How the Rotation Sets Up -- 2008

[seawolf17]

Nothing says "Let's Celebrate CPF Day at Shea" than a Mike Pelfrey start.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, the rotation after Pedro's return is pretty much up in the air at this point.

In the meantime, lottsa good young pitching against us ahead (ummm, plus that Zito guy):
- Olsen tonight looks like he's gotten his head back in order recently.
- We seem to have a hex on Penny but that'll be Clayton Kershaw's 2nd ML start after laying waste to the minors and an impressive debut.
- We'll miss Lincecum in SF (assuming this stays correct) but Cain & Sanchez can be tough
- and then what was supposed to be the best pitching team in the West is the one place that suddenly looks hollow as both Peavy & Young are currently DL'd in SD

[smg58]

For the record, I'd much rather be a Mets fan than a Padres fan right now.

[soupcan]

I will be at Petco for that Martinez start on the 8th.

[Gwreck]

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

We won't get to face ex-Met Shawn Estes (on the Padres) because he broke his thumb falling in the dugout tunnel.
at SD
Thu Jun 5 - Pelfrey v. Josh Banks
Fri Jun 6 - Santana v. Randy Wolf
Sat Jun 7 - Perez v. Cha Seung Baek
Sun Jun 8 - Pedro v. Wilfredo Ledezma

Looks like we'll get all of Arizona's best pitchers:
vs. ARZ
Tue Jun 10 - Maine v. Micah Owings
Wed Jun 11 - Pelfrey v. Brandon Webb
Thu Jun 12 - Santana v. Dan Haren

vs. TEX
Fri Jun 13 - Perez v. Doug Mathis
Sat Jun 14 - Pedro v. A. J. Murray
(projected as Pedro's first home start this year)
Sun Jun 15 - Maine v. Sidney Ponson

[Fman99]

Just to throw this out there, Tony Armas II won for the Zeph last night and is sporting a nifty 2.29 ERA and .219 BAA. Also 59/15 K/BB in 74.2 IP , a whip of 1.00 and not one start with more that 3 ER allowed.

Is Armas just a quad-A arm at this point? The guy is still only 30 years old.

I wonder if he gets a look, should Big Pelf/OP continue with inconsistent results or if someone gets dinged.

[Guest AG/DC]

He'll get his shot.

[Gwreck]

This could use an update:

vs. SEA
Mon Jun 23 - Santana v. Felix Hernandez
Tue Jun 24 - Perez v. Miguel Batista
Wed Jun 25 - Maine v. R.A. Dickey

vs./at NYY
Fri Jun 27 - Pelfrey and Martinez v. Sidney Ponson and Dan Giese
Sat Jun 28 - Santana v. Mike Mussina
Sun Jun 29 - Perez v. Darrell Rasner

at STL
Mon Jun 30 - Maine v. Kyle Lohse
Tue Jul 1 - Vargas (?) v. Todd Wellemeyer (?)
Wed Jul 2 - Pelfrey v. Joel Pineiro
Thu Jul 3 - Martinez v. Mitchell Boggs (??)

The doubleheader on Friday will screw up our rotation vs. the Cardinals. We can safely assume that Pedro will get the extra day of rest; unclear who starts Tuesday although presumably it could be Vargas if he isn't needed that much during the weekend vs. the MFYs.

[Guest AG/DC]

Rubin has Tony Armas, Jr. taking the hill on Tuesday.

[Gwreck]

It will be Pelfrey v. Giese in the afternoon game and Martinez v. Ponson in the night game on Friday.

[Elster88]

What's the deal with El Duque?

What are the odds that El Duque and Alou contribute to meaningful games in September?

By contributing for El Duque I mean giving 2 or more starts or 8 or more bullpen innings. By contributing for Alou I mean starting in 15 or more games. Your mileage may vary.

[Gwreck]

at STL
Wed Jul 2 - Martinez v. Joel Pineiro
Thu Jul 3 - Pelfrey v. Mitchell Boggs

at PHI
Fri Jul 4 - Santana v. J.A. Happ/Carlos Carrasco *
Sat Jul 5 - Maine v. Jamie Moyer
Sun Jul 6 - Perez v. Kyle Kendrick
Mon Jul 7 - Martinez v. Adam Eaton

vs. SF
Tue Jul 8 - Pelfrey v. Kevin Correia
Wed Jul 9 - Santana v. Tim Lincecum
Thu Jul 10 - Maine v. Jonathan Sanchez

* Per Adam Rubin's blog the Mets miss Hamels and get a call-up for the Friday game due to Brett Myers' demotion to the minors.

Edits: by mistake.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Guest

[Fman99]

Wow... nice break to miss Hamels.

