Diary: El Duque Left Off NLDS Roster

by OSUmets on Oct 4, 2006 11:47 AM EDT

(moved from diaries --eric)

EL Duque has a partial tear of his calf muscle and has been left off the NLDS roster. Oliver Perez will take his place in the rotation. Also, Mike DiFelice has been removed from the roster in favor of Royce Ring. John Maine will start Game 1 today at Shea.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2006/news/story?id=2612496

Personally, I would have rather seen Dave Williams on the roster over Oliver Perez or Royce Ring. Williams has been more consistent since joining the Mets and can give you versatility by coming out of the bullpen that Perez can't really do.

I'm confident having Maine on the mound today to start the series. I love the way he pitches and the way he isn't afraid to challenge hitters even when he falls behind. That makes me think he is up to the challenge of starting games in the playoffs. I think we can get by in the NLDS with Maine and Glavine starting Games 1 and 2 and if the right Trachsel shows up for Game 3 we'll be ok. However, if we do get by LA and reach the NLCS, we are gonna need El Duque back.

Either way, it will still be the most fun I've had watching baseball in October since 2000. Let's keep our fingers crossed and Lets go Mets!

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Thanks

I just want to thank OSUMets for posting this in the diaries, and to everyone else who contributes to the diaries and helps this community thrive. I was in a meeting at work and couldn't get to a computer to post about this (or even find out about it!), but thanks to you guys this news gets posted on the site anyway.

You guys definitely drive this site, and this is a perfect example of how you help to determine the content and make sure that this site's signal remains strong.

Thanks. --Eric

by Eric Simon on Oct 4, 2006 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

Oliver frickin Perez?

My bet is the Mets sold their soul for the regular season. Now the devil is collecting his dues.

I can't wait for the game!!!! But I am scared for our playoff future.

"They win the damn thing by a score of 10-9!"

by ZaBlanc on Oct 4, 2006 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

good.

As I just said on the other news post, it seems that even Willie Randolph can pick the right starting rotation when all other options are removed. So now we get some extra bullpen depth in the person of Ring (perhaps not the best choice, as you say, but still good to have another arm), and a good chance to win the first two games at home with Maine and Glavine going. Trachsel and Perez on the road will be doubtful, so picking up the first two wins is vital. And I sure hope Maine gets Game 5 instead of Glavine, but I guess it'd be only a day short of Glavine's regular rest, so not the end of the world.

by anonymous on Oct 4, 2006 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

october baseball!

although the pedro and duque injuries suck big time, I could not be more excited for the game today. in '99 and 2000 I was living in New Orleans and had to watch the games alone. today I am skipping out of work early and I can't wait to watch a guy who has become one of my favorite mets in his first ever playoff start. tomorrow, glavine, and we'll see where we are at that point. I plan to enjoy every second of this, and I think we still have what it takes to get where we need to go. let's go mets!

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 4, 2006 12:24 PM EDT reply actions