23
2011
Mike Pelfrey: The Opening Day Starter
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When he introduced Mike Pelfrey to the children at Citi Field Kids Day on Wednesday, Terry Collins said that Mike will be the Opening Day starter. Everyone was taken aback since I believe this was the first time Collins had said that.
Like the other players, Pelfrey is eager to begin spring training and looks forwards to the challenge of starting Opening Day against Josh Johnson of the Marlins.
He commented on the improvement he has seen in Josh Thole. Pelfrey said Thole is easy to work with and works hard at receiving the ball.
Throughout the entire interview, Pelfrey was somewhat of a comedian in a few instances. The first bout came when we talked about Collins.
“He has some energy,” said Pelfrey. “We were in the cafeteria, and he already started talking about relays and backing up bases and stuff like that, and I was like, ‘This guy’s ready to go.’ It gets the adrenaline flowing because he’s prepared and very excited.”
Pelfrey emphasized the little things as a major key to success. For pitchers, that includes getting bunts down to move up runners when need be.
Surprisingly, Pelfrey said he was the only pitcher to hit a few times during this offseason.
“I actually hit twice this offseason and broke a bat both times,” said Pelfrey.
Pelfrey joked that he used to compete with John Maine when it came to hitting ever since Maine hit a home run in 2007.
“I was actually going to try to compete with Dickey, but he hit .250 so that’s a little out of my range,” said Pelfrey. “I’ll have to shoot for somebody else.”
Pelfrey is excited that Dan Warthen will be coming back this year. They seemed to have connected well last season.
“Going into last year, everybody said that the pitching would be the big question mark, and I thought it ended up being the strength,” said Pelfrey. “We exceeded anybody’s expectations. I expect us to be towards the top in the National League. Dan is probably the best communicator I’ve ever been around. Whether it’s good, whether it’s bad, he lets you know.”
This was a bold prediction by Pelfrey about being near the top in the NL, especially if the Phillies and Giants have anything to say. But I’m glad he has confidence because that’s where success begins.
“Obviously, we’re a ton better with Johan healthy and in the rotation,” said Pelfrey. “There’s nothing you can do about that now. We’re going to move on. We’ll hold the fort down and go out there and give the team a chance to win every night. When he gets back, he might be that trade deadline acquisition that can get us over the top.”
He was ecstatic about the signings of Chris Young and Chris Capuano. He had great things to say about each pitcher.
“I think the Chris Capuano signing went under the radar,” said Pelfrey. “I think that guy’s going to be great.”
If you think Mike Pelfrey looks big on TV, he is even bigger in person. Now, imagine a man three inches taller than Pelfrey, and you have Chris Young.
“Chris Young had some very, very good years in San Diego,” said Pelfrey. “I don’t know what the question mark is if he’s healthy.”
Pelfrey plans on picking Young’s brain during spring training. Young’s release point measures at roughly 7’2”, so Pelfrey can learn to improve his own release point based on Young.
Big Pelf seems ready to avoid the mid-season slump and really elevate his game to the next level. We’ll be ready to go Opening Day, and expect Pelfrey to be as well.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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It is so silly to name an opening day starter in mid January. That decision is usually made during spring training. What does is say to the rest of the staff? What if Pelfrey BOMBS in spring training and Dickey impresses? Or Niese? You don’t know.
Way to0 early for this.
You know as well as I do that the Opening Day starter is always the most established, credible pitcher on the staff. That’s Pelfrey. I don’t know why I even have to say that.
i know that but to say it in January is silly. It’s not hard to imagine Pelf bombing in spring training – he’s not THAT established. Santana is another story but he’s hurt.
I can definitely see Pelf having a horrible spring, not that I want it to happen but it certainly can.
Even with established starters you don’t usually name your OD starter till the latter part of spring training.
Sure, Pelfrey’s not THAT established, but that’s an indictment on the pitching staff, not Pelfrey. If another starter pitches lights out in Spring Training, five starts is enough to make that guy more “established” than Pelfrey, who was nearly an All-Star last year and anchored that staff after Johan went down?
That’s true but I still would not have said anything in public and certainly not in the middle of January. It serves no purpose.
In the end both guys will get 32-34 starts and thats what really matters. Lets hope for both their good health, continued improvement, and success. I’m a big fan of both, but because Pelfrey could be our ace for years to come, I think the honor should be all his and I think Dickey who is as baseball savvy as they come, would agree. Establishing Pelfrey as an ace is something that could give the whole team a big lift.
Right – you can feel it but it makes no sense to say it publicly in January.
Sure I can feel right now who my opening day starter is but why would I say it now when i have other pitchers on my staff and my temporary ace could still flop in ST? Too much being said too early with this leadership so far.
Let them compete in spring training – that’s what it’s for – Competition.
I’m with you on this one, Bayonne…I mean it wasn’t a HUGE deal, but if someone else comes in and looks like a world-beater in ST, this quote is going to make it awkward for Terry to switch around the rotation, or leave Pelf starting OD because he “promised” him.
A world beater against a bunch of journey men and rookies fighting for a job? Thats who you make the #1?
Pelf pitched great last year during games that actually, you know, counted.
If Niese posts a 0.54 ERA throughout ST (and that’s what I meant by world-beater), you’re saying he shouldn’t at least be considered to start Opening Day?
