The Clock Is Ticking And The Mets Are Still Not Picking
In what was supposed to be a showcase for the final word on who gets the number five spot in the rotation, both Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey fell flat on their faces as the Mets fell to the Cardinals 14-4.
Each pitcher delivered equally terrible results which now makes a difficult choice for Randolph even tougher.
"They didn't throw too well," Randolph said. "They didn't step up or distinguish themselves."
Sporting his brand-spanking new delivery, El Duque was shelled for five runs, four hits and a couple of walks in just three innings that he needed 68 pitches to complete.
Pelfrey was even worse and got absolutely mauled by a Cardinals roster that was filled with mostly reserves. Pelfrey allowed eight runs and 13 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Brutal...
The final curtain will fall for both these pitchers on Friday, when each of them are set to make their final start of the spring. After that... It's decision time...
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The Mets made it official and announced Johan Santana as their Opening Day starter, followed by Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez and John Maine.
The only thing I like about March Madness is that when it's over we can get onto the business of non-stop baseball coverage!
Hey don't forget to check out the new fancy duds at Mets.com. They are sporting a new streamlined look that's a lot easier on the eyes.
Comments
I personally think Pelfrey should get the nod. El Duque is still working on his new delivery and if it renders him ineffective then we are still up the creek w/o a paddle...
Posted by: Adam Baker | March 24, 2008 11:32 AM
I say its time to make the deal i've been proposing for months :o) John Maine, Duaner Sanchez, and Aaron Hielman (perhaps another player as well) for Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, John Lannan, Jason Bergmann and Nick Johnson.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 11:47 AM
we need maine
Posted by: john | March 24, 2008 12:49 PM
we need maine
Posted by: john | March 24, 2008 12:50 PM
Maine is overrated... what we need is starting pitching depth and Lannan and Bergmann give us that. Maine is expendable.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 01:06 PM
I was at this game and it was terrible. El Duque just didn't have it and Pelfrey started off pretty decent until the 8th inning were his pitches turned into batting practice.
Posted by: Junior | March 24, 2008 01:20 PM
Christian, that trade would never happen.
Posted by: Tyler | March 24, 2008 02:19 PM
of course it won't because it makes too much sense... Things that make too much sense never happen... oh well thats life.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 02:34 PM
Why mention a trade that is a total pipedream. Were talking about the 5th starter here. You want to blow up the rotation because the 5th starter stinks? There are other guys in camp today that can be the 5th starter.
Posted by: MJ | March 24, 2008 02:36 PM
Who said I wanted to "blow up" the rotation. I've been posting this proposal since December. I'm sorry if you can not see why it makes perfect sense. Mets have no depth in the back end of the rotation also with Perez almost guaranteed to leave after this season Mets need some depth. John Lannan is a Long Island Native he has options left and is a highly touted lefty starter. Jason Bergmann is a NJ native who can start or relieve (long man or middle relief). The Nats can afford to give a guy like Sanchez the time he needs to completely come back while the Mets do not have that luxury being a team with post season aspirations. Heilman can get the chance to start in DC which we all know he wants. Rauch and Cordero are two favorites of Omar and they offer us a more reliable core then Heilman and Sanchez would. The Nats have no need for Nick Johnson since they have Young at 1B and the Mets could use a guy like NJ and then can afford to try to deal Delgado to an AL team (while picking up a portion of his salary). Someone like Joe Smith may need to be added to the deal to make such a deal happen. Its a win win deal for both teams in the short term and long term. Oh yeah did I even mention that Maine would be closer to home and reunited with his buddy LoDuca. There are just so many reasons why a deal like this makes sense. A deal like this can also allow us to sign a Freddy Garcia and/or John Patterson.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 03:35 PM
Christian you make no sense at all and by the way John Patterson signed a minor league deal with the Rangers today. And the Nationals aren't happy with young because he came into camp overweight so why would they just give away their starter at first base? Stop while you are behind
Posted by: Chuckman | March 24, 2008 03:39 PM
Sorry didn't hear about the Rangers picking him up. But as for the rest of your comment you are so off base. The Nats said 3 days ago they are happy with Young at 1B and are in the process of discussing deals for NJ. How deep does your knowledge of player development go? Oh wait thats right I have that experience, do you? So never ever insult my intelligence, because you have no chance in winning any debate regarding anything that is baseball related. Its a lost cause so just give it up. If you want to express your opinion thats fine I respect that but do not insult me.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 03:46 PM
By the way where did you hear about John Patterson signing? No word on MLB.com, ESPN, FoxSports, or Rotoworld...
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 03:53 PM
Christian - you and I normally agree on things almost to a fault, but I see the one area we do not. John Maine, you think he is overrated and I don't think you give him his due. I think he's a very good No. 3 pitcher and I'd like him to stick around, he's young and really developing into something special - obviously - IMO.
Posted by: Kate | March 24, 2008 03:56 PM
As far as the 5th starter, I'd give the nod to Pelfry, its early in the season with a great 1, 2 punch, if he gets lite up a few times, so be it. I don't think we will see El Duque past July 1. I think they will give him his due until then, at that point they will ship him out. He is not nearly ready and although Pelfry did get hammered yesterday, he has "glimmers" of hope and I think they should go with him.........for now.
Posted by: Kate | March 24, 2008 03:58 PM
Rodrigo Lopez is still a free agent. So is Jeff Weaver. And David Wells, and John Thomson, and Eric Milton. I'd take any of these options over pelf or el duque right now.
Posted by: Milo | March 24, 2008 04:20 PM
Are you kidding me? David Wells? FAT chance. Give the kid a chance in April.....
Posted by: Kate | March 24, 2008 04:25 PM
Of all of those options Milo mentions, Weaver has to be the most intriguing...IMO
If Dave Duncan can do something with him, maybe the Jacket can too? Are the Bucs still shopping Nady? I don't have any idea what they might want if they are...
Posted by: Adam Baker | March 24, 2008 04:30 PM
I think Pelf has to learn to pitch down in the strikezone before he pitches in the bigs again. Why reward a rookie for a spring training where he had a 9.39 ERA.
Even with Wells aside, I'd rather have Duque start in AAA , figueroa be the long man and have either jeff weaver john thomson or eric milton start the year as the 5th man till duque's ready.
Posted by: Milo | March 24, 2008 04:32 PM
I doubt Nady's available. The Bucs optioned prospect Steve Pearce to the minors to make room for Xavier Nady to be the everyday RF
Posted by: Milo | March 24, 2008 04:33 PM
Milo - El Duque can not be sent down. Any player with at least 5 years of major league service and have a major league contract can not be sent down without their written consent. Players in those situations rarely if ever agree to go down. They could leave him back for extended spring training but once lower level minor league teams begin their seasons after extended spring training he would have to be brought back to the major league team, unless of course he agrees to go down.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 24, 2008 04:43 PM
Alright Christian I can admit when I was wrong I was going by what I read earlier in the year. And here is the link about Patterson to the Rangers
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080323&content_id=2454090&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex
You're a great guy and I love reading your posts man I just think you have a little off-the-wall ideas about John Maine and some trades
Posted by: Chuckman | March 24, 2008 08:05 PM