In a post to Twitter, the National Lampoon’s Sports Minute writes:
“The Mets might acquire Ben Sheets. He hasn’t pitched professionally in a year, just like the rest of their staff.”
…oh, 2009 Mets, the gift that keeps on giving for jokesters everywhere… it’s a fair point, though, in that, is it smart for the Mets, of all teams, to put stock in a pitcher with his track record, given all the injuries they suffered last season… technically, one has nothing to do with other… but, if the Mets are even a bit concerned that a pitcher or two in the rotation, like John Maine or Oliver Perez, may still have issues next season, it would be wise to acquire more of a sure-thing, despite knowing sheets could end up being the second-best pitcher on the staff, should everything go according to plan…
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If Matt took a poll, asking who we had the most confidence in of the following four players: Sheets, Perez, Pelfrey Maine, I predict that more than 50% would have more confidence in Sheets than the other three.
Mine would go:
Pelfrey, Sheets, Perez, Maine
Yes, I put Perez ahead of Maine. However, this is Maine as a starter. To me, he just doesn’t have the makeup to be a starter anymore. He rarely makes it past five innings because he doesn’t have that put away pitch (other than his fastball when he throws it hard). Maine does not have nasty stuff unless he pitches all-out, which makes him a perfect candidate for the setup role.
If Sheets comes cheap why not? You can never have too much pitching and when he’s on he’s an ace
id rather sign a sheets then a marquis,pineiro type since sheets can actually be a #2 starter
If you sign both Sheets and a Marquis/Garland type that you can depend on.
I have a feeling Sheets will sign elsewhere and have a good season…Randy Wolf v.2
If we can get sheets on a completely incentive laden deal, then signing him has to be the biggest no brainer I could imagine. However, the key is how the signing is viewed…. Don’t immediately think of and rely on him as a number 2/3 pitcher in our rotation, but treat him as our number 5 (with the potential to provide number 2 stuff)…
You would think in today’s day and age, with enhanced medical technology, teams would have access to a player’s physical status on a database type system.
My point being, can’t they scan body/bone/muscle structure of players and keep them on file and compare them to potential free agents. ie. A pitcher who is more durable, than fragile might have muscles and tendons positioned, strengthened and structured a particular way, vs. pitchers who seem to continue to breakdown. I understand its not that simple, and a lot of this has to deal w/ mechanics, as well… Clearly, I’m no scientist or medical expert, but outside of recent statistics and seeing a guy throw off the mound, you would think there could a more accurate way to compare the physical characteristics of top notch, durable starters vs. those who breakdown.
wouldn’t it be interesting to have an in depth comparison of the shoulder and elbows of Tim Lincecum vs John Maine, side by side ?
I like the idea of an MLB internal medical records, compiling every time a player goes for an MRI, etc. Would be a useful tool for potential new teams to compare. I don’t know that current doctors cannot already do this with an individual players medical history though. I mean, the players have the same rights to their medical records as regular people…
Unfortunately the human body is complex and unique. Sometime you end up with a Marisa Miller, and sometimes you end up with a Ben Sheets. I don’t know what good comparing two people’s shoulders would provide. But being able to track a pitchers shoulder and elbow deterioration every few months would be useful.
The Mets should stop doing things with the notion ‘if everything goes as planned’ and start going with the notion ‘if everything goes wrong’
Someone like Sheets would be a nice additional starter to have because he’ll be a top end guy while he’s healthy, but they should have five more starters they are prepared to send out there 30+ times. And no, Maine and Niese do not count in that group.
it’s taken me a while, but i am on board with signing Sheets and Pineiro ….
agree on Maine, based solely on his inability to get beyond the 5th inning …. however, his stats are far superior to Perez, whose stats are far superior to Pelfrey ….
Pelfrey is my odd man out of the rotation via trade. He just is not winning the mental part of pitching – because physically, he has all the tools.
Santana
Sheets
Pineiro
Perez
……
you want go all out …. sign Lackey or trade Pelfrey and Maine in a package for a young, top quality starter not named Jackson ….
keeping Neise, Nieve et al in the wings …
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