Everyone’s favorite relief pitcher, Jose Mesa, comes off the disabled list Wednesday.  For now, at least according to this Jason Beck column, it looks like Mesa will get some time down in the minors before returning to duty with the Tigers.  Not a bad plan although it is interesting to read that Mesa hasn’t played down in the minors since 1991.

It’s funny how such a small sample can make for some interesting numbers but Mesa has given up six hits in twelve plate appearances to right handed hitters so far this year.  Three of those six hits have been for extra bases.  And his OPS against (both right and left handed hitters) is a whopping 1.396.  It’s like he turned the hitter he’s faced into a 2004 version of Barry Bonds.  And oddly, all seven of the hits he’s given up have been with nobody out and he’s gotten all five batters out that he’s faced with one or two outs.

It’ll be interesting to see if he can get these numbers down once the sample size gets bigger.  Of course that means he’s throwing more innings….

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