makes the playoff roster, and is something that Collins seems to like, saying, “The one thing I like about him is that, certainly if they pinch hit, he does have the tools to get righties out, too.”€

It would bring an added dimension to the Mets bullpen, as they lack a bona fide lefty-specialist out of the bullpen currently. Dario Alvarez, the latest attempt for the Mets to have a shut-down lefty, has not resumed throwing yet after injuring his groin. Eric O’€™Flaherty, who was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in August, has been a disaster with the Mets with a 13.50 ERA in 16 appearances. Sean Gilmartin is left-handed, but has reverse splits as righties actually hit worse against him than lefties. Also, he is more of an innings eater than specialist, so he would be tough to use in that sort of situation.

They all tried to replace the injured Jerry Blevins, who has fractured his left arm, his throwing arm, twice in the same spot this season. Blevins hasn’t thrown a pitch in the majors since April and does not look to be a realistic option to return.

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So while it seems like there is a role for Niese in the bullpen, is there one for veteran Bartolo Colon? Colon will be starting Tuesday against the Phillies in the series opener, but it sounds like he could also be ticketed for a role in the bullpen. Colon has a little more experience coming out of the bullpen than Niese does, making seven appearances compared to the one for Niese, but it seems like that is where he is destined to end up for the postseason as well.

Collins has said that Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard are locked into rotation spots for the postseason. He has yet to commit to Steven Matz over Colon, but it seems to be the way he is leaning in. Collins restated the injury history that Matz has, and his struggles to be recover for a few days after he takes the mound, making him a poor fit for the bullpen. “I don’t think it is a good idea,”€ Collins said flatout in regards to Matz pitching out of the bullpen.

Would Colon be a good fit for the bullpen along with Niese? It makes sense to have some depth in the pitching staff in case one of the starting pitchers gets hurt in the middle of a series, but is having two too many? There doesn’t seem to be a way that Colon and Niese are held off the postseason roster with how much they have helped the team throughout the season, but does it makes sense to put them both in the bullpen?

Should Bartolo Colon join Jon Niese in the bullpen, should only one make the postseason roster and the other be left off? Let us know what you think in the comment section below and answering the poll!

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