Keep The Future in the Future

By Metstradamus
Posted Friday, May 30, 2008

The big question that faces the Mets at this very moment is the question regarding Pedro Martinez, and that is this: Who leaves the rotation to make room? Will it be Claudio Vargas ... who at this very moment is mowing down the Los Angeles Dodgers (as it turns out, just two bad pitches in five and 2/3's innings) and was one of men responsible for ending the losing streak from hell? Or will it be Mike Pelfrey, whom last we saw was spitting the bit, again, against the Florida Marlins?

Last year, I seem to remember writing something in this space sometime last year that it does no good to keep Pelfrey away from the big club. Funny how 162 games of 77-83 will change one's mind. Because now, I can't imagine any good coming out of the Mets keeping Pelfrey with the big club.

The numbers don't lie. Since Pelfrey's last win on April 15th, he's 0-6 with an ERA of 6.57. The only bright spot on Pelfrey's ledger in that time were those 7 and 2/3's innings he twirled against Washington during that afternoon game where he made a bid for a no-hitter through the first six innings. If you really want to throw a wet blanket over that and point out that it was a day game after a night game where opposing hitters might not be at their best, then since April 15th, his ERA is 7.98 outside of that game.

Yet Pedro's start is tentatively scheduled for June 3rd, which happens to be Vargas' next turn in the rotation. So what gives?

As there always is with most teams, there's more to it than just numbers. Mike Pelfrey is a first round draft pick. First round draft picks that don't become superstars by the age of 24 or 25, fairly or unfairly, are labeled as busts. And something tells me that if the Mets were to send him down now for a second straight season, it might be construed as an admission of failure. And for this franchise especially, the one which used caution in keeping Generation K around until the last possible moment, yet managed to trade Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano, they so desperately want to have a young pitcher become a star ... and not for another franchise. Mike Pelfrey becomes that project that the Mets have planted their flag of hope in.

There's irony in this situation at every turn. It's ironic that an organization that has made decisions based on the here and now without thinking of long term effects (four year deals for Pedro Martinez, Luis Castillo, and trading for three years of Carlos Delgado ... with all being the age of 36 during the last season of their contracts) seems to be ultra committed to the future when it comes to Pelfrey. It's also ironic that another Met castoff is proving that it's all right to be a late bloomer. Matt Lindstrom is 28 years old, and is only now starting to come into his own (after leaving the Mets for the Marlins ... of course) after enduring years of wildness in the Mets system. More than likely, it took a trade for Lindstrom to see his potential (which doesn't speak well for Rick Peterson, but that's another column for another time, isn't it?) And it might take a trade for Pelfrey to see his ... although he has given himself more of a chance to get to, and stay in the majors than Lindstrom ever did.

But with this franchise fighting for its life just past Memorial Day, and Claudio Vargas giving the Mets innings that Mike Pelfrey could ever hope to deliver, this decision should be a no-brainer. Whether Mike Pelfrey's time is coming or not, his time is not now. And now is the only thing the major league club should be worried about now.

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Every once in a while, Metstradamus comes up with something smart. But he doesn't know how to feel about Mark Kriegel coming up with the same theory as he did in this space four days earlier. In any event, if you want to continue to read stuff four days before Kriegel comes up with it, then Metstradamus' Musings and Prophecies are for you. (Disclaimer: Metstradamus isn't vain enough to really believe that anybody with a major sports outlet would actually steal from him ... because he's really not that smart.)