Who'da Thunk It?

Let me take you back to Spring Training 2008. Mike Pelfrey wasn't even supposed to be on the roster, let alone the #5 starter. The pitching staff was supposed to be:

1. Johan Santana
2. Pedro Martinez
3. Orlando Hernandez
4. John Maine
5. Oliver Perez

Fast forward to August 16, 2008, and Big Pelf (coined by Brooklyn Met Fan) is leading the team in wins.

Is it the rapid maturity of this young pitcher? Was it the guidance of new Mets pitching coach
Dan Warthen? Was it ditching the mouth guard? Has his stuff gotten that much better? Is it the difference in the way Jerry Manuel treats him than his predecessor?

Pelfrey took a lot of shots earlier in the year, but believe it or not, he has become the Mets stopper. He has been outstanding since the middle of June, and if anyone said he would be sitting here with 11 wins, with approximately six more starts, I would have told them to put down the crack pipe.

Keep up the good work Pelf, we are going to need you down the stretch.