There's no question Mike Pelfrey was better the second time around Tuesday against the Reds. A consistent mid-90s fastball, good location, sharp slider. Maybe the biggest thing left for him to learn after his second straight victory is how to keep his shoelaces tied. Pelfrey stopped to tie his right shoe in the middle of his pivotal at-bat against Adam Dunn in the fifth inning, then struck out the Reds' slugger to leave two runners on. Asked if he took the short break to collect his thoughts, Pelfrey said it was nothing like that. "The right one just kept coming undone."
Catcher Paul Lo Duca, who just told Pelfrey to throw it right by Dunn, believes he can pitch well at this level right now. "Definitely," Lo Duca said. "He's got great stuff. It's just a matter of him getting more seasoning and more innings."
So what do you think? Is Pelfrey the answer to the Mets' pitching concerns? Or do they still need someone like Livan Hernandez to shore up the rotation?
Comments (15)
I think Pelfrey is going to be great but i still think the Mets should get an more experienced pitcher. But keep pelfrey in the rotation and send El Duque to the bullpen. Lets Go METS!
Since the Mets seem to score runs in bunches when he pitches, maybe they should adopt the slogan..."bats in the Pelfrey" for the second coming of Tom Seaver !
Pelfrey has the tools. It is good to see that when he needs to challenge hitters he can do it and not nibble around the plate like Soler. Still I think the Mets need a veteran starter because the playoffs are a different animal.
We can't really count on Pelfrey's first start to tell us much--the team scored 17 runs!!
But he's got 2 different smoking fastballs, and I can't wait to watch him in person at Shea Sunday. I hope he proves that he's getting more seasoned every week.
http://www.pickmeup.mlblogs.com/
I'd much rather have Pelfrey grow in the rotation than Livan Hernandez deteriorate. He will get better with every start, might have a couple of setbacks, but I hope they stay with him.
Dave,
The Mets absolutely DO NOT Livan Hernandez or anyone like him. Can you imagine giving up legitimate players for a washed-up guy like him? As long as Pelfrey pitches well in his next start, I say Omar needs to put up a stop sign on all major deals. I'd be more worried about trying to rest everyone on the current roster.
Given what's out there (not much) and what's being sought in return (waaay too much) I don't think Omar has much of a choice. With Trachs, El Duque, Pelfrey and Maine, We're not hurting for passable #4 or #5 starters, our real problem is #3 guy (assuming that Glavine and Pedro are pitching well in October - of course if they're not, it won't matter anyway.)
We're a near lock to make the playoffs, so we don't need help to get there. We've already shown that we can beat anyone in the NL - certainly our offense makes up the difference between our #3 and #4 and most other NL teams' 3&4, and barring a miracle, or possibly Dontrelle Willis - who almost certainly is not available - it's going to take a small miracle anyway to beat whatever lineup the AL brings to the WS.
So why give up anything of value for the chance to maybe, just maybe, slightly improve one rotation spot for the playoffs? Stick with what we've got, hope that El Duque has a couple of big game gems left in his tank, or that Pelfrey or Maine can mature with half a season in the bigs. You're going to get two of those guys in the 'pen for the playoffs anyway, so one ineffective start by one of those guys doesn't totally doom you.
This offseason is another matter entirely. Figure Glavine (if he's back) and Pedro to pitch at the level of very good #3 pitchers next season, and we are going to need at least one top of the rotation guy to step in if the team is going to keep moving forward. That, and Pelfrey's natural improvement over time should do it.
I like most fans want no part of Livan Hernandez. If that is the best they can aquire at the deadline, they might as well just bring Lima back up. Right now it looks like Pelfry might be ok and I would rather take my chances with him.
Pedro,Glavine and Pedro combined will not win 15 games the rest of the season. Pelfrey is not ready and Trachs and Maine are not that good.We need pitchers like Zito and Jason Schmidt.
A.J. Smith: There are a few potential matches out there for pitching deals. Two players in my mind are: Brad Hennessy of the Giants. The Giant team is in a severe crisis right now with aging veteran regulars, but they have a solid core of young pitching (Sanchez, Brian Wilson, Accardo, Correia, Noah Lowry, Matt Cain )
Second person is Gil Meche of Seattle. Gil Meche is a special guy, very special, and he has 6 years of service. He could walk. Mets might be able to grab him now, good. Also, I really liked John Lackey of the Angels, but Halos are now neck and kneck with the equally hot A's after a blistering two weeks. They have become buyers. Rats to them. We shall see how Omar shakes the deal tree...
Keep Pelfrey in the rotation, trade for a good reliever, move El Duque to the Pen, put Heilman in the rotation.
trade heilman and milledge for zito; then get roberto hernandez from pittsburgh to fill heilman's role
If the Mets trade Milledge for anyone short of Dontrelle Willis they will be making another Kazmir mistake. Getting Zito with Boras as his agent is suicide. Unless I knew Zito would resign for a fair amount I wouldn't make that trade even if it guarenteed a championship. Can we finally think long term please.
Maddog you hit the nail right on the head. I don't think people realize how trades and signings works sometimes. "Trade Heilman and Milledge for Zito"? Buck and McCarver addressed that same statement yesterday, and basically shot it down as absurd. As you pointed out, unless you're going to sign Barry Zito long-term, and (a) since he's going to be looking for 5 years-$75 million as a free agent, and (b) Scott Boras is his agent, so look at that figure to be a starting point, then trading Heilman and Milledge for him makes no sense. You're only going to be renting him for two months. As much as Mets fans can taste the playoffs right now, taking the Yankees approach of the last few years, mainly, trading away your farm system for that one big star who may or may not win you a title, is not the way to go. Milledge for Willis makes more sense because Willis is already signed long-term and at a reasonable price (for the Mets, anyway).
Milledge for Schmidt? Trade for Zito...Suck it up and pay the "most hated agent by fans in sports" and reunite him with Peterson. Maybe throw in V. Diaz for S&G's but, for the love of youth and flamethrowers, hope they don't trade Matt Lindstrom!