Pedro Martinez had a simulated game this afternoon. So far, so good, the Mets say.
Let’s do some math. Suppose he’s fine tomorrow and the next step is another simulation before the rehab games.
You have to look at this like spring training. Pitchers start at two innings and build themselves up. Usually starters make six starts over a month in the spring before they are ready.
Martinez will have to do the same, so that puts him coming back in September. Assume that and I figure five starts before the playoffs.
Even if it unfolds that way there are no givens. The Mets must figure they won’t get anything from Martinez. Given that, if something jumps out before the trade deadline they have to go for it.
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I’d be all for picking up a back-end starter as insurance against Pedro never coming back and Sosa continuing to fizzle…
As long as you don’t give up Milledge, F-Mart, Pelfrey or Gomez in the trade… and I’d need something pretty good to consider giving up Mulvey or Humber in a deal.
If it’s for cash and a lesser prospect or two, sure, go for it.
But that core of outfielders and pitchers is the future of this team alongside Maine Perez Beltran Wright Reyes and… who knows… maybe Gotay.
I think a bullpen upgrade is the greater need, right now.
Perez, Maine, a healthy El Duque and a Glavine with that 300 win monkey off his back… I would go to war in September with those guys as my 1-2-3-4.
If Sosa turns around or Pedro comes back, you got five.
And fiiiiiive is the magic number.
I wonder if Ronnie Belliard’s re-upping for two years – at a VERY affordable $1.6M next year and $1.9M for ‘09 – might make it easier or harder for the Mets to pry him loose from the Nats.
Belliard has outstanding range – something very important, being that Delgado is a defensive liability AND has a bum hip.
I’d love to see the Mets package Pelfrey – hell yes, I’d give him up, as I think he will amount to nothing more than a hard-throwing middle reliever – and a couple of low-level prospects for Belliard and relievers Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch.
The only thing that’s going to jump out before the trade deadline is a brinks truck, which is what you’ll need to acquire any speck of help this year. Although it was a blessing in disguise as far as Oliver Perez’ performance so far is concerned, hopefully there won’t be any late night cab rides to drastically alter the course of the season. The market right now is ridiculous, and the Mets have to navigate it while trying to figure out what they have at the same time. Omar’s job is not one I would wish on anyone right now, and I hope he continues to stick with his guns by not overpaying…
And speaking of cab rides, how awesome would it be to have Dirty Sanchez right now? I miss playing seven inning games almost as much as I miss Pedro. People could be underestimating Pedro’s affect on the clubhouse and the team in general though. His energy and enthusiasm have been sorely missed this year…
Yeah… Sanchez would be nice right now.
Especially since the Schmota Brothers hurt the Mets a lot less if there’s only one of them in Queens and that guy can be shoved into a mop-up role.
But the entire affair got us Ollie… pretty much our ace right now and probably for a long time… so I’ll take it.
Look at it this way, though.
Next year, the pen probably has…
Wagner, Sanchez, Heilman, Feliciano, Burgos, Smith and…
Maybe Horror Show will actually be healthy next year as well… or at least be well-hidden as a lefty-only specialist if he isn’t.
Write off the money on Mota, let Heilman become more of the longman? That’s an AMAZING bullpen.
All except Amby. He has proved nothing so far. Sanchez is also a major question mark. Can he come back? Remember Mota pitched well for us last year and so far has been less than impressive.
I think we still need an OF bat. Not sold on what we have. Perhaps the former Met Jay Payton if he is cheap?
He only gets 30 days once he starts the minors, right? I wouldn’t consider him only at the 1st day of Spring, either.
I think it has to be before Sept.
Practically every team in baseball is out looking for a servicable starting pitcher. Is there anybody out there that’s really worth getting at the prices we can expect to pay? I don’t think so. Most of the guys whose names have been floating around… I’d rather not take a chance on most of those guys even if they cost us nothing!
I’ve heard Omar’s comments on Pedro. It’s good that he doesn’t want to get the fans’ hopes up. Obviously, I don’t have the inside scoop on Pedro, but I think there’s a very good chance he makes it back in September. Even if he doesn’t though, I’m willing to take my chances on Sosa, Humber or Pelfrey as long as it’s not a playoff game.
Better to focus on the bullpen.
I’d like to see what Gotay could give us over an extended period, but if the Mets were to go after another 2B, would you rather have Belliard or Ty Wigginton? I’ve always liked Wigginton style, though I’m sure he’s not the defender Belliard is.
Hi John –
Thanks for some hopeful sports news – I’m sure Pedro is making a big effort to do well and return to the Mets.
Aside from sports news good and bad,yesterday my small hometown made headlines for all the wrong reasons – a 3 AM home invasion where a mother and her two daughters were murdered.The father lived but is hospitalized. We are a close-knit community and we are mourning this loss.
What about Livian Hernandez as an insurance policy? He’d likely be more dependable than Sosa and he’d be something of a hedge against his half-brother sustaining an inopportune late-season injury. How much would you be willing to give up for Livian? Mulvey and a second-tier prospect?
