Word on street is the Mets have signed Chris Young to a one year deal, pending a physical. If the physical pans out, then the rest of this article is relevant. If the physical doesn't pan out, then please disregard the rest of this article. Anyway, with Young the Rotation probably looks something like this:
1. Pelfrey
2. Niese
3. R.A. Dickey
4. Capuano
5. Young
With:
6. Gee
7. Perez (Yeah, right)
Also With:
DL: Johan Santana.
If Spring Training goes the way it should on paper, then the first five will go up north with the team and then the weak link will be phased out when Santana returns from the Disabled List. Below are the numbers for the Top 5 pitchers with their most recent numbers, followed by their career numbers:
Pelfrey: 15-9, 3.66 ERA, 204.0 IP, 1.66 K/BB, 43-41, 4.31 ERA, 1.56 K/BB
Niese: 9-10, 4.20 ERA, 173.2 IP, 2.39 K/BB, 11-12, 4.39 ERA, 2.24 K/BB
Dickey: 11-9, 2.84 ERA, 174.1 IP, 2.48 K/BB, 33-39, 4.70 ERA, 1.71 K/BB
Capuano: 4-4, 3.95 ERA, 66.0 IP, 2.57 K/BB, 46-52, 4.35 ERA, 2.45 K/BB
Young: 2-0, 0.90 ERA, 20.0 IP, 1.36 K/BB (2010), 4-6, 5.21 ERA, 76.0 IP, 1.25 K/BB, 48-34, 3.80 ERA, 2.21 ERA
There are some numbers that immediately pop up when looking at the above stats:
1. Pelfrey, Niese and Dickey all logged in a lot of innings last year, and Dickey would have had more if he was with the team from the start. If the Mets are going to competitive this upcoming season, these three will all need to have similar seasons to last year. Dickey will need to be as good as last year, Niese will have to step up and Pelfrey will need to stay consistent all year. What is promising is all three of them had better numbers than any of their previous systems (but take that with a grain of salt).
2. Looking at the career numbers, three of the five pitchers strike out two batters for every one they walk.
3. Disregarding Young's ERA from last year (it was only 20 innings) and understanding that Capuano's was only in 66 innings of work, those are some nice ERA's
4. Young and Capuano could really be nice surprises. If not, one will be replaced by Santana.
5. This rotation should be a good example as to what Alderson can do.
I am so ready for baseball season.
