Pelfrey Countdown

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: he left the game because of an organization "rule" that a pitcher won't throw more than 40 pitches in an inning no matter what, no way of knowing what would have happened.

That's still not a pretty line, either for that one game (face 7 hitters - get two out) or for his brief AA life to date - particularly for a guy who a segment of Met fans have been demanding in the big leagues for weeks now.

[Centerfield]

I think it's a bad idea to bring up Pelfrey. From all reports that I've heard, including Peter Gammons' garbled one from last night, is that his fastball is good, but that he relies on it too much and needs to develop his breaking pitches.

I'd like to see him do that in the minors than get lit up in the bigs.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Boing

[Frayed Knot]

BA:
Mike Pelfrey, rhp, Mets (Double-A Binghamton):
He started slow after his promotion to Double-A, but the Wichita State alum is firing on all cylinders now. In his last three starts, he has allowed just three runs in 19 innings while fanning 22 and walking four. He even had three hits in one of those starts. There are still concerns about his secondary stuff, but the former Shocker has blown away hitters with an electric fastball that sits in the mid-90s that he is able to command to all parts of the zone.

[Guest Edgy DC]

If there are "still concerns about his secondary stuff" (and if there are, then he's not quite firing on all cylinders), maybe he should head up to AAA, where presumably more of the batters are sophisticated enough to sit on his primary stuff and force him to adapt and stretch his repetoire.

[Elster88]

Good points CF, FK, and Edgy. These are the things the "BRING HIM UP NOW crowd" chooses to ignore because they want the guy they hate replaced immediately by the guy they've read about in Peter Gammons' blog all winter.

Or sometimes the BRING HIM UP NOW crowd is just a bunch of morons, who don't think about anything.

[Frayed Knot]

Pelfrey update:

vs. New Britain: 6 IPs, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K (W)

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Cool - perhaps he'll be ready for AAA soon.

[Frayed Knot]

June 20 vs Akron:

7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K (W)
3-1, 2.48



From Adam Rubin's Met blog:
A scout who watched 2005 first-round pick Pelfrey suggested that while the righthander’s fastball matches up favorably with big leaguers, his slider and changeup need work.

[Elster88]

At this point we don't have room for him up here. Just as well.

Of course, I still am not holding my breath on El Duque. Or some such expression.

[Guest heep]

That was a good Akron team that he beat last night, they were are first place.

He and Owens appear to be the Shea-bound pitchers from Binghampton.

Owens has arguably been the mot dominating pitcher in our system. He has averaged over 2 K's per inning. Nasty.

[Guest vtmet]

There is no p in Binghamton...

[Frayed Knot]

Sure there is, it's right next to Bridgehampton, Westhampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays & East Hampton

[MFS62]

So, the Mets have two highly talented prospects - Lastings and Pelfrey.

One is not immediately needed - Pelfrey, but some website fans are crying for him to be brought up, saying he doesn't need more seasoning.

The other, Lastings, is needed and is proving that he can play at the major league level, but fans are saying that he should be sent down for more seasoning.

Curious.

Later

[Elster88]

Is he really needed when Floyd comes back?

[MFS62]

Elster88 wrote: Is he really needed when Floyd comes back?

I think so.
With Willie liking to rest his regulars, I could see a rotation in which four regular players (Lastings, Nady, Beltran and Cliff) get sufficient at bats, with Nady subbing for Delgado at first, Wright at third (David has shown he comes back with a vengance after a day off) and as the regular right fielder when Lastings spells Cliff. And Lastings can also play center ( as can Endy) if Beltran needs a rest.

That way, Lastings will get a sufficient number of at bats if he stays with the big club, while being mentored in (what some consider) the things he is lacking from Willie, Franco and Cliff.

The only one who "loses" in my scenario is Nady. But his time to play full time will come in '07.

There should be no reason to play Woodward in the outfield, offensively or defensively.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

If you keep Lastings when Floyd is activated, you have to demote Marrero, Chavez, Woodward, or a pitcher.

Which would you choose?

[MFS62]

It depends on when Cliff comes back.
If its during the next few days when they'll be playing AL teams, the use of the DH means you won't have to pinch hit for the pitchers, so you don't need as many. In that scenario, it looks like Bell gets sent out.

If its after that, you don't know. Could be someone else might have to go on the DL (knocking wood), or a trade could be made, so this might become a non-issue.
Lets wait and see.

EDIT:

]If you keep Lastings when Floyd is activated, you have to demote Marrero, Chavez, Woodward, or a pitcher. Which would you choose?

Y'know, I've been thinking about that since you asked me yesterday.
My answer would be "none of them".
I would demote Ramon Castro. I'm starting to think that last year was his career year. Marrero came up as a catcher, and brings a few things to the table that Castro doesn't - the ability to play other positions fairly well, speed and a lefty bat. A catcher with those things comes around about as often as NY Ranger Stanley Cups.

But, as I said, let's see what happens between now and when that decision has to be made.

Anudder edit; seems Eli is a righty batter. Oh well....

Later