How the Rotation Sets Up

[Gwreck]

With off days this and next Monday, the Mets have some options as to how to structure the rotation. Following this weekend's series with the Brewers, the rotation sets up like this:

Mon 5/15 OFF
Tue 5/16 Glavine at STL
Wed 5/17 Trachsel at STL
Thu 5/18 at STL
Fri 5/19 vs NYY
Sat 5/20 vs NYY
Sun 5/21 Glavine vs NYY
Mon 5/22 OFF

Pedro could pitch on either Friday (4 days rest) or Saturday (5 days).

The Yankees have no off-days between now and that series, so we can determine that they'll be starting Johnson/Mussina/Chacon.

I'm not sure what the Mets are going to do, but I'm not exactly thrilled by the idea of Lima pitching against the Cardinals and Gonzalez against the Yankees.

[TransMonk]

Did Bannister throw yesterday? I had heard they were trying to set him up to pitch Friday against the Yanks.

[Frayed Knot]

Bannister is pitching in a simulated game today.
The idea - assuming he doesn't get his simulated ass kicked or re-aggravate his simulated hamstring - is to have him ready for one of the Yanqui games next week, presumably the Saturday game: Pedro - Bannister - Glavine.

I suppose whoever looks better out of this Lima/Gonzalez duo gets the Thursday start at StL.


btw, Bell down in favor of Gonzalez -- no word on what 40-man move they'll make in order to promote Jeremi.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Juan Perez seems exposeable.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

The Yankees already? Interleauge play seems to start earlier every year (Or I'm losing it).

[smg58]

They're definitely starting early this year.

Speaking of the Yankees, they'll have six starters when Pavano comes off the DL in a week or two, and they'd have a use for Victor Diaz. I'm not sure there's a good deal in there or not, but it's an option worth exploring.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

They're waiting for Victor to mangle his leg for life in a tragic Bunsen-burner/heroin experiment.

It's not as though they're going to do anything with him anyway, is there? Nady's the man.

[Theoldmole]

It's a long season. Let's have Pedro still strong for the stretch.

[Gwreck]

Metsblog sez: "The team is hopeful, and confident that Brian Bannister will be able to start this friday or saturday against the yankees"

I'd view that as the ideal situation. Pedro goes on normal rest on Friday, with Bannister on Saturday. Either Gonzalez or Lima will have to take the Thursday afternoon start vs. the Cardinals.

After that, they won't need the fifth starter until May 27...

[Zvon]

Willie R says Gonzalez pitched a strong game on Tampa Bay vs. the Skanks once.
Dont know if thats PR work or what, but I would rather have 3 regulars going in that series.
Hopefully Bannisters back, so we can watch him get in all kinds of trouble and then get out of it.

[Guest heep]

Watch out for Evan MacLane, I've been saying it since the beginning of the season.

He pitched another solid game tonight for AAA, 7 innings shutout, 11 k's.

He can't do any worse than Lima

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sure he can. Happens all the time.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Edgy DC wrote: Sure he can. Happens all the time.

This is the kind of sophic wisdom that drives me nuts.

Ya think MacLane could have contrived to lose 3 games in only two starts? Ya think it's very likely he could have a higher ERA than 9.31? Yeah, it happens all the time.

Color me nuts.

[Elster88]

So you're saying it's not possible for him to perform worse than Lima? It's not possible in this world that we live in?

I agree with you; that is nuts.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Elster88 wrote: So you're saying it's not possible for him to perform worse than Lima? It's not possible in this world that we live in? I agree with you; that is nuts.

You talkin' to me?

[Vic Sage]

]sophic wisdom

i prefer sapphic wisdom.

[duan]

Frayed Knot wrote: Bannister is pitching in a simulated game today. The idea - assuming he doesn't get his simulated ass kicked or re-aggravate his simulated hamstring - is to have him ready for one of the Yanqui games next week, presumably the Saturday game: Pedro - Bannister - Glavine. I suppose whoever looks better out of this Lima/Gonzalez duo gets the Thursday start at StL. btw, Bell down in favor of Gonzalez -- no word on what 40-man move they'll make in order to promote Jeremi.

"Mets recalled RHP Bartolome Fortunato from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the 60-day disabled list with a torn UCL in his right elbow.
Fortunato, who spent three days with the Mets earlier this month, will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the year. He'll probably be removed from the 40-man roster right after the season ends. Ma"

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Making official the Mets' wisdom in avoiding future elbow problems by trading Scott Kazmir for Zambrano and Fortunato.

