Just Mets

The left side of the Mets bullpen right now is an absolute mess.

LHP Dario Alvarez allowed four runs on one hit with three walks without retiring a batter in the ninth inning of Thursday’s 11-9 win over the Nationals at Tradition Field.

Alvarez had pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts this spring until today’s outing. He competing for one of two spots in the bullpen along with Scott Rice and Sean Gilmartin.

As for Alvarez’s competition, Rice has allowed five runs – four earned – on three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings so far this spring, and Gilmartin has allowed three runs on three hits with a walk in two innings of work this spring.

After the game on Thursday, Terry Collins told reporters he’s disappointed in the way his candidates for the left side of the bullpen have pitched so far this spring.

“I’m disappointed,” Collins told reporters on Thursday. “Here’s a chance. You come to the major league spring training and all you want is a chance. Now, with our guy down, if I’m left-handed I’m looking in the mirror and deciding what do I need to do to get that job, because it’s out there.”

Collins said he’d consider taking an all right-handed bullpen north with the team on Opening Day, although Sandy Alderson later said he envisions at least one left-handed reliever with the team at that time.

I can’t say I blame Terry for feeling that way. He’s been dealt a tough hand for this area of the game. I mean, Rice has been ok outside of one outing, but for the most part, the left-handers just can’t get anyone out right now. Alvarez was an utter disaster today – he let the first four batters to face him reach base, the first three being lefties. Gilmartin hasn’t distiguished himself against lefties, either. That doesn’t bode well for aguys who have been assigned specifically to test their abilities against lefties.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but once again, I feel like the Mets overestimated what they had from the left side, even with Josh Edgin prior to this week. The annoying part is we seem to have this discussion about the bullpen every year, and every year until 2014 it had turned out to be a problem. Again, it’s early, but unless someone steps up, the Mets might be forced to consider taking the best seven arms – regardless of which side they pitch from – with them to Washington for April 6 (which is definitely not ideal).

They can hope a viable option or two becomes available among the Article XX B free agents during the final week of the spring. But, there’s usually a reason those guys become free agents, so expecting a game changer among that group is unrealistic.

For more on the issues facing the Mets in the bullpen, including other quotes from Alderson and Collins, check out ESPN New York.