How the Rotation Sets Up

[Guest Iubitul]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: These guys are maroons and knuckleheads. And yet, they're the best Fox has to offer. Fox needs to sign up some better broadcasters NOW!!!

they are also light-years better than the broadcasters for most teams - we are spoiled by the quality of our broadcasters...

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

True - I hear announcers from all over the country, and some are just godawful.

Even so, the Fox national broadcasts should be the acme of broadcasting. Good enough shouldn't be the standard.

[Elster88]

Nymr83 wrote: maine has earned more starts and el duque has pitched his way out of them.

Nymr agrees me, which is rare. Anyone else?

[Frayed Knot]

So if El Ducky's 7inn/2ER performance rates him a boot out of the rotation, what did Pelfrey's outing today do for him?

And - before anyone brings it up - I'm not talking about the long-term future between the two.

[metirish]

Willie has indicated that if Hernandez keeps pitching like he did yesterday then he will be in the rotation, which of course makes sence, I have no idea really what to make of Pelfrey, I suppose with the big lead the Mets have Willie can afford to keep pitching him, it will be interesting what they do when Pedro comes back this week.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Frayed Knot wrote: So if El Ducky's 7inn/2ER performance rates him a boot out of the rotation, what did Pelfrey's outing today do for him? And - before anyone brings it up - I'm not talking about the long-term future between the two.

IMO, it earned Pelfrey a trip back to Norfolk for more seasoning.

[Frayed Knot]

Fine, but just keep in mind that a trip back to the minors for Pelfrey means we need to either keep Duque around or find a suitable replacement for him reeaaall quick.
And assuming that one replacement is enough to cover us also assumes that Maine's last outing was a sign of things to come -- as opposed to say Soler's CG shutout was earlier in the year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think we need to realize the benefit of this padding is that we don't have to make a move every time a pitcher has a bad outing.

[metirish]

Exactly and being with Peterson can only help him, we have this huge lead so why not keep him here and have Rick work with him,especially his off speed stuff needs fine tuning.

[Gwreck]

Pedro is scheduled to come of the DL and take the start Friday in Atlanta.

[Gwreck]

Pelfrey is going to get another start as well. A 6-man rotation for a little while, with El Duque possibly to the 'pen.

Source: Marty Noble's notes column on Mets.com

[Frayed Knot]

On the pre-game today Willie specifically negated the idea of a 6-man rotation for now -- saying that it was maybe a September consideration.

It's Maine sked for Wed, an off-day on Thurs, Pedro back on Friday, and presumably Pelfrey on Saturday.
By Sunday it would be Glavine's day again but El Duque's spot - so either Ducky gets bounced to the pen (remember someone has to get sent down when we re-activate Petey) or someone from the Ducky/Trax/Maine/Pelfrey crew needs to disappear.

[Gwreck]

Thanks for the update, I missed pregame today.

I suspect Heath Bell is headed back to Norfolk with the Pedro activiation and they use El Duque and Maine in the rotation/'pen as needed.

They may want to give Pelfrey a few more chances rather than send him right back to the minors.

Further complicating things, possibly, Bannister is making his first rehab start Wednesday in St. Lucie.

[Elster88]

8 runs given up by the team in each of the last three games.

[Elster88]

6 man rotation. At least briefly:

]Now, with Pedro Martinez ready to return to pitching after a month of inactivity, the Mets are going to implement a six-man rotation again. Willie Randolph indicated as much on Monday night before the Mets began their three-game series against the Cubs. The manager was uncertain about the sequence, but he said that there would be at least one rotation of six pitchers. The plan all but guarantees John Maine another start next week -- he is to start against the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon -- and all but assures fellow rookie Mike Pelfrey of at least a fourth big-league start.

]The rotation -- for now -- has Tom Glavine pitching on Tuesday night, followed by Maine on Wednesday and Martinez on Friday in Atlanta. El Duque would be in line for Saturday and Pelfrey for Sunday, but Randolph didn't commit to either one starting.

Linkage

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Hopefully the Maine Man will end that trend.

A little item in the Daily News today about trade deadline deals suggests that the Mets might pick up Livan Hernandez after the deadline, since it's expected that he would easily clear waivers because of his salary.

Omar, on SNY's telecast last night, also hinted that a move might be made during the month of August.

[Elster88]

Willie just made absolutely no sense in trying to explain how the rotation would work (on M&MD).

[Elster88]

FINALLY, Mike got him to say that Pelfrey and Maine are battling for one spot.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

So Hernandez is the one who's safe?

I'd rather have three guys battling for two spots.

[Elster88]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: So Hernandez is the one who's safe?

Yup. As of today at least.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I'd rather have three guys battling for two spots.

Me too. (But of course El Duque's a weiner, er winner.)

[Elster88]

Bannister throwing a simulated game either today or tomorrow. Remember him?

[Gwreck]

I'm suprised that Pelfrey is not just getting the ticket back to the minors with Pedro coming off the DL (clearly, it will be Heath Bell again). WIth the off day Thursday and Monday, it doesn't make much sense to be carrying that 6th starter right now.

[Frayed Knot]

Well they're sorta in a 6-man at this point now that Pedro's back - but it sounds like that just temporary.

As of now it's:
Fri - Pedro
Sat - Ducky
Sun - hasn't been named but I can't see how it won't be Glavine
Mon - off day

At that point all bets are off.
Someone reported yesterday (think it was Eddie C?) that Pelfrey let slip that he's got the first game vs Florida (Tues). Not sure if that's subject to change or if he just let the cat out of the bag since Willie's not saying that publically yet.

Willie was on the radio after the game today and indicated that Trax & Ducky are safe for now - meaning that the race for #5 is between Maine & Pelfrey. Of course all this is subject to trades and obviously Maine helped himself out a lot this week.

[Gwreck]

Willie said on the pregame interview of yesterday's game that it will indeed be Glavine on Sunday.

I guess that puts Pelfrey on Tuesday, and then Trachsel and Maine?

[Gwreck]

Gwreck wrote: I guess that puts Pelfrey on Tuesday, and then Trachsel and Maine?

Confirmed, as per Willie on the pregame report.

[Frayed Knot]

According to Eddie C late this afternoon it was:
Fri - Pedro (duh)
Sat - Ducky
Sun - Glavine
Mon - Off
Tues - Pelfrey
Wed - Trax
Thurs - Pedro again, which would be his 6th day

IOW, Maine's the guy getting skipped for now (or at least delayed) although Willie said he will get another start.
I'd guess this is Pelfrey's last trip around the rodeo unless he really impresses in his next start. Not sure why - with the two days off and Pedro returning - he wasn't sent down already to get more work but I guess they want to see him at least once more.

[Elster88]

Who wanted El Duque put in the pen? Who? TELL ME WHO. I DEMAND YOU TELL ME WHO WANTED EL DUQUE PUT IN THE BULLPEN.

[nymr83]

me. still think that would be the best longterm move. of course i wont have many supporters today but wait until he gets lit up a couple of times and all the other naysayers will be right back in my camp.

[Guest Iubitul]

Elster88 wrote: Who wanted El Duque put in the pen? Who? TELL ME WHO. I DEMAND YOU TELL ME WHO WANTED EL DUQUE PUT IN THE BULLPEN.

Me too. I'm still not convinced that he's a better option than Maine and Pelfrey for the rotation...

[Elster88]

I did too. I am making fun of myself. To cover my shame and embarrassment.