http://brooklynmetfan.com The coolest site for all Met fans! Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:43:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:39:49 +0000 Let’s talk about pitching… There are some pitchers you worry about after a bad spring start and there are others you simply don't. Johan Santana falls into the latter category. Who cares if he got knocked around by the Astros and taken deep by KazMat of all people? When the bell rings Johan will be the warrior we all know. There is no questioning that Johan is an elite pitcher who has proven he can and will get the job done. This is in GREAT contrast to Oliver Perez whose crappy outing is cause for concern on numerous levels: • He’s gotta prove he’s healthy • He's gotta show us he has the ability to throw strikes w/o the ball leaving the yard • He’s gotta show us he has the mental fortitude not to become a puddle on the mound during a rough patch Unfortunately I have zero faith Ollie will do any of the above. In fact anything other than complete catastrophe will be a pleasant surprise to BMF. I was shocked at how many people were down on Maine on yesterday’s boards. The guy hasn’t been healthy in 2 years yet he came out and not only threw strikes but struck people out. Granted it was against a watered down, late in game, spring lineup but it was enough to have General Manuel raving about his stuff and location. To me USS looks well on his way to a bounce back season… at least I hope with all my might… Big Pelf has essentially been MIA since taking that ball off his knee so we’re gonna have to wait for a larger sample size. And You gotta figure Johnny Niese will hold down the 5th starter role. This is great because as much as I like Figgy he’s not the future. Niese needs to take the ball every 5th day in the bigs to continue his maturation process. Meanwhile it looks like Jenrry Mejia is being stretched out for use as a starter – he’s slated to go 4 innings next outing. I can’t help but think how dominant he might be in the pen but we’re gonna need another arm once the team finally gives up on Perez. So I think it's the right call to send young Jenrry to start in AA until he gets promoted later this summer...? *** Quick Hits: • Ike Davis hit another HR… • Great to see Wright jack his second of the spring – too bad neither would’ve been out of CityField http://brooklynmetfan.com/?p=1669 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:19:12 +0000 Remember the Maine... From 2007?  Well that's the warrior we need back in the '10 because if there's one player, who in my estimation, can make or break our season it's Johnny Maine.  I guess I should refine that last statement to include the word "pitcher"   because I think everyone agrees Reyes holds our fate in his hands. But the unassuming Maine definitely has the stuff to be a legit #2 starter... or at least he used to have it. The question is will he ever deliver at that level again?  Luckily if Monday's outing is any indicator he's healthy and headed in the right direction. USS posted a line of 1.2 IP, 1R, 2H and 1BB and 4K's. He was yanked after 39 pitches and it was great to hear Jerry raving about the way Maine threw. As psyched as BMF is about Ike Davis, F-Mart and Mejia (who zipped thrub3 scoreless innings) John Maine's performance has to be the most encouraging performance of the Met spring so far.   http://brooklynmetfan.com/?p=1668