Welcome back to the Overview of the NL East in 2005. In Day 2, we will be looking at the most important part of any team ? the starting pitching. I?ll continue breaking down the different aspects of the team until we have reached the 5th day ? the Team Overviews and Predictions. Without further adieu, here are the teams once again in alphabetical order:

 

Atlanta Braves- Do they really need solid arms? Leo Mazzone = ratings

2004 Stats: 3.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 601 K, 318 BB, 87 HR

Additions: Tim Hudson (Trade- Oakland), John Smoltz (From Pen), Full Season of Horacio Ramirez

Subtractions: Russ Ortiz (FA), Jaret Wright (FA), Paul Byrd (FA)

 

Nothing says we love our current rotation like getting rid of 60% of it. However, when you are the Atlanta Braves, you can afford to buy arms every year and let them go off to big time contracts because you have bar none the best pitching coach in the game, Leo Mazzone. Mr. Mazzone?s latest reclamation success was Jaret Wright, who left to a big time free agent contract after having a very solid year last season, posting stats of 15-8, 3.28 ERA, and 159/70 K/BB. He also gave up only 11 homers, lowest on the staff. Also leaving were the 15-9, 4.13, 143/112 stats of Russ Ortiz and 8-7, 3.94, 79/19 numbers of Paul Byrd. But the Braves have upgraded all three of them, adding one of Oakland?s Big Three, bringing one of their own Big Three back into the rotation, and getting a full year from 2003 rookie sensation Horacio Ramirez.

 

Starting Opening Day for the rotation will be the only Brave to be here for all the division titles, John Smoltz. After being a very formidable closer since returning from Tommy John surgery, Smoltz will try to do what no one else has done and try to return to his Cy Young starter form after being an All Star closer. Following him will be the biggest pitching acquisition of the winter, Tim Hudson. Hudson was always the most reliable of the Big 3 in Oakland, and now under Mazzone he might start collecting Cy Young awards. Mike Hampton is still under the Marlins? dime so it?s a good deal for Atlanta, but I think after this season the Brave fans might be getting fed up with him in a hurry. However as far as 2005 is concerned, he shouldn?t do much worse than the 4.28 ERA he posted last season, and if he can improve on that the staff is that much better. John Thomson on paper sucks a nut, but you can?t argue with his numbers ? last season he went for 14-8, 3.72, 133/52. If there was any weakness in this staff last year is they do have a knack for giving up baserunners, and if they face an offense who hits well with RISP they can be burned. They also do give up a good number of homers even though they play in a relatively neutral park. The biggest problem with success here is whether Smoltz can handle a full season of starting at his level. If he can, this is easily the best. But there are less question marks here, and until someone dethrones them they are the best rotation in the division production wise.

 

Projected Starting 5:

R- John Smoltz

R- Tim Hudson

L- Mike Hampton

R- John Thomson

L- Horacio Ramirez

 

Grade: A-/A

 

Florida Marlins- If only games were played on paper?..

2004 Numbers: 3.90 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 610 K, 251 BB, 94 HR

Additions: Al Leiter (FA)

Subtractions: Carl Pavano (FA)

 

There?s no real other way to put this, so let?s just leave it bluntly ? if AJ Burnett and Josh Beckett are healthy, the competition is for who is the second best staff in the division after the Marlins. The problem is, neither of them has pitched a full season since 2002 (AJ?s last full season). Burnett has his elbow issues, and Beckett has a problem with his fingers. Just another year of injuries, right? Not this one. Burnett happens to be in a contract year, and you know how pitchers love contract years. And Beckett is enough of a cocky a**hole that if Burnett starts tearing it up to earn the pay day, Josh is going to tear it up as well just to say he finished better.

 

Brought in to be the gap between the two in the rotation is former Marlin Al Leiter. Now Al is no stranger to pressure, as his last start in teal and black came in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series before departing that winter. However, that Al Leiter could pass the 6th inning with regularity and was known as a power lefty. This version of the Senator has an issue with getting deep into pitch counts and keeping people off the base paths, as evidenced by a 1.35 WHIP despite holding opposing hitters to a .218 Average. He does however bring a respectable 3.21 ERA from last season, and if he can give the Marlins 180+ IP he will help anchor the staff in between the two fireballers. If those three spots go according to plan, teams will have to hope to have their series fall against starters 4 and 5. Normally that?s a safe bet, but not when the 4 starter is 2003 ROY Dontrelle Willis. Dontrelle was very inconsistent last season, going 8 shutout innings one night and then getting bounced in the 3rd inning the next. The Marlins will be looking for more consistency out of Willis, especially with Ismael Valdez?s tendency to struggle on the road, so the back end of the rotation can produce close to the level of the front. This is the best staff easily on paper in the division, but it has too many questions at each slot to put ahead of Atlanta. However, even if they only get positive answers from Burnett and Beckett, that will be enough to make this the scariest staff in the NL.

