For all of you that know me out there, you know there are two things that I just fully cannot stand. The first being Radiohead, and the second being the New York Rangers. Well you can now add the handling of pitching staffs by all Major League teams (especially our beloved New York Mets) to that list.

Now I know that the bullpen is an integral part of the Major League game nowadays, and that in the minors pitchers are groomed to only go seven innings. I also know that in this age of the high priced bullpen and the evil pitch count complete games are a pretty much a rarity. But let's be realistic, there is no excuse for the Mets to not have one complete game this season. None. There have been times this year where I have been watching games and Willie or Jerry (pending on time of season) would come to take out a pitcher and I would just ask myself...why? I'll tell you right now, you would have never seen that with Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, or my boy Ron Darling (keep in mind one of my ultimate goals in life is to be "boys" with Ron Darling...he just seems like such a cool dude). Seaver probably would have actually flipped off whoever it is that was trying to take him out of the game. It would have been a slap in the face of a pitcher to take him out of the game as he was pitching a shut out back in the 70's, 80's, or even the early 90's. But recently it has become an all too common trend.

There have been two games this season that I can think off of the top of my head, where both Willie and Jerry have removed Johan Santana too soon. Now I know Santana has a history of never throwing complete games, and taking himself out of games, but this is where Jerry needs to now step up. We are going to pay this man $150 million and he can't throw us a complete game shut out every now and again. I was down in Philly for the 4th of July game where Duaner Sanchez decided that you only need two outs to complete an inning. Santana had under 100 pitches going into the ninth, and was still mowing down batters. But at the end of the eighth the doors to the pen opened, and out trotted Mr. Sanchez. JD=stunned. Of course that is the only game we lost in the series (thanks guys), and in the long run its not too much of a big deal anymore, but it really makes you wonder where this non complete game mentality that the New York Mets have came from. I would also like to think that Jerry would want to use this as an opportunity to show the players that this is HIS show. Putting his foot down on his ace (who coincidentally is the best pitcher in baseball) would show me a lot, and make the Willie firing more justified.

Before I get back into this art of pitching discussion, I must make a quick comment about our new manager. Now, I had problems with the ways Willie ran things at times, but I wasn't calling for his head. But I read Jayson Stark's Rumblings column today over at ESPN, and Billy Wagner basically set me straight about Willie. In short he basically said, it is nice having a more "Met-like" clubhouse under Jerry. Wagner also said that it was a nice change from the "Yankee-like" clubhouse that Willie ran. Wags also went on to say that the players have been more relaxed, and the clubhouse has been a better place in general. Now he never trashed Willie, as he likes Willie as a person (and how could you not). But if the Mets continue these winning ways under Jerry and make a run in the playoffs, I Jersey Dan, will feel like a huge fool for supporting Willie for as long as I did. I'm already starting to feel like a huge fool with the way our bats are starting to wake up. Though I can't stand the way Jerry handles his pitching staff at times.

Back to that pitching thing. Oliver Perez on Sunday. Even before the rain delay he was going to take Perez out. Why? He's young, he was actually pitching well, let the man throw until he can't throw no more. Perez needs as much time on that mound as possible. If he is to ever get consistent on the hill, that is the way he is going to do it. Same with Pelfrey on Tuesday. People will say his pitch count is high and what not. Who cares, pitch counts are the dumbest, most useless, overrated stat in baseball. The problem is pitchers need to learn how to pitch better again. Pitchers just aren't as good nowadays. They don't have as many good pitches in their arsenal, and as the great Ralph Kiner said a few weeks back during a game "they don't pace themselves." The reason all the great pitchers could go nine innings was because they paced themselves and they only threw hard when they needed to. Let's face it, Santana is great, but he can't stand up to Seaver, Doc, Ron, Jerry, or El Sid. Those guys were workhorses. I'm sure there are times when Ron is up in the booth just laughing at the fact that Mets starters are being taken out of games that they are throwing shut outs in. I think Ron understands this new age of pitching, but at the same time I'm sure Ron thinks its weak (that's just me assuming though).

