Morning all. Checking out of the hotel, then driving down to Ft. Lauderdale for the game. That’s where the Mets open, so it’s convenient.
We have the fifth starter auditions again today. Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey. There’s no way Duque is ready. Still, they go through this dog-and-pony show. Still think four and waiting a couple of weeks is the best option.
They mention Jorge Sosa, but I don’t think they really mean it. See you later.
21 Comments
The only reason Pelfrey should even be considered is if they are planning on DFAing ElDuque. Assuming they aren’t and they will give ElDuque the job some time this season then why in hell’s name would they continue to screw with Pelfrey’s fragile mind, when he’s gonna be jerked around some more and he has shown he has a very fragile make up. But that’s the Mets; why plan for the long term when we have a 4 minute strategy. If El Duque’s not ready then the temp should be whomever they thought of as their long man if they ever thought of one. Whomever they pick will suck so it doesn’t matter if its Sosa, the Coney Island T-Shirt dude, the bum from Tampa or anyone else.
Y’know, a couple of years ago, people said the same thing about Pedro that I’m hearing now about Duque, after not logging many spring innings: that he’s not ready.
So how’d Pedro respond once the bell rang?
He started 5-0.
Duque has been around the block a few times and I have far more confidence in him starting out OK than I do in Pelfrey.
As I asked yesterday, why hasn’t Bobby Parnell gotten more of a look?
As for Sosa, he started off well last year until the NL caught up with him.
The Ruben Gotay situation bothers me more than any other Mets cut has in recent years. Yes, it’s a business, but Gotay is a good bat and a good kid and last year did everything the team asked of him.
Then, this spring Gotay rushes back after an injury because he sees the team around him is depleted by injuries and now he’s effectively punished for being healthy because the Mets can’t DL him.
And as for Tatis, Jon, yes he arrived late in camp and din’t have as many at-bats as the other guys, but as Omar pointed out yesterday, he played winter ball, so it’s not as if he sat around on his couch since last season ended.
Slopppy-
I agree. If Pelfry is going to be the #5, the team has got to commit to him in that slot and let him grow…lumps and all. Thinking about it, maybe a good part of Pelfs problem is that he knows he’s on a short leash. The best thing for HIM would be to know that he WILL BE in the rotation this season and learn from taking his lumps on occasion. Confidence from the organization could make a world of difference, instead of him constantly looking over his shoulder. He’s got to become tougher mentally, yes, but I honestly feel that the Mets will benefit long term if they give him the ball every 5th day and let him pitch. Scoop was right in a past thread…with our 1-4, #5 has some room to grow, and he will win more than 5.
John, I don’t think this is a dog and pony show. I think they genuinely believe El Duque might be ready to go – at least as a serviceable #5 starter. Supposedly his last bullpen was good. They are just giving him every chance to make the rotation. And if he stinks and Pelfrey does a decent job, then I think Pelfrey will get the nod, as he should.
I also think they will stick to their guns on a 5-man rotation from the get go in order to give extra days off and minimize stress on all the starters, not just Pedro. Seeing how neither Maine or Ollie could reach 200 innings last year, I agree with that strategy.
I don’t see how anyone could possibly think that El Duke is ready to pitch or can pitch anymore with effectiveness. I watched El Duke throw 80 miles an hour with his fastball, that is literally a batting practice fastball. Unless El Duke shows today that he is throwing 88-90 miles an hour he will not be effective. The mets organization should let pelfrey start the season and let pelfrey pitch two games and see how it goes to determine if pelfrey can be our #5 starter for the season.
Luca: they’ll screw with Pelfrey… He should have been sent out already. He’s not the # 5 guy for the season no matter what El Duque does today. Even he knows it and admits it. Sosa or Figeroa should be the man hanging because neither has a future to screw up. Its called “The Minaya Way”..........
Agree with tomg. Assuming El Duque is no better than mediocre today and Pelfrey pitches somewhat better, just give him the job and let him start for awhile. See how he does without having to look over his shoulder. Only I’d give him more than 2-3 starts to prove himself. As someone said, the “short leash” may be playing with his mind.
