Maybe I was fooled, duped, deceived in thinking that the Mets can last without Johan Santana.
News Flash: they can’t.
When Mike Pelfrey was named the Number One Starter, Terry Collins forgot one thing. A number one is more than just a pitcher who will face every Ace every other team has. He’s a Stopper. A Gun. A Workhorse. A guy who can put the team on his shoulders and bring them to a win.
A number One Starter could stop what is going on right now with the Mets.
Mike Pelfrey is not that guy, neither is Capuano, Dickey or Niese.
You see, what a number one starter could do that any other starter can’t is hold the opposing team down.
And when I mean down, I mean a team like the Rockies. A team that is red hot, looking for a streak, that is smelling blood and simply cool them off by holding them down to 5 hits and no runs. Look at yesterday, second game of a double header and Big Pelf had to throw up a zero and couldn’t even come close.
The Mets need that now, a starter that could go into the ninth inning and hand the game over to the closer. One of these guys has to step up and do it- just dominate. Do you see it? I don’t.
Right now, this morning, the Mets are a mess on all levels. They need a pitcher to bring them home. Who is it going to be?
9 comments
saltygary
4/17/2011-8:41am at 8:41 am (UTC -4)
If Santana was healthy and in his his prime the max effect would be 2 extra wins. Top to bottom the team is a mess and need changes on all levels. Frankly I am glad Santana doesn’t have to sit around and witness this.
metsfan4decades
4/17/2011-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
This.
While I sure to do miss watching Johan every 5th day, this team has far more fundamental flaws than just a missing ace right now.
stickguy
4/17/2011-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
also, after opening day, no idea which pitcher on the other team he faces.
so far, pelf faced JJ opening day (OK, that is an “ace” spot), but then Blanton (#5) and jar jar binks (#3 maybe, but also making is first appearance of the year).
so once the schedules get mis-aligned, he is just another guy pitching every 5th day.
rustyjr
4/17/2011-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
There were no real Aces on the market this past off season, and we all know Cliff Lee wasn’t comeing here – so get over it !!!
stickguy
4/17/2011-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
most of the time you have to develop your own. They don’t often hit the open market, and when they do, they are expensive to obtain (trade chips + salary). And very easy to get into a Johan situation (which I hope, and I know it makes me sound bitter, the Phils soon find themselves in!)
Look at the Giants. They have 2-3 real stud Sps, and an old guy that sucks mostly and they can’t get rid of. But the old guy was making more than the rest of the rotation combined.
I figure that given the mets current situation (roster and financial), the next Ace is going to have to come out of the system. harvey or mejia maybe. Or they get lotto level lucky, and pick up someone in a mid season trade that blossoms into one.
In any case, i don’t see one coming from the open market anytime soon.
rustyjr
4/17/2011-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Harvey is at least 2 years away – Mejia I want to see only when ready. Johan s- the jury is still out if he will ever be the same pitcher again
stickguy
4/17/2011-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
I did not say when they would be arriving . Just that the next ace would be coming from that source.
and don’t discount the chance of Harvey being in the rotation in 2012. if he keeps dominating A+, but say June hie could hit Bingo. And if that goes well, he will be in the mix next ST.
a Sept. call up this year is a real long shot though, if for no other reason it puts him on the 40 man early. But, a taste of AAA? could happen.
a guy like this (coming out of a top college program, used to pitching a lot of innings) IMO really does not need to stay in the minors for years, once he has shown he desrves a promotion.
njstuckintx
4/17/2011-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I want Philly’s rotation, but that just isn’t happening. And no one is going to part with one for the crap the Met’s have to trade, unless you are talking about parting with Reyes.
Prismo
4/17/2011-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
The Mets’ rotation is so bad at this point that I see it as un-fixable in the team’s current form. If I were GM I’d be freaking out, because I don’t even know how to fix this team. Aside from the semi-injured Young, no one has been good, and most have been horrible. Really, only Dickey’s been usable, but he hasn’t been anything special. At this point the team is going to have to forgo a bench completely and have an oversized bullpen, because they’re pitching about 5 innings per game.