Tonight’s Pitcher: John Maine
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- April
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PHOTO: MLB/METS
John Maine makes his first start of the season feeling positive after following up last year’s 15 wins with a strong spring training (3-1 with a sub-two ERA).
“I feel good about going into the season,’’ said Maine. “I’m in better shape and something clicked in my head.’’
Maine doesn’t appear to lose focus on the mound and is pitching with a sense of purpose: “My walks are down. If they get on they will have to earn it.’’
Maine doesn’t talk about projected numbers, but I would consider it a step back if he didn’t at least equal last year. I believe this guy is primed for a big year.
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on Friday, April 4th, 2008 at 3:54 pm by John Delcos.
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JD,
If Maine does not at least equal last year, then of course it’s a “step back;” last time I checked, if Maine wins 14 games or less this season, or his ERA rises even 1/100 of a run, he cannot by the laws of mathematics be said to have taken a step forward. But that is missing the point. Stardom is not always a linear progression, and particularly in baseball, where even the best players cannot maintain certain levels of high performance from year to year (what are the chances A-Rod drives in 156 this year?), it is not at all unusual for a guy to regress somewhat after his first full season of success. Reyes took a step back last year, yet I don’t think many people had trouble predicting a big year for him this season. The point is that Mets fans should give Maine some leeway to develop, even if he does take a “step back” this season.
To JM: Point well taken, and I wrote the same about Reyes last year. For some reason I have this belief about Maine that he’ll improve. Maybe it’s from talking with him. He doesn’t say anything about numbers, but he makes it clear he expects to improve.-JD
With Maine over under 17 W’s I think he is over. With Ollie I think it is under.
Ollie is great and all, but he has focus problems.
Ok. Very tired of all the “prognosticators” predicting the Braves will win the east. Give me a break. Their rotation is not as strong as it appears. Glavine won’t last half the year, Hampton hasn’t pitched in three years and Jair is unproven. Their bullpen stinks. They do have some decent hitters. They may finish in second but it’s gonna be at least double digits behind the Mets. You heard it here first.
I agree and the everyone thinking the Tigers are going all the way..By the way 0-4 are the Tigers right now. It is early but their first impression could not be worse.