baseball gods productions

Thoughts about baseball, from the perspective of sports psychology and the role of sports in society. It includes team and player analysis, predictions, and what I think needs to be changed in Major League Baseball. Brought to you from the heart of baseball, Brooklyn, by baseball gods productions.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Maybe Pelfrey needs to sit a bit

Everyone has been asking the question which starters should be replaced when Maine and Perez return. The consensus seems to be that Redding should be replaced by Maine, and Perez should go to the bullpen for a while.

My thought is that when either Perez or Maine is ready--which looks like a couple of weeks at the earliest for either of them--Mike Pelfrey is the one that should be moved to the bullpen for at least one turn, and then Redding when the other starter is ready. Pelfrey has not looked good lately, and my guess is it is some combination of physical and mental fatigue.

Pelfrey is one of those young guys whose total number of innings increased very rapidly from one season to another, and the "Verducci effect" predicts that he will be injured or less effective the following season. I thought a big guy like Pelfrey would not have a problem with all the work, but he seems mentally susceptible to all kinds of distractions and heavy thoughts, so who knows?

In any event, if/when Maine and/or Perez is ready, it makes sense to give Pelfrey a bit of a break, just to see if it helps him get rejuvenated. Right now, Pelfrey is their number two starter, and he's going need to pitch a whole lot better if the Mets want a chance to make the playoffs.

I'm sure they will be shopping Redding as soon as Maine and Perez have shown they are healthy and reliable (as reliable as they can be, that is). I know this won't happen, but the Mets should really consider being a seller rather than a buyer this July, trying to convert some older guys into prospects and hungry younger players. Sheffield, Livan Hernandez, and Carlos Delgado (if he's ready in time) would be the guys I would look to convert into legitimate younger players, if the Mets are willing to pay most of the vets' contracts.

As I've said here for years, getting younger would actually improve their prospects, so to speak, for winning this year, since it is now officially a young man's game again in the post-steroid, post-amphetamine era.

I wouldn't mind no trades at all, but I absolutely don't want to see more prospects and young players shipped off for a fading veteran or two.


Caroms Off the Wall

Fernando Nieve looks like the real deal to me. What a break if it turns out to be true.

© Judy Kamilhor 2009

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