As a follow-up to yesterdays post, I was doing a little more checking and I can come up with a possible reason why Willie Randolph might want to start Pedro Martinez on opening day instead of Johan Santana.
The Mets open the season in Florida, on the road. Assuming they carry five starters, and it would be silly if they did anything else, the pitcher who starts game 2 in Florida would be scheduled to pitch the home opener. Certainly I can understand wanting Johan Santana to pitch the home opener.
Still, I let Johan pitch opening day. There are a few off days and there could be rain outs. In the old days, a five man rotation would often start out as a four man rotation in April (because of all the rainouts) and then add a fifth starter in May. I think the rotation can be set so that Santana pitches opening day for the Mets as well as the home opener for the Mets.
Again, I have nothing against the other Met pitchers but Santana is the crowned jewel, the one missing piece to the puzzle. He should be shown that respect. He deserves it and ultimately, I think Willie will do this.
By the way, if by pitching Santana on opening day, the Mets cannot do anything to have him pitch the home opener, I still say he should be given the ball for the first game of the season.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Opening Day Starter
According to the Mets website, Willie Randolph is not sure who his opening day starter will be. Randolph says that is a great predicament to be in, and of course he is right. It must be great to have two people you can look to as possible opening day starters.
That being said, I really do not see a choice or a debate. With all the money they paid for Santana and the numbers he has put up the past couple of years in comparison to Pedro, I see no other alternative than starting Johan Santana.
Even in terms of looking to vary between a left hander and a right hander, you still want Johan as the opening day starter. The Mets will start the season with two lefties, Santana and Oliver Perez, and three righties, Pedro, John Maine and either Orlando Hernandez or Mike Pelfrey.
Given this scenario, at some point the Mets are going to have to throw back to back righties. Even if you start with a right handed pitcher and sandwich lefties in-between, the fifth starter would be a righty followed by the first starter, another right hander.
As a result, it should be lefty Johan Santana followed by right hander Pedro Martinez, followed by right hander John Maine (the place in the rotation that would end up with back-to-back righties), followed by left hander Oliver Perez, followed by right handed El Duque or Mike Pelfrey.
I am guessing that is what Randolph will end up with. Perhaps he is taking this way, about not knowing who to start on opening day, to appease Pedro Martinez. Still, I clearly see Johan Santana as the ace of the staff and the opening day starter.
That being said, I really do not see a choice or a debate. With all the money they paid for Santana and the numbers he has put up the past couple of years in comparison to Pedro, I see no other alternative than starting Johan Santana.
Even in terms of looking to vary between a left hander and a right hander, you still want Johan as the opening day starter. The Mets will start the season with two lefties, Santana and Oliver Perez, and three righties, Pedro, John Maine and either Orlando Hernandez or Mike Pelfrey.
Given this scenario, at some point the Mets are going to have to throw back to back righties. Even if you start with a right handed pitcher and sandwich lefties in-between, the fifth starter would be a righty followed by the first starter, another right hander.
As a result, it should be lefty Johan Santana followed by right hander Pedro Martinez, followed by right hander John Maine (the place in the rotation that would end up with back-to-back righties), followed by left hander Oliver Perez, followed by right handed El Duque or Mike Pelfrey.
I am guessing that is what Randolph will end up with. Perhaps he is taking this way, about not knowing who to start on opening day, to appease Pedro Martinez. Still, I clearly see Johan Santana as the ace of the staff and the opening day starter.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Way To Go Carlos
Let’s hear it for Carlos Beltran. The Mets quiet Center Fielder said in Spring Training, “To Jimmy Rollins: ‘We are the team to beat’”. With the addition of Johan Santana, certainly most Met fans feel this way. I would guess that most Met players feel this way to. Still, the comment stresses the Mets confidence and cockiness, despite finishing behind the Phillies last season.
The comment obviously goes back to last spring with Rollins declared the Phills the team to beat, despite the Mets having won the division the year before and viewed by most experts as the team to beat. What made Rollins comments specifically hard to swallow, as a Met fan, was his ability to back it up and lead the Phillies to the NL East title.
Now it’s Beltran’s turn. He had a good year in 2006. He put up good numbers last year but somehow did not seem to be the clutch hitter he was the previous season. Now, by making this comment, Beltran needs to lead by example. He has publically challenged himself to do for the Mets what Rollins did for the Phillies last year.
Beltran has also, always been rather shy and reserve. At least that is the way he comes across. By making the comments, he is showing he has taken a leadership role with the team, or indicating he is ready for one. I see this as a very good sign.
The more I read, the more I hear, the more I see, the more I am ready for the season to begin. Considering the way last season ended, I did not expect to feel this way. Again, in large part this is due to the addition of Santana, but it is not just that one ballplayer. The Mets are acting like they expect to win and that is the first step.
