Holding The Maine
| 16
|
by user Cshimkin
As the Mets set off into the gusting winds of the postseason, like any good sailor trying to stay on course they must continue to hold the main sail. The main sail for any playoff journey is pitching. And while Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine and Billy Wagner might be steering this Mets' boat, young John Maine could be the the most important sail aboard the ship.
While Pedro and Tommy G will most likely start the first two games of any playoff series, the game three and four starters could be the difference in them winning any series. If the season were to end today, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Steve Trachsel would almost definitely be the back end of any playoff rotation. So, where does that leave arguably the Mets most successful starter in the month of August? It leaves him him holding the main. When the Mets begin their Fall Classic run, they will most likely have the luxury of having John Maine added to their already sturdy bullpen. In fact, John Maine could very easily become Billy Wagner's main set-up man or in the least a fantastic alternative to Aaron Heilman. Maine will also be the first man called upon should any of the starters get knocked out early. And because of the physical fragility of the Mets' first three starters, he could very well start a playoff game when all is said and done.
Many playoff teams never have the starting pitching depth to help their bullpens when October play begins. The ones that do usually find the added boost to be quite advantagous. Last season Kelvim Escobar moved to the bullpen and was instrumental in the Angels defeating the Yankees in the divisional round, tossing 7 IP while allowing only 1 ER and picking up a key victory. In the other divisional match-up last season, El Duque proved how valuable a little extra depth is when he helped the White Sox win their divisional round series with the Red Sox by tossing three sterling shutout relief-innings in the clinching game. In game five of the 2004 ALCS Tim Wakefield personified the importance of an effective swingman when he shut the Yankees down for the final three innings of a fourteen inning classic to help the Red Sox stave off elimination, and allow them to eventually win the World Series. And let's not forget Dontrelle Willis' important contribution (2.2 shutout IP) coming out of the pen to help the Florida Marlins defeat the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series.
So, while other NL playoff contenders like the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Houston Astros, the Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres scuttle to reinforce their bullpens for that final playoff push, the Mets will have a Maine man to help keep their ship on course!
To see John Maine's Fast facts and photos with article go to link below:
http://bestblog.mlblogs.com/inside_pitch/2006/09/holding_the_mai.html
Carl The Cabbie
Date
Fri 09/01/06, 7:10 am EST
