While there’s no shortage of positives to take away from the Mets’ 6-2 win and series sweep of the Cardinals (Carlos Delgado continuing his recent tear, a successful NY debut for Shawn Green, another solid outing for Reds retread Dave Williams, the increasing likelihood the fraudulent Tony La Russa will be cover the playoffs for Deadspin), the New York Times’ David Picker reminds us the Amazins’ entire starting rotation is officially M.I.A.
The Mets announced yesterday that Brian Bannister, the rookie right-hander who won a spot in the rotation with a standout spring, would be put on the 25-man roster in time to start tonight™s game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium.
He will replace Orlando Hernández, whom the Mets insisted was not ailing but could use a rest.
The Mets made room for Bannister on the 25-man roster by sending Lastings Milledge to Class AAA Norfolk, but they did not say who would start tomorrow in place of Glavine.
They could call up Oliver Pérez and make room by temporarily sending Bannister or Dave Williams, who went six and a third innings for the victory last night, to Norfolk. The Mets could also put Glavine on the disabled list, backdate it and have him ready to come off the D.L. by next weekend.
But any pitcher sent down could not be recalled for 10 days, making him ineligible for any postseason roster. Another option for the Mets is simply to use the long reliever Darren Oliver to start tomorrow™s game.
John Maine is slated to pitch Sunday, and the Mets will likely begin their series at Colorado on Tuesday with Steve Trachsel. After that, the rotation becomes mysterious again.
This is as good a time as any to remind everyone that good seats (well, not-very-obstructed view tickets) still remain for the Brooklyn Cyclones’ September 6th game against Vermont, long-ago dubbed “Brian Bannister Bobblehead Night.”