Rather taking the foolish risk of trying to get one more start out of Pedro Martinez before the break, the Mets placed him on the disabled list with sore right hip. He’ll go on retroactive to June 28, his last start at Boston. Martinez is eligible to be reinstated next Friday, when the Mets are at Wrigley Field.
Coming up will be rookie Mike Pelfrey, who’ll start one of the games in Saturday’s doubleheader with Florida. GM Omar Minaya said the Mets don’t want to rush Pelfrey, but the timing of this makes a lot of sense. It’s better to get a look at Pelfrey now so they’ll have an idea of what they have should they need him down the stretch.
I wrote I would have been fine with giving Aaron Heilman a chance, but the Mets don’t want to go there for two reasons: one, they prefer him in the bullpen, and 2) he’s not stretched out enough to go five-plus innings in a starter’s role.
Andrew Gross is covering the Mets tonight for The Journal News and lohud.com. Be sure to read his account of things tomorrow.
4 Comments
Totally agree, John. I don’t want to call these games in July as garabage games, but they basically are considering the Mets’ lead in the division. Right now the team doesn’t need Martinez winning games for them, but they will in September and October. Like you said there’s no need to take that risk.
Heilman: If it means getting him OUT of the bullpen, I’m all for him getting a start or two on the hill. :) Doesn’t sound like that’ll happen though.
J.R.
Something extraordinary will have to happen for Heilman to get a start. They like him out of the pen, although he’s been erratic lately, but there is a two-fold fear in not switching Heilman back: 1) they don’t believe he’s stretched out enough to have the endurance to go five-plus, and 2) they don’t want to screw with his head.
They know he wants to start, but that’s an issue for another day. If he starts now, then they move him back could only serve to confuse Heilman about his role.
You don’t think that having Jose Lima, the worst pitcher ever starting instead of him ( Heilman) doesn’t mess with his head? I know it’s sure messing with all of ours.
What the hell is Omar thinking?
Anon …
That’s a heluva point. I wish I had thought of it. What do suppose the over-under is on the number of innings Lima pitches?