 

Projected Starting 5:

R- Josh Beckett

L- Al Leiter

R- AJ Burnett

L- Dontrelle Willis

R- Ismael Valdez

 

Grade: B+/A- (A+ if healthy)

 

New York Mets- Back in the day, we walked ten miles barefoot in the snow to be able to pitch

2004 Stats: 3.94 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 531 K, 361 BB, 93 HR

Additions: Pedro Martinez (FA), Kaz Ishii (Trade- Los Angeles)

Subtractions: Al Leiter (FA), Steve Trachsel (Injury)

 

Well, they dropped a pretty penny to help the offense, so why stop there? Let?s just go ahead and bring in arguably the best pitcher of the 1990?s, you know, for fun. Pedro Martinez comes fresh off a World Series victory to instantly take hold of the Ace spot in a Mets? rotation that was pretty solid last year. Also coming in is the veteran from the Far East, Kaz Ishii. He brings that slow curve along with the rest of his lefty delivery to this staff, where the average age is retirement. He?ll be pitching at least until the human rain delay returns from injury, possibly longer if he performs well and the Mets can find somewhere to move Trachsel to.

 

This rotation has three major question marks, three questions you really don?t want your staff getting wrong: Endurance, Health, and Control. Met fans complained about Al Leiter becoming a 5-6 inning pitcher last season, so New York went out and replaced him with the same type of pitcher in Pedro Martinez. Tom Glavine struggled with allowing baserunners last season with a WHIP of 1.29, and had a propensity for long balls, surrendering 20. Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson bring the same kind of problems to the table, high pitch counts and walk totals. There will be days where you?ll wonder if Zambrano knows he is supposed to throw to the catcher?s mitt and not to the peanut guy in section 241. Add Ishii, who hasn?t exactly been on the money the past couple of seasons, and you have a staff that is going to throw a lot of pitches. The Mets better put a couple of starter-ready arms in their pen, just to chew the innings these guys won?t be able to.

 

Projected Starting 5:

R Pedro Martinez

L Tom Glavine

R Kris Benson

R Victor Zambrano

L Kaz Ishii

 

Grade: B/B+

 

Philadelphia Phillies- With offense this good, who needs pitching!

2004 Stats: 4.84 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 699 K, 321 BB, 151 HR

Additions: Jon Leiber (FA), Full Season of Vicente Padilla

Subtractions: Kevin Millwood (FA), Eric Milton (FA)

 

If anyone from the Phillies reads this, answer me one question please ? do you honestly expect to compete in this division with such a horrendous staff? The best ERA of any starter with over 30 starts last season was Eric Milton?s 4.75. 4.75! And guess what, he?s not here anymore! Also departing is Kevin Millwood, he of the tremendous 4.85 ERA (4th best among starters with 20 or more starts). On a staff where not a single regular starter had an ERA under 4.28, you would think starting pitching would be a priority right? Wrong. The Phillies are apparently of the mentality that they can just outscore everyone night in and night out.

 

Don?t let it seem like the Phillies didn?t do anything. They dumped Milton and Millwood, who don?t exactly suit their park, and brought in Jon Leiber. The problem here is that Leiber isn?t the groundball pitcher he used to be. More so than the M&M brothers, but not exactly the recipe for success in Coors Field East. What probably would have been a good idea would have been to sign Derek Lowe, a sinker pitcher, to keep the ball on the ground and let the defense worry about cleaning it up. But if bringing in a pitcher who gave up 20 homers in 27 starts to pitch in a homer haven is a great idea, then color the Phillies red with genius. For this staff to even resemble decency, they will have to hope for big years from both Tiraflecha Vicente Padilla and Mr. Butt Ugly Brett Myers, hope Randy Wolf keeps his 4.28 ERA around that level or improves it, and at some point in the season insert Gavin Floyd into the rotation. But with the type of offenses they will be seeing in this division, I don?t see how the Phillies can compete with this pitching longer than August.

