Michael Alan Pelfrey, more commonly known as Big Pelf, has had a miserable start to the 2011 season, after being awarded his #1 status (with Santana on the DL).
Many have thought he doesn't have #1 "stuff" while others think he is not well adjusted.
Although well thought hypothesis', neither one is correct. To understand and to be able to resolve Pelf's problem, we must understand where Pelf the boy came from.
Pelfrey was born at Wright Paterson AFB in Ohio on January 14, 1984. He was raised in Kansas, and attended Wichita State University. He was the Mets #1 pick in the 2005 draft (#9 overall), and was pitching with the big club in July of '06.
Wichita, Kansas boasts a population of approximately 603,717 people (2008), and is ranked in the top 10 of "Sunniest" states.
We may know that Pizza Hut and the Coleman Co. got their starts in Wichita. Wichita: America's Pizza Joint. Doesn't ring right.
Wichita also is home to the world famous Wichita Wingnuts baseball team of the American Association. With an intimidating name as Wingnuts, it's a wonder the opposition ever shows up for a game.
With a peaceful wonderful place like Wichita, where Pelfrey starred in college, what went wrong? Pelfrey has been know for balks and yips, and last year, save for a month, pitched rather well. What went wrong?
The answer might lie in what happened on February 28th this year. That is the day that noted baseball psychologist Harvey Dorfman passed away.
Dorfman, as we scribed, is credited with helping Pelfrey with his "yips" and helped him to settle down. We here at 24 Hours From Suicide...A Day In The Life Of A Met Fan, as always, have our fingers on the pulse of Mets Nation, and through systematic, diligent, and scientific research have found that Pelfrey's problems started with the passing of Dorfman.
Big Pelf does not have the comfortable shoulder to cry on any more. He doesn't have that closeness to discuss his Yin and Yang of pitching and living. Whom can Mikey turn to to help him get by day-to-day?
The answer is easy. YOURSELF MIKE! Stop blaming your rookie catcher; stop making excuses for why you can't put a batter away with two strikes; stop over analyzing why your pitches weren't getting over the plate. In short, stop making excuses.
Pelfrey's pitch counts make me believe John Maine never left.
It is time for you to suck it up and take responsibility for your actions. No offense to the late Harvey Dorfman, but he didn't make you a good pitcher, you did. If you need a release from baseball to help you keep that mental equilibrium, then take up a hobby. You need to figure out what it is you need to do to compete.
You are dragging this team down with only lasting an average 3.73 innings/start. 11.2 innings in three games? That's not helping your team.
Take time Pelf. Relax. Get that competitive edge. If you need to look for a reason why this season has started worse than anyone could imagine; four words: Look In The Mirror.
If that doesn't help, you can always contact me Mike. I do care...
Source: Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce
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