Using R.A. Dickey On Short Rest Is A Bad Idea

This will come back and bite the Mets.

According to Metsblog, Terry Collins told reporters before Wednesday's game that the Mets intend on using R.A. Dickey on short rest, although he doesn't know when that will be.

Nothing is set in stone, but it sounds like it will happen at some point before the season ends.

To me, this sounds like, "We're starting to panic and we're going to use one of the only things that has been consistently good as many times as we can before the season ends."

First of all, Dickey is no spring chicken. While his arm doesn't deal with the normal wear and tear of a traditional pitcher, he's still 37-years-old. It will eventually catch up with him.

Second, how will this effect the rest of the rotation? I can see how providing Johan Santana and Chris Young with an extra day of rest could be beneficial, seeing as how they are both coming off surgery. But what about everyone else?

I know that Jon Niese has been better when he gets an extra day of rest, but too bad. This is the big leagues. You pitch every 5 days. Deal with it.

Finally, despite having a remarkable first half, Dickey is starting to come back down to earth. He's been good lately, but not quite as dominant.

Whatever the Mets' reasoning behind this, to me, it just seems like an act of desperation.  

A Night With Ike Davis

As first mentioned by Anthony DiComo over at Mets Cetera, Ike Davis will be holding his annual charity event, "A Night With Ike Davis," on Sunday, September 9 to raise money for Solving Kids' Cancer (SKC) and the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.

All proceeds from the event will go to SKC and the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.

The event, which will be held at City Winery, will feature a benefit concert starring country music artist Lee Brice, along with Ike and his teammates serving as celebrity bartenders.

Also featured will be an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, a raffle, auction, and VIP Clubhouse (The clubhouse includes access to the VIP area with Mets teammates, an autographed item, 2 tickets for a VIP-only premium raffle item, and a limited edition event poster).

For more information, click on the links below.  

Event info: http://solvingkidscancer.org/give/events/#a-night-with-ike-davis_

To buy tickets: https://solvingkidscancer.org/give/buy-tickets/701C0000000dGpt?eid=44

ICYMI: The Week In Review

The Mets slide continues as they have lost 13 of their last 15 games. They are now 5 games under .500 and are 12.5 games behind Washington in the division, and 8.5 back in the wild card.

On a positive note, Ike Davis is looking good at the plate. In Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Diamondbacks, Davis hit three solo home runs, becoming the ninth player in franchise history to do so.

Miguel Batista was released be the Mets earlier this week and has since signed a minor league contract with the Braves.

Matt Harvey made his long anticipated debut on Thursday in Arizona. Harvey struck out a franchise high 11 batters in 5.1 innings of work to earn his first major league victory. He was also 2-2 at the plate with a double.

Lucas Duda was sent to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday. According to ESPN New York, Terry Collins has instructed Buffalo manager Wally Backman to move Duda to first base should he struggle in the outfield. Duda is to solely focus on hitting while in Buffalo.

Tim Byrdak, Josh Thole, and Dan Warthen found themselves in a little brouhaha during Wednesday's game. After giving up a home run, Byrdak approached Thole in the dugout between innings. Pitch selection was apparently the issue. The bench instructed Thole to call for a fastball, which Byrdak shook off twice. Byrdak then threw a fastball...down the middle of the plate. I don't think the bench called for that.

On the injury front...

Mike Baxter is expected to return to the Mets in time for Monday's opener against the Giants.

Frank Francisco suffered a setback while rehabbing in Binghamton. He once again suffered soreness in his oblique. He is, however, expected to pitch today.