Only if Jose Diaz, whom the Mets threw in in that deal, has had a heathy arm would it be mathematically possible for the Mets to have made larger dicks out of themselves on this one..

[The Big O]

Guess this is as good a "general pitching rotation" thread to bump as any. This is all info I hadn't previously seen posted here. With the obligatory "it's Heyman" disclaimer of reality:

="Jon Heyman"]... Omar Minaya, who has a naturally itchy trigger finger, must somehow coax a trade. Minaya was in such a jovial mood yesterday, leading me to believe he was thinking about something other than the jive other general managers are handing him. So far his trading partners are suggesting either "bad stats" (Omar's words) or bad deals (mine). Being a naturally kind man, Minaya didn't mention which pitchers were the owners of the "bad stats." But two of the trade rejects are believed to be Bruce Chen, who is 0-5 with an 8.08 ERA, and Jeremy Affeldt, who's a tiny bit better at 2-4 and 6.51. It's not that the Mets are so proud. Apparently, they were considering Affeldt until his latest abomination, an 8-0 defeat Monday night. ... The Nats transformed into the Gnats when they suggested the Mets surrender the talented Lastings Milledge for Livan Hernandez, who has a 5.51 ERA and $13 million remaining on his contract through next year.

This may be irrelevant information now that we've picked up 2 starters. Incidentally, Buster Olney was advocating for Dave Williams behind the Insider wall earlier this week. (I do not have Insider access, unfortunately.)

[Elster88]

="nymets.com"]Steve Trachsel said the small bone that popped out in his upper back on Tuesday was put back in place the same night and he has had no trouble with it. Thus, Trachsel said he is ready to pitch on Monday against the Diamondbacks.

I added the bold for emphasis. I never even heard about this.

[Willets Point]

If a small bone pops up anywhere on the body other than between the thighs I think it's a cause for concern.

[nymr83]

Willets Point wrote: If a small bone pops up anywhere on the body other than between the thighs I think it's a cause for concern.

between this and the Bonds thread Willets is on fire tonight

[Gwreck]

I edited the title (to just "How the Rotation Sets Up") now that this has developed into an all-purpose sort of thread.

[Elster88]

Willets Point wrote: If a small bone pops up anywhere on the body other than between the thighs I think it's a cause for concern.

LOL....


...and agreed.

[Elster88]

nymets.com wrote: Tom Glavine threw softly for about 10 minutes before the game Sunday -- after pitching seven innings Saturday -- and proclaimed himself willing and able to start Wednesday night against the Dodgers. He will be starting on three, rather than the normal four days' rest.

Why?!?!?!

[Gwreck]

Elster88 wrote: ="nymets.com"]Tom Glavine threw softly for about 10 minutes before the game Sunday -- after pitching seven innings Saturday -- and proclaimed himself willing and able to start Wednesday night against the Dodgers. He will be starting on three, rather than the normal four days' rest. Why?!?!?!

Rain and the doubleheader.

Using John Maine requires a roster move, which would be sending Heath Bell back down at a time when the 'pen is already a bit overworked. (No, they're not going to release Matsui).

Other option is Darren Oliver.

[Elster88]

Ah. Forgot the double-header. Good call Gweck.

[Gwreck]

Preliminary analysis shows that Pedro will be taking the start on Wednesday, June 28 at Fenway Park.

[Willets Point]

Gwreck wrote: Preliminary analysis shows that Pedro will be taking the start on Wednesday, June 28 at Fenway Park.

And I have tix for the 27th & 29th. Of course I have a long history of seeing Pedro lose at Fenway Park so this may be a good thing (although I saw him lose to the Mets so maybe not).

[Gwreck]

Off day today, but then two straight weeks without one.

We set up nicely against Boston, with:
Tue: Soler vs. Lester
and then the marquee matchups:
Wed: Beckett vs. Pedro
Thu: Schilling vs. Glavine.

This puts us at a disadvantage vs. the MFYs, though.

Fri: El Duque vs. Mussina
Sat: Trachsel vs. Johnson
Sun: Soler vs. Wright or Chacon

Also worth considering is the doubleheader coming up vs. Florida on July 8th. Preliminary analysis shows Pedro on schedule to pitch one of the games with Glavine on Sunday (and then the All-Star break).

Glavine could be moved up to take the start in game 2 (and perhaps be ready to pitch that Tuesday in Pittsburgh) but that would also require El Duque pitching on short rest the next day.

Darren Oliver is always a possibility -- or perhaps Mr. Bannister might be back by then? We shall see over the next 2 weeks...