My question is this, though…..for as dominating as Livan has been so far, does last night’s game cement him as our #2 starter behind Johan?  I mean, Pelfrey and Maine are doing better than their collective April indicated, and have similar ERAs and won-loss records, but Livan has been a downright stopper.  Forget the radar gun too….he’s got stuff on his pitches that have kept his career going, and the fact that he throws so slow most of the time is a big reason Livan was able to pitch nine innings last night, throwing 127 pitches. 

True, in the grand scheme of the 2009 season, it doesn’t matter who is #2 or 3 or 4 or 5, and there is still a lot of baseball to be pitched and played this season.  But not only has Livan been a pleasant surprise and made many of us forget about Ollie Perez’ horrendous start, but he just might be the piece of the off-season puzzle that gets the Mets back to the postseason.  And who could have predicted that?

So is he #2?  Do you care?  I know I don’t, as long as he keeps doing what he’s doing. 

Garcia was initially viewed as the favorite to win the fifth starter’s job in spring training, after signing a one year minor league deal with the Mets. However, Garcia never regained the velocity or control that once made him a top starting pitcher in the American league.

Officially, he ends his Mets professional career with an 0-2 record and an 8.18 E.R.A. for Buffalo, including a disastrous outing on Monday, when he gave up seven runs in five innings against Syracuse.

After that start, Garcia told the Buffalo News that he was contemplating retirement. He’ll have more free time to think things over now.

On Monday night, Garcia served up a grand slam to Ryan Langerhans in a six-run fifth inning after which he was pulled. Garcia was charged with seven runs and has an 8.18 ERA since joining the Bisons.

Garcia told the Buffalo News that he is contemplating pulling the plug on his career after one more start at Triple-A, which should come Saturday against Louisville.

“Maybe I want to try it one more time,” he told the newspaper. “If I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to be feeling right now, I don’t know. I have to make a decision what I’m going to do. I don’t know yet. Hopefully next time I’ll feel better. I want to wait for tomorrow and see how I feel. I’m working really hard to try to get right but my shoulder doesn’t respond. I’m going to try my best and work hard. If not, I guess I’ll go home. I don’t know. That’s it, man.”

Surprising… I thought he was going to be nice addition at some point this season.