Pelfrey struggles, Mets begin Subway Series part II
The Mets lost to the Detroit Tigers yesterday afternoon by a score of 5 – 2. While the Mets didn’t sweep the Tigers, they did win the series. The Mets have won their last three interleague series versus Oakland, Texas, and Detroit. These last three series have put the Mets above the .500 mark, and 5.5 games back in the wild card race.
I’ve been super impressed with the Mets the last week, week and a half. They’ve shown that they have what it takes to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. All the Mets need to do is keep playing well pitched, solid baseball. If they can do that, they can make the playoffs. They can’t worry about what the other teams are doing, just what they are doing.
The Mets’ offense lately has been super, scoring loads of runs over the last four of five. Yes, the Mets only scored two runs yesterday, but they still were in the game and had opportunities. No, you won’t score double digit runs every night. There will be days where you just can’t get that run in. Its incouraging though, because they have had opportunities and were in the game the whole way. Unfortunately, Pelf wasn’t on his game last night and wasn’t effective.
That’s been the problem. Pelfrey just cannot remain consistant over an extended period of time. He has shown time and time again that he has the stuff to be a top of the line pitcher, but he cannot remain on task mentally and he then falls behind hitters and let’s the game get away.
If only Mike had the mental toughness of someone like Dillon Gee. If Mike could get that mentally tough, he would be a dominant pitcher.
Mike was that pitcher the first half of the 2010 season. If he can find a way to get back there, that would change the Mets’ rotation completely. But unfortunately, I don’t see that happening. He is just too much of a head case. Maybe not like A.J. Burnett, but he is a head case.
And for that reason, when or if Johan Santana comes back, Mike Pelfrey has to be the odd man out. Of the five current starters in the rotation: Mike, Chris Capuano, R.A. Dickey, Dillon Gee, and Jon Niese, Mike has been the least effective. It’s obivous that R.A., Jon, and Johan will be in the rotation. The three that would be competeing for two spots would be Mike, Dillon, and Chris. Chris has been very effective this season and because he’s a lefty, he’s a valuable option to have in the rotation. in regards to Dillon, he has been way to effective to take out, so he’s almost sure to remain.
So, it’s not between Chris Capuano and Mike Pelfrey. I would pick Mike to be out, but some people may make the case to take out Capuano because he’s a lefty and could be vaubale in the ‘pen.
Whatever is done, the Mets need to do what’s best for the team to win. Maybe that’s cutting ties and trading Pelf in season or in the offseason. I don’t know, but whatever happens, the Mets can’t afford to risk ruining this potentially positive season.
Speaking of pitching, Jon Niese was cleared by doctors regarding his rapid heartbeat and will start tonight versus that Yankees. The will be toe-ing the rubber against Ivan Nova for the Yankees.
Put it in the Books! 