PB Post

 

Mitre looks perfect for starting job

By Tom D'Angelo

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, March 06, 2006

 

JUPITER ? Marlins manager Joe Girardi insists his rotation is wide open behind Dontrelle Willis, and right-hander Sergio Mitre is off to a good start to claim one of those spots.

 

Mitre pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout during the Cardinals' 6-3 victory over the Marlins on Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium. He threw 28 pitches, 20 for strikes. Mitre was so efficient that he threw in the bullpen after his outing.

 

"It was real easy to throw the ball today,'' Mitre said.

 

Right-hander Brian Moehler, left-hander Jason Vargas and Mitre are a good bets to fill the second through four spots in the rotation.

 

"He's a good sinker-baller, we have a fast infield at home and that could be a real good combination,'' Girardi said. "I like what I see.''

 

Mitre has pitched parts of three seasons for the Cubs. He's 4-10 with a 6.12 ERA in 120 2/3 career innings. He worked with Marlins pitching coach Rick Kranitz the past two seasons in Iowa with the Cubs Class AAA affiliate. Mitre split time between Iowa and the Cubs in 2004 and 2005.

 

"That's very helpful,'' said Mitre, who was acquired in the deal that sent Juan Pierre to the Cubs. "I've been with Kranny the last two years so he knows when I'm going in the right direction and he knows when I'm going bad right away.''

 

Really all the starters looked solid in each of the 4 games thus far, with the exception of Petit yesterday.

 

Must admit I've been pulling for Olsen & Johnson to win the last 2 rotation spots, but Mitre could certainly take one as well. I think Olsen's probably a shoe-in, which would leave Mitre, Josh Johnson & Petit to compete for one spot.

 

 

 

"B" game deadlocked: Before Sunday's Grapefruit League game, prospects from the Marlins and Cardinals played a six-inning "B" game on the main field at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

The game ended scoreless, with each team getting three hits.

 

Jose Garcia tossed two innings without yielding a hit, striking out two and walking one. Lefty Michael Megrew gave up two runs in one inning.

 

Megrew, a Rule 5 Draft pickup from the Dodgers organization, is recovering from Tommy John surgery and being eased back. In order to remain with the Marlins, he has to make the Opening Day roster or else be returned to Los Angeles.

 

Megrew is still building up arm strength. His fastball was clocked between 85 mph and 89 mph.

 

"I think he will play catch-up most of Spring Training because of the time that he's missed," said Girardi.

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Don't ya just hate having these kinda problems... too many options, so few slots to fill

good for the kid, I hope he gets a good fair shot to win a spot

Until he gets to the season, facing MLB competiton regularly, and is complete garbage.

 

I say dont be fooled by spring training smoke and mirrors, Mitre sucks.

Mitre may not be an allstar pitcher, but I'd like him to win a starting spot coming out of the gates and see what he can do with it. Playing for the Cubs is probably one of the more high stress jobs in recent years and he has had times where he has pitched brilliant.

Until he gets to the season, facing MLB competiton regularly, and is complete garbage.

 

I say dont be fooled by spring training smoke and mirrors, Mitre sucks.

 

what is wrong with you?

Hopefully Megrew's arm gets back into game shape ASAP. I don't know how he projects, but it's always nice to have a free lefty that could pan out as an average player.

Until he gets to the season, facing MLB competiton regularly, and is complete garbage.

 

I say dont be fooled by spring training smoke and mirrors, Mitre sucks.

 

what is wrong with you?

 

Nothing, Mitre is just plain awful. If he had been in any system besides the Cubs, he would most likely still be in AA, if not lower.

 

He is not good enough to pitch at the MLB level.

i dont know much on mitre, so i'm not passing judgment yet and i wont till the end of april. i remeber in 2004 darren oliver was like 7-1 in spring training and did well only to get shelled in the regular season, so dont pass judgment yet either way on these guys

Hopefully Megrew's arm gets back into game shape ASAP. I don't know how he projects, but it's always nice to have a free lefty that could pan out as an average player.

 

 

Not so fast...wouldn't the best case scenario for him to be nearly recovered but spend a while on the DL so we don't have to return him or waste a spot on the 25 man roster?

 

:mischief2

I've seen Mitre alot, on WGN...he's just solid crap. Worst acquisition we made this offseason.

Until he gets to the season, facing MLB competiton regularly, and is complete garbage.

 

I say dont be fooled by spring training smoke and mirrors, Mitre sucks.

 

what is wrong with you?

 

Nothing, Mitre is just plain awful. If he had been in any system besides the Cubs, he would most likely still be in AA, if not lower.

 

He is not good enough to pitch at the MLB level.