Why would anyone want Jay Payton? What’s the purpose for him? Millege will be able to pick up all of the extra OF ABs, spotting both Alou and Green. If you want a bat for the OF go get Griffey Jr. If you want a player from the Orioles go get Roberts. Payton is pointless. Stop drinking the MetsBlog Kool-Aid.
um JR. that wasnt KoolAid they drank. ;-]
If we had Sanchez right now, it could be a six inning game the way Feliciano is pitching right now. Hopefully he eventually makes it back to at least compete for the set-up role next Spring.
I can’t see the Mets making any trades for a SP or OF. I think there will definitely be a trade for a reliever because there are so many out there, but I don’t think the Mets will be getting a current closer because it will cost too much in return. If we can get a good reliever for somebody like A-Hern, a somewhat decent prospect at a full position, then we could trade a potentially good pitcher in Mota to TB to get Wiggy back perhaps. If the TB trade sets up first, we could afford to give Gotay to get a better reliever than Hernandez would fetch us.
If you could get Mark Loretta without giving up any of the big outfield or starting pitching prospects, I’d make that move because…
I mean, he wouldn’t just be an insurance plan at second, he’d also be a great guy to use for Delgado’s back-up against tough lefties and… a much better offensive choice for Wright and Reyes’ rare off-days.
And I think if you said to Loretta “Okay, you’re our back-up infield for right now and if Gotay or Delgado fall into awful slumps, you slot into lefty-righty platoons with either of them…”
I think he’d accept that role for sixty games to play on a winner.
As long as you don’t give up the top three outfield prospects or the top three pitching prospects for him, I think he’d be a helluva back-up plan.
Trade Gomez for Loretta and Wheeler. Gomez’s hand injury is serious and he may never develop power for a long time. Gomez was only rated a B prospect coming into the year, he’s not untouchable. Gomez can be traded as a PTBNL since he is on the DL.
No no no, Gomez is…
Gomez is the second MOST untouchable prospect the Mets have, after Milledge and before Pelfrey.
Milledge, Gomez, Pelfrey and F-Mart are the completely untouchable prospects in my opinion.
And then after that, Humber and Mulvey are “only for something completely amazing” untouchable and… Carp and Guerra are in the “you better get something good” untouchable.
Lots of players lose that bone to injury and Gomez is only 21! His speed and defense are amazing, all he needs is another year or so worth of AAA training in plate discipline.
With his speed and defense, I don’t think you need anything more than 15-20 HR power out of Gomez if he can hit around .280-.310 and draw a good deal of walks.
Not to mention that in four or five years, when you move Beltran to a corner, Gomez takes over as the centrefielder and you need the power even less.
Gomez is completely untouchable. Hell, if the Mets make the playoffs, you might even put him on the roster just as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement.
My understanding is the minor league OF prospects were rated Martinez, Gomez, Milledge in that order.
I am not sure why everyone thinks Sanchez will come back from surgery and pitch just like before the cab ride. I think he is a non event for this year and possibly 4ever.
We need an OF. Is everyone comfortable with Beltran, Green,Alou, Milledge? I am not. Alou will tweak his hammy on Friday and that leaves no rest for everyone with a lot of pressure on Milledge ( who by the way has not had much success in the bigs ).
We have no depth at OF guys. We need something. Unless everone thinks Marlon Anderson is the answer here?
A lot is riding on the smooth transition of Lastings and the health of Alou. That is a tall order. Both have to happen not one.
Dave
I think if pedro is ready for rehab, you needn’t necessarily look at it like spring training. Pitchers don’t go into their first spring start having pitched simulated games for 5 weeks ahead of time, and having been on a religious throwing program since 4 months earlier—he picked up a ball in mid march.
Pedro is a man with off the charts pride levels. I get the sense he would not be entering the final phase of a rehab stint unless he felt he had it within him to help the big club, especially knowing that nothing would be more deflating than for Martinez to come back with all the emotional equity that the Return of the King would bring, and have him get undressed on the mound. Pedro knows better. Especially with the team finally remembering how to play 9 strong innings now.
Spiderpig….nice to see another Met/Ranger fan…
I’d rather go to war with Alou Beltran and Milledge than trade away high-end prospects, let’s put it that way.
A plus-hitting corner outfielder for the stretch run to platoon with Alou and Milledge would be nice but you’re not gonna get that guy without giving up the farm.
They had to pass on Bradley because he would’a wanted a guarantee to start, Dunn and Sosa would have warning track power in Shea AND they can’t hit for average AND they can’t field…
And Byrnes or Griffey could cost too much in terms of prospects.
I’ll go to war with Alou Beltran and Milledge with Green and Anderson backing them up, yeah, sure, why not? Might even get Chavez or Gomez back, fer Heavens’ sakes.
Sanchez will probably never be That Guy again… but he’ll come back very very solid at least.
80-85% of that peak he had there for a while, I’ll take that as my seventh inning guy with Feliciano and Wagner in the eight and nine.