Todd Van Poppel

Analysis
Van Poppel merely packed his bags and left and the Mets listed him as "retired" in their media notes Monday. But he did explain his reasons to at least one of his almost teammates. Van Poppel had concluded there would be no place for him in the Mets' bullpen, even though manager Willie Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson have made no determinations about whom will pitch the innings between starters and closer Braden Looper. Van Poppel told a teammate his desire to pitch in the big leagues wasn't so great that he could tolerate a return to the minor leagues. Moreover, his mother has become increasingly ill with cancer. His legacy will be one of a player rushed to the major leagues before he was ready all because he negotiated a clause in his contract requiring him to be promoted to the big leagues, even though he wasn't ready for that level of competition.