Is anyone else scared about our rotation?

[moebarguy]

I am. Although I agreed with the principle of trading Benson, I don't think Minaya has made any good smaller trades this off-season -- in fact, they all have been terrible. At the beginning of the off-season, the one thing the Mets had was starting pitchers. In all fairness to Minaya, we did need relief help, but that's no reason to get crappy relievers for good starting pitchers. In my opinion, we still do not have a setup guy for Wagner. There were so many relievers available via FA, I just don't understand why Minaya couldn't just sign a few, keep Seo and Benson, or at least get good value out of them (package one of them with Matsui or something). As we stand right now, our rotation looks something like this:
Pedro Martinez
Tom Glavine
Steve Trachsel
Aaron Heilman
Victor Zambrano

As good as our offense is (knock on wood), our rotation is too mediocre to advance anywhere in the playoffs. There have been rumors lately of Minaya trying to swing a deal for Jose Contreras...I don't want that guy at all! And, to top it all off, the White Sox are asking for Heilman or Milledge. Now I'm sure if the White Sox were asking for Heilman AND Milledge, Minaya would have done the deal, but luckily that hasn't happened (yet). Who are we kidding here? Something has to be done to make this rotation respectable. Sign Jeff Weaver. I know that a lot people are down on him, especially because of his Yankee days, but now he's older and a more mature pitcher. He did very well for the Dodgers last year in a pitcher's park, and with more run support, he could put up a very good year for the Mets. Also, he'd be able to step in and be our second pitcher in the rotation, which would bump Glavine down to the #3 (which is a bit more respectable). As much as I'd like to trade for Barry Zito, I just don't think he's worth Heilman and Milledge. I know how much success he's had, and how he's a lefty, but he's a free agent after this season, and we'd have a lot of pressure to sign him and we'd end up really overpaying for him (look at Benson). As it looks right now, instead of having a deep rotation and no bullpen, we now have a mediocre rotation and no bullpen. Can you say early exit?

[theAmazingMet]

I agree, the rotation has more question marks than the Riddler's jumpsuit. Can Pedro continue to pitch lights out with his modified cleats? Can Glavine squeeze out one more decent year? Will Zambrano ever pitch up to his potential? Is Heilman for real, or was last year an aberration? Will Traschel have one of his traditional down years?
I do not agree with the Benson trade, nor giving up on Seo. They are number 3-4 starters in any rotation. Conventional wisdom makes me think the rotation is set for the season with maybe a Contreras or Zito trade later in the season. Let's just hope the price ain't too high.

[moebarguy]

They would both cost more at the deadline...

[mikeq1023]

you can never have enough starting pitching. giving up both soo and benson makes me worry. you can't count on the mets pitchers because of their age. and pedro has always needed extra days off at times. who going to fill in?

[KCGHOST]

Yeah, those guys are too old, too fragile, and too expensive. I'll trade you even up.

[Solair Wright]

Meh, I think the Mets is going to struggle in pitching this year, and I am still convinced that Benson trade for two subpar relievers, one a has-been closer, another a rookie, is going to make the Mets regret with the rotation. How about Jorge Julio and John Maine for Contreras, then somehow Jeff Weaver signs with us? I know this isn't going to happen, but the Mets have WAY TOO MANY relievers.

(Yes I am a former Mets fan, so many of you might agree on the latter sentence.)

[moebarguy]

The thing is that I didn't have a problem trading Benson -- in fact I wanted to. It's just that we didn't get anything in return, which I didn't want. Benson was coming off a pretty solid season, and there were a ton of teams out there that needed starting pitching. Whatever happened to giving up something to get something...The Mets always seem to give up something for nothing (in terms of getting and trading prospects or vets).

[theAmazingMet]

The thing is that I didn't have a problem trading Benson -- in fact I wanted to. It's just that we didn't get anything in return, which I didn't want. Benson was coming off a pretty solid season, and there were a ton of teams out there that needed starting pitching. Whatever happened to giving up something to get something...The Mets always seem to give up something for nothing (in terms of getting and trading prospects or vets).
Like a gold glove CF which SEVERAL teams needed to San Diego for Xavier Nady? That made alot of sense! I'm sure we could've finagled a servicable player from Boston or Detriot for him!

[moebarguy]

Yes. Exactly that...

[laxplayer81217]

Imagine if the Mets did not trade Kazmir for Zambrano, I would like the lineup more.

[Solair Wright]

It's another reason why Omar Minaya is an idiot: he makes some really silly trades for low-key players. Okay, somebody explain the Cameron for Nady trade? Or Benson for two below-average relievers, which the Mets are literally harbored with?

What's next? Bobby Bonilla returns from retirement? Gregg Jeffries is the Mets' first baseman again? They could have given a Benson and Cameron trade for Polanco and Bonderman, but NOOO, Minaya had to make things so hard and got ourselves another right fielder. The Lo Duca trade was understandable, and I know the Mets wanted to keep Cameron, but he was worth a lot of money. So who did we Mets get? A right fielder that played most of his games at 1B last year.

[moebarguy]

Imagine if the Mets did not trade Kazmir for Zambrano, I would like the lineup more.

Let's not beat a dead horse here -- it kills me every time I see the name Kazmir...:mad:

[KingJ]

You guys better pray there are no major injuries in the WBC, spring training, or early in the season. Bow...I mean Minaya so far has done the following:
Trade the Minors for Big Names
Trade Benson, Seo, and Cameron for mostly nobodies.
Signed Tike Redman, Endy Chavez, and Julio Franco to make up for it.

