Spring Training is right around the corner and its time to start previewing the position battles this Spring and the possible 25 man roster for the upcoming 2010 season and there is no better place to start than one of the most controversial aspects of the Mets roster, the Starting Rotation. The controversy stems from the Mets front office not signing another starting pitcher like they said they would. As of now Starting Rotation looks like this (with the exception of Santana, order at this point is speculative):
1. Santana
2. Pelfrey
3. Maine
4. Perez
5. Battle Zone
As of now there is still a chance, a small chance, that the Mets go out and sign someone for that fifth spot (and at this point, the options are really thin out there). I have narrowed the competition down to three players who I feel have the best shot at getting that last slot in the rotation. So disregarding the outside signing right now, here are the contenders for that fifth spot:
Jon Niese: Before his injury last season, he had an impressive 4.21 ERA over 25.0 innings pitched at the age of 22. He then of course had a terrible injury that took him out for the rest of the season. What he has going for him is his very impressive curveball, a pitch the Mets would love to see in the majors. What he has going against him is his age. Having such a critical injury at his young age, it gives the Mets more reason to let him build up strength this season and work on his stuff in the minors. Personally, if I was in charge, I would have Niese in the minors for the majority of the season so he can work on his stuff.
Fernando Nieve: In just over 36 innings last season, he had a 2.95 ERA and it really seemed like the Mets got something with Nieve. Sadly, Nieve went down with an injury and his run was over. That short stint with the Mets last season was the most successful in his young career (he will be 27 next season). What he has going for him is a strong winter behind him. He pitched 26 innings earlier this winter and had an ERA of 2.42. As long as he is healthy, he is the pitcher I feel should be holding this spot on the rotation.
Nelson Figueroa: Figueora was a consistent pitcher for the Mets last season with pitching slightly over 70 innings and have an ERA barely over 4. Nelson would be a wise decision for the last spot of the rotation because of his consistency. However, I feel that it is his consistency which will lead to him not getting this position. I think the Mets, and fans (myself included) are looking for lightning, and Nieve or Niese could be a form of that lightning. With lightning comes risk though of either of those pitchers being a dudd. So while a younger pitcher might block out Figueroa at first, he will be at some point this season starting games for the Mets. Besides his consistency, he does have experience on his side.
Really Outside Shots for the Rotation: Meija, Dee. (And I mean, really outside shots)
What it all comes down to though is which pitcher performs the best this Spring. We have seen in the past pitchers come out from no where to take spots before (Joe Smith, Parnell) but recently those pitchers have been in the pen. Lets see who performs the best and gets to round out the rotation (unless a signing comes in and grabs that spot).
About Nieve, you wrote: “What he has going for him is a strong winter behind him. He pitched 26 innings earlier this winter and had an ERA of 2.42.”
In the Dominican Winter League, Figueroa had a 1.64 ERA, helping them win the league championship which got his team, the Escogido Leones, into the Caribe Series representing the Dominican Republic against Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Figueroa pitched the only complete game in the entire 2010 Caribe Series, a 3-hitter with 8 strike outs and no walks. With his 1.00 ERA, he led the DR to the 2010 Caribe Series championship, the first time the Leones won the Caribe Series in 20 years.
What else does Figueroa have going for him as far as the #5 spot in the starting rotation? The manager of Escogido was Ken Oberkfell, former Mets coach and currently the manager of the Buffalo Bisons. I am sure he's already filed his report with Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya.
This is going to sound like a horrible excuse, but I really forgot about Figueroa in the winter playoffs (I actually have a post it note somewhere around my desk saying I need to write about it, must have lost that note).
While he was very effective this winter, and there is a possibility that it could be his job to lose, it will ultimately come down to who has the best Spring.