Last night should have been a nice easy win for the Mets. Chris Woodward remembered how to hit the ball, driving in 3 runs. Jose Reyes hit his 15th HR, a 3 run shot. The Mets had a nice 10-2 cushion after 4 innings. Then Steve Trashball (thanks Coop!) decided to be benevolent and give up a couple of more Home Runs, back to back shots by Scott Rolen and Preston Wilson to lead off the 5th. He then walked Encarnacion, and Willie yanked him. Thankfully. Another 3 home runs later, making the count 26 long-ball given up this season.
There has been a lot of discussion over who should be in the rotation once the playoffs start. The definites are Pedro and Glavine. After that, the choices are El Duque, John Maine and Trashball. Now, Duque has a good playoff history, particularly as a starter, and did pitch in relief last year for the White Sox. The fact that he can work out of the pen, while Maine and Trashball can not, probably means Duque will be in the pen, leaving Maine and Trashball as the other two starters. This is a problem, as Trashball cannot be counted on for the most part.
Yes, he is now 13-5. However, he has a 5.00 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. This is not a guy fans are going to feel really comfortable with in a key game. Yes, he finds a way to win, but that is usually due to the offense scoring runs in bunches. He has 3 starts this season of 7 innings, the rest are 6 or fewer. Colorado, San Francisco and St. Louis (in May) are the teams he went 7 against. St. Louis is good, the others, not so much.
Now, I know El Duque has had his share of stinkers since becoming a Met, but he has also had more starts where he has dominated the oppostion, including games against the Yankees, San Diego, Atlanta. Maine, despite his poor start Tuesday, has been dominant since returning. In July, he was 1-2, with a 1.63 ERA. In August, he is 2-0, while his ERA is 5.24, primarily the poor game against Pujols.
Now, we know Willie likes his veterans, probably giving Trashball the edge, but he should consider using the guy who gives his team the best chance of winning. In the playoffs, runs are at a premium, there are no guarantees the offense can support him. The vote here is for Duque and Maine. Sorry Steve.
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6 comments:
Ed -
The playoff rotation conundrum is an interesting one. I do think Maine could work out of the pen. Remember, he did work a scoreless inning of relief for the Mets earlier this year. Obviously, if looking at it objectively, Maine and El Duque have both made better cases for themselves to start in the playoffs. The problem is, Trachsel does the Mets absolutely no good in the pen, since he takes like 45 minutes to warm up. So if Trachsel is not in he rotation, he shouldn't even be on the roster.
Since I don't think Willie would possibly leave him off the roster, I anticipate the young and inexperienced Maine as being the odd man out. Unjustly.
danny - I think (fear) you are correct. The silver lining is that Maine is making his case for being in the rotation next year. Tracshel will more than likely not be back. Hopefully.
I wouldn't mind Maine out of the pen. Heilman & Maine setting up Wagner could be very strong (think of Maine on his first trip through a lineup).
But to sit Maine in favor of Trachs . . . yeesh. Then I can't go for it.
Hey Ed - thanks for the shout-out! I do have to give credit where it is due - the dude who sits next to me at Shea gave him that name. It's so easy, yet so on the money.
I am not ashamed to admit that I defend Trash on every site when fans throw him to the wolves. But after last night, i see why fans throw him the wolves. Big lead? No problem! Let's give our main potential competition in the playoffs some mouth watering meatballs to eat! Short lead or no lead? Then I'll buckle down. Whatever Trash, whatever.
It seems that most of you agree on the point that Trashball will be in the rotation. I agree, I just wish it was not the case.
To quote Herm Edwards - You play to win the game.
You do not play to reward a long time on all accounts good guy. As Willie says, "What are you going to do, fool around? Play the game." Put the guys who are going to give you the best shot to win out there.
I don't see Steve as that guy, unless Maine or Duque stinks for the rest of the season.
denizen - I never said Herm was a good coach, he did give good quote. He did say "you play to win the game", which I took as more of a "do as I say, not as I do type thing." Having a lame armed overpaid QB doesn't help though.
I know, Trax is gonna be there. I just hope he does well. Of course, I always hope that, and am usually disappointed.
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