Where are the pitchers

I think it's fairly obvious that I kind of gave up on March. This month has been painfully long, and I'm just happy we get to change the calendars tomorrow. And guess what? The Mets haven't helped.

I wanted to be optimistic going into spring training, and I was for about 2 weeks. Here's the thing: what the hell is going on with our pitchers? Now, I know that spring training doesn't matter, and that ERAs and wins/losses in March are irrelevant. But it's not like a switch is going to get flipped on April 5th and change everything. I still have faith because Johan is nothing if not a gamer, but at the same time he was a notoriously slow starter with Minnesota. Last year was really an anomaly for him. I hate the fact that Perez, Pelfrey, and Maine have done nothing to ease the anxiety most Mets fans feel regarding their abilities to be successful. The difference is that I know Johan will work through it and figure it out himself.

And that's still only four pitchers. What about our fifth starter? I don't even think it's worth speculating on who Jerry and Omar are going to pick, because at different points this spring hasn't everyone been the front runner at one point or another? Why does it feel like we are scrambling around at the last minute, trying to throw together a legitimate pitching staff?

This is why I always felt pitching should have been a priority this off season. Yes, the lack of home run power in 2009 was disturbing, but there are other ways to score runs and win games. Are home runs REALLY the issue when your starters only last 5 or 6 innings (at best) and probably give up 5 runs during that time? I think it's a fair to say that for the Mets to be serious contenders, we need to get between 40-43 combined wins out of Perez, Pelfrey, and Maine. Can you see that happening at this point in time? If everything - and I mean everything - breaks right, they have the potential... but if I'm honest with myself, I don't think there is any way that happens. What's a suffering fan to do....

The kids are all right

One of the few bright spots in Port St. Lucie this spring has been the fact that our prospects actually look like they might live up to the hype surrounding them this time around. Ike Davis has been hitting like crazy - although the defense he prides himself on has been a bit shaky. Fernando Martinez is showing signs that his cup of coffee last year was a poor showing and not up to his usual standard. Reuben Tejada has started some conversations about whether or not he could be moved over to second base (mostly among fans... and yes, we do remember what happened the last time the Mets tried to convert a shortstop into a second baseman). I think it's important that these guys at least start the year in AAA. Not only will they get regular playing time - something Martinez in particular definitely needs - but they will also get used to playing together.

But man, Jenrry Mejia is something else all together. He's only 20 years old and has already been compared to Mariano Rivera and Dwight Gooden. I would love to see Mejia make the team this year... but only if the Mets actually have a plan for him. I do not want them to stick him in the bullpen as an 8th inning guy, only to change their minds next year and try to make him back into a starter etc, etc. As much as John Maine's comments earlier in the week rubbed people the wrong way, I think it's true that relievers and starters approach the game differently. If Mejia is truly as gifted as he seems to be, then he is worth the wait and deserves a solid plan. The 8th inning is a glaring hole in the bullpen right now so I understand why there has been some chatter about Mejia filling that role. Personally, I would rather see the Mets try to develop Mejia into a starter since he brings some excitement and confidence to the mound. I love Johan Santana, but he's not going to be around forever. Wouldn't it be helpful to have someone in our system capable of taking his place at some point? That being said, if the Mets see Mejia as their closer of the future, they should move forward with him in the bullpen. Just make up your mind and stick to the decision - is that really asking too much?

We Believe in....

Not much of anything anymore. Jose Reyes was diagnosed with a hyper active thyroid, and he will be "resting and changing his diet" for 2-8 weeks while he waits for his thyroid levels to stabilize. He can't elevate his heart rate until that happens. I'm confused as to how this issue (or non-issue, if you listen to the Mets) went from "there was something in his blood work we want to check out, but he'll be in uniform by the weekend" to missing anywhere from 2-8 weeks. And that's not counting getting himself back into baseball shape, because let's not forget he is still rehabbing a hamstring injury that limited him to 36 games in 2009.

To borrow a quote from "A Few Good Men" - I suppose it's way too much to hope you're making this all up just to bother me.

Of course it is, because this is the Mets we're talking about. For whatever reason, they always come off looking terrible in these situations. I'd like to think that the media is digging for issues with the Mets because of the injury-ravaged 2009 campaign... but this seems to happen once a month. You never hear about things like this with any other team.

I'm so tired of this team being the joke of the major leagues for one reason or another. They just make such dumb choices... Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel have no problem issuing statements about players that have "won" starting spots before spring training has started. And they were perfectly willing to comment on Reyes prior to today. But now, when we actually need them to say something, they have disappeared. Pay attention, boys - stand up and face the music. Issue an official statement about this because as a fan I'm at a loss and I know I'm not alone. Stop acting like the fans don't ever deserve an explanation. Sometimes we are crazy and demand far too much, but sometimes we get it right - and this is one of those times.