This has been one heck of a season. It has taken me from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. The agony and ecstasy of the 2008 season has been just that.
For now, the Mets hold on to a slim 1 1/2 game lead over last seasons defending N.L. East champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets can ill afford to play what amounts to Russian roulette with the 32 games remaining in their season. And yet, that is exactly what they are prepared to do.
With a cloud of doubt already hanging over their rotation in the name of John Maine, the Mets have decided to tempt faith even further by limiting the few remaining starts of Mike Pelfrey in an attempt to keep him from harm’s way.
With yesterdays loss and the revelation after the game that John Maine is pitching with a bone spur in his right shoulder that will require offseason surgery, can the Mets really afford to start pulling starts away from one of their best performing pitchers of the year in Mike Pelfrey?
Mike Pelfrey will not make his August 31st start next week against the Marlins. Instead he will close out the roadtrip with a start against the Brewers on September 3rd.
This decision means that Mike Pelfrey will miss what is now the biggest and most critical series of the year against the Phillies at Shea. While the Phillies make sure that their best pitchers are lined up for that final showdown, the Mets are taking their foot off of the accelerator at a time when they should be gunning it.
The Mets better pray this strategy doesn’t backfire on them… I don’t think Mets fans can take another September heartbreak.
Well maybe it has something to do with he has never beaten the Marlins and maybe skipping him will also keep his head clear?
Just thinking out loud…
I’M 57 YRS OLD & CAN’T REMEMBER ANY BASEBALL FRANCHISE GOING TO GREATER LENGTHS TO PROTECT A PRIZED PITCHING PROSPECT THAN THE YANKEES DID WITH JOBA. THAT BEGS THE QUESTION. WHERE’S JOBA NOW???
EXACTLY! THE PROBLEM TRULY IS GREED IN PAYING HUGE BONUSES & ROSTER SPOTS TO SCHOOL KIDS & SUBSEQUENTLY FAST-TRACKING THEM TO INCREASE ROI, ELIMINATING THE NATURAL STRENGTHENING OF MUSCLES NEEDED FOR THE JOB.
LIKE DECLINING IMMUNE SYSTEMS CAUSED BY OVERUSE OF PREVENTATIVE ANTIBACTERIALS & ANTIBIOTICS. OVERPROTECTING PITCHERS TO AVOID POTENTIAL INJURY IS, TO ME, A FOOLS ERRAND/MISSION. aka JOBA RULES.
METS CAN’T EXPECT STOKES TO CARRY MAINE & PELFREY’S WATER LEAVING NIESE & PARNELL TO CONTINUE THE TOO MUCH TOO SOON TREADMILL.
THE ONLY CHOICE I SEE IS TO EITHER ROLL THE DICE, CONTINUE HIS PACE SANS FISH, LET PARNELL/NIESE ASSIST MAINE WHILE STOKES FACES FISH FOR BIG PELF. YOU WANT CAUTION? MRI PELF’S ARM AFTER EVERY START & AT FIRST SIGN OF ACTUAL DETERIORATION, THEN THROW IN THE TOWEL BY STARTING JASON VARGAS OR FIGGY INSTEAD. UNTIL AN ACTUAL INDICATOR ARISES, I DO AS MY SAINTED GRANDMOTHER ADVISED & NOT BORROW TROUBLE.
BTW, FORGOT TO MENTION CAPSLOCK NEEDED TO ACCOMODATE DISABILITY. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING…LET’S GO METS.
Oh come on, Joe. It’s stuff like this that makes rooting for the Mets FUN FUN FUN. And exciting. Isnt’t babseball a great game? Isn’t a pennant race in September fun???
I’d write more but I need to go take my Ulcer medicine and buy some more cigarettes
What do you mean??? Are you saying you don’t like biting your nails and pulling your hair out? I always wondered about those bald guys with no nails… Now I get it. They are Mets fans. Let me tell you, it ain’t easy (smile). But they say nothing worthwhile is!! go Mets!!!!!!!!!!