Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Spring Training. What decisions await Jerry Manuel?

As spring training games start for the Mets tomorrow against Baltimore, Jerry Manuel will have a couple of decisions to make regarding the make up of this club when then head back to New York at the beginning of April . With the World baseball classic being played this year, spring training itself will run a bit longer. Will this help Jerry make some decisions?

Today we will deal with the starting pitching decisions that await the gangsta.

Starting rotation.- With the top 4 being Santana, the big Pelf, Maine and Ollie Perez, Jerry has to worry about 1 spot as long as everyone stays healthy. So Manuel can choose from.

Tim Redding- 08 stats 10-11 4.95 Era in 182 innings. 120 strike outs 65 walks. He will be behind a little bit with the shoulder issue. Now he might be shelved for longer then expected. If he is ok love to see him be in long relief. A slot the Mets have not had since Darren Oliver.

Freddy Garcia- 08 stats 3-3 4.20 Era in 15 innings. 12 strike outs and 6 walks Coming off of surgery will he be strong enough to give the Mets a full year?

Livan Hernandez- 08 stats. 13-11 6.05 Era 180 innings 67 strikeouts 43 walks. A work horse but is coming off a Era of over 6 runs per game with the Twins and Rockies last year. What does he have left? How old is he? 34? 40?

Jon Neise- 08 Stats with Mets 1-1 7.07 Era 14 innings 11 walks and 8 strikeouts.The 22 year old Lefty seem to lose composure going down the stretch last year when he was placed in the rotation. Most likely will start in buffalo.

Other options might include Bobby Parnell and Brandon Knight? I think if everyone is healthy, it might be some interesting competition for the 5th spot.

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