Daily Archives: September 4, 2007
During his interview this week with WFAN, Mets C Paul Lo Duca said he feels John Maine or Orlando Hernandez would be best suited to pitch from the bullpen, when considering all options from the team’s starting rotation.
According to Lo Duca, Oliver Perez is effectively wild, and would be a risky option when coming in with runners on base, while Pedro Martinez should not be an option given his recent shoulder surgery.
…the best part about this is that, five days ago so many of us were in total panic mode…now, we’re speculating on playoff rotations…i love being a fan in new york…
At Baseball Prospectus, Nate Silver uses some super-confusing, fancy statistic to determine that the Mets 
currently have sixth best starting rotation among teams contending for the playoffs in the National League.
According to Silver…
“There’s a little bit more upside here than on the staffs that we’ve covered so far, but there’s not guarantee that the Mets are going to pick the right three or four guys to be pitching in October.”
…because there are so many off days during the post-season this year, only three starting pitchers should be needed, and so i still assume it will be the old three, of Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez and Pedro Martinez, come playoff time, with John Maine and Oliver Perez pitching frequently out of long relief…a case can certainly be made for more or less every combination of starters and relievers out of this group, so it should fun to watch it all play out…
…to make a projection now, or offer an opinion, to me, would be foolish, since it’s tough to gauge pedro on just one start…
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At Metstradamus, John creates a Bullpen Advisory System for the Mets relievers, who have a 3.80 ERA, which is sixth best in the National League.
…hilarious…and very, very clever…though i would flip Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis…
By the way, since being swept by the Phillies last week, the Mets bullpen has a 1.50 ERA over its last 12 innings pitched.
This weekend in New Orleans, Mets RHP Kevin Mulvey tossed six scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut over the weekend.
RHP Joe Smith pitched a scoreless inning, as well, making his first appearance since returning from disabled list.
…the word from n’ola is that smith will likely get bumped up Shea Stadium during a second-round of major-league promotions in the middle of September…
For more on Mulvey, check out Brian Moritz, and his blog for the Press & Sun Bulletin.
If you’ve yet to do so, be sure and vote in this week’s MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating by using the following poll…
…thanks…
In the Star-Ledger, Jeremy Cothran catches up with a few players on the Reds, to get their take on Pedro Martinez.
Reds 1B Scott Hatteberg, who once caught Martinez while with the Red Sox, as quoted by Cothran…
“I’ve faced him. I’ve caught him. I know him pretty well. From my perspective, he’s got a long way to go, to get back to the stuff that (he’s done).
“What he hasn’t lost is his ability to pitch. The guy just flat out knows how to pitch.”
…again, he doesn’t need to be great…just good enough…
For more on Pedro Martinez, check out the following…
In the Bergen Record, Bob Klapisch asks, while Martinez may look good against weaker lineups in the National League, could he ‘help the Mets against a powerhouse American League lineup like the Yankees’ or Red Sox?’
…i don’t know, but i sure hope we find out…
Meanwhile, in Newsday, Ken Davidoff asks, “If you had to pick one major-league pitcher for this precise situation – physically diminished, dropped into the middle of a pennant race – would you choose anyone over Pedro?”
…no, i would not…
According to Marty Noble at MLB.com, the legend of Pedro Martinez continues to grow.
In Newsday, Anthony Rieber relays a great story about Moises Alou, who could not sleep on Sunday night because he was so excited to see Pedro pitch.
Lastly, “In short,” writes John Harper in the Daily News, “the Mets just seem to feel better about life, about themselves, when Pedro is around to pitch every fifth day and make everybody laugh on the other four.”
…seriously, yesterday felt like another opening day…it sort of feels like the season has been re-born, started over with a five game lead and just 25 games to play…and i like it…
According to multiple reports, including MLB.com, the following will the rotation over the next few days…
Tuesday: Oliver Perez at Reds
Wednesday: John Maine at Reds
Friday: Mike Pelfrey vs. Astros
Saturday: Tom Glavine vs. Astros
Sunday: Pedro Martinez vs. Astros
Prior to yesterday’s game, Willie Randolph told reporters that Orlando Hernandez would miss his next scheduled start, which would have been Friday against the Astros, though he will most likely return next week against the Braves.
In his first major-league start in roughly one year, Pedro Martinez allowed two earned runs over five innings, while walking three and striking out four.
…as i wrote yesterday, he looked good…or, at least good enough…most important, he looks to have solid command, hitting his corners and throwing early strikes…sure, his breaking pitches feel flat, and he allowed a lot of hard hit balls, and he did not use the old looping, sharp, lolly-pop curve ball…but, he did what he needed to do, pitching around key batters, he kept the innings in check, got ground balls and jam-shot pop ups when needed, he hit 91 mph with his fastball, and, equally as important, he hit 61 mph with his change-up…it was a good day…
Willie Randolph, on Martinez, while talking to reporters after today’s win over the Reds…
“Pedro looked superb today, and hopefully this is a nice springboard to the rest of the season for him and what he can give…It’s one start, and obviously we are gonna enjoy this one right here….just a super day. He’s impressed me a lot since I’ve known him, and today was another one of those days where he amazes you…
“He’s gonna be in the rotation. We have some off days in there, and that will play in to the whole thing, but he’ll be in our regular pitching rotation whether it’s five or six days we’ll just play that by ear, because we may want to give a guy a day here or there, but he is in the rotation thank goodness.”
Martinez, on his outing, while talking to reporters…
“I feel real humble about the fact that I’m right back here and after so many days of hard work. There are so many people I would like to thank, that if I start right now I wouldn’t finish…I’m really thankful…everybody who has been there for me…I don’t have enough words to say thanks…
“I’m gonna continue to work, just like I have been doing and if you work hard, obviously, it pays off…I’m not off the hook yet. This is only a first, kind of get-your-feet-wet outing – and I’m not gonna take it for granted. At the same time, I’m gonna continue to make adjustments…
“One game does not dictate how good you’re gonna be, or how healthy you’re gonna feel. Now, my next outing is probably gonna be more like a normal outing. From now on we’ll continue to see. Until I get four or five starts here in the big leagues I won’t be able to tell you if I’m off the hook or not.”