What can be done? Well it starts in the minors. Pitchers should be groomed to go nine innings. Not six, not seven, not 100 pitches, but nine innings. Nine innings should be the goal. Now obviously on some days pitchers won't have their best stuff and they will be taken out, and that is fine by me. But if a pitcher is on, he should be staying in the game and giving his bullpen a rest. And let's face it, the New York Mets bullpen could use a rest every now and again. I mean it's nice to see Jerry bring stability to the pen by giving guys certain roles, but that doesn't mean you have use those guys every night. The only guy I have seen Manuel use less is Wags, who doesn't come in nearly for as many non-save situations as he used to.

You can call me old fashioned, but I just wish we could bring back some semblance of old time baseball from the 1970's and 1980's. I mean from what I've been told by the old timers, the quality of play in todays game is nowhere near the quality of play of yesterday's game. The Mets need to start pushing their starters more, start getting them ready for the post season where they might need to throw 125 pitches in a game. If the starting pitching doesn't toughen up and start pitching more innings, this team will not go far in the post season. Not with the way the bullpen has been overworked. You could see the bullpen tiring out in May, so can you imagine what it would be like in October? Read More...

A few weeks ago over at the facebook group I asked the question; what should the Mets do if we don't acquire another starting pitcher this off season? My solution to this potential problem was to resurrect an old idea; one which would allow the Mets to solidify the rotation with a young veteran pitcher and strengthen the bullpen with two proven relievers, all without having to sacrifice the farm... IMPOSSIBLE you say?

START HEILMAN!!!!!
(you read correctly)

Heilman can be the 5th starter behind Pedro, El Duque, Maine and Perez, and Mike Pelfrey can fill in for ElDuque if and when he finds himself on the DL.

Now here's the key to this plan...

Then, we turn around and trade prospects for established relievers, who can be had for much less than established starters.

My suggestion was the trade Phillip Humber, Mike Carp and Kevin Mulvey to the Nationals for Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch. However some other trade or combination of trades should be able to accomplish a similar goal, which in this case is to acquire two proven relievers for a few prospects not named Carlos Gomez, Fernando Martinez or Mike Pelfrey.

BUT WAIT... Heilman is too valuable to the bullpen... I've always hated that statement, probably because it tries to argue that relief pitching is more important that starting pitching, which, is a ridiculous argument to begin with, if that were true, how do you explain Carlos Silva making more than Billy Wagner in 2008? Although that one boggles my mind as well.

Heilman's importance to the bullpen is certainly outweighed by his potential importance to the rotation. Moving Heilman to the rotation not only strengthens the rotation, but it also allows the Mets to strengthen the bullpen as well. If the rotation is completed with Heilman, the Mets' prospects can be traded towards strengthening the bullpen, not to mention it will allow them to put Pelfrey in the bullpen as well.

WELL... putting Heilman in the rotation doesn't solve the rotation's problems... Well I agree partially, having Heilman in there isn't equal to having Johan Santana in there, but with the Twins asking for Jose Reyes... I say having Ruben Gotay at short isn't exactly equal to having Reyes either. Let's assume for the moment that we are unable to land an ace by spring training, why should we have Mike Pelfrey and Phillip Humber competing for the 5th spot, and have Heilman trapped in the bullpen when instead we could have an improved bullpen (by trading Humber, Mulvey and Carp), and have Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman compete for the 5th spot? Heilman is certainly a better option than Humber, who has a grand total of 9 career innings pitched in the major leagues. Heilman is a much better pitcher now than he was when he first came up 5 years ago, and up until he was first moved to the bullpen in 2005 he had been a starting pitcher his entire career. His fastball and change up are above average, and he has one of the best change ups in the game, so, someone tell me why don't we do this?
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Well Mets fans, after 5 months of watching our boys day in and day out, the season abruptly came to an end last Sunday. There is no need to explain what happened since we all wont forget what happened anytime soon. But in my opinion, perhaps this is a blessing in disguise, and here is why.

