Antonini Moved to the Pen

2007 draft pick, New York Mets prospect, Michael Antonini who was scheduled to pitch today’s game and was the Binghamton Mets opening day starter has been moved from the rotation to the bullpen.  Brian Moritz reports that B-Mets pitching coach Hector Berrios said they received orders to make the move.  Antonini, since joining the team in 2007, has been used primarily as starter outside of a few games in 2007.

The question is if the Mets ordered this move for a possible callup later in the season from Antonini then where does his alue lay?  It certainly is not as a left-handed specialist, which the Mets are likely hoping for because even though Antonini is a lefty he is not good at facing left handed hitters.  He has faced 64 left handed batters in 2009 and out of those 64 batters 20 of them (32%) of them have reached base.  17 of them hits including a homer and 3 doubles and 3 of them via the walk.  The only plus stat he has against lefties is a 8.04 K/9 against them, which should transition well into the pen and a slightly higher GB% against lefties than righties.

I guess I could kinda seeing him being slightly better in the bullpen if he maybe throws a tick harder than he is right now and he can keep the ball on the ground more.  If the Mets really want a solution for the pen call up Adam Bostick.  The dude is lighting up AAA, has been good against lefties, and even better against righties.  When you take into account his funky delivery I can see him having similar success right off the bat as Bobby Parnell did when he burst onto the scene because major leaguers will need time to adjust to him.

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