 

Projected Starting 5:

L Randy Wolf

R Jon Leiber

R Vicente Padilla

R Cory Lidle

R Brett Myers

 

Grade: C-/C

 

Washington Nationals- How about a game of Musical Starters

2004 Stats: 4.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 616 K, 354 BB, 125 HR

Additions: Esteban Loazia (FA), Full Season of Tony Armas

Subtractions: Claudio Vargas (pen), Sum Woo Kim (pen)

 

You think your team had a problem finding a starter? The team formally named after a World Exposition in the 1970?s had 8 pitchers start double digit games last year. Eight! When you look at the numbers that everyone not named Livan Hernandez put up, you can?t really blame them for trying so many different guys. They tried to bring some stability to their staff by signing the 2003 AL Cy Young, Esteban Loazia. Maybe a year to late in that signing, since after posting career numbers a year earlier Esteban decided it?d be a lot better for his quest to play baseball in Washington to put up a nice fat 5.70 on the ERA column of his stats. His secondary stats weren?t exactly stellar either, surrendering 32 homers with opponents hitting an ungodly .296 against him. That?s a solid batting average for one hitter, never mind everyone in the lineup when they are facing Esteban.

 

This staff remains solid, however, for one not so small reason: Livan Hernandez. The Cuban native has his picture in the dictionary next to workhorse, throwing an insane 255 innings last season while giving the Spos a solid 3.60 ERA and a ridiculous 9 complete games. Averaging just under 7.1 IP per start, Livan only let hitters reach at a .314 clip and surrendered just a .248 average against, quite the opposite of his newfound rotation mate. Behind the big anchor of Hernandez comes the respectable combo of Zach Day and Tomo Ohka, both pitchers who had solid seasons last season despite not being able to go the whole way. Repeats from both of them for the entire season this time, and a bounce back year from either Tony Armas or Loazia, and this Nationals team can sneak some victories past people, especially outside of the division. But if they start having to give starts to other people again this year, the downfall of this Washington team will be quick and painful.

 

Projected Starting 5:

R Livan Hernandez

R Tony Armas

R Tomo Ohka

R Esteban Loazia

R Zach Day

 

Grade: B-/B

 

Overall Starting Staff Rankings:

1- Atlanta Braves (A)

2- Florida Marlins (A-)

3- New York Mets (B+)

4- Washington Nationals (B-)

5- Philadelphia Phillies (C-)

 

Tomorrow: Bullpens

 

Day 1: Lineups

imo you totally underrate the pitching staff of the Phillies.... they arent that bad at all

 

also what does b/a- mean?

 

is that like current/potential?

I disagree.

 

This summer is supposedly the summer that the balls start flying off the bats at ridiculous levels in Philly. Even if it isn't, it's never a good recipe for flyball pitchers to play in a hitter's park, and that's exactly what Philly is doing. Leiber is still a liability two years removed from TJ, Padilla and Myers haven't shown they can be consistent, and Lidle's like a broken bicycle, everyone gets a ride but no one enjoys it. Randy Wolf is the only solid pitcher on that staff IMO, and if he falters they other team will be putting up a 5 spot night in and night out. I think Floyd needs to be in there pronto.

imo you totally underrate the pitching staff of the Phillies.... they arent that bad at all

 

also what does b/a- mean?

 

is that like current/potential?

719505[/snapback]

It's kind of like a low/high type thing, a range for where they'll be at this season. I gave an exact grade toward the end.

I disagree.

 

This summer is supposedly the summer that the balls start flying off the bats at ridiculous levels in Philly. Even if it isn't, it's never a good recipe for flyball pitchers to play in a hitter's park, and that's exactly what Philly is doing. Leiber is still a liability two years removed from TJ, Padilla and Myers haven't shown they can be consistent, and Lidle's like a broken bicycle, everyone gets a ride but no one enjoys it. Randy Wolf is the only solid pitcher on that staff IMO, and if he falters they other team will be putting up a 5 spot night in and night out. I think Floyd needs to be in there pronto.

719508[/snapback]

I really dont think Lieber is a liability anymore, as you said, 2 years from TJ surgery. His era should drop some too moving from the AL to the NL. Brett Myers had the worst year of his life but he is still just 24 with wicked stuff. One of these years he should break out and this is as a good a year as any. Before Bowa decided to ruin Padilla, he posted 2 respectable years in a row. With Bowa finally gone, players like Myers and Padilla can finally pitch instead of being bitched at constantly by him.

