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Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey are both scheduled to pitch this afternoon in Fort Lauderdale against the Orioles.
…the buzz from St. Lucie seems to be that if el duque can get through today’s start without getting rocked or injured, regardless of what pelfrey does, the fifth starter spot will likely go to el duque…which is wise…like i had said, i feel pelfrey needs more work, and el duque has earned the right to perform…
…once el duque stumbles or hurts 
himself, then pelfrey can step in as he will have had time to get his act together in New Orleans…
For more on the roster battle, read David Lennon in Newsday; and to directly hear from Hernandez, who is not worried, and to hear from Pelfrey, who thinks Hernandez has the edge, read the Bergen Record.
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Exactly right–Pelf needs more time to acquire more polish (or to even get any polish at all). There’s an article in today’s Daily News about Tom Glavine and the fact that Glavine will probably be the one facing El Duque in the fifth game of the season.
I agree with you on this one Matt. I rambled on about it last night (big surprise there..), but it is much better for the Mets if Duque can go at the beginning, with Pelf in AAA. Less disruptive than yanking him up and down.
Of course, it would also work out if he completely falls apart (ElD), and falls out of the picture. Anything but being almost there, but not quite, and holding the team in limbo.
Hopefully they still pick up another arm (Vargas?) for depth, but at this point, it would have to be someone on a minor league deal.
Everything changes though if Duque can’t make it through his start today. Unless Pelfrey pitches an incredible game, I bet that Omar still looks to grab someone else for the spot.
I feel that too many Mets fans are undervaluing how good el duque was last year. If he could come close to approximating last year’s performance, he is easily the best 5th starter in baseball. We have to roll with him right now. Sure, there is a chance that he will fall apart or be ineffective, but for which of our options is that not a risk? In such a case, there is no question that you go with the man with the best track record, who is a “pitcher”, not a “thrower” and who incidently makes a heck of a lot more money than our other options. Until proven otherwise (i.e. multiple poor regular season performances) el duque should be the man.
Yup. If he can make theminimum standards for a SP, try to get every inning you can out of him.
It’s hard to undervalue or overvalue him right now. You just don’t know what to expect. Will he get hurt or stay healthy? Will his velocity now stay in the low 80s? Will the new delivery make him more effective? Can he he be counted on? I personally don’t have a positive feeling to any of those questions. Has he earned the “right” to succeed or fail? I’m not so sure. He really hasn’t shown much at all this spring. Having said all that, I don’t like Pelfrey there either. I’d prefer some of the other options like Sosa.
I didn’t undervalued him. He was great in almost every game he started. But the guy has a bunion, a new windup. I’m just a little skeptical of his effectiveness that’s all.
You guys make me sick. This is the same junk I heard when Kazmir was around.
What, is it too much to ask for Pelfrey to perform first and EARN a spot?
Stop drinking the cool aide people, this is just plain dumb. El duque is above average when healthy but just too old to stay healthy as a starter.
Put him in the pen and give Pelfrey the 5th starter job. Its time.
What makes you think El Duque would be good in the bullpen. The guy can’t stay healthy pitching every 5 or 6 days now you want him to pitch every 2 or 3. Suggestions of the bullpen for El duque are just ridiculous. Also who do you suggest we remove from the bullpen to put in the Bunyon?
Either El Duque will be in the rotation or he will be gone (released or DL 60).
i kind of hope el duque does really poorly and pelfrey just dominates. i think the tremendous boost in confidence pelfrey would get from actually earning the spot would help him develop. although honestly even if duque gets lit up and pelfrey throws 4 perfect innings omar and willie will still go with the old man.
pelfrey earned the spot last spring, how’d that do for his confidence? I know he’s come a long way, but I think it would be best for him to start in AAA. The decision will be made by Omar, Willie, and the Jacket, so the notion that “willie will still go with the old man” is just plain silly.
I agree with those who think it’s just time to throw the youngster in there. El Duque was very good last year but we all know he is going on the DL once or twice this year. The Mets have a few too many guys that are “senior” citizens in baseball terms. They should park El Duque in St. Lucie and tell him to be ready after the All Star break that way he might actually make it to the end of the season i one piece. He could be in reserve if Pelfrey fails or if we have an injury to another pitcher.
I think last years El Duque would qualify as a solid number 3 on almost all teams staff in both leagues.
But this years Duque is not ready. He needs to be left behind in extended spring training. Put him on the DL to start and give him 2 weeks to get himself ready to pitch in big league games. I see no reason to toss away games with him trying to adjust to his new style.
As to who would fill the 5 spot….I vote for no one.
Seriously…until Duque is ready in 2 weeks…why not go with 4 guys? I know Pedro likes the extra day when we can get it but he would be pitching on his typical 5 day rest not 4 and not 6 in my scenario. The schedule has a few off days to begin the season allowing us to pitch just 4 guys and still getting all of them the regular rest.
Then if Duque is still not right in 2 weeks…then it becomes decision time.
Is it Pelfrey (who clearly appears not ready yet) or is it Figueroa or Sosa or some other guy (Niese, Parnell, some pick up made now like Vargas?)
I’d put the decision off and start duque on the DL.
Then if I had to make this decision…..id put Sosa in the role after week 2 and see what he gives us.
Call up someone to be long man from the pen…we have plenty of arms around for that spot.
take vargas out of the discussion. he’s out until after the allstar break after hip surgery.
He was referring to Claudio Vargas, the Free Agent.
See : “some pick up made now like Vargas?”
We already have Jason in our system, that wouldn’t be a ‘pick up’
last year the “go with 4 guys” thing really didn’t work so well, it threw off pelfrey’s rhythm, left him a little unsure about his place, and then he came up to the team as the new guy, instead of having been a part of the team from the beginning. I am glad they decided to just go with 5 this year.
i think we should give the shot at the young kid so he can built confidence.
Maybe it’s just me, but Pelfrey simply has not pitched well. It seems that because he’s a #1 pick with clear talent he’s being rushed. At this point he’s lacking confidence (listen to the comments he’s making). If he’s asked to do something before he’s ready at this point he may regress even further.
let’s be patient with him and allow that maybe Omar understands this. so that having him go to AAA, develop his secondary pitches, whic are poor right now makes the most sense. Bring him up when he’s really ready and then we have a solid pitcher for the long term.