Mets are not gonna eat any Eldud $$. He is going to be the #5 if he is healthy enough to walk from the dugout to the mound. And they won’t commit to another “permanent starter” b/c he is on the team.
In case people did not see this, “The Mets are officially noncommittal on who will claim the final bench spot, but all signs – including Fernando Tatis being given team-issued luggage ”
You are correct scoopcoop. So why are they playing mind games with Mikey?
scoop, they can always put El Duque on the DL and keep him in extended ST. Even if a player is healthy, they can sometimes convince him to go that route. Apparently, they preferred to do that with Gotay but he insisted he could play.
Pelf mind games?
B/c they don’t know for sure that Eldud can actually go from the dugout to the mound w/o one of his old bones breaking.
As I said, every team has holes. It is fun to argue about this. But at least it is an argument about the #5 starter and the 25th guy. I’d say that is a good sign that Mets are ok (right now).
seeing Tatis will be bad, especially if he continues to wear #17.
At about 3-4pm today we might be able to know if Eldud is going to DL if he can’t get the lowly O’s out.
Watch them both come out and throw gems.
I’d guess they go w/Eldud but it will ramp up some debate (although I think pelfrey really needs time in NO).
or watch them both come out and give up 10 runs. Then what?
watch them both come out and give up 10 runs. then what?
I can’t believe what I’m readin!!!!! JK is implying the great metsie organization should CHEAT!!!!!!!!!!!! that is disgraceful, even for a nonmetsie…. and to think JK is appalled by players cheating by taking those things that make them stronger. a hyporcrite and a nonmetsie all rolled into one….
The reason scoop I said mind games with Pelfrey is because as you correctly stated, ElDuque is the number 5 whether it be next week or next month. So say,Pelfrey, who can’t take the pressure, is handed this job, and when ElDuque comes back, they say bye Pelf no matter how he pitches? Why do that to this kid? I would be fine if they said its his job and bombs away until he figures it out, but we all know that ain’t happening. So send him to a place where he can get calm and confident and good and then worry about it. And as for your questiuon if they both suck, Sosa can pitch 5 mediocre innings, and who cares the 5 guy only makes 30 starts. We are so good we don’t need those games.
Sloppy, not implying you can simply throw away 30 games.
But to expect that you can have every guy on the team making a good to great contribution, I don’t feel is a realistic expectation (if that is what you expect from the 5th SP, or the last guy on the bench or the last guy in the BP). I don’t know what your expectation is since you never state it. In fact, it seems that your only statements are the negative. That is your perogitive. But I think the Mets have enough to win 90 games.
Other teams including our closest competition could be “throwing away” alot more than that with their poor BPs and suspect SP.
That being said, it is a difficult situation for Mets and Pelfrey. But if he is this fragile, maybe he is going to be a bust. Time will tell.
Pelfrey belongs in the minors. Duque belongs on the DL. Pelfrey has shown time and time again that he isn’t ready. Not only with his pitching, but with his head. The Mets did him no favors by rushing him to the bigs in 06, and they aren’t doing him any favors right now either.
“But to expect that you can have every guy on the team making a good to great contribution, I don’t feel is a realistic expectation”
I agree Scoop, which is why they should just give the spot to Sosa or sign Vargas.
Right now, all I want from the 5th starter is innings. Our top 4 are so good that we don’t need to worry so much about the quality, but we need someone who is going to give us at least 5 innings a start.
Duque hasn’t approached 200 innings in year.
Pelfrey needs to develop more. We could conceivably start him and just let him develop, but what if he blows up and has a few short stints? Then this kills his already fragile confidence and the bullpen.
Just sign Vargas, cut Duque, and let Pelfrey take his time and work on his slider (or bring back his curve!)
If Pelf is that fragile making him #5 where he will blow up like last year and get booed will not help.
He needs to figure out how to pitch in AAA. As someone else stated, he would benefit from the two seniors on the squad but at the end of the day it is on him.
Since El Duque went 5 today I am assuming he takes that slot.