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News: Wagner Activated, Hernandez Released

By Michael Baron on Aug 20, 2009, 3:47 pm

The Mets have activated Billy Wagner from the 60 day disabled list.

To make room for Wagner, the Mets have released Livan Hernandez.

Hernandez was 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA for the Mets in 2009, but posted a 7.33 ERA in July and an 11.30 ERA in August.

37 Comments

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  1. Xavier22
    Aug 20, 2009, 3:53 pm at 3:53 pm #

    Wow – I guess this means Figueroa is up or perhaps Redding.

    • steadyeddie
      Aug 20, 2009, 3:57 pm at 3:57 pm #

      Mr Xman;
      would that be “Home Run Derby” Redding, of whom you speak?
      Oh, bless my soul, I hope not!

  2. Beckfan
    Aug 20, 2009, 3:55 pm at 3:55 pm #

    Wow. So much for making his next start. For the Mets at least.

  3. dave27
    Aug 20, 2009, 3:56 pm at 3:56 pm #

    I’m surprised, but clearly it was the right move. Hat’s off to Livan for his first half – if everything else hadn’t crumbled around this team, we’d be crediting him for keeping us in the race.

    It’s too bad we didn’t try to deal him around the break – not that I think he’d command much of anything in return.

    • Nate W.
      Aug 20, 2009, 3:59 pm at 3:59 pm #

      I agree that’s its the right move and that its a surprise. I figured they would DFA Dessens or Figueroa rather than get rid of Livan or Redding who are clearly not getting it done lately.

  4. sheaday
    Aug 20, 2009, 3:57 pm at 3:57 pm #

    Welcome to Spring Training 2010, in 2009.

  5. ItalPiazza31
    Aug 20, 2009, 3:59 pm at 3:59 pm #

    I’m a little surprised from the standpoint of the possibility that Oliver Perez could go to the DL and the possibility that the Mets at some point in September shut down Johan to limit his innings total for the season. I know the Mets still have Figueroa and Redding on the roster and maybe Lance Broadway in the minors to make September starts but this could limit their flexibility especially if additional pitchers get hurt.

    But then again Livan can’t even eat up innings at this point in the season, so it’s not as if he was giving full starts to begin with.

    • Nate W.
      Aug 20, 2009, 4:33 pm at 4:33 pm #

      Pelfrey, Parnell, Figueroa, Redding, and Broadway… oh joy!

      That rotation needs 5 more starters to caddy and pitching innings 4-6…

  6. metsfan1
    Aug 20, 2009, 3:59 pm at 3:59 pm #

    I would have kept Hernandez and pput him in the pen. He has one of those rubber arms that would have been good in the middle of a game. To think that we have guys like Anderson Hernandez who can’t bat or field is a shame.

    Good luck Billy.

    • dave27
      Aug 20, 2009, 4:03 pm at 4:03 pm #

      Livan has been getting absolutely torched in the first inning this half. He seems to need to come in and get smacked around before he can contemplate some adjustments that sometimes work (in Houston) and more often do not. I shudder to think what would happen if he were coming out of the pen.

      Bottom line, both Redding and Figueroa are throwing the ball well – as is Dessens for that matter. Sad it has come to this, but all are better options than Livan. He needs a rubber neck to go with that rubber arm to see where his pitches are landing.

      • Beckfan
        Aug 20, 2009, 4:18 pm at 4:18 pm #

        Redding may be throwing the ball well. But too bad its right down Broadway.

        Last night; IP H ER R BB K HR
        Redding- 3.0 4 3 3 0 1 2

        • dave27
          Aug 20, 2009, 4:41 pm at 4:41 pm #

          I know – I saw it. But before that outing he’s pitched fairly well.

          I mean it is Tim Redding – it’s all relative. But no one has been as bad as Livan.

  7. dave27
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:00 pm at 4:00 pm #

    So who starts on Saturday…Nolan?

    • sheaday
      Aug 20, 2009, 4:01 pm at 4:01 pm #

      Koosman

      • steadyeddie
        Aug 20, 2009, 4:04 pm at 4:04 pm #

        now that was funny!

      • koosman3669
        Aug 20, 2009, 4:21 pm at 4:21 pm #

        The fastball is gone but I can still snap off the big curve.

        • dave27
          Aug 20, 2009, 4:46 pm at 4:46 pm #

          Koos can’t be more than 4-5 years older than Moyer…

  8. jamie_
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:03 pm at 4:03 pm #

    wow, count me among the surprised.