Let’s Go Mets!
The comment obviously goes back to last spring with Rollins declared the Phills the team to beat, despite the Mets having won the division the year before and viewed by most experts as the team to beat. What made Rollins comments specifically hard to swallow, as a Met fan, was his ability to back it up and lead the Phillies to the NL East title.
Now it’s Beltran’s turn. He had a good year in 2006. He put up good numbers last year but somehow did not seem to be the clutch hitter he was the previous season. Now, by making this comment, Beltran needs to lead by example. He has publically challenged himself to do for the Mets what Rollins did for the Phillies last year.
Beltran has also, always been rather shy and reserve. At least that is the way he comes across. By making the comments, he is showing he has taken a leadership role with the team, or indicating he is ready for one. I see this as a very good sign.
The more I read, the more I hear, the more I see, the more I am ready for the season to begin. Considering the way last season ended, I did not expect to feel this way. Again, in large part this is due to the addition of Santana, but it is not just that one ballplayer. The Mets are acting like they expect to win and that is the first step.
Let’s Go Mets!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Ambassador Pedro!
When the Mets first got Pedro Martinez, many thought he would be a loud mouthed trouble maker. That was what his reputation was in Boston. Perhaps it was putting him and Manny Ramirez together. Perhaps Pedro was given an unfair reputation. Maybe he changed when he got to New York. All I know is ever since putting on a Met uniform, Pedro has been an excellent ambassador for the game of baseball and specifically for the New York Mets.
With Pitchers and Catchers reporting, seeing Pedro and Johan Santana has given the Met fans something to talk about and it has given the media something to discuss. I watched a brief interview with Pedro Martinez today and he talked about how thrilled he was to have Santana as a teammate.
Pedro talked about the effectiveness of the Mets one-two combination saying that he would come at you from the right side and Johan from the left. He was full of praise for the man who is now the highest paid pitcher in baseball. Yes, Pedro took a moment to praise his own abilities but the overwhelming majority of time was spent praising the acquisition of Johan Santana.
We fans hope for what the Mets hope for, for what Pedro talked about, having an effective one-two punching pitching and a strong pitching staff. Pedro handled the spotlight well (again). As I said before, since coming to New York, Pedro has been a strong ambassador for the Mets!
With Pitchers and Catchers reporting, seeing Pedro and Johan Santana has given the Met fans something to talk about and it has given the media something to discuss. I watched a brief interview with Pedro Martinez today and he talked about how thrilled he was to have Santana as a teammate.
Pedro talked about the effectiveness of the Mets one-two combination saying that he would come at you from the right side and Johan from the left. He was full of praise for the man who is now the highest paid pitcher in baseball. Yes, Pedro took a moment to praise his own abilities but the overwhelming majority of time was spent praising the acquisition of Johan Santana.
We fans hope for what the Mets hope for, for what Pedro talked about, having an effective one-two punching pitching and a strong pitching staff. Pedro handled the spotlight well (again). As I said before, since coming to New York, Pedro has been a strong ambassador for the Mets!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Calling All Pitchers, Calling All Catchers
It is just another couple of days before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training and unlike a few weeks ago, I am now excited about this date. Of course the focus will be around Johan Santana—It should be. Honestly, that is the reason why I am most excited right now but it is far from the most important aspect of this date.
I say that because, Santana clearly will be starting. He will be the ace of the staff and most likely he will be the opening day pitcher. We know that. There are a number of pitching questions that the Mets still need to answer. These include: Is Pedro ready to go and ready for a full season (I don’t know that we will have a definite answer to all that but we should have some indication)? The same can be asked about El Duque, with the same comment about the answer. Is Mike Pelfrey going to be the fifth started and will he have a full year to flourish and blossom as there will be less pressure on him?
I see the Mets just signed Tony Armas Jr. Last year his numbers were not very good. Career-wise they are a little more impressive. Yes, the Mets signed him to a minor league contract but exactly what did they get?
How about Dauner Sanchez? Is he back in pitching shape and can he compete and play the way he did before he was injured? After seeing the collapse they went through last year, what about the entire bullpen? Is it ready to go and protect leads?
Yes, Santana gives the Mets a lot of answers. Yes Santana is a great pitcher and he will be fun to watch. Still, with just another couple of days before Spring Training starts for pitchers and catchers, I do hope to get some answers to these questions.
I guess the biggest advantage of having Santana is, now instead of dreading finding out the answers (or at least having some concerns) I am looking forward to it!
Let’s Go Mets!
