Adam Rubin

  (11:56 AM)

Thanks for joining me. Let's get started a few minutes early since there are plenty of questions ...

Alex (Montclair, NJ)

If the Mets makes the post-season, what is the possibility that Zach Wheeler, or some of the other pitching prospects, get called up to the bullpen?

Adam Rubin

  (11:58 AM)

Jenrry Mejia certainly can be a factor in the bullpen in October -- probably much sooner. Not seeing it with the other prospects. I don't even believe Zack Wheeler will be up in September. He's not even on the 40-man roster, and has not been promoted to Triple-A ... yet. And it wouldn't make much sense to thrust Harvey into an unfamiliar bullpen role. You could see Dillon Gee bumped to a bullpen role, if not two starters. If Dickey can go on short rest, the Mets may only need 3 starters, and max 4, in a playoff series.

Mike(NYC) [via mobile]

When do you think we will see Matt Harvey in the majors

Adam Rubin

  (11:59 AM)

If Gee, Niese and Young are productive, not before September. And it's really on Harvey's timetable too. The changeup was used more frequently two starts ago -- didn't get a report on the last outing, at Norfolk. But he's not ready yet anyway.

Sanjay (New Jersey)

Is there any chance the Mets will try to bolster their bullpen before the trading deadline?

Adam Rubin

  (11:59 AM)

Possible, but I don't expect any blockbusters. They're not going to part with any significant minor league pieces.

George (Astoria)

If the Mets see themselves as legit contenders in 2013, don't they have to seriously consider eating Bay's last contract year and cutting him loose? If they're going to seriously contend for a division title in 2013, how do you justify wasting a valuable roster spot on an unproductive player?

Adam Rubin

  (12:01 PM)

Don't think Jason Bay is exactly some scrub. He may not be a $66 million player, but let's see how many pieces the Mets have before pushing him off the roster. And, first, let's see how he gets through this latest concussion issue. Brian Roberts with the Orioles missed 13 months with concussion issues before coming back last week.

Ross (NY)

Just read this article on ESPN that was "Dream Team" in Prospects. They put Aderlin Rodriguez as the 3rd basemen. Could you tell us a little about him?

Adam Rubin

  (12:02 PM)

Didn't see that list. Big guy. Not much of a fielder at this point. Lot of power. He's at Savannah, low-A.

Micah (CT)

Other than the bullpen the Mets may have to address the 2b issue. I love Murphy but zero pop, no speed, poor defense, and a long slump = bad news for him no?

Adam Rubin

  (12:03 PM)

Well, let's see if Jordany Valdespin survives two roster cuts, for Cedeno and then Tejada. But certainly his playing time will diminish if he doesn't pick it up, whether it's Valdespin starting, or Cedeno or Turner or otherwise.

Andy (Huntington, NY)

Adam - I'm taking my family to a Binghamton Mets game the first weekend in August. Anyone we should keep an eye on as a potential future major leaguer?

Adam Rubin

  (12:05 PM)

August is a long time from now in minor league terms, so I would not expect Zack Wheeler to still be there then, but he'd be the guy. He'll probably be in Triple-A, though, by then with Matt den Dekker and Collin McHugh, who also were called up from the B-Mets. I suppose the answer would be the guys just called up from St. Lucie. Wilmer Flores, now a 3B, as well as right-hander Cory Mazzoni, the second-round pick from NC State in 2011. Wilfredo Tovar also is rising from St. Lucie. He's a slick-fielding shortstop whose Reyes' agents recently signed, which tells you they think he has potential. He can hit some too.

Jeff (Bronx)

Do you think Valdespin deserves serious consideration to being the everyday Second Baseman?

Adam Rubin

  (12:06 PM)

I know Valdespin is the flavor of the month. My belief still is that the long swing will catch up with him as teams get a book on him. And I think you'll see a fair amount of errors in the field.

Justin (Astoria)

How have teams been trying to approach/prepare for at bats against Dickey in the wake of his recent hot stretch?

Adam Rubin

  (12:06 PM)

Prayer?

John (NJ)

Of the players on the Mets who are eligible for arbitration next year...in your opinion who seems to benefit the most (get the most money)? And how will the Mets handle Mike Pelfrey? (I believe he's got another year of eligibility)

Adam Rubin

  (12:09 PM)

On Pelfrey, he'd an obvious non-tender in December. He's making $5.7 million or so this year. And he would make about an equivalent amount next season via arbitration, so the Mets have to make him a free agent. That does not prevent him from re-signing for a lower rate, but once he becomes a free agent, I presume he'll sign elsewhere. As for arbitration-eligible guys, that's why the Mets locked up Jon Niese. They felt he had a potential to start having nice jumps in salary through arbitration if he went year to year. Ike Davis will be a super two and arbitration-eligible for the first time, but off this year, his salary is not going to jump much. Dillon Gee will only have 2 years, 28 days service time, so he won't be arb. eligible yet.

Dexter (pdx)

Not to pile on the Murphy slump but moving him and Hairston to an AL team can bring back a nice piece for the bullpen, no?

Adam Rubin

  (12:10 PM)

I know of at least one AL team that had a scouting checking out Hairston, but I can't fathom the Mets trading him if they remain in the wild-card race, which at this point it appears they will be.

Ross (NY)

Who would you take right now in a big game Niese or Gee?

Adam Rubin

  (12:11 PM)

Depends on the opponent, obviously, is the cop-out answer. One is lefty. One is righty. I still think Niese has the much bigger upside.

Ryan (Minnesota)

Any Chance Valdespin gets to stay up? Honestly the way he's playing right now I'd like to see him in the lineup more than Cedeno, even if the mets are heavy on lefties.

