Thursday, April 1, 2010

What to expect out of Pelfrey, Perez & Maine?


For most Mets fans we see our pitching staff and go man we are in trouble!!! Of course the season has not started so we expect that Pelfrey will find his sinker, Perez will get through his dead arm and Maine will be…ummm Maine will be the pitcher he was in 2007 when he won 15 games. Ok so maybe we have a betters shot of winning at the Casinos!!

Well its 2010 and the Mets have a lot riding on these 3 starters. There are some fans that have already written off Oliver Perez. I mean it’s not much of a surprise when you watch him pitch in these grapefruit league games and he gets lit up like he does. The Mets pitching coach says now that after the start he had against the Cardinals that Ollie is going through the usual “dead arm” period which pitchers go through . Yeah ok the only problem what that is most pitchers have already passed that stage of spring. Of course we are talking about Ollie. Is this the reason why when he faces right handed batters that 50% of the time when the target is on the inside corner of the plate Ollie throws it high and outside? That has nothing to do with dead arm it more has to do with dead head Ollie. Trust me I hope this lefty wonder can be the pitcher he was a couple of years ago but right now I just don’t see it.

Mike Pelfrey doesn’t walk around the mound anymore. The young man seems more focused and determined . That is something you have to love. Also Pelf is getting his secondary pitchers over the plate. The only problem is that his sinker is not sinking and its being jacked over the right field,centerfield and left field fences for home runs. If Pelfrey has no sinker the man is doomed. Of course Warthen is not worried. I mean if I was Warthen I would be worried because sooner or later it has to be noticed that no one is really doing that well under his toolage but that is for another day.

Maine coming off shoulder surgery always seems to be his worst enemy. Reports and stories have come out that he has been less critical of himself. The Mets have been watching him carefully and have done there best to not run him out there and over extend himself. Honestly I do not know what to expect from Maine.

Everyone gives Santana a pass but after him in the rotation, it can be pretty unnerving. Will the 3 of them step up? Can they give us 40 wins combined? Check out our latest poll.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I was thinking about this the other day. If they are really so deadset on using Mejia, why not throw him in the rotation? Is it really anymore of a risk? is it really any more risky than Maine and Perez?

I'm still looking for Pelfrey to put it all together, i have (admittedly, maybe blind) faith. But with Reyes out a couple weeks, Murphy going down now, and Beltran out at least till may, and the these pitchers pitching this way, i have to ask myself...Is it time? And i answer, why not?

Johan, Pelf, Niese, Mejia, and yes a pitching platoon Maine/Perez. Every fifth start let them each pitch 3-4 innings. And yes Carry Figgy and the japenese lefty in the pen. Will need them since we'll be carrying the extra starter.

And Why not start with something like this...

2B CASTILLO (i still can't figure out the obsession with him batting second)
CF PAGAN (i think he can drive castillo in better than vice versa)
3B WRIGHT
1B DAVIS (yes put him here where he'll see good pitches sandwhiched between wright and Bay)
LF BAY
RF FMART (yes, i believe he is gonna be better in the long run for us than Francoeur, whom i actually like)
C BARAJAS
SS CORA

Francoeur/Matthews (trade one, preferably Matthes)
Blanco
Tatis
Need a MIF didn't they pick up one?

I think you have to limit the bench ratehr than the BP for this to work.

Risky, unorthodox? Sure, but can it really hurt? at least till we get beltran and Reyes back? and maybe given a month of regular games we'll know more about where to go with this....
I know it might be stupid, but just a thought.

Unknown said...

Let me ammend that....start Tejada, let Cora have the bench spot for the middle infielder.

Thomas