Mets baseball blog

Pelfrey shelled to cap worst spring

The Mets' lackluster Grapefruit League season came to a fitting end yesterday with an 8-3 loss to the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field. Mike Pelfrey, who locked up the fifth starter's job a week earlier, had his worst outing of spring training in allowing 10 hits and eight runs in four innings. Ty Wigginton even took a jab at his former team with a three-run homer.

The Mets (12-21) finished with the most losses in the history of the franchise - only twice before did they reach 20. No wonder manager Willie Randolph seemed almost giddy about starting the season."Let's ring the bell, boys," he said. "As Mills Lane used to say, 'Let's get it on!'" Maybe it's a good thing that Pelfrey will have two weeks to prepare for his first start, which is expected to be April 13 at Shea Stadium against the Nationals. Pelfrey's ERA ballooned from 2.84 to 5.48, thanks in part to a first inning in which the D-Rays sent eight hitters to the plate. Continue

Burgos and Milledge make roster, not Park

The Mets completed their Opening Night roster only minutes before Friday's game against the Marlins. Pitching coach Rick Peterson gave the first hint when he approached Chan Ho Park in the hectic clubhouse and told him he would be starting in place of Ambiorix Burgos. Swapping one relief pitcher for another seemed subtle at the time, but the decision already had been made to ask Park to accept a demotion to Triple-A New Orleans, where he would become a starter again and provide insurance for the rotation.

The Mets liked Burgos and his mid-90s fastball better in the bullpen, and the other roster vacancy went to Lastings Milledge, who simply had to prove he was healthy after suffering a bruised right hand Sunday. Milledge was nailed on the hand by two pitches this spring, but he rebounded from both and also repaired a damaged reputation to make it back to the majors. Continue

Is Milledge right guy?

A few months ago, Shawn Green never truly believed that his job in rightfield might be in jeopardy before Opening Day. The Mets didn't really think that way either.Too much had to happen, and Green's main rival, Lastings Milledge, already was being talked about in the past tense. Whenever someone in the Mets' hierarchy spoke glowingly about the future, the names that came up were Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. In that vision, Milledge probably was wearing the green-and-gold of the Oakland Athletics.

Here's what Milledge had on his to-do list when he showed up at Tradition Field in mid-February: basically a complete makeover. Not just saying and doing the right things but winning back the trust of his teammates. All while hitting around .300 and not screwing up in rightfield. Continue

Sele, Smith make it; two more spots left

With the Mets packing everything in boxes for the trip north, GM Omar Minaya did some housecleaning of his own yesterday with the roster, but it appears that the final version won't be ready until this afternoon. About an hour after the Mets beat the Dodgers, 13-2, in Vero Beach, Minaya huddled with manager Willie Randolph and his front-office staff to figure out all but two remaining spots on the 25-man roster. After players were informed of the cuts, Minaya announced that Aaron Sele and Joe Smith had made the team. Continue

Wagner likes his pace

Billy Wagner spent yesterday afternoon like he usually does when not scheduled to pitch. Sitting on a stool in the corner, chatting with his neighbor, Scott Schoeneweis, maybe antagonizing some other reliever within earshot.

This time, it was Joe Smith, who already has enough on his mind wondering if he's punched his ticket to St. Louis. Smith picked up the save in Monday's 6-5 win over the Dodgers."Hey," Wagner yelled over, "what was the score last night, closer?" As Smith muttered an answer, Aaron Sele quickly chimed in, "He's sniffing your job." To which Wagner responded, "I haven't even had a save opportunity this spring. That shows you where I'm headed." Continue

Pelfrey locks up fifth spot

The identity of the Mets' fifth starter was not much of a mystery by the time Mike Pelfrey threw his opening pitch in yesterday's start against the Astros at Tradition Field. As long as the 6-7 Pelfrey walked off the mound under his own power, the job would be waiting for him, and that's what happened when the game ended. Despite a lackluster performance, Pelfrey was summoned into the manager's office, and five minutes later he emerged as the newest member of the rotation, joining Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine and Oliver Perez.

"It's always good to hear you made the team," said Pelfrey, wearing a wide smile along with a red polo shirt and flip-flops. "I was prepared for the worst, but I guess it turned out good." Continue

Park shifting into reverse

Chan Ho Park has been removed from the list of candidates for the Mets' rotation and has been assigned to a potential relief role. Willie Randolph lifted Park from yesterday's start after only three innings, and the manager plans to try using Park as a reliever. "Right now, he's going to be in the bullpen," Randolph said.

Park had a meeting with the Mets after his outing, but through a team spokesman, he opted not to speak to the media afterward. Before the meeting, the South Korean said, "I signed here, came here looking for a job as a starter, that's for sure. If they ask me to be a reliever, honestly, I'm unhappy." Continue

Duque does Card tricks

Five days after Orlando Hernandez left a start with a hamstring cramp, he was back in action - and clearly ready for the regular season. El Duque limited the Cardinals to one run and three hits in six innings yesterday and the Mets beat St. Louis, 2-1, on Damion Easley's eighth-inning RBI single.

Hernandez entered the game having tossed only six Grapefruit League innings. "It's significant, because we're getting close to breaking camp," Willie Randolph said. "You can always tell when El Duque is throwing the ball well - when he's throwing his breaking ball for strikes. I've known him for a long time and I know when he's about ready to rock and roll." Continue

Green's hold on RF slipping

Manager Willie Randolph insists that Shawn Green is still his rightfielder, but he's sounding less convincing as the Mets get closer to Opening Day. In a 7-1 loss to the Braves yesterday, Green went 0-for-3, dropping his average to .154 in 17 games. His chief rival, Lastings Milledge, did not get a plate appearance but is batting .370 (17-for-46) in 20 games.

Although the Mets seem inclined to start the season with Green in right, they could keep Milledge and use a platoon. They won't need a fifth starter until mid-April, which would give them roster flexibility to keep an extra position player. After the game, Randolph refused to shut the door on any of the scenarios, even the platoon. Continue

Five alive

Paul Lo Duca said he believes Mike Pelfrey's trail to being an elite pitcher might not be a very long one. "He's very, very close to being really dominant," the Mets catcher said yesterday. "I think he's on his way." Players who caught, faced and watched Pelfrey during the Mets' 6-1 victory over the Orioles Tuesday night at Tradition Field all complimented the 23-year-old right-hander's performance. Pelfrey issued a one-run, five-inning effort against the Orioles. Continue