 

Also how does John Thomson "suck a nut on paper" yet his numbers on paper last year were pretty good?

 

And if you want to be taken a bit more seriously I would remove things like "suck a nut on paper" and "mr butt ugly" for your piece... Its pretty good but its like you are trying to get a cheap laugh or something

 

just my .02

Good stuff.

 

Should be pinned.

I disagree.

 

This summer is supposedly the summer that the balls start flying off the bats at ridiculous levels in Philly. Even if it isn't, it's never a good recipe for flyball pitchers to play in a hitter's park, and that's exactly what Philly is doing. Leiber is still a liability two years removed from TJ, Padilla and Myers haven't shown they can be consistent, and Lidle's like a broken bicycle, everyone gets a ride but no one enjoys it. Randy Wolf is the only solid pitcher on that staff IMO, and if he falters they other team will be putting up a 5 spot night in and night out. I think Floyd needs to be in there pronto.

719508[/snapback]

I really dont think Lieber is a liability anymore, as you said, 2 years from TJ surgery. His era should drop some too moving from the AL to the NL. Brett Myers had the worst year of his life but he is still just 24 with wicked stuff. One of these years he should break out and this is as a good a year as any. Before Bowa decided to ruin Padilla, he posted 2 respectable years in a row. With Bowa finally gone, players like Myers and Padilla can finally pitch instead of being bitched at constantly by him.

 

Also how does John Thomson "suck a nut on paper" yet his numbers on paper last year were pretty good?

 

And if you want to be taken a bit more seriously I would remove things like "suck a nut on paper" and "mr butt ugly" for your piece... Its pretty good but its like you are trying to get a cheap laugh or something

 

just my .02

719519[/snapback]

Serious isn't my bag, baby I'll take that into consideration though.

 

Lieber would put up better numbers moving from the AL to the NL in theory, but in practice he's moving from Yankee Stadium's Death Valley to the Launching Pad in Pennsylvania. Also Myers could break out, but so could Juan Cruz. Don't see anyone predicting it from the latter, and I see it just as likely this season from the former. I think a rotation of Wolf-Lieber-Myers-Padilla-Floyd could be decent, but in a division where every staff is at least solid it's still last.

I disagree.

 

This summer is supposedly the summer that the balls start flying off the bats at ridiculous levels in Philly. Even if it isn't, it's never a good recipe for flyball pitchers to play in a hitter's park, and that's exactly what Philly is doing. Leiber is still a liability two years removed from TJ, Padilla and Myers haven't shown they can be consistent, and Lidle's like a broken bicycle, everyone gets a ride but no one enjoys it. Randy Wolf is the only solid pitcher on that staff IMO, and if he falters they other team will be putting up a 5 spot night in and night out. I think Floyd needs to be in there pronto.

719508[/snapback]

I really dont think Lieber is a liability anymore, as you said, 2 years from TJ surgery. His era should drop some too moving from the AL to the NL. Brett Myers had the worst year of his life but he is still just 24 with wicked stuff. One of these years he should break out and this is as a good a year as any. Before Bowa decided to ruin Padilla, he posted 2 respectable years in a row. With Bowa finally gone, players like Myers and Padilla can finally pitch instead of being bitched at constantly by him.

 

Also how does John Thomson "suck a nut on paper" yet his numbers on paper last year were pretty good?

 

And if you want to be taken a bit more seriously I would remove things like "suck a nut on paper" and "mr butt ugly" for your piece... Its pretty good but its like you are trying to get a cheap laugh or something

 

just my .02

719519[/snapback]

I agree...that kindof turned me off from your analysis when I read that. Shows pre-concieved notions. But overall good piece.

Leiter's much better than his raw numbers. The Mets' defense last year was terrible. Expect another inning each game at the Pro.

 

The Nationals have great depth beyond their starting five. Jon Rauch is a 6'11 righty who pitched well last second half and this spring. Mike Hinckley is one of the best lefthanded prospects in the game, better than Scott Olsen. Add in John Patterson, Claudio Vargas, other pitchers with talent equal to Ismael Valdez and Kaz Ishii..

 

 

Even if healthy, the Mets, Braves and Marlins have the same quality rotations. It's going to be a dog fight this year.

a quick not on Hinckley...

