Serious Mismatch Applesauce: Pelf be pelfin', Heads be hurtin', Sox be chokin'?

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Sep 26, 2011 9:00 AM EDT in Applesauce

Pelf is getting an early start on his 2012 non-tender playoff beard. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Meet the Mets

Roy Halladay vs. Mike Pelfrey! What could possibly go wrong? Shockingly, the Mets opening day starter, and therefore ace, was not up to the task yesterday as the Phillies salvaged the final game of the series with a 9-4 win. See you in 2012, you Philadelphian bastards! I guess I should feel bad for Pelf, but I had to watch his starts this year, so my sympathy is somewhat limited. Greg Prince is also not too sympathetic.

The Mets finish off the 2011 season this week as the Red Stockings come to town, and they will be without Lucas Duda and Angel Pagan, who both suffered head injuries last week. Better safe than sorry, of course, and both will be important pieces on the 2012 roster. Yeah, I said it. You want Jason Pridie starting in CF every day? Chris Schwinden, who is less likely to be an important piece of the 2012 roster, minds the bump for the Mets tomorrow night.

Faith and Fear waxes poetic about the 2011 Mets and their lack of actually healthy players.

Here's an update on Gary Carter, and sadly it is not good news. I'm not going to lie, I got goosebumps when they played the tribute video for the Kid at Citi Saturday.

Around the Playoff Races

The Wild Card races continue to tighten as we head into the last series of the season. The Red Sox managed to salvage a split in their doubleheader with the Yankees, thanks to Jacoby Ellsbury. The Yanks won Game One behind a strong AJ Burnett start. He even got a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium. That was kind of surreal. with three to play, the Sox now lead the Rays by one game in the Wild Card race as Tampa dispatched Toronto 5-2. At least there won't be any distractions for the Sox as they deal with the Orioles. And no, I am not linking to TMZ.

On the NL side of things, the Braves continue to scuffle, getting blanked by former first round pick Ross Detwiler and the Nats. Their lead is also down to just a single game, as the Cardinals came from behind again to edge the Cubs. Rafael Furcal made some amends for his error against the Mets with the go-ahead home run. Atlanta now has to deal with the Phillies while St. Louis faces Houston. Things could get interesting.

Around the NL East

If the Braves do make the playoffs, they aren't ruling out Jair Jurrjens from the NLDS rotation. I think we can all agree that we hope it doesn't come to that.

The Marlins continue to limp to the finish, getting swept by the Brewers. That win for the Brew Crew sets a team record for most home wins in a season. Florida actually has been better on the road this year, but maybe they just play better in front of actual people. /easy jokes

Strasmas will be abridged next year, probably so they can give him 3/4 of his starts at home again.

Around MLB

Pitcher wins are the new any stat other than pitcher wins! Clayton Kershaw won his 21st for the Dodgers, who cruised to a 6-2 victory over the Padres.

Sunday was Runday, as there were offensive explosions for Texas and Colorado. Detroit plated double digits as well.

The Angels no longer qualify for around the playoff races, as yesterday's crushing loss to Oakland puts them three back of the BoSox.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think we should enter into some sort of collusion with the Rays

where we swap players based on needs, and current performance and we subsidize some of their player costs in exchange for the occasional young part.

I would say we should do it with the pirates but I suppose there’s some sort of conflict of interest or something.

amest I bovvered forsooth?
ARE YOU DISRESPECTING THE HOUSE OF CITI
ARE YOU CALLING REYES A POX RIDDEN WENCH
ARE YOU CALLING DAVID WRIGHT A GOODLY ROTTEN APPLE
CAUSE HE AIN'T EVEN A GOODLY ROTTEN APPLE THOUGH

by Gina on Sep 26, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I'm not sure I understand.

It sounds like you just mean trading with the Rays and sometimes throwing in cash which is all acceptable and not collusion.

by FrancoTAU on Sep 26, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I say we mind control Friedman so he will trade us Shields, Moore, Price, Longoria, and Jennings.

by Shevshevy on Sep 26, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Go Rays.

If Boston is eliminated, they’ll take our place on the all time ‘choke’ list at #3, thereby bumping the 2007 Mets down to #4.

by MetsFan4Decades on Sep 26, 2011 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

Where is this choke list?

Ryan Miller was the true MVP. See my profile for rant.

by Jsz on Sep 26, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Ah man, I thought Carter was slowly improving up until now too.

by FrancoTAU on Sep 26, 2011 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

Is it time to say Pelf cannot take any pressure at all and therefore will never improve

To me his best years are behind him except maybe in a small Market

by Sir Tmac on Sep 26, 2011 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

Or

he never had “Ace” stuff and to cast him in the role was foolish?

Now, kids, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep; in giant blender.

by meigs1414 on Sep 26, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

true but Real Aces cost Money

by Sir Tmac on Sep 26, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

So if I understand you properly

because “Real Aces” cost “Money,” you feel that someone like Pelfrey, who has never shown to have “Real Ace” stuff, should automatically become a “Real Ace” because he was asked to do so? His failure to do so was not because he never had the ability to do so, but because he “cannot take any pressure at all”? And because of this inability to not “take pressure at all,” you have concluded that he “therefore will never improve,” despite the fact he never had “Real Ace” stuff to begin with? Am I in the ballpark?

Now, kids, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep; in giant blender.

by meigs1414 on Sep 26, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

He's just not very good.

Enough with the “he’s not mentally tough” and “he can’t take the pressure” memes. He’s a middling starter that doesn’t have a swing and miss pitch to hitters out, and has to rely on BABIP luck to get outs, and as such is just as likely to get clobbered as he is to put up a quality start. He’s durable and will pitch 200 innings, it’s not sexy but he is what he is and the Mets need a guy who can just provide innings in 2012.

He’s basically the same guy who has been particularly bad this year because he’s allowed a bunch more HR than you’d expect from a (slightly) ground ball pitcher. If he pitches exactly the same as this year, but gives up 8 fewer homers (about 1 less homer every four starts), he’s basically the same Pelfrey who put up a sub-4 ERA over 200 innings in 2010.

by SoCal Metfan on Sep 26, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This times ten thousand million bajillion.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!
You might know me as mistermet.

by Steve Schreiber on Sep 26, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't remember if it was Patrick Flood or Ted Berg who said it on Mostly Mets

but it’s been said that you can “set your watch to Mike Pelfrey’s xFIP.” The ups and downs of his career have largely been the result of putting so many balls in play, not his actual performance.

by TheBigStapler on Sep 26, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do the Mets "need" those 200 innings?

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on Sep 26, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

MLB is very insistant that teams play 9 innings in the vast majority of games

That’s roughly 1500 innings. Someone’s got to pitch those innings.

Noone’s saying Pelf is the only option for getting 200 of those innings, but realistically, he’s probably the best option the Mets have.

by SoCal Metfan on Sep 26, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Then sign Livan Hernandez, who'd be way cheaper

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on Sep 26, 2011 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

There's a reason he'd be cheaper.

For one thing, he’s a lot older, and has much more potential to suck next year.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Sep 26, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

But… Livan would be the only pitcher in the majors older than I am!

Free Livan.

About Pelfrey, though — there are some players who alternate up and down seasons. So far Pelfrey has been one of them, and I’m hoping he continues to be. I’m hoping it’s not just a statistical artifact.

by Curtis3331 on Sep 27, 2011 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions