It's hard to replace a 287-game winner, but the Mets will have to try if Tom Glavine indeed does have a blood clot in his left shoulder, as he fears. Right now, let's assume Pedro is going to be back and that the Mets don't pick up another significant starter before the Aug. 31 postseason roster deadline. Who do you want to start Games 2, 3 and 4 of a playoff series? The candidates are:
El Duque
Steve Trachsel
John Maine
Dave Williams
Brian Bannister (Thanks, K)
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey
Jose Lima (just kidding)
Whomever you pick, do you have a lot less confidence today than you did yesterday about the Mets making it to the World Series?
UPDATE: Just to show you we do care about your comments, folks, we've changed the original headline on this posting to make it more tasteful. It's something we could never do in the newspaper. Keep posting!
Comments (15)
El Duque, Maine, Trax in that order. Pedro's healthy issues were known, and i've assumed Glavine was worn down or injured since the All Star break. But I certainly did not expect a season ender from either; as such I am slightly less confident about the Mets making the WS I am sigificantly less confident about their ability to compete with the AL champ, much less room for error there.
I'm interested to see how Williams does in his next few starts after looking pretty good for the majority of the game yesterday before getting hurt. You seem to have left one pitcher off your list who started the season in the starting rotation. Any idea how Bannister is doing in the minors? Either way, after Pedro and El Duque, I'm having trouble picking a third/fourth pitcher. I'd probably wait and see who's hot at the end of the season and ride that train.
One way or another... the Mets will survive this ordeal.
When it comes to the playoffs or a World Series..what you forget is its a differant breed of person out there.You worry too much...Whomever the starter is....Trax... Maine... Pedro...the Mets will do fine....Playoffs and WS come from the heart...not statistics.
K, I would consider Bannister for a meaningless Sept game, that is all. Spring aside, he showed little in his outings, and has been sidelined most of the year. If he starts a postseason game we are sunk. He gets the ball right before the clock hits LIMATIMA!!!
An interesting analysis of possible pitching matchups:
http://baseballcrank.com/archives2/2006/08/baseball_unaced.php
1) Pedro
2) Traschel (I trust him more tha Duque for some reason)
3) El Duque
4) Maine
%) Banister
Tom...here's wishing you a speedy recovery !
Glavine's experience would be missed, but his health is a priority...anyway here's my choices
1. Pedro
2. El Duque (Mr.October)
3. Traschel
4. Maine
5. Lima (just kidding)
I must say that I find the headline of this blog just extremely poor taste. "Clots all, folks?" Does Anthony Rieber realize that Glavine could be facing some serious health issues? Apparently not, because he turns the issue into a mock Porky Pig line. What a digusting display.
i like perez. he's got movement on his pitches.
Mebert, I agree with you. The poor taste of the "Clots all, folks?" heading. I had befriended a pitcher in highschool that was a highly regarded prep star. He had a blazing fastball (it made a buzzing sound as it traveled). The only other pitcher I saw then who could throw that hard was named McCarthy and he later pitched for Philadelphia. Both those guys were really a treat to see in person. Well, my friend got a blood clot his senior year and his arm was operated on. Very sad and I remember the look in his face of sadness.
I, like most of you, worry about our pitching experience during the playoffs. Here's a thought! Now that the YaNkS have all but eliminated the Reds and their bloody sox's, how about aquiring the other pitching legend David Wells? He will atleast keep you in games. He might bring some flavor to the Mets but atleast he won't be boring. I know, I know, that would mean aging pitchers and all that hoonbogle...but when it comes to the WS it's all about keeping the teams close enough to score in the 7th.
McCarthy I believe was drafted by Philadelphia and later made it to the show with the Seattle Mariners. My schoolmate had his career end with the blood clot surgery. He was at the time, just as dazzling as McCarthy.
I think you gotta go
1. Pedro
2. El Duque
3. Trachsel
4. Maine
El Duque is a PROVEN playoff pitcher - including last year with the White Sox. Better go with Playoff experience before anything else. In the Playoffs, you never need more than 4 starters anyway. Sometimes only three. In 86, didn't the Mets only start Gooden, Ojeda and Darling? Am I missing someone? El Sid was in the bullpen.
Whew...Great news on Glavine !
sutures chipmunk tempts crochets transmits.cost?