I say that because, Santana clearly will be starting. He will be the ace of the staff and most likely he will be the opening day pitcher. We know that. There are a number of pitching questions that the Mets still need to answer. These include: Is Pedro ready to go and ready for a full season (I don’t know that we will have a definite answer to all that but we should have some indication)? The same can be asked about El Duque, with the same comment about the answer. Is Mike Pelfrey going to be the fifth started and will he have a full year to flourish and blossom as there will be less pressure on him?
I see the Mets just signed Tony Armas Jr. Last year his numbers were not very good. Career-wise they are a little more impressive. Yes, the Mets signed him to a minor league contract but exactly what did they get?
How about Dauner Sanchez? Is he back in pitching shape and can he compete and play the way he did before he was injured? After seeing the collapse they went through last year, what about the entire bullpen? Is it ready to go and protect leads?
Yes, Santana gives the Mets a lot of answers. Yes Santana is a great pitcher and he will be fun to watch. Still, with just another couple of days before Spring Training starts for pitchers and catchers, I do hope to get some answers to these questions.
I guess the biggest advantage of having Santana is, now instead of dreading finding out the answers (or at least having some concerns) I am looking forward to it!
Let’s Go Mets!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Valentine's Day
A Happy Valentine’s Day to you all (a little early). As Valentine’s Day approaches, have you given thought as to what special things you will be doing. Often times, these are important to keeping a relationship going. No, this is not a blog about relationships, but as I was thinking about the things people do to celebrate the holiday, I also thought about things people do when they are at Ballgames to keep the spark alive.
What do you think about someone who proposes to another individual by having the announcement flash on Diamond Vision? Is it an annoyance or is it romantic? Do you think women tend to view something like this differently than Men? Do people of a certain age feel differently about something like this occurring at a baseball game?
As Valentine ’s Day approaches, I was just wondering about this approach. Are you just better off doing something special at home like writing love letters?
Regardless of your answer, once again, I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day and for those of you in a relationship with someone special, I hope you continue to do those things that keep the relationship special.
What do you think about someone who proposes to another individual by having the announcement flash on Diamond Vision? Is it an annoyance or is it romantic? Do you think women tend to view something like this differently than Men? Do people of a certain age feel differently about something like this occurring at a baseball game?
As Valentine ’s Day approaches, I was just wondering about this approach. Are you just better off doing something special at home like writing love letters?
Regardless of your answer, once again, I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day and for those of you in a relationship with someone special, I hope you continue to do those things that keep the relationship special.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Now Pitching And Batting Ninth, Number 57
Its official, the Mets got Johan Santana. I am thrilled and yet I have so many different reactions and thoughts. The following is a list of just some of them:
1. It is great to see Santana wearing a Met uniform. The Mets needed a star pitcher and signing Santana got them what they needed and now makes them the team to beat in the NL East, and probably in the NL.
2. No baseball player is worth that kind of money. 23 million dollars a year for throwing a stupid baseball?! I know Santana is the best and even that Barry Zito set the market price last year. Still, while I don’t fault Santana for getting what he could, the salaries should not be this high
3. I am hypocritical. I wanted the Mets to get Santana, but I do not think anyone in baseball is worth this kind of money. Still, if the Mets did not pay it, someone else would have.
4. I was getting a little nervous Friday. I had been checking the Mets website for the past couple of days and saw no movement with everyone coming to terms. I had this vision of the Mets coming so close and then not being able to get it down.
5. was very grateful for the internet so I could easily keep tabs on the progress of the deal
6. I think we may live in an age where information is too accessible. Being able to check the internet kept me constantly checking on Thursday and Friday. That got in the way of other things I needed to get done and I kept thinking maybe I was better off when you had to get a television or radio report and you had to wait for certain times of the day.
7. As I said before, I am hypocritical!!
1. It is great to see Santana wearing a Met uniform. The Mets needed a star pitcher and signing Santana got them what they needed and now makes them the team to beat in the NL East, and probably in the NL.
2. No baseball player is worth that kind of money. 23 million dollars a year for throwing a stupid baseball?! I know Santana is the best and even that Barry Zito set the market price last year. Still, while I don’t fault Santana for getting what he could, the salaries should not be this high
3. I am hypocritical. I wanted the Mets to get Santana, but I do not think anyone in baseball is worth this kind of money. Still, if the Mets did not pay it, someone else would have.
4. I was getting a little nervous Friday. I had been checking the Mets website for the past couple of days and saw no movement with everyone coming to terms. I had this vision of the Mets coming so close and then not being able to get it down.
5. was very grateful for the internet so I could easily keep tabs on the progress of the deal
6. I think we may live in an age where information is too accessible. Being able to check the internet kept me constantly checking on Thursday and Friday. That got in the way of other things I needed to get done and I kept thinking maybe I was better off when you had to get a television or radio report and you had to wait for certain times of the day.
7. As I said before, I am hypocritical!!
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