Over the pass two seasons, before the Mets got Santana, they were linked to trade rumors for Haren/Blanton, actuall trade offers for Bedard, and an contract offer to Barry Zito. What if these trades or signings happened? What do their springs look like right now.
A lot has been said about Bedard, I forgot which announcer during what game said this, but he has even been compared to Koufax (a little ridiculous in my mind). Living in Baltimore, I remeber that last year he got off to a real slow start, his ERA was above 5 most of April. Even with that, Spring Training he is normally on. Last year he had a Spring Training ERA of 1.96, previous years had him looking at 4.35, 3.71, and 2.04. More importantly, from 2004 to 2007, his strikeouts were 21, 17, 19, and 24. So far this Spring, this is Bedard's line:
18.0 IP, 19 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 9.50 ERA
In his last start, he allowed 7 runs over 9 hits and 5 innings pitched. Something is not right. I know pitchers sometimes tend to struggle in Spring, but a pitcher who was going for Cy Young before getting injured last season should not be putting up Spring numbers like this. Bedard's stat line will be interesting to watch over the course of the season.
Zito had a bad year last year and was not what San Francisco expected. So far this Spring, Zito is struggling again, in 18.1 IP, he has let in 21 ER, 13 BB followed by only 4 K's, a and posting 10.31 ERA. Things could have been different if he went to NY, if he was with the Jacket, but we will never know for sure. For what its worth, I am glad we didn't take that gamble with Zito.
Haren and Blanton have not been as bad as the two previous pitchers. Harren over 14 IP, has allowed 8 ER, 3 walks, but struck out 15 batters and posted a 5.14 ERA. The difference here is that even though his ERA is much higher than what he is used to, his K to BB ratio is very good (exactly 3 to 1). Blanton is a near clone going 17 IP, allowing 9 ER, walking 3 and striking out 15 and posting a spring ERA of 4.76.
Its not healthy to ask yourself what if we did this or what if that happens, but sometimes it can be fun, and I think this situation is one of those good times to ask yourself what if.