I dont understand your comment about the Cubs system....

They dont evaluate talent well.

I've seen Mitre alot, on WGN...he's just solid crap. Worst acquisition we made this offseason.

 

 

If anything the Pierre trade was the best we made all off season. The worse has to be the Castillo trade.

They dont evaluate talent well.

 

Im still confused as to what you mean

Hopefully Megrew's arm gets back into game shape ASAP. I don't know how he projects, but it's always nice to have a free lefty that could pan out as an average player.

 

 

Not so fast...wouldn't the best case scenario for him to be nearly recovered but spend a while on the DL so we don't have to return him or waste a spot on the 25 man roster?

 

:mischief2

 

 

Can you do that with Rule V picks? Stash them on the DL all year that is? If so then picking up Megrew? was very shrewd indeed.

I've seen Mitre alot, on WGN...he's just solid crap. Worst acquisition we made this offseason.

 

 

If anything the Pierre trade was the best we made all off season. The worse has to be the Castillo trade.

Yep, the Castillo trade was definitely the worst of the offseason, IMO.

 

Also nice to see Jose Garcia rebound from getting shelled in his first spring outing.

Bad decision making on the part of players.

 

Giving free agents too much money, calling some up at the wrong time, not trading someone when their value is at it's highest, trading someone who can help their organization for someone who doesn't.

 

And I agree, the Pierre trade was good for us, but Pinto and Nolasco would of been enough, but instead we got some garbage with MLB service time who cant pitch out of the deal too.

Hopefully Megrew's arm gets back into game shape ASAP. I don't know how he projects, but it's always nice to have a free lefty that could pan out as an average player.

 

 

Not so fast...wouldn't the best case scenario for him to be nearly recovered but spend a while on the DL so we don't have to return him or waste a spot on the 25 man roster?

 

:mischief2

Good point. Forgot about that. I guess even if he's pitching in live spring training games he could be stashed there for "elbow/shoulder soreness." :shifty

I can be wrong about this but i believe he would actually be on the 25 man roster but be DLed. And like any pitcher on the DL, he would be entitled to rehab in the minors for whatever is the appropriate time.

 

But at some point the Marlins will be forced to fish or cut bait with the guy.

Bad decision making on the part of players.

 

Giving free agents too much money, calling some up at the wrong time, not trading someone when their value is at it's highest, trading someone who can help their organization for someone who doesn't.

 

And I agree, the Pierre trade was good for us, but Pinto and Nolasco would of been enough, but instead we got some garbage with MLB service time who cant pitch out of the deal too.

 

Wrong. The addition of Mitre in the deal gives us an innings eater who can get some starts if the rookies are getting plain shelled. An ERA of 5+ isn't far-fetched, but he's now playing in an extreme pitcher's park. And, really, acquiring him keeps us from having to sign a never-was like Sele, as you suggested. At least Mitre has some upside. When his sinkerball is on we know first-hand the damage he's capable of.

good thing spike isnt a scout for any mlb system.

Bad decision making on the part of players.

 

Giving free agents too much money, calling some up at the wrong time, not trading someone when their value is at it's highest, trading someone who can help their organization for someone who doesn't.

 

And I agree, the Pierre trade was good for us, but Pinto and Nolasco would of been enough, but instead we got some garbage with MLB service time who cant pitch out of the deal too.

 

Wrong. The addition of Mitre in the deal gives us an innings eater who can get some starts if the rookies are getting plain shelled. An ERA of 5+ isn't far-fetched, but he's now playing in an extreme pitcher's park. And, really, acquiring him keeps us from having to sign a never-was like Sele, as you suggested. At least Mitre has some upside. When his sinkerball is on we know first-hand the damage he's capable of.

 

Why on earth would you put a guy in whos going to get shelled himself, to spot start for a rookie who had gotten shelled?

 

Talk all you want about the extreme pitchers parks, Mitre had a lower ERA at wrigley than he did on the road, by two full runs.

 

And I also wouldn't consider him an innings eater. The guy averaged 5 innings per start and just over 1 per appearance as a reliever. He also had a BAA of over .300 as a starter. And a whip of 1.62 as a starter.

 

And I never said "damn why didn't we sign Sele" or "we should trade for Sele", I just meant I view him as a good vetern pitcher who will do well in the national league, or I think so anyway.

Mitre just turned 25... he has some pretty nasty stuff, especially when that sinker is on

 

it's not like he is 35, he is twentyf***ingfive

 

jesus

Mitre, like him or not, got the innings he got based solely on the whims of Dusty Baker, who by the way showed little or no interest in the guy, as is Dusty's want with most youngsters (under 30).