Johan Throws Four Santana-Esque Innings

12 Comments + Add Comment

• andy March 14, 2010 at 6:59 pm

  Seems like maine really needs to get ready for games but I won’t gate him after today. Its only spring training, it happens. As long as he is healthy and ready for the season, nothing else matters.
  • Wayne G March 15, 2010 at 6:27 am

    His previous outing was good
• Des March 14, 2010 at 8:38 pm

  Maine blamed the performance on not being used to coming into a game in relief. Huh? What’s that excuse about? He started the fifth inning and presumably Jerry or pitching coach Dan Warthen had told him.

  Turns out Warthen assigned Maine to pitch in relief rather than have him start the morning “B” game. Maine had indicated he wanted no part of the A.M. game. Just as Billy Wagner did a few years ago, John Maine, who is normally a stand up guy, chose to make excuses.

  I think John is a wonderful player, intense and intelligent, but his bellyaching doesn’t cut it. Back then, Willie didn’t like Wag’s excuse-making, and today, I’m sure Jerry is in the same frame of mind about Maine.

  Considering that in less than one inning, Maine threw thirty seven pitches, walked three guys and gave up three doubles, maybe it’s easier for the always self-examining Maine to deal with the psyche and the spin rather than the performance. We fans just want him to give his best effort and get ready for the season. Barring physical injury, John should do fine when the bell sounds.
  • Mark V March 14, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    Maine had a good outing before this one. I agree he shouldn’t make excuses though. Honestly before reading this I thought it wasn’t right to start a starter in the middle of a game when the hitters are warm and he isn’t. There not built for that kind of jump in and go mentality. Again though, I do agree he should have just bit the bullet and realized not to make this choice again. I’m not so concerned about what happened to him this time as I am about the fact that John has no put away pitch and has a temper on the mound that works against him. If he doesn’t improve this we need a good long ball pitcher or two to cover him after 5 innings. Because his chances of going deep in games will be few and far between.
  • Vegas Rich March 15, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    Why does Maine get criticized when he tells the truth on how he felt about coming into the game in relief. The approach is so different to both roles. I know, I did them both in organized ball and you need to prepare yourself to a different mindset.
    • Scott March 15, 2010 at 2:20 pm

      I agree, and quite frankly, I don’t see why he felt he even need to explain his outting to the media. I would have just responded,

      “Look it spring training people, I am working on my pitches, and delivery, I could care less if they hit 8 straight homers off me”.
• theonlymaskman March 15, 2010 at 9:56 am

  With Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez in the rotation, I will be very happy if 2 of those 3 are effective during the season. I think it reasonable to assume that 1 of those 3 will turn out to be a flop. That makes it more important that the second group of starters have a good ST. Because we are likely to need a #4 in addition to the #5 from that group of Niese, Nieve, Figueroa, and Takahashi. I think we will find that 2 of those 4 will be able to serve as competitive starters this year. So somehow the Mets will come up with a group of 5 that will work out. That and early returns by Beltran and Reyes along with the addition of Bay and a possible more productive Murphy and a rejuvenatd Wright gives me hope that we will be able to put 2009 behind us for good. Starting to see the glass as half full instead of half empty. LGM!
  • Mark V March 15, 2010 at 10:47 am

    I agree fully.
    • Vegas Rich March 15, 2010 at 2:12 pm

      As do I.
• Scott March 15, 2010 at 11:16 am

  Obviously Johan is a sure thing,

  Of the 4 other pitchers, I think Maine and Pelfrey will probably be 0.500 pitchers and if they make all there starts, I will be content.

  The big question is Perez and if he can make all his starts and be a 0.500 pitcher, I would be estatic and this ball club would be in great shape.

  From the 5th pitcher, whether it is Figeroa, Niese, Nieve, or a combo of all three, what I would like to see out of the 5th start sport is “INNINGS”. Not to concerned with results, but a W/L near 0.500 would be great, I really would like to see a significant “INNINGS PITCHED” from the 5th spot. I really don’t want to see the bullpen overworked this year.

  I think if one of the three gets the 5th starter spot, the other two should be mop-up men to spare our true relievers from being overworked.

  If maine, pelf, or Ollie gets knocked around early, use the mop-up men to finish the game, not just get us to the bullpen. Why use the bullpen when a game is out of reach, for work? That is what bullpen sessions are for.

  So as for this season’s NY Mets Pitching Goals, it should be:

  1) EVERYONE THROWS STRIKES (2 to 1 stikes to ball ratio)
  !!No MORE LEADOFF WALKS!!
  2) Rotation Spots 1 through 4 make minimum 30 starts each
  3) Pelfrey & Maine (0.500 W/L)
  4) Ollie (See “1″ and “2″, W/L close to 0.500 would be great)
  5) Fifth start role needs to give us “INNINGS” (Min. 5 / game)
  6) Spare the bullpen by using Niese & Nieve as mop-up men
  • Vegas Rich March 15, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    Tell me Scott can you a 5th starting pitcher in the Majors from 2009 that gave his club 150+ innings? It just doesn’t happen from the 5 hole.
    • Scott March 15, 2010 at 2:18 pm

      I understand it is a rarety, but in all practicality, we have 3 starters to throw that 150 innings or so.

      I don’t expect them to be perfect innings, but just to spare our main bullpen (obviously not including mop of guys)