Mets & Maine Avoid Arbitration

The Mets avoided arbitration with RHSP John Maine. Maine, who battled shoulder problems last year, was 7-6 with a putrid 4.43 ERA.

I like Maine a lot, but his increased pitch counts are cause for concern. Having had more than my share of shoulder problems and surgeries, I understand better than most how difficult the shoulder is to rehab. But, Maine's pitch counts seem to have sky-rocketed since his break-out 2006 season. In 2006, Maine was averaging 3.3 walks/9 innings. In the subsequent years, that rate increased: 2007: 3.5 walks/9 innings, 2008: 4.3 walks/9 innings, and 2009: 4.2 walks/9 innings. For his career, Maine has averaged only 5.6 IP/start, while averaging 98 pitches. That's too much.

As I have said, I like Maine. I was at Game 6 in the 2006 NLCS where Maine threw a gem. He pitched 5.1 scoreless innings while walking 4 and striking out 3.

Other players still unsigned are: Sean Green, Angel Pagan, Jeff Francoeur, and Pedro Feliciano – who are arbitration eligible. The Mets are not one to go to arbitration. The last time they went to arbitration was two years ago with Oliver Perez. All players are expected to re-sign with the Mets

Sources: All Headline News, Baseball Almanac