Adam Rubin

  (12:14 PM)

Sorry. Little bit of news. Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores in Futures Game.

Adam Rubin

  (12:15 PM)

I don't think they'll part with Quintanilla. He's out of options and they think they'd lose him. Plus, Terry also said he'll start Saturday vs. Nova. Still, Valdespin can stay if they send down, say, Rottino and Hefner and have a six-man pen.

TJ (NY)

% chance that the Mets will be in the postseason.and if they do, can be a sleeper with Dickey and Santana in a playoff rotation?

Adam Rubin

  (12:17 PM)

It's about starting pitching, so definitely the Mets can be a sleeper if they qualify for the playoffs -- especially with the weapon of potentially being able to use Dickey repeatedly on short rest. Percent chance? 30%?

harrison (New York)

any chance the Mets take advantage of Dickey (or Wright's) hot starts and trade them?

Adam Rubin

  (12:17 PM)

Buyers, not sellers, no?

Justin (Astoria)

Will Wheeler have a chance to audition for a starting spot next season in spring training?

Adam Rubin

  (12:18 PM)

I would presume so, although middle of next year for MLB debut may be more likely.

Ross (NY)

Dickey gets start against Yankees on ESPN?

Adam Rubin

  (12:18 PM)

Yes. Opposite CC Sabathia.

Teddy (NY)

Who do you like as the 8th inning guy?

Adam Rubin

  (12:19 PM)

I still think Parnell long term is more of an answer than Batista. Maybe Mejia later in the season. We shall see.

Jason (NJ)

Keith Law has Den Dekker as a 4th OF type player. Not a starter. Is that what you have been hearing as well.

Adam Rubin

  (12:20 PM)

He can be a starter, but it's not a definite. I know plenty of scouts that think both he and Kirk Nieuwenhuis and better than Andres Torres, and Torres, if that answers it at all.

Michael (Easton, PA)

Why no Josh Edgin yet?

Adam Rubin

  (12:21 PM)

He hasn't been a lockdown reliever at Buffalo. He made a big jump from St. Lucie to Buffalo, skipping Double-A (except for a couple of weeks). There's no hurry. He told me the biggest adjustment is hitters' discipline and how he needs to work to get ahead of hitters in the count.

Zach (Hoboken)

Murphy has to be considered a trade piece right? He's proven he can hit. But his bat no longer fits this Mets offense. Zero pop, limited speed, a liability defensively. That said Valdespin is a natural 2nd baseman with energy and speed atop the lineup which is something the Mets lack desperately. Do all these factors make sense for a Murphy trade?

Adam Rubin

  (12:21 PM)

And 29 other teams watch the same things you do.

JR (Vegas)

Has the Mets early success resulted in any bump in attendance, or is it still too early to tell?

Adam Rubin

  (12:22 PM)

It's trickling upward, but I'm sure not where they want to be exactly.

harrison (New York)

Do you think anyone would take Pelfreu off the our hands now?

Adam Rubin

  (12:23 PM)

And pay his salary now while he's recovering from Tommy John surgery? Not sure that's exactly in the cards.

Don (Manhattan)

Where does Flores play at AA? He and Marte are not much with the glove at 3B. Does someone go to 2B? If so where does that leave Havens? If Murphy does not hit in NY someone else will be at 2B but who? Spin or one of the aforementioned at some point?

Adam Rubin

  (12:24 PM)

That will be interesting to watch, beginning today, I suppose. I had heard from someone in the organization a month ago that probably they could do some rotation -- Marte also can play first and second. Wilmer can play second and third, and maybe get an occasional start at SS.

Justin (Astoria)

How long does Backman stay in AAA - do you think he will consider offers from other teams in the offseason?

Adam Rubin

  (12:25 PM)

I'm sure the Mets would not stand in his way if he gets a major league offer elsewhere. Don't know if they'll be turnover on the major league staff this offseason, but I'm sure he would be very high on the list if someone were to leave the major league staff as a coach.

JR (Vegas)

Recent series results: Swept by Yanks, Sweep the Rays, Swept by Reds, Sweep the O's. Looks like we will be getting swept by the Yanks this weekend.

Adam Rubin

  (12:26 PM)

And .500 for the rest of the year then. Makes sense. Sweep the Cubs. Get swept by the Dodgers.

TJ (NY)

The result of this weekends subway series will be ______________.

Adam Rubin

  (12:26 PM)

dependent upon which team plays better.

Drew (New York)

Are you surprised Flores made the futures game?

Adam Rubin

  (12:27 PM)

I think teams advocate players. So no.

Teddy (NY)

How do you see the Mets rotation for next year and beyond?

Adam Rubin

  (12:28 PM)

Certainly R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, Johan Santana and Dillon Gee. The fifth is the wild card. Does Chris Young have Chris Capuano-type success and get too expensive? There needs to be some veteran hedge in case Matt Harvey/Zack Wheeler are not yet ready.

Jason (NJ)

Torres used to be a hacker in SF. Now he is walking more. Is this a reflection of the Mets philosphy now as a team. They seem to be taking more pitches and I think they lead the NL in walks right now.

Adam Rubin

  (12:28 PM)

That's what the Mets do -- drive up opposing pitchers' pitch counts.

Greg b (bBrooklyn)

Adam do you see the mets releasing Jason bay next spring like they did with perez and castillo?

Adam Rubin

  (12:30 PM)

I think everything is either the best or the worst with a lot of fans -- either someone is a god or the worst player ever. There are a lot of blah players getting paid too much who complete their contracts in reduced roles.

Adam Rubin

  (12:31 PM)

Anyway, thanks for joining me for the past half-hour. Need to write up the Wheeler/Flores Futures Game news for the blog.