How the Rotation Sets Up -- 2008

[Gwreck]

Some interesting decisions coming ahead in the next few weeks with the rotation:

1. The double-header Saturday will necessitate an extra starter being available on Wednesday vs. the Nationals. Seems possible that Jorge Sosa may hold on to his roster spot a bit longer (rather than possible DFA to make room for Matt Wise).

2. With Santana and Pelfrey both pitching on Saturday, their next day to start for both would be Thursday. Pushing Santana back a day would ordinarily seem strange but given the quality of the opposing lineup, it would sure seem logical to throw Pelfrey Thursday and give Santana the extra day so he would pitch against the MFYs on the Friday.

3. After his start on Monday, Figueroa may not be needed for another start for a week (plus). Perhaps he will be the roster casualty for Matt Wise.

4. After the series with the MFYs, the Mets start a roadtrip the following Tuesday with a doubleheader in Atlanta. More roster shuffling could well be possible then.

My projection:
vs. CIN
Sat May 10 (Game 1) - Santana v. Matt Belisle
Sat May 10 (Game 2) - Pelfrey v. Bronson Arroyo
Sun May 11 - Perez v. Johnny Cueto

vs. WAS
Mon May 12 - Figueroa v. Odalis Perez
Tue May 13 - Maine v. John Lannan
Wed May 14 - Jorge Sosa (?) v. Tim Redding
Thu May 15 - Pelfrey v. Michael O'Connor

vs. NYY
Fri May 16 - Santana v. Andy Pettite
Sat May 17 - Perez v. Chien-Ming Wang
Sun May 18 - Maine v. Mike Mussina

[nymr83]

]1. The double-header Saturday will necessitate an extra starter being available on Wednesday vs. the Nationals. Seems possible that Jorge Sosa may hold on to his roster spot a bit longer (rather than possible DFA to make room for Matt Wise).

Sosa is possibility, but i'd also consider bringing one of them back on short rest, Santana if he doesnt pitch too many pitches tommorow or Pelfrey "hey rook, do something for the team here"

]2. With Santana and Pelfrey both pitching on Saturday, their next day to start for both would be Thursday. Pushing Santana back a day would ordinarily seem strange but given the quality of the opposing lineup, it would sure seem logical to throw Pelfrey Thursday and give Santana the extra day so he would pitch against the MFYs on the Friday.

the logical thing to do would be to skip the 4th/5th starter pelfrey instead of pushing everyone back a day. george steinbrenner isnt hte owner here, we dont need to rearrange our rotation in may to face the MFY who arent even in our division. if we were playing philly friday i'd consider it.

]3. After his start on Monday, Figueroa may not be needed for another start for a week (plus). Perhaps he will be the roster casualty for Matt Wise.

that makes sense

]4. After the series with the MFYs, the Mets start a roadtrip the following Tuesday with a doubleheader in Atlanta. More roster shuffling could well be possible then.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The Mets have played the least number of games in the Majors (32 games). No team has played exactly 33 games. Three teams have played 34 games (Twins, ChiSox and Braves). Every other team has played at least 35 games. Boston has played the most games (38) - essentially an entire week's worth of games more than the Mets have played.

With Saturday's doubleheader, the Mets begin to catch up to every other team in games played -- every other team except the Reds, who are also scheduled to play a doubleheader this Saturday - against the Mets, coincidentally. So the Reds will also gain ground on every other team in the games played department. But the Reds won't gain any ground on the Mets, who also play a doubleheader this Saturday, coincidentally, against the Reds.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rain is called for next week too.

[Gwreck]

Nymr83 wrote: the logical thing to do would be to skip the 4th/5th starter pelfrey instead of pushing everyone back a day. george steinbrenner isnt hte owner here, we dont need to rearrange our rotation in may to face the MFY who arent even in our division. if we were playing philly friday i'd consider it.

