Bump In The Road

If you think Mike Pelfrey got hit hard yesterday, I got hit even harder.

you guys disgust me.
~anonymous

Your arguments are so lame it's pathetic.
~anonymous

I did think that statement was kind of redundant by using lame and pathetic, but he could have been using the literary device of repetition to really drive the point of my lameness home.

This blog is a joke.
~anonymous

This one cut much deeper than the others.

you know i love your blog/writing/general attitude like we all love chuck norris, but dude you are fixating.
~jake

Et tu brute? Moose Knuckles is on borrowed time my man and we'll work this out on the virtual playing field.

Compare the whining on other Mets blogs and add the absence of idiocy for the most part on this one, I just don't see the crit.
~DG

Thanks...I think.

DG hit the nail on the head.
This blog owns.
~kenny

Kenny, I always thought you were one of the good ones. Now that all of that is out of the way, I'll go back to the issues at hand a bit battered and bruised, but still trudging along.

I was unable to watch the game, but Mike Pelfrey sure had his problems yesterday. I do not think many excuses could be made up like it was cold out or he was getting squeezed. I think he just flat out had a horrible game. This is three frustrating starts in a row now and though I do not think he should be pulled from the rotation, I'm sure the front office is thinking about it. If he fails to show any progress in another two starts, it would be hard to justify sending your top prospect out there game after game to get killed when he really needs to be working on stuff.

Jake, is this you?

Jake (VA Beach): I will NOT spoil 24 for you...this season has been disappointing so far though. Speaking of DISAPPOINTING...evidenced by his start this season and ESPECIALLY today...what's wrong with Mike Pelfrey. I thought he was a possible #1 and the Mets best pitching prospect??

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:12 PM ET ) Just had an IM from an irate Mets fan. The problem right now is that Pelfrey needs better secondary pitches. His curve was his third pitch in college, and his new slider doesn't seem to be making much of a difference. The Mets fan was lamenting a John Mabry homer off his change, so I guess that's not working either.

Though I am no scout, it certainly looked like his slider was pretty good at times, but it is clear things are not clicking. He simply is not getting enough swings and misses and is throwing entirely too many pitches. With Jorge Sosa having some major success at the AAA level and being one start off Pelfrey's spot, it makes sense to start thinking long and hard about seeing what he can offer this team. That by no means Pelfrey is done seeing Queens in 2007, but it certainly will not hurt to let him get some confidence and work on some stuff for a bit at this point for New Orleans. Pelfrey definitely has the ability to over match big league hitters, but he is getting over matched at this point and now might not be his time.

* * *

Jose Valentin is first in range factor out of all National League 2nd basemen. Hell, he's the only 2nd baseman in the big leagues with a range factor over 6.00.

Reyes the best lead off hitter in the league? Awww schucks. The best all around player in the universe? Swellicious.

"He's the best player in baseball," a National League front-office man said of Reyes. "Every tool is [rated] plus, and he can change a game in so many ways."

Based on his performance in 2006, quick start in April and the people hitting around him, a healthy Reyes appears to be a lock for 20 homers, 15 triples, 120 runs, 80 RBIs and 60 stolen bases. His on-base percentage, which spiked from .300 to .354 last season, continues to trend upward as his discipline and pitch recognition also improve.

It really never gets old reading things like that.

Fernando went 1 for 5 with a run scored in Binghamton's loss.

Chad Bradford is an excellent reliever, but I'll take Smith for $10,000,000 less.

Ramon Castro hopes to start next year for the Mets, but some people don't see that as happening.

One AL team executive, though, believes the Mets would pass on Castro as their starter. Also, an NL team executive said he believes Castro - who hit .238 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 126 at-bats last season - is not a starter.

He sure can rake in limited action though. If LoDuca would come back next year on a one year deal, which I'm sure he won't be satisfied with, I am all for a reduced roll for him with Castro getting more at-bats. Shit, that may be the way to go this year too.

Pedro Martinez is still in high spirits.

"I am super excited with how things are progressing. I feel as good as I did in 1996 and 1997," the 35-year-old ace told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

That is good to hear, but no one knows the extent to which he will return. However, he is one of the greatest of all time like Greg Maddux and can work with a reduced repertoire at a high level and adapt to whatever skills he has left. Of course there is always the chance he gains a few more MPHs on his fastball which is scary to think about. Either way, if he can just make it back, it will provide a huge boost to this team emotionally.

As Bookied pointed out, the Phillies are on fire. They are now four games out of first and are riding a five game winning streak. I think this is the type of team that will have stretches of really great and really bad ball. I do not think they are constructed all that great with the bottom of the lineup and back of the bullpen owning plenty of holes, but they may just be dumb enough to not recognize they are not the best team. This Philly team is not lacking in heart and just might give everyone fits afterall.