OK, now that Pedro is back and the Mets have restored their NL East supremacy, let's look ahead.
Let's assume the Mets play Arizona in the first round of the playoffs (first two games at home) and both Pedro and El Duque are healthy. What is your three- or four-man playoff rotation? Here are the candidates in alphabetical order:
Tom Glavine
Orlando Hernandez
John Maine
Pedro Martinez
Oliver Perez
When making your picks, think about this: which one of those pitchers could actually help you out of the bullpen?
Comments (19)
1. Glavine
2. Pedro
3. Perez
4. Maine
Duque out of the pen, an possibly Maine as well.
Pedro, Glavine, El Duque are the starters.
Perez and Maine available to bridge relief till 8th.
Sele sits.
Uh, River. No one mentioned Sele. If he's pitching in a playoff game it'll mean the Mets are losing 13-3.
I don't think he will even make the playoff roster.
Not with Pedro back.
Good point Andrew
Thanks.
If Pedro can stay healthy and good, he could be #1 over Glavine.
And having Maine and / or El Duque in the bullpen would put me much more at ease than having Schoeneweis and Sele coming out in semi / long relief.
Glavine, Pedro, Maine as the starters Duque and Olie out of the pen.
I would go with the Mount Rushmore of starters:
El Duque
Tom Glavine
Pedro
Maine and Perez first line defense in the pen, as we saw last year, the playoff rotation can change at a moments notice
I like Glavine, Pedro, Perez and Maine as the starters - Duque out of the pen. Win-Win.
Glavine and Pedro start at home; Maine starts game 3. Perez and El Duque available in the pen, and if not used a game 4 start goes to El Duque.
I love the idea of Perez being available to go all out for 3-4 innings out of the pen to shut down a game. How about 5 innings of Pedro, 3 innings Perez, and Billy to close.
The rotation should be 1. Pedro, 2. Glavine 3. Perez and 4. Maine. El Duque can offer a great change of pace out of the bullpen.
El Duque has to start. One of the best money pitchers of all time.
I'd go with last year's rotation (just before game 1)
El Duque
Tom Glavine
John Maine
Oliver Perez
5 innings does not a pitcher make, Pedro or no Pedro.
John Maine in the pen. He has that fastball/changeup combo that will be good for multiple innings
maine, glavien, duche, pedro. perez wouldn't help out of the pen but he'll end up there
(in order)
1. Orlando Hernandez
2. Tom Glavine
3. Pedro Martinez
4. John Maine
Oliver Perez out of the 'pen; he will also serve as your "long man," if any of the above pitchers falters early in the game (w/in four innings).
Tom Glavine
Orlando Hernandez
John Maine
Pedro Martinez
Oliver Perez
If the season ended tomorrow Pedro wouldn't be on the post season roster. It was fun seeing him pitch the other day but let's be honest: His velocity was terrible and his location was not-so-good and he couldn't throw a good curveball. If the season ended tomorrow it has to be:
Hernandez
Glavine
Maine
Perez reserve 4th starter (not normally needed in a 5 game series).
If Pedro gets 3-4 more starts this year and progresses to where he can give you 6-7 solid innings than it's:
Hernandez
Glavine
Pedro
Perez is the 4t starter with Maine your bullpen horse. I can't even imagine the horror of brining in Perez in the 8th inning with inherited runners in a tight spot. You think Mota will drive you to drink . . .
Hmm...
I don't understand why El Duque isn't getting any love. This guy is a postseason animal; and, when healthy this year, has been the Mets money pitcher. Glavine and Pedro have great experience as well. It's not that I think Pedro is superman coming back, it's just that Maine and Perez make me nervous. That being said, both could be great. Hey...I like where we are! I think the 4th starter would have to be Maine. I would prefer to watch someone get hit hard than have Perez walk a game away.
So...
1. El Duque
2. Glavine
3. Pedro (with Perez on stand-by)
4. Maine...if needed
There's no doubt in my mind El Duque should be our #1 Starter in the playoffs. This guy has ALWAYS been on fire in October. Give me:
1. El Duque
2. Pedro
3. Glavine
(4) if needed Perez...
Why not Maine? As big a fan as I am of the guy, he's been getting rocked his last few outings. I'd have to see a monster September out of him to move him up. Look at his first and second half stats and THEN tell me you actually want him in there. Give me Pedro and El Duque in the playoffs anytime. Both are proven playoff winners. Glavine, at his age, shouldn't be counted on like he used to be, at least IMO, thus his #3 rating in my book.