Can you imagine Glavine being your ace without Pedro? Tike Redman in LF, Endy Chavez in CF in place of Floyd and Beltran? Julio Franco the 1B?

Then again, this could mean good things for the Bench Team Nats who will trade away all the backups and reserves to New York. Yay Injuries!

[brooklynboy]

You guys better pray there are no major injuries in the WBC, spring training, or early in the season. Bow...I mean Minaya so far has done the following:
Trade the Minors for Big Names
Trade Benson, Seo, and Cameron for mostly nobodies.
Signed Tike Redman, Endy Chavez, and Julio Franco to make up for it.

Can you imagine Glavine being your ace without Pedro? Tike Redman in LF, Endy Chavez in CF in place of Floyd and Beltran? Julio Franco the 1B?

Then again, this could mean good things for the Bench Team Nats who will trade away all the backups and reserves to New York. Yay Injuries!

Remember what Tug sed.."Ya Gotta Believe".. And I believe we got a
problem....

:hp

[Solair Wright]

You guys better pray there are no major injuries in the WBC, spring training, or early in the season. Bow...I mean Minaya so far has done the following:
Trade the Minors for Big Names
Trade Benson, Seo, and Cameron for mostly nobodies.
Signed Tike Redman, Endy Chavez, and Julio Franco to make up for it.

Can you imagine Glavine being your ace without Pedro? Tike Redman in LF, Endy Chavez in CF in place of Floyd and Beltran? Julio Franco the 1B?

Then again, this could mean good things for the Bench Team Nats who will trade away all the backups and reserves to New York. Yay Injuries!

Endy Chavez will backup Beltran, and Tike Redman has been designated for assignment a while ago. Julio Franco will back up Carlos Delgado or most likely pinch hit. Trading minor leaguers for big names is a way to damage reputation, and getting rid of the big guys for nobodies is going to dent the foundation even worse. Willie Randolph has nothing to do with this, it's Omar "Oman" Minaya.

[KingJ]

Endy Chavez will backup Beltran, and Tike Redman has been designated for assignment a while ago. Julio Franco will back up Carlos Delgado or most likely pinch hit. Trading minor leaguers for big names is a way to damage reputation, and getting rid of the big guys for nobodies is going to dent the foundation even worse. Willie Randolph has nothing to do with this, it's Omar "Oman" Minaya.


Yeah, I know, but what by some freak bad luck that Floyd, Beltran, Pedro, Delgado get injured for a week or two. You have no players who could do a somewhat decent job in their place.

[moebarguy]

I would be very upset if Pedro, Delgado, and Floyd all got injured at the same time...Although knowing the Mets, it would happen.

[brooklynboy]

I would be very upset if Pedro, Delgado, and Floyd all got injured at the same time...Although knowing the Mets, it would happen.
Pedro, we all worry about...Floyd, ya wonder when he'll get hurt, Delgado should do okay.........

[moebarguy]

Well, we got Jose Lima, now I feel good about the rotation...:(

[brooklynboy]

Moe, ya shud be coverin baseball for ESPN.....ya tell it like it is...

lolol

Amazin!!! Simply Amazin!

[moebarguy]

Well, at least his wife is good looking...

[metsfan28]

i agree with moe that our rotation needs help i say we stick lima in there even though hes on a decline from his better years with houston he still is a work horse and stick brad ford in there just for a diff look and to mix it up a lil 2
Pedro Martinez
Tom Glavine
Steve Trachsel
Aaron Heilman
5th starter is bradford/lima

stick zambrano in the pen

[moebarguy]

Bradford isn't a starting pitcher, so he'll stay in the bullpen. As for starting Lima over Zambrano, I guess it sort of depends on spring training. Lima was plain terrible for the Royals last year, while Zambrano did have good starts here and there.

[metsfan28]

i saw on the news that said if the mets had to theyd put bradford in the rotation

[moebarguy]

I think they'd stick John Maine in the rotation before Bradford as well...

[metsfan28]

see i think its safe to say there are some of us on this forum that like the moves minaya made and there are some of us that dont i for one like them and i dont like them i like them because we have more power in delgado we picked up julio franco which even tho hes old he brings the experience to our infield with reyes at short wright at 3rd and depending on if either keppinger or hernandez gets the 2b job and we have a pretty solid cathing core with loduca

but i dont like giving away young rising talent that we had for pitching for some old run down guys

[metsfan28]

but if god willing we make it to the play offs i gurantee u no one would be complaining about the moces he made this off season

[moebarguy]

If we make the playoffs, we won't go far because our bullpen stinks and our rotation is weak...pitching wins, and we don't have it

[moebarguy]

But hey, if all of our starting pitchers stay healthy and have career years, we might make it to the World Series...:(

[metsfan28]

i dont know if our pen is that bad we just have has beens

[moebarguy]

You just contradicted yourself :)

[brooklynboy]

If Pedro gets his shoe and if he stays healthy and if he doesn't tire
And if Glavine pitches like last years second half....
And if Trachsel stays healthy and consistant...
And if Heilmann proves he's a ML starter....
And if a #5 steps up....

Then we'll worry bout the bullpen!!!

:hp

Amazin...Simply Amazin

[metsfan28]

your askin for alot although i hope all comes true

[brooklynboy]

I also believe in the Easter Beagle!! lol

Amazin..Simply Amazin!!!!