- first... keep one eye on the top of page one, left...
The race for the rotation heated up this past week, with excellent second outings by Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey, and Johan Santana...
Let's not bullshit here... the first three slots are filled, with the three guys mentioned above, barring any major injury. Hopefully, they will continue to improve during ST; however, it really doesn't matter. These are the most talented starters on the team, regardless of whether you thing they are talented enough...
We also know that the SP5 slot is wide open, but let's get back to that in a paragraph or two...
My worries is the SP4 slot... I'm pretty much on record saying that, IMO, John Maine (23.14) is not only, no longer a starter, but may never have been one. He simply doesn't eat innings and he looked very bad when I attended ST earlier this year... first, he didn't show for the mini-camp and the Mets said he had travel plans... secondly, he simply couldn't throw strikes the first two workouts on the back mounds, unless he cut back on the speed... he was upset, the brass was upset... hell, even I kicked the ground...
Since then, not much more, and there's a good chance that the SP4 will be re-evaluated if Maine's next outing is as bad as his last.
Back to SP5... another non-secret is the fact that the Mets have pitted Fernando Nieve (6.00) and Jonathan Niese (7.02) against each other for this slot, while at the same time, the so-called fix is in for Niese.
The problem is either one of them is winning this fight. In fact, both Pat Misch (0.00) and Nelson Figueroa (0.00) should be the two fighting it out here...
My guess right now is a long shot one...
1. Maine gets shut down...
2. "Figgy the Innings Eater" goes SP4
3. Ryota Igarashi beats out both Niese and Nieve
4. Pitching Coach Dan Warthen hangs himself in the cafeteria...
but... what do I know???
Mack
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