28 (-22) Days Later

When I wrote last Friday I told you a couple of things. I told you that I didn't care as much about the series against the Phils because the Mets are now fully entrenched in the role as the favorite. My sense of urgency with each game just wasn't there, like it used to be, because we no longer had to play with our backs against the wall. I also told you that the series didn't matter. The Mets were still up 2 on the Phils with 3 weeks to go. They were the best team and they would be fine.

Here we are about a week later.

And I could not be happier.



This weekend against the Braves was a sweat. It was not the 118 degree Mexican heat that had my juices flowing. It was the importance of the series. The Mets finally needed these games. They couldn't afford another series loss. I found myself running around the lovely city of Punto Palasco, Mexico scrambling for updates unlike any time since 2000. And I was happy. I needed those games. I needed Mets baseball and I needed it the way I had it for the first 24 years of my life: I needed the anxiety.

And the Mets prevailed.

Which takes us to part II of my point from last Friday. The Phillies series didn't matter.

Here we are 6 days later and the Mets are 5 games up on the Phils. Every newspaper and fan in NYC who wanted Willie's head or thought the season was done is now pleasantly surprised. Sip's endorphines have not changed one bit.

Sip remains even keeled.

The Mets were and remain the best team in the National League. They should make the playoffs. And now we are just a bit closer. And with the return of Pedro an early success, Willie will actually have to make a managerial decision of substance.



Assuming the Mets make the playoffs, who are they going to throw out there on the mound?

The first question to ask is how many starters? I think the answer is that the Mets will definitely go to a 4-man rotation. There is no reason to have pitchers going on short rest when no one really stands out as the Ace of the staff that you really want to force out there.


So which four?

This one has my head spinning.

I think the only lock is Glavine...Right? Then maybe El Duque, the guy with the playoff experience.

But which 2 do you take out of Pedro, Maine and Perez? I don't think you could argue against any of them (assuming Pedro remains healthy).

All these guys can pitch. Pedro is a hall of a famer, sure. But Maine and Perez , despite some recent struggles, are 15 game winners who were great last October.

Do you go by matchups? Do the Mets go for Maine and Pedro in a series against the righthand heavy dbacks but replace Perez with one of the two against the lefty dominated Padres?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Managers don't earn their money making these types of decisions, they earn it keeping players and ownership happy and comfortable. But the media doesn't realize this, or at least does not want to admit it.

So Willie's season will most likely be judged by this decision.

Thoughts?

Vaya,
Sip

(Pics courtesy of Nymag.com, wordpress.com)