Should Mets starter Mike Pelfrey be applauded for saying what only the most delusional Amazins fan hadn’t thought to themselves last March? Or should he be castigated for not taking stock of his own contribution to the 2011 Mets malaise, ie. maybe the club’s failure to contend is directly related to his spot in the starting rotation? If Pelf had a do over, I suspect he’d probably mutter something about playing hard until the club is eliminated from Wild Card contention rather than offer the following to the New York Post’s Mike Puma ;
“It’s unrealistic for anybody at the end of last year to come in and say, ‘The Mets, this is a one-year thing, next year we’re going to win it all,’ ” Pelfrey said before the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks last night. “It’s unrealistic.”
One Met, in particular, wasn’t amused when told of Pelfrey’s comment.
“He’s cutting his own throat,” the player said. “What’s his record, six and nine? He’s supposed to be the ace of the [bleeping] staff. Why don’t you go and win 12 or 13 games?”
Pelfrey said the health of his arm hasn’t been an issue.
“The only time I had a problem, injury-wise, was last year,” he said, referring to a strained rotator cuff and posterior capsule he pitched through. “My shoulder feels great and my elbow feels great, so I’ve been good. I feel strong. That’s the one thing that means probably more than anything to me is being able to take the ball every fifth day. I think I’ve shown I can do that.”
Puma and Pelfrey both seem to agree the latter being dubbed the staff ace (ahem) by Terry Collins in the absence of Johan Santana was not a particularly helpful thing, but we’re not talking about Bobby Sprowl. Pelfrey turns 28 next January, and next season will be his 7th in the major leagues. That he’s physically fit, capable of throwing 110 pitches, etc. hasn’t been questioned. You’d just prefer he not throw all 110 by the 5th inning.