Pelfrey And Hernandez

The two Met pitchers who are seemingly competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation both pitched today. Neither one accomplished much, at least not much on the positive side of things. El Duque pitched in an actual game for the first time this spring. He had pitched in a simulated game but this was his first actual one. He was not impressive. He threw three innings when the Mets had hoped to get four or five out of him. In addition, the innings he threw were not particularly effective. His fastball did not get above 85 mph and in the three innings, he gave up five runs on four hits.

Mike Pelfrey had a chance to cement his spot in the rotation, at least in my estimation. Pelfrey pitched in the same game as Orlando Hernandez and perhaps pitched even less effectively than El Duque. Mike Pelfrey gave up eight runs in four and 1/3 innings.

I still think Pelfrey has looked pretty good this spring but at this point in spring I think you are looking for your pitchers to step and neither one did. Fortunately the Mets one through four pitchers look pretty good and hopefully whomever is ultimately put in the five spot will look better than he looked today.