Also Santana/Lincecum looks like some matchup.

[Guest AG/DC]

Wow, Myers was demoted?

I kind of hope it was to the Sally League.

[Gwreck]

AG/DC wrote: Wow, Myers was demoted? I kind of hope it was to the Sally League.

I was hoping the prison league, personally. More to come in the Philly KTE.

[Gwreck]

Looks like that initially-projected Santana/Lincecum matchup will not happen. The rotation and matchups going into the break set up as follows:

at PHI
Mon Jul 7 - Martinez v. Adam Eaton

vs. SF
Tue Jul 8 - Pelfrey v. Tim Lincecum
Wed Jul 9 - Santana v. Jonathan Sanchez
Thu Jul 10 - Maine v. Barry Zito

vs. COL
Fri Jul 11 - Perez v. Aaron Cook
Sat Jul 12 - Martinez v. Ubaldo Jimenez
Sun Jul 13 - Pelfrey v. Mark Redman

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm considering going to Saturday's game, and I'm not too pleased that it lines up as a Pedro start.

How times have changed!

[Gwreck]

Highlights coming out of the break:
Looks like we won't dodge Volquez in Cincinnati (we missed him at Shea);
We do miss Cole Hamels (again)
Brett Myers is projected to get called back up and pitch at Shea next week.

at CIN
Thu Jul 17 - Santana v. Johnny Cueto
Wed Jul 18 - Maine v. Bronson Arroyo
Fri Jul 19 - Perez v. Homer Bailey (?)
Sat Jul 20 - Martinez v. Edinson Volquez

vs. PHI
Tue Jul 22 - Pelfrey v. Adam Eaton
Wed Jul 23 - Santana v. Brett Myers
Thu Jul 24 - Maine v. Jaime Moyer

vs. STL
Fri Jul 25 - Perez v. Mark Mulder (??)
Sat Jul 26 - Pelfrey v. Joel Pineiro
Sun Jul 27 - Santana v. Kyle Lohse

[Guest AG/DC]

I was thinking that the day off Monday would go to Pedro. Essentially, it does, but not until the second time through the rotation. Why that?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah. I would have come out of the break with a rotation in Cincinnati of Santana, Pelfrey, Perez, Maine.

I think both Maine and Pedro could use a little extra rest, and Pelfrey would benefit from staying in his groove.

The way it is now, Pelfrey's next start will come on eight days rest.

[Guest holychicken]

The fact that they got Pelfrey/Santana/Maine against the Phils probably factored into the decision of how the rotation should be set up coming out of the break.

[Frayed Knot]

Pelfrey, not Pedro, to go on Sunday.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's good.

(Is it because of aches and/or pains on the part of Pedro? Then that makes it less good.)

[Gwreck]

Yes. He was scheduled to go Sunday but scratched.

[Gwreck]

With the death of his father, Pedro to the bereavement list seems likely, requiring a spot start this Saturday against the Cardinals.

There are off days on either side of the Houston series, so after the spot start this Saturday, a fifth starter won't be needed until August 9 against Florida. Obviously Pedro could come back and slot in sometime before then as well.

vs. STL
Fri Jul 25 - Pelfrey v. Mitchell Boggs
Sat Jul 26 - TBA v. Joel Pineiro
Sun Jul 27 - Santana v. Kyle Lohse

at FLA
Mon Jul 28 - Maine v. Ricky Nolasco
Tue Jul 29 - Perez v. Scott Olsen
Wed Jul 30 - Pelfrey v. Josh Johnson

at HOU
Fri Aug 1 - Santana v. Brandon Backe
Sat Aug 2 - Maine v. Randy Wolf
Sun Aug 3 - Perez v. Roy Oswalt

[Benjamin Grimm]

I have no idea who the TBA would be.

Is Vargas or Armas available?

Me, I'd kinda like to see Jon Niese get a cup of sugar.

[TransMonk]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ...I'd kinda like to see Jon Niese get a cup of sugar.

Yup, if it's one start, I'd like to see what the kid has over one of the re-treads too.

[soupcan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Me, I'd kinda like to see Jon Niese get a cup of sugar.

'Cup of sugar'?

Who are you all of a sudden - Nell Carter?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've always been Nell Carter!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I have no idea who the TBA would be. Is Vargas or Armas available? Me, I'd kinda like to see Jon Niese get a cup of sugar.

Neither Vargas (pitched last night) or Armas (DL) are avaialable.

Rotation-wise, Brian Stokes (his day), Ruddy Lugo or Brandon Knight could go.

Neise was supposed to start last night at AA but was rained out. I supose he is a possibility. Bobby Parnell pitched Tuesday but got rocked, he's gotta be a longshot.