Mets Send Jon Niese To Mound, Looking To Get Even With Rockies

DENVER-- For the first time since 2005, the Mets have started a season 2-5. Considering they're about to go up against an established sinker ball pitcher, and considering they haven't been able to beat below-average starters, this doesn't bode well for the Mets.

They've just about had enough with one of their own starting pitchers already, as after Tuesday night's loss to the Rockies, manager Jerry Manuel indicated he may seek a different route with John Maine.

Is that even possible after only seven games? How can a team already look defeated, dead, uninterested, or even "unprepared" after only seven games?

Right now, watching this team on a daily basis, it just doesn't feel right. Something isn't clicking. It's as if you expect them to not come through, or to give up the big hit. It's not a feeling you want to have on April 14.

Do you want to see pressure put on a young rookie? Well, you'll get just that on Wednesday night as the Mets will send Jon Niese to the mound.

For a guy born on the day that the Mets last won a World Series (October 27, 1986), it's pretty ironic that he's even on this team.

What are the Mets looking for out of Niese? Is it what he gave them in his first start of the season: six innings, three runs, eight hits?

Is it pitching to the scoreboard just so that the team can win a game? Or maybe that would be a little bit to desparate this early in the season. Well...not really.

The Mets need to be desparate right about now. Their fed up with one starter, as flat as a pancake at the plate no matter who they face, and they've already been called out by their own manager.

What would a loss on Wednesday night mean besides a record of 2-6? It would mean the Mets are on the verge of 2-7. It would mean the Mets would have to practically sweep the Cardinals to avoid a danger warning. It would mean continued pressure and restlessness from an inpatient fan base.

Just how are the Mets going to go about getting to Rockies starter Aaron Cook? What have they proven to you? What they've proven to me is that they are tight. As tight as September 2007 and 2008.

Do they have a nine run outburst in them? Who knows? What we do know is that this season is starting to slip away.

Shouldn't Minaya and the Wilpons have envisioned this type of start with their unwillingness to sign any starting pitchers in the off-season?

Jon Niese vs. Colorado (career)

0-1, 5.68 ERA, 6.1 IP, 8 hits, 4 BB, 3 SO

Aaron Cook vs. New York (career)

3-1, 2.78 ERA, 55 IP, 56 hits, 7 BB, 18 SO

2010 season series (New York vs. Colorado)

April 13: Colorado 11, New York 3

Rockies lead series 1-0