On the Mets beat

This is a reprint of David Lennon’s Newsday article from Feb. 25 on Mike Pelfrey. Thought you might like to learn a little bit more about the talented young man you’re going to meet on Saturday:

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The featured attraction Friday, in the (excused) absence of Pedro Martinez, was the 22-year-old kid most likely to replace him.
Although it's way too early to anoint Mike Pelfrey the next No. 1 starter for the Mets, there's not a pitcher in the organization who comes close, and the buzz he created around the batting cage was like spring training's version of a Hollywood premiere.
This was a VIP-only event. When word circulated that Pelfrey was getting ready to throw his first session of live batting practice, the collection of front-office members scattered around the complex flocked directly to the spot where the 6-7 righthander was warming up behind a safety screen.
On a back field usually reserved for a B-list crowd of relief pitchers, owner Fred Wilpon was perched in the prime location right behind the cage, flanked by his son Jeff, the Mets' chief operating officer, and general manager Omar Minaya.
Manager Willie Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson put in a rare cameo - it's not often they wander over to watch a prospect - and most of the high-ranking decision-makers also were in attendance.
As Peterson would say later, "Today was the day we got to open the package."
What they saw surprised them. Even with both Wilpons staring at him, Pelfrey was unfazed by the attention, and he cycled through a four-pitch repertoire that had the minor-league hitters baffled.
Pelfrey threw two-seam and four-seam fastballs, and judging by his effort, he guessed the speed to be somewhere in the low 90s. He also worked in a circle changeup and tinkered with a pitch that Pelfrey said can be either a slider or curve, depending on his release point.
Whatever he threw, the result was pretty much the same. But one of the few pitches put in play was a sharp grounder that Pelfrey reached for with his bare right hand before pulling it back. Understandably, there was a slight gasp from the gallery.
When the session was over, Randolph let out an excited whoop. Just about everyone was laughing, almost giddy at what they had just witnessed.
When the Wilpons were asked for their opinions, both broke into wide smiles before conferring with Minaya about the new phenom in their midst. Pelfrey had just passed his first audition - without even realizing the magnitude of what he had done. "I just try to ignore it," he said of the VIP crowd, "and worry about my next pitch."
Whenever Pelfrey wasn't pleased with a particular pitch, he'd slap his right thigh repeatedly as a reminder of what went wrong. That happened only once or twice, and the problem, however minute, was fixed quickly.
"I'm out there correcting myself all the time," Pelfrey said. "I'm just constantly telling myself over and over again about the adjustments I need to make."
If anyone knows precocious talent, it's Peterson, who counseled Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson as each made the leap from prospect to star with the A's. "It's obvious that he's got great stuff," Peterson said. "That's why he was the [team's] No. 1 draft pick [in 2005]. But to see the way he handled himself, that really demonstrates his ability to focus."
Pelfrey likely will begin the season at Class A St. Lucie, but his rise through the minors could be rapid. Minaya isn't against promoting players quickly. In Montreal, he had Chad Cordero closing games for the Expos in August after being drafted out of college that June.
"When I'm ready," Pelfrey said, "the Mets will let me know."