"Left-hander Michael Hinckley, who was sent down to Double-A Harrisburg last week, has a left shoulder strain. He will begin an exercise program and resume throwing in two weeks." from mlb.com

 

ugh, dont want to be hearing that

Juanky, very nice piece.

 

We're on the same page to such an exactness (even though that isn't a word...) that it's scary.

 

Great stuff...

OMG why are they letting Corey Lidle pitch!!!??

Nice work.

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher. Pedro averaged 7 innings last year. 217 IP. So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation. The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32. Not all that old. I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

The Mets rotation will probably see an injury or two this year. I base that on the fact that they are the Mets.

Nice work.

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher. Pedro averaged 7 innings last year. 217 IP. So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation. The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32. Not all that old. I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

720028[/snapback]

Pedro averaged a high number of IP, yes. But he does have a notorious issue with reaching the century mark pitchwise. I think as his arm gets more and more aged this season and that rotator cuff bothers him more, you'll see his at-bats last alot longer than normal and hence a loss of IP.

 

Tom Glavine is 39, yes. However, one can't deny Pedro's obvious twilight career wise. Steve Trachsel isn't exactly on the right side of the fence as far as his career is concerned, Kaz Ishii needs a serious bounce back year or he might as well retire because he isn't bringing much to the table.

Nice work.

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher. Pedro averaged 7 innings last year. 217 IP. So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation. The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32. Not all that old. I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

720028[/snapback]

Pedro averaged a high number of IP, yes. But he does have a notorious issue with reaching the century mark pitchwise. I think as his arm gets more and more aged this season and that rotator cuff bothers him more, you'll see his at-bats last alot longer than normal and hence a loss of IP.

 

Tom Glavine is 39, yes. However, one can't deny Pedro's obvious twilight career wise. Steve Trachsel isn't exactly on the right side of the fence as far as his career is concerned, Kaz Ishii needs a serious bounce back year or he might as well retire because he isn't bringing much to the table.

720105[/snapback]

If what Admin Bowa said is true, I can see the Phillies having a D staff.

 

But you can't blame them, you gotta blame the idiots that designed that park. When will people learn pitching wins games and no many teams in hitter's park have success. (Unless you are the Red Sox and buy hitters)

 

You put that Philly staff in a neutral park and they could be serious contenders.

 

Oh well, their mistake our gain.

Nice work.

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher. Pedro averaged 7 innings last year. 217 IP. So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation. The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32. Not all that old. I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

720028[/snapback]

Pedro averaged a high number of IP, yes. But he does have a notorious issue with reaching the century mark pitchwise. I think as his arm gets more and more aged this season and that rotator cuff bothers him more, you'll see his at-bats last alot longer than normal and hence a loss of IP.

 

Tom Glavine is 39, yes. However, one can't deny Pedro's obvious twilight career wise. Steve Trachsel isn't exactly on the right side of the fence as far as his career is concerned, Kaz Ishii needs a serious bounce back year or he might as well retire because he isn't bringing much to the table.

720105[/snapback]

720107[/snapback]

 

Once again, i'll have to respectfully disagree... the idea is to pitch innings.. and no matter how many pitches he gets tired at.. he was among the leaders in IP last year.. this whole 100 pitch thing is way over blown.. look at the numbers.. and as far as the obvious "twilight".. i don't know if i can underestimate him to that degree as you have... if 227k's leading the AL is twilight, he's doing pretty good... Pedro will do well coming over to the NL i believe.. the lineups are shorter.. and if you listen to him and what some are saying he feels better than he has in 3 or 4 years.. and he has a 1.64 ERA this spring... Pedro will be very good this year... now years 3 or 4 or that contract are probably a different story.. but this year will be .. or at least SHOULD be a very good year for him.. trouble in the NL EAST...

 

Tracsel's last 3 years have been three of the best in his career.....

 

Kaz Ishii is not very good......

 

Glavine's Glavine.. still a good pitcher who relies on good defense.. something those Mets did NOT have last year..

 

d.

Nice work.?

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.?

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher.? Pedro averaged 7 innings last year.? 217 IP.? So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation.? The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32.? Not all that old.? I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

720028[/snapback]

Pedro averaged a high number of IP, yes. But he does have a notorious issue with reaching the century mark pitchwise. I think as his arm gets more and more aged this season and that rotator cuff bothers him more, you'll see his at-bats last alot longer than normal and hence a loss of IP.

