I feel like they will definitely give him a start or a long relief appearance over the weekend, if he can. If he does well and recovers well by Wed game 1, he is on. His upside is too high to leave him off entirely. I agree that mota is in. Again his upside is higher than Sele’s.

I think Conie will make it. They will not need defensive replacements, Chavez is there as is Milledge and Anderson can play there and i hope Willie is not subbing Moises bat out of the lineup with this crappy pen, no lead is safe.

Mota is going to be in the pen. Take that one to the bank. Other than that, I expect you are spot on, if they think Duque can pitch.

big danger is he can’t go, then they have to decide if they burn him for the 2nd round.

But, short series, lots of days off, they probably only really need 10 men, not 11, so it isn’t too much of a risk.

I can’t see Sele in the pen, but with Omar in charge, who knows? So the only change to your list would be Pelfrey instead of Duque if he can’t pitch.

Starting on Sunday, assuming the game means nothing, is the best idea. No way you carry him if he hasn’t been proven in a game situation.

Then, you either have him for the pen, or on tap for game 3ish. That would be Friday, right?

The post-season roster has some intriguing questions. How many pitchers do we take. A lot depends on El Duque if he can make an appearance or two before end of season, than I see him in the pen. Do you keep an extra reliever just in case Duque gets hurt again. I hope Duque proves himself capable. If so, I go with.

Pitchers

Pedro
Glavine
Perez
Maine
Wagner
Heilman
Feliciano
Schoenweis
Sosa
Duque
Mota or Sele or both

Position Players
LoDuca
Delgado
Castillo
Reyes
Wright
Alou
Beltran
Green
Castro
Gotay
Anderson
Chavez
Milledge
Conine (if they take 11 pitchers not 12)

I feel like Dl Duque will have to prove his health to make the roster. They lack righties off the bench if they go against a lefty starter, Milledge starts, and Gotay is far more effective as a lefty hitter. So I feel they would want Conine.

Of course someone will get hurt to mess this all up.

With that said, it’s completely reasonable to expect Glavine, Pedro and Perez in games 1-3. After that, god willing or god forbid, we may not even need Duque.

But where I really like Duque is to come in for a pressure situation – the 8th inning or later, for 2 innings if needed. Imagine a hitter having to face Glavine twice, then Smith’s sidearm, then Duque, then Wagner? How confusing…

…I could be wrong though.

Cliff Floyd was a bad logistical move.

he has done that a few times since joining the mets. takes a couple starts off then jumps right back in the fire.

If my memory serves me (sometimes it doesnt) he always pitches great after his short rests. Him taking a couple starts off may not be the worst thing in the world come playoffs.

I dont recall if Duque was on the roster or not, but they had a chance to replace him as the rosters arent submitted until the day of the first game.