The guy who should have been pitching the second game of the season for the Mets was pitching up in Boston last night for the Red Sox.
The Mets can tell us all they want that John Maine is the same Maine who excelled in 2007 before he was hit with shoulder woes, but I Remember the Maine who pitched back then. The velocity is not the same. The command is not the same. The results are not the same.
The Mets lost 7-6 in 10 innings to the Marlins last night at Citi Field, but it was only that close because the Marlins’ bullpen was atrocious, allowing the Mets to come back from a 6-1 deficit.
This night felt like a summer night. The Mets had better hope their starting pitching is not this bad come the middle of summer or else they will be long gone in the NL East race.
After the brilliant Opening Day victory over the Marlins behind Johan Santana, Maine struggled in his five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and two home runs.
Maine’s fastball often was 88. That’s not going to cut it.
Until the Mets get serious about a No. 2 starter, they will have their troubles. They didn’t spend the money for John Lackey, who pitched six shutout innings in a loss to the Yankees, but somehow they have to find a No. 2 to fall in behind Santana.
Right now, it’s too much to ask Maine to be that pitcher. Based on spring training, the right-hander should be the No. 4 or No. 5. Manuel moved him up to the two spot, dropping Mike Pelfrey to No. 4 and Oliver Perez to five.
Manuel made that switch to try to get Pelfrey and Perez off on the right foot, knowing that it would be easier for Pelfrey to beat the pitching-poor Nationals than to try to beat the Marlins and the nasty Ricky Nolasco last night.
Maine tried to wish away his fastball problems.
“I couldn’t get ahead of guys,” he said. “I couldn’t get that fastball in there. I thought it was coming out good, it was command. The two worst pitches were the two home runs, I really missed my spots. I missed up with it. It was fastball location, I couldn’t get strike one in there.”
It was velocity, too.
Having a No. 1 to anchor the staff is vital, but having a true No. 2 is really what it’s all about in this game. Perhaps Pelfrey can grow into that role. He is the most talented starter the Mets have behind Santana. He showed flashes of success in spring training. Eventually the Mets are going to have to give Pelfrey a shot at that No. 2 role.
Maine struggled in the third when it took 32 pitches to get through the inning. He surrendered two runs that inning, including a solo home run to Jorge Cantu. This outing was similar to the blah outings that Maine had throughout spring training.
“We have some questions,” manager Jerry Manuel said of the rotation before the game.
Those questions got bigger by the sixth when Maine was out of the game. If a fly ball pitcher like Maine can’t pitch in the Big Citi, he’s got big troubles.
Manuel was asked if he was concerned about Maine’s lack of velocity, “I think you have to kind of throw this one out right now, I’ve seen it better.”
Remember, these are the Protection & Recovery Mets. The sign that was in the Mets clubhouse in Port St. Lucie has now been placed in the tunnel where the Mets enter their dugout. It’s going to take much more than a slogan to get the Mets where they need to be. It’s going to take strong starting pitching.
The Mets showed last night that they will not quit and that’s good, but they remain at least one No. 2 starter short of success.