Starting Rotation Set
I haven’t blogged too much this spring because there hasn’t been very much to write about. It’s been a relatively quiet spring. But now that we’re a week away from the regular season it’s time to start writing.
The big news yesterday was the official coronation of Livan Hernandez as the fifth starter. This move had been anticipated since Hernandez established himself early in camp. With the demotions of Freddy Garcia and Jonathon Niese a week or so ago this was hardly a surprise. The hope is that he’ll be steady and be able to pitch enough innings so as not to wear out the bullpen at the bottom of the rotation.
I’m really not so worried about the fifth starter spot or the first. The questions come up when you look at who comes up between ace Johan Santana and Hernandez.
Mike Pelfrey, scheduled to start the second game of the season, had a great year in his first full season last year. Some people believe that the 200.2 innings he pitched may lead to problems this year. I don’t think last years innings will be a problem but it remains to be seen whether last year was an aberration or the real thing.
Third starter Oliver Perez is always a question mark. Not from season to season but from game to game. Last year he pitched several excellent games but finished the season with just a 10-7 record. That should indicate how he pitched when he wasn’t awesome.
John Maine, the third starter, is coming off surgery for bone spurs in his shoulder that ended his 2008 season early. He seems to be feeling alright but will he have his stuff when the games count?
Overall it’s not a bad rotation if everyone pitches on or close to their ability. But that’s a big if when you consider the inexperience, injuries and inconsistencies of the players that compose it. Being a cynical optimist I’d say they’ll be fine but I’m glad they have Garcia and Niese honing their skills at AAA Buffalo just in case.
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Niese Demoted
Livan Hernandez‘s chances at the fifth starter spot on the roster got stronger this morning as the Mets sent Jonathon Niese to minor league camp. A part of me was hoping they’d go with Niese and let him develop on the major league level. But with the way Hernandez has been throwing lately he is the best choice in camp. I’m sure we’ll see Niese back in the majors again before too long. He’s one injury away from getting the call.
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Hernandez Wins Fith Starter Spot (Probably)
Today may be the day that decided the fifth starter competition. Freddy Garcia threw 2 innings and allowed 7 hits. Those who saw it said he looked like he was throwing batting practice. He came in to relieve Livan Hernandez who had thrown 5 innings allowing 5 hits and 1 run while striking out 3. Hernandez did not walk a batter.
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Links Update
In preparation for the coming season I have refreshed the links section (accessible via the Links tab on top of the sidebar at the right. A several sites have been removed to to inactivity or no longer existing. A couple have been added. If you have any suggestions for links to add then please let me know through the Contact page.
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Why Aren’t Mets Commercials This Good?
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Pagan Surgery Settles 5th Outfielder Battle
Angel Pagan has opted to have surgery on the bone spurs in his elbow and will be about 6-8 weeks. Pagan had a solid spring last year but his season got derailed by injuries (including surgery on a torn labrum) and he only got into 31 games. This setback will likely cost him a spot on the major league roster as the spot he was battling for will likely go to Jeremy Reed, the guy he was battling with. Reed will have to falter horribly or one of the outfielders will have to get hurt for Pagan to crack the roster coming off of the surgery.
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Sanchez Released
The Mets released Duaner Sanchez this morning. The reliever was in trouble since the start of camp. Sanchez faded down the stretch last year when it mattered most. However in the offseason he got a 128% pay raise to avoid arbitration. General manager Omar Minaya said that Sanchez was released now so the team could get a better look at some other bullpen candidates.
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The Curious Case of Johan Santana
I unfortunately have not had the opportunity to blog since last Thursday but if I could have I would have written about Johan Santana. When it was announced that he wouldn’t make his start on Friday I began to worry that something may be wrong.
The earlier announcement that Santana would be skipping the WBC was a little awkward (there was far too much reluctance in the announcement to sound genuine) but would not be cause for concern unless followed up by something else. The something else in this case was the scratch from Friday’s start.
Now, over the weekend, there’s been talk of an MRI and missing opening day. General manager Omar Minaya was not very committal regarding the necessity of the MRI. Based on what I heard on the radio this morning he seemed to waffle between the necessity of the MRI and the snow in New York as far as the reason why Santana was still in St. Lucie instead of flying to New York to meet with team doctors. That’s the third sign. Usually all it takes is three signs to point to impending danger.
Is there cause for alarm? Not yet. But there certainly is cause for concern. If Satana goes down so do the Mets. And pitchers like Livan Hernandez, Elmer Dessens and Ron Villone, who signed on Friday, are not going to save the day. Should the Mets be thinking about a guy like Curt Schilling?
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Spring Notes
- There’s a buzz around this morning about today’s batting order and it has nothing to do with where Luis Castillo or Jose Reyes will bat. Manager Jerry Manuel has put today’s starting pitcher Oliver Perez in the no. 2 hole in the order. Manuel wants to see Perez bunt and is apparently confident enough that Castillo will get on base to lead off to bat Perez second. Perez is scheduled to pitch 2 innings and is unlikely to get a second at bat.
- Sean Green is not expected to miss any time after suffering a torn nail in the first inning of yesterday’s game. The nail will be shaved down and a solution that will harden into an artificial nail will be used to replace it until it can grow back.
- Fernando Tatis likely won’t start a game until Friday. Tatis is suffering from a sore right hand that Manuel thinks may be the result of a hitting drill in which the players were asked to swing at 80 pitches in 6 minutes. The drill was designed to shorten reaction times from pitch to swing.
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First Injury of 2009 Preseason
The Mets suffered their first injury of the spring today when pitcher Sean Green, acquired as part of the J.J. Putz trade, left during the first inning of today’s exhibition opener after suffering a cut fingernail on his throwing hand.
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