The John Delcos New York Mets Report Featuring Mets' commentary, analysis and news.

Jon NIese takes his 9.00 ERA to the mound today against the Braves. Niese is still in the hunt for the fifth spot in the rotation, but hasn’t overly impressed in his opportunity.

I’m still putting what’s left of my money on Livan Hernandez to win the role. That is, of course, if the Mets don’t pick somebody else up, such as re-signing Pedro Martinez.

Nobody has blown away the field. Tim Redding is hurting and could open the season on the DL. Freddy Garcia? That ended quickly.

I like what I saw of Niese last season, but he also had those moments that said he wasn’t ready. I’d hate for him to come up and get rocked the way Mike Pelfrey did. If there is a viable major league option to Niese, the Mets will take it.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

When a pitcher reaches a career high in innings pitched, there’s a tendency to sometimes hit a wall in the subsequent season. That’s the concern about Mike Pelfrey.

I had it heading into spring training. Not so much anymore. Another good outing the other day. There seems to be something about him that’s encouraging. In retrospect, it might have been a good thing he was hammered early in his career. It seems to have toughened him. It appears to have given him a backbone that’s essential for the core of a strong career.

Pelfrey should continue to improve as he learns the hitters better, gets stronger and refines his pitches. He’s got a great fastball; let it work for him. He doesn’t need to get fancy.

Pelfrey making another positive step might be one of the most important keys for the Mets this season.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Roughly two weeks later than originally thought, Johan Santana pitches tonight. It’s times like these Santana is fond of saying, “I’m not going to do anything crazy.”

Just throw fastballs and work on his mechanics. We shouldn’t get carried away one way or another with him. If he’s lights out or gets lit up, either way, it won’t make or break the season or determine what’s to come.

If he comes out of it sound, that’s all that matters.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

* Mike Pelfrey’s strained left leg has improved enough to where he’ll start Saturday against Washington. Pelfrey threw in the BP today and told reporters: “I felt it a little bit, but it’s a lot better. If it was the regular season and I had to pitch today, I would’ve.”

* Carlos Delgado got six hits in his first seven at-bats playing for Puerto Rico in the WBC.

* Jon Niese gave up a hit and a walk in four scoreless innings in a minor league game today. Niese is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.

* Outfielder Angel Pagan underwent arthroscopic surgery in New York to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and could be out as long as nine weeks. Pagan didn’t play last year after May 12 after injuring his shoulder when he fell into the stands in Los Angeles.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

I wrote at the beginning of spring training Duaner Sanchez’s health was a key, that if he rebounded from shoulder surgery he could become a viable set-up reliever. He was hit hard in his first appearance and has done little to change the feeling impending doom.

Sanchez was released by the Mets after failure to reach 90 on the speed gun in Monday’s game against Baltimore. Sanchez gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. He’s walked six in five innings, an indication not only his speed is gone, but he velocity as well.

Said Minaya: “We looked at his overall performance based on last year to what we see now and we didn’t see the improvement we felt was needed to be effective in the major leagues.”

The beneficiary of Sanchez’s demise is Bobby Parnell.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Mike Pelfrey has a muscle strain in his lower left leg and will miss his next start. Pelfrey felt discomfort after throwing in the bullpen.

In two starts, Pelfrey has given up three runs on six hits. He was scheduled to pitch Monday against Baltimore.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

SANTANA: Pitched BP today.

Johan Santana threw a 36-pitch bullpen session today and in on target to be ready for Opening Day.

Santana told reporters: “I pitched today with no problems in my elbow or my arm or anything, so I am fine, and at the same time I was working on my pitches and I was able to command it, so that’s what you want to see.

“For being my first time facing hitters, I think it was pretty good. Everything was there — breaking ball was there, my change up was there, my arm speed, my legs are there. That’s what you are looking for. You look for your legs to be there and to feel comfortable, and that’s how I felt.”

Barring a setback Santana could get in a minor league game this week.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Johan Santana will throw batting today, and if all goes well, five days after that he could throw in a minor league game.

Manager Jerry Manuel said it means Santana could be on track to pitch the “all important’’ Opening Day.

Meanwhile, Luis Castillo is experience tightness in his left hamstring and is day-to-day.

Ryan Church is expected to play this afternoon after missing two games with a bruised right knee.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Ryan Church was scratched from today’s game with a sore right knee, reports Steve Popper from the Bergen Record.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

SANTANA: Are they sure?

He’s easily the most important Met. How far they go this season is dependant on Johan Santana’s elbow, his shoulder, and his knee – every part of him.

October will be yet another empty month if Santana is injured and misses a substantial part of the season.

The appearance is the Mets aren’t on the same page on a timetable when a day after pitching coach Dan Warthen’s itinerary had Santana missing Opening Day the two-time Cy Young winner said he thought differently.

Santana threw 46 pain-free bullpen pitches Wednesday and the tenor has changed. Santana, manager Jerry Manuel said, isn’t a like everybody else, telling reporters in Port St. Lucie: “You have templates that you like to follow, and everybody don’t fit those templates. That’s why he is who he is.’’

I don’t think anybody doubts Santana’s competitiveness. All you have to do is think back to his last start of the season on a bum knee that required surgery.

This guy throws with his guts as much as he does his arm, and part of me can’t help but wonder if the Mets are doing with Santana what they did with Pedro Martinez, which is let him call the shots.

If they thought he needed a MRI a week ago, then why not go through with it and be sure?

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09