One of the players who causes agita for the Mets these days is lefty pitcher David Peterson. The man has served primarily as a starting pitcher during his career and at times has looked like a middle to back of the rotation capable hurler. However, there are other times like the recent first inning debacle in which he seems just to have forgotten whatever it is he has that's worked effectively in the past.
If you delve into his minor league numbers, you see someone whose potential certainly looks genuine. He's spent parts of four seasons working his way up and during that time he's gone 12-19 with a 3.75 ERA. Those numbers are encouraging but don't shout "Ace" to anyone.
Now he's spent parts of three seasons in New York where his performance is understandably a bit less than that as he's facing better hitters. From 2020 through 2022 he actually sports a winning record of 15-13 with a higher ERA of 4.30. While that number is not all that impressive, it's commensurate with what most teams' back-of-the-rotation starters deliver.
There is a belief throughout baseball that it takes lefties longer to master their craft than it does righties. The big 6'6" Peterson has done a credible job keeping batters from delivering hits, but he's not doing nearly as well when it comes to free passes with over 4 per 9 IP.
The problem for the Mets going forward both for the remainder of this season and in 2023 is what do you do with him. He's recently had rough first inning stints, so converting him at age 27 in 2023 to become a full time reliever seems like a difficult path to take. His value in the righty-heavy rotation is better as a starting pitcher.
If Taijuan Walker leaves, there's an immediate vacancy. You also face the potential Jacob deGrom opt out and the impending free agency of Chris Bassitt. It might be foolhardy to force someone into an unfamiliar and difficult role when his better-known route as a starting pitcher has been more successful.
Now in the 2022 postseason, you really have to think long and hard about what Peterson should do for the team. They will likely go with a 3-man (or perhaps 4-man) rotation, so he wouldn't fit in there. He's not likely a reliable bullpen option but perhaps could fulfill the long man role if the club needs someone to eat 3 innings or so when the starter falters early.
Right now the club is reeling a bit due to a rough month of September, so many folks are not thinking past the hopeful finish as winners of the NL Eastern Division. However, the game is about more than where you are in the standings today or at the end of September. It's also about where you will be in October and in subsequent years.
I'm of the opinion that Peterson has not yet solidified any claim on future Mets pitching assignments.
12 comments:
Peterson has thrown some very good starts, but he remains a mystery that upper management will have to solve. Would he be foing better with more consistent 5 day use, or worse due to exposure? If they put him in the rotation in 2023 in lieu of one of the current starter, it could risk making the playoffs. But...you always need a 6th starter. Usually more than 6. And he is still cheap.
Everything is in flux for next year, with ALL members of our 5-man rotation except Max potentially FAs in 2 months, plus Williams, Diaz, Lugo, J-Rod and others.
With position players, headed by Nimmo, also in that category, and key Arbi-eligibles such as Pete, Squirrel, and Guillorme due for huge raises, some tough decisions must be made.
Except for Butto, I don't see any current AA or AAA SPs who look ready to step up and fill the void. David is definitely a keeper, and the next month+ will pretty much determine his role.
I were choosing, I'd work with him now to develop his pen ability, then see in SP who else is still here and where our pitching needs are.
Bill, I think Butto needs more AAA time next year to be ready. There is no abundance of ready-to-go starters, so Peterson has to stay, even if Megill returns to the rotation in 2023. Megill gave up a run in his inning of work last night, making it 2 straight less than stellar rehab outings, so hopfully, he is healthy and past his issues and just shaking off remaining rust.
I would be leery of Megill being our SP 4 and SP 5 next year. Let's see what our GM can formulate for 2023, but right now, there is a story left to be told for 2022, which hopefully ends with a healthy Max and Jake and a World Series crown.
I'm not ready to give up on Peterson yet. That was a rough start last time out, but you could tell he was just struggling to find the corners. If he doesn't miss on a few of those 3-2 counts he gets out of the inning with little to no damage. Instead, he gets into higher stress positions with bases loaded and has to throw a strike in a predictable count and gets punished.
These are the circumstances where a player is just an adjustment or two away from reaching some potential, but if we cast them away they become great players with some other team. [Sewald is the latest] I would keep him and work on those adjustments, though right now I would not hand him the ball in a critical game.
Peterson is a rotation piece.
Period.
I think Peterson would be more consistent on a regular SP schedule. Players are creatures of habit and I think handing him the ball every five days with regular bullpen sessions on between will help make him a reliable number 4 or 5
I didn't mean to say that Butto IS ready; just that he's the only one I see who MIGHT be. All of our other top pitching prospects are below AA, so it would be a big surprise to see any of them here by next year.
I keep Peterson and Thank God the QOer is still in affect because we could have at least 2 or 3 more draft picks next June. Here's a question for all: Does SC go hard after Judge and not Jake because what Judge would add to our offense would be enormous and lets face it the odds of Jake making through a whole season is questionable at best as much as we love the guy. Now add that to Max's injury history and the FO has alot to ponder this off season. I agree with Paul on Peterson (gee wasn't Paul Peterson the son on The Donna Reed show) it's way to early to give up on him and another example is what Montgomery is doing for the Cards and also do I get props for using "ponder" in a post?
Two more thought's if I may: 1-Buck has to stop the evil eye look when were hit yet again and start retaliating enough is enough. 2-there's NO reason at this point in the season to ever start Ruf or Naquin over Canha either at DH or in the field.
O.K. guys I'm on a roll here: On Alvarez what does "loose bodies in his ankle" mean and what does he have to do about it? Also Why is Mauricio still at SS a position I understand he can't play?
Gary, "loose bodies"? I'll have to ponder that one. My guess is he gets a clean up surgery which s/b minor to remove them, unless they can dissolve them with shots. I saw his HR trot on a very recent HR - he looked normal circling the bases, and he caught the next night, so it seems relatively minor.
I have an article on Monday that indirectly ties into what would make a Judge signing in the off season a successful one. You want to set the table for big acquisitions to be successful once they get here.
Judge? Don’t think so. Ohtani? Maybe? Alvarez,Vientos,Mauricio and Peterson?
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