Santana's next start pushed back to Friday

[batmagadanleadoff]

Santana Receives an Extra Day of Rest and a Date With the Yankees

By BEN SHPIGEL
Published: May 13, 2008

excerpt:

In one respect, Saturday�s doubleheader complicated the Mets� pitching plans by forcing them to dip into the minor leagues for their starter Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. In another, though, it has made one decision easier: They can give Johan Santana an extra day of rest and start him Friday against the Yankees.


Although Manager Willie Randolph said the Mets were still evaluating their options, it makes much more sense to push back Santana so he can pitch at Yankee Stadium, where he has excellent career statistics, while keeping Mike Pelfrey in position to start Thursday against the Nationals.

***

Pelfrey, 24, has never pitched against the Yankees. Santana is 4-1 with a 2.83 earned run average in 12 appearances (9 starts) against them. At Yankee Stadium, he is 3-0 with an 0.79 E.R.A. in six games. He has had success against Johnny Damon (5 for 24, 6 strikeouts) and Jason Giambi (4 for 16, 5 strikeouts), but not Hideki Matsui (11 for 25).

***

SIMULATED GAME FOR MART�NEZ Pedro Mart�nez (strained left hamstring) is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Wednesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Mart�nez, who threw a bullpen session Monday, will most likely need to pitch at least one more simulated game before beginning a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

[nymr83]

i dont like it. your best pitchers should start as often as possible and never be pushed back barring actual injury. "thinking" like this by the mets will cost Santana and Maine a couple of starts each, starts that will instead go to the least deserving pitchers in the organization. this could matter in a close race.

[MFS62]

Torre did that regularly so that he would have his best starters pitch against the Mets. (under George's orders?) But I don't recall him catching any flak for doing it.

Later

[Guest sharpie]

I don't have a problem with altering a rotation slightly in order to have your best pitchers face superior lineups. Santana will likely be moved up more than moved back. Also, I'm guessing they'll push Maine up to Sunday rather than having him pitch after Figueroa.

[MFS62]

sharpie wrote: I don't have a problem with altering a rotation slightly in order to have your best pitchers face superior lineups. Santana will likely be moved up more than moved back. Also, I'm guessing they'll push Maine up to Sunday rather than having him pitch after Figueroa.

The ones who have been pitching after Figueroa lately have been about six guys out of the bullpen.

Later

[nymr83]

sharpie wrote: I don't have a problem with altering a rotation slightly in order to have your best pitchers face superior lineups.

but by doing that you potentially cost him total starts. also, its not like you are pushing him back to face the superio phillies lineup who you must beat to reach the postseason, you're pushing him back to face a non-league opponent. the nationals, having not (yet) eliminated themselves in the NL east or wildcard should be more relevant to your planning than the MFYs.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, another way of looking at it is that you're more likely to get two wins with Pelfrey vs. Washington and Santana vs. the Yankees than you would with Santana vs. Washington and Pelfrey vs. the Yankees.

[Guest themetfairy]

The move also gives Santana an extra day of rest, which could help keep him fresher down the line. I can live with that.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Well, another way of looking at it is that you're more likely to get two wins with Pelfrey vs. Washington and Santana vs. the Yankees than you would with Santana vs. Washington and Pelfrey vs. the Yankees.

That's a good point. Randolph might also be considering Santana's recent pitch count. Johan's averaged 115 pitches over his last three starts, an exceedingly high pitch count by today's measure. No regular starting pitcher, not even an American Leaguer, is averaging that many pitches thrown per start this season.