I agree with you in principle (about not shuffling the rotation just because it's the MFYs) but big-picture, if you skip Pelfrey's spot, that just means there's an additional start that weekend that will need to be taken by the #5 starter Figueroa (or whomever).

[Benjamin Grimm]

In today's Daily News, Adam Rubin is saying that Adam Bostick is Wednesday's likely starter if there's no rainout today or tomorrow.

He'd come to Shea for his cup of coffee, and then return to New Orleans right after. (He was pulled early from his last start for the Zephyrs, presumably in anticipation that he might be needed in Flushing.)

[MFS62]

What about Aaron Heilmann in a start by committee, each pitcher to follow going one or two innings? It seems they all pitch in the same games anyhow.
(ducking)


Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It'd be a miracle if they play tonight. Sorry, Adam Bostick.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Even if it doesn't happen, this gives us a glimpse at the current state of the depth chart.

If there's a rainout tonight, and the Mets schedule a doubleheader on Wednesday or Thursday, then Bostick could still get his shot. Otherwise, the Mets would likely schedule the makeup game on Monday, September 8 or Thursday, September 11. (The Nationals next and final visit to Shea is on the 9th and the 10th, with off days on either side.)

Me, I'd rather play a doubleheader this week and leave the days off for September when they may be desperately needed.

[soupcan]

I'm going tonight - wife tells me rain is supposed to stop at 8:00.

[Gwreck]

They could do a doubleheader on Thursday if they wanted.

Sure, it's technically "getaway day" for both teams but on Friday the Mets are playing at the Yankees and the Nationals are playing at the Orioles, so travel isn't going to be a concern.

[Frayed Knot]

I'd be shocked if the Mets approve a second DH in the same week - especialy seeing as how it comes the day before the NYY series.
Plus, don't they have a DH in Atlanta next week too?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, the doubleheader wouldn't have to be on Thursday; it could be on Tuesday or Wednesday just as easily.

[Frayed Knot]

It still would be two DHs in a week and three in two weeks.
I'm guessing any makeup will be pushed out until the next visit.

[Gwreck]

Frayed Knot wrote: Plus, don't they have a DH in Atlanta next week too?

Yes, they do. So even if Adam Bostick doesn't get a chance this week he may be looking at a Mets debut next week or the week after.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The NWS forecast for today looks rather promising:

]This Afternoon: A chance of rain, mainly before 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Windy, with a east wind between 25 and 29 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Breezy, with a north wind between 17 and 25 mph.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Huh. Well, maybe Bostick does go this week.

Harder to get my head wrapped around is the issue of demoting Smith so as to reactivate Wise. I know Soso has been pitching better ever since the Wise Watch began and Smoith's cobtaract status makes it easier but geez.

PS: Who is the DH this weekend? For us, not for them.

[soupcan]

Marlon?

[Gwreck]

Alou, probably all 3 games. 1 start in the OF each for Endy, Pagan and Marlon.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Delgado get a game as DH. But I think I'd go with Alou for at least two of the games, if not all three.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Adam Rubin says Claudio Vargas tomorrow, and possibly Fernando Tatis to come with him, with Castillo and Pagan staring at possible trips to the DL.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd like to see Tatis on the Mets, but I'm not sure at whose expense.

Vargas and Tatis replacing Pagan and Castillo would leave us short one position player, but I suppose that one only be for Wednesday. Tatis would stick, I assume, and Vargas would be replaced by... whom?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Interesting, and contradicts everything Rubin's own notes column said this morning.

Print journalism is dea-diddily-ead.

However, I definitely like the idea of getting Figueroa out of the mix, and also like that Smith can/will be saved (as his blog also reports). And Tatis for Pagan...

