Eddie C: The Sixth Man Heads To The Pen
By Ed Coleman
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How do you go from Opening Day starter in 2014 to an unspecified bullpen role in a little over a year's time? Well, just ask Dillon Gee, although I'm not sure he has any answers for you.
The Mets put the kibosh on their six-man rotation Friday, and the other shoe dropped Saturday when Gee was called into manager Terry Collins' office and given the word.
Collins and Gee have a strong relationship, so Gee was asked how it was presented to him by the manager.
For his part, Collins felt the need to apologize to Gee for having his role changed so often and circumstances beyond his control.
It remains to be seen whether Gee can make it work out of the bullpen, but Collins was asked what was the trigger that brought about the decision to scrap the six-man rotation.
And Collins is not banishing Gee to the bullpen -- he says there will be plenty of work for him in a variety of capacities.
For Gee, it's just the latest twist in what he has described as his "weirdest" year ever in baseball. He has gone from being in the rotation last season, to coming to spring training having to fight for a job, to having to battle with Rafael Montero for a spot after Zack Wheeler underwent Tommy John surgery, back to starting, and now relieving. Yes, he has been yanked around.
And Gee did acknowledge that his trade value to other teams and possibly his value to the Mets in a new and unfamiliar role has been compromised.
The Mets believe this will work, certainly better than the six-man rotation. We shall see. And Collins thinks they can shave starts and limit innings this way without shutting down their young pitchers using DL stints.
And I guess we'll see about that as well.
C U soon
Eddie C.