Mets Pitching Coach: John Maine “is a Habitual Liar”

Flushing Baseball Daily

May 21, 2010

Here is how John Maine’s night went for the Mets last night.

A first pitch fastball at 85 MPH for a ball. An 83 MPH fastball, ball two. An 85 MPH fastball, ball three. An 85 MPH fastball, called strike one. An 85 MPH fastball, ball four.

That drew the attention of the coaching staff as manager Jerry Manuel was joined on the mound by pitching coach Dan Warthen, trainer Ray Ramirez, and just like that, Maine’s night was done.

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This coming from a guy who used to hit 95 and 96 MPH with regularity when he was pitching well. Despite the lack of velocity though, Maine did not like it.

“I guess they didn’t see 95,” he said about the poor velocity. “It was a little slow, but it was the first batter of the game, cut me a little bit of slack.”

But his pitching coach knows better.

“If he’s throwing that way, then there’s got to be something incorrect in that arm,” Warthen said. “Something’s not feeling correct. John’s a habitual liar in a lot of ways as far as his own health. He’s a competitor and a warrior. He wants to go out there and pitch. But we have to be smart enough to realize this guy isn’t right, the ball’s not coming out of his hand correctly.”

Still, what really bothered Maine is that he said he felt OK, his coaches ignored him, and took him out anyways.

“No, I didn’t get a chance, and I think that’s what I’m most upset about,” he said. “They said they saw something, so they’re taking me out. I’m a little hurt by that. It wasn’t 100 MPH the first pitch. I never got asked to really see how I was or anything like that. They just said I was out. That’s what upset me the most.”

After the game the Mets scheduled an appointment for a doctor to check out Maine’s arm today and it’s safe to say he isn’t exactly thrilled about that either.

“I don’t need to go to a doctor,” he said. “I have felt pain for two years, but I don’t care about that. I wanted to pitch, the bottom line—I feel something all the time. We’re pitchers—I’m telling them everything that is going on. They know everything that is going on with me.”

Maine also expressed disappointment that his manager has lost all confidence in him.

“I’m sure he doesn’t have confidence in me. Whatever. My dealings are with Dan.”

It’s got to be hard for Maine right now and getting pulled after one batter has got to be the worst for a pitcher. Still, Maine is not helping anybody if he’s going out there with a fastball that tops out at 85 MPH.

In all honestly, the Mets need somebody better than that and, as rough as it is, Manuel did the right thing.

We’ll keep you updated on anything that happens with Maine. Until then, what are your thoughts on the situation?

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