 

Tom Glavine is 39, yes. However, one can't deny Pedro's obvious twilight career wise. Steve Trachsel isn't exactly on the right side of the fence as far as his career is concerned, Kaz Ishii needs a serious bounce back year or he might as well retire because he isn't bringing much to the table.

720105[/snapback]

720107[/snapback]

Glavine's Glavine.. still a good pitcher who relies on good defense.. something those Mets did NOT have last year..

720112[/snapback]

And still do not have...

Nice work.

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher. Pedro averaged 7 innings last year. 217 IP. So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation. The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32. Not all that old. I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

720028[/snapback]

Pedro averaged a high number of IP, yes. But he does have a notorious issue with reaching the century mark pitchwise. I think as his arm gets more and more aged this season and that rotator cuff bothers him more, you'll see his at-bats last alot longer than normal and hence a loss of IP.

 

Tom Glavine is 39, yes. However, one can't deny Pedro's obvious twilight career wise. Steve Trachsel isn't exactly on the right side of the fence as far as his career is concerned, Kaz Ishii needs a serious bounce back year or he might as well retire because he isn't bringing much to the table.

720105[/snapback]

720107[/snapback]

Glavine's Glavine.. still a good pitcher who relies on good defense.. something those Mets did NOT have last year..

720112[/snapback]

And still do not have...

720241[/snapback]

having Dougie at first makes a world of difference

Nice work.?

 

I disagree w/ you on the Mets rotation however.?

 

You say Pedro's a 5 or 6 inning pitcher.? Pedro averaged 7 innings last year.? 217 IP.? So be careful there.

 

Also you mentioned the Mets average age is retirement in the rotation.? The age in the mets rotation is 33,39,30,29,32.? Not all that old.? I mean, Tommy's 39 but his 3.6 ERA last year i'll guess they'll take.

 

Other than that, good work.

 

d.

720028[/snapback]

Pedro averaged a high number of IP, yes. But he does have a notorious issue with reaching the century mark pitchwise. I think as his arm gets more and more aged this season and that rotator cuff bothers him more, you'll see his at-bats last alot longer than normal and hence a loss of IP.

 

Tom Glavine is 39, yes. However, one can't deny Pedro's obvious twilight career wise. Steve Trachsel isn't exactly on the right side of the fence as far as his career is concerned, Kaz Ishii needs a serious bounce back year or he might as well retire because he isn't bringing much to the table.

720105[/snapback]

720107[/snapback]

Glavine's Glavine.. still a good pitcher who relies on good defense.. something those Mets did NOT have last year..

720112[/snapback]

And still do not have...

720241[/snapback]

having Dougie at first makes a world of difference

720250[/snapback]

Still doesn't make up for the cesspool we call the Mets middle infield.

Cesspool? Suuuure. Reyes is a potential Gold Glove short stop and Matsui has been mighty impressive at second so far. Remember that at least 10 of Matsui's errors at short were a result of franken-firtbasemen Mike Piazza and Jason Phillips. And now with Wright manning 3rd, the defense will be significantly better.

Cesspool? Suuuure. Reyes is a potential Gold Glove short stop and Matsui has been mighty impressive at second so far. Remember that at least 10 of Matsui's errors at short were a result of franken-firtbasemen Mike Piazza and Jason Phillips. And now with Wright manning 3rd, the defense will be significantly better.

720524[/snapback]

You can be impressive during spring training and suck during the regular season. Take a look at Abe Nunez.

 

 

And Jose Reyes is potentially, not already is. The Sea Bass is a gold glove short stop, Izturis is a gold glove short stop, Reyes isn't.

So how does that equate to a cesspool middle infield? We're talking about a guy you admittedly called a potential gold glover glover and a guy who has been smooth as silk at second so far. So what are you basing these cesspool comments on? I mean Reyes has played exactly half a season at short at the ML level and Matsui played 3 games second.

So how does that equate to a cesspool middle infield? We're talking about a guy you admittedly called a potential gold glover glover and a guy who has been smooth as silk at second so far. So what are you basing these cesspool comments on? I mean Reyes has played exactly half a season at short at the ML level and Matsui played 3 games second.

720531[/snapback]

Potential means nothing. I mean Miguel Cabrera could be a potential gold glover with work, but will he? No. You will realize that playing ST games at a new position is much different than when it matters.