Mets' 2009 Starting Rotation

Here is 60ft6in.com's look at the Mets' 2009 starting rotation.

I think at this point in the careers of John Maine, Oliver Perez, and even Mike Pelfrey, us Mets fans were hoping the trio would have solidified themselves as reliable major league starters.

Unfortunately, all they've done is solidify the fact that we still don't know how they are going to perform on a given start.

Ideally, Maine is a guy that can post ERA's around 3.00-3.50, with solid strikeout numbers, and throw 200 innings.

The truth is he has trouble missing bats and finishing off hitters. He also issues too many walks, which is especially painful when he's already got two strikes on the batter.

He failed to throw a full six innings in 12 of his 25 starts last season, and only had two starts where he threw at least seven innings.

Maine will be 28 years old this year, and should be in his prime.

I'm actually predicting an improvement for Maine. I think he'll pitch a little more like he did in 2007, and hopefully win a few more games.

But coming off shoulder surgery, and posting awful spring numbers, no one really knows what he will bring this season.

Perez is almost the same pitcher, except when he has his meltdowns, they are Chernobyl-like.

Perez always posts low hit totals and has a good fastball, just like Maine. However, he also has a problem with walks, just like Maine.

After the new coaching staff arrived last year, Perez went on a 13-game stretch where he threw at least six innings in every start. I don't know whether it was Dan Warthen's coaching, or the fact that manager Jerry Manuel allowed him to stay in games and pitch himself out of trouble.

I watched one spring appearance by Perez. His velocity seemed a bit down again, but he looked very relaxed and threw the ball well.

I don't see how anyone could predict anything better than a 4.00 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, as he'll continue to pitch inconsistently.

The Big Pelf had his "breakout" season last year. He reached the 200-inning mark and proved that he could be a horse, at times single-handedly pitching the Mets to victory, including back-to-back complete games in August.

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