Comments on: Updated pitching

By: JM

JM — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:42:58 +0000

YOU DO NOT MESS WITH THE ACE. Santana starts opening day against the Fish, he pitches next on the day he was supposed to pitch, if that is possible. Pure and simple. As some others have mentioned, this is week 1 of the season. The fact that the Mets went w/ a 5-man rotation at all to begin this month – when they didn’t have to – should tell you that the team is managing their staff for 162 games, not a couple weeks. If Santana’s schedule had to be adjusted so he could face a division foe in a must win game late in the season, we can have a discussion. Otherwise, he stays on schedule. And yes, he will get his shot at the Phils at some point.

By: Dan Gurney

Dan Gurney — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:08:08 +0000

Worrying about maintaining a 5 man rotation versus pitching the starters on regular rest is a non-issue to me. Not worth worrying about.

By: JK

JK — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:59:25 +0000

There’s a big burnt pot in here calling the kettle black.

By: JK

JK — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:57:24 +0000

If the Mets lose the division by 1 game again, there will be plenty of blame to go around just like last year, and to pin it on one rotation decision in early April is silly.

Skipping Santana on Sunday so he can pitch next week against the Phillies might be throwing away a win against the Braves who could end up to be the Mets biggest competition this year. So if Willie did that and they lost Sunday and eventually the division by 1 game to the Braves, I’m sure he would be skewered for that decision.

It’s also to the benefit of the rotation to keep everyone more or less on schedule and not have a starter go too long without a start. Willie needs to manage for the long run, not just a few series in April, no matter how much they mean to the fans.

By: letsgometsgo

letsgometsgo — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:29:41 +0000

metsfan; silly fan. sad little fan….
1. The internet has ruined fandom???? Well bud, what makes you be on the intenret? sit in front of your set and clap your hands all night instead.
2. Since you obviously weren’t around the world for too long this for your information. before the internet people sat around in bars and argued the same exact stuff they afre arguing on the internet. I know you can’t beleive people could actually talk and argue face to face, but it really happened. \
3. If we all sat around doing what you suggested you would have the only post on the blog because the rest of us would be back in bars arguing sports.
4. grow up and stop dictating to everybody to be regimented to everything in the pathetic manner you desire. I’m sure you can find a blog where everybody say nothing more than good play, good trade… blah blah blah. Maybe you can’t. Your the lousy fan because you can’t see that we are enjoying ourselfves with the meaningless arguements….

By: Seth (Rochester, NY)

Seth (Rochester, NY) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:21:50 +0000

This is why teams like The Mets normally start the season with Four Pitcher Starting Rotations. You get a lot of rainouts in April, especially if you were to play early games in New York.

By: runnin rebel

runnin rebel — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:33:25 +0000

I can understand fans concern for an early jump on the season but the way have played in the three game series they really doing well. Other than that bad break in game 2, they still performed well without Pedro. There back of the lineup is doing much better than anticipated.

Perez is on fire (and Yes I call one game on fire, the way he was lights out with the Marlins, that’s fire)

Pelfrey will turn it around. If not, I predict the Mets will give him one more start and then if he fails again they will adjust that right away.

The other teams have their issues.
Phils-pitching in general. Plus their bats are not all that for all that hype.
Braves-Hampton is an el dukee, Smoltz is acting like a Johnson with back issues. Hudson does not have a stellar record for being an ace(Neither does Johan but his CYs, changeup and age do more of the talking). The Mets know Glavine (he is also up in his age too) while there might be stuff left in the tank it is nothing that they are unfamiliar with. As opposed to Johan’s move to the NL the Braves won’t know what him them.

By: metsfan

metsfan — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:11:31 +0000

people concerned about mathcups right now, are way too invested with wins and losses right now, you have to earn a division championship, and it sure doesn’t come from winning one start you happened to match up favorably in April. It’s over the long haul, either your team is better then the other, or it isn’t, that’s what happened in ‘06, and its what happened in ‘07, and it’ll be what happens in ‘08. People worrying about some matchup right now are too afraid to go into the season head on, confidence in their sails, ready to take on the other teams. I’m a Mets fan, and I”m proud to say i’m confident in my team. No more pessimism from Mets fans. Let’s think we can do it, not assume we won’t. Who’s with me mets fans??? LETS GO METS. Who just wants to enjoy the season and take a break from this incessant arm chair GM’ing that goes on every single minute because of the vast amount of information we’re afforded now. Like i’ve said before, the internet has ruined fandom, you may like fantasy baseball, but the purity of the cheer and fan is gone.

By: TJ

TJ — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:45:06 +0000

I’m most concerned about Pelfrey’s first start coming against the Phils. Yikes.

By: Jimmy dean

Jimmy dean — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:39:45 +0000

you guys seriously all make me laugh. you act as if johan will only pitch 2 games all season. it’s week one in a looooooong season for pete’s sake. we play the braves and phillies a total of 36 games this season. don’t worry johan will pitch against both teams more than once. i know every game count but come on give me a break.

By: Dan Gurney

Dan Gurney — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:08:29 +0000

Two interesting matchups. Especially Santana versus Mr Devastated on Sunday. Is there a feeling in baseball that teams have too much leeway in calling rainouts to benefit the team and someone else should have the authority to postpone games before it starts?

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:43:36 +0000

Games against Phillies count more against the Phillies in the standings because you are guaranteed to gain a game on them if you beat them. A win against the Nats or Brewers doesn’t net you a game in the standings unless the Phillies also lose.

Just because something is the right thing to do in a given situation doesn’t mean it is ideal. I think it’s the right decision given the alternative of having so much time between starts for Johan with the off days.

By: Joe D from Mets Merized Online

Joe D from Mets Merized Online — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:39:33 +0000

I’m glad Pelfrey got bumped. Before it became official I blogged about Willie doing the right thing and bumping him.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:33:15 +0000

Oh bullsh*t. Blaming Willie is the easiest thing to do, since he’s the “manager” and the manager has magical powers and can control everything…

You may think the extra day is overblown, but I’m sure the pitchers don’t… Santana would be pretty p*ssed off if he was told he’d have to wait more than week between starts..
Finally, don’t games against the Nats and Brewers count the same in the standings as do Philly games?

By: stick

stick — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:20:19 +0000

to heck with an extra day or so. That is way overblown.

Not having your ace lefty face the Phils (instead trotting out Pelfrey and/or Figeroua) is assineine.

If the Phils take those 2 games and win the division by 1 again, you already know where to pin the blame.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:48:30 +0000

I know people are going to crucify Willie for this, but I understand his reasoning. If you reverse the two, Maine would have had 8 days between starts, and same goes for Santana if he starts on Tuesday.

It still sucks that Santana will miss both Philly series…