  9. lisametsfan
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:05 pm at 4:05 pm #

    Yeah! I have a feeling the Mets didn’t want Livan pitching on 1969 night…fearing that Tom Terrific or Koos (as Sheaday suggests )at their advanced ages could do a better job.

    I hope it’s Figeroa!

    No to Redding.

  10. Patrick
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:10 pm at 4:10 pm #

    This made sense when the theory of Jon Neise pitching the remainder of the year was plausible.

    After Parnells more real and disasterous outing last night, Perez’ knee the concept of potentially shutting down Santana, only the Mets could NOW at this moment release, as bad as he has been, one of two healthy pitchers they have.

    • Lorenzo23
      Aug 20, 2009, 4:19 pm at 4:19 pm #

      Although I hate agreeing with you I was about to post the same thing. The Mets should have just dealt with Livan for one more month. Who is going to pitch Saturday vs the Phillies now?

      • pedros rooster
        Aug 20, 2009, 5:00 pm at 5:00 pm #

        You two lovebirds still fighting?

        • Lorenzo23
          Aug 20, 2009, 6:18 pm at 6:18 pm #

          have you seen prior posts? I’m not the only person who argues with him…

  11. Beckfan
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:19 pm at 4:19 pm #

    Redding keeps surviving the axe!!!

  12. lisametsfan
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:27 pm at 4:27 pm #

    Noooooooo to Redding.

    I want Figeroa!

    • Rorschach
      Aug 20, 2009, 4:29 pm at 4:29 pm #

      Figue WHO!???

  13. dave27
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:45 pm at 4:45 pm #

    And interesting name to connect with Wagner is Chris Davis – power hitting 1B-3B for Texas who is currently in AAA. He was sent there to work on an alarming rise in his strikeouts – so yeah, I would be wary about adding another stikeout project like Francoeur – but Davis is young, has a good glove and a ton of power. An interesting guy for the mix at 1B next year.

    It would be a stretch to say Texas has given up on him, but with the chance to improve their pen for the stretch with Wags they might put him on the table.

    Btw – what are the waiver rules for players in AAA who are on 40-man rosters? You’d figure they’d be claimed if they are subject ot the same process…

    • Nate W.
      Aug 20, 2009, 5:07 pm at 5:07 pm #

      That’s what the player to be named later was invented for.

      I’ve read that its just the players on the 25 man roster, but then the writers don’t really seem to be all that informed on this kind of thing.

      • dave27
        Aug 20, 2009, 5:17 pm at 5:17 pm #

        Good point – although if they can get a ML-ready player back I’d much prefer they actually play in the majors this year.

        You are probably right that’s it’s just the 25-man roster….

    • stickguy
      Aug 20, 2009, 5:24 pm at 5:24 pm #

      that would be the most benefit that Wagner has brought to the Mets since they signed him.

  14. ericloz
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:51 pm at 4:51 pm #

    Wagner’s pitching on Saturday…

    He’s the second coming of Branden Looper via Smoltz

  15. uncle cliff
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:58 pm at 4:58 pm #

    Matz is getting the call.

  16. nyj0126
    Aug 20, 2009, 4:59 pm at 4:59 pm #

    He had a pretty identical line to that with the Twins last season. He made 23 starts with Minnesota like the Mets. His ERA was 5.48 like it’s 5.47. He pitched 4 2/3 less ininngs and was horrible the last couple months. It was a good investment. Let Sheffield go too. Let him jump on with a competitive team. Let guys like Nick Evans play.

  17. Nate W.
    Aug 20, 2009, 5:10 pm at 5:10 pm #

    In a related note, Ken Takahashi threw a 7 inning complete game shutout today for Buffalo. Look out for him in Sept…

    • dave27
      Aug 20, 2009, 5:17 pm at 5:17 pm #

      Nice! And here I thought we had no future arms!

      • Nate W.
        Aug 21, 2009, 8:38 am at 8:38 am #

        He’s a future star… if there were senior leagues

  18. methead
    Aug 20, 2009, 7:34 pm at 7:34 pm #

    I am surprised they made this move. Its the right one though.

    Who cares who pitches saturday. Can it be any worse? LOL They could always dfa another player and bring up a AAA or AA pitcher.

    Redding “historically” has pitched well versus the phillies. LOL