Perez, Maine find Early Success
The Metropolitans are off to a strong 17-10 start and a big part of this early success can be attributed to their starting pitching in the month of April. Opening the season, Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez were to be the cornerstone of the rotation, being the 1-2 starters, respectively. After that, it was highly publicized, that there were big question marks as to who would prove themselves ready for such a stage, not only in the big leagues but also in New York City where we have seen many young prospects faulter under such extreme pressure in the past.
Low and behold, in steps John Maine and Oliver Perez, the two young arms the Mets acquired in trades last year. Through the beginning of May, Maine has gone 4-0 and posted a measly 1.35 ERA and Perez has been almost as effective going 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA.
Perez, with the exception of his second start where he walked 7 batters and was ousted after 2.2 innings, has looked like the dominant young pitching prospect many scouts had touted him 4 years ago in Pittsburgh. Through five starts, he’s struck out 36 in 29.0 innings pitched, getting his fastball up to the mid-90’s at times. Some would say, Perez is like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type as he went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA in 2003 with Pittsburgh and then went 3-13 with a 6.63 ERA just last year in which he had trouble finding the strike zone at times. However, after pitching a sensational Game 7 of the NLCS last year against the Cardinals, Perez seems to have found the confidence and mound presence that he had been lacking the last couple of years. We can only hope Dr. Jekyll is here to stay.
As for Maine, his recent success may also be credited to his strong post season last year where he went 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in three games. Maine has allowed only five earned runs in 33 1/3 innings so far this season and was named NL Pitcher of the Month for April.
With an injury to Orlando Hernandez that may keep him sidelined for a while and the shaky start by rookie Mike Pelfrey, the Mets must look to the rest of the starting rotation to remain strong and keep pace with the Atlanta Braves who are off to a good start themselves. Oh, the Mets –Braves seasonal showdowns. I can’t wait until things really heat up this summer.
Low and behold, in steps John Maine and Oliver Perez, the two young arms the Mets acquired in trades last year. Through the beginning of May, Maine has gone 4-0 and posted a measly 1.35 ERA and Perez has been almost as effective going 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA.
Perez, with the exception of his second start where he walked 7 batters and was ousted after 2.2 innings, has looked like the dominant young pitching prospect many scouts had touted him 4 years ago in Pittsburgh. Through five starts, he’s struck out 36 in 29.0 innings pitched, getting his fastball up to the mid-90’s at times. Some would say, Perez is like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type as he went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA in 2003 with Pittsburgh and then went 3-13 with a 6.63 ERA just last year in which he had trouble finding the strike zone at times. However, after pitching a sensational Game 7 of the NLCS last year against the Cardinals, Perez seems to have found the confidence and mound presence that he had been lacking the last couple of years. We can only hope Dr. Jekyll is here to stay.
As for Maine, his recent success may also be credited to his strong post season last year where he went 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in three games. Maine has allowed only five earned runs in 33 1/3 innings so far this season and was named NL Pitcher of the Month for April.
With an injury to Orlando Hernandez that may keep him sidelined for a while and the shaky start by rookie Mike Pelfrey, the Mets must look to the rest of the starting rotation to remain strong and keep pace with the Atlanta Braves who are off to a good start themselves. Oh, the Mets –Braves seasonal showdowns. I can’t wait until things really heat up this summer.
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