And starting players do play in Spring Training to, you know, train.
I understand that it’s much ado about nothing, but there’s no need to be so strident.
and Donal you’re also forgetting that towards the end of spring training the teams start playing their starters more and the games get more serious. What if Pelfrey does WORSE in those situations? I hope not but it’s not impossible it can happen either. Collins should have just kept his mouth shut. It’s January for crissakes.
I guess you can just leave it as a fundemental philosophical debtate. Do you want guys going into ST with some sort of stability and expectatins (so they can just concentrate on getting ready for a known situation), or have it be more of a steel cage death match, where they are effectively competing for a spot?
I want them to be at their competitive best immediately. I don’t want anybody to feel comfortable. If you can’t be competitive than i don’t care how talented you are- the season’s over.
Berbalerbs, Niese Really? Cmon…
How about just saying what if Ollie is pitching to a 0.54 era should he be the Opening Day starter solely based on that?
Mr NJ,
I’m not by any means saying it will happen, I can just see Bayonne’s point on this one, and I trash him enough to where I figured if I agree with him, might as well let him know.
Fair enough Berbalerbs I respect that.
Maybe a better hypothetical example: What if Chris Young comes into camp with his fastball velocity back?
(again, not saying that this will happen, but if he regains his ’06/’07 form, I’d say it’s not unthinkable that Young and Pelf square off for the mythological “ace” role)
me, I want them to concentrate on getting ready for the seaosn, so they are best positioned to beat the other team, as opposed to fighting with their teammates to decide who starts in which order.
Focus on refining that extra pitch, regardless of results with it, instead of pulling a Mejia and just blowing guys away early on with your FB.
Naming an OD starter has no tangible purpose no matter when you do it. Last year, Santana faced off against the oposition’s “#1″ starter about 25% of his starts.
Its just to have a nice little story for the fans and maybe let Pelf feel good about himself.
Even if Pelf gets hammered this Spring, so what? It’s Spring Training. The guys who are guaranteed roster spots generally just use it to tune up for the season and gets some reps.
What if Pelf is getting hammered mainly because he is trying an adjustment on his curveball and it takes time to work the kinks out?
For what it’s worth If you watch the Pelfrey video clip on SNY he admits to always having bad Spring Trainings.
Yes cause their is a “HUGE” difference in naming Pelfrey the Opening Day starter as compared to what being the #2 starter?
I can see if Collins named say Gee or Ollie the Opening Day starter cause normally you want your best or most established starter pitching that day and well Gee or Ollie don’t seem to fit that criteria but anyone getting up in arms at the audacity of Collins naming Pelfrey the Opening day starter now is someone who gets easily bothered in my opinion.
Barring injury God Forbid or some serious serious mechanic issues that makes the Mets decide Pelfrey needs another weeek in Florida when the team goes North. I expect if Pelfrey is well enough to be the game 2 starter he is also capable of being the Opening Day starter.
If he does have some sort of injury well guess what? Collins will name another starter and what will be the outcome of him switching to another starter for Opening Day? Hmm I’ll need time to come up with something cause i just don’t see any at this time.
That should read “and what will be the outcome of him switching to another starter for Opening Day after already naming one b4 ST started?
Maybe he did it to give Pelfrey a shot in the arm. Pelfrey actually did have a bad ST by his own admission last year, and still gave us 15 wins last year.
I don’t think it’s that big a deal because, if something goes horribly wrong, it can change.
that is one reason you don’t base everything just on ST results. As Plef said himself, last year he was working on stuff (including the splitter) and was not worried about results. So, his ST #s were lousy, until his last 1 (or 2) starts, and he came out blazing in the regular season.
Dickey just said too that he was going to approach this ST differently, having the luxury to work on stuff and get ready, without having to worry about stat line results or impressing anyone.
Now, I would worry if a guy on the bubble, fighting for a job, had a terrible spring, when they were trying to get results!
it was in response to a question, so collins gave an answer. no big deal. it’s not like it was going to be anyone else given who our #2 is.
the real problem is that it is too easy, it means we don’t have pitching depth. i’d rather be stl, atl, or milwaukee, where you actually have to choose.
i can tell you the opening day starter for at least half of the teams, the mets included.
hmm let’s see: c.c., lester, felix, halladay, price, kershaw, josh johnson, lincecum, ubaldo, latos, verlander …
non-story of the week.
+1
I was on a podcast last night and we talked about this very topic. I am an admitted Big Pelf homer, and I said part of me thinks “I’m so proud!” and the other half says – Well, it’s not like collins has much of a choice. If you go by tenure on the Mets, the best guy established from last season going into 2011, outside of RAD, you have to go with Pelf. End of story.
That said, I have to agree with Francis’ sentiment. It is kind of a non-story. Collins is an honest guy, and he’s gonna tell you what he thinks, whether we like it or not. That is refreshing to me.
Coop is that podcast by any chance available to listen to today?
Why yes Mr North Jerz – yes it is…:)
If you go to Blogtalkradio and search for “Kiners Korner” it should come up.
Found it Thanks
Amazin just goes to show you that anything can be debated. Have some faith people I mean really. The idea that somehow naming Pelfrey the Opening Day starter is going to hurt the team because it was done too early?
Wow….