WBRS Sports Blog

In what was an extremely disappointing season for Mets fans to say the least, Figueroa gave the Citi Field faithful, all 38,315 in attendance, something to cheer for on the last day of the season, striking out 7 in what was easily the best pitching performance by any Met this year.

Click here for more pictures from the game, including a feel-good photo of Nelson after taking a celebratory shaving cream pie to the face from teammate Tim Redding during a postgame interview.

Figueroa completed the 2009 season with a 4.09 ERA in 16 appearances (10 starts). He struck out 59 batters in 70.1 innings. Since he became a permanent member of the starting rotation on August 25th, Figueroa started 8 games, sporting a 3.22 ERA in 50.1 innings, while striking out 44 batters to go against just 16 walks. Minus his Sept. 17th start against the Braves (5IP, 6ER), Figueroa would have had a microscopic 2.38 ERA during that time span.

A victim of poor run support for most of his time in the big leagues this year, Figueroa finished with a final record of 3-8. The Mets scored just 19 runs in his last 8 starts, during which he went 2-6.

Figueroa finished tied for sixth on the team in innings pitched despite having only been on the Major League roster for essentially two months, and placed second on the team in ERA for pitchers who had started 10 or more games, trailing only 4-time All-Star and 2-time Cy Young award winner, Johan Santana.

In 17 starts for the Buffalo Bisons, the Mets Triple-A affiliate, Figueroa had a sparkling 2.25 ERA in 112 innings pitched, including a 1.51 ERA in his final 10 starts. Despite the two-plus months spent in the Major Leagues, Figueroa still managed to finish 1st on the Bisons in starts, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. He was named the Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher for Buffalo at the end of the Minor League season.

Though Mets manager Jerry Manuel was non-committal about Figueroa's role with the team next year, he did offer high praise for the 35-year-old right-hander.

"He's been in the organization, he's been up and down, through waivers -- he's been a journeyman so to speak," Manuel said to reporters after the game. "And he performed extremely well for us."

Figueroa, who grew up a Mets fan living in Brooklyn, defended his body of work and said he hopes to stick around with the team next season.

"I had one bad start against Arizona (Aug. 3), but once I got the feeling I wasn't going anywhere, I settled down and was able to work on my pitching," he said. "After that start against Arizona, I was back out there two days later giving them four innings. I'll do whatever I can do to help the team, they should know by now. Coming out of the pen and being a long man or hopefully someone who can stick in the rotation and give them a chance to win every five days. I can do it."

Howard Megdal of New York Baseball Digest uses a statistical analysis to explain why Figueroa deserves an opportunity to continue pitching with the Mets in 2010.

As Figueroa continues to make history as the most accomplished Brandeis professional athlete, he is also set to have his #2 jersey retired by the Brandeis baseball team this Saturday. Click here for more information on the event.