16
2012
Mets Quick Start In Three Words: Pitching, Pitching, Pitching
An article by 
If you take a look at that screenshot from SNY, it pretty much tells you what the difference is between the 2012 Mets and last year’s model. It all boils down to the pitching – and more specifically, the starting pitching.
The Mets starters have far exceeded expectations thus far.
- Johan Santana – 3.09 ERA, 10 IP
- R.A. Dickey – 2.08 ERA, 13 IP
- Jon Niese – 2.13 ERA, 12.2 IP
- Mike Pelfrey - 3.09 ERA, 11.2 IP
- Dillon Gee – 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP
Santana could have easily been 2-0 instead of 0-1 and the proof is in his .194 BAA to start the season.
Jon Niese has been a revelation so far this season and he is holding opposing hitters to a .156 batting average.
Gee pitches today and is hoping to rebound from a tough start after working on a mechanical flaw.
Dickey is Dickey and keeps pumping out one quality start after another.
Pelfrey finally figured out his underused curveball could be a vital weapon. On that he had this to say to Kevin Kernan of the NY Post after yesterday’s game:
Following a troubled first inning with no fastball command that helped run up his pitch count, Mike Pelfrey found his groove because he used his curveball. The right-hander needs to understand how valuable that pitch can be for him and how it makes his fastball more effective. Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen have tried to convince Pelfrey the curve can be a huge help. “I think it’s my fourth-best pitch,” Pelfrey said. “Do I have confidence in that for me in those big situations? I don’t want to get beat with my fourth best pitch, so that’s my thing on that. But it was good today.’’
Hopefully, we’ll see Pelfrey utilizing the curve as well as the rest of his arsenal more effectively in the weeks to come.
The Mets will go as far as their pitching takes them, so far that’s working out pretty good for them.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Well you wonder how much of those numbers are about facing a banged up Phillies Lineup (no Utley or Howard) and the fact that Washington (16th in BA @ .247) and Atlanta (24th in BA @ .232) are both poor hitting teams.
With such a small sample it’s difficult to say what gets more credit for it but there is no doubt that we havePitchers who can pitch well, the question is for how long and how consistently.
Dickey is a model of Consistency, Santana has been great but will he last?
Niese shows the most promise and upside and we have seen Pelfrey go from a potential no hitter to a no Outer outing with the snap of a finger!
Gee is still in the developing stages and will be what he will be which i think will eventually be a good pitcher in the vain of a Rick Reed type.
So far so good but we should remember when we compare to last year exactly what is different from that last year HORRIBLE start!
Not much in the grand scheme of things!
This team when healthy is a good team and has been a good team since 2006! (Despite all the attempts to say otherwise by a select few)
They need to stay healthy and if this year is any different than last year it will be because of that good health not because we improved anything on the roster in a significant way!
Lets just hope Wright stays in the Lineup, Santana keeps on keeping on, pelfrey doesn’t have a brain fart and that Davis, Duda and Murphy stay healthy.
Cause an injury to any one of those players can turn this season around as quickly as you can say Cellar!
Numbers are dangerous because people take them as facts. But there are MORE numbers behind the numbers that can change your perspective.
True, pitching is mucho importante BUT…
Here in 2012, the Mets began with 6 games at home and 3 away. In 2011, they began with 3 home games and 6 away. So perhaps the Mets nice start is a product of having home field advantage where the pitching has been better.
For instance, in Mike Pelfrey’s first 18 starts last year he had a 2.96 ERA at home but a 6.05 ERA on the road. Ouch.
Except they were awful at home last season.
A win is a win whether at home or on the road and doesn’t matter if the other team is banged up or not, at the end of the season those wins will look just as important as any other win especially if those wins get you into contention and MAYBE
Yes at the end of the season those wins will show how important they were…
Not before then!
Yes we did well against our own division a very good start!
But as I said that start as quickly as it came can go as we have seen what two or three days without Wright could lead to!
Imagine what happens if Duda or Santana go down…
Glory is fleeting and Winning streaks Fragile!
A great start is not going to overcome losing Santana in July because his sholder couldn’t hold up for the season!
I hope it does hold up but I sure am not going to get too excited until they are still in it in Jly and Sandy doesn’t decide a maybe 4 years from now is more important than giving the team a chance to go all the way!
“Yes at the end of the season those wins will show how important they were…
Not before then!”
Sorry, but this Major League Baseball. You are looking for the BCS committee. 2 doors down on your left.
This nugget of Wisdom brought to you by the guy who was rejected in favor of a Chimp by NASA!
Apparently, the chimp claimed an IQ of 303.
LOL.
At least I have an IQ.
Too bad for you don,t score negative numbers or you might have one too
Oh… no he didn’t!
We are about 2 comments away from “well you’re a poopy head!”
Yep and it was your best supporter who started the whole condecending posts…Woner what you would do if he was forced to never post? Who would back you up Jesse?
Oh, snap! You must be the baddest dude in recess.
And your the Baddest Chimp in the Zoo…
We all know what Chimps do at the zoo!
Sling a lot of Feces and Spank their monkeys!
Which is a pretty good description of your usual posts…
I’m just playing your little 3rd grade Game Donal!
Whats the matter don’t like it?
Well then make sre there is never a reason for it to start by shutting the hell up and stop responding with your usual childish nonsense!
Let me ask you was your original BCS reference to stand for Bull Crap Stupidity league which I hear you are ranked #1!
Thank god I’m drinking something before I read this post. It made it so much more enjoyable.
Yep you should drink before every post!
It would make some of your posts more coherent!
Or at minimum Explainable!
Those early season wins are very important especially against our Divisional opponents. Imagine if we had been 13-6 to start the season in 2011. If we had we would have been right in it come the end of July instead of having to make up ground on six teams and told a couple others off.
What a difference it makes too in not having Philly run away with the Division thereby taking one path to the post season away from us and this year there’s actually a 2nd wild card as well plus the bullpen is much improved and our ace is back and looking good and while Miami and Washington are better Philly for sure and maybe the Braves are worse. That brings everyone back to the pack a little where those early season wins can really make a difference.
Depth is a problem just like it’s been here since the 90′s but at least with just a couple of exceptions we don’t have all our eggs in just a couple of baskets and there actually is some young talent in the upper minors and quite a bit more spread between A+ and extended ST so we at least have hope that lack of depth will soon be a thing of the past.
Right now we are vulnerable though among our everyday players.
the WC.
Pelf has been a big revelation to me and his 5th inning yipes have not come out yet.
I knew that Niese would eventually get it together cause he is a tough customer in tough situations and just expanding on that and staying healthy will make a steady lefty behind Johan.
So what if games are at home or on the road, Mets have stunk it up at home in past and now are playing good with good pitching, so far.
Will this staff hold up? Only more games will tell plus Ike and Duda plus Bay have to get it going cause eventually you have to out score the other team on a bad night for your starter.
Mets top heavey left handed lineup will be very vulnerable against LH starters but not too many like Lee and Hamels so to beat Lee and lose to Hamel, BP fault and defense, is ok so far.
Maybe Duda needs to play in more against batters that don’t have power to cut off those dinks and dunks that fall in front of him but so far he has done a good job.
I wonder what those ERAs would look like with a better defense.
This team’s pitching is far superior to last year’s. First Santana is back, replacing the Capuano/Young tandem from last season. Also, Gee and Niese look a lot more refined this season.
Santana’s ERA is 0.90, not 3.09.