]Mets calling up Vargas for start tomorrow Major news out of New Orleans today: Surfing the Mets has learned that the Zephyrs scratched Claudio Vargas from his start today, signaling they�ve reversed course and will promote him to take the start tomorrow against the Nationals. Vargas wasn�t under consideration even yesterday afternoon because the spot starter was supposed to be returned to New Orleans right after the game to make room for Matt Wise. Why did the plan change? It would look like Nelson Figueroa�s poor performance Monday night is the major factor. I�d be seriously worried arriving at the ballpark today if I were Figueroa, since a Vargas call-up would mean he�s in the rotation for more than one turn. *** Additional major news: Fernando Tatis looks like he�s coming up, too. Perhaps Luis Castillo�s injury requires the DL. UPDATE: Sounds like the Mets may have come to their senses and will spare Joe Smith, too. That could mean Jorge Sosa is in trouble. It might not be Castillo going on the DL. Sounds like Angel Pagan was in discomfort with his shoulder last night.

[Gwreck]

Updated pitching projections:

vs. WAS
Tue May 13 - Maine v. John Lannan
Wed May 14 - Claudio Vargas v. Tim Redding
Thu May 15 - Pelfrey v. Matt Chico

vs. NYY
Fri May 16 - Santana v. Darrell Rasner
Sat May 17 - Perez v. Andy Pettite
Sun May 18 - Maine v. Chien-Ming Wang

vs. ATL
Tue May 20 - Claudio Vargas and Pelfrey v. Tom Glavine and Chuck James
Wed May 21 - Santana v. Jair Jurrjens
Thu May 22 - Perez v. Tim Hudson

[Gwreck]

We still have more decisions to make after this doubleheader today:
who will start on Saturday?

at ATL
Tue May 20 - John Maine and Claudio Vargas v. Tom Glavine and Jorge Campillo
Wed May 21 - Pelfrey v. Jair Jurrjens
Thu May 22 - Santana v. Tim Hudson

at COL
Fri May 23 - Perez v. Jeff Francis
Sat May 24 - TBA v. Jorge De La Rosa
Sun May 25 - Maine v. Aaron Cook

vs FLA
Mon May 26 - Pelfrey v. Ricky Nolasco
Tue May 27 - Santana v. Andrew Miller
Wed May 28 - Perez v. Scott Olsen

vs. LA
Thu May 29 - Pedro (??) v. Brad Penny
Fri May 30 - Maine v. Chad Billingsley
Sat May 31 - Pelfrey v. Hiroki Kuroda
Sun Jun 1 - Santana v. Derek Lowe

According to Marty Noble, Pedro could be back next week.

[seawolf17]

="Gwreck"]We still have more decisions to make after this doubleheader today: who will start on Saturday? Sat May 24 - TBA v. Jorge De La Rosa

I haven't pitched since Little League, circa 1985, so I'm on full rest.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I read in the Daily News this morning that they're considering Vargas on three days rest for the Saturday start.

[Gwreck]

Updating with the news about Pedro's impending return.

vs FLA
Wed May 28 - Perez v. Scott Olsen

vs. LA
Thu May 29 - Vargas v. Brad Penny
Fri May 30 - Maine v. Clayton Kershaw
Sat May 31 - Pelfrey v. Chad Billingsley
Sun Jun 1 - Santana v. Hiroki Kuroda

at SF
Mon Jun 2 - Perez v. Jonathan Sanchez
Tue Jun 3 - Pedro v. Barry Zito
Wed Jun 4 - Maine v. Matt Cain

at SD
Thu Jun 5 - Pelfrey v. TBA
Fri Jun 6 - Santana v. Randy Wolf
Sat Jun 7 - Perez v. Shawn Estes
Sun Jun 8 - Pedro v. Wilfredo Ledezma

[Fman99]

I wonder if Vargas takes Pelfrey's rotation spot on Petey's return, given the recent performances of the two of them (assuming that the pattern continues). Or if one of them stays up as the long man out of the pen.

[smg58]

I'd guess that they'd rather have Pelfrey start in AAA than pitch in relief here, assuming that's what it comes to. I would make a final decision before Vargas and Pelfrey get their next starts, but as things currently stand I'd keep Vargas.