The Mets had a ton of problems down the stretch. The starting pitching decided to take a hiatus, minus those few great starts from Oliver Perez John Maine and Pedro Martinez, the starting pitching made the bullpen tire out. It would get to the 5th inning, and we all would collectively hold our breaths due to Guillermo Mota or Aaron Sele due to come in. In addition, Jose Reyes hit just .205 in September. That is a bad sign because when Reyes does well, usually the Mets follow.

With this being said there are a few big issues that Omar Minaya and company have to take care of over the postseason. First, the bullpen needs to be addressed. Do whatever it takes to find a long man that isn’t Aaron Sele. Jorge Sosa attempted to be that role for a while, but eventually faltered towards the end of the season. Also, middle relief please. Mota and Schowenweis just don’t do what the Mets need in the 6th and 7th inning. Get us a guy who we can count on.

We also need some type of starting pitcher to supplement Pedro Ollie and John Maine assuming that Tom Glavine doesn’t come back. Many Met fans have been asking to trade the farm system for Johan Santana. While I certainly would love to have him in the rotation, I do not want to give up the farm for someone in a walk year (even if it was a sign and trade). I still feel like Milledge, Gomez, and company have a lot to prove. Pelfrey and Humber can compete for a position in the rotation, but I still don’t feel confident without another experienced arm. I would also expect Kevin Mulvey to compete for a rotation spot as well. Pelfrey showed a lot of maturity towards the end of the season and Humber was thrown into a tough situation and held his own having to start in the last week of the season in a pennant race.

As far as the offense goes, do not expect Shawn Green or Jose Valentin to be back in any way shape or form. I expect that Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez will be competing for the Right Field job next year especially considering Mosies Alou will be playing at least one more year out in left field.

This can be a learning experience for everyone though. Being that the Mets showed overconfidence and they hit the brick wall hard, now is the time to improve and make a run at next season. The organization and fans are extremely disappointed. I would look for the Mets to do anything in their power to improve next year.

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With the Mets bullpen in desperate need of some relief, the Mets called upon veteran Orlando Hernandez to pitch out of the bullpen Wednesday night. El Duque pitched a scoreless 7th, before the Mets turned it over to Heilman and Wagner to finish out the game.

Yet even ElDuque's outing was anything but easy, Hernandez walked two batters and struggled with his location. This shouldn't be much cause for alarm, as El Duque was pitching for the first time in 15 days.

Manager Willie Randolph said following Wednesday's game, "For him to be a starter as we move forward, it's a long shot". This is interesting, since most Mets Fans were expecting John Maine to potentially be moved to the bullpen for the playoffs.

Hernandez actually has had experience pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs before, as he did so for the Chicago White Sox during their championship run in 2005.

Hopefully ELDUQUE will spell RELIEF as the Mets try to hold off the Phillies down the stretch
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Over the last week, the Mets have played better baseball with the offense showing consistency and fight until the final strike. However, as its been the trend, one thing goes for the better, and one thing goes for the worse.

A very strong point of the 2006 team was the bullpen that picked up for the somewhat weak rotation. This year, the rotation is stronger, but the bullpen is weaker. If one of our starters last year were unable to go we all knew that the combination of Oliver in long relief, Bradford in the 6^th and 7^th inning, Heilman in the 8^th, and Wagner in the 9^th would would be powerful. However, this year if anyone besides Heilman (yes I am a Heilman fan, hes a 2^nd half pitcher), Wagner, or Feliciano comes in, we all hold our breath.

However, I am a firm believer that a super offense can bail out a bullpen. While the bullpen has blown games and the offense hasn’t been able to always bail them out, I believe even if the bullpen gives up 2 runs, the Mets can make a comeback. Also, since the offense shows fights, it eventually could trickle the momentum down to the bullpen. This wasnt always true throughout this season, but over the last 2 weeks this is something thats changed for the better.

So there you are Mets fans. While we all cringe on the bullpen at points that are crucial, our offense has what it takes to bail us out. It